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“It’s a paper marriage.”
“Don’t do that,” she told him, an ache building in her throat. “Don’t shut me out.”
He heaved a sigh and rolled away from her, coming to rest on his back. She pursued him across the mattress, sitting up so she could peer down at his face. His eyes remained hard, but his hand scooped her hip, thumb moving rhythmically against her waist.
“You never stop pushing, do you?”
She set her left hand on his chest. His grandmother’s ring snared the dawning light drifting in through the open window. They both stared at it.
At long last she asked, her voice scarcely rising about a whisper, “Do you want me to?”
They both knew what she wanted to know. Did she take off the ring and walk away from the marriage? Or did she stay and did they both commit to making their relationship grow and strengthen?
“What you’re asking from me isn’t easy.”
“I know.” Relief made her dizzy. He hadn’t immediately challenged her bluff. “But we’re a good team and we need each other.”
“You need me?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Being with him she felt a part of something bigger than either of them could ever be alone. “I’m not as unselfish as you believe.” She laid her cheek on his chest and snuggled against his side. “You make me feel safe and secure. I know I can count on you.”
“You never seem as if you need anyone’s help.”
“I may be everyone’s cheerleader, but once in a while, I appreciate it when someone has my back.” She lifted her head and met his gaze. “I like it when you’re that someone.”
“You know you will always be able to call on me for anything.”
She gave him a wistful smile. It wasn’t a passionate declaration of love, but it was a heartfelt promise he would never betray. And she accepted at this moment it was everything he was capable of giving.
* * *
In close proximity to the kitchen, an extensive covered patio contained a barbeque pit, a seating area with fireplace and flat screen television and a table that seated eight. Unless he was entertaining, JT rarely used the space. Most often he ate a quick meal in the kitchen before heading out to the hotel or the barn. But since Violet had moved in, he’d spent a fair amount of time enjoying all the amenities.
This morning, the table was strewn with bowls of fruit, plates of bacon, eggs and waffles. More food than either of them could eat. But as soon as Violet had handed him the file on his father, he’d lost all appetite.
“This can’t be real.” He set the file aside and rubbed the bridge of his nose where a headache was starting.
“Maybe,” Violet replied, her tone neutral. “Maybe not.”
“Have you read the whole thing?”
“Twice.”
“It’s ridiculous. My father grew up in California. I’ve heard him speak about his parents and his childhood in Los Angeles. He’s not some wannabe thug from Las Vegas.”
“That was my exact attitude when Scarlett brought it to my attention. I thought the whole thing was crazy and told her so.”
A chill formed in JT’s chest. “Who else knows about this?”
Her gaze sharpened as she caught onto his irritation. “Just Harper. She was there when Scarlett gave me the file. You don’t need to worry about her. She won’t say anything.”
“Do you have to share everything about me with your sisters?” His aggrieved tone made her flinch, but his resentment bit too deep for him to apologize. He’d barely gotten comfortable sharing bits of himself with Violet and it made him surly to think that her sisters knew a devastating secret about his father.
“They won’t say anything,” she said, using her fork to shred the uneaten waffle on her plate.
“I don’t know that.”
His logical side reminded him that behaving as if he didn’t trust her would create problems between them. But he couldn’t ignore his emotions as they sliced him with a double-edged sword of alarm and resentment.
