Her Scream in the Silence (Carly Moore #2) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,23

No more excuses, Wyatt. If we’re really going to start a relationship, then we can’t have these big secrets between us.”

“You don’t understand—”

I held my hand up to stop him. “No, I don’t. And if that’s your only answer, then you should just leave.”

I started to walk past him, but he wrapped an arm around me and tugged me back.

“Carly.”

My resolve began to weaken—his touch tended to do that to me—but I knew I had to stand firm. I couldn’t let my good sense be overruled by hormones. Pulling free from him, I said, “Let me go, Wyatt.”

“Will you please let me explain?” he pleaded, sounding panicked.

I put a hand on my hip. “Will your explanation include any of the answers I want?”

“I want to talk about what happened between you and Bingham first.”

He was changing the subject again, but I’d address this giant elephant before shifting back to the main topic. “It’s simple. Todd Bingham does what he wants, and he treats people like shit for fun.”

“No,” he said. “Not always. I asked Lula and she told me his behavior in the tavern tonight was unusual. What did he want?”

“Stop,” I said. “I’m not telling you anything else until you tell me something, Wyatt.”

“Carly…”

“You promised me,” I said, leaning in closer and lowering my voice. Sound carried out here. “You told me we’d bring them down. I want that. I need it. Now, are you going to tell me or not?”

A war waged in his eyes, but I wasn’t sure if it was because he was trying to decide whether to start sharing or if he was preparing himself for a fight. “Not yet.”

“Not yet,” I repeated. Was I being unreasonable? I was asking him to share his most intimate secrets. It had taken me two months to share my whole story with my friends from Arkansas. But my connection with Wyatt was deeper and more intimate. If he told the wrong person the things he knew about my past, I’d be murdered, and yet he refused to take me into his confidence.

Be smart, Carly. Don’t let another man screw you over.

I stared up at his emotionless face and took a step back, raising my hands in surrender. “You know what? I’ve had enough. I’m not doing this anymore. Until you’re willing to be more open with me, we’re done.”

His eyes flew wide. “Carly!”

He reached for me and I took another step back, needing distance from him so I could stand firm.

“You know how hard it is for me to trust, especially after Jake.” My voice broke, and I couldn’t stop my tears. “He was my best friend for my entire life, and he betrayed me, Wyatt. Betrayed and destroyed me.”

He shook his head, looking shell-shocked. “No. Not destroyed.”

I released a bitter laugh. “Okay, he was saving that part until after he got a wedding ring on my finger.”

“Carly…”

“Give me something, Wyatt. Give me a reason other than the bogus excuse that you’re trying to protect me.” When he didn’t respond, I gasped from the burst of pain in my chest. “You don’t trust me,” I said, giving voice to the doubt that had been simmering below the surface for the past two weeks.

“Carly, it’s just that—”

I wasn’t sure what else he would have said because I walked past him into the house and shut the door, locking it before he tried to follow me inside.

“Carly!” he shouted through the door. “Please let me explain.”

I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. No. I was done letting people screw me over.

“Carly!” he shouted again, banging on the door. He had a key, so he could open it at any time. Apparently he was respecting my boundaries, which softened my resolve. Some.

Hank appeared in the hall, one crutch under his armpit and his rifle in the other hand. He wore a white T-shirt and a pair of blue pajama pants with the right pant leg cut off below his knee. His gray hair was smooshed on one side, and it hit me that I should take him to get a haircut when we were in Greeneville.

“What the hell’s goin’ on?” he grumped. “Who’s out there?”

“Wyatt,” I said, trying not to cry. “I’m sorry we woke you.”

“Why’s he outside bangin’ on the door?”

“I refused to talk to him and told him to leave.”

Hank gave a sharp nod, then hobbled toward the door faster than one would have thought possible for a one-legged man. He jerked it open, and the