Page 86 of The Hero She Loves

Park’s heart started pounding. “You aren’t talking about Olson, right?”

“Very funny. I’d elbow you, but I know it would hurt.” She shifted to look him directly in the eyes. “I know you don’t want to hear this, Parker, but I’m falling in love with you.”

He froze. He couldn’t move, couldn’t think. This gorgeous, smart woman loved him?

“I broke the rules. I promised you casual, but I’m not going to lie to you. I’m falling for you.” Her nose wrinkled. “I’m really close to all the way in love.”

“No.”

Her eyebrow rose. “Yes.”

Suddenly, the boat engine noise changed. He glanced over and saw Ren at the controls. The man worked on a research vessel and knew boats. He swung the boat around and pointed them back toward Valdez.

Park looked back at the woman staring at him. “You can’t love me.” Hell, his voice was shaky.

Her fingers curled on his forearm. “I do.”

“You deserve better than me.” She couldn’t love him. She’d seen all his shadows, his scars, she’d seen all of him.

She made a sound. “Are you telling me I don’t deserve a good man who respects me, likes my strength, has seen me cry, who has my back?”

Park swallowed.

“Who lights me up in bed.”

He glanced up, and saw Ren and Vander watching them. Both the assholes were grinning.

Jenna touched his cheek and brought his gaze back to her.

“I’m falling crazily in love with you, Parker Conroy. So you’re just going to have to deal with it.”

His throat was too tight to talk. He pulled her against his chest and held her tight. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“You deserve to be loved, Park. I’m going to prove that to you.”

The Valdez harbor was a zoo.There were police and state troopers everywhere. An ambulance, plus the helicopter, sat on the street in front of the harbor. Curious onlookers stood on the sidewalk, pointing and speculating. Owen was directing things as best he could.

Jenna smiled as she scanned around her. Her partner was doing a hell of a job.

Olson was now shackled. There were four armed state troopers standing guard over him.

Vander and his guys had changed. They still looked badass. She’d never forget the moment when Vander and Ren had appeared on the boat.

She turned. Park was getting checked over by the paramedic. Though he was trying to push the guy away.

She stalked over. “Hey, I got checked over, and now it’s your turn.”

He glared at her. “Put that ice pack back on your face.”

She held it up. “I will, if you let the nice paramedic check your ribs.”

Park scowled, but unbuttoned his shirt. He winced, and it was obvious the stubborn man was in pain.

She pressed the ice pack back to her face. Nothing was broken, thankfully. She kept an eye on Park, on the man she loved, as the paramedic wrapped up his sore ribs.

Park kept glancing at her, like she might disappear.

Her scarred hero loved her. She knew it. He just didn’t believe that he deserved to be loved back.