It’s gone. I burned it to ashes.

There’s nothing left but the frame and a few walls. They ruled it an accident.

I didn’t do it on purpose, even though I’d thought about it. When I lit Leonard’s stuff on fire the wind blew the flames back on the house. I was extremely lucky. It happened after I went to sleep. I can’t believe I was that stupid. I drank a little too much and passed out before putting it out. Several hours later I woke with the roof already threatening to fall in.

Fortunately, a neighbor saw the blaze on his way home and called for help. I’ve been in the hospital for two days from the smoke inhalation. They’ve treated me with oxygen and an IV. There are a few first-degree burns on my left arm, but other than that I came out pretty much unscathed.

Revenge nearly killed me.

A cab dropped me off about an hour ago. I’m sitting on a stump, pondering my life. I need to find somewhere to stay. We had insurance but I’m sure Leonard will find some way to get the money.

I wonder what my mother would think of all this. God, I wish she was here. I could really use one of her hugs.

Leonard doesn’t know about the fire. Has no clue. I don’t want to deal with him yet.

I should probably call Jaxson. He’s my attorney, after all.

Just as I think about it a black SUV pulls in the driveway and Jaxson gets out.

God, he’s beautiful in his suit. I probably look like a hot mess. I know I feel like one.

My hair needs brushed, and my clothes smell like smoke. I’m wearing the same thing I wore to his office. I was lucky I left my purse in the car and the important paperwork in the fireproof safe.

So many things rush through my mind right now. I’m scared.

I really want Jaxson to take me in his arms and tell me everything is going to be all right. I just want to be held for a few minutes. Forget about the world for even a second.

“Jenna.” Nothing in the world sounds better than my name on his lips right now.

There’s something about him that just makes me feel—safe. Protected.

“Over here.” I wobble a little when I stand up and didn’t realize how lightheaded I was.

He stares at the charred shell that was once my house. “What happened?”

I fight against the tears. I don’t want him to see me like this. “Long story.”

“I’ve got time.”

It’s hard to be strong with him staring at me the way he does, but I don’t want to look weak. I’m not weak. Not anymore. “Walk with me?”

He holds out an arm for me to take. I accept it without even thinking.

He has no idea how much I need his support right now, but I refuse to beg for anything.

We walk around the house and I confess everything. I know it was stupid, but he doesn’t seem to judge. It’s like the old Jaxson is back, not the hard-ass lawyer. It’s hard not to smile. Jaxson gets me like no one ever has.

When we walk past the barn Jaxson stops in his tracks and looks inside. “We spent a lot of time up there.” A fleeting smile flashes across his face for a split-second.

I take his hand and lead him to the ladder.

He stops in front of it and shakes his head. It’s like he’s holding back everything. Like he’s pushed our past way down inside and doesn’t want to open that box. “I don’t know.” He shakes his head, slowly.

“Please?” I give him a long, hard stare, and step onto one of the rungs.

“I just—”

“I’ve never seen you at a loss for words before.”

“I’m not sure this is something I want to revisit.”

“I just want five minutes.”

“Look, you don’t owe me—”

“Jaxson?”

“Yeah?”

“I need this. Please?”

Something about the way he stares at me, the whole situation—I can’t fight back the tears any longer. They stream down my cheeks.

Jaxson moves at lightning speed and wipes the tears from my face. “Okay.” He nods lightly and holds the old wooden ladder steady. “Okay.”

He follows me up once I reach the top.

The hayloft is empty other than a few old boxes.

I open one of them and find an old horse blanket, then spread it on the dusty floor.

His suit is dirty, and he has a smudge on his cheek, but seems oblivious.

“This is how I remember you.” I wipe the dark line away.

His smooth fingers grasp my hand. “What happened to us?” His gorgeous brown eyes lock onto mine.

I lose all train of thought as he just stares.

“Jenna?”

I blink. “Sorry. Just—sorry.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

No! I have him up here and I may never get another opportunity. I look away and start the story before he can change his mind. “That night ruined my life.” I wipe a tear from my cheek. “There are things you don’t know. Things I’ve been ashamed to tell anyone. Especially you.”

“I’m in a hayloft. There’s not really anywhere for me to escape. Just tell me what I did.”

I shake my head and cup a palm over my mouth. “You d-didn’t do anything.”

He grabs me by the hand and leads me to the blanket so we can sit.

I try to smile through all the pain and rub my thumb over his knuckles. “Your hands used to be so rough.” I miss the callouses on his hands from days of working the ranch and mending broken fence posts. “Things didn’t turn out so bad for you, right? You’re doing well for yourself, like you said you would. I’m so proud of you.”

“Jenna?”

“Yeah?”

“We both know that’s not why I’m up here.”

“Right.” I shake my head to try and snap out of the daze that forms around my brain any time he’s around. “I wanted to go with you so bad.” My voice tries to crack. I hate this. I hate crying. It’s not me. But with Jaxson it’s just—different. “I was waiting. I was right over there in my room, staring out the window, waiting.” I burst into tears.

“What were you waiting for?” He takes my hands in his. “Just breathe for a second. Take your time.”

“I was waiting to sneak out my window. We were so close. So close to the life we wanted.”

“So why didn’t you come?”

“My mom. She came to the door and said Dad wanted me in the office.”

Jaxson’s head angles to the ground and he just stares at the floor, silent.

“He knew. He knew what we were doing.”

Jaxson’s face holds no emotion as I tell him everything that happened.

After a few long seconds that feel like an eternity, he shakes his head and looks up at me. “Jesus.” He stands up and laces his fingers behind his head, pacing around the loft. He keeps looking at me and then out toward where the house was. “You should have told someone.”

Tears roll down my cheeks. “I know, but I was scared. He was going to throw your family on the street. They would’ve had nothing.”

His jaw clenches and he stares. “That wasn’t a burden meant just for you. You had a phone.”

“I-I…”

“No, Jenna. That’s what caused all this. You made me hate you. The woman I loved more than life. All the evil thoughts that drove me for years. Yeah, your old man was a prick for what he did. But we could’ve figured something out. I would’ve waited for you. I would’ve done—something.”

“I know.” I stand up and try to get him to look at me. “You were stronger than me. It’s why I wanted to follow you anywhere. You always were.”

He sighs and seems to loosen a little.

“I can’t fix that. But I need help now and you’re the only person I knew to turn to. You saw the pictures I’m sure. He’ll be back.”

Jaxson whips around with rage on his face that I’ve never seen. “He won’t touch you again.”

“I just need to be divorced and done with him.”

Jaxson stalks over and grips my hand. “You won’t see him again unless I’m in the room. I have an apartment next to mine. Fully furnished. You’ll stay there until this is done. There’s security at all hours.”

I shake my head nervously, but I’d be lying to myself if I wasn’t screaming on the inside for him to take me there right now. Jax has always been protective and assertive. He’s just, it for me. “You don’t have to take care of me.”

“This is happening. I won’t lose you…” He looks away and catches himself for a moment.

I want to melt into his arms, but I can’t. Not until this is all behind me.

“History isn’t going to repeat itself. You’re going.”

“There was no way for you to know. It wasn’t your fault. I was just doing…”

“It was my fault. I should’ve come back. I should’ve known something…”

Brushing his thumb over one of the scars on my arm, he bends his head down and kisses the raised skin.

Looking into his eyes, I feel transported back in time to the last time we were in the loft. He still stares at me the same way he did then.