“Nope, not gonna do that.” He tightened his grip. “We’re gonna come to an understanding before I let you go.”
“Here we go…”
“Now, see what you do? You always assume the worst about me. I wonder why that is.”
“Maybe because you’re so bossy.”
“I don’t think anyone has ever accused me of bein’ bossy as much as you. I’m thinkin’ you take me wrong.”
“You won’t let me get up. How should I take that?”
He kissed her hairline, right on the edge of her forehead. “You could take it that I like holdin’ on to you.”
“I doubt that,” she laughed.
“Bree,” he breathed.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t be so nice to me. I don’t deserve it.”
“Ah now, I disagree. If anyone deserves to be treated nice, it’s you.”
“Because my husband died?”
“Nope.”
“Then, why?”
“’Cause I said so.”
“You can’t come up with a reason.”
Jace could come up with plenty of reasons, but he knew if he said any of them out loud, she’d think he was crazy.
“I’m getting hungry.”
“Me, too.”
“Can we go inside now?”
“As soon as you and I agree to a truce. No more fightin’. We’re on the same side, Bree. We both want the best for Blythe and her baby.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “Truce.”
He kissed her forehead again. For a moment, he considered holding on a little longer. The idea of letting her go left him feeling emptier than it should.
Mark made linguine with clam sauce and had a bottle of wine open when they came inside.
“We didn’t get very much moving done today,” complained Lyric.
Blythe patted her hand. “We’ll finish tomorrow. There’s no hurry.”
Jace and Bree moved away from each other and sat on opposite sides of the table.
Jace sat next to Blythe but couldn’t take his eyes off Bree. How hard h