His gaze jerked to the slender body lying next to him. Morning sunlight spilled from the crack in the curtains, illuminating her sleeping form. Sleeping Beauty. Blond hair cascaded around her delicate features, tangled from the clench of his fingers. Eyelashes cast shadows over rose-flushed cheeks. Her lips were still red and slightly swollen from his kisses. Everything inside him relaxed. Back where I belong.
But for how long?
She was scared of him, she’d said. He hated that, but he couldn’t blame her for it. He knew what she’d merely begun to suspect: the absolute utter darkness of his rage. He hadn’t been pushed that far in a long time, but what if she was right? What if he snapped one day and hurt her?
Suddenly sick to his stomach, he rose from the bed, careful not to wake her. She didn’t have a private bathroom, so he used the one in the hall. He found a toothbrush still in its packaging and wondered if she’d bought it for him, pre-confession.
He glared at his reflection in the mirror and saw a well-satisfied but obviously unhappy male. I can’t give her up. I just have to prove to us both I can be trusted.
And he would. No other option was acceptable.
Noise drew him out of the bathroom. The sound of a cat being murdered, surely. But no. He found Jessie Kay in the kitchen, singing while making sandwiches. He paused as she glanced up from frying eggs and frowned at him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “I didn’t see your car, and last I heard, you’d gotten the ax.”
Had Brook Lynn told her sister about his past?
Either way, it was time for a reckoning, he supposed. He closed his eyes for a moment—man up—before sitting down at the table. “Beck dropped me off last night.”
“I wish he’d stayed. I needed help painting my toenails.”
“Well, I’m glad we’re getting a little time to ourselves.”
Her frown deepened. “Dude. If you’re hitting on me, I’m going to take this knife and shove it up your—”
“No. I’m not hitting on you,” he said, speaking over her. “I’m trying to apologize for the way I treated you. In the beginning.” Brook Lynn loved this girl, and now, knowing Jessie Kay and her vulnerabilities a little better, he understood why. She had a quick wit and an easy smile, and she would burn the world to the ground if it meant saving the ones she loved. As he would.
“Can’t say you didn’t end up with the better choice,” she muttered. “You may or may not have noticed I have a few issues.”
“You and me both. But Brook Lynn is merely the better choice for me. Some guy is going to be lucky to have you.”
She flipped her hair over her shoulder, saying, “Duh.” Then she flashed him a wry smile. “What happened between you guys, anyway? Brook Lynn wouldn’t say.”
She’d kept his secret, even from her sister. That had to mean something. “I told her how I...spent almost a decade in prison,” he said.
“What!” Jessie Kay spun around and gaped at him. “You’re freaking kidding me.”
No more hiding, he decided. It caused too many problems later on. For others and for himself.
Jase clenched the edge of the table. He had to pry his fingers loose before he snapped the thing in two as he told her the entire story. She listened intently, never interrupting. Her expressive face registered more shock, disbelief, horror and finally understanding.
“Dude.” She arched a golden brow at him, an expression he’d often seen on Brook Lynn. “I always thought I’d be the Dillon sister to end up with an ex-con.”
“You still could,” he replied drily. “Your soul mate is still out there.”
“This is true. Well, fingers crossed.”
“So?” he asked. “Is this the part where you warn me away from your sister?”
She peered at him for a long while, studying him, thinking. Then she sighed. “No. But if you ever hurt her...”
“I won’t.” He’d run like hell out of her life first.
“Good. Because I don’t want to have to spend time behind bars for the murder I’ll commit.”