Page 53 of Hard to Love

“I’m sorry,” Hardy’s first words mean so little right now. There’s no way he can make up for all our lost months.

“Too little, too late.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I set back on my heel to show him I’m not backing down.

“I know.” His demeanor shifts from cocky to sorrowful. His eyes downcast, he loses his smirk he was just wearing for Walker.

“Then why are you here?” Biting my bottom lip, he watches the color change as he licks his lips. I bite it harder for many different reasons.

“You’re all I have. All I’ve ever wanted. I warned you, I told you I would break you. But you insisted we would make it. At first, I accepted it. I know everything we created together I tore apart. I broke us.” His forehead wrinkles as the ‘V between his eyes forms. He rubs the back of his neck with his hand; he’s nervous.

“Yes, you did.” If he thinks this absolves him, he’s full of shit. He nods as once again his eyes are downcast. He can’t even look at me.

“I know, I’m sorry,” he says again in defeat. Fuck this; he can’t even fight for me.

“What do you want, Hardy? For me to be thrilled, you’re back? Fall at your feet? Well, mother fucker, you lost that honor.” I’m not sure if I say it to cut him as severely as he did me or force him to fight. By the look in his eyes, the fight is gone.

Hardy surprises me by stepping forward into my space, coming so close to me that I can feel his warm breath on this fantastic autumn night. His voice is scarcely above a whisper as he pleads his case to my mind; my heart has already been won.

“I’ve let you down in so many ways. You’re such a strong woman, a good person. I didn’t realize until after I was gone, it wasn’t you that made me a good man; I’ve always been one. Imagine my shock when I realized I deserved your love. You were never mad I didn’t share Erica and the baby with you. You were hurt because I didn’t believe in us. In you. I told people you were strong, but I didn’t imagine you could be as strong as you were for me. So many times you held me up.” He begins to cry as my lip begins to tremble and my eyes fill. I bite the inside of my cheek. No way in hell will he see me cry too. “I should’ve trusted you. I never should have lied to you.”

“You didn’t lie. You just felt like I wasn’t worth the truth.” I place my fist on my hip.

“What? No, that’s not true. I couldn’t face you with the truth. I knew you could handle it, but I couldn’t. Thayer, I let Erica down. She could never compare to you, even on her good days. So I have no reason to think that I wouldn’t let you down too. Can’t you see? The only part of this that was about you is that I should’ve trusted our love. To know together, we could get through any storm.” I stand there stock still, not giving an inch.

“Did you ever think about standing still to see if we could survive the storm? No, Hardy. When the creek started rising from the storm, you ran; you didn’t stand still to see if we could make it. I was scared, you know? I’m still frightened as hell, but I’ll not run. I’m not going to turn my back on Walker.”

Hardy steps closer to me, and I can feel the heat from his body; it knocks the breath from me. “Does he make you come the way I do, Thayer? Does he make you scream his name? That, Thayer, is what we have. That and so much more is what we’ll always have. I may have fucked up by not believing in us, but at least I fucked you the way you needed to be. I love you. I want you. And I don’t give a fuck if you marry him tonight. I will win you back.” Hardy slides his hand around my waist and pulls me into him.

His hand wraps around my neck while his thumb traces my jaw. Staring deep into my eyes, he presses into me as he leans into my cheek. Taking a deep breath, I can hear him as he rakes his tongue across his lips. He whispers in my ear, making my knees buckle.

“I will have you again. You never lost me; you own me, hun.” His words slip past my ear, warm and delicious. My thighs squeeze together of their own accord when my panties become wet. I’m lost to him as he gently presses his lips into my collarbone where my necklace lays. I shudder.

Fuck.

Pulling back, he gazes into my eyes before stepping away. I watch as Hardy walks around the corner of my family’s home, looking hot as hell.

Fuck.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hardy

In a daze, I wander to my truck, parked out front. I can still smell her perfume, feel her against me. Her heat, her soft body, pliable under my touch. Why didn’t I kiss her? Because she’s someone else’s.

Around the corner, a figure gets my attention. A man leans against my truck. At first, I think it’s Walker, but at a closer look, I see it isn’t. I’ve seen this man before. He smiles at me like he knows me. What the hell? I scan my surroundings as the hair on my neck stands on end. This ain’t good.

“What’s up, man?” He nods at me as I approach.

“Not much. Can I help you?” I eye him as he winks at me. What the fuck is this shit?

“Nope. But I can help you.” Pushing off my truck, he stands with his hands in his pockets. So he’s not about to kill me.

“How’s that?” I jerk my head toward him.

“I have the information you need.” Really? I cock my eyebrow at his words.

“And?” I say, trying to remain calm; I don’t want to show my hand too soon.

“It’s about Erica, you… And Walker.” What the fuck did he just say?