Page 117 of Entangled

Only to find more eyes on me.

Beau pulls me back in for a hug and presses a kiss to my hair. “I’m sorry, pet. That wasn’t the most tactful of me. I’ll help you talk to him tomorrow.”

I bury my face in his chest for a moment, just breathing him in until the hot, stinging urge to cry recedes. In that moment, I love him. I love him for his first instinct not being relief, or to take the opportunity to push Jayk away. He’s going to help me bring him back in. To us.

I nod, then turn to face everyone else. Jasper’s dark eyes glitter with concern, and I avoid them desperately.

“What else has been decided?” I ask quietly.

There’s an awkward silence.

Lucky rubs the back of his head. His hair is half out today, and the movement makes the strands shiver prettily. “Look, I’m going to be honest—we were totally eavesdropping the whole time.”

Of course they were.

“We’re almost done.” Heather’s still looking at me like I’m someone entirely new to her. “They just need to buddy rooms. CC, should you and I take one? Might make planning easier since we’re up all night anyway.” Then she looks at Jasper. “Then you two get to cuddle up. Win-win.”

I don’t know who goes more rigid, me or Beau. My tender heart takes the lash, bloody and rough. I just... can’t. Not right now. I can’t think of Dom and Heatherup all nighttogether, or even Jasper and Lucky falling into one another, finally.

Beau draws me against his chest as I start to waver.

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. You didn’t cry when you killed a half-dozen men, you will not start in front of a room full of your exes.

“No,” Jasper says abruptly, and I flinch, glancing up. “No, Heather and I will share a room. Dominic and Lucky can share.”

“What?” Lucky chokes out, staring at him, and the hurt is naked on his face.

Every single thing he does is oriented around Jasper. I’m the worst kind of fool to have missed it.

“Yeah, I’m going withwhat, too.” Heather wrinkles her nose at Jasper. “I am not sleeping with the silent serial killer.”

“Ah, but shtriga can only be killed while feeding.” Jasper adjusts his cuff neatly. “So don’t prey on any children and you should have no cause for concern.”

“Not. Happen?—”

“I have a spare, hidden room in my quarters. I will reside there, and you may take the master suite. We will only need to see one another on entry and exit, so do try to remain clothed. I suffer nightmares enough without the additional fuel.” Jasper gives her a severe look. “Or you may claim one of the other rooms and displace some of your people. The choice is yours.”

Heather rolls her eyes. “Fine. I’ll sleep in the creepy lair.”

Dom sighs, looking at Lucky. “The first prank, you’re out on your ass. I mean it.”

But Lucky’s still staring at Jasper, his mouth tight. It takes him a moment to look at Dom, and another to find a smile. “Got it, Cap.”

Dom moves toward the door, brushing past Beau and I, and I feel him briefly squeeze my arm as he walks past. Heather follows quickly.

In the commotion, I study Jasper—and as if sensing my gaze, he meets my eyes.

Why wouldn’t he choose to stay with Lucky? I’m sure he wants to. Is he continuing with his stubbornness? Why would he willingly keep Heather with him?

His face gentles, just a fraction. And the compassion there is what makes it finally click.

He wasn’t keeping Heather with him. He was keeping her away from Dom. And perhaps, giving me some breathing room about Lucky.

He’s been watching me for days, silent and clever, the concern in his eyes deepening by the hour. This is his way of helping.

He’s giving me a reprieve.

I take a deep breath, and mouth “thank you” at him.

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