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Finally, he spoke. “Clint was arrested. When I got back from…” He swallowed hard. “When I got back, he was at the garage trying to find all the evidence we’d moved.”
“He must have been furious,” I said, meeting his gaze.
“Um, yeah. That’s an understatement.”
He ran a hand along the back of his neck. “Listen, Lux, I wanted to thank you for all your help. I would never have known what he was doing to me if it weren't for you.”
Fuck, this was it.He was going to end everything. All of this for nothing.
“I ruined everything, didn’t I?” Tears pressed against my lashes. “I’m so sorry,” I said again. “I know I hurt you and I should’ve told you, but I just didn't want to. Because as soon as I met you, I felt…" I paused. The word that came to mind was love, but that wasn't right. "You filled me with happiness, and I felt whole and alive around you. Like I wasn't sick. And I wanted to keep feeling that so much. Then, with every day that passed, it became harder to reveal something that would make you see me differently.” The words gushed from my mouth all at once.
“Different than what?” His voice was low, a slight break making my heart ache.
“You looked at me like I was perfect,” I said, blinking back the tears.
He stared at me but didn’t respond.
My heart splintered into thousands of pieces. “Just go,” I said. “You don’t have to let me down easily. I don’t blame you for not being able to forgive me. In fact, I completely understand. So just go.” I turned away from him and wiped at my eyes. The tears were flowing freely now.
I heard him come up behind me, and then he reached around, holding out a candy bar.
“This is what I would have got from the machine that day if I hadn’t bumped into you.”
“A candy bar?” I took the wrapped chocolate he held in his outstretched hand and brought it to my nose. It was the kind filled with peanuts and nougat. But damn, chocolate smelled good.
“I didn’t get a candy bar that day. But I got something even better because I met you.” He took hold of my shoulders and spun me around. “In spite of everything, I will always choose you.”
It took a moment for me to register his words. “Do you mean it?” I blinked several times, waiting for him to change his mind.
“With all of my heart, Lux.” He gave me a half smile. “I love you more than chocolate.”
I tried to swallow a sob, but that only made matters worse, and I snorted before a strange howling cry left my throat.
He raised a brow and then started laughing. “Sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”
I laughed too. This time it was so hard that I was crying again.
After a few moments, he hugged me, and I clung to him.
“You aren’t going to break up with me because I’m pathetic and delicate.” The words were muffled since I had my face pressed into his chest. The man smelled like manly soap and motorcycle grease.
“Seriously? Who would do my filing?” he asked, kissing the top of my head.
I heard the humor in his voice and glanced up at him. “Very true.”
“You aren’t that delicate, are you?” His hand ran up my back, and I clutched him tight while tingly goosebumps traveled across my skin.
“Not with you. Never.”
“Good,” he said, kissing each of my fingers.
“And just so you know, I don’t have cancer again.”A shiver of need for Rush lanced through my belly.
He paused, his watery eyes holding mine as he squeezed my fingers. “Really?”It was his turn to suck in a sobbing breath and a tear fell onto his cheek.
I’d never seen a grown man get so emotional. It was fucking sexy as hell.
I brushed at the wetness with my thumb. “The doctor thought I did because of some of my numbers, but they did a retest, and I’m clear.”
