“I’m grateful Greer protected you,” Emery said back.
Alivia gave her a trembling smile, then turned and walked outside.
Emery released a shaking breath. Her brother had almost murdered that beautiful woman. It was horrific to take in. She clung to Greer.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No.” She glanced up into his beautiful blue eyes. “I’m not okay. I’m an unstable, volatile, insecure, doubting, vulnerable, wobbly mess, thank you very much.”
He let out a half laugh.
She actually smiled at him, but it fell away quickly. She said a prayer for help and strength and then she managed to unclasp her hands from around Greer’s back and step away from him. He let her go. Greer would never force her to do anything. She loved him for that. She loved him for a lot of things. Could she forgive him?
“What do you want from me, Greer?” she asked.
Greer looked her over. “Just you.”
She swallowed, and tears stung at the corners of her eyes. She wished she could rush back into his arms, but she needed time to heal. A tear spilled down her cheek, and Greer lifted a hand as if to brush it away, but Emery retreated until she hit the wall. She didn’t know if she was afraid of him, distancing herself, angry with him, or simply a mess of confused emotions.
“I can’t,” she murmured, hating herself.
He studied her, his eyes begging her to give him a chance.
More tears raced down her cheeks. She shook her head. “I can’t deal with these emotions,” she clarified. “I’m such a mess. You need to leave. Please.”
He nodded to her, not saying a word—that was nothing new for him—and headed for her front door. His shoulders were slightly rounded. She’d never seem him look defeated like that.
Her heart twisted painfully with each step Greer took away from her. She’d asked him to, but how could he leave her?
At the door, he paused with his hand on the knob. He looked back at her and then he straightened to his full height and turned to face her. “I’m so sorry I killed Travis. I’ll pray morning, noon, and night that you can forgive me for that.”
The tears kept coming. Emery tried to blink them away, unable to respond.
“You’re everything to me, Emery,” he continued, his blue gaze intense and searching. “It’s insane how we were brought together. I understand that it’s unsettling for you. It is for me too. I had never taken a life before I killed Travis. I hated myself for it and prayed for forgiveness and for you to have peace.”
She just stared at him. Hung on his every word.
“Papa had me watch the graveside service, and I thought you were the most angelic beauty I’d ever seen in my life. I asked him how I could help you and he said all I could do was pray. It might be twisted, but I feel like God brought us together. I know He can heal both of us and I’ll keep praying you can someday love me like I love you and let me heal, protect, strengthen, and shelter you for the rest of your life.”
Emery’s eyes widened, and silent tears ran down her face.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard any more of the five-nine, sundress song, but it fits you so well. Part of it goes, ‘God made her, so I will make sure he didn’t waste an angel on me.’”
She’d heard that line in his truck last night. She’d loved it then. She loved it even more coming from his lips.
“You’re my angel, Emery Reeder.” Greer licked his lips and kept talking, studying her. “I love you. I adore you. I want to savor you. I want to be there for you.” He looked her over and said, “And I love seeing you in a sundress.”
Emery let out a strangled sound that might’ve been a laugh or a cry. She tried to memorize each angle of his face, the way his blue eyes were focused on her, the strength and protectiveness that radiated from his tall, powerful body, all the beautiful words he’d just shared with her.
Then she couldn’t take it any longer. She turned and ran through the kitchen and into her bedroom. Then she flung herself on the bed, and she sobbed.