Now here I am entering his office and wondering why I didn’t just leave well enough alone. Well, I was here now so might as well hear what he has to say. And then I can move on and forget this ever happened.

I didn’t expect any of it, wasn’t prepared for the story he told. I certainly didn’t expect to leave his office with a new determination that was in direct contrast to the one I had when I arrived.

I replayed his conversation now word for word, turning the words over and over in my head as more light was shone into the dark. I knew there was a story there, something deep and dark. But I never expected in a million years that it would be so heartbreakingly tragic.

I’d entered the sheriff’s office with my usual warmth though I was feeling anything but. From the look on his face I knew it was going to be bad. And even more so when he beat around the bush before getting to the point.

He started out pretty much the way I’d expected. “I wanted to apologize for my brother’s behavior.” I’d started to cut him off, to tell him there was no need but he kept going and what he had to say changed everything. Even more so because he’d chosen to share something so personal with me. It said a lot.

“I’m going to tell you something that you cannot share with anyone ever.” I nodded my head and sat on the edge of my seat almost afraid to hear what he was about to tell me after all this time of wanting to know.

But his countenance had changed so drastically, and that added to the way he kept hedging told me that whatever he was about to say was going to be really bad.

“My brother was part of an elite team in the military. I can’t get too deep into that, but to make a long story short, someone sold them out and his identity as their leader, was compromised.”

I watched his jaw work as something resembling pain entered his eyes and braced myself for what came next. I was in no way prepared for what he had to say.

“Three years ago my brother watched his wife get killed right in front of him.” I felt his words like a blow to the chest. The woman in the picture. The woman I’d had such unkind thoughts about. I swallowed hard and fought back the tears. It was hard to know how to feel in that moment.

How were you supposed to feel about the death of the wife of the man you’d just started to believe you were falling in love with? There was a mix of guilt and if I’m honest with myself relief. And that made me feel dreadful. It was obvious he was still suffering her loss.

“After the funeral, he basically withdrew from life. I had a hard time talking him into moving here to be closer since we have no other family, and was surprised when he accepted.”

“He hasn’t lived since the day he buried his wife. The reasons for that are twofold. Along with the love her bore her, there’s the guilt he feels because his work brought danger to his door.”

“For the past two years I’ve watched him like a hawk for any sign of life. And I have to tell you I was beginning to despair. Until that night he rescued you.”

“I don’t understand, what was so different about that night?” I’d been so sucked into his tale that I’d forgotten everything else. Like the fact that I was done with his brother. But his words had something coming alive inside of me.

“I saw the way he looked at you.” My face turned red and I picked at the hem of my dress to avoid his gaze.

“I know he comes across as a bit of a bear. But I know my brother and I know that the heart inside of him just needs the right person to bring it out. And I’ve come to believe that you are that person.”

My fingers started to tremble so hard I had to hold them with my other hand. “Me? What makes you think that? Both times I’ve gone to him he’s ran me away.” Okay I can understand what happened the day with the picture, but still, facts are facts.

“Trust me. But before we go any farther, do you have feelings for him or did I read you wrong? If it’s just a matter of hero worship we can forget the whole thing and you can squash everything I said here today and forget the whole thing. But if you do, have feelings for him I mean. Then help me save him.”

“Save?” This was getting deep fast. I didn’t know the first thing about saving anyone least of all someone like him. Someone who seems so strong and put together. How can I be of any help to him?

“Yes! If we give up on him he’s just going to regress farther and farther and that would be a sad thing for him and for the world. He has so much to offer. I want the same things for him now that I’ve always wanted.”

“I want him to be happy. I want to see him married again with kids. I want to visit my brother with my wife and kids and see him happy for once, the way he hasn’t been in too long to remember.”

My only non-confusing thought was that he seemed to have way more faith in my abilities than I did. Everything else was a jumbled mess that I had no hope of making any sense of.

