Falling for the Beast (A Modern Fairy Tale Duet 2)

“Oh, thank you,” she said cautiously, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for the “but…” that would bring it all crashing down. Maybe she would expose her relationship with Blake after all. Even though he hadn’t touched her in weeks, if anyone asked questions, she would tell the truth.

Melinda sighed, leading her through the doors into a small courtyard. “I need to apologize for the things I said the other day. It wasn’t right, and I knew it, but…” A small laugh. “I guess, of all people, you would understand what I lost. Who I lost. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Erin ducked her head. “I thought you were the one who left him.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I’m not proud of that. But he wasn’t like this before. He was withdrawn and angry, and I wasn’t sure he’d ever go back to the way he was. His scars were part of it, but you and I both know they go deeper than that.”

Erin pursed her lips. She wasn’t about to perform a psychological analysis on Blake, especially with this woman as her partner. Regret or not, M

elinda had no right to him.

“Can I go now?”

Melinda laughed softly. “I can’t fault you for that. If he had to end up with someone else, at least it’s someone who truly cares about him.”

“I do.” And I’m ready to be with him, without having to hide.

“Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to apologize and tell you that I won’t be a problem from now on, between you and him.”

Erin weighed the sincerity of her words and found she believed them. Still, she wasn’t inclined to be generous with the memory of her humiliation still strong. The woman had basically accused her of being a prostitute. “I accept your apology, but just so you know…you couldn’t have caused a problem between me and him. Not anymore.”

Glossy lips twisted into a wry smile. “You’re probably right about that. He’s loyal. I think you did the right thing not telling him about his father.”

Her throat clenched. “What do you mean?”

“A senator from upstate? It wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. Blake may not like everything his father’s done, but he wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt the people he loves.”

It felt like serrated saws moved through her chest, because she knew it was true. Blake had both integrity and loyalty. Erin didn’t want to know which one would win. She also didn’t want to make him choose between his family and herself.

So she had left Senator Morris’s name out of her thesis.

She burned with desire to see him right now, to kiss and make love to him until the world outside faded to black. To reassure herself that he was still the man she knew and loved. However, he had the Faculty Ball tonight. She could survive one more night without him, couldn’t she? It would be a near thing.

They’d be together again tomorrow.

They’d have forever together…tomorrow.

And he’s mine.

The force of the words shocked her. At least she managed not to say them out loud, as she made her escape from Melinda. But privately, her tenderness for him, her possession surged impossibly strong. He was hers. Hers to love. Hers to keep.

At her apartment, she found Courtney packing.

The room had disappeared between a mountain of clothes. A huge piece of luggage sat open and empty. From the haggard look on Courtney’s face, things had not been going well.

Erin paused at the door. “What happened?”

“What happened is that Derek and I are going on a trip.” She frowned, examining a pair of puffy pants. “And I have nothing to wear.”

“Where is he taking you, the tundra?”

“Close. Colorado. We’re going to do some late skiing. He’s booked a suite in a lodge. Isn’t that the sweetest gesture?”

“But you hate the cold.”

“Yes, he must have forgotten that.”

“And aren’t you afraid of heights?”