Page 33 of Possession

All I’d actually found was a one-way ticket to the emergency room. At least I was pretty sure that was where I’d started out. Things had gotten a little wonky before we’d gotten back to the beach house.

Part of me wanted to keep the information to myself. I’d been searching the house for weeks now. Before I got my job working at Carson Covenant, and the long evenings since I’d gotten my job back—well, let’s just say no stone in my grandmother’s house had been left unturned.

Blake had pulled back, and so had I.

And now he was staring at me with expectant eyes.

I hadn’t exactly lied to him, but I’d definitely been less than forthcoming. He’d shut me out for whatever reason. The problem was, I hadn’t made any overtures to get back to what we’d started to become.

Ever since the break-in, we’d been drifting.

It was easier to not talk. The mystery surrounding my grandmother had consumed me, and I’d hidden in the easy part of our relationship. Our physical side. The only part of us that I never had to pick apart. Whether it was a forever kind of love, or infatuation, I still wasn’t sure.

Liar.

I closed my eyes.

No, I knew it was forever. I couldn’t lie to myself about it. At least it was for me. I opened my eyes again. “Did you work on my grandmother’s house?”

He nodded. “I own it.”

My gut tightened. There was no way he’d ever let me forget that. “I mean, before my grandmother died.” When he only kept his gaze steady on mine, I sighed. “You told me you knew her.”

After a long moment, he inclined his head. “I’ve worked with Annabelle.” He shrugged. “Lady’s Bay and the homes on the surrounding private beaches were among the first to use my windows.”

I nodded. “All right. That makes sense.”

“Then if you’d be so kind as to clue me in to this little epiphany, I’d appreciate it.”

I pulled my hand away. “Don’t get all Blake on me.”

He sat back in his seat, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Forgive me. It’s the only way I know how to be.”

“You know what I mean.”

One eyebrow rose. “No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do, asshole.”

My gaze flicked to Jack. I’d forgotten he was still there.

“Shall I leave so you two can talk? You know, since you’re such good friends.”

Wow. The arctic had suddenly made an appearance in my hospital room.

I frowned as I suddenly noticed I was the only patient in the room. Marblehead had a small hospital. There was no way I wouldn’t have a roommate. Not if I wasn’t critical.

I pressed my fingers to my forehead. A dull throb sat there, as well as in every muscle of my body. Let alone the ankle I refused to acknowledge.

One thing at a time.

I dropped my arm to the bed and opened my hand. The muscle in Blake’s jaw jumped, and his eyebrows snapped down. I wouldn’t beg, but I wouldn’t shut him out anymore.

We were both far too stubborn. Someone had to give, and I knew it had to be me. Blake was a difficult man under the best of circumstances, and these were less than ideal in any definition of the word.

I’d scared him.

I knew it.

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