In Name Only (Pine Falls #2) - Jennifer Peel Page 0,70

say.

Grandma and Ariana helped me to the bathroom. I think more to make sure that I actually showered. On the way there, I took a moment to look at Brock as he slept on the couch. His long, muscular body eclipsed the couch. He hadn’t shaved in days and had a nice layer of stubble on his handsome face. Yet even while he slept, I could tell he wasn’t at peace. He was twitching and holding on to a throw pillow like a vise. I hated to think of the nightmares he was having.

“He talks in his sleep often,” Ariana whispered. “Always fighting someone.”

“You both need some help.” Grandma didn’t mince words. “First, a shower, though. And use a lot of soap.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I sat in the small porcelain tub, feeling too weak to stand for a long period of time, and let the water cascade over me. I breathed in the mint and eucalyptus shampoo I had just rinsed out of my hair. It was refreshing and smelled clean, like a fresh start. I needed one of those but didn’t know where to begin. While I tried to think of where to start, I heard the doorknob lock pop. I rolled my eyes. I was sure it was Ariana or Kinsley checking to make sure I was actually showering. When we had all lived together, there was no such thing as privacy. It had been a common practice of ours to do our hair or makeup while one of the others showered. Three women and one bathroom necessitated it. Though really, it was more that we didn’t have a healthy respect for personal boundaries. I missed those days.

“You don’t need to check on me,” I hollered over the water.

“I’m not,” a masculine voice called back.

I pulled my legs to me, feeling suddenly modest, before I peeked my head out of the shower curtain. “Brock, what are you doing in here? I’m naked.”

“I figured.” He smirked.

My brows rose. “I know we’re technically married, but uh . . .”

“But what?” His mischievous eyes dared me to finish my sentence.

“You know what.” I slid the shower curtain shut and hid behind it.

Apparently Brock didn’t have a healthy respect for personal space either. He sat next to the tub and peeked his head in.

“Excuse me.” I pushed his head out.

He chuckled. “You do realize I saw everything at the hospital, right?”

My cheeks burned. “I was in too much pain to care then.”

“You care now?”

I had to think about it. “Brock, for a long time I hoped to be able to share my body with you, but it’s too late.”

“I don’t believe that.”

I slid the curtain open a smidge, enough for us to look at each other without giving him full access. “How can you say things like that, after everything that’s happened?”

He reached in and ran a hand over my wet hair. “Dani, you don’t know how much I wanted to invite you to my bed and make love to you.”

“No you didn’t. I remember DC.”

He let out a heavy exhale. “I said some stupid, hurtful things, but don’t think for a second I didn’t want you. Yes, I was still struggling with what happened between you and Brant, but the bigger issue was what happened to me in Afghanistan. How could I make love to you and then ask you not to share my bed with me every night? Nights are when my demons come out to haunt me. I was afraid I might physically harm you. That you would see how unwell my mind was.”

“I’ve known ever since you got back from Afghanistan that you needed help.”

He hung his head and nodded. “Which is why I came in here to talk to you. Here, where you couldn’t pretend you were asleep or walk away. Unless you would like to try and leave now.” He gave me a sly smile. “That I wouldn’t mind.”

I couldn’t help but smile at him. “Nice try.”

“Well, I do have a beautiful wife.”

That wiped my smile away. “Please, don’t call me that,” I begged. “It was all pretend.”

“Pretend?” He seemed shocked that I thought so. “Dani, it was never pretend for me. You are my wife,” he said so tenderly. “But you were right, getting married so soon and the way we did was a mistake.”

I grabbed my bare chest. Those words stung coming out of his mouth, as true as they were.

“I shouldn’t have married you until I was capable of treating you exactly the way you