“Don’t.”
Something sparked around us, like a live burst of energy, and his pupils dilated. My breath hitched, a fire blazing in his eyes, and then, as fast as it came, it was gone.
Masking his features, he said, “I know how to fix the problem you are having.”
His tone was all business now, catching me off guard. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for what came next.
“We’re getting married.” He hung his head for a second as my world stopped spinning, static filling my ears, before looking back up. “On paper, of course. We need to show them a united front and that you have a solid family unit.”
I dropped his hand like I had been burned.
Not for love.
He wanted me…
Nope, I had to get out of there. Storming toward the door, I threw it open.
“Patience, don’t leave. I’m trying to help.”
Anger was back with a vengeance. “Help?” Fire blazed through my body. “You want to help by taking something precious like marriage and just signing on the dotted line for anything but love?”
Jett threw his hands in the air.
“I can’t be more! I’m not the same person!” He stalked toward me. “I’m broken. Don’t you get it? I’m broken!”
A tear trickled down my cheek.
“Not to me you’re not.”
His sharp intake of breath echoed through the room. “Please don’t ask me to give more than I can give. Just let me help?”
More tears fell.
I moved into the hall, hoping with everything I was that he would stop and tell me what I’d always wanted to hear.
But it didn’t come.
“I can’t do this.”
He gave me a devastated look. “Not even for your son?”
The thought of losing not just one person, but two people I loved was breaking my heart wide open, and I struggled to breathe.
So I did the only thing I could think of right then.
I ran.
Chapter Eight
JETT
She was a spitfire.
Patience was always so sweet, upbeat, and adorable. She’d jumped around helping anyone, taking care of her son, and being there for me without protest. It was how I’d come up with her nickname, Roo.
It fit her.
But the woman that walked in, tearing into me—fully deserved—was something else entirely. I was stunned speechless at first.
