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“You don’t understand.”
“You think that you are the only one who’s ever done something before? It’s not a contest, not a pass or fail mark in life, and certainly not an end-all-be-all unless you end up killing yourself,” he said quietly. “It’s a mistake,and it’s what you doafterwardthat defines who you are – not the act itself.”
“Ha,” she whispered bitterly. “Tell my mom that.”
“I’d be happy to – just say when, and I’ll straighten out a few things so she knows what an incredible daughter she was blessed with.”
They stood there looking at each other, and she felt something turn over in her chest at his words, his defensive posture, and just everything at that moment. He looked like he would be willing to take on the world to defend her past slips – and was touched deeply.
“You made a mistake,” he insisted softly. “And then asked for help, pulling yourself out of a place where you recognized you were weak, wasn’t good for you, or had an issue. That isn’t a failure or a screw-up.”
Her eyes blurred with tears as she continued to look at his gentle eyes.
“That takes the deepest strength to pull yourself out of a mess and soar like you have. You are a success,” he breathed. “And I am so proud of what you did – and incredibly impressed, Lena.”
She couldn’t hold back or help herself anymore – she flung her arms around his waist, hugging him, as she wept at his words combined with the understanding and belief behind them.
“Shhh,” he whispered, chuckling. “Careful there – I’m still sore, and someone is going to think I was mean to you or something. I don’t look good with black eyes or missing teeth. Heck, I’m having enough issues with the stuff I’ve already gotten yanked out of me, and it took a miracle for you to admit you think I’m handsome.”
Lena laughed tearfully against his jacket as he leaned back, turning her face upward to him and saw his tender smile as he cradled her cheek in his hand, looking at her.
“Hey,” he began. “You’ve got this, and we can handle anything that comes our way, Lumberjack… together… and that includes your fierce mama, should I be lucky enough to meet her someday.”
She touched his gloved hand where it rested still on her jaw, unable to pull away and not wanting anything to disrupt this fragile peace between them.
“I think I’d like for you to meet her someday.”
“You’re on,” he acknowledged confidently. “Anyone doubts my girl, and I’ll set them straight. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Your girl, huh?” she teased… and saw his already tender eyes turn to molten liquid as he gazed at her, not holding back.
“Yeah,” he breathed tenderly. “You are definitely my girl – and I am your guy. Got it? I’m gonna make you mad and irritate the fire out of you, but just know that there’s no place else I’d rather be, and that’s just how I am.”
Instead of answering his comments…
She just chuckled, laughed – and hugged him once more, careful of his ribs this time and a second later, the two of them shared a knowing smile as he pulled her hands from his waist and winced, holding their clasped hands up between them.
“Like this for a bit, okay? When my bruises are gone, and these ribs are healed – then you feel free to throw yourself into my arms any time you want, my sweet lumberjack.”
Nodding, Lena leaned forward and kissed his cheek, smiling at the look of surprise on his face.
“It’s a deal… Pudding.”
11
ORTEGA
Being here was about the best and worst kind of torture he could have imagined. There was zero privacy and every time he turned around, someone was there watching him. They obviously believed in partnering up people of the opposite sex in the cabins, but why? How?
Was it because of what Captain Logan said?
How deep was Houghton in the trenches with the man?
Was the ‘Romeo Curse’ still at play and did he have a shot?
Yeah, Jake didn’t have a ‘pen pal’ – he had a gorgeous blonde that slept ten feet from him that was driving him nuts constantly and playing havoc on his emotions. She was so gentle-hearted, so nice; he was actually relieved that people weren’t taking advantage of her and could see it happening in his mind.
Single guys were creeps when it came to girls, and he was one of the biggest ones. He would be lying if he didn’t think about sleeping with Lena at least thirty times a day, but there was something bigger there between them – a tentative bond that he didn’t expect.
