Uncontrollable Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series), стр. 48
“I have to drop a few things off.”
“In New Hampshire?” I asked as we passed the sign.
“Yes.”
I took another look into the back seat. It was filled with bags of groceries. “Where exactly are we going?”
He gave me a quick look out of the corner of his eye before focusing on the face moving traffic. “To the cabin.”
“Your cabin? Are we going to your cabin? That’s your quick errand?” I never would’ve agreed to go if I’d known that.
“I don’t recall saying the word quick.”
I huffed. “I’m in no mood for playing games, Jace. You know damn well that I would’ve said no if I knew where you were going.”
“I do.”
“So why are you bringing me someplace you know I don’t want to be?” My frustration level was high, and my tone was rising as well. I pulled out my cell phone and called Betsy. Maybe she could talk some sense into Jace.
“Hi Shannon. What’s up?”
“I need you to talk to your boss.”
“I’d love to, but I’m off the clock. I’ll have to do it on Monday. Have a great weekend.” Betsy ended the call, and I just stared down at my phone. Unbelievable. When I turned back to Jace, he was grinning. “Does she know about this?” Not even a flinch from him. “Jace. Does Betsy know about us going to the cabin?” I demanded an answer.
“She knows. And before you call her back and yell, you might want to hear what I have to say first.”
I wasn’t going to yell, maybe talk loudly at her, but this meddling needed to stop. What I don’t understand is what Jace wanted. If it was sex, he could forget it. I’m not going back down that road. My heart can’t take it.
“Why don’t you tell me while you drive? This way, if I don’t like what you say, you can still turn around and take me home.” At least I was giving him a chance. That’s more than I wanted to do.
“That’s fair. So I wanted to talk about something your father said. He made it seem as though I took you to the cabin…”
“Because of Babboo.”
He nodded. “That’s not entirely true. There was a new level of concern over your safety. I could’ve brought you to my house, or Carlton could have brought you someplace else. But I wanted to bring you a place that I built with you in mind.”
“You’re saying you were thinking of me when you built that place? Because there isn’t much stuff that is there for a woman.”
He chuckled. “I think you forget you weren’t so picky when you were younger.”
I laughed. “That is true. So you wanted a vacation with me? That’s nice, but that wasn’t our issue. You were hiding things from me. You knew about Babboo even before I told you, and yet you pretended as though it was the first time you heard his name. How do you think that is supposed to make me feel?”
“I can’t even imagine. All I know is I honestly thought I was doing the best thing for you. I was wrong. I can’t take it back. But if it meant you were safe, even if you ended up hating me, then it was worth it. I just know I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you and I could’ve prevented it.”
I believed him. Did that make it better? Slightly. “Part of my feeling safe is knowing who I can trust. If you lie to me, how do I know you won’t do it again?”
“Shannon, I wish I could promise you I’d never hurt you again. That would be a lie. I know I will. It will either be something I say or do, or maybe something I should’ve done. I’m not perfect. Hell, just ask your father. He’ll tell you. I’m in no way good enough for you. That doesn’t change the fact I want to be with you.”
“We’ve been there twice, remember? Neither time worked out. But I will tell you I spoke to my father. I asked him what happened years ago. I…never knew you wanted to marry me.”
Jace got quiet for a moment, and then he said, “I was young. So were you. Your father might not have chosen the right words, but I know he wanted what was best for you. Trust me. It’s taken me this long to figure that out myself.”
“So you guys have worked everything out I see.” That just leaves you and me.
“I wouldn’t go that far. Your father got me into the Bachelor Towers. I assume that is his way of saying he doesn’t want me anywhere near you.”
I grinned. “No. It’s his way of saying he loves me.”
“I don’t get it. How?” he asked.
“I asked him to do it for me.”
Now his jaw dropped. “I don’t understand why you’d try to get me in there. Unless that’s your way of saying…we’re through for good.”
I actually believed we were. Not so sure at this moment. “Betsy told me how badly you wanted into that place. How much it meant to you. I just wanted you to be happy. And now that you declined the apartment, I’m still unsure as to why.”
Jace put on his turn signal and pulled off the highway to the side of the road. Then he put the truck in park and turned to face me. “Shannon, I didn’t take the apartment because that’s not what I want any more. Since you came back into my life, what I desire has changed. I’ve changed. I wish I could convince you of that.”
“I…think I can see it. I even felt it at the cabin. Our…connection is still so strong.”
“I don’t think my love for you ever ended. I just put it in a box with a note, don’t open until I’m with Shannon again.”
That was