Page 49 of I'll Carry You

He’d messed up before. Lots.

But not like this. He shifted the car into fifth gear as he merged onto the highway. The cold light of dawn made him feel ill.

Jason Sutter.

He’d almost broken right there and told her everything. Which would have probably completely freaked her out, given that they’d just had sex, and she didn’t even know his last name.

How would she ever forgive him for this?

She couldn’t forgive him for this.

He didn’t forgive himself for this.

What could he say?“Hey, Jen. I lied to you about my last name. It’s Cavanaugh. Like my brother, coincidentally. Except he told you it was Connor. That’s right. You’re sleeping with your ex-boyfriend’s brother. Yep. We’re both liars. And your son, well, he’s my nephew. He’s also inherited hundreds of millions of dollars...”

His brain stopped at that point. But he wanted her. He didn’t want her for one more night of sex. They’d fucked twice after that and it hadn’t been enough.

He wanted to make her smile. To hear her tell him about losing her virginity while she did a striptease. Or her biggest pet peeve.

He wanted to watch her pretend he hadn’t messed up an entire batch of playdough. Who made their own playdough anyway?

She did.

She was gorgeous, articulate, and fun.

And he’d enjoyed the time he’d spent with Colby, too. He hadn’t known what to say to him, but the kid didn’t seem to mind.

Jason pushed the car faster, speeding past a slowpoke in the left lane. One night with Jen had made things infinitely worse.

Jason Sutter.She was going to hate him.

Just as much as he hated himself.

“What sort of guys do you normally date?”

“Broken ones.”

He lifted his eyes to the rearview mirror, caught himself looking at it. Little did she know.

After he’d dropped her off, he felt as though he’d unraveled, the frays that had been wearing on the edge of his life tugged loose. She was unlike any woman he’d ever been with. And not just because the sex had been good.

The connection he felt with her went beyond that. To describe it wouldn’t do it justice.

His phone rang. TJ. He pressed the button on his steering wheel to answer. “What’s up?”

“Where the hell are you now?” TJ’s voice crackled, the service in the mountains less than reliable.

“On my way to West Virginia. I need to find my grandmother, even if it’s at the casino.”

“Then turn around. I’m sitting outside her house. She got home late last night.”

Jason cursed. The next exit wasn’t for a few miles. “All right.” His shoulders bunched, the tension in his chest like an acidic knot eating its way through his core. “Actually, don’t stay there. I need you to make sure Vickers doesn’t talk to Jen.”

“I’m not going to even ask how your little outing went last night.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Jason pushed the gas down, watching as the speedometer climbed higher. “I don’t want Vickers within ten yards of her or anyone in her family.”

“You know I’m not a bodyguard, right? Also, that’s a lot of people. Have you considered the alternative?”

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