Page 69 of The Locksmith's Promise

What if this is too confusing for Corwin?

Plug.

What if he breaks my heart again?

Plug. Plug. Plug.

I’d spent the past decade learning to let him go, building reinforcements around the heart he shattered.

How was I supposed to just let him back in?

Fear of the unknown, grief for a love that had nowhere to land, and ten years of leaning only on myself bubbled up and boiled over with a snarl. “I don’t know how!”

He nodded, taking my anger in stride. “That’s fine. I do. I’ve thought of little else for the past ten years. All you need to do is open yourself to the possibility, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“You won’t push too hard?”

What was I doing?

How could I even think of going down this path again?

“You’ll let me know if I do,” he replied.

I dropped my face into my hands as hope exploded like a nuclear bomb in my chest. It would be my saving grace or my demise.

“I’m so scared,” I breathed through my hands as I pulled my knees up and rolled into a veritable ball.

His arms came around me. “I’m never going to let you go, Maggie.”

Holding myself rigid, I fought the tremors that threatened to take me.

Lifting me like I weighed nothing, he transferred me to his lap, tucked my head beneath his chin, and wrapped his arms around me, legs and all.

“God, Maggie,” he breathed, his lips moving in my hair. “I can’t believe you’re in my arms. It hardly seems real.”

With one hand creeping up to cup his nape, I turned my face into his throat and closed my eyes.

Baxter was holding me.

Baxter’s wide chest rose and fell beneath me with each life-affirming breath.

Baxter’s skin radiated warmth under my palm.

Baxter’s scent filled my lungs as I pressed my nose to his throat.

His big body, warm and solid beneath me.

His strong arms around me.

His breath fluttering over my temple.

His heart beating against mine.

My memories of us came flooding back.

Baxter laughing.

Baxter’s eyes smiling into mine as he tugged me forward into one adventure after another.

---