Back to college?Had he realized how badly she wished she’d finished? “Why do you think I want to go back to college?”
“Oh, I don’t know…maybe because you told me you were a college dropout in the first five minutes of meeting me.”
“You got me. I wanted to be a doctor, but with all the related expenses, I realized my mother and I would be bankrupt before I got my degree.”
Jayce smiled. “You’re already an EMT and smart as hell. I can see you as a doctor. Let me pay your room and board, and you can look for a school. There are some excellent colleges and med schools in Boston.”
Kristine smiled shyly. “That’s sweet of you. But don’t you think it’s too soon?”
Jayce shrugged. “It isn’t for me. I’d even do my best to keep my place neat and clean for you.”
Kristine giggled. “Well, that’s a plus. But I really miss New York. And it bugs me that I’m being run out of my home when it’s not my fault.”
Jayce let out a deep sigh. “I wish…” He let go of her and stepped away. “Never mind.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.” Then his expression changed. He focused on her with an intense stare. “No. It does matter. I love you, Kristine. I want to be with you. I thought you felt the same way about me. Don’t you?”
She wandered over to one of the chairs and sank down onto it. “I do. I mean, if you could only come with me back to New York—”
Jayce folded his arms. “You know I have family obligations here. Is your mother pressuring you to go back?”
“No. Not at all. In fact, she’s had a change of heart—”
“You mean because of finding relatives here? Or possibly more? I thought I saw something between her and Conlan—”
“You’re very perceptive. She hasn’t totally made up her mind yet, but she is considering staying here—at least for a while.”
“Why don’t you both stay a while? I know you think you’re safe in New York now, but—”
“Jayce, I’m a dragon. I’m safe wherever I am.”
“Then tell me, how did they get your mother? It’s not like she couldn’t also just open her mouth and melt whoever laid a hand on her.”
Kristine knew, but she wasn’t about to tell him. They’d shot her mother with a tranquilizer dart. She said she’d felt a sharp pain in the back of her shoulder before losing consciousness.
Jayce squatted next to her chair and took her hand. “Please. I know paranormals are perceived to be invulnerable, but we’re not. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Kristine was irritated with herself. She could see his side of the argument and even felt herself softening to him, but she really wanted to stand up for her own principles. Her own hopes and dreams and wishes. She had finally learned what her mother had been hiding from her all those years, but she hadn’t had time to process any of it.
She didn’t like how these so-called goons or mobsters acted like they were unstoppable. Weren’t they just human? The thought of her mother caving to them bothered her. Amy wasn’t like that. Were they controlling her simply by threatening her daughter? That bothered her too.
Part of her wanted to see the rest of the picture in this dangerous puzzle, but mostly she wanted these assholes out of their lives. Never able to threaten either her or her mother again.
Jayce rose and returned to the sliding-glass door, which he opened, letting in a soft breeze. “It’s a beautiful evening. Would you like to go for a boat ride in the moonlight?”
Kristine sighed. She was at war with herself. It would be so easy just to slip into the comfort of Jayce, moonlit boat rides, and falling in love. But easy wasn’t always right. Those bastards were still living in luxury on Long Island—wreaking havoc on innocent lives. No wonder they thought they were unstoppable. Who was stopping them? If the police were dirty, there was no one.
She left her chair and stepped into his space, lightly caressing his pecs. “It would be so easy just to forget everything that’s happened, but I can’t. I love you, Jayce, and if you love me, you’ll wait until I’m ready to make the changes you want.”
“I love you so much I can’t see straight.”
He leaned in and pulled her close, delivering a long, deep kiss that had her tingling from the tips of her fingers to her toes. She did love him. He was easygoing, strong, and handsome—just looking at him made her weak in the knees. Plus he cared deeply and had never deserted her in her time of need. She doubted he ever would.
She cupped his cheek and stepped away. “One boat ride. But then I have to go back to the bed and breakfast. I can’t spend the night.”
He nodded, took her hand, and led her out onto the small patio. Then he locked the door behind them and ushered her to his boat. Kristine had never been much for boats, but his looked like a nice one.
