Page 116 of Cowboy's Last Stand
She scrambled to her feet and stared at him in horror.“You read my letters.”
It wasn’t the correct conclusion, but it was close.She’d realize the truth at some point, with or without his help.
“You went into my closet and searched through my personal belongings?”she asked.“You read the letters my husband wrote me?How could you do that?”
He held up his palms as if he was innocent.“I didn’t.”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“I didn’t read your letters.Not the way you mean.”
She started tugging on her clothes in jerky motions, her eyes wide with shock.“I don’t understand.”
“I worked with Mike,” Jason said, biting the bullet.“In Kabul.”
Her face went slack.
“He saved my life.The story I told you was about him.”
Tears filled her eyes as the words sank in.“Mike… saved your life.”
Jason found his shirt and put it on.He watched her struggle with her own blouse, his stomach roiling.She seemed to have lost the ability to do buttons.Her shaking fingers wouldn’t work.He didn’t offer his assistance.The only touch they were going to exchange now was a slap, given by her to him.
“All this time,” she whispered.“You’ve been lying to me.”
His jaw tightened as agony ripped through him.
“Why?”
“I haven’t lied.Not directly.”
“I knew you were too good to be true,” she said, holding her blouse closed.“I knew there was something wrong with you.”
He massaged the nape of his neck.She had every right to feel deceived and betrayed.
“I knew I couldn’t trust you,” she said.“I knew you were hiding something.”
He put his hands on his hips and hung his head.There was no way to convince her that he hadn’t meant to deceive her.He hadn’t meant to trick her or manipulate her.He’d just failed to tell her the complete story.It was the worst mistake of his life, next to underestimating the danger in Kabul.
“I tried to tell you,” he said huskily.
“You tried?”
“I did tell you,” he said, going on the defensive.“I couldn’t tell you everything at once because it was too painful for the both of us.But I told you what I could, when I could.I told you about the accident.”
“You didn’t tell me it was Mike who died beside you!”she cried.
“I told you every detail except his name.Your husband died in an explosion, Natalie.He worked in the EOD.Military casualties aren’t that common, even in the most dangerous jobs.Deep down, you knew it wasn’t a coincidence.You knew.”
Her lips thinned with fury.“How dare you?”
He sank to the sofa and buried his hands in his hair.He’d never felt lower.“I’m sorry.”
“You were right about one thing.It should have been you.”
Jason didn’t argue because he agreed on this point.It should have been him.
“Get out,” she said.“I never want to see you again.”
