I stared at the device a minute, my anger growing stronger by the second. Three dots danced on the screen. Appearing then disappearing again. Why was I even messaging him? I needed to pack. Arlo was going to be here in less than an hour. I closed the app and pushed it and Ben from my mind.
I heard the back door open and close and frowned. What was Bennett doing here? He wasn’t supposed to be home until later.
His footsteps pounded in the hallway until they stopped at my door. “Don’t go.”
I froze with my back still to him. “What?”
“You heard me.” His pants rustled as he stepped closer until his front was pressed to my back. “Don’t. Go.”
First Ben, now this? Unbelievable. For years, I’d struggled to find one man who was interested in me. Now I had three.
“Why?”
“Because—” He placed one hand on my hip, the other across my breasts, pulling me to him. “You’re mine.”
I swallowed hard, desire and hope unfurling within me at his words.
“Damn it, Wren. You’re mine,” he rasped in my ear, and my body shuddered in response. “And I’m yours.”
“Since when?” I asked, spinning to face him.
His blue eyes held mine. “Since always. Baby…” He cupped my cheeks. “Baby, please don’t go.”
“Why are you doing this now?” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Why not last night before I said yes to Arlo?” Why not any of the million chances he’d had over the past few weeks when I’d agonized and wondered…
Bennett grazed my nose with his as he continued to keep his hands on my cheeks. Desire and anger and regret and every other emotion swirled between us. It was so intense.Hewas so intense.
“Because I love you, and I’d do anything for you. Even let you go, if I thought that was what would make you happy.”
“You love me?”Did he really just say that?
“Yes, baby. I should’ve told you from the start…”
I frowned. “Told me what?”
“That every time I imagined you dating another guy, kissing another guy, another piece of me died. I should’ve told you that I wanted you all for myself.”
“You do?” Was I dreaming?
His expression softened. “I love you, Wren. I’m in love with you. I have been for years.”
My jaw dropped. “You…what?” It came out as more of a shriek. Years? He’d loved me for years? No freaking way.
He chuckled, smoothing his thumb along my cheekbone. “Yes freaking way,” he said, making me realize I’d said the last part aloud.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I finally asked. “All this time…” I stared at him in wonder.
“Why do you think?”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “My brother.”
He dropped his head.Liam.“Do you know who encouraged me to go to vet school?”
I shook my head.
“Liam. Do you know who suggested that I move back to the Alondra Valley?”
“Liam,” I said.
