Page 87 of The Guest Cottage

He started to turn away, but she knotted her hands in his shirt and did her best to bring him back around. She succeeded only because he let her. “I’m not a badass Marine, so I can’t pretend to know how you feel. But I know it hurts, I swear I do.”

His gaze veered from hers, but she brought it right back with a gentle touch to his cheek. “How is Nathan’s wife now? His kids?”

“She remarried a few months ago. She seems happy. The kids are doing great. They’ve all . . . adjusted.” He crushed Marlow against him. “They’re both girls, cute as hell. Everyone is okay. I see that, and I’m glad.” His mouth firmed, and his nostrils flared on a ragged breath. “I’m also aware of what he lost.”

“It was tragic,” she said, wishing there was a way to ease him. “All those heroes—”

“Brothers,” he said. “Good men.”

Hewas a good man. She had to make him see that. “That describes you, too, Cort. You are the finest man I’ve ever known.”

He made a sound of disgust.

“It’s true!” With one hand still knotted in his shirt, she thumped his chest. “This town is amazing, but you’re a big part of what makes it that way. Your mother’s life started out awful, but it ended happily because of you.” She released him just long enough to swipe away her tears. “Don’t you dare downplay your worth.” Her voice broke. “Not to me.”

Brows coming together, he whispered incredulously, “You’recrying?”

“So? I’m allowed.” She swallowed heavily, and more tears welled up. Damn it, now she understood why tears frustrated Pixie so much. But if there was ever a reason to cry, this was it. To see this strong, capable, caring man suffering such awful guilt . . . She’d cry buckets for him, whether he liked it or not.

“Babe, don’t.” Gently now, he cuddled her to his chest. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have unloaded on you.”

“Gah!” Taking him by surprise, Marlow shoved him back, nearly tripping herself in the process. She saw his shocked face, and it only angered her more. “Iwantyou to unload on me!” She pressed a fist to her chest. “I want you to share with me. Trust me.Includeme.”

“Marlow?”

“Don’t you dare look confused! There’s no way you don’t know that I’m . . .”Falling in love with you. She sucked in a startled breath. They stared at each other, both of them silent.

She wasn’t falling. Oh, no.

She was flat on her face, completely and thoroughly in love with Cort Easton.

And she didn’t even know if she’d get to stay in Bramble.

“Good God,” she breathed, feeling as bewildered as he looked. Hastily, she stepped up to him again and tried to sound like a logical woman as she—nicely this time—embraced him. “Thank you for telling me, Cort. I mean that. I love that you shared with me. Please, always feel free. I want you to.”

Cautiously, his hands came to her back.

The poor man probably didn’t know if she’d explode on him again. “Of course, I’m heartbroken for you, too, and for the men who lost their lives.” To think he’d been carrying this burden all alone. That was the worst part. “The thing is, Cort, I’m so very, very glad you’re still here. Not just in this town but in the entire world, because I swear, it’s better with you in it.”

He stroked his hands up and down her back as if to soothe a wild animal. “I’m glad you’re here, too, in Bramble.”

“With you.” She tipped her head back. “Say it.”

For long moments he just stared down into her wet eyes, then he growled, “With me,” and punctuated the words with a kiss that seemed to put everything right.

His hands cupped her face as he deepened the kiss. He let up long enough to reiterate, “I’m glad you’re here with me.” Then he took her mouth again.

Marlow groaned. God, it felt good to be wanted by Cort. So good that she wouldn’t have stopped, but he was a responsible guy—a Marine, she reminded herself—so when he gradually eased up, she slumped against him, trying to catch her breath.

His thumb brushed her cheek, then her damp bottom lip. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“I live for deals,” she quipped back, feeling a little unsteady on her feet.

His mouth curled in one of those small smiles she cherished. “How about you stop trying to conquer the world, and I’ll try to deal with my guilt?”

“Or,” she said, loving him so much it almost hurt, “we could just be imperfectly human together.”For now. Tomorrow. Possibly. . . forever.

“See. You always have a solid plan.”

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