But he was the one for those fears.

He was the one.

“Because it’s your place. Where you used to come and watch us when you were afraid of joining us, even though you wanted to. I figured that was where you had gone off to. And I also figured that if I was right... That if I was right I might have a chance.”

“You came for me,” she said.

“I know you wanted your space.”

Tears began to flow freely down her cheeks. “I need you to know that I was coming back to you.”

“And I need you to know that I wasn’t just going to let this happen. There are things in my life that have happened that were bad. And I didn’t have any control over them. Not one bit. But this... This I do. And I just felt like while there was some breath left in my body I needed to come and tell you again that I’d be here. And that I needed you to know it was a choice I made. This life is a choice I made. No, I didn’t choose to lose my parents. But I did choose to stay. I chose to stay at Hope Springs because there was always something there for me. My family. And you. Maybe I did stay because of you. But it wasn’t because I’m a martyr. Yeah, I have been one. It’s true. But not in the having of you. In the wanting you and not taking you, yeah. But this is not me being a martyr, Samantha Marshall. This is me being a man. I love you. I love you the way a man should love a woman. I want to lay my hands on you only to cause you pleasure and never to cause you pain. I want to protect you and never cause you harm. I want to be your husband and the father of your children. That’s what I’m here for.”

Every defense inside her crumbled, and the ones that didn’t go on their own she knocked all the way down. Because she was ready. Ready for this. Ready for him. Ready for whatever might come next.

“I... I’m a coward. I wanted to pretend that it was about you, but it was all about me.” She took a shuddering breath. “I just came back from seeing my mom.”

His body went stiff, and she could see he was ready to fight. To protect. “And?”

“I don’t want to be her. I didn’t think I could be, because I saw us as being so different. She stayed. I left. She is still in that house, still outwardly clinging to all that same pain, and I’m here. I have my jewelry. I thought... I’ll have a baby and I’ll change my life. But I’m still living there, too. In my heart, I still was.”

“It’s hard to move on from hurt like that,” Ryder said, his voice rough. “I know how it is.”