desperate guy, but from the first time I saw you, I knew I’d do anything to be with you. Honestly anything.” He shook his head. “Please give me a chance. I’ve never felt like this before. So desperate for somebody. I know you don’t know me that well, but I think I’m in love with you.”
Meredith’s stomach felt like she’d drunk curdled milk. She felt awful that she had no feelings for him. Similar things had happened over the years with boys and men, usually tourists, declaring she was “the most beautiful woman” or they were in love with her when they hardly knew her. It was silly in her mind, and she’d never returned their desperate love. She only felt desperate love for Cruz.
“I’m sorry, Josh, but I don’t feel that way for you.”
“Why not?” He stepped in closer as she clung to the door, ready to slam it shut if she needed to. His gaze turned belligerent and ugly. “It’s Cruz, isn’t it?”
“I’m not going to lie. I love him.” She held her breath, praying Josh would go away.
His lips thinned, and a muscle popped in his jaw. “How can you believe his lies? He’s such a jerk, and he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Yes, he does.” She slammed the door shut and saw Josh’s eyes widen through the thick glass in the door. He stepped forward. Her hands were clammy, but she quickly turned the deadbolt and let out a breath of relief. If he didn’t leave, she’d grab her cell phone and call the sheriff.
A truck rolled off the main road and into her gravel drive, thankfully drawing Josh’s attention. Meredith’s heart leapt when she saw it was Cruz’s silver four-door truck. He stopped and jumped out of the truck, looking strong and perfect and like the answer to her every prayer. His gaze narrowed as he focused on Josh at her door.
“Cruz!” Josh roared as he rushed down her porch steps and plowed into him.
“No!” Meredith cried out. She undid the deadbolt, flung the door open, and hurried out onto the porch. She wasn’t scared for herself now that Cruz was here, but she didn’t want Josh to hurt him because the man was irrationally obsessed with Meredith.
Josh wasn’t strong enough to knock Cruz down, even with his momentum. They separated and squared off. Josh cursed him a few times before going in hard and fast. He swung wildly at Cruz, getting in a few hits.
“You … don’t … deserve … Meredith!” he hollered, completely irrational and out of control.
“Stop!” Meredith cried out.
Cruz didn’t act like Josh’s hits even affected him. “My turn,” he said. He hit Josh with a hard jab to the cheek and several uppercuts to the abdomen. Josh bent over, holding his stomach and gasping for air. Cruz hit him one more time in the jaw, knocking him down.
Josh splayed flat on his back, staring up at Cruz. Meredith realized she shouldn’t have worried about Cruz holding his own, no matter how out of control Josh was.
“You’ve gotta calm down, dude, or I’m going to call the police to haul you off,” Cruz said, not even breathing heavy. He glanced up at Meredith. “Are you okay?”
Meredith let out a whimper and ran down the porch steps and across the gravel. The uneven rocks stung her feet, but she didn’t care. She jumped into Cruz’s arms, and luckily, he was strong enough she didn’t knock him down. She clung to him, and he held her tight. It was heaven.
“You came,” was all she could think to say, so grateful he was here.
Josh struggled to his feet, and Cruz immediately set her down and stepped in front of her, holding her back behind him with one hand.
“You’re not touching Meredith,” Cruz said in a quiet voice that was deadly and threatening. It made her tingle to know he was so protective of her.
Josh wiped at his lip that had a trickle of blood on it. “I would never hurt Meredith. You, on the other hand, will desecrate her when you go back to your harem of women and ditch her. I love her!” He hung his head. “And of course, she loves you. Every woman loves you.”
Cruz gently brought Meredith around to his side and put his arm around her. “I told you the other night. Meredith is the only one for me.” He glanced down at her. “I love her and only her.”
Meredith’s heart leapt happily. “Do you mean it?” she asked.
“Yes.” Cruz stared