“Physically, no. He controlled me and made me a hostage in what was supposed to be my home. My relationship with my family grew tense, and my friends quit speaking to me. He put a wedge between me and everything I loved—except him.” Feeling nervous, I rise from the bench. “I’d really rather not talk about this.”
“Yeah, of course. Sorry to push.” He apologizes even though I know he had a hundred more questions running through his head. He’s a protector. A soldier. It’s in his nature to gather intel and protect with a fierceness most don’t possess. It’s what makes me feel so safe with him.
“Can we just forget all of this? Move on?”
“You got it.”
I nod and walk out of the park.
“Ember, wait.”
I turn to face him, and his face is twisted in pain.
“This thing between us—we can stop.”
“Didn’t you just see how I reacted?” I let out a small laugh. “I am in no condition to form a relationship with anyone right now, no matter how much I might like them.”
“If things change…”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
“I’m sorry for what he did to you, the pain he caused. The pain I caused.” Guilt is etched on his face.
“You didn’t cause me pain.” I gently touch his cheek. “You made the pain better. You showed me what it’s like to be treated well. I’m so grateful to you for that… for everything.”
“I would do anything for you, Ember.” Soft, wet lips brush against mine. “All you have to do is ask.”
“Drive me home?”
“With pleasure.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Ryder
Lying on the couch, wrapped in each other, I press a kiss to the top of Ember’s head.
We’ve been like this for well over an hour, talking and getting to know each other. We talk about everything—our favorite foods, our childhoods, right down to our favorite movies. The more I learn, the more I want to know. Everything about the woman intrigues me and pulls me further in when my heart and my mind both know I should be running in the opposite direction. For Amelia’s sake. For my sake. Even for Ember’s.
The connection she and I share is explosive. I’m terrified that one day we’re going to do exactly that. Boom. Explode. And Amelia will be caught in the wreckage.
My fingers run up and down her arm. Our current conversation? Dorothy and her declining health.
“Thankfully, Amelia doesn’t seem to notice,” Ember tells me.
My sweet girl is completely oblivious to the declining health of her grandmother.
“I almost wish she would. I don’t want her to be shocked when…” I can’t find it in me to finish.
Silence falls over us, but I can hear the wheels in Ember’s head spinning.
“It’s none of my business, but… have you tried reaching out to Amelia’s mom? She’s Dorothy’s daughter, right? Don’t you think she should know what’s going on? Be here for her mother and Amelia?”
“I might consider it if I had any idea how to contact her.” For Dorothy’s sake. Amelia? I would prefer to keep Norah as far from her as possible.
Ember shifts in my arms. “You never talk about her… Amelia’s mother.”
“Not a lot to say.”