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Raine crossed her ar “I’m not ready I can’t face it Not yet”

“How long do you need? Howyour head in the sand when you’re giving birth?”

“How long should it takeand I could lose everyone who“I know you’ve been patient I know I’”

“No, you tried when I had you alone at ht you back here to ‘help’ Hammer because he so desperately needed you…” Lia but shit since Clearly, I overestimated your desire to submit to me”

“You didn’t Not at all”

“Then what the hell is your probleain that I’ll stand by you, noto a brick wall” He tossed his hands in the air

“Because no man has ever lied to a woman?”

“When have I ever lied to you, Raine?” Mouth flattening into a gri else to say now”

Liam turned his back on her

Shock blanched her systeuilt He hadn’t lied to her—ever Her father had Hammer had And she’d accused Liam of their sins

Raine stood, looking at the tense set of his broad shoulders, his muscled back, his clenched fists She forced herself to approach hiht You’ve always been wonderful I don’t kno I could possibly deserve you”

No apology or verbal bridge- to reach him now Raine wanted to tell Liaenuous Andherself that vulnerable to him petrified her

God, she was like a yo-yo, swinging between revealing the vulnerability he coaxed fro herself behind her barricades like a coward Raine knew she couldn’t keep holding out like this, but years of fears and insecurities didn’t ht

And that test on the nightstand—the elephant in the roo

“I don’t knohat to say,” she adood that happens to me And you’re the best”