Page 14 of Her Guilty Protector
“My feelings for you? All I can say is, you know when you know. For ten years I’ve known that I love you, Hawke. You’re it for me.
“I’m not sixteen anymore and I sure as hell am not innocent of what goes on in the world. I know what I feel. If you don’t reciprocate, there is nothing I can do that will change your mind. But don’t try to lie to me. I’ve seen things, wants, emotions, in your eyes. I can’t and won’t speak for you. You must be honest with yourself. I’ll accept the truth. But I won’t accept a lie.
“As for the age issue, I call...”
“Bullshit, I know. When did that become your favorite word?”
The hint of laughter in his voice brings a smile to my lips. “When you became so bull headed.”
“Your brother....”
“My brother warned you off. The whole Bro Code. Well, I’ll tell you the same thing I told him. My life. My rules. My choices.”
“H-he knows?”
“Of course he knows.”
“And he let me watch over you?” He runs a hand down his face. “I’m surprised he hasn’t shivved me.”
“I told him I’d never talk to him again if he did. He knows you’ve never touched or come on to me. But now that we’ve slept together....”
“Laney!”
“Kidding.... Look, I’m not sixteen anymore. I’ve been through things that change a person. The age difference at this point in life, is nothing.
I steel myself with a deep breath. “I’m no prize. There are...”
“IfI get pregnant, I’ll probably have to have a C-section. The reality, I may end up in a wheelchair at some point. Won’t that be fun!”
“That does not define you. You are a brilliant, talented woman. You’ll always be special, sweetheart. You’ll always be perfect,” he says.
“Then listen to yourself. I wantyou, Hawke. Not your sympathy or protection. It’s always been you and I’m pretty sure it always will be. I don’t want to force you to be or do something you don’t want. Bu?—”
“I’ve wanted you for ten years. Only you. There hasn’t been anyone else,” he responds.
“Wha... What areyousaying?”
“Your image in my mind and Rosie Palm. No one else could hold a candle to you. Not as beautiful, not as smart, or brave and kind. No one interested me.”
“Why have we wasted so much time? Why didn’t we say something? Do something?”
“I was deployed a lot. You were in school, then injured. The age gap thing. Your brother.” He smirks at me. “I taught him well. He knows how to hide a body.”
“Yeah, well I bet I could too!”
CHAPTER 9
Hawke
Whyhavewe wasted so much time?
Because I never thought an older, illegitimate kid with nothing but a military career was good enough for her. I never considered that she was woman enough to make her own decisions.
“Laney, I want what’s best for you.”
“Then you have to trust that I know what I want, and what is best for me,” she calmly states. “I’ve waited all these years for you. Every time I see you, I hope. Then you go and a little bit of my heart dies and the hope dims.
“I love you, Elias Hawke. Show me what I’ve been missing.”
