Page 50 of Unhinged

Her sweet smile made his heart ache. He dropped one more kiss on her lips before shooting a wink her way and stepping out into the bright morning light. He glanced over his shoulder to where she stood outlined in the doorway. A soft smile on her face, she made for a beautiful sight—one he hoped he’d see a whole lot more often.

The sun had just begun its descent, disappearing over the back of the house as Luke pulled into the driveway and parked next to Hannah’s car. He unfolded from the driver seat, then rounded the hood of her car. “Why don’t you park in the garage?”

She rolled her eyes. “Andrew asked me the same thing. I don’t mind parking outside.”

At least they agreed on that score. “I think it might be better if you parked inside. That will at least keep someone from knowing if you’re home or not.”

Her head tilted up to meet his gaze, so close that her chest barely grazed his midsection. “You’ll keep me safe, won’t you?”

His hands automatically went to her hips and pulled her flush against him. “Always, beautiful. You can count on it.”

A slow grin spread over her face, and he bent his head, capturing her lips with his. It went on for several long moments until her hands slid up to his chest and gently pushed. Pink tinged her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze to the ground before looking up at him again. “We’d better get inside; we’re giving my neighbors a show.”

He glanced to the left where an elderly man stood across the street watering his flowers. He lifted one hand in greeting, and the older man returned the wave with a smirk. “Come on, let’s head in.”

Placing a hand on her lower back, he guided Hannah up the stairs to the front door. Following her inside, he closed and locked the door before heading toward the kitchen. They tossed together a quick meal, and afterward, Hannah cuddled up next to him on the couch as they watched TV. Her body felt tense, and she bit her lip, a faraway look in her eyes. Finally, he muted the television and turned her in his arms.

“Okay, Doc. What’s on your mind?”

Her head swiveled toward him, a guilty look on her face. “Oh, I… It’s nothing, never mind.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing.” He studied her for a moment. “You can talk to me if something’s bothering you.”

“I was just wondering…” Her gaze dropped to her hands where she picked at an imaginary piece of lint on her pants. “Where do you think things are headed?”

The question caught him off guard. “With us?”

Her head jerked up. “I mean, I know it’s too early to label anything, but I thought… I don’t know what I thought.” She let out a sigh and scrubbed her palms over her face. “I’m making a mess of this already.”

“No, you’re not.”

She looked so vulnerable that Luke wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and comfort her the only way he knew how. But she didn't need physical reassurance right now. She needed words.

He reached out and gently turned her chin toward him, waiting until her eyes met his. “If you're asking whether I'm interested in you—in a serious relationship with you—the answer is yes.”

Instead of looking relieved, Hannah seemed to pale even more.

“I just… there's something you should know.”

Luke stiffened as their previous conversation came to mind. She'd insisted she didn't have a boyfriend, but her expression suggested whatever she was about to say wasn't something he was going to like.

Her hands drifted back to her lap, twisting together nervously. “I don't even know how to start. Oh, God, this is so awkward.”

She drew in a shaky breath before letting it out, staring at her hands as she spoke. “Remember how I told you I had a bad experience in high school?”

Luke didn't answer the rhetorical question, and she continued, “Well, it was really hard for me to open up to people after that—especially guys. I went on dates, but I never really trusted anyone enough to be… intimate.”

She'd never...?

A rush of emotion hit him all at once. Pride that she'd protected something so important. Hope that, if their relationship reached that point, she might trust him enough to share that first with him. But beneath it all was fear.

What if she placed that trust in him and the experience only brought back painful memories? What if she regretted it afterward? Worse, what if she regretted trusting him?

He was getting ahead of himself.

For a moment, Luke couldn't find the words. Mistaking his silence, Hannah turned to him with a pained expression.

“If you don't want to see me anymore, I'll understand.”