Page 62 of Fracture

“To what?”

“To want me in your life as much as I want you in mine.”

“I don’t have anything to offer you, Lorelei. I’m nothing special.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is. I live in a one-bedroom apartment in a crappy complex because I’ve never had anything. I… I don’t have any happy childhood memories. My mom left my dad and me when I was too young to remember her. My dad moved in with my grandmother, but he was barely around. My grandmother resented that she had to raise me and wasn’t afraid to let me know how she felt. There were no vacations or happy times. I was a burden. My whole life, I was a burden.”

“You saved my life,” she whispered.

“That was doing my job.”

“No. It’s so much more than that. You risked your job to find me. You walked away. You could have lost your job, and you were willing to do it to find me.”

“Because I knew you would be able to stop all of this. I believe in you.”

“All I am right now is a burden. I don’t know anything about what I’m doing. I can’t remember anything about the man who took me or what he wanted to know. I’ve invaded your home, your life. I never asked you if it was okay. I never asked you anything. Just let you take care of me, let you put your life aside for me.”

“I wanted to,” he confessed. “I wanted to do whatever I needed to do to help you. That won’t change.”

“Then how can you say you have nothing to offer? How can you think what you’re doing for me isn’t significant?”

“What am I doing that is significant? That anyone else couldn’t do for you?”

“No one else makes me feel the way you do.”

“You can give yourself orgasms,” he blurted.

She breathed a laugh. “Well, I’m happy to hear that, but I meant making me feel safe.”

“Oh.” Vinnie felt like a dick for going straight to sex.

“I know it doesn’t make any sense. I know no one gets it. But the only time I feel like I don’t have to look over my shoulder is when I’m with you. When you’re right there, making sure I have everything I need before I even know I need it.”

“The doctor said that’ll probably change as your memories come back.”

She breathed a laugh. “I don’t think it will, Vinnie. Karli and I talked a lot today, and the way she talks about Cade is the way I feel about you.”

“What?”

“When she was in trouble, Cade was there for her. He was the person who helped her, but he was also the one who made her feel like she could do anything.” Lorelei drew a breath. “I’m terrified of what’s in my mind. Of the memories. Of who I was. I don’t want to go back to that person. Someone who doesn’t have a person who’s watching out for me. Who knows when I’m missing. Who will stop at nothing to find me. Who’s alone.”

“You’re not alone.”

“Not when I’m with you. As long as you don’t shut me out.”

He was quiet for a minute. Letting her in was… The thought made his chest ache. He wanted her in his life. But everyone left him. Everyone decided he wasn’t worth the time and energy. He wasn’t worthy of loving.

“I’ll try,” he said.

“Good. So will I. Not that you asked.”

He exhaled a laugh.

“Now, will you take me to bed because this floor is killing me?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”