Come Back for Me (Arrowood Brothers #1)(7)

His chest is broader than I remember.

And I remember everything.

His touch, his scent, the sound of his voice as he made love to me in a way I didn’t know existed.

I needed him and the memory of that night more than he can ever know. I’ve relived it so many times, clinging to those feelings that I was desperate for, loving how my world came alive and colors were brighter when I was with him. He was like a comet that set the sky on fire, and the tail has never faded for me.

But now, him being here? It threatens everything—including the life of the little girl he’s standing next to.

I look to both of them as I crouch to try to pick up the stuff I dropped. “And how do you two know each other?”

He heads over as well, bending to help gather the items that are out of my reach. “I found Hadley in a tree, and I think her arm is pretty messed up. I wanted to make sure she got home okay.”

Immediately, my attention shifts to her. I don’t know how she hurt it or if someone hurt her. “Are you okay? What happened?”

She looks to him and then back to me. “I fell.”

I close my eyes, willing that to be the truth. Kevin may hurt me, but he’s never raised his hand to Hadley. “Let me see.”

She tugs up her sleeve, and I touch the bruise marring her skin and hate that it looks swollen. “I need to get her checked out.”

Connor lifts the bag of food into his arms and hands it over. “Can I help?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, no. I’ve got it all. My husband is working on the farm. I’ll get this inside and then take her. Thank you.”

I can’t let Kevin see him. It will send him into a million questions about who he is, how I know him, why Hadley wasn’t in the house where she was supposed to be, and what happened to her arm. Right now, my emotions are too unsettled to deal with any of it.

“Are you sure?”

“Very.”

Connor gives a sad smile and then touches the top of Hadley’s head. “You be careful, all right?”

Hadley smiles up at him. “You too.”

He laughs. “I’m not the one who is hurt.”

“You should still be careful because you’re a soldier.”

That’s why I haven’t seen him. He’s been gone, but clearly, he’s back. Only, I don’t know what that means or if it means anything at all. I don’t even know why I care what that means. I have my life here with Kevin and Hadley.

We can’t leave, even if we wanted to. Kevin ensured that when he moved me here, away from anyone I might know.

Still, my lips part and I find myself asking, “You’re in the military?

“I am, for another few weeks, at least. Then I’ll be out.”

I nod, thankful that he’ll be leaving again. “Well, thank you for bringing Hadley home.”

He takes a step closer, making my pulse spike. It takes every ounce of strength I have to stand my ground. “You’re welcome . . .”

My insides battle over telling him my name. I don’t want to lie, but giving him this is like relinquishing all the false pretenses. But I owe him. I owe him so much, so I stop fighting myself and tell him the truth. “Ellie.”

Connor takes another step closer, his deep voice brushing over me as he says my name far more beautiful than I’ve ever heard it. “Ellie. You’re welcome, and it was nice to meet you.”

I smile tentatively. “Yes, same, Connor.”

Saying his name feels like a piece of the puzzle fitting together.

Hadley takes my open hand, and we walk up the steps that lead to the falling-down house we call home, leaving him standing there and watching us, and I wonder if he could see what I’ve been ignoring for the last seven years—that Hadley has his eyes.





“It’s not broken, but it is sprained,” Dr. Langford says as he checks her arm. “Second sprain in the last two months.”

“Yes, she’s . . . she’s so full of life and loves to run and climb. I can’t keep her feet on the ground.”

Dr. Langford nods. “I had a little one like that. Always covered in bruises and scrapes. It’s also the farm life. Explains why you’ve had a bit of bad luck too, huh?”

I nod.

I hate the lies. I hate all of it, but I’m so afraid.

I know, and I have to leave because, while there’s a fraction of truth that Hadley is rambunctious and always climbing, I’m not home all the time and I don’t trust Kevin. She swears it’s the fall, and I’ve never seen him physical with her, but can I really trust a man who is willing to unleash his anger on his wife not to do it to a child?

I would leave this very instant if I had a place to go, but I don’t. My parents died the week before I married Kevin, and I have no money, no help, no family to take us in. When I leave him, it has to be planned.

That was why taking the teaching job was necessary.

“Now, you need to be more careful and stop climbing while your arm heals.”

Hadley smiles. “I will. I made a new friend.”

“You did?”

“His name is Connor. He owns the farm next to us.”

The doctor’s eyes widen. “Connor Arrowood?”

She shrugs. “He said he was in the navy and a police officer. He carried me with one arm.”