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Gerard’s jaw hardened. “He tried.”
Bernie sat up straight, her heart beating faster. “And?”
“Let’s just say I let him have the first swing. I only hit him once. It surprised me how easily he went down. The man who’d seemed larger than life and could knock me across the room as a kid was a lightweight with a full-grown man.” He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I told him if he ever bothered my mother or brother again, I wouldn’t go as easy on him.”
“How long has it been?” Bernie asked.
“Ten years.”
“And your mother and brother?” she persisted.
“Mom got her divorce within a couple of months. She went to college and got a degree and now works as a counselor for victims of abuse.”
Bernie’s heart swelled. “Your brother?”
Gerard smiled. “Mason earned a college degree in engineering and joined the Army as a butter-bar, second lieutenant.”
“What about you?” Bernie’s voice softened. “I assume you’re not married. Is that a valid assumption?”
He nodded.
“Were you ever?” She held her breath, wanting to know what kind of woman could have broken his heart.
“No.” Gerard met her gaze. “I vowed never to marry.”
Bernie blinked. “Why? You’re nice-looking, strong and successful. Any woman would be happy to say I do.”
His lips quirked for a second, then flatlined. “I’m the product of my mother and father. I have my father’s genes as well as my mother’s in me. “I couldn’t live with myself if I turned out to be an abuser like him.”
“That’s ridiculous. Have you ever hit a woman?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. But I’ve never let one close long enough to get angry with her.”
“You’re not your father, Gerard. You proved that when you moved your mother out of his house and was restrained enough to hit him only once.”
“I wanted to hit him again.” Gerard’s hands bunched into fists. “And I wanted to keep hitting him until his face was a bloody mess.”
She touched his arm. “But you didn’t. You have the control he lacked. You’re not like him.”
“I can’t take that chance. I’d never forgive myself if I hurt a woman.” He pushed to his feet and took several steps away, putting physical and emotional distance between them. “It’s getting late, and we have a busy day tomorrow.”
Bernie didn’t press the issue. She knew in her heart Gerard was nothing like his father. The few short hours she’d known him had made it clear. He had a gruff exterior, but inside, he was kind, caring and capable of so much love.
He needed a special woman to bring him out of his shell.
In the very back of her mind, a voice whispered, I wish it could be me.
Ignoring the voice, she bid him good night. “The window air conditioner in the living room hasn’t worked since last summer. I leave the bedroom door open to keep it cool in here.”
“Do you know what’s wrong with it?” he asked.
She nodded. “It’s shot. I bought a new one but haven’t had time to install it. One of these days, when I get the money, I want to put in a whole new air conditioning system. But that’s way down the list of priorities. So, I apologize if it’s too warm in here to sleep. I’ll leave the bedroom door open, though.”
“I’ve slept in worse places,” he assured her.
“Well, then, good night.” She strode for the master bedroom and paused in the doorway. “Thank you for being here for me. And, for the record, I don’t think you could hurt a woman. You’re not your father.” Bernie dove through the door without waiting for his response.
In the dark, with only starlight shining through an open curtain to guide her, she crossed to the air conditioning window unit. After adjusting it to a cooler setting, she aimed the vents toward the open door, hoping it would help cool the living room for Gerard. The hum of the motor made it difficult for her to hear disturbances outside the house or even the sound of movement in the other room. No wonder someone had been able to lay Gertrude’s body on her porch without her knowing. She’d brought Howey in for that night, and he’d slept on the floor at the foot of her bed.
