Page 88 of Wade’s Wrath

“It really is,” she countered.

“You met me because you were running from Frank,” he pointed out.

“So?” she asked.

“You needed somewhere safe. You needed money and a job. You needed somebody standing between you and your father.”

“And you did all of that for me,” she said.

“That doesn't mean you want me,” he said. Her mouth fell open, but Wade continued before he could stop himself. “Maybe you want what I represent.” The second the words left his mouth, he wanted them back.

Harlow's face went completely still. “What you represent.”

“Safety,” he said.

Her eyes flashed. “Wow.”

“Harlow—” he breathed.

“No, keep going,” she spat. “You’re on a roll.”

“That wasn’t an insult,” he insisted.

“It sure as hell feels like one.”

“I'm saying maybe you're grateful, but you don’t really want me,” he said.

“Grateful?” she breathed. “And you think I slept with you because I'm grateful?”

“That's not what I said,” he insisted.

“You didn't have to say it,” she said. “I understand perfectly.”

Wade cursed under his breath. “This is why I didn't want to have this conversation.”

“No. You wanted to have it. You just wanted me to agree with you. I think that you’re panicking now that you don’t have to save me anymore, and you’re rethinking being with me. That’s what this is, right, Wade?”

“That isn't fair,” he said.

She laughed, and it wasn't a happy sound. “Do you hear yourself?” Wade pushed his fingers through his hair. He was fucking this up—badly, and he knew it, but the fear underneath everything wouldn't shut up. What if she woke up a month from now and realized she'd grabbed onto the first man who offered her protection?

What if she stayed because she didn't know where else to go? What if she looked at Wade one day and saw another man who'd made choices for her? He couldn't fucking live with that.

“You've never had a chance to just be you,” he said. Harlow stopped, and her anger softened slightly. Wade seized on it. “That's what I'm trying to say.”

“Then maybe you should've started there,” she said. She looked away, and Wade stepped closer, but he was careful not to touch her.

“You went from your father's house to Frank's plan to marry you, to running into my bar.”

“I know,” she breathed.

“You haven't had five fucking minutes without somebody else being tangled up in your life.”

“So your solution is what?” she asked.

“You figure out who Harlow is when nobody's telling her who she needs to be,” he said.

She looked back at him. “And you're telling me to do that.”