“Right.” I drank from my bottle, feeling the beer go to my head. “Flowers and groveling.”
“I mean it. Make her listen to you.”
I eyed him sidelong. “Maybe I should let her leave, man. Like she says, she’s bringing her evils into our lives. It might be Declan who gets hurt next.”
Fletch scowled, an expression so rare on his countenance I looked twice to see if it was really real. “You also promised to protect her. You have the means to do so. Letting her be killed by this asswipe will stain your honor. If you have any, that is.”
“What do you care? You haven’t even met her.”
“Now I see why she wants to leave,” he growled. “You’ve become a real asshole these days.”
“That’s true enough.” I drank a gulp, my head beginning to swim. “Just shoot me. Put others out of their misery.”
“Can’t. If I did, I’d be responsible for raising Declan, and I don’t want a kid.” He brightened. “But then, I’d have a shot at Jacy, wouldn’t I? Might be worth having Declan and her both.”
“Now who’s the asshole?” I groaned. “You have to drive me home.”
“Why should I? You might hurl all over my leather seat.”
“What a pal.”
“I am, huh.” Fletcher grinned and drank his beer.
“Bitch.”
“You’re mine.”
In companionable silence, we drank another round. I tried, through the growing fog in my head, to ponder life without Jacy. Declan would grieve for a time, then get past her. And me? I supposed I’d do the same, and often wonder about the one that got away.
***
I watched her beautiful face.
Jacy knew I stared at her from the passenger seat of my car. Her skin flushed a deep pink, and her mouth thinned. She drove steadily, driving the exact speed limit, flicking her gaze at me self-consciously. Declan, in his safety seat behind me, slept.
“Stop staring at me,” she snapped under her breath.
“Why? I should enjoy the last sight of you. Or, one of the last.”
“You’re making me angry.”
“It’s not my intention.”
“Then quit it.”
I didn’t. Instead, I murmured, “I’m sorry. I was an ass.”
“The only truthful thing you’ve said.”
“Please. Give me, and Declan, another chance. I’ll beg on my knees if I must.”
“Why? You don’t trust me. And this job depends on trust. Right?”
“I put both feet in my mouth the other day. I’ve earned your anger. Is ‘forgiveness’ anywhere in your vocabulary?”
She snapped a glare in my direction, then returned her gaze to the road. “Don’t lay this on me.”
“I’m not. Have you never made a complete ass of yourself, never needed a second chance?”
