Page 96 of Shattered Hearts

Laynie’s breathing picks up, fingers digging into the material of my jacket so tightly that it’s pulling me down. She stutters for air. My protective nature kicks in once again.

I frown. “Laynie?”

“I ca—can’t breathe,” she squeezes out, losing control of her anxiety.

Pushing herself away, she holds onto the door, her eyes flared and cheeks flushed pink. I can tell she’s about to panic. Her hands and lips are trembling as she struggles to inhale deep enough. “Laynie, listen to me. Just breathe.”

Her head shakes.

I frown.

We’ve been through this so many times.

“Breathe…”

“I. Can’t,” she grits out through her tears, breath choked and hollow.

Moving to grab a hold of her hand, she pushes open the door and pulls herself out of the car into the darkness. I’m out a second later, droplets hitting me, soaking through my clothes. I see her leaning over the hood. I rush around, holding onto her waist as she catches her breath.

“You’re okay, Laynie. You’re okay.”

Her lungs struggle to grasp oxygen, and I go to rub her back, but she pushes me away. Frowning, I move back a step as she collects herself, sniffling loudly, eyes sharp with tears as she stares up at me. “I did something stupid, and I can’t take it back.” Drenched hair swishes around her neck and shoulders as she fights to fill her lungs with air. “And now you want to be part of this, but I can’t let you.”

“Why not?” I bite out, needing to know what it is that’s holding her back. “Why won’t you let me?”

“Because I don’t want to ruin your life!” erupts from her throat. She’s shaking, hands fisting at her sides, and I let her. She needs to get out all her pent-up emotions, and I’ll stand here and take them.

My throat works, head shaking. “You’re not ruining my life. If anything, all you’re doing is ruining our chance to finally be together, Laynie. You can’t keep pushing me away because you think it’s what I want, because I’m telling you right now, it’s not what I want.”

Her chest heaves, the rain drumming down around us as we stand in the middle of nowhere. Boots squelching in the mud, she steps closer, irises burning with a silent irritation. “Then what do you want?”

“I want you!” I shout back, leaning closer to tower over her. “Can you not see that? I love you, Laynie, and it tears me apart seeing you try to keep us away from each other. I don’t care that you slept with someone else and got pregnant. I’ll love your baby like it’s my own blood, and you know it.” She chokes on a breath, hand ruffling her hair, I continue, “I have loved you for so long, but I was too chicken to do anything about it.” I guess Reid was right after all. “But I’m not letting you slip away again. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and this baby is ours. You want that, and I want that.”

Blinking at me through the rain, I watch her lips tremble, either from surprise or the cold, but when her lips land on mine, I know it’s from awe. Cupping the back of her head, I pull her close, knowing that I will never let her go again. She’s mine. She always has been deep down, but now it’s out there in the universe.

Laynie Adler is mine, and I will love this baby with everything I’ve got.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Laynie

Kissing Grayson makes me feel complete.

His hands cradle my face, holding me as if I’m the last delicate petal of autumn. He smells of cinnamon and sandalwood—my favourite scent that tantalises all my senses. The softness of his flannel jacket rubs against my fingertips as I hold him close, my full belly pressing against him. Tongues mixing and exploring, I let out a moan, and he deepens the kiss to a whole new level.

We’re starving. Desperate after yearning for each other for so long and finally admitting everything.

Grayson Lawson loves me. He wants to be with me and our baby.

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing him say that.

Rain droplets fall on my face, and Grayson gently pushes me against the hood, his jacket slipping down his arms. I pull it off. Feeling his coiled arms and buff shoulders, I try to pull him impossibly closer. His hands dig into my side, gripping onto my waist like I might float away from him if he’s not careful. His body leans over mine, shielding me from some of the rain, but I couldn’t care less. I’d be out here kissing him if an avalanche was chasing us. Nothing would be able to tear us apart.

A bright light illuminates Betsie, ripping us from the little bubble we were in.

Pulling away, I stare at the incoming headlights. Grayson catches his breath beside me as we watch a ute pull over behind Betsie.

“Crap,” Grayson utters, hands digging through his wet hair.