“Gwyneth?” Jenna repeated to herself, sounding confused.
“It would appear so.”
I stomped toward the curb. “Not a scratch, Anton. Do you hear me? Not a scratch or I will end you.”
“She knows he can’t hear her, right?” Jenna whispered to Connor.
He could hear me. He’d better pay attention too or retribution would be mine.
I turned and stomped back to Nathan. “You know my rules. Nobody drives the precious but me.”
Nathan shrug was unconcerned. “Next time, show up when you’re supposed to and this won’t be a problem.”
Unbelievable.
“I’m sure this is important, but Aileen needs to bet checked out by a doctor before she does anything else,” my dad said with a stubborn tilt to his jaw.
Nathan’s nod was respectful. “We have one on-site so that won’t be a problem.”
His reassurance did a little to allay my dad’s concern.
“I’ll wait in the car while you say your goodbyes, A.” Nathan slung an arm over Connor’s shoulder, guiding him to the car. “Why don’t you join me?”
Connor pulled open the back door and climbed inside. Nathan shot us a grin before sauntering around the car to the driver’s side.
“Employee of yours?” Jenna asked, looking far too interested in Nathan’s backside for my peace of mind.
“More like contractor. Though after tonight, I’m regretting that.”
If I could, I would have ended any contract between us in a heartbeat for the crime of touching Gwyneth.
“He seems interesting,” Jenna said.
“Trust me—don’t go there.”
As charming as he was, Nathan was a heartbreak waiting to happen. Any relationship between the two was doomed—both because he was a vampire and because he had a short attention span when it came to the opposite sex.
There was no way I’d trust him with my little sister.
“A man like that, I don’t need forever with.” Jenna shoved me playfully with her shoulder, keeping her voice low so her daughter wouldn’t hear. “A few nights would more than suffice.”
Dad pulled the two of us apart with a shake of his head. “Alright, that’s not the kind of thing I want to hear.”
“Me neither, Dad,” I mumbled. More importantly, I wished Nathan wouldn’t have heard that either.
Jenna’s smirk was unrepentant as she lifted a shoulder in a shrug. So glad she was enjoying my second-hand embarrassment.
“Promise me you’ll get that checkup,” Dad said, ignoring his other daughter.
“I will. Nathan and Connor will make sure of it.”
I stepped forward to offer him a hug. His frame seemed to freeze for a split second before his arms came up to hug me back a little harder than usual.
I pretended not to hear the faint catch in his throat.
It made me realize it had been too long since the last time I’d hugged anyone in my family. I’d been too afraid of my strength after my transition. I was worried I’d hurt them or lose control of my blood lust.
His grip gentled as if he suddenly remembered I was “sick”. He was holding me like I was something fragile.
