She swallowed past the sadness lodged at the base of her throat. “I know that right now I want you. Isn’t that enough?”
The lines on his face softened. “It would be if your son hadn’t asked me this morning if he could live here—if he hadn’t wondered if we love each other.”
She closed her eyes. Ollie was so invested. But what did she expect? She’d tossed her son into this whirlwind situation without a second thought as to what it could do to him.
“I don’t need to know if you love me,” he continued. “I don’t need to figure out where I stand in all this. But there’s too much on the line for you to mistake your feelings—for you to leave my home and realize I’m not enough for you.”
“I’d never think that.” She took a step forward, wanting to erase any hurt she’d caused this man who’d been so amazing.
He held up a hand and gave a tiny shake of his head. “Please. Stop. We don’t know how long this will continue, and I can’t stand the idea of falling even harder for you only to discover it was all a lie. A way for you to cope with the evil outside these walls.”
Her heart broke into a million tiny pieces, but she nodded. Before she broke down, she walked away and shut the door tothe office behind her. In the blink of an eye, she’d not only compromised her entire future, but crushed the man who’d brought her so much joy.
She didn’t need the nightmare lurking outside to end to know she’d just made a huge mistake. One she may never recover from.
18
Sitting at his desk, Cody squeezed the bridge of his nose and second guessed every decision he’d ever made. Because every choice led him to this moment, with the woman of his dreams and her adorable son in his home while he barricaded himself in his office.
The ache in his chest was so raw, so real he could barely breathe. He’d been so transparent, so open with Katherine. He’d thought she’d been the same, but he was the biggest fool of them all.
Teenage Cody would laugh at the idea of Katherine Wells giving him a second look. Maybe he’d had it right all those years ago.
The letters in front of him blurred together and he shut the laptop. He needed a break—needed some fresh air.
Hell, who was he kidding? He needed Katherine.
He pushed back his chair to stand, but his ringing phone sat him back down. He swiped the device off the desk and answered. “Hogan here.”
“Hey, man. It’s Tommy. Mind if I stop by?”
Cody frowned. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I’ve got some photos to show Katherine.”
“Can’t you email them?” Having Mike come over the day before was a big enough risk. He didn’t need a whole parade storming around his property and drawing unwanted attention.
“Nope. I have prints.”
Cody straightened. “Of what?”
“Dad stayed up all night searching through the files you pulled. He found an arrest from three years back, someone Katherine went to high school with. That guy’s still in prison, but it’s the only connection we’ve found so far.”
“What’d he go down for?”
“Assault with a deadly weapon. He claimed self-defense, which was bullshit since his wife was beat to hell. Katherine cleaned her up at the hospital.”
Cody let loose a low whistle. “Awful lot of coincidences. But who’d be the one holding the grudge if the husband’s still behind bars?”
“Guy comes from a family of assholes. You know how it goes. The whole damn tree is poisoned, ruining every apple on it.”
The sentiment made Cody’s stomach drop. Yeah, he understood how a family name could haunt you, drag you down to hell.
And never let go.
“I’ve got photos of some of the family members for Katherine. A couple from a yearbook. A newspaper clipping with the guy’s dad. Even an uncle. All have served time, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them lashing out on behalf of their relative.”
“Then looks like you asking if it’s ok to stop by is a bit of a moot point.”
