“Attacks? How?”
“He practically froze me in my perfectly warm apartment. And let’s not forget the box incident. I know he stuck that there just so I’d trip over it.”
“I’m sure he’s not attacking you, Aunt Dottie. He just wants to get your attention.”
“Oh yeah? Well, he has a hell of a nerve scaring me out of my wits. And what could he want from me, anyway? A sandwich? He’s dead!”
Thankfully the elevator door opened and Merry stepped from it. Dottie eyed her hand—the one holding Jason’s key.
Chapter 9
Oh, no. What am I going to tell him?Merry stood just inside Jason’s apartment even after his aunt left, hesitating to move further.
He strolled over and stroked her arms as he scrutinized her face. “You look a little freaked out. Is it because I gave you a key, or is it something else?”
“Uh… No. I mean, yes. I mean…” She took a deep breath and stalled.What the hell do I do? He’ll think I’m nuts if I tell him the truth.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and escorted her to the couch. “Here. Sit. Let me get you a glass of wine. Then we can talk.”
She nodded and sank down onto the low white sofa. Maybe she could stall for time if she spilled red wine on his white couch? Nah, he’d probably tell her not to clean it so he could throw it out and start over.
Sly had asked hernotto tell Jason about his place in the basement. For a vampire to find a lair that wouldn’t be discovered and build a false wall with a hidden entrance took a lot of time and trouble. Plus, he had friends here. Konrad in particular, but he went to Morgaine for spells, too. Spells? Real magic? Really? Was anyone in this buildingnormal?
He promised that he never killed in their neighborhood, well, except for the one time he and Konrad had saved her—probably. He hadn’t come right out and said it, but she could extrapolate. He’d said he only hunted vermin. When she asked, specifically, if he meant animal or human, he simply looked away and changed the subject.Avenging angel? Crime fighter? I guess it could be worse.
When Jason returned with her glass of wine, she was nobetter prepared to talk. She didn’t want to base their relationship on deception, but what in the world could she do? Was anyone evercompletelyhonest with their partner? Maybe this could be considered one of those little white lies? Everyone tells them to protect the ones they love.
“So, tell me. What’s going on?”
She inhaled deeply. “I—I guess it’s possible that I just met my biological father.”
Okay, so this was a little different—more like leaving out certain facts. That wouldn’t even be lying, technically. It was like not telling him about going to a club with Roz once, right? No, that was to prevent hurt feelings.
“What else? I know there’s more.”
She dropped her head in her hands.
He settled in beside her and stroked her back. “Maybe I should help? There’s something I need to ask you too.”
Whew.Maybe the subject wouldn’t come up at all if he had his own issue to discuss.
“Are you freaked out because I gave you a key to my place? Because if it’s too soon—”
“No. That was sweet. I won’t use it unless you’re here, of course. But it was a very kind gesture. Thank you.”
“It wasn’t meant as an empty gesture, Merry. It’s more like a symbol. I know you’ve felt a little insecure with the attention I get as a professional athlete, and in the future I’ll be preoccupied with the game, but I want you toknowyou’re special. I’m always here for you. And I trust you to come to me if you ever have any doubts. And I’m here for you if you want to talk about problems of your own. Okay?”
She nodded, dumbly.Problems of my own? If I didn’t have to lie to you, I wouldn’t have a big problem right now.
“Okay, so it isn’t the key. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She took a big gulp of wine. “What makes you thinksomething’s wrong?”
He raised one eyebrow. “Because you look like you’ve just seen a…” He shook his head. “Bad example. Look, I can just tell. So, spill it.”
He wants me to trust him. I want to trust him. Can I? Should I?
He heaved a deep sigh. “Okay, let’s play twenty questions. Does it have something to do with Sly?”
