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"Okay…Ethan" Her voice sounded shaky and more than a little defeated

"Okay, Ethan?" Ihome with you? Okay to you and me? Okay, I’ll let you secure me? What? I need more from you, Brynne" I talked to the windshield because I was scared to see her face right now What if I couldn’t make her understand--

She leaned toward"Ethan, I--I need--I need the truth fro around me--"

I immediately covered her hand withthe information from you--"

She shook her head at " She put her fingers toup now" I grabbed at her fingers with ers and didn’t let go Hell, I’d take any set

"Your honesty and bluntness is one of the things I love about you, Ethan You always told me what you wanted, what you intended to do, how you felt You were true with me and it made me feel safe" She tilted her head and shook it "You have no idea how much I needed that froood at telling me exactly what you wanted to happen with us That really worked for ed that part between us by not being honest, and by not telling me you were hired to protect me The fact I need protection at all is aknow about it?"

God she was sexy when she was all fired up and said bad words I gave her a ht

When she tugged her fingers away fro me permission to speak, I mouthed my words more than said the Brynne needed the bare naked truth She had her reasons; it was a requirement for her and I’d blown it Wait Did she just say "one of the things I love about you"?

"But…since I’ve talked to s I didn’t know before, I realize it’s not totally your fault Daddy put you in a position you didn’t ask for…and I’ve been trying to see it from your perspective Your letter helped ive me and we can put this bloody mess behind us?" I was hopeful but not couess where to go from this point I could ith odds like that

"Ethan, there’s so much you don’t know about me You don’t really knohat happened to ave uish in it I wanted to o away if I could I wished I could tell her it didn’t matter for me to know If it was horrible and it hurt her to tell me then she didn’t have to But I knew this wasn’t the way for Brynne She needed to lay all her cards on the table in order to uess I don’t I didn’t realize your past had ht I was protecting you froain depending on as targeting you Once I saw that you had demons I cared too much by that point to scare you, or have you hurt by it I only wanted to protect you and keep us together" I spoke to her face, so close toher et that now" She moved back fully into her seat "But you still don’t know everything" She looked away out theagain "You won’t like hearing about it You ether after you know"

"Don’t say that to me I know precisely what I want" I reached for her chin and tugged her et some food in you and you can tell htly in that acquiescent way she’dme made me utterly insane for her to the pointand afraid, but I also knew she was tough and that she would fight her way through whatever haunted her It wouldn’t change how I felt though In irl and she alould be

"I’ anywhere, Brynne You’re stuck with et used to it," I said I kissed her on the lips and let go of her chin

She smiled a half smile as I put the car in reverse "I missed you so much, Ethan"

"You have no idea" I reached out and touched her face again I couldn’t help it Touching herher skin and body war to eat so to watch and enjoy every second of your beautiful ht now?"

"I don’t know Pizza? I’ to her clothes "You have on a suit"

"How you’re dressed is the least of my concerns, baby" I took her hand to my lips and kissed the soft skin "You are beautiful to ," I attehtly I felt the throb in my ck when I saw her reaction I wanted her home with hout the night and know she was there with ain

She once told me she loves it when I kiss her hand And I know I cannot help myself It’s hard not to touch and kiss her all the time because I’ve never been a person to denyI want And I want her

She mouthed a silent thank you but still looked sad She probably dreaded our conversation but knew it had to be done For her own sake she needed to tellhard and I would have to listen If this is what she needed to do in order for us to move forward then I would hear whatever it was

"Pizza it is then" I had to let go of her hand to drive but I could ht next to me in my car I could smell her, and see her, and even touch her if I reached out; she was that close to me And for the first time in days, the constant ache in my chest had slipped away