Page 158 of Three Reckless Words

He told me to listen so I’ll keep my mouth shut, but it’s hard when his words are so heavy and I want to kiss him, to tell him he doesn’t need to go out of his way to confess whatever it is that’s eating him up.

I’m trying not to cry again.

“I was very young when I met Rina, and it moved way too fast,” he says. “I didn’t have my life figured out before she got pregnant, before we were even serious. I tried to make the impossible work.”

Yep, the tone of his voice alone means I’m definitely going to cry now, but I keep listening.

“On paper, I did all the right stuff,” he says, bitterness creeping into his voice. “I proposed. I gave her a big-ass ring, quit the army, came home, and tried to make a family. Everything was for her and my boy. Then she grew restless. She put her dreams over our family—and it fucked me up because I let it.”

“Archer,” I whisper.

He shifts, pivoting until he’s looking at me.

“This life I puteverythingon hold for was over, and I blamed her for years. Maybe it wasn’t all her fault, but the fact is, she left. She ran away from me and herson. And I don’t think I ever got over it.”

“I’m sorry.” I put my other hand over his and squeeze. “That must’ve been so hard. But I… I don’t understand. Is that why we’re here? So you could tell me about Rina?” And the fact that he’s not over her haunting him.

That stings more than it should.

“Not Rina. Not specifically.” He makes an impatient gesture with his free hand. “I brought you here because everything that’s happened lately peeled my blinders off. Having you around showed me how much I’ve let Rina fuck me up, Winnie. I let her put chains on my life without even being here, and I’m done with all that.”

“Done?” I swallow.

“Yeah. Done with letting the past have any power over me, Winnie.” He touches my face, tracing where the tears traveled half an hour before. “I’m done with dancing around the damn elephant in the room. I’d rather be trampled than keep pretending I don’t want to be with you for real.”

My laugh comes out startled and definitely snotty. “You mean… Are you being serious right now?”

“I am.”

“You want to be with me? For real?”

“How many times do I have to tell you, woman?” He tugs me closer and our lips graze. “I want that fuckhead out of your life. Permanently,” he growls. “I also want to make you forget he ever existed.”

Holy hell.

This might be it.

The moment for me to say it, to gush love all over him like the crazy idiot I am, but I just wrap my arms around him and kiss him like my life will end if I don’t.

Right now, it might.

He kisses me back just as fiercely, and in the middle of the forest, with just Archer, it feels right.

Like this is meant to be.

Not just a distraction, but destiny.

Archer Rory tastes like home, my very own nest of honey-sweet words and ferocious muscle, and the realization doesn’t scare me.

If he’s not afraid to be with me, how can I be scared to love him with my whole heart?

20

BEE OPEN (ARCHER)

I’m no optimist.

I’m sure everyone I know would consider me a blackhearted certified pessimist from the day I was born, but lately, there’s no denying the truth.

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