“I like to hear the person I’m talking to. Call me old fashioned, but there’s something special about conversation. People need to do it face to face more often.” He rubbed her bicep with the pads of his fingers. “Better.” They walked in silence past the closed up shops along the main drag. Traffic rumbled by, lights flashing on the store windows and down the sidewalk. Tiny yellow twinkle lights glittered from one of the awnings. They stopped at the stone bridge across the Black River.

“It’s pretty out here.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. Emma spread her hands over the ornate granite handrails. “Quiet.”

Sam caged her between the railing and his body, wrapping his arms around her. “I used to come here when I was in school. I’d watch the boats, the people milling around, people doing things they shouldn’t be.”

“You’re observant…and a little scary.”

“Sorry.” He let go of her and stood beside her. “When you don’t matter to anyone, you can get away with a lot.” He turned his back on the water. “My parents walked away when I was sixteen. I wasn’t a jock or a genius. I played a little football, got through school, put myself through the academy and did what I thought my folks should’ve done for me—I protected people.”

“Makes sense.”

“What about you? Why do you look so sad?” He smoothed a lock of her hair from her face. “Trevor?”

“No.” She grabbed her right wrist and rubbed the scars, but stared out at the water. Some memories were meant to be buried. Some needed to come out. He might not be the forever kind of guy, but she needed to share her burden with someone. If he was strong enough to stand up to Trevor, then he had to be a good guy. Yes, it was time to unload to someone she could trust.

“I developed faster than the girls I went to school with. It’s funny, when you’ve got a big chest, guys seem to think you’re willing to do things out of your comfort zone. They push and force…” She pressed her lips together. Enough talking. Tears burned behind her eyes. It was time to let the past go without divulging everything.

“Assholes.” Sam crooked his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I can’t say I was any better. Once I got into the academy, I sowed my share of wild oats.”

She nodded.

“Honey,” he put his arm around her, “I’m sorry.” He tucked her tight to his chest. “I can’t imagine what you went through.” Sam petted her hair. “You were young.”

“My parents tried to help. Daddy threatened all my boyfriends with his shotgun.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “There was one guy...I really liked him and thought I could trust him. He was from the neighboring school. I told him about the way I’d been treated and he swore he’d never treat me like dirt.” He shoulders shuddered. “I refused to have sex with him and just like the rest of them, he told everyone I was a whore. His ego took a bruising and my life was never the same. He made me believe no one could be trusted.”

“Aw sweetheart. Any guy who does that deserves to have his nads ripped off.”

“I kept my baby brother from all of it. He thinks I was a good girl.” Once the dam burst, she couldn’t hold her emotions back. She gulped a couple of deep breaths to calm down. Sam made her feel comfortable. Like he cared.

“You’ve got a brother?”

“He races dirt cars. Last I heard, he had a steady girlfriend and was second in his division.” She smoothed her arms around his neck. “I don’t like my past and hate talking about it, but going through that stuff made me stronger.” She stared up at him. “I’m usually cautious, but something about you makes me want to go for what I want.”

“Me, too.” He wound his arms around her and met her for a kiss.