Free Too Hard to Break by Missy Jane Page A

driveway of one I damn near
fainted on the spot. Maybe he would be so cruel?
    “We’re here,” he said unnecessarily as he killed the engine
and turned to face me.
    I had no clue how to respond.
    “Before we go inside there’s something I need to say to you,
Elle. I don’t know what’s been going on the past week or why, but I can tell
you’re ready to bolt at the slightest provocation.”
    I automatically opened my mouth to protest, even if it was
the truth, but he held up a hand to stop me.
    “Now, baby, you know it’s true. I don’t know what I’ve done
to upset or scare you but I’m really sorry that I did. I just want you to
know…god, I’m so in love with you, Elle. I didn’t want to tell you like this,
here parked in my truck. But I feel like you need to know that before anything
else comes your way.”
    I froze and every thought of another woman flew from my
head.
    “Wha…you…you love me?”
    He smiled and my heart melted right in my chest.
    “Yeah, baby. I love you so damn much I can’t see straight. I
have for a while but didn’t want to scare you off. I know you’re still trying
to get over that asshole and want to be out on your own for a bit. But I really
want you to stay with me…please.”
    How in the hell could I possibly say no to that? I couldn’t
and didn’t even try. Instead I took off my seatbelt and climbed right over the
console, straight into his lap, or as much as I could be with the steering
wheel in my way. He laughed and put a hand on my hip.
    “Hank, you have no idea how it makes me feel to hear that.”
    “Good I hope. Good enough to want to stay with me.”
    I sighed out a laugh more of relief than humor and nodded.
“Yup. Definitely.”
    He grinned and I kissed him full on the mouth before I could
talk myself out of it. When I pulled back all the humor was gone from his face.
    “You know, I think this is the first time you’ve kissed me .”
    “Yeah?”
    “Yeah. And I really liked it.”
    We both laughed until a sharp knock on the driver’s side
window made me jump. My ass hit the horn and I jumped again at the sound.
Outside, Megan and Sean belted out laughter.
    “Oh, really funny,” I said.
    Hank chuckled and lifted me over the console and back onto
my seat. I went with a sigh.
    “Come on, beautiful, let’s get inside so you can see what’s
kept me away from you so much lately.”
    And just like that my fear was back. Irrational since he’d
just declared he loved me, I know. I climbed out of his truck on numb legs and
Megan ran to my side with a huge grin on her face.
    “Well, I guess everything’s good?”
    I shrugged and stared at the house in dread. “I guess we’ll
see when we get inside.”
    Her smile melted away and she hooked her arm in mine as we
followed Hank to the front door. Sean brought up the rear silently.
    It was a very nice house with a cute wraparound porch and
wooden shutters. The colors were warm and neutral like many on the street. It
didn’t really stand out in any way. The short wrought-iron fence surrounding
the front yard continued around to the sides where a taller wooden fence took
over. There were padlocks on the gates.
    Hank didn’t bother to knock or ring the bell, just opened
the front door and waved us inside. Megan and I looked at each other with
identical expressions of confusion before stepping inside.
    “Well, there y’all are finally. Welcome!”
    Megan stiffened as a pretty blonde woman came toward us with
her hand outstretched. I shook her hand automatically and Megan followed suit
but didn’t seem too happy about it. As soon as the woman moved on to the men
Megan pulled me farther into the room.
    “That’s her,” she whispered in my ear.
    The slight scent of the woman’s perfume reached my nose and
I didn’t need further clarification. This was Hank’s other woman.
    “Hank, I wish you had called me sooner so I could have
arranged dinner,” the woman said.
    She stepped toward him but didn’t