Page 16 of The Awakening
My heart raced in my chest. They knew? What did they think? Would they talk Gavin out of our arrangement?
“They all think it’s mine. Don’t worry.” He came closer, his facial expression softening, and placed a hand on my cheek.
I soaked in the heat from his palm. He’d lied to his family, and for some crazy reason, that put me at ease when it should have had me panicking. It was one thing to pretend we were married, but he may have gone too far by getting their hopes up about the baby. I’d only just met them, but the idea of telling them the baby wasn’t Gavin’s, then walking away seemed cruel.
Knowing I was in the early stages of my first trimester, I’d figured I could get out of Dodge before started showing and his family would be none the wiser, but he’d gone ahead and spoiled that plan. Still, there was something about this man that his family didn’t understand. As much as he could set my body on fire with a glance, he could also put my mind at ease with about the same amount of effort. The more time I spent with him, the more I saw past the tough exterior he’d constructed for himself to deal with whatever life threw his way. As our time together went on, I got more and more glimpses of the little boy who wanted to be loved for who he was.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have come. I can go back to Montana. I’ll deal with whatever consequences come my way. I don’t want you to face any more wrath for making the mistake of marrying me.”
“You aren’t leaving. I will never send you back to those people.” He moved his hand off my cheek and pulled me into a hug. “What you and I did isn’t normal, but I wouldn’t call it a mistake. As long as I have a say, you’re staying right here with me, understood?”
I searched his eyes. Was he serious? Or was he making a joke that I didn’t understand? Why did he care so much about me? I was a virtual stranger.
But in his eyes, I found nothing but fierce honesty.
I stepped back from him. “I need to clean up. Where’s the bathroom?”
He pointed at the wooden door I’d thought was a closet. “The en suite bathroom is through there.”
I shook my head and huffed out a laugh.
Of course, he had an en suite. It would take time to get used to living in this kind of luxury, but maybe it was for the best if I didn’t allow myself to get too comfortable. Not when we both knew it would eventually come to an end.
Chapter Ten
Gavin
Ellie went into the bathroom with a change of clothes, but instead of turning on the shower like I expected, she ran a bath, and the sound of the water filling the jacuzzi tub made me smile. A soak in the tub would be the perfect way for her to relax after a long day of travel and what had been a rather uneventful meeting with my family. She may not have had it as bad as I did, but her nerves were probably shot after the events of the past couple of days and having to deal with my family on top of the stress she’d already been carrying.
There was something about her that made me want to put her needs before my own. I’d inadvertently opened myself up to a need to protect her no matter what or who we were up against, and that wasn’t a feeling I was used to.
Splash.
Thump.
I hopped up from the bed and raced to the bathroom door. The noise had come from inside. “Are you all right in there?”
“Uh, yeah, I just…”
I placed my palm flat against the door. “You just what?”
No reply.
“Ellie?”
I rapped on the door. She still didn’t answer.
“Are you okay?”
No answer again.
I tried the knob. It was locked. Of course it was.
Damn it.
Something was wrong. I could feel it in my gut. I took a few steps back and kicked at the door. It flew inward with ease and slammed against the wall. Inside, in the middle of the floor was Ellie, naked and curled into a ball. A pool of water surrounded her body. I ripped an oversized towel from the rack and hurried to her side, covering her with it before shaking her shoulder. She didn't stir, so I scooped her up off the floor, her long fiery hair soaking the sleeve of my shirt in an instant. Her body curled against mine as I carried her to the bedroom.
She came to in my arms, startled to find herself naked and pressed against my chest, I was sure. Her firm, perky breasts were on full display.
