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“Be careful, Mrs. Bennett.”
“You really think it has something to do with my father?” I ask, attempting to change the subject. And pointedly ignoring his new name for me.
Hayden nods. “Politicians rarely take and maintain an office without some type of dirt on them.”
“My father was a good man. If you care about me at all, you won’t say negative things about him in front of me.” I drop my gaze and smooth out the comforter, unable to look at Hayden. “I want my memories of him to remain intact, regardless of what your investigation turns up.”
“I understand.” His voice softens, giving me the courage to meet his gaze. “Your father was innocent of the charges brought against him. I know this now, but I should’ve known he was a decent man after meeting you. If that wasn’t true, he would’ve killed the goodness in you instead of nurturing it.”
“Thank you. It means a lot to me to hear you say something nice about my father. God, I miss him so much.”
Hayden stiffens. It’s nearly imperceptible, but I catch it regardless. Narrowing my gaze, I scrutinize him, searching his face for any detail that could explain his change in demeanor.
“I owe you an apology concerning your father,” he says quietly. “I severely misjudged him.”
“It’s okay. You’ve admitted that you changed your opinion of him, and that’s all that matters to me.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and turns his head toward the sliver of waning sunlight now failing to illuminate the room. “I was so wrong, and I can never make it up to you.”
My forehead scrunches in confusion. Just as I’m about to ask him to explain what he’s talking about, Hayden faces me, his expression stoic once more. The abrupt change in him leaves me speechless. Something’s clearly bothering him, but I have no idea what it could be.
Or if I want to know.
“I’m assuming you haven’t eaten dinner since you were asleep when I walked in here,” he says.
“I haven’t. When did you get home?”
He lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “Hours ago.”
“You didn’t watch me the whole time, did you?”
“Yes, I did.” He pauses and then says, “Seeing you asleep in my bed puts me at ease. I’m still fucking terrified at the thought of losing you.”
My heart pounds wildly in my chest at his confession. This isn’t the first time Hayden’s admitted to being scared of losing me, but for some reason this is different. It’s filled with more than fear.
There’s pure agony etched into every word, every syllable.
An eerie silence descends on the room, blanketing us in tension. I break it with a whisper, barely discernible to my own ears. “I don’t know what to say, Hayden.”
He breaks eye contact with me, his jaw tightening as he looks away. “Unless you’re agreeing to cooperate, there’s nothing to be said.”
“That’s not true. Despite my past coming back to haunt me, you and I have issues that need to be resolved. If not…” Now I’m the one who’s turning my head when his gaze snaps in my direction. “Things need to change.”
“They will once this threat is neutralized.”
I exhale my pent-up frustration. “Yeah, okay.”
“Maybe once you’ve eaten, your sour disposition will improve.”
“Unless you’ve decided you’re not going to kidnap me, then I doubt it,” I mutter.
Hayden extends his hand to assist me. “I have rope set aside, should you require it.”
I shove his hand away and slide from the mattress. Before my feet have a chance to fully land on the soft rug, he snakes an arm around my waist and hauls me to him. I slam against his chest in a daze.
“Rejection only makes me want you more,” he says. “Keep fighting me, and I’ll be fucking you on the dining table.”
Hearing the passion in his voice has my body reacting, despite my best efforts. His sensual threat, combined with the intensity of our exchange, stirs something within me I can’t ignore. It’s an emotional connection that we’ve forged, one that transcends the circumstances we’re struggling to navigate.
