02-10-2019, 01:27 AM
He scrubbed his chin. Finding a bristle across his jaw. Definitely needed a shave. Or at least a shower. “No drama,” he answered, peripherally aware of Cayli’s superb handstand. “An opportunity.”
He hurried to explain. “Someone with information on –” she dipped her feet down, flipped and stood. Her face pushed the surface of the water, and as she swiped rivulets from her eyes, Jay kicked a nod her direction. The one that was out to kill her, he tried to say the sentence he couldn’t finish.
Cayli’s grin was proud. Jay shrugged sheepishly. “I guess so.”
She promptly proceeded to show off another move, and Jay and Natalie had more time to talk. Her question rendered him confused. Enough to forget about the tequila for the moment. “What do you mean? You want to go back?” Did she think he’d tie her up and throw her in a closet for threatening abonnement? Sure he was capable of that kind of thing when really needed, but to do so to her? She had to think he was the monster he already knew himself to be.
Mom said Natalie wanted to leave. Maybe he’d been wrong this whole time, thinking his family drove her away. Maybe she wanted to go the whole time, and only needed the right excuse for polite departure. He wouldn’t blame her. Frankly, he was shocked she’d stayed as long as she did. Okay. He didn’t forget about the tequila after all. He snatched his own carefully crafted cocktail and downed it in a single movement. Wishing the whole bottle was in his grasp instead.
He rubbed his brow, other hand tightening on the stem of the glass till it might snap. Finally, he could take it no longer. She should go. It was as dangerous here for her as it was for Cayli. Natalie was more than money. More than an ambassador. Hell she was more than an companion for Cayli. She was an anchor in the storm. But their road ahead was treacherous. She’d be better to return home where her father wanted. He knew it in his gut. Maybe that was why he hated the idea so much. He only lied to himself…
His final response was harsh by design. Once before he tried to drive her away and the choice nearly destroyed him to do so. Well. Jay was less than he once was. Who cared what rotted when the soul was already damned? ”If that’s what you want, I’ll drop you at the airport myself,” the words were poison on his lips and he wished for more tequila. Instead, his lids fell low and he put his face in his hands, sunglasses and all.
A moment later, he got up to walk away. He’d come up with the money another way. Even if he had to steal it. He really didn’t want to ask Jensen for more favors.
Besides. Natalie was right. He could use a shower. Which was exactly where he intended to go next.
He hurried to explain. “Someone with information on –” she dipped her feet down, flipped and stood. Her face pushed the surface of the water, and as she swiped rivulets from her eyes, Jay kicked a nod her direction. The one that was out to kill her, he tried to say the sentence he couldn’t finish.
Cayli’s grin was proud. Jay shrugged sheepishly. “I guess so.”
She promptly proceeded to show off another move, and Jay and Natalie had more time to talk. Her question rendered him confused. Enough to forget about the tequila for the moment. “What do you mean? You want to go back?” Did she think he’d tie her up and throw her in a closet for threatening abonnement? Sure he was capable of that kind of thing when really needed, but to do so to her? She had to think he was the monster he already knew himself to be.
Mom said Natalie wanted to leave. Maybe he’d been wrong this whole time, thinking his family drove her away. Maybe she wanted to go the whole time, and only needed the right excuse for polite departure. He wouldn’t blame her. Frankly, he was shocked she’d stayed as long as she did. Okay. He didn’t forget about the tequila after all. He snatched his own carefully crafted cocktail and downed it in a single movement. Wishing the whole bottle was in his grasp instead.
He rubbed his brow, other hand tightening on the stem of the glass till it might snap. Finally, he could take it no longer. She should go. It was as dangerous here for her as it was for Cayli. Natalie was more than money. More than an ambassador. Hell she was more than an companion for Cayli. She was an anchor in the storm. But their road ahead was treacherous. She’d be better to return home where her father wanted. He knew it in his gut. Maybe that was why he hated the idea so much. He only lied to himself…
His final response was harsh by design. Once before he tried to drive her away and the choice nearly destroyed him to do so. Well. Jay was less than he once was. Who cared what rotted when the soul was already damned? ”If that’s what you want, I’ll drop you at the airport myself,” the words were poison on his lips and he wished for more tequila. Instead, his lids fell low and he put his face in his hands, sunglasses and all.
A moment later, he got up to walk away. He’d come up with the money another way. Even if he had to steal it. He really didn’t want to ask Jensen for more favors.
Besides. Natalie was right. He could use a shower. Which was exactly where he intended to go next.
Only darkness shows you the light.