Page 86 of Forbidden Love Still Blooms

Inhaling sharply, I put my hands to my eye sockets, pressing. The sensation makes colors flash in my vision. Colors only I can see. “It bothers me.”

“What does?”

“How easily you figured it out.”

“Why would—”

“I spent way too long making excuses for him,” I say hotly. “He was good, once. Kind … once. It didn't take much before he became a twisted monster. But I still tried to justify it, convinced myself, my mom, that he'd relax after the attention died down. He didn't. It didn't. And he almost …”

“He almost what?” Jordan asks intently.

Lowering my hands, I see the sympathy melting through his wide eyes. “He almost killed my mom.”

“Is that when you stepped in, to save her?”

Before I can answer he cradles my head under his chin, silencing me with a new swaddle of muscle and soothing mumbles. I don't argue, I accept the interruption of the story. He doesn't need the details. No one does.

We clean the shop quickly by working together. It makes me appreciate what he said before. Maybe wecanfix everything if we work as a team.

Jordan gathers the shattered pottery. He searches the store, every crack, every corner, until he has the last bits of sea glass. “I'll just throw that out,” I say, reaching for it.

“No. I'll do it.”

I lower my hands, shrugging. “What now? Will you … go home?”

“Tonight? I can't. If Dezmond is there, I won't be able to control myself. I'll throw him over the fucking cliff.”

My heart gives a violent thump—I like the idea in a visceral way. But Jordan is right, he can't do that. “Then what?”

He checks his phone, tapping his thumb on the edge as he thinks. “I've got an idea. When was the last time you had a vacation?”

“I don't even know.”

“Let me treat you and your mom.”

“What?”

“I'll book a hotel, something not far. An hour away at most. We'll do a staycation.” Grinning, he approaches me, sweeping my face into his big hands. “I'll let your mother see what a wonderful man I am. That way, once Dez is no longer yourfiancé,”he mauls the word, “she'll welcome me as your new love interest.”

I laugh nervously. “That might not go over well, Jordan.”

“How bad is it that I don't care?”

I swallow, focusing on his smirking lips. “Not as bad as me caring less.”

He kisses me sweetly, not the usual fervor, and I wonder if he's holding back because of my injury. I don't want to be treated like I'm made of glass. Gripping his hair, I drive his mouth against mine, nipping at his tongue.

Jordan groans in delight, gazing at me with sex and sin in his eyes. “We just cleaned this place, and you're acting like you want to do it again.”

“Not here. Let's go to this hotel you're bragging about.”

“Right now?”

Kissing him, tugging at his bottom lip, I chuckle. “Mom can join us tomorrow.”

Chapter 28

Jordandrivesustothe hotel. After an hour of climbing across his body in the king size bed, I message my mom, telling her the plan. I'm amazed she's awake. She asks about my date with Dezmond, which makes my head swim as I imagine her waiting up for me at home. But then, to my surprise, she eagerly agrees to join us at the hotel the next morning.

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