Page 39 of Sweeter Than Honey
Jett’s heart slammed wildly against his chest.
“I’ve made arrangements for you to leave first thing in the morning.”
Jett burst from his chair. “Dad, no.”
Rowan took a steady breath. “I need time to assess the seriousness of these online threats. I’ve already been in contact with the Kansas City pack about this bullshit, but another conversation is needed. She’ll be safer inside the compound until this can be sorted.”
Cara’s eyes widened, her brow dropping. “I don’t want to be any trouble. I’ll go.”
“No.”
“I’ll go. It’s okay, Jett. I’ll go.”
He shook his head while she was speaking. Rowan rose from his chair with a crack of his knees. “Well then, my son. Are you offering to make her your mate and claim the child as your own? Aside from pairing her off to a suitable mate, I don’t know another way to end this right now.”
Jett’s throat constricted. All eyes were on him. How could his father ask that of him? He knew Jett couldn’t imprint the child or claim either of them as his. Angry, defeated, he looked away from his father.
“You know that I can’t do that.”
A pause of silence beat between them before Rowan raised his chin.
“All right, then. It is done.”
Chapter Seventen
Whattheactualhellhad just happened?
Cara slid out of the truck without waiting for Jett to open the door. They’d driven in silence back to his house. Her mind rolled with what was coming. Why had she agreed so readily to go to California?
It confounded her. She’d had no forethought when she’d agreed; the words had simply popped out of her. And then Jett had balked when his father asked if he’d be willing to take her as his mate. He’d all but denied her, and her decision to go felt justified in that moment, as if her heart knew that he’d never accept her.
That it was better to leave before they shared another kiss, or another meal. Anything that might bring them closer. There was no point in catching feelings for a man who was unavailable. Besides, the way he so easily reeled her in was strange. She’d relied on only herself for so long, yet each moment she was with Jett, it was easier to rely on him a little bit, too. It was… nice. To be taken care of a little. To be looked after. Cared for.
If this kept up much longer, it could all snowball into the big L-word. What a disaster that would be since he’d never L-word her in return.
Her insides churned.
Jett walked ahead of her and unlocked the door, then opened it for her and waited to come in until she’d gone inside. He didn’t move from the threshold.
“I have things to do outside.”
“Ok.”
He paused. “What are you going to do?”
The question took her off guard. “Uh, pack my things I suppose? Your dad said a driver will be here for me at noon tomorrow.”
She’d take a bath, eat, and get a good night’s sleep. Her body felt weak and deflated, as if the strength had been sucked right out of her. Her stomach rolled again. It was a little early for her routine evening sickness. Great. Baby was going for the kill earlier than expected. Pressing a hand to her diaphragm, she turned and headed to the stairs. The door closed softly, the lock turning.
He was probably glad that she was leaving, honestly. She’d interrupted his bachelor lifestyle, intruded on his home and his life. He was clearly still grieving his lost family and she understood. If the roles were reversed, she most assuredly would be grieving for a long time, too. She had, in fact, after her parents died. They’d been her only source of real connection and when they’d left, they’d taken that with them. She’d never been able to connect with anyone in quite the same way. Not friends, not romantic partners. Certainly not in the way she’d need to if she were to get married one day.
And now she had this baby growing inside her. Would she be able to connect with her child? What if she felt detached from her infant, or got too wrapped up in her work to be fully present? Jett helped her feel grounded, more in the moment. Despite the sarcasm and banter back and forth, he soothed something in her brain, pulled at something in her heart, and made her feel like they were pieces of one another.
Ascending the stairs, she couldn’t shake the thought that maybe she wouldn’t be a good fit with her own child. She’d never had a pet. Her houseplants were only alive because she kept cacti happy to be neglected. She didn’t keep close friendships because she got too busy with work to tend and nurture them.
Tapping her cell phone to life, she found that her email inbox was full again. She’d cleared it out twice, but the messages just kept coming. There was always something to manage, to fix, to design, to solve. Running a highly successful business was both a joy and a burden and it took all her time, all her energy. Every moment of her life.
Panic fluttered in her chest.
