Falling Embers (Tattered & Torn, #2)

by Catherine Cowles

If you wanted to soar, you had to let go of every what-if that held you back.

His fingers tightened on my hair, tipping my head back even farther. “I’m sorry. You’ll never know how much. I was scared out of my mind and trying to keep my head above water. It was all lies. I’ve wanted you for longer than I should’ve. But it’s more than that. You’ve always been more. You own my fucking soul, and I don’t ever want it back.”

He trailed his lips down my neck to my chest. “You’re this explosion of light in a world that’s mostly gray. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Part of me knew that I’d loved Hadley all her life. That love had shifted and changed over the years. From protective big-brother figure to friend and then to something more. But in this moment, seeing her pour that kind of truth into my daughter’s heart, every doubt was swept away. I loved this woman with everything I had, and I was never letting go.

Calder’s hand slid along my jaw to my neck. “You’re the only person I’ve ever been in love with, too.”