Jade grinned and sat down across from me. We were seated only a few feet apart, and somehow the distance felt like too much. I took another healthy swallow of my drink. Although a sense of calm was buoying me, I was about to try to talk about my feelings. Something I had very little experience with and never expected to worry about.
Jade saved me by commenting, “So, Jackson says Everett probably won’t be able to be released back into the wild.” Her mouth twisted as disappointment flashed across her face.
“Oh? I didn’t have a chance to talk to him about it today. That’s too bad. What happens when that’s the case?”
“I was about to ask Jackson the same thing when his next appointment showed up. I’m assuming he just stays at the rescue.”
I nodded, taking another sip of my scotch. “We’ll find out.”
Jade took a swallow of her wine, and I watched as she leaned her head back slightly. Only Jade had this effect on me. Every small thing she did set a low hum of electricity vibrating through my body, tapping into this bone-deep need for her. I decided I needed to just get this over with.
“Lucas asked me today what was going on with us.”
Jade narrowed her eyes, her lips tightening in a line before she spoke. “Are you serious?”
“Why would I make that up?”
She took a gulp of her wine. She sighed as she lowered the glass. “I love my brother, but sometimes he’s overprotective.”
I shrugged. “He’s your brother. Can’t say I blame him. If I had a sister, I’d probably be the same way.”
“Probably?” A smile teased at the corners of her mouth.
I felt a grin tugging at mine as I nodded. “Okay, definitely.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I figured I was in a no-win situation. No matter what I did or didn’t say, unless I lied, I was in a bind.”
“And, you’re not a liar.”
She was right, but I didn’t know what to think of how good it made me feel that she had faith I would be honest.
“I asked him for a rain check.”
Jade found that hysterical, her shoulders shaking with laughter. “Seriously?” she asked when she finally finished laughing. “How did Lucas handle that?”
“He accepted my answer, but told me I’d better not hurt you. I didn’t wanna say anything else until you and I talked.”
“I do appreciate that.”
“I guess you might need to be ready for him to ask you about it.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will. I suppose we should talk.” Jade looked uncertain. Her eyes bounced from me down to her wine glass. She traced along the edge of the counter with her fingertip.
After another sip of scotch, I laid it out there. “I didn’t expect this. Not at all. Oh, I knew I was attracted to you, but I thought I could keep it in hand. Even after the wedding, I thought things would fade. Can I be really blunt with you?”
Jade lifted her head, her eyes catching mine. She looked surprised. After a nod, she waited quietly while my heart kicked against my ribs.
“I think I’m falling in love with you. I know you planned never to date anyone, so I’m not sure how you feel about that,” I finally said.
As nervous as I was, the words came out normal. A strange sense of relief washed through me. Saying aloud how I felt was a relief if only because it was honest.
Jade’s eyes widened slightly. I could see the rapid flutter of her pulse along the side of her neck. Her cheeks flushed, and she took a quick breath as she stared at me.
“If you’re worried about it, I don’t expect you to say the same in return,” I added. Although it stung a bit to say that, I meant it.
“I don’t know what to say,” Jade finally said.
“I figured I might as well tell you. This is real for me. Lucas is only going to accept my rain check for so long. Either I lie to him, or I tell him the truth. I prefer to be honest.”
Jade lifted her wine glass and took a swallow. Her hand shook slightly when she set the glass down. I instinctively reached over, curling my hand over hers.
“Are you okay? I don’t know how to move forward. Maybe this means that you tell me to fuck off. I won’t lie and pretend that’s what I want, but—”
Jade shook her head sharply. When she didn’t say anything, I said, “I’m not sure what that means.”
“I didn’t plan on this either, but I don’t want it to end. I know you know what happened, so you know why I had lots of reasons to not want to date. Trust is really hard for me.”
Her honesty sliced through me, a sharp blade across the surface of my heart. “I know.”
Another wave of relief washed through me. I didn’t know what the future held for us, but I knew deep inside that I wanted a chance to give Jade the love she deserved.
“I’m not so great at talking about my feelings,” she offered with a sheepish smile.
“No?” I teased. “And here I am, the expert.”
After a long moment, she slipped off her stool and stepped between my knees as I turned toward her. “How about we maybe take a break from talking?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jade
I was usually cold at night. Ever since I was a little girl, I’d had a habit of sleeping in my socks because my feet got cold. Lucas used to tease me about it when we were kids.
That’s how I knew right off I wasn’t alone in my bed when I woke up. I was warm and toasty all over, including my feet, and I didn’t even have socks on.
I was plastered against Walker’s side with one of my feet tucked between his calves. He had
