Page 87 of Run to Ground
“Uh…” He sent her a sideways look. “What’s the other option? A fake date?”
Her laugh had a sharp edge to it. “I don’t know.”
“When I saw your SUV, and I knew you were in the diner…” He blew out a harsh breath as the remembered fear flooded through him. “I’ve never been so scared. Ever.”
Her fingers tightened around his.
“If something had happened to you, I would’ve been so pissed at myself for all the time I wasted. I should’ve asked you out that first time I saw you at the diner.” He stared at Viggy, who was dancing circles around the laughing kids, before meeting Jules’s eyes. “I don’t want to waste any more time. I love you. I want to be with you.”
“I love you, too. And I want to be with you, more than anything. It’s just…” She paused before words burst from her. “I can’t tell you everything.”
“You mean about your past.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes.” Shifting around so she faced forward, she leaned against him again. “I can’t.”
“Because of them.” Again, it wasn’t a question. He gestured with his free hand to the playing kids.
She was quiet for so long that he didn’t think she was going to say anything, but then she admitted, “Yes.”
It was his turn to be silent for a moment. “Okay.”
“Really?” She swung around again to stare at him, and he smiled.
“I know you’re a good person, Jules,” he said. And he did. As much as it went against his nature not to ask questions, not to snoop and grill and do whatever it took to find out the truth, he believed she was doing what she felt was right. He didn’t have to hear the details to know that was true. “Whatever happened, I’m sure you did the right thing.”
“I did.” Her body softened into his. “Thank you. I know you don’t know the specifics, but it’s still good to hear.”
Sam came into view as he rode a beat-up bike around the final curve of the driveway. Although he slowed when he spotted them, he kept his bike pointed toward the porch. When he got close, he climbed off and walked the bike to the bottom of the steps. He stood there quietly for a minute, his eyes on Theo.
“I g-got the j-j-job,” he said finally.
“So I heard.” Theo tried to keep his voice gentle. It wasn’t a natural thing for him, since he generally sounded a little gruff, but something about Sam made it easy to be kind. “Congratulations. Nan said you’re a natural with the dogs.”
Sam’s smile was so quick, Theo would’ve missed it if he’d blinked at the wrong time. Next to him, he felt, more than heard, Jules’s inhale. Theo guessed it was her happy reaction to her brother’s rare smile.
“Of course he is,” she said, almost able to cover the choked note in her voice. “Sam’s awesome in all ways.”
Although he rolled his eyes at his sister, he looked even more pleased. “Th-thank you,” he said to Theo.
Theo waved off his thanks. “All I did was give you the number. You got the job, and it’ll be up to you to keep it.”
“I kn-know.” He turned his head toward his younger siblings, who were calling for him to join them. “B-b-but th-thank you anyw-way.”
“You’re welcome.” He watched as Sam propped his bike against the porch and then jogged over to join the other kids.
“Is it strange,” Jules asked quietly, “that when you’re sweet to my sister or brothers, it makes me want to drag you to my room and have my wild way with you?”
That startled a laugh out of him, one he cut off quickly. It still felt odd to be happy. “I don’t know if it’s strange, but you can drag me to your room anytime.”
Snuggling closer, she gave a melodramatic sigh. “I suppose we should wait until the kids are sleeping.”
“Probably a good idea.” Now that she’d mentioned it, though, it was all he could think about.
They sat there quietly for a few moments. “Want to join them?” Jules asked, nodding toward the kids.
“In their game, you mean?” It hadn’t even occurred to him. It’d been a long time since he’d played any sort of game.
“Sure.” Standing, she grabbed both of his hands and dragged him to his feet. “Let’s go. It’ll be fun.”
