Page 150 of Broken
After rattling it off, Prescott growled. “I’m not interested in justice. I’m out for revenge.”
Pushing away from the desk, she relocated on the love seat beside him. “I know that, and I will help you any way I can.”
They stared into each other’s eyes while the energy swirled around them. The pull was there, the need to touch her uncontrollable. He clasped her hand, caressed her soft skin.
“I didn’t ask you to move in just because I want you safe,” he continued. “I could have told Nicky to install a security system at Z’s condo.”
“I’m listening.”
He could play this down, he could keep his emotional distance, but he wanted her to know the truth. “I’m falling in love with you.”
Her eyes softened and the divot between her brows disappeared. “I like the sound of that.”
“Don’t feel like you have to—”
“I feel the same,” she whispered, before they came together in a tender kiss. “And I love that feeling this way doesn’t scare me. Being around you, Ethan too, is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I work a lot—too much, really. I use work as an excuse to keep myself walled off.”
He needed to know everything about her, so he pushed on. “Why?”
Her entire body went taut. “It’s been a long a day.” She rose, severing their connection. “I’m gonna say goodnight.”
This should have been a special moment between them. They’d just shared a deeply romantic and soul-baring confession. The L-word wasn’t something he uttered lightly, especially now, with Ethan in tow. But she meant so much to him and he wanted her to know.
He stood, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her forehead. “I love having you here and I want you to feel safe. Does this have to do with the Winchester cult?”
“No,” she replied, peering up at him. “It’s about something that happened to me when I was in college.”
20
SECRETS
Jacqueline
“Never talk about what happened” had become a mantra Jacqueline lived by, and she didn’t want to relive the terrifying ordeal, not even with Prescott.
“I’m gonna call it. See you in the morning.” She leaned up, kissed him.
The second her lips pressed against his, desire jumped to the forefront. She wanted to love him and fall asleep in his arms. But she’d already said too much.
Better to put a little space between us.
She broke away, but he clasped her hands, drawing her back to him. “If you change your mind, come upstairs.” He tipped her chin. “I’ll behave.”
That made her laugh. “Where’s the fun in that?”
She made her way, alone, into the first-floor bedroom suite. There, she got naked, went into the bathroom, and turned on the shower faucet. While the hot water beat down on her, she tried clearing her mind, then she did the breathing exercises her therapist had taught her.
Neither helped.
I’m just tired,she told herself, but that wasn’t the real reason for her anxiety.
She shouldn’t have pushed Prescott away, but that was her typical reaction whenever anyone tried to get close to her. The hot water soothed her, but being in Prescott’s arms would work so much better. She dried off, pulled on a tank top, then brushed her teeth.
The king bed and modern furniture filled the large space, but she was drawn to the cozy sitting room with a comfy-looking chaise lounge and love seat, built-in bookshelves and gas fireplace. But she didn’t need to read. She needed sleep.
After crawling between the most decadent sheets, she turned off the light, propped herself up on two pillows, and stared into the dark backyard.
The minutes ticked by but sleep wouldn’t come.
