Paige glanced up at him as she tugged on theonly pair of somewhat clean jeans she had left. There was nounderwear to bother with anymore, it was number one on her shoppinglist when she got the chance. The set of Ian’s jaw and the tone ofhis voice made her realize whomever he was talking to wasn’t makinghim happy. He smiled at her, but it didn’t light his eyes.
They were talking about her, she realizedwith a sinking sensation. Her hands clamped down on the sweatshirtin her hands.
“There are millions of other women in thisworld,whywould you crawl into bed with that one? What wereyou thinking?” Ethan demanded.
Ian grinned at Paige, but he could feel histeeth grinding together, and she continued to stare anxiously athim. Ethan was only trying to watch out for him, but this was noneof his brother’s business. There was no way he could tell him thatwithout alarming Paige more. “I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow,” hesaid instead.
“Ian, when she goes back…”
“That’snotgoing to happen.” He kepthis tone light, but Paige’s heartbeat picked up a little.
Ethan inhaled a ragged breath; realizationsank in with Ian’s words. If anyone understood what he was goingthrough it was Ethan and Isabelle. “What is it?” Isabelle demandedanxiously.
“I see,” Ethan said quietly. “I’ll be theretomorrow. Keep yourself safe.”
“We’ll see you then.” Ian hung up the phoneand set it on the scratched bureau.
“Is everything ok?” Paige inquired.
He walked over and rested his hands on herhips. “They’re fine,” he assured her. “My family worries, alot.”
She gave him a wan smile, but her gazedarted nervously toward his phone. “That’s really sweet.”
He pulled her against his chest and restedher head there. Her wet hair cooled the skin of his chest. “You’llnever be alone again.” He brushed the hair back from her face,cupped her chin, and lifted her face so he could kiss her. Thesweatshirt she’d been holding fell down before her, she melted intohis embrace as he pulled her more firmly against him. “I’m nevergoing to let you go.”
A shiver ran down her spine. He’d said itbefore, but a part of her had still believed that once he finallymanaged to screw her, he’d be moving onto his next piece of ass. Itwould have broken her heart, but it had been broken many timesbefore and she’d survived. To hear him say it again, aftereverything that had transpired between them last night, eased aweight from her shoulders she hadn’t realized was there.
He lifted her up and put her on the bed. Sheforgot all about everything else when his body came down on top ofhers.
***
Paige placed her bag of clothes on the seatof the booth and slid in. The waitress who had been flirting withIan the other night arrived at her side. “What can I get ya todrink, hon?” she inquired.
“A glass of water,” Paige replied.
Paige glanced out the window and grabbed themenu. Ian still stood there, leaning inside the hood of the pickupas he pulled the oil stick from the engine. She admired hisphysique as he moved and the power of his body. The rumble of herstomach drew her attention back to the menu in her hand. She’dgrabbed a bagel when they’d stopped in earlier, but she’d been moreeager to find some new clothes than to really think about food.
The waitress reappeared with her water andplaced it on the table. “Ready to order?”
“Yes. I’ll take a cheeseburger, Frenchfries, an order of chicken tenders and a side salad with ranchdressing.”
The woman jotted down her order beforewalking away. Paige turned back around to see Ian still fiddlingwith something on the engine. She couldn’t help but admire the firmcurve of his ass in his new, form-fitting blue jeans. She lickedher lips before he turned and enthusiastically waved at her.Everything about him radiated happiness, he enjoyed life; he madeherenjoy life in a way she hadn’t before. He made her lovein a way she never had, and loving made her vulnerable. Love hadnever brought her anything but sorrow and loss.
Her heart swelled with her love for him atthe same time her insides shriveled with terror. There was still somuch between them, her mortality and his lack thereof. Her fatherwas still out there, somewhere. Her hatred of vampires had beenabsolute before meeting Ian, but she wasn’t above admitting she’dbeen wrong. She hadn’t been wrong about her father. He was amonster who had to be put down.
Ian slammed the hood on the truck closed,wiped his hands on the rag he’d been using and tossed it into thebed of the truck. He jogged up the steps of the diner and enteredthe cool, dimly lit building. The sight of Paige in the booth withher head bowed brought a smile to his face. She looked up at him ashe approached; her face lit up, her eyes sparkled. The joy on herface tugged at his heart and brought an answering smile to hismouth.
His eyebrows rose at the numerous platesspread out before her and the already empty salad bowl. “Are youexpecting company?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I’mlooking forward to eating all of this, but maybe you should pick atsomething so I don’t look like a complete pig.”
“Oh no, I’m going to enjoy watching youdevour it. In fact, I’ve got twenty that says you can’t make itthrough everything.”
“You’re on,” she said.
He placed an order for a strawberrymilkshake with the waitress when she reappeared. “Are you still okwith what happened last night?” he asked as she pushed aside herempty cheeseburger and fries plate.
She glanced up at him with a chicken fingerin hand. An uneasy feeling churned in her stomach, but before shecould speak the waitress returned with his shake. Paige waited forher to leave before she spoke again, “Yes, are you?”
