Free Love Me Or Lose Me by Rita Sawyer Page A

forward and grabbed onto Lulu’s collar.
    It took both of them pulling and Thomas pushing to get Lulu off of him. Even then Scarlett had to wedge herself between the dog and Thomas to get the dog’s attention. It took a bit of doing, but Scarlett managed to get the leash hooked onto the collar
    “I’ll take her up to the house so you can find out what he’s doing here. It’s late so he may as well stay. You can use the bed in the guest room when you’re ready.”
    Neither of them said anything as Scarlett ran off toward the house with the dog trotting along at her side. Darcy would have, if she could have focused on just one of the dozen questions that were bouncing around her mind. Thomas closed the distance between them and took her hand in his. The warmth of his skin against hers settled her racing thoughts.
    “What are you doing here?” Darcy was surprised by her breathless tone.
    “We decided one of us should stick around for a while, and I volunteered. After meeting Lulu up close and personal, I can see it was unnecessary.” His explanation made way too much sense since he’d made the arrangements with her brothers.
    “How long have you been here?” She let him wrap his arm around her shoulder as they started toward the house.
    “All night. I was sitting out front by the driveway with a clear view of the house. I needed to stretch so I decided to take a short walk.”
    “And you ran into Lulu.” She added for him.
    “Yeah. I’m sorry if I spooked you guys.”
    Darcy laughed. “We thought you might be a skunk.”
    “I’ve been calling myself a lot worse.” He looked over at her and said, “I’m sure you have, too.”
    She wanted to tell him he was wrong, but she wasn’t going to lie. “Just a little.”
    They climbed the steps of the deck together. Darcy didn’t want him to let her go just yet so she directed them over to the cushioned love seat. He sat down and pulled her into his lap. Darcy let herself relax enough to rest her head on his shoulder. She raised her hand and cupped his cheek. He lowered his head to press his lips to hers.
    He dropped his head to the seat back and said, “I think now would be a good time to talk.”
    “You sure about that?” She didn’t want to bring up things right now that would surely ruin the mood.
    “Yes.” He grasped her hips and slid her back on his knees and looked her in the eyes. “I’m not going to take this any further until we do.”
    His confidence had once been a positive trait, but at that moment it pissed her off. “Thomas, have you ever felt unsure about anything?”
    “Your love,” he confessed.
     Darcy jerked back with a loud gasp as if he’d slapped her. “When have I ever given you a reason to doubt that I love you!”
    “The day you walked out our door.” He sounded truly hurt by her abandonment.
    “It wasn’t because I don’t love you.” She tried to scramble off his lap, but he held her until she stilled.
    They stared at each other. “No, it was because you doubted my love for you, which is worse.”
    “I don’t see how.” She felt the tear roll down her cheek, but refused to acknowledge it.
     “Because it means I failed you.” He used his thumb to wipe the tear away.
     
     ~* * *~
    Thomas hated to see her cry, but he finally had her alone, and he wasn’t sure if that was going to happen again anytime soon. He wasn’t about to let this moment go by without trying to fix what was wrong. Or at least explain why it had happened. Tears or no tears, he needed to do this. She deserved the right to feel free enough to ask him whatever she wanted without her brothers and sister overhearing her every word. He knew she’d hate for them to see her cry. Honestly, he still harbored the slight hope that he wouldn’t have to grovel in front of them either.
    “Darcy, I know you tried to talk to me. I should have listened. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you. In a way, I’m glad you left me.”
    “Why?” she