Chapter Thirty-Six
He bent and pickedher up in his arms, cradling her against his chest.They both stayed quiet until the cabin door was closed and locked behind them.
He set her down on her feet, holding her shoulders until he was sure she was steady.He released her and watched as she moved away, pulling off the throw blanket she’d had around her shoulders for warmth.
Grant’s jaw clenched when she turned, and he got his first good look at her features.Ravagedwas the word he’d use to describe them.Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.Her face was pale, making the dark circles under her eyes more pronounced.He crossed his arms, trying to hold himself back from going to her, stripping her, and sinking as far as he could inside her, showing her in the most basic way that she belonged to him, and he wasn’t going to put up with this shit anymore.
He gritted his teeth.“What happened?”
Jennifer wrapped her arms around her waist, cringed at the livid tone of his voice, and moved around the small cabin.“You know how often I asked what you did during the day or how many times you had meetings at night?”She continued when he nodded, confusion clear on his face.“I never thought you might be with another woman, even with what happened a few months ago.And I know that was innocent, but I knew it would happen eventually.I just buried my head in the sand.”She laughed humorlessly.She held out her hands and desperately shook her head when he took a step forward.“No, wait.”
He stopped and growled in frustration.“I’m still not understanding.Are you accusing me of having an affair?”he gritted out through clenched teeth.
Jennifer shrugged, unable to keep her eyes on his.“I had to remind myself that what you did was not my business.We’re not married and never really discussed where this was going or if we had a future.But I feel sick with the thought of you and another woman.I know it probably sounds juvenile to you.I thought if I wanted to keep you, I would have to become more sophisticated so you wouldn’t get bored and find another woman.”She rubbed her forehead.“I can’t do it.I can’t change myself for anybody.Because if I start to do that for you, you’ll take my spirit over until I don’t recognize myself in a mirror.You’re so far above me in so many areas.Socially, emotionally, financially.”
Grant’s hands went to his hips, and he hung his head.He knew they would eventually have to deal with that crap.Jennifer hinted at her insecurities about their different lifestyles and how much they made.He thought it would calm her fears with time, but now he had to deal with this.He looked up, and his eyes stared intently at her.
“What started this bullshit?”
She cringed at the hard, cold edge of his voice.“A woman called and told me you’d been out with other women, and she thanked me because she had a chance with you.The sad thing is, I can see you with her more than I can with a person like me.”
His fists clenched.“Who?This Madlyn woman?”He got his answer when she flinched and paled more.He looked up at the ceiling, trying and failing to keep his cool.“So, you’re telling me we went through this bullshit for a woman I don’t know?”His words escalated until he was shouting.When she stepped back at his anger, he just about lost it.“Please don’t back away from me, baby.I would never hurt you,” he said with pain in his voice.“You have to know I’d cut off my arm before I ever hurt you.”
“I know that.”
“Then don’t move away like you’re afraid of me.”He waited until she nodded.“I’m sorry I yelled, but please explain this to me?”
“You know Madlyn.”She continued when he shook his head.“I was there the first time you met her.”When he still looked confused and just pissed, she sighed.“The night you met me.”
He threw his arms out to the side.“I do not remember her.That night, all I could see was you.And, baby, every day that passes, it just gets worse.No other woman exists for me.Just you.”
She lowered her gaze, still not believing him.
His chest hurt so much that he was worried he was having a heart attack.“You don’t trust me at all, do you?”he asked.
Jennifer jerked her gaze up to his when she heard the pain in his tone.“It’s not your fault...”
A muscle in the side of his jaw clenched repeatedly.“I fucking know that.I haven’t done a damn thing.”There was a hard edge to his voice.
She moved around Grant to the large window in the cabin’s living room.After a minute, she turned and swallowed.
“Grant, doubt has been there from the start and intensified the stronger I felt for you.”
“Do you believe me about this woman?”
