Page 50 of Trust

“You’re light and goodness, so I don’t see how that’s possible. Why they want to hang out with my cranky ass is not something I’ll ever understand.” He shrugged. “Perhaps they like tussling with my demons.”

“And why do you allow those pesky bastards to hang around?”

“If the Army psych is to be believed, it’s because I can’t forgive myself for failing—for not bringing the men home I was entrusted with.” He ran his hand over a stack of pictures. “For the lives I took and the ones I didn’t. You live on the front lines for any amount of time, and you are bound to come home with more than a few regrets.” He bent his head. “I don’t know how the ledger will come out when I stand at the pearly gates, but I’m praying that I did more good than bad.”

“I suppose that’s all any of us hope for.”

“True. But I had more of a chance to land on the wrong side. Most days, I’m convinced I failed.”

“The fact that you stood between good and evil tells me that you did no such thing.”

“I guess time will tell.”

“Are you getting hungry?” She stepped back. “I brought you a feast.”

Zane moved closer. “Any chance of me feasting on you first?” He took her hand and pulled her into his chest. “I’ve been working on the master bath and think you might like what I’ve done.”

She pulled his head down and rested her lips against his lush mouth. “Oh, yeah…”

“Yeah.”

He took her mouth in a feral kiss of possession, and she had never wanted to give in to a man more. Zane Hawker was all the colors, all the dangerous emotions, and everything that didn’t make sense. If he had a blinking sign over his head, it would read: danger ahead, turn back now.

Which is exactly what she should do because the only way she’d survived losing Thad was by living small.

Not wanting much.

Risking nothing.

“You done fighting with yourself?” Zane asked against her mouth.

“I wasn’t…”

He pulled away from the kiss. “Tell me, Liv.”

“You scare the hell out of me.” She looked down. “I’ve never been one to walk into the fire, but you make me want to do exactly that. A part of me wants to smother you in sexy vibes and possibilities. But the sane part knows that backpedaling it to the nearest exit would be best.”

“Why would you want,” he kissed her leisurely, “less of this?”

“Because you’re likely lethal to my long-term sanity.”

He rested their heads together. “Just know I have the same struggle but am trying not to obliterate my first chance at happiness.”

She took his face in her hands. “I’m never ready for your surprising sentiments.”

“Join me on the edge of reason, Liv. And let’s see if we can beat the odds.”

“I don’t like the edge, Zane.”

“But that’s where the good stuff is.” He pressed their bodies together. “Do you feel like checking out the clawfoot tub in my bathroom?”

Grabbing his hand, she headed toward the staircase. “I want to check you out…naked…in the tub.”

A low rumble of laughter echoed off the wood rafters, and she knew it was a sound she would remember for a long time.

No matter how things turned out.

Few things in life made Zane’s hands shake. And even fewer things made him wish he had some poetic talent.

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