Page 62 of Depths of Destruction
She wants to stay with him.
My heart beats so hard in my chest, I feel as though I can't breathe.
She's telling you what she wants. Be a man about it.
"It's not safe for you to hide out here while this is going on. You need to get out of Belize. If you want me to bring you back here when it's safe again, then I will."
She leans her head away from my chest. "Do you think I want to get back with him?"
"Isn't that what you're telling me?"
"No."
"No?"
"No."
I release the breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Then why did you say you don't want to hurt me?"
"Haven't I?"
"No."
"I've put you in a crappy position."
"How have you done anything of the sort?"
She raises her eyebrows at me.
"Oh, you mean because I have to accept help from your ex who's still in love with you?" I tease.
She bites back a smile.
"Or the fact he's calling me Rambo, too?"
She winces. "Sorry about that. But I told you that you're way sexier."
"You didn't use the word 'way' before."
She softly laughs and strokes the side of my head. "A million times sexier."
"That's better for my bruised ego."
Her smile falls. "I really like you. I... I like us."
My insides do a happy dance. "Good, because I really like us, too."
"I don't want my past to screw us up. But Darien..." She turns and exhales.
"What about him?" It comes out as a growl, and she jumps. I curse myself for not keeping my cool. "Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I hurt him pretty badly, and I don't want to harm him again."
She hurt him? He's the one who didn't man up and put her needs first.
"What did you do?"
"I put my career over him."
