Page 29 of Falling for the Werewolf
“Did you ask her to marry you?” she asked quietly, her voice thick from crying.
“No,” he answered honestly.
“Is Amanda pregnant?”
“Yes.” He heard the slight hitch in her breath.
“Is it your baby?”
“I don’t think so.”
A choked sob came from her throat. “You don’tthinkso?” Dani subconsciously put her hand on her belly protectively. The movement was not lost on Jace. He knew what she was thinking, and it was ripping him apart inside.
“It’s ... complicated.”
Dani simply nodded wearily. “That’s what Todd said, too.”
“Don’t compare me to him,” Jace growled. “It’s not the same thing.”
“I know,” she agreed softly. “But I need time to process this, and I’d rather do it alone. I can’t think with you this close, Jace. Please.”
When he remained exactly where he was, she said, “Did you hear me? I asked you to go.”
“I heard you, but I’m not leaving you up here alone. It’ll be dark soon.”
“Why not? Are you afraid someone will come along and take advantage of me?”
Her words sliced through him like sharp blades. He felt the pain seconds after her actual strike. He clenched his teeth, willing his beast to stay back.
“Is that what you think? That I took advantage of you? Because I remember things differently. You were right there with me, Dani. You wanted it every bit as much as I did.”
* * *
Dani wanted to be angry with him, but the truth was, he was right. Shehadbeen right there with him. Shehadwanted it as much as he had. She still did.
It wasn’t fair, she knew, but dammit, she was hurting and angry, not even at him, really, but at the whole situation. What did the universe have against her, anyway?
She stood up, looking down at the lake below. It looked so beautiful, so peaceful, dark and cool in the last rays of the sunshine. Jace had told her how he and his brothers used to dive from this very rock whenever they came out to visit their uncle.
How wonderful would it feel to just throw herself into the water? To simply leap into the air, become free and weightless, then slice through the cool, spring fed waters? To leave everything behind—all the pain, the ache, Jace—if only for a few brief moments?
“Don’t even think about it,” Jace warned. She heard the uncertainty, the warning in his voice. Did he know what she was thinking? Was he so attuned to her that he could sense it?
“Go home, Jace.”
“We both know that’s not going to happen. Look, I get that you don’t want to talk to me right now, even though that’s exactly what weshouldbe doing. But I’m willing to give you some time ... on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Let me take you back to Bess’s, where I know you’ll be safe. Then I’ll leave until you’re ready to talk to me.”
The skies rumbled overhead with the promise of an approaching storm. While it matched her mood, the thought of making the long walk back to her aunt’s in the rain wasn’t a pleasant one.
She nodded. “All right.”
* * *
Breathing a sigh of relief, Jace walked Dani down the path and to his truck. By the time they pulled into Bess’s driveway, the wind had picked up and the first fat drops had already begun to fall.
He walked her to the door, jamming his hands into his pockets to keep from pulling her into his arms. Instead, Bess put her arm around Dani’s shoulders and the two of them walked up the steps. Dani didn’t spare him a backward glance.
“It’ll all work out, son,” Amos said, clamping a hand down on Jace’s shoulder. “Give her some time. Neither one of you are up for this right now. I promise you, she’s in good hands.”
Jace knew Amos was right, but he didn’t want to leave. At least he knew where she was now, that she was safe, and that Bess would take care of her until he could do so himself. Until then, he was going to straighten this mess out.
