Page 45 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
He was pulling on his clothes now, covering up all that wonderful muscled flesh.
“No, this would complicate things, and I have Hudson to care for.”
“And you think I’d stop you doing that?” He looked hurt at her words.
“I can’t do that with you again, Dan. Can’t be with you. Not after?—”
“We need to talk about what happened seven years ago, Leah.”
“Just go, Dan.”
His phone rang again.
“Just go now, please,” Leah insisted.
“We’re talking, and soon. That happened because we still have?—”
“Don’t say feelings because I can’t have those for you again. Please leave.”
He looked at her, and she saw the frustration in his eyes. He then closed the distance between them before she could retreat and kissed her hard. “This is not done between us, Leah. You need to understand that.”
Seconds later he was gone, closing the door softly behind him.
She sank into a chair, giving herself five minutes to breathe—and to remember how it had felt to be with Dan again. The warmth, the connection… the danger of wanting more.
Reality pressed back in. She couldn’t let it happen again. He’d hurt her before, and now she had Hudson. Her nephew had to be her focus.
But God, it had felt incredible. The strength in his arms, the heat of his body, and the way he’d moved inside her. Powerful, more intense than it had been between them before.
He was stronger now. Time had carved him into someone sharper, harder, and impossibly more irresistible. And sitting there, her body still humming with the memory of his touch, Leah realized with a jolt of terror how easy it would be to love Dan Duke again. Too easy. For seven years she had lived on the lie that he’d betrayed her, that he’d shattered her heart without hesitation. She had fed her rage like it was oxygen, because hating him was the only way she’d survived. But seeing him again, with his family and Hudson, she knew the kernel of doubt was growing inside her, that the man she’d made into her villain had only been doing his duty. That the real betrayal, the unforgivable one, had belonged to her father. And with that truth came the jagged grief of everything she’d lost: the years without him, the nights she’d cried herself empty, the love she had buried alive and sworn never to dig up again.
Leah dragged herself upstairs and showered. Once she was dressed, she knew that tonight, she would be putting on the performance of her life because what she really wanted to do was go to bed, pull the covers over her head, and never leave it again. But now she had Hudson to think of, so that wasn’t an option. Plus, she was about to watch a movie with Dan’s family.
Another bad decision, Leah. I wonder when you’ll ever stop making them, she thought.
Her mind went back to what she and Dan had done. It had always been good between them, but now, as adults, it had been so much more.
You messed up, Leah Reynolds.The problem was, now what did she do about it?
Chapter 13
Dan left Leah but wanted to stay. For the first time in his life as a deputy, he wanted to be somewhere else, but his uncle said it was urgent, so he couldn’t not go.
She’d shut him out as soon as he’d taken that call. Said it would never happen again and that it shouldn’t have happened. Dan knew better. Itwouldhappen because they’d always been like that with each other. And now, as adults, the need was stronger.
He had to make her talk to him. Dan was good with women, but she’d always been different, and he knew that was because he felt differently about her.
Once was never going to be enough with Leah, but he had a feeling it went deeper than that.Hell of a mess,he thought. After parking outside the station, he headed inside.
It was early evening, and the sun was starting to sink, but there were still plenty of people about. He waved his hand as Tripp jogged past with a group of runners.
He found his uncle in his office.
“Hey, Uncle Asher. You realize we’re missing movie night, right?”
His uncle sat behind his desk, drinking coffee. “Imagine how upset I am at missing out on Meadow’s popcorn. That alone must tell you how important this is,” he drawled. “I need you to look at this.”
Dan studied the two papers his uncle handed him. “What am I looking at?”
