Free Sweetest Salvation by Kacey Hammell Page A

easy decision for me, either.”
    “It didn’t seem too difficult
when you threw that ultimatum at me.” Andy said, anger seeping into her a bit.
He’d pushed her, forced things between them to take a different path.
    She had to wonder if her
anger was because she’d wanted him. For years, the attraction she’d once felt
for him lay smothered and forgotten. In the moment he threw down the gauntlet,
the attraction had resurfaced and she was forced to face it.
    “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have
said that.”
    “No, you have every reason to
be angry. The heat of the moment, concern about the path you were on… Hell,
Andy, I didn’t know how else to stop you. I care about you.”
    Her skin tingled at the
gruffness in his voice. “I know. It’s difficult for me not to feel guilty, like
I betrayed Patrick.”
    He sighed. “I understand. But
if there’s one thing—and I’ve said it before—Patrick would have wanted is for
you to live again. It’s not your fault, no way at all.”
    Tears filled her eyes as she
leaned back. “How can I ask for any type of happiness when I lost my little boy
and caused his father so much pain? Hunter…”
    “You have to know that no one
but you can make your decisions. And no one but you is blaming you for what
happened. Life happens as it does. We learn from it. Pick ourselves up and move
forward. I miss them too. Every day I want to call my best friend and tell him
something about business or whatever, but I can’t.”
    Andy swallowed. She knew his
pain but never allowed herself to think of anyone else suffering as much as she
was. Had never thought to care about how he was feeling. She had stopped being
there for him. But he’d never stopped wanting to be there for her.
    “I’m not sure how to find
myself again,” she admitted.
    “I can’t tell you how to move
forward, but will say that you start by reconciling yourself to the fact that
nothing is your fault. You have many loved ones around you who care about you.
And support you. You’re not alone.”
    “A step at a
time.”
    “Exactly, that’s all you can
do. There’s no pressure here.”
    She smiled. “No more
ultimatums?”
    “Well, depends on what the
choices are. And how tough I have to be.”
    The conversation shifted, as
did the tone of his husky voice. She shivered and her nipples beaded. Dammit , she had to pull herself together. This wasn’t why
she’d called him.
    She coughed to clear her
throat. “How you make me feel scares the hell out of me.” Her eyes widened, she
wanted to recall the words as soon as she left her mouth. They weren’t what she
expected.
    “Trust me, the feeling is
mutual,” he said, gruff and soft. “But I’ve had longer to live with mine. Why
don’t you tell me more? What do I make you feel?”
    She frowned, confused by his “I’ve had longer” comment, but pushed it
aside, thinking he wasn’t saying things correctly.
    “Weak in the knees, I guess.”
    “ Hmm, and…?” he asked.
    “Very cared
for.”
    “That’s a given.”
    “Like I have
a friend who will always be here for me.”
    “Most
definitely.”
    “Sexy,” she whispered.
    “You are most definitely
sexy. Stunning, really.”
    “You’re biased,” she
chuckled.
    “No, just honest.”
    “Thank you.”
    “When will I get to see you?”
he demanded.
    She frowned. “Are you okay?”
    “Yes, I just would rather
have this conversation in person. To tell you how gorgeous you are
face-to-face. Maybe show you.”
    Andy shifted on the bed, goosebumps spread along her skin. To take things with him
to the next level…was she ready? She needed just a bit more time.
    “I’ll be home in a few days.”
    “Home? Where the hell are you?”
    “Wolfe
Island. I needed some space.”
    He sighed. She pictured him
running his hand through his hair in frustration, like she’d seen him do many
times.
    “How much longer will you be
gone?”
    She picked at the small piece
of lint on the quilt. “I don’t know