Page 28 of Jessica's Hero
“Truffles,” I confirm. “I heard they might be your favorite.” I keep my smile plastered on while I quickly sortthrough all the possible reasons why Jess’s eyes are red and slightly swollen, like she was recently crying.
Did she get another text? Was someone rude to her again? Did something happen at her house?
Jess darts forward to hug me, and I instinctively wrap my arms around her, gathering her slim figure against my body. She’s stiff at first, but a moment later, she sags, giving me most of her weight. Her head drops to my shoulder and her breath comes out in a soft sigh, whispering across my neck.
Alarm prickles across the back of my neck.
Something is very wrong.
This is more than anI’m happy to see youhug. It’s Jess allowing herself to lean on me. Which I want her to do, but I’m already dreading the reason, which I have a feeling is going to piss me off at the very least.
I hold Jess for another minute before taking her arms and setting her away from me. Tiny wrinkles crease her forehead, but she quickly smooths them away. “Sorry,” she starts, “I should have let you actually come in first, shouldn’t I? Since it’s freezing out.”
Itisfreezing out, and with the front door still open, the frigid air is gusting right in. But that’s the least of my worries right now. I want to know why Jess was crying and why she held onto me like I was a buoy keeping her afloat.
Shutting the door behind me, I slide the deadbolt and chain lock home. Then I take a quick look at the control panel beside the door, making sure that the security system is working properly.
“It’s been working perfectly,” Jess offers. She shifts theflowers and truffles in her arms. “One of the alarms went off this morning?—”
“What?” My voice sharpens. “It went off? Why didn’t you call me?”
She walks over to the coffee table and sets the bouquet and box of truffles on it. Turning back to me, she says, “Because it was a squirrel. He was climbing along the windowsill outside, and he must have set off the sensor. Which is a good thing, right? That way we know it’s working.”
I take a steadying breath before crossing the few feet between us and sliding my arm around her waist. “That’s true. Are you sure that’s all it was, though?”
A faint smile teases her lips. “I’m sure. I watched the video and everything. It was just the squirrel. No one lurking—” Her smile fades. “Anyway. It was fine.”
As I look down at her, I’m hit with a wave of indecision. Which is unusual for me; typically I’m quick to decide, but with Jess, I feel like I’m constantly worried I’ll do something wrong. That I’ll scare her off before I get a chance to win her over.
Do I ask her? Or do I let Jess take the lead?
“Kane?” Jess peers at me with a worried expression. “Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?” Her hand twitches up to her neck, hiding the hash-marks of scars there.
Shit. Now I’m making her self conscious.
“No, sweetheart.” I catch her hand, gently pulling it away from her neck. “You look beautiful. Like you always do.”
She flushes. “Kane. I don’t?—”
“You do.” Still holding her hand, I lead her over to thecouch. As I tug her down to sit beside me, I add, “I mean it, Jess. You look absolutely beautiful.”
Confusion pulls at her brows. “It looked like something was bothering you. Or was I imagining things?” She stops. Her lips twist into a rueful smile. “It’s been a day. So I could have read it all wrong.”
And there. The perfect opening.
Drawing in a deep breath, I let it out slowly. “Well. Somethingwasbothering me.Isbothering me, really.”
“Oh, Kane. I’m sorry.” She squeezes my hand. “Was it something at work? Is tonight not a good night for you? If you’re not in the mood for dinner, I can wrap it up for you to take home. We can do this another time.”
“No, it’s not that.” I shift closer to Jess, so our legs are flush against each other. I cover both her hands with mine. “I’m worried aboutyou.”
“Me? Why?” But before I can respond, she answers her own question. Gaze dipping, she says, “I guess I didn’t do a very good job hiding it. Did I?”
“You did. But I still noticed. Why were you crying?”
Her lips thin. “I had a rough day is all.”
“Jess.” My voice firms. “If something’s wrong, tell me. Maybe I can help.”
