Page 47 of Twisted Hearts

“Wewilltalk more about that dream later.”

That voice…

It was almost as physically exciting as the dream I’d just had. I glanced at him as heat enflamed my cheeks and chest. I cleared my throat to say something, anything, but the only thing that came out was a choking sound.

He smirked, dropping his hand, and I scurried to the bathroom like a mouse being chased by a cat.

But Shawn was no cat.

He was a lion. King of the jungle.

And I could tell by that gleam in his eyes he’d determined I was his new prey.

Shutting the bathroom door, I locked it and collapsed against it.

How in the hell am I going to survive spending all this time with him?

I moved to the shower and, out of the corner of my eye, caught my reflection. “Holy crap.”

My hair looked like a bird had built a nest in it during my nap. Even though I’d gone light on it, the makeup I’d put on that morning was smeared and streaked all down my cheeks, and my chest bore a splotchy hue from my embarrassment.

And he’d looked at me like he wanted me? Maybehewas the crazy one.

That would explain his reaction to me, to my kissing him, would explain him finding any appeal in a woman with a mess of epic proportions on her hands.

I shook my head and flipped the shower on. “This has disaster stamped all over it.”

Only it was becoming harder and harder to care.

If real-life Shawn could make my body sing with pleasure like dream-life Shawn did, I might just give him anything he demanded.

Including myself.

15

Shawn

Adrianna Marquess was a goddess.

After she had showered and was dressed and ready for work and I’d ordered us dinner from the closest Chinese restaurant at her request, I filled her in on the conversation I’d had with Jaxon while she slept.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t much, but I confirmed he was on his way to Charleston and he’d be back in a few days. He was trying to get eyes and ears on the fiancé and both dads.

I had debated keeping it from her. Part of me wanted to keep her protected, wanted to let her live the new life she was trying to make as easily as possible. The other part told me she deserved to know.

Flipping a proverbial coin, I told her what Jaxon was doing.

“That’s probably smart, right? Watch them so we know if they come for me?”

“Yeah.”

She inhaled quickly, heavily, and slowly blew it out as if trying to do some yoga breathing. “Okay.”

And that was it.

My respect for her grew. A lot had been thrown at her in a short time, and she could handle it. Sure, a few tears were expected, but she was steady. Strong. Capable of being given all the information.

I mentally promised to do that moving forward, to trust her like I wanted her to trust me.

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