Single Dads Collection. Lynne Marshall
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was worried, yes. My friends and coworkers were facing a gunman.”
Noah started to take another step, but Lucy held her hands up. “What are you doing here, Noah?”
“I came to talk to you and you’re going to listen.”
Stunned at his abrupt attitude, she dropped her hands to her side.
“You don’t have to admit to me that you were scared,” he went on. “I was, too. It’s natural when you’re facing the unknown. But you know what I realized in those moments? I don’t want to live without you, Lucy. I lost someone I loved and I sure as hell don’t want to lose someone else.”
Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Did he love her?
Of all the times for him to figure out his feelings.
Lucy’s heart was torn in two. Part of her was elated he was finally admitting his emotions, but the other part, the realistic part, knew this could never be. She had too many fears, too many worries.
He closed the distance between them and slid his hands up her arms. “I know you’re still afraid, Lucy, but I want to explore this with you. I want to help you get over your fear. I’m not ready to jump into marriage, but I’m definitely not letting you go so easily, either.”
This amazing man who had just faced an armed robber after working a fourteen-hour shift stood before her ready to fight her battles. But her past and all of the doubts swirling around inside her head were keeping her from throwing herself into his arms. She had to guard her heart. She’d barely put the pieces back together and another hard blow would surely be too much to bear.
“I promised myself I’d never get involved with a man who constantly put his life on the line.” It took everything in her to cross her arms and not reach for him. “Being on the other end of that call today…”
Lucy shook her head and turned her back to him, afraid he’d see too much in her eyes. She had to stay strong.
“Are you that afraid of getting involved again?” he asked. His shoes scuffed over the ground as he moved closer, now only inches from her back. She could feel his body heat permeating her. “You think this is easy for me? It’s terrifying, but I’m stronger now than I was and I’m stronger since meeting you.”
Lucy squeezed her eyes shut and dropped her head. With her arms banded around her waist, she willed the hurt and the temptation away. It would be so easy to turn and throw her arms around Noah, to lean into him and let him take her cares and burdens.
No. Actually that would be the hard part. Being dependent on a man who might involuntarily leave her would be the most difficult part.
Lucy squared her shoulders and turned. His eyes held hers. His tired eyes. He’d had a hard night, and had opted to come here first.
“You can’t be serious,” she told him. “You can’t be ready to move on when you’re still grieving. You just want me because you’re comfortable with me and because the physical attraction is so strong.”
Noah let out a bark of laughter. “You think I’m here fighting for you because of sex? Lucy, you drive me out of my mind. You make me see a future when I was positive there would never be another woman for me. I sure as hell never thought I’d find someone as soon as I got into town.”
That bandage over his eyebrow and temple continued to mock her. Lucy reached up, brushing her fingertips just beneath the tape.
“Are you really all right? No concussion or anything?”
He reached up, gripping her hand in his as he turned his face into her palm. “Nothing is wrong with me,” he assured her. “I care more about you and how scared you are than I do about a bump on my head.”
Tears clogged her throat. “It could’ve so easily been a bullet.”
Noah framed her face and kissed her forehead. “And you could die in a storm,” he countered as he pulled back to look her in the eyes. “We can’t live like that, Lucy. We have to push forward and grab happiness while we can. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow and we’re not guaranteed a second chance at love.”
Lucy blinked back the tears, but one slipped down her cheek. “You love me.”
Noah smiled as he wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb. “I’ve known it for a while, but I finally admitted it to myself. If you don’t want to be with me because you don’t feel the same, that’s one thing, but if you’re running because you’re scared, I won’t let you do this alone.”
“I can’t lose you,” she whispered. “I can’t go through that again.”
“I don’t want to deal with loss again, either,” he told her as he pulled her against his chest. “But if I have a day of happiness with you, that’s better than letting go of this second chance.”
Lucy wrapped her arms around him and inhaled his familiar scent. “Why are you making sense? I’m trying to be practical. I’m trying to save us both heartache.”
Noah eased her back and smoothed her hair from her face. “You’re not saving either of us by pushing me away. The only thing that will save me is having you in my life.”
Oh, that man had the absolute best response to everything. He was determined to save her when, from the start, she’d been trying to save him.
Lucy flattened her hands against his back and tipped her head to look at him. “You’re worth the risk,” she told him. “I’ve never met anyone who would be worth laying my heart on the line again. Until you.”
Noah lifted her off the ground and captured her lips. The horses neighed and stomped behind her as if they were giving their blessing. Lucy opened to him, needing to feel him, needing to immerse herself in this moment, this man.
Finally, after so long of wondering if happiness did exist for her again, she’d discovered it. All of his emotions came pouring out into the kiss and Lucy knew this was a moment she’d remember forever.
“I think I should go inside and lay down for a while,” he muttered against her lips as he sat her back on the ground.
“Is that right?”
“Unless you need help with the horses.”
Lucy shook her head and threaded her fingers through his hair. “They’re actually fine. I was just out here because I was too wound up to go to bed. I had nervous energy to burn off.”
Noah slid his lips across her jaw and up to the sensitive spot behind her ear. “I have a better idea.”
As he led her into the house, Lucy had a sense of relief, a peacefulness she hadn’t felt in so long.
They’d reached the hallway and Noah turned to step into the guest room, but she stopped him, placing a hand on his chest. “Not in there,” she told him, shaking her head. “From now on I want you in my bed. In my room.”
His eyes sought hers, his brows drew in. “You’re sure?”
Lucy pulled in a deep breath and nodded. “It’s where you belong. Where we belong.”
In one motion he scooped her up into his arms and kissed her, giving her just a taste of the pleasure that was to come.
“I love you, Noah,” she said once she could breathe again.
“I love you, too, Lucy.” Then he carried her into her bedroom.
“I love surprises.”
Emma hopped out of his truck and raced ahead of Noah toward the barn. It had been almost a month since he and Lucy had agreed to start moving forward together as an official couple. Their coworkers in the department