Now his expression was closed.
His shoulders tense.
His voice distant.
Elena lowered her hand.
“I suppose it is.”
Gideon said nothing.
She looked toward the door.
Then took a breath.
“Did I do something wrong?”
He turned sharply.
“No.”
“Then why are you suddenly acting as though you want me gone?”
His jaw tightened.
He looked toward the photograph of Matthew.
Then away.
“Because you shouldn't get involved with a man like me.”
Elena became still.
“What kind of man?”
Gideon stared toward the mountains.
“A broken one.”
She felt the words settle painfully inside her.
For a moment, she considered leaving.
It would have been easy.
She had spent years walking away before people could reject her openly.
But she looked at Gideon and saw fear rather than cruelty.
So she took one step closer.
“Perhaps you should let someone see the pieces before deciding they're beyond repair.”
Gideon closed his eyes.
He didn't answer.
And Elena left that afternoon wondering whether the man who made her feel beautiful would ever believe he deserved to be loved himself.
Three days later, a storm descended over Cedar Hollow.
Elena arrived at Gideon's ranch carrying supplies he'd ordered from town.
She intended to stay only an hour.
Then the rain began.
The mountain road flooded.
Thunder rolled across the ridges.
And Gideon stepped onto the porch, looked toward the darkening sky, and told her the truth.
“You can't go back in that.”
Elena stared toward the road.
Then sighed.
“I suppose I'll have to stay.”
Gideon nodded.
“There are spare blankets. I'll prepare the guest room.”
She looked toward him.
“Gideon.”
He stopped.
“Yes?”
“I'm not frightened of being alone with you.”
The words struck him.
He turned.
Elena continued.
“I'm frightened you'll spend the entire evening pretending you don't want me here.”
He looked away.
For a moment, he seemed almost angry.
Not with her.
With himself.
Then he whispered, “Elena, there's something you need to understand.”
She waited.
He pointed toward his scar.
Then his enormous hands.
Then the body that had frightened strangers for years.
He told her he was dangerous to love.
That his brother had died because of his mistakes.
That people close to him always suffered.
And that one morning she would wake, look at him beside her, and wonder why she'd chosen a man who belonged alone in the mountains.
Elena approached slowly.