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When she eased back, she licked her lips and looked into his eyes. “I can’t promise you anything. All I can promise is that we work together to see where this goes. You hurt me, Braden. That’s not something I can forgive so easily.”
He nodded, sliding his thumb across her bottom lip. “I can understand that, and it’s more than I deserve. But I’m going to be patient where you’re concerned. I don’t want anyone else with me. I don’t want to spend my life with another woman, so if we have to take this slow for you to see how serious I am, then so be it.”
She hated to bring up the bone of contention between them, but she couldn’t leave it hanging in the air.
“If you want to search this house, you can.”
The muscle in Braden’s jaw ticked, his lids lowered and he let out a sigh. “I’m not doing anything with this house or the scrolls until you and I are on solid ground.”
Zara gasped. “You’re serious,” she whispered.
“I’ve never been more serious about anyone in my life.” His lips slid over hers again for a brief second. “I meant what I said about loving you. I want to fulfill my father’s wishes, but I will love you first and always.”
Zara threw her arms around his neck, the thick coat getting in her way when she really wanted to feel him without barriers. “I hated you,” she sobbed, hating how her emotions had betrayed her, and now she was an emotional wreck. “I moved my bedroom furniture around, I washed all the blankets and sheets trying to get you out of my room.”
His soft chuckle vibrated against her. “You wasted a lot of time and energy, because I’m about to take you back upstairs and make love to you.”
She eased back, swiped at her face and smiled. “Everything is still in the dryer.”
In a swift, unexpected move, Braden scooped her up into his arms and headed for the steps. “If I recall, our first time wasn’t in the bed anyway.”
Zara toyed with the ends of his hair. She didn’t care where he took her, she would go. They were starting fresh, and she knew in her heart this was meant to be. He was the man who would show her what love was, show her what loyalty and commitment were.
This was the man she’d spend the rest of her life with.
Epilogue
“Calm down, Laney. What happened?”
Zara sat up, pulling the old quilt around her as she listened to the urgency in Braden’s tone as he talked to his sister on the cell. The kitten snuggled against her side.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’m sending Ryker. He’s closer than I am.”
With a curse, he disconnected the call and punched in another number.
“Is she okay?” Zara asked.
“No.”
Braden reached around, tucking her against his side as he held the cell to his ear. The fact he was still seeking her during a family crisis only added to the promise he’d made only hours ago to keep her first in his life.
“Ryker.” Braden’s bare torso tensed as he spoke. “Go to Laney’s house. She needs you to help pack some things and get her back to my house safely. Carter cheated on her, and now he’s trying to get her to open her door. I just hung up with her, and she’s hysterical. You’re closer than I am, which means you’ll need to be nice. I’ll be home shortly and meet you guys there.”
Once he disconnected the call, he turned into her arms. “I’m sorry.”
Zara smoothed her hand over his forehead, pushing away a strand of hair. “Don’t be. The fact that you’re helping your sister makes me love you more.”
Braden froze. “You love me?”
“I fell in love when you brought the kitten inside,” she confessed. “I didn’t want to admit it then or when you told me. But I can’t keep it inside. I know you had your reasons for lying. I don’t like them, but I understand them. I know your family loyalty runs deep, and I know when you say you love someone, you mean it.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. To know that you believe I love you, and it has nothing to do with my family’s history, this house, or those scrolls.”
“Is your sister okay? Maybe we should get some clothes on and head to your place.”
Braden kissed her before easing up. “Would you want to pack some things and stay with me for a while?”
