Page 83 of At the Edge of Surrender

I finally forced myself to turn around, eyes catching on the way his index finger that was tatted with a skull gently touched her chin as he peered at her before that powerful gaze slanted up to clash with mine.

A thousand unsaid words in his eyes.

I refused them, gulping hard as I set my hand on Maci’s shoulder. “We should probably get our things so Grammy doesn’t miss her flight.”

A flight all three of us were supposed to be taking.

Kane pushed to standing, and Maci grabbed his hand and started to haul him toward the rear of the car where my mom was already waiting. “Did you know I got really specialfingsin my special bag, Mr. Kane?”

He followed her without reserve. “I didn’t know that, but I can’t wait to see what you brought.”

“Well, I gotta have mybwankiebecause it’s the softest and mymommy gave it to me when I was only a tiny baby.” Maci chattered it as she hopped along at his side.

“You definitely need that,” he agreed, casting me a sympathetic glance.

My chest nearly caved.

Why did he have to look at me like that?

Like he freaking cared?

I didn’t want to receive it. But it swelled around me like a caress.

“Well, I gotta keep it forever.”

“That sounds like a plan, Angel Face. We’ll definitely make sure we do that.”

We.

Forever.

The two of them.

I bit down on my bottom lip to stop the flailing of my emotions, and I moved around to the trunk and ducked in so I could grab my suitcase.

Kane nudged me out of the way, his big body too close to mine. “I’ve got it.”

“I can carry my own bag.” I couldn’t keep the spite from my voice.

“I’m sure you can,” he grunted as he pulled it out. “But why would you want to go and do that when you have me to do it for you?”

He said it like he was the one at my feet.

Like I had a modicum of control when he’d crushed it with a single strike of his heel.

He set my suitcase on the ground beside him then leaned in to grab Maci’s duffel with the cartoon print. “And I’m assuming this belongs to you?”

Maci jumped, clapping her hands overhead. “How did you even know?”

Soft laughter drifted out of him as he tossed the strap over his shoulder. “Just had a hunch.”

“Well, you got a good hunch because you’re right.”

Breaths choppy, I leaned in and grabbed my laptop case andovernight bag before I straightened, fisting the straps of both in either hand, trying to breathe deep enough that I could get myself together.

Four weeks.

I had four weeks.

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