Page 28 of The Hero She Loves
She settled for a mixed-variety station. “Oh, so you don’t mind some Taylor Swift?”
His lips twitched. “No, I don’t. And I love some Rhianna.”
With a smile, she focused on driving.
The scenery was so different to Virginia. She’d lived there several years, close to the US Marshals Headquarters, though she was on the road a lot. Right now, there was green as far as she could see, with magnificent mountains rising up in the distance. Fields of colorful wildflowers added splashes of brilliant hues.
“I see why you chose to move here. It’s beautiful.”
He was silent for a moment. “I came here to be as far away from people as I could.”
Her heart thumped. Because he’d been locked in a cell and subjected to who knew what. She hurt for him. “I’m sorry.”
He glanced her way. “For what?”
“For those demons that are making you run.”
His mouth flattened. “I’m not running.”
“Okay.”
“I’mnot.” He huffed out a breath. “I’ve seen the worst people can do. I’ve earned the right not to deal with them anymore.”
“I would’ve thought you’d seen some of the best people can do too, Park.”
“I have. Some of those men and women—true, honest-to-God heroes—got blown to pieces because I wasn’t fast enoughto save them. When I think of them…” He shook his head and looked out the side window.
Her heart squeezed. She heard the guilt tangled up with so many emotions. He was strong, tough, yet he’d seen and done things that had worn him down. He’d been tortured. He’d survived when others hadn’t. All that had left him scarred—inside and out.
“Your ex sounds like a douchebag,” Park said.
She accepted the change of subject. “He is. Of epic proportions.”
Park looked back at her. “What happened?”
“We had a few decent dates, then he cheated. With a twenty-something-year-old college girl. They’re married now.”
“The guy must be an idiot.”
She raised a brow.
“To risk something with a smart, attractive, competent woman like you for a taste of anything else.”
She felt a flush of heat. “I consider it a lucky escape. I don’t give him, or his young wife, much thought at all.”
“But he left his mark.”
Yeah, her experience with Vic had rattled her confidence. She hated that Park saw that. When she’d discovered her smiling, loving father was a killer, her life had imploded. She’d vowed to never let a man fool her like that. Vic had come too damn close.
“Life leaves its mark, Park. For better and worse. We learn and grow, and we can’t let it break us.”
She felt his gaze on her but she didn’t look his way.
Up ahead, she glimpsed something in the distance. She leaned forward, and soon she made out an old truck pulled over on the side of the road. Its hood was up, steam rising from it.
“What’s this?” They hadn’t seen anyone for miles.
Park peered forward. “Looks like someone needs help.”