From last weeks post:
"I'm concerned because I'm a single parent. I cut out coupons for the grocery store, for heaven's sake. I don't want people thinking I fell in love with you for your money. I don't want to be a kept woman."
*****
Joe laughed. "George mentioned that."

"He promised he wouldn't mention our conversation." She reached toward his pocket. "I need your cell phone. He promised."

"Calm down." He chuckled. "George and I were in a tight situation while rescuing the last two girls. He told me to lighten the air. It worked, too. It made me smile."

"You weren't making fun of the country hick, were you?"

"No. Neither George nor I would ever make fun of you. I have the same country background as you do."

"You've overcome it. I'm still living it." She looked down.

Joe lifted her chin. "You have nothing to apologize for. Your feet are firmly planted and I admire that. That's one of the things I love about you." He threw a pebble toward the lake. "Are there any other concerns?"

She tore a croissant in half and nibbled at it. "You were angry with Roy and I watched you repeatedly slug him. I'm sure with time Cassie or I will make you angry. How do I know you won't hurt one of us?" She studied her hand holding the rest of the croissant. "Especially Cassie. She's not your flesh and blood."

Joe licked his lips. "This is the root of all your doubt, isn't it?"

Moisture filled her eyes. "Every time we've started discussing it we've been interrupted." She dried the tears rolling down her cheek. "If it only affected me, I'd take a chance, but I need to consider Cassie. I can't put her in danger just because I fell in love."

"I admire your devotion to your daughter. If she didn't come first, I wouldn't love you as much as I do." He shook his head. "You Riley women blew my socks off. I don't understand it." He studied his little finger and wiggled it.

He swallowed as he took her hand and placed it across his heart. "I promise with all my heart I'll never lay a hand on either of you. If you can't believe that, I'll walk away now." He stared into her eyes.

"Joe ...?" her voice trailed, paused, then continued, "What if you get angry with somebody else and beat them up in front of Cassie."

He leaned over and kissed her hand still against his chest. "I was wrong for attacking Roy and I've regretted it every day since. I'm sorry."

He picked up a handful of pebbles and threw each one individually toward the lake. "Damn!" He threw the rocks down. "Nothing in my training prepared me for falling in love."

His eyes met hers. "I assumed you made a mistake, got pregnant in high school, and I accepted that. When I found out you were date raped, I was furious. This jerk was never held accountable. He even allowed the townspeople and himself to chastise you for over fourteen years."

Joe released a deep breath. "I can't explain the rage that came over me when I saw you slug him. When he ordered his brother to handcuff you for assaulting an officer, I couldn't restrain myself."

He turned toward the lake. "I don't know how, but somehow I knew he was the man who raped you. Not only that, but he's an officer of the law. Then I remembered how he treated you during the reunion dance."

Joe took her hand and held it. "I honestly wanted to kill him. All I could think of was protecting you and I wanted to take all the years of pain from you. I'm sorry." He closed his eyes.

Sara reached up, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around and squeezed her.

When he loosened his hold, he said, "I knew love was a powerful emotion, but I never expected it to hit me as hard as it did." He hesitated. "You don't have any other secrets that might cause me to lose control, do you?"

She shook her head. "No. Cassie's father was my only secret."

"Good. I don't think I could stand any others." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. "I'm sorry I scared you."

"I know this was hard, but I needed to talk all this out. I'm ready to go on with our relationship. There are no more obstacles." She kissed him.