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The sound of a brittle twig snappingtowards her He’d cleaned the blood off his face but his nose looked thick—possibly broken—and his lower lip ollen Bruises were for one, if not two, black eyes
She inhaled sharply, battling her disappointment “That was stupid,” she said, as he joined her at the railing
“I don’t like fighting,” he said quietly, stroking the horse’s nose, scratching behind the ears “But I’ to roll over, either”
“What did the fight accomplish?”
“He knohere I stand I knohere he stands”
“Are youout by next Sunday?”
“No”
She shot hi for trouble”
“He’s asking for trouble I have a legal right to be here My lease is valid until mid-March”
She sighed “So what happens next Sunday?”
Shane shrugged “I don’t knoon’t be here I’ll be over at Flathead Lake”
“So you’re still going?”
“Of course I’ I’ve a book to write and people to interview and Trey Sheenan doesn’t scare me”
She studied hiht was nothing “What does scare you?” she asked softly
He didn’t answer for a longmy self-respect I can’t do that I don’t need money I don’t care about fame I’m not interested in awards But I can’t losefrom institution to institution, it was all I had And it’s still all I have, because the rest of it is justdressing”
Jet’s gaze skimmed his swollen lower lip, and then up over his bruised nose, and then higher to his fierce dark eyes “You do have very nicedressing”
His hard jaw eased His lips twisted slightly “Don’t make me smile It hurts”
“I don’t knohether I should hit you, or hug you”
“Hug h today”
His tone wasand yet she saw the weariness in his eyes and felt the wistfulness underlying his words He’d spent his life proving to hi though, was it? Because no man—or woman—was an island People needed people People needed love
Carefully, she went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, aware of the blows he’d taken to his chest and torso, aware froht be a bruised or broken rib
“I wish you’d had a family,” she whispered, hands clasped loosely behind his back “I wish you’d had a mom and dad to cherish you and spoil you and make you feel safe”
He stiffened a little but she ignored his silent protest
“Every child deserves love, and you deserved far ot,” she added
“I survived,” he answered gruffly “And I’ht”
She tipped her head back to look him in the eye “Yes, you did, and yes you are, but I still can want more for you I’m allowed to want more You can’t tell me how I’m supposed to feel There are no rules when it cos”
“No?”
She smiled faintly at his rueful expression “No”
An e that darkened his eyes for ashadows that she couldn’t read, but then it was gone “I’s” His voice was pitched low He sounded as if it was a confession…so to be ashamed of
“That’s okay” She smiled up at him “You’re in luck I have plenty of experience with them, and more emotions than most women”
“That’s lucky?”
She rose up on tiptoe and gently kissed his bruised and swollen mouth “Yes”
One of his hands slid into her hair and then smoothed it from her face His thumb stroked her cheek, and then stru to end well, you know There is no way this will end well Not for either of us”
She frowned, not understanding “In terms of what?”
“Any of it All of it You’re just going to get hurt, and I don’t want you hurt”