Thankful for every step she allowed him, Aaron watched Natalie slip off her shirt. A hungry moan he’d tried to dam back vaulted from his lungs. “Sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I spent a good portion of today certain I’d never get to see you like this again, Nat.” Unable to resist, he folded her into his arms. The lace of her bra taunted his pecs. He longed to pop the clasp, to have her naked in his arms once again. It was the only way this fucked up life made any sense at all.

“Yeah, I was terrified of that, too. I should’ve heard you out to start with. I was just so shocked. And then I was embarrassed and I do incredibly stupid things when I get embarrassed.”

He placed his index finger on her lips. “You did nothing wrong. I’m just thankful I get the chance to prove to you that I’ll do better. I’ll never lie to you again.”

She kissed his finger and then pulled her head away. “Can I tell you something that’s the truth?”

“I kind of think that should be our gold standard from here on out.”

“Me, too. And I’m not so much scared to see my uncle, but maybe I am a little nervous.” She buried her head against his chest.

“Bravest woman I’ve ever met. Most people would be a helluva lot more than nervous, sweet heart. I will be right there, right beside you, the entire time. And if you change your mind and want to take off anytime, you say the word and we’ll fly. Okay?”

“How long do you think it’ll take him to get here?”

Wishing for the thousandth time she’d ask him to take her away and keep her safe, he refused to beg her. He would never do anything that would make her think for one moment that he doubted her strength. “It’s about seven hundred miles between Pleasant Glen and Gentry. He made good time from North Carolina. Depending on what time he leaves, he could be here tomorrow evening.”

“You know I didn’t so much lie to your face but I lied to you, too, by omission. You’d ask me stuff and I’d use sex to distract you, and I asked Dec about you, and your friends. I’m sorry.”

“I already knew all of that.”

“I’m still sorry.”

“Oh, and my favorite meal is you, but my second favorite is probably Spaghetti O’s. I like the kind with meatballs. Somebody might’ve mentioned that you’d asked them about it.” He chuckled, still unable to believe he was standing in her bedroom teasing her.

“Can’t believe he ratted me out like that.” Her sheepish grin was worth more than every brick in Fort Knox.

“Oh, and I’m pretty sure after that flashback I had you led me to believe that you hated fireworks, too. Come to find out, you made good use of them incinerating a truck when you were a kid.”

She laughed. He kissed her open mouth. “Can’t believe I get to do that again either.”

“Don’t guess we can have make up sex with all of your friends here.”

Unable to hide his smirk, he shook his head. “You just get too loud for me.”

“Would you shut up and take me to bed?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

When she shimmied into her Buck Off T-shirt, he sank his teeth into his tongue to keep from protesting. If she needed coverage that night, he would provide. He would always put himself between her and anything that wanted to do her harm. It was who he was. But if she needed the familiarity and the perceived security of her favorite T-shirt so be it.

“I can totally make you Spaghetti O’s, but meatballs happen to be the one and only thing I make better than Mama. I can also boil noodles like a pro.”

“Oh yeah? It’s like we were meant to be.”

“I think so, too. Are you going to be able to sleep tonight?”

“Probably not.” He readily admitted. “I might doze if you do.”

“I like this truth thing.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

“I don’t want you to stay up all night.”

“I don’t want you to be scared.”

“Guess we don’t always get what we want.”

“Trust me, baby, I’ve lived enough life to assure you we don’t, but sometimes life does give you exactly what you need.” He guided her onto his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

“Life’s kind of cool like that.”

“For a long time I didn’t think so, but right now it seems pretty fucking awesome.”

Try though she might, she couldn’t sleep. Natalie kept her eyes closed hoping Aaron would doze like he’d said. She tried to recall her uncle in better detail. Her mind had fragmented his features. She remembered his hands and the old pair of black boots he used to wear but she couldn’t recall much else. She remembered the revolting way he always smelled like moonshine and rotting meat. He’d turned into a faceless nightmare. Never a man, only a divided entity that had altered the course of her life in ways she would never fully understand.

What would it be like to see him again? What would she say? All of the times she’d envisioned what she would do if she ever had to see him outside the oppressive cloak of her darkest memories she’d just imagined vomiting on him. It seemed the only fitting response to a monster.

She wondered why he’d come back to Nebraska and why he’d chosen to do this now. Did he honestly believe that she would allow him to live on the ranch again with her nieces and nephews? She would personally freeze hell first.

The only thing the next evening would bring to her uncle would be a trip back to North Carolina. Was he even coming there to see her? Did he somehow believe he could come on the ranch and only see Brock? Was he that stupid? Did he think she would forgive him? Would it be better for her if she tried?

Turning on her other side she tried to push the thoughts away again without success.

“I know you’re not sleeping, Nat. Wanna talk?” Aaron nuzzled her hair until he located her cheek and peppered it with kisses.

“Yeah. Talking sounds good. I have all of these questions no one but him has answers to. It’s frustrating.”

“Like what, baby?”

“Why is he coming back now? I mean why all of these years later?”

“In the letter he indicated that he wasn’t doing well. Maybe he’s convinced himself if he can get you to forgive him he’ll have a bastard’s chance in heaven.”

“Tell me more about this letter.”

“It’s still in my truck. Do you want to read it?”

“Kind of but I don’t want you to leave to get it. Just tell me what it said.”

“One of the reasons I was chosen for intelligence when I was in Q training was because I’m pretty good at figuring out what’s written between the lines. Want me to speculate?”

“Okay, so I do kind of like your superpowers when you’re working for me instead of against me.”

“I will always be working for us, Nat. I swear to you.”