Page 124 of Pinch of Love

Cash!

He was here.

I turned slowly to see him, but it was as if I were looking at a shadow of a human, his eyes fiery with something I didn’t recognize.

Nate whispered something to him, and he took a step toward me.

And another.

With each step, the fire turned to something else until I was in his arms. His hands slid up my back to my head, his fingers tangling in my hair.

“My, God, Maya. What happened? What happened?” he muttered with his mouth pressed against my forehead.

I tried to speak, but I couldn’t. The words stayed in my throat, tucked deep in my mind.

I’d been so wrong about Rob. My job was to read people. To help people.

I didn’t even recognize the signs right in front of me.

Seeing the terror and anger running through Cash’s gaze made me feel even worse. He could have lost me tonight.

Something could have happened to another woman he loved because of stupidity.

My stupidity.

I should have told him about the letters.

About Rob making a move again, intimidating me.

I drew a deep breath, but tears fell quickly down my face as Cash knelt down to wipe them away.

“Let it out, my love. Let it out.” He held my head to his chest, but his heartbeat was quick and powerful—not the gentle rhythm that I’d always found comforting.

Because of me.

It was so absolutely ridiculous to believe that with an upbringing like mine, I could find and maintain anormal.

The chaos of Rob stuck to me like glue. It didn’t matter that a nice guy with a heart of gold could promise me safety.

No, I’d somehow ensured that I’d screw it up.

By hiding the truth.

By hiding my reality.

The dirty, messy world that came riding on my back when I rolled into Buttercup Lake.

Cash deserved better.

“Hey, we’re taking him in now,” Nate told us. “If you want to go around the corner so you don’t have to see him, Maya... totally fine.”

I straightened and shook my head, turning to face Nate. “I want to see him in handcuffs.”

Cash rubbed my back as we waited for a glimpse of the man who’d spent years making my life hell.

But I’d let him on some level, right?

No. It wasn’t true.