Sunflower Alley (The Merriams Book 4) by Ava Miles

Author:Ava Miles [Miles, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ava Miles Inc.
Published: 2020-01-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16

The lights were on in Louisa’s apartment when she returned home.

Relief coursed through her as she closed the door and locked it. He hadn’t left her. All night, she’d pushed away the fear that he might disappear. That her declaration of love, and his to her, would send him running.

He rose from the chair he’d pulled in front of her front window. His hair was still wet from a shower, she guessed, given he was wearing brown pants and a navy sweater instead of his running clothes. His face looked stricken, and he shrugged. “I’m here.”

“I’m glad,” she said, tossing her purse aside, shrugging out of her coat, and crossing to wrap her arms around him. “I got away as soon as I could, but I was ready to gear up for a manhunt if you didn’t come. You saved me and a few other people a long, cold night.”

His arms came around her. “Who else?”

“I’d planned to ask Boxer, Carter, Spicy, my dad, Damien, and anyone they wanted to bring along. They all have their own posses.”

“They would have helped you look for me?” he asked, astonishment lacing his tone.

“Of course,” she said, pressing back and cupping his jaw. “You may not believe this, but you matter to me, and because of that, you matter to a lot of people. Boxer’s starting to like you, and the others will if you let them get to know you.”

He pushed her head back against his chest, running his hand down her straight, dark hair. “Your so-called posse sounds a lot like my family.”

“Are you going to tell me?” she asked, her heart tight in her chest.

“Yeah, but it won’t be easy,” he replied. “I’ve thought about telling you a couple times, but I faltered. Maybe staying like this is best. I don’t want you to see my face.”

Shame. Its dark specter had a way of wrecking lives. But she knew its calling card. If he could only tell her like this, she’d be grateful for it. Afterward, she’d do her best to burn his shame away with the love in her heart. “I’m just happy that you’re holding me.”

“Good.” He coughed, as if clearing his throat. “I don’t know where to start. It’s unusual. I always knew where to start until recently.”

“Start with the first thing that comes to mind,” she suggested, falling back not only on her own counseling but on her training with people in need.

“Corey’s boy sobbing in my arms,” he said, tightening his hold around her. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about. Louisa, I ruined that little boy’s life. I came here thinking I could help Corey’s family, but what I did can never be undone.”

“Corey was your employee and friend who died in that natural disaster you told me about,” she said, urging him on.

“He wasn’t just an employee or a friend.” He coughed again. “He was my first cousin and my best friend since we were born. God!”

She tightened her hands on the arms he had around her as the pain in his voice echoed in the room.

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