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“All but one of them,” he said intently. “And there is no doubt in my mind when the time comes that we will fit together like we were made for each other. Because we were.”
Her breath caught at the intensity of that promise. She wanted to believe him. And she ached with the desire that had been building inside her since they’d met. Even though her time with Todd had been short, the damage he’d done had been plentiful.
“I’ve read a couple of your books too,” he confessed. “And do you want to know what I saw?”
“You read my books?” she asked, the immediate fear of why rearing its ugly head. Todd had read them a research tool so he could con her more thoroughly. Why had Colt read them?
“Writing is a part of who you are,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I read them? I told you I love you. I love all of you. And I support what you do. You have a tremendous gift. When I read your books I see a woman who has an intimate understanding of people. Someone who is empathetic and compassionate, and someone who understands the heartaches of real people. I see a woman who might not have experience with family, but she understands what family should be and keeps searching for it. And I see a woman who loves and wants to be loved in return. And you craft it all so brilliantly in the stories you tell, while taking the reader on a journey of not just personal understanding but also a journey of hope for the future.”
The tears she’d been holding back started to fall. No one had ever seen the woman inside the work before, and she was blown away, and a little embarrassed by, his assessment.
“I want you to see yourself how I see you. You’re amazing. I’m glad you found your way home to Laurel Valley, even though there were a few detours along the way. And I’m really thankful you got a concussion.”
She laughed and rubbed her hands over her eyes.
“Yeah,” she said, blowing out a sigh. “I guess all things considered, I’m glad too. I needed to tell all of this to you today. I’ve been holding it inside for a long time, and I know you’ve been waiting for explanations about my past.”
“I know you’ve been healing,” he said softly. “There’s not a timeline on that.”
“See, that’s what I mean,” she said. “You’re just this unending well of understanding. How are you not impatient? How can you not demand more from me than I’ve been able to give?”
He rolled to his side so he was looking directly at her. “Baby,” he said. “That’s what love is. How are you supposed to learn what it means for a man to love a woman—really love her—if I can’t model it? Not every man is like your father and ex-husband.”
“I’m starting to see that,” she said, rolling to her side to face him. “I needed to tell all of this to you today, before we were bombarded with your family. Because I love you.”
* * *
Colt had thought about what it might feel like the first time Zoe told him she loved him—if she told him at all. But nothing had prepared him for the punch to the solar plexus her words had given him.
She loved him.
After listening to her story he knew what a big deal it was for her to trust him and confide in him. There was a lot going on inside of him—the most prevalent being anger. His fighting days were over, but he couldn’t promise he would hold back if he ever crossed paths with her ex-husband.
“Are you going to say anything?” she asked nervously, biting her lip.
“I’m not sure words are the right response,” he said. And then he leaned in and kissed her with all the pent-up passion and desire he’d been holding on to for these weeks. He’d been going insane with his need for her.
He realized very quickly if he didn’t stop things would get out of control. Their breaths and bodies were entangled, and all he could hear was the blood rushing in his ears.
He pulled away from her and rolled over onto his back, his chest heaving as he closed his eyes and willed himself back under control. And then he heard the whimper and his eyes snapped open and he turned to see Zoe curled up on her side, her lips swollen with passion and her face pale.
“Did I do something wrong?” she managed to ask, though she didn’t make eye contact.
“Oh, Zoe, no. You did everything very right. But if I didn’t stop us we would be very naked right now, and that’s not how I want to do this.”
Her lashes fluttered open and she glanced up to meet his eyes. “Why did you stop? I want—I’ve never wanted so bad in my life.”
He groaned and closed his eyes. Being patient with Zoe was going to kill him.
“Because I love you and I want to marry you. When you’re ready,” he said, before the panic could kick in. “And I want to do this the right way. I want you to know I want you for you and nothing you own. I want you to know that I treasure and respect you. And I want you to know that when you’re ready, I can be the family you long for.”
Her lips trembled and it was everything he could do not to reach out and pull her close again. She finally reached out and took his hand, and he breathed out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t completely appalled by the idea of marriage, so that seemed like a good thing.
Chewy came over to sniff them both, and deciding they’d come to their senses he plopped down in the middle of them.
“Maybe we can give it another try with your family before we start talking about marriage.”
Chapter Thirteen
