Page 39 of Yuletide Guard

A jolt of electricity.

Something passed between them.

All those fears about whether or not their friendship could turn into something more or if they’d ruin what they already shared melted away with his mouth on hers.

This felt right.

Better than right.

It felt perfect.

It felt like she belonged somewhere for the first time, with someone who really and truly wanted her.

“Still want to leave? Still think you have nothing to live for and no one who would care if you weren't here?” he murmured against her lips.

“No,” she whispered, a little breathily. She still wanted this to end, and she still didn't want anyone else to have to die for her, but she didn't want to hurt Michael by offering herself up to her stalker.

“Good.” She felt him relax like he had hoped what he’d done had been enough to sway her and get her to stay.

She tensed. “Is that why you kissed me? So I wouldn’t leave and go to the stalker?”

“Do you really think I would do that? You felt what I did when we kissed, I know you did. You know that was real. I’ve liked you for a long time, but I didn't think I deserved to be happy after what I did to Heidi. But you and I are so alike, and althoughI fought against it, I couldn’t stop my feelings for you from growing. I’ve only ever felt love this strong for one other person, and I killed her. I’m so afraid that loving you is somehow going to get you hurt as well.”

“Michael,” she whispered, his sorrow and pain just about crushing her. She lifted her hands and held his face between them, guiding it down so she could kiss him again. “Heidi’s death was an accident, and nothing is going to happen to me. It’s because you're here with me that the stalker hasn’t come for me again. You being here hassavedme.”

They were both so messed up. Could two people like them really have a successful relationship even if they did love one another?

Could she risk starting a relationship knowing that he could hurt her and walk away just like everyone else in her life had?

Could she throw it all away and spend the rest of her life alone just because she was afraid?

She wanted to take this risk.

And itwasa risk for her.

But not taking it meant that when she was seventy-six like Brighton and Christine Morginson, all she would see when she looked back at her life was regrets. She wanted to look back on her life and see all the amazing things she had done and all the amazing family who loved her.

“Let’s go inside, upstairs,” she said, pressing a kiss to his jaw, his stubble prickly against her lips.

“Upstairs?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Laying her heart bare she said the words aloud, “I love you too, Mike.”

*****

4:42 P.M.

Did he hear her right?

Did Samara just say that she loved him too?

“You heard me,” she said softly, pressing another kiss to his jaw.

“You do?” Michael still wasn't quite ready to believe it.

“I never thought about being anything other than friends until we talked in the hospital the day after the stalker tried to kidnap me. I never really considered the possibility of falling in love. I had deluded myself into thinking I was okay with spending the rest of my life alone. But I'm not. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life, I've already spent the first half that way, and I don’t want to miss out on a chance to have everything I ever wanted because I'm scared.”

So, this was just about her not wanting to be alone?