Stirring Attraction(47)

“You’re sure?” he said.

“Yes.” She closed the file and set it on the counter. Then she looked up at him. “How could you be certain it was?”

“The pieces lined up. Another random attack . . . It seemed plausible. I wasn’t certain, but—­”

“I’ve believed from the beginning that the man who came at me with a knife was after me. I never thought it was random. I know what your father and the rest of the police force thought, but . . .” She studied his resigned expression. He almost looked as if he’d been waiting for this. “Did you ever believe me? You told me that you did. But all this time, you agreed with your dad and . . . and everyone else.”

“No.” His tone was strong, forceful. “No, Lil—­”

“Do you believe me now? Do you think someone is after me?” she asked. “Or you think I’m just plain afraid?”

He ran his hands through his long hair. “I believed you. But I also know myself. I wanted the guy who hurt you to be out there, waiting for me to take him out. I wanted to crush him.”

She nodded as the truth sank in. Looking back, he’d always wanted to play the part of the hero, even if it meant fighting somewhere far away, living on the other side of the country—­even if it kept them apart. And she’d always let him. She’d always believed in him.

“And I let all that bullshit cloud my judgment,” he said. “Look at the facts. There were no links to anyone in your life. You never received a death threat. And no one has come after you. I know you’re afraid. That’s normal after what happened to you. And shit, Lil, I wanted to help you. I still do.”

“Did you really look into the names I gave you?” She needed to pinpoint when he’d dismissed the idea that someone wanted to hurt her.

“Yeah, I did. While you’ve been at the bar, I’ve slipped away to my dad’s and used his computer. I’ve combed through every reference to those names online and in the police databases. There was nothing to find, Lil. I would have told you if there was. I came home to help you, honey.”

“Ryan dragged you back here.” She felt her faith crumbling. She’d placed so much trust in Dominic, and for so long. Even when he’d left Forever six years ago to become a soldier.

But that had been taken from him. And now . . .

“My fears aren’t some project for you practice playing the hero again,” she added.

“Is that what you think I’ve been doing here?” He raised his right hand. The scar was visible from across the room. “I’m no hero. Hell, I’m not even cut out for the bodyguard role Ryan, Noah, and Josie dumped on me. I’m here because I love you. Do you hear me, Lily? I love you.”

“No,” she whispered. His words hung in the air, tossed out if he’d needed a trump card. Something to steal her attention away from the truth right in front of her. But how many times had he said those words only to walk away from her?

“You needed someone to help you through this. And yeah, I’m the wrong guy for the job because I care about you too damn much. Because I want you too damn much.”

I love you too.

She closed her eyes. It was real. She knew it in her heart. But she couldn’t tell him that. Not now, as the hard truth of her situation sank in. He’d come back because he loved her and she’d been hurt. But if she hadn’t needed someone watching over her night and day, he would have stayed away. He would have continued loving her from freaking Georgia.

If that was his idea of love . . . she didn’t want it. The kind of love couldn’t give her what she needed. She’d known from the beginning that the sense of security he offered felt tenuous at best.

“You’re right,” she said, opening her eyes. “You’re not a hero. You’re a coward. So go. Leave. You were planning to anyway.”

“Lily, I’m not leaving you like this.”

“Fine, then stay.” Whether he chose to remain in Forever or go back to Georgia didn’t matter. And it never had. How she felt in his arms, safe and secure, or whether he loved her or she loved him, none of that mattered if she couldn’t trust him. Because what she needed from him, what she needed for herself—­that required trust.

“But if you stay,” she added, “I need you to leave me alone.”

“Lily—­”

“I can’t fight my way back from this if you’re out there, watching my house from your car.” Her voice trembled with every word, but she pushed forward. She needed to say these words out loud and make sure he understood.