Page 36 of Heartbeats & Highways

“I do,” he admitted. “I won’t shy away from that. Tell me about your past.”

“What?”

“How many men have you been with?”

I nibbled my lip which drew his attention. “One.”

“One,” he repeated.

I nodded, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

“Is your hesitation because of your lack of experience or because the experience was terrible?”

My eyes widened in shock.

“It all makes sense,” he said slowly. “The motel, the cash job under the table, your skittishness at getting too close to me—or anyone, really. You’re on the run from your ex, aren’t you?”

I shook my head in negation.

“You can be honest with me,” he urged.

“He’s not my ex.”

His brows slashed together in confusion. “You mean you’re still with him?”

“No, I mean—” I took a deep breath, “—he died, Savage. It was a bad marriage, and I was left with nothing. I’m not running from anyone. I’m just trying to start over.”

Savage took a step toward me tentatively, like he was afraid I’d bolt if he approached too quickly. “Fuck, Evie. I’m sorry.”

Tears, unwelcome and unbidden came to my eyes. I hastily turned away from him so he wouldn’t see, but it was too late. He set a hand on my shoulder and gently turned me toward him, pushing me into the wall of his chest. I pressed my cheek against his shirt and breathed him in, my breaths rickety, the tears falling even though I didn’t want them to.

“I’ll help you start over,” he whispered gruffly. “Whatever you need. You need time? I can give you time.”

But my worry was that I didn’t want time. That I was suddenly hurling myself toward him like a comet toward theEarth. And I worried that I wasn’t making a good decision, and I was afraid of the fallout.

But there was this man—this strong, beautiful man—who protected me, found me a safe place to live and a job where my heart didn’t beat in fear every time a large man stepped toward me.

“Maybe I am a stray,” I admitted softly.

His fingers drove through my hair, and he gently tugged my head back so he could stare into my eyes.

I got lost in his gaze. Pools of brightness banished the darkness of my past.

“Maybe we can be strays together.”

Chapter 10

Savage continuedto hold me long after I’d recovered. When I finally made a move to leave the security of his embrace, his arms tightened.

“Another minute,” he murmured, resting his chin on my head.

I smiled against him.

“Waverly told me once that a twenty second hug triggers the release of oxytocin which helps reduce stress, improves your mood, and deepens emotional connection.”

“We’ve hugged longer than twenty seconds,” I pointed out.

“Hmm. True. But I like you here.” He squeezed me and then let me go.

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