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“You returned to the scene of the crime.”
“What?” Panic briefly grips me.
“Your concert with Roland at the piano bar. It was featured on a local website.”
“Oh.” I relax again. “I should have realized. Nothing’s private anymore. Cameras are everywhere.”
“Almost everywhere.”
My lips press together briefly, and I dare to meet his angry eyes. “I’m so sorry, Mark.”
“Stop.” The blaze of anger burns hotter. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”
“I do mean it. More than you could ever know.”
He pushes into a sitting position, the muscles in his torso flexing as he moves. I reach out to trace my finger down his side, and he catches my hand, holding it away from his body. It hurts that he doesn’t want me to touch him now.
I move to sit up beside him, clutching the duvet around my naked body. “What can I do? Is there any way I can make this right?”
His square jaw moves, and I want to touch him. Having him again, then having him pull away so quickly makes the pain of loss even more unbearable. “You’ll have to prove I can trust you.”
“How?” I’m eager to do whatever it takes.
“Leave here with me now. Come to Alaska, bring the baby, bring Molly… We can get her the help she needs—”
With every word my chest grows tighter. “I want that… I want all of that. I’m just not sure I can convince Molly. And, well… Would you be willing to wait just a few more days?”
His eyes flash. “So you can go after Gavin?”
“Roland told you that?”
“He told me this time it’s more than Molly. This time it’s for you.”
“Yes, but not in the way you think. I want answers. He knows so much of my past…”
“And if the answers only lead to more questions? When does it end, Lara?”
“I don’t know.” My eyes are on my twisting fingers, and I remember how I felt last night, longing for Mark. Feeling like I’m in over my head. I remember the panic of eminent confrontation, and wanting him to hold my hand, tell me to breathe.
Slowly, I lift my eyes to his. “Would you help me?”
The smallest crack appears in the tension between us; the door keeping me out opens slightly. “What do you want me to do?”
Taking a chance, I put my hand on the back of his hand. He doesn’t pull away this time.
“I don’t want to do this alone. I want you to help me get the answers I need.” His hand turns over, and our fingers thread, our palms slide together. I lift my eyes to meet his. “Will you help me find the peace I need? Help me banish this last demon?”
“I’ve only ever wanted to help you.” His brow is still furrowed, but he’s softening. “I’ll tell Roland we might be staying a little longer.”
That makes me jump back. “Roland’s here? But who’s watching—”
“Jillian’s with him. With us—she’s down the hall in his room.”
He’s still speaking as I rip the duvet off me and run to the closet to grab one of the white robes. I hastily tie it around my body, and I’m out the door, trotting down the hall when I realize I don’t know the room number. Stopping, I look back to see Mark wearing only his slacks, following me with a smile on his face. A real smile that warms me to my toes.
“It’s Room 522,” he calls, and I let out a little squeal, scanning the doors.
It’s right across the hall, and I tap soft and fast on the door. It opens almost at once, and I do another squeal when I see her on his shoulder, bright blue eyes round and curious. As soon as she sees me, she smiles and makes her cute little baby noises, and I take her in my arms.
