Page 89 of Resist

She glanced up at him and shrugged. “This morning, I was afraid I’d end up sleeping on the street.”

Coulton scowled. Like he would have ever let that happen. He crossed the room, pulling back the covers, nodding toward her side. “Get in.”

She did, sliding over toward him when he joined her. He loved how easily she came to him, how she sank into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. How she’d called him when she needed him.

Her soft sigh of contentment warmed him all the way to the core, because she sounded at peace.

For the first time ever.

“This year,” he murmured, “I have something pretty amazing to be thankful for.”

Ainsley didn’t lift her head, but he felt her hand slide over his chest to cover his heart.

“Me too,” she whispered.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Ainsley came awake slowly,wondering what could have roused her from a sound sleep.

“Shhh. It’s okay.”

She felt Coulton’s hand rubbing her back, up and down, the touch gentle and comforting, but confusing.

Until she realized his T-shirt, where her head was resting, was wet.

Lifting her hand, she wiped tears from her cheeks.

Had she been crying? In her sleep?

She raised her head and found Coulton looking at her. “It’s okay, Ainsley.”

The compassion in his voice was her undoing…and a lifetime of tears poured out of her. The dam was broken, and every defense she’d ever erected to protect herself came tumbling down.

Coulton pulled her head back to his chest, his grip on her firm, unwavering.

“It’s okay,” he said again. And again. And again.

Ainsley sobbed harder. “I don’t know what to do,” she gasped, struggling to say each word. She was facing a mountain of hard decisions, and she didn’t have a clue where to start.

“For right now, all you have to do is let it all go and hold on to me.”

She clung to him as she nodded, because that was all she could handle at the moment. “Okay.”

Her life was officially in tatters. Her father was dead. Her home gone. Her belongings destroyed. She had no money to replace what was lost. Hell, she didn’t even have enough money to bury Mick.

All she had left was that stupid tavern that she didn’t want.

No.

Wait.

That wasn’t all.

She had Coulton.

She lifted her head as her tears stilled, her doubts calmed, and her fears…

They vanished.

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