Steal Her Heart (Kaid Ranch Shifters #1)(43)

“What are you thinking?” Bryson asked, brushing her hair away from her scars.

She leaned into his touch and rested her cheek against his palm. She whispered, “I think everything’s gonna be okay.”

“Disagree,” Wes muttered from behind them.

“Burritos,” Hunter said. “Chili on top.”

Bryson glared at them. “We’re trying to have a moment. Both of you shut up.”

Grrrrrrrr. That wasn’t her wolf making that sound. That was Hunter. She called out, “Is your stomach growling?”

“I told you I’m starving! Lingerie shopping makes me hungry.”

“That’s the dumbest word combination you’ve ever put together,” Wes muttered, standing up.

“Okay, just get in the truck and we’ll go eat,” she said, trying not to laugh. Those boys didn’t need the encouragement.

And while they loaded up, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Bryson. “Thank you for saving me.”

His face went all tender, and she pushed his hat back so she could kiss him again. She would never get tired of this—feeling safe in his arms, knowing his loyal heart, and being free to love him as much as she wanted without fear of rejection.

She didn’t regret anything she’d been through because it had made her strong enough to have a life with him. She supposed she had those trials to thank for this moment.

“Just so you know…” he rumbled.

“Yeah?”

“I sure do love you.”

She beamed up at him. “I know. I can tell.”

Honk! The sound of the truck horn startled her.

“You can tell?” he asked, his dark eyebrows arching up under his hat. “Don’t worry about saying it back.”

She laughed and hopped on his back, wrapped her legs around his waist. He smacked her butt and held her legs in place as he walked them back toward the truck.

And she was happy. In this moment that was supposed to be devastating…she was devastatingly happy instead…because of him.

And that was love, for her.

Sure, it was loyalty, honor, honesty, and the knowledge that he would have her back like she had his for always. But it was also his ability to draw the poison from a painful moment and show her how to breathe again. And how to laugh again.

She. Was. Safe with him.

I won’t let you fall. She knew he wouldn’t. She had complete and utter faith in him.

Hugging his neck tight, she leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “I sure do love you, too.”

Inside of her, the wolf smiled.

The rebuild began now.