bringing with it all of intimate memories between the two of us. I miss the way that scent made me feel safe and protected. When his fingers brush over my skin to slide the corsage on, a surge of electricity races up my arm and we lock eyes. The intensity in his gaze unsettles me and I pull my hand away once the corsage is on.
He clears his throat and pushes a hand through his hair.
“You already know what my father is holding over my head. What you don’t know is that shortly after you first returned to town, he came to me and asked me to get close to you. Apparently, your dad had a plot of land down in Texas that he wanted, but your father refused to sell it to him. I didn’t know what he was up to at first, but I did what he asked because he held the photograph over my head. But once I started spending time with you, I swear, Isla, all the feelings I had in high school resurged and developed. I never once lied to you about how I felt.”
He steps forward and takes my hand in his.
“It wasn’t until a while later that my dad demanded I marry you. Somehow, he knew about your dad’s illness and figured I could convince you and your mother that selling the property was in both your best interests if we were married. That being said, I proposed to you because I love you, Isla. That and because I wanted to keep you safe.”
I suck back the tears that want to fall. “How am I supposed to believe that after what I heard?”
“If my father knew what you mean to me, he’d have even more leverage over me. I was working on a way to get him to back off, but it took some time. What you overheard that day in the coatroom was me telling my father what I needed to in order to protect you.” He raises a hand to my cheek. “God, if you knew how much it tore me up inside when I saw the look in your eyes that night. I couldn’t stand that I hurt you so much.”
His hand feels so good on my skin that denying the urge to lean into his hold is pure torture. I need to be strong.
“Even if that is true, the fact is that you’ve lied to me more than once, Garrin. You’re only truthful with me once you’re caught in the lie.”
He exhales roughly. “I did keep things from you, I know. I was only trying to protect you, but I realize now that I did more damage than good. I should’ve told you as soon as I started falling for you what my father was up to. I wish I had. But I was afraid you’d leave me.”
I frown at him. “Didn’t you trust my feelings for you?”
“A lot of the people I’ve cared for left me, Isla. My mom, Carter—I was scared you’d be added to that list. But I realize now that keeping things from you will always be worse than the truth.”
I believe what he’s saying. He’s sincere, and yet I too am scared to be hurt again. I don’t know if my fragile heart can take another break.
“I don’t know if I can trust you ever again. What if your dad holds something over your head again and you know I won’t like what he’s asking you to do? What will you do then?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
I tilt my head. “Why not?”
“Because I have my own leverage on him, and I told him to leave you and your mom alone. Otherwise I’d share what I knew with the world.”
My forehead wrinkles. “But what if he tells the authorities what he knows as retribution?”
Garrin shrugs. “I already told him that I don’t care. I’ll spend time in prison before I’d let him hurt you.”
My hand flies to my chest. “You can’t do that! What if he calls your bluff?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You don’t get it. I’m not bluffing.”
The gravity of his words sinks in.
Garrin is willing to risk going to jail, losing everything he has, to try and protect me.
Without fully thinking, I run forward and wrap my arms around him. He returns my embrace, leaning down to rest his chin on the top of my head.
“Please don’t do something like that again,” I say.
“God, I missed you. It feels so good