Page 62 of Cowboy's Healing Heart

I reach out, tracing the line of his jaw. He catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm.

"I miss you," I say softly.

Shane's brow furrows. "I'm right here."

I shake my head. "No, you're not. Not really."

He sighs, pulling me closer. I let him, even as part of me wants to pull away.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs against my hair. "This isn't how I wanted things to go."

I close my eyes, breathing in his scent. "I know."

We lie there in silence, the gap between us feeling wider than ever. I want to bridge it, to find my way back to the man I fell for. But I don't know how.

Shane's arms tighten around me, and I feel his lips press against the top of my head. We're lying in bed, the sheets tangled around our legs. Ashanti's sleeping in the next room, so we're keeping our voices low. It's the middle of the night, but neither of us can sleep.

There's too much to say and too many secrets to share.

"Tell me about your family," I whisper, tilting my head to look up at him. "The real story."

Shane takes a deep breath like he's steeling himself. I can feel the rise and fall of his chest.

"My family...they're not just wealthy. They're billionaires."

I blink, trying to process his words. "Billionaires? As in, multiple billions?"

Shane nods, his jaw tense. "My dad built an empire—Innoventis Defense Tech. They're one of the biggest military contractors in the country. It's his life's work, and he expects me to take over."

My mind reels as I try to wrap it around this new information. Shane—my Shane—is the heir to a billion-dollar fortune? It seems impossible, incongruous with the man I know.

But I listen as he tells me about growing up in New York, about the pressure to be perfect, to live up to his father's expectations. It's a world so far removed from anything I've ever known.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, unable to keep the hurt from my voice.

Shane's expression softens, and he kisses my lips softly. "I wanted you to see me for who I really am, not just the family name. You've never treated me differently because of money or status. That's one of the things I love about you."

I shake my head. "You should know me better than that by now, Kennedy."

He smiles at the use of his last name when he's creeping beneath my skin. "I do know you. That's why I'm telling you this. I need you to understand what you're getting into with me."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

Shane's expression turns serious again. "My family...they're not going to let me go that easily. Especially now that I've found you."

I lean into his touch, my anger dissipating. "So why are you telling me now?"

Shane takes a deep breath. "Because I want you to know everything. No more secrets."

"And Courtney?" I ask, trying to keep the jealousy out of my voice.

Shane sighs. "An arranged marriage. Our families thought it would be good for business."

I feel a pang in my chest. "Do you love her?"

"No," Shane says firmly. "I never did. It was always just... expected."

I nod, processing this information. It's a lot to take in, and I'm not sure how I feel about it all. Part of me is angry that he kept this from me. Another part understands why he did.

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