Even as I wished to have hope in his words, there was something else holding me back. The woman in that picture had been an Amazonian. Her dark exotic beauty far outshone my paler self by miles.

It was sobering after all the time I’d spent longing for him but not knowing that that’s what it was, to realize that I probably never stood a chance. No wonder he’d ran me off both times. It was his way of letting me off easy, without making me lose face and looking like an even bigger fool.

“I think you might be reading things wrong. I don’t think I’m his type.” It hurt to even say the words out loud.

“Trust me I know my brother better than anyone and he’s interested alright.”

“You just need to decide how far you want this thing to go. So, how about it Cassie? How deep does your interest run?” Talk about being put on the spot. He wasn’t asking for much. Just for me to put myself in the way of getting hurt once again.

I didn’t rush to answer, but gave the question the time it deserved. This was a serious matter after all. And though that feeling that I was almost certain was some kind premonition had yet to leave me, I wasn’t sure that it was anything more than a strong case of lust.

Even as I thought it I knew it was a lie. I knew that if given half a chance I would give myself to him without question. Not just my body, but all of me. “How sure are you about this?” The butterflies in my stomach started up a mad dance and I felt queasy in my stomach as I awaited his answer.

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t certain. My only worry is for you, you need to be sure that this is what you really want. I won’t talk you into doing anything you don’t want to and you certainly don’t need to go this far to repay….

“No-no, it’s not that. It’s just, I wouldn’t begin to know how to approach him.” It was easier when I thought he was a gruff mountain man who’d forgotten how to eat with a knife and fork.

But now that I knew he was as wounded as I’d once suspected, I felt out of my depth.

“Just be yourself, remember, that’s who he fell for. You might need to push sometimes because he is a hardheaded son of a bitch pardon my French, but I promise you that it’ll be well worth it in the end.”

And that’s how we’d left it before I left his office, promising to give it some thought. I went for a drive instead of heading back home. I needed the alone time to think and I couldn’t do that at home.

It didn’t take long for me to admit that I knew all along what my answer was going to be. As crazy as it seems, from the moment I saw that look in his eyes that first night, it was already too late to turn back. I guess all this time the only thing stopping me was the fact that I have no idea how he really feels.

His actions both times I went to his house spoke volumes, but now with his brother’s words, I felt a little bit more sure of myself. And it was for that reason that I found myself driving out to his place mid-morning with a new resolve.

I hadn’t expected her to come. I’d wished for it sure, but I didn’t think she’d show up after the way I’d behaved both times she’d put herself out to come to me. Then the pain in the ass sheriff better known as my brother called.

“I’ve sent Cassie back to you. Try not to screw things up again jackass.” That’s all the asshole said before hanging up again. That was more than two hours ago and there was no sight of her.

I paced the cabin back and forth making myself crazy, worrying that something might’ve happened to her. It was for that reason that when she finally pulled into the driveway I’d reached breaking point.

I slammed out the door and went out to meet her. “Where the hell have you been? Wyatt called here hours ago and said you were coming. Do you know how irresponsible it is…” I stopped talking when I realized what I was doing.

I half expected her to turn and drive away. Why wouldn’t she? I haven’t been exactly welcoming any of the times she came here. But instead of running away she gave me a very disarming smile as she passed me on her way into the house.

The fuck got into her? She didn’t even look the same. Her clothes were the same. Another one of those prissy summer dresses that you’d expect to see on the lawn of a country club. It was the look in her eyes that was different and I wondered just what the hell my brother had told her.

She greeted the dog who acted like she was a prisoner of war and the two of them walked into house almost in step. Fucking mutt is so disrespectful.

“Have you had anything other than coffee this morning? How about I make you some breakfast before I get to the laundry?” She answered her own damn question and headed for the kitchen while I stood in the doorway wondering what the hell had fallen and hit her in her head.

She wasn’t acting normal, not at all like herself and I wondered how long she planned on keeping up the act. I decided to test my theory right then and there, no time like the present.