Page 14 of Deserving Maisy
CHAPTER FOUR
The rest of the week had been extremely stressful for Maisy. She felt as if she was walking on eggshells. Every time Jack asked her a question, she was sure the jig was up. That she’d say the wrong thing and his memory would suddenly return.
Now it was Saturday morning—her wedding day.
It was ironic. She’d dreamed about this day for so long. One of her favorite games when she was little was dressing up and using a towel or blanket as a “veil” and walking down the stairs as if she was descending toward her soon-to-be husband. Her mom used to play the part of the officiant, and Maisy would repeat the vows word-for-word to her imaginary beau.
And now here she was, going through with this sham of a marriage. She pretty much hated herself. Hated Jason for making her too afraid to say no to him.
She didn’t care about the money…would give it up in a heartbeat if it meant Jack wasn’t in this situation. But he was. And that sucked because in the last week, Maisy had discovered that shelikedthe man.
He was considerate, smart, polite, and protective.
It was the last trait that gave her pause. He truly thought she was his wife, and anytime Jason crossed the line—which he was very careful not to do around Jack very often—he’d intervene, getting her away from her brother.
There was no way he’d forgive her for what she was doing. Lying to him, pretending to be someone she wasn’t.
But it was mornings like this one, lying in his arms, feeling loved for the first time since her parents had died, when Maisy could almost forget this was all a charade. Hearing his heart beat under her cheek as she lay against his chest, smelling his manly scent, feeling his arms around her…she felt safe.
She already knew she didn’t want to give up Jack, but she also knew the inevitable moment would come. He’d remember that they weren’t actually man and wife, that he’d been kidnapped, that he’d been tricked into marrying her. And he’d leave.
On one hand, Maisy prayed for his memory to return. She wanted him to get out. To get away from Jason. If he was still here after the requisite three months had passed, he was a goner. As was Maisy. She knew that down to her very bones. And yet, here she was. Complicit in anything Jason was doing.
She was a horrible person. Being afraid of what her brother might do to her if she messed up his plan was no excuse. Not when she suspected what he’d done to her sister-in-law, or even their parents. But what were her options when she was literally penniless? She supposed she could go live on the streets, though Jason would never stoptrying to find her. He needed her to gain access to her money.
Jack jerked under her, and Maisy turned her thoughts from her own depressing situation to the man who’d gotten under her skin in just a few short days.
There hadn’t been one night so far when he hadn’t endured a nightmare. She had no idea what they were about, but if his reactions were anything to go by, they were horrific. And she hated the idea that this man—this strong, compassionate, caring man—was traumatized by something so horrible that he suffered over it every night.
She prayed that whatever Jason’s nasty acquaintances had done to get Jack here wasn’t the reason for his nightmares.
“You’re okay,” she murmured soothingly, moving a hand up to his face and palming his cheek. “You’re safe.”
“Owl! Are you okay? Talk to me, man!”
Maisy didn’t know who Owl was, but this wasn’t the first time he’d said the name while in the middle of a nightmare. And it was obvious he was someone Jack cared about deeply. “He’s all right,” she said, praying she wasn’t lying. But then again, it would be just one more lie piled on the heap she’d already told him.
“They’re hurting him!” Jack moaned as his head thrashed on the pillow.
The arm that was around her tightened, almost painfully so.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Maisy jerked at the sound of Jason’s voice. She’d been so focused on Jack, she hadn’t even heard her brother enter the room. She wasn’t surprised he’d come in uninvited. He invaded her privacy all the time, but he hadn’tdone it since Jack had woken up after being brought into the house. She didn’t know why he was there now, but she didn’t like it. Not at all.
“Nightmare,” she said brusquely, keeping her eyes on Jack.
“Wake up!” Jason exclaimed loudly.
Maisy glared at her brother. She didn’t think that was an appropriate way to wake someone who was having a bad dream.
Jason stepped to the edge of the bed, not caring that she was lying there with her soon-to-be husband, and put a hand on Jack’s arm, shaking him almost violently. “Hey! Snap out of it! You need to get up and get ready for your wedding!”
Jack moved so fast, Maisy wasn’t at all prepared. He pushed her to the side and swung at Jason, his fist making contact with her brother’s cheekbone with a loud thud.
Jason grunted as his head whipped back.
Then Jack did something Maisy had a hard time understanding. Instead of pushing her brother away, he grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled himtowardthe bed. And he hit him again.
