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He leaned back and laughed, glad he had said nothing. Looking down at her, he was relieved to see most of that haunted look in her eyes gone.
“Let’s get some sleep,” he agreed, turning off the shower then walking out of the stall.
“You can put me down,” she said, but linked her hands behind his neck and tightened her legs around him.
“I know,” he replied, striding to the bed.
Dragging back the blanket, he laid her on the bed and climbed in beside her. She scurried against his side and he pulled the blankets up over them.
She traced the letters of his Blaze tattoo, her body tense. He got the impression she was in a serious mood and it lit brought a small flame of hope to life.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, rubbing her arm. Their entwined bodies created a sanctuary, and if she was about to tell him how she felt about him, he would do the same.
He held his breath as she prepared to speak.
36
Nita felt him inhale as she traced the tattoo on his chest.
His son. The most important thing to him, and here she was, wanting him to stay. Wanting him to move to Seattle, to make love with her twice a day… and walk away from his child. She couldn’t imagine the baby mamma letting their son move across the country.
She thought about his comment in the shower.
You could get pregnant.
She’d brushed it aside, but it had stayed with her. Lurking in the back of her mind. The one role she swore she wouldn’t have. But why not? Aside from all the awful examples she’d seen in her life.
She sighed. Thinking of babies and his son reminded her of what she’d meant to do back at the villa. Give him the apology she owed him.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
His chest lowered as he exhaled, as if he’d been holding his breath.
“For what?” he asked.
“For what I said the other day. Implying you’re not a good parent. It’s not true, and I said that to be hurtful,” she explained.
He tightened his arm around her, shaking her in a good-natured way. Not like a lover, but more like a friend.
“I didn’t think you meant it that way, but thanks for apologizing,” he answered, the texture of his voice different. Unconcerned, almost.
She laid her head on his chest, feeling it rise as he breathed in, his body tensing as if he was going to speak. She waited.
“What?” she finally asked when he’d stayed quiet for several seconds.
“Just… what are your gut feelings about Montgomery? Has he really been around since the incident with the client that was pushed out the window?” he asked.
She pushed herself up on her elbow, examining his face. He was frowning and definitely not thinking about her.
Just as well.
“Yeah, I think he was on the property that day,” she replied.
“Jackal sounded like he didn’t trust the guy, but when I met Montgomery last month at that fake engagement, he seemed legit,” Ryder explained, and lifted a hand to rest behind his head.
So this is how it’s going to be,she thought, and grimaced. At least she hadn’t embarrassed herself by admitting her true feelings.
“Well,” she said, and cast back in her mind to all she knew about Montgomery. “Claire told me a little about him. He’s Hartley’s husband, obviously. He cheated on her with one of her sorority sisters—”
