Page 35 of Blurred Love

Only time will tell.

After I pack my bag, he carries it outside. He keeps walking to his truck, and I stop at my car. When he realizes I’ve stopped, he turns and comes back to me. “Ride with me.”

I shake my head in denial. “No, I’ll need my car to get back and forth to work.”

He measures me with a look. “I can take you, and if I’m working, you can use my truck.”

I grab onto the door handle like it’s a lifeline. “No, I need my car.”

He walks toward me until we’re toe to toe. “What’s this about, Poppy?”

I shrug, not really wanting to get into it right here and now. “I want my car… just in case.”

He puts a hand to my chin. “In case you need to run?”

I jerk from him defiantly. “I’m not going to run, but in case you have another nude woman claiming to be your wife, I’m not going to want to stick around.”

He lets out a deep sigh. “We were doing so good, honey. Don’t let this come between us.”

I’m looking over his shoulder instead of at him. I know he’s right. We were doing so good, better than good. His voice is soft and filled with patience. “Poppy, look at me, baby.”

I openly glare at him. “What?”

“It’s you and me. I need you to remember that. I should have told you that I was married before, and trust me, if I could go back in time, I would. No more keeping things from you, and I’m going to prove to you that you’re the only woman I want. I love you.”

I sigh. “I love you too.” Gesturing to my car, I tell him, “I’d really like to take my car though.”

He nods and walks around to help me in. He kisses me until I’m breathless. “I’ll follow you, honey.”

He closes the door, and I watch him walk to his truck, put my bag in, and then get into the driver’s side.

I follow him to the Heroes Rehab Center. It’s only when I’m alone that I’m able to process everything that has happened today. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions. I understand why he did what he did, and I’m hoping we can work through it because more than anything, I want to be with Colter. I don’t want to lose him.

I park beside him in the parking lot, and he carries my bag on one side and holds my hand with the other. I can feel myself getting tense the closer we get to his house. I wish I could let it go, but it’s going to take me some time, it seems. Hopefully he understands where I’m coming from because he said himself he wouldn’t like it if someone tried to claim me.

He must feel me tense next to him because he asks me, “What’s wrong?”

I look around, wondering if we’re going to run into Carrie again or not. “Nothing is wrong.”

He sighs softly and leads me up the steps to his cabin, using his keys to unlock the front door. We walk in, and Colter drops my bag on the couch, but I am a little slower in following him. I’m looking around, searching for any remnants of his ex-wife.

Colter is looking around too, and I’m wondering if he’s doing it for the same reason as me. “What can I do to fix this?”

I inhale. “There’s nothing to fix. I understand why you didn’t tell me, but I just don’t want to be in that position again, that’s all.”

He kisses my forehead. “I promise, there’s no more secrets between us, honey.”

I put my hands on his arms and look up at him. “I just don’t want to lose you.”

He shakes his head. “That’s not going to happen. I’m yours.”

I loop my arms around his neck. “Prove it. Make love to me, Colter.”

He lifts me in his arms and carries me to the bedroom. “Gladly.”

As he lowers me to the bed, he’s looking at me intently. There’s a sadness to him, and I cup his face. “What is it?”

He swallows. “I’ve been to hell and back, Poppy. I’ve been through war, I’ve had my best friends—my brothers—permanently injured and even die. I’ve experienced it all, and at one point I even wished my life was over.”

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