Tempting Love (Cowboys & Angels 3)

Her lower lip trembled. “I am happy, Mitch. So very happy. And all I need is you.”

I rested my hand against her face, and she leaned into it. “I know you want to talk, and one of the things we need to discuss is why I didn’t tell you about the shooting this week.”

Corina’s gaze fell to the floor, and I knew it was because she didn’t want me to see the fear in her eyes.

A few seconds later, her gaze was back on mine. “Let’s go outside. I’m feeling a bit queasy, and I’m not sure if it was something I ate, or nerves.”

We sat on the rocking chairs that had been left by the previous homeowners. The sun had already dipped below the skyline, but there was still a touch of daylight.

The silence between us wasn’t awkward or worrisome. It felt natural.

“Mitchell, I’ve been thinking the last few days. One of the things I’ve been thinking about is your job. I know one of your biggest fears was to fall in love only to have something happen to you, leaving behind the person you fell for.”

My heart dropped in my chest.

Corina turned in the rocking chair, her legs pulled up so that she could sit sideways.

“I knew you were a cop when we spent that night together. I knew your job was dangerous and even though things didn’t work out right away, I still gave you my heart that night. Call me crazy, but something beautiful happened between us and I…”

She looked down at her hands. “I knew when you made love to me that morning, before you left, that there was something between us. I told myself I was stupid to be in love with a man who would walk away and never look back, but there were so many times I saw it in your eyes—I knew you had to feel the same thing I felt that morning.”

Corina chewed on her lip then took another deep breath. “There’s a reason neither of us truly moved on after that night.”

I nodded. “I agree.”

“But that’s in the past, and like you said, it only brings out hurt feelings when we revisit those memories. I just wanted you to know that I knew what I was getting into the first time we were together, and I know what I’m into now. I know your job is dangerous and I know there are going to be days when it puts your life at risk. But I don’t want you to hide that from me, Mitchell.”

My stomach dropped. “I didn’t tell you because—”

Her finger came to my lips. “I know why you didn’t tell me. That makes me love you more. But even if I am pregnant, we’ve got nine months of this. You can’t hide everything from me. I want our relationship to be built on trust. I trust you and you trust me. If I’m feeling a certain way, I want to communicate that with you, and I want you to do the same. Like your parents. I’ve watched them together and they’re not only in love, they’re partners in every sense. I want that for us.”

Guilt ripped through my body. I knew she was right, and I wasn’t about to start our relationship with secrets.

With a somber look, I nodded. “The past few weeks have been so damn amazing, Corina. I guess I was afraid something would happen and you’d leave.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Mitch, I’m not going anywhere. I swear to you.”

I reached for her hand and rubbed my thumb over her soft skin. “If anything ever happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.”

Her hand covered mine and our gazes connected. I could hear every sound around me. The wind blowing the branches up against the window of the house. An owl calling out as the sky grew darker. The sound of my heart beating in my chest.

“Talk to me, Mitchell. I see something in your eyes.”

I didn’t know how to start, so I just went for it. “Someone broke into your place the other day. They spray painted something on the kitchen wall.”

A look of pure terror moved over her face. “W-what did it say?”

I swallowed hard. My mouth went dry and I had to force the words out. “It said…um…”

“Just tell me, Mitch.”

Closing my eyes, I whispered, “Lieutenant’s whore.”

Corina’s gasp made my eyes snap open. A small part of me wished I hadn’t told her. The fear in her eyes was evident. I also couldn’t help but notice that her arms were wrapped around her stomach. Was she doing it because this made her sick to her stomach? Or was she worried about the baby she might be carrying?

She had to know that I would never let anything happen to her or our baby.

I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing came out. Mitchell picked me up out of the chair and carried me through the house and upstairs to a bedroom. Not the master, but one of the other rooms. There was a bed, dresser, and a few other pieces of furniture.