Page 122 of Drive
And, indeed, an earnest happiness filled her eyes, but again, he saw another emotion there. The same acceptance or resignation he’d read in them when he’d spoken toKate.
His eyes narrowed. “But what?” he askedsoftly.
He watched her blink in surprise at his question. “But nothing. You’re incredibly talented, and the band is perfection,” she proclaimed, conviction sparking in her eyes and straightening her spine. “You all deservethis.”
Her insistence pulled at the corners of his mouth. He’d had few supporters in his life, but Jacques now felt certain that the universe had settled that debt inRainey.
“It means a lot that you think that,” he said, resting a hand against her cheek and letting his thumb caress her soft skin. “I can’t tell you howmuch.”
Beneath his fingers, he felt her jaw tighten, and she bit her lips as though she were holding something back. He looked into her eyes and found themshining.
“What is it?” he asked on a whisper. “What are you notsaying?”
She shook her head and blinked. “It’s just… wonderful news,” she said, giving him a watery smile that turned his heart to melted butter. Rainey was welling up for him, but he sensed her feelings were complex and, if his guess were correct, somewhat painful,too.
“But there’s something else. Tell me what itis.”
Rainey looked down so he was now looking at the top of her head. He watched her turn it from side to side. “I’d rathernot.”
The sight was so sweet, he almost laughed, but he ran his hand over her hair instead and kissed her part. “I won’t be able to get us back on the road until I know what’s up,” he saidgently.
At last, she raised her chin until her eyes met his. Their shine had gone, and a look of resolve had come over her. “I want this for you,” she said, her gazeunflinching.
He gathered a handful of her curls into his fist and gripped tight. “I know you do,” he said, waiting formore.
She drew in a long breath through her nose. “I just wish we’d had moretime.”
Jacques’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you using past tense?” he asked,frowning.
Rainey said nothing, and a thrill of fear ran down the length of his body. On instinct, the hand that wasn’t wrapped in her hair reached for herwaist.
“What are yousaying?”
She blinked. “You’llgo.”
Realization struck him like a bolt from the blue. They’d come full circle. Right back to the reason she hadn’t wanted to get involved with him in the firstplace.
“YouthinkI’ll go,” he corrected, noting thedifference.
Rainey rolled her eyes. “You’ll go. It’sinevitable.’’
Jacques shook his head. “No, it’s not.” Then he heaved a frustrated sigh. “I mean, yeah, I will go, but I’ll always come back.Always.”
She looked up at him under her lashes, and instead of appearing convinced or comforted, she regarded him with a maddening look of condescension. As if she were indulging his naiveté. Jacques gritted histeeth.
“You don’t believe me,” hegrowled.
Her expression softened, and her eyes moved between his. “It’s not that I don’t believe your intentions,” she said, bringing a hand to his cheek. “I just know all too well how thisworks.”
Jacques narrowed his eyes. The blood in his veins seemed to simmer. “I should have beaten the shit out of your dad when I had thechance.”
This declaration earned him a grudging smile. “I can’t say I disagree with you, but I don’t think it would helpmatters.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he said, not smiling at all. What if Rainey needed a clear and unequivocal demonstration that the way Dylan Reeves had treated her was completely unacceptable? Wouldn’t she be able to better trust Jacques if she watched him punish her father for what he’ddone?
Jacques could feel his pulse in his head as his temper threatened to get the better of him. He inhaled through his nose. No, of course assaulting her father wouldn’t have improved her opinion ofhim.
But it sure made for a gratifyingfantasy.
