On Dangerous Ground by Sharon Sala

Author:Sharon Sala
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-05-19T19:43:02+00:00

* * *

Charlie was still in shock when Judd pulled up in front of the house and parked. Wade’s call wasn’t unusual, but his news had floored her. Not only had he called to tell her that he wouldn’t be home until he was certain the news didn’t start a riot in the streets, he’d felt obligated to warn her that Judd had bolted out of the office without an explanation and was on his way there.

She heard Judd get out, then heard the car door slam shut. She glanced at the clock. It was just after one. Rachel would nap for at least another hour, maybe longer. That was good. She and Judd could talk. He was obviously upset about something, or he wouldn’t have left so abruptly. She wouldn’t let herself think of the inevitable—that the mystery was solved and he would be leaving. She wouldn’t think about that at all.

She heard the kitchen door open. She turned. Judd was standing in the door and she could tell by the look on his face that he had come to say goodbye.

“This isn’t fair,” she whispered.

“Life rarely is,” he countered, and took her in his arms.

She clung to him, stifling an urge to throw herself at his feet and beg him to stay, but her pride was all she had left. It would be what held her together when he was gone.

“Wade told me what happened.”

Judd shook his head. “It was unbelievable.”

She pushed out of his embrace and then turned, reaching for a dish towel to have something to hold besides him.

“I suppose you came to pack your things.” And then her chin quivered. “In a way, I’ve been expecting this,” she said. “Only not quite so sudden.”

Judd sighed. Of course she was going to misunderstand. If only he could make her see.

“It’s not what you think,” he said softly.

She turned, clutching the dish towel against her belly, her eyes nearly blind with tears.

“Then make me understand,” she said. “Because I’m thinking that I just might die from this pain.”

He groaned. “God, Charlotte, I need to do this or I’ll wind up like her.”

She frowned. “Like who?”

“Judith. Judith Dandridge. If I don’t get rid of the hate that’s inside me, I’m afraid that one day I’ll explode as she did—only you and Rachel would be the ones who would suffer.”

She blanched. Suddenly, things were starting to make sense. This wasn’t about him leaving her. It was about finishing the journey he’d started before they met.

She swiped at her tears with the flats of her hands.

“I have a request to make of you.”

“Ask,” he said.

“Go bury your demons and lay all your ghosts, Judd Hanna, but when you’re through, will you come back to me?”

“In a heartbeat,” he said, then pulled her back into his arms. “Now I have a request to make of you.”

“Ask.”

“Lie with me, love.”

“Always,” she answered, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

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