Page 98 of The Deadly Shallows

Samuels nodded with a sideways smile, then shoved Bart around the corner and out the door, their heavy footfalls hammering down the front steps.

Susie grabbed her purse and rushed forward. She stopped at Austin’s side. “Don’t you talk to him like that again, you little—”

“Mind. Your. Words,” Caleb gritted out before she could finish.

“Whatever.” Susie fished her keys out of her gray handbag, the jangling mess attached to a Panthers lanyard. “You’re in my way.”

“Don’t do this, Suz,” he said, trying yet again to break through to her.

“I don’t need you,” she said, storming around the corner and out the door.

Austin clutched his hand tighter as his stomach flipped. Why couldn’t Susie see the truth? Why wouldn’t she change? This time had only been a busted lip and eye, but next time . . . One of these drunken nights, Bart was going to move past the point of no return.

FORTY-NINE

Brooke snuggled up to Noah on the couch, lifting the remote to put on Miracle. She’d seen the movie so many times, but it never got old, and it never stopped inspiring her to give her all in every area of her life.

Noah’s hand rested over hers on the remote. “Hang on a second.”

She stilled. Had his voice just cracked? “Sure.”

He cleared his throat. “I need to tell you something.”

She prayed he wasn’t rethinking their relationship. “What’s up?”

She set the remote on the oak coffee table, and he took her hand in his as he shifted to face her better.

“So . . .” He exhaled. “I was engaged once before, when I was young.”

Her muscles tensed as she waited, her breath stuck in her throat. She hadn’t known that. He’d never said . . . Gabby had never said . . .

“Obviously, we broke up.” He clenched her hand tighter in his hold, the pad of his thumb caressing her palm. “But what no one knows, outside of my nosy sister . . .”

“Gabby?” She smiled.

He smiled back, but it was only a half smile. “Yeah.”

“Goes with being a reporter, I’m sure.”

“Unfortunately.” He looked down at their joined hands, then back at her, pain etched on his face. “Not long before the wedding date, I was in a bad motorcycle accident. I sustained significant injuries and without going into explicit detail . . . the end result is . . .” He swallowed. “I can’t have kids.”

“Oh.” She cupped his hand tighter. “Noah, I’m so sorry.” Her heart ached at the raw sorrow clinging to his voice.

He continued, the words rushing out as his broad shoulders tensed. “I’m the sorry one. I should have told you sooner. I just fell hard and with everything going on. It’s no excuse. I should have told you before.” He released her hand and leaned back. “But now you know so you can walk away before we get in deeper.”

“You’re not in deep?” she asked.

His gaze fixed on her, creases forming at the corners of his eyes. “I’m drowning.”

Her heart squeezed as a warmth she’d never felt before radiated through her. Love. Immeasurable love.

“And you?” he asked, his voice choked.

“Exactly the same.” If not more so.

“I can’t explain the joy hearing that fills me with, but . . .” His brow furrowed in thought.

She hated the word but.