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He glared at me. “Would it even matter if I said no?”
I jumped to my feet. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll give you a week or so and pop back in. Just a head’s up, I’m probably gonna keep popping in until I’m sure you’re okay.”
“You’re a fucking nuisance, that’s what you are,” he ground out.
Breaker was at my side in the blink of an eye. “We’re leaving already?”
I jerked my chin towards the door. “Yeah, let’s ride. We’re burning daylight.”
Chapter 3
Adam
I watched the dynamic duo walk out my house and pushed the door closed behind them. Without conscious thought I slid the shotgun off my lap and stood it up against the wall. There was no need to unload it because I’d never loaded it in the first place.
This was definitely the lowest point in my entire life. I raked one hand through my sweaty hair. Every time I didn’t think things could get worse for me; I got a fucking unpleasant surprise. My face burned with shame that one of my neighbors called to report I was a fucking mess. I didn’t have to think too hard to know who had called.
There was another knock at the front door, and I recognized the light tapping immediately. I rolled forward and pulled it open. The familiar face staring down at me took my breath away. This woman was an angel by name and by temperament.
This neighborhood was the one we’d grown up in, and before I’d went into the military we’d even been sweethearts, but now that my legs were gone I realized that Angel and I couldn’t start over where we’d left off. We could never be together.
I knew I never should have bought a house so close to Angel’s, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. When I’d seen the wheelchair accessible home on the market right when I needed it, I’d been quick to snap it up. It wasn’t quite like going home again, but almost.
Angel had knocked on my door almost every day since I moved in, always with a smile and kind, admiring eyes. She’d honestly tried to get close to me by feeding me, stopping to cheer me up, and even stealing an occasional kiss. I shouldn’t let her in. I needed to stay strong for both of us. I knew there was nothing I could offer her.
Swallowing down all my regrets, I greeted her properly. “Hello, Angel. What brings you to my doorstep today?”
She shook her head. “Why are you always so formal?”
I replied, “Because you’re a nice person and deserve a polite greeting.”
I rolled my chair back and let her in because I knew she wasn’t leaving until she had her say. She followed me and kneeled down to look at me face-to-face when I stopped in the middle of the room. This woman was sweet on me and had been for a very long time. Any fool could see that. The thing was, I fucking wanted her more than I wanted my next breath but that just wasn’t in the cards for us.
I glanced away, ““I’m guessing you’re the neighbor who called in the cavalry.”
When she didn’t immediately answer, I grumbled, “You can never leave well enough alone.”
It was a statement, rather than a question, but she answered anyway. “Not where you’re concerned. I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing while you drank yourself to death.”
I tried to soften my voice. This sweet woman didn’t deserve my anger for trying to help me. “I don’t need you calling up strangers to help me.”
She cupped my face with her hands. “If you don’t want me calling strangers, you should let someone who cares about you help.” One of her thumbs ran over my bottom lip and there was such longing in her expression that it tore at my heart. “I don’t like it when you try to cut me out of your life, Adam. It feels terrible knowing you’re just sitting here, and I can’t even talk to you.”
“Angel, I know we had something special all those years ago and we’ve been circling around each other for months now, but the truth of the matter is I’ve got nothing left to give to a woman. I don’t want to become your burden, and that’s exactly what will happen if we hook up.”
She put two fingers over my lips. “People in love help each other. There’s no shame in that.” Her hands slid back to grip my filthy hair and she tugged my head until our foreheads touched. “And don’t try to tell me you don’t love me.”
My chest clenched so hard it was painful. “Sometimes, love just isn’t enough. It was a painful realization for me, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”
She drew back and gazed into my eyes, “But sometimes love is enough, Adam. We’ll never know if we don’t try. Can’t you give me one night? One night of us just being together to see what it would be like? One night of us letting go of all our doubts and insecurities? All I’m asking for is a chance to prove love is enough for you and I.”
Somehow my hands were sliding up her arms. “I need a shower.”
Her eyes lit up. “Please tell me you need help with that.”
I gave her a rueful smile. “I don’t need you to help me shower, but I do want you there with me.”
She rose to her feet and twirled around to lock the front door. Shame and lust warred for top spot in my emotions as I wheeled myself into my room, grabbed clean clothing and then headed for the shower.
