Page 21 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

I should have reassured him it was fine, that I’d missed him even. Xander and I were the closest in age of all our siblings, and we’d naturally banded together against Trace and Gage. But I couldn’t open my mouth.

I couldn’t say a word.

Because all I could think was, had it been my brother that hurt Reece?

My head slowly turned as I sought her out. Somehow, I knew she hadn’t gone inside the house. She’d looked so scared when I saw her standing frozen to the spot on the porch. It had been her wide, frightened eyes that made me snap. That had the urge to protect roaring to life inside me.

And now I was dreading looking at the woman who had me so intrigued.

I didn’t know how I’d ever make it up to her if Xander had been the one to hurt her.

“Trace?” Xander sounded so confused as he turned to our other brother for answers.

I didn’t catch our youngest brother’s response because I was too busy looking at Reece standing on the porch. Delaney had an arm wrapped around her shoulders in support as she sagged against her. Tears trailed down her cheeks, but she looked so relieved. Her hand lay gently on the back of Cade’s head as he wrapped her up in a hug.

She looked so right standing on my porch, part of my family, that it was impossible for me to stay away from her.

“It’s not you, man,” I heard Trace say as I strode toward the house. “We’ve got some stuff going on, and we thought you were someone else.”

I faintly heard the car door close as I took the porch steps two at a time. Delaney smiled happily as I crossed the wooden planks with a purpose I didn’t quite understand.

I pulled Reece from Delaney’s side, wrapping her tightly in my arms as I crushed her to my chest, cautious not to put any pressure on her ribs. My cheek laid against her hair, and I breathed in the sweet smell of her coconut shampoo.

“I’ve got you, baby. It’s not him. No one’s going to hurt you here.”

Reece’s breath hitched as she clung to me, soaking up whatever strength I could give to her.

I knew I shouldn’t be hugging her. It wasn’t right. I’d offered her help, and I didn’t want her to feel like she owed me anything for it.

Yet still I couldn’t step back. I couldn’t let go of her.

Reece and I barely knew each other. We’d spent such little time together, and I wasn’t exactly the friendliest guy.

But more than that, she was here to heal, and she didn’t need me panting after her like she was a dog in heat. I shouldn’t be clinging to her now because I knew this could be the only chance I ever got to hold her. I shouldn’t be thinking about how well she fit against me, how perfect she felt in my arms.

So I gritted my teeth, and I forced myself to step back. To put the distance between us that there always should have been.

“I’m sorry…” she started.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. None of this is your fault.”

She shook her head sadly, and I shoved my hands in my pockets in an effort to keep them to myself. “I’m going to feed the mare. She’s due another hay net.”

I let her go. I hated it, but I knew Reece needed the space.

“Booker, you should go with her,” Delaney said softly from behind me.

“No.”

“She needs you.”

I turned to look at my soon-to-be sister-in-law then and shook my head sadly. She wouldn’t understand. She had her happily ever after already. Delaney was too far into her happy life to realize that it didn’t turn out that way for everyone.

“I’m just the guy who found her on the side of the road and gave her a place to stay.”

This was the best thing for Reece.

I’d get over this stupid infatuation in time, and she’d go on to live the life she deserved.

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