Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)(87)

“Come with me.” His tone wasn’t exactly friendly, though he wasn’t telling her to go away. She stood and followed him back to his car, where he opened the door for her. That was a good sign, right?

They drove in silence. Every second without any words from him had her digging her nails deeper into her palms. She didn’t bother to ask where they were going. He was taking her home or up to his cabin. When he turned into the woods down the way they’d taken when she’d visited his cabin before, her body sagged with relief.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For not sending me straight back to my grandparents’ house.”

“What my grandmother said…” He huffed out a breath. “She had no right. I had no idea you were walking into an ambush. I’m just so—” He smacked the steering wheel.

When they arrived at his cabin, it was exactly like she remembered. Anyone who didn’t know where they were going could drive right by it. The vegetation had been allowed to grow over the structure until it was camouflaged. It wasn’t until he drove past the sensor in the driveway and warm yellow light shone through the living room windows that you were even sure the cabin was there.

Valmont came around and opened her door. He held her hand on the walk up to the front door. Once they were inside, he pointed at the rug in front of the couch. “I forgot to thank you for the Christmas present.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I’m sorry, but your present is at my grandparents’ house.”

“That’s okay.” She was disappointed, but there wasn’t a chance in hell she’d step foot in his grandmother’s house again.

He led her to the couch. Seated so that their thighs brushed against each other, Valmont put his arm around Bryn’s shoulders. She leaned into his solid warmth. What did she want? She wanted Valmont as a friend and maybe more than that. Before, he’d said he’d be there for her in whatever way she needed. Was it unfair to encourage his affections? It’s not like she was toying with him. She liked him, needed him in her life. Her grandparents would try their hardest to set her up with the standard arranged marriage. And her grandmother and Lillith would try to arrange something between her and Jaxon. While she might not hate Jaxon anymore, she knew he’d never see her as datable, and as handsome as he was, she wanted to hit him over the head with a bat most of the time.

Closing her eyes, she asked the question she wasn’t sure she wanted an answer to. “What are we doing?”

“I don’t know.” He chuckled. “Being the only knight called to duty in generations doesn’t leave me with a mentor to talk to. The statue up on the hill isn’t much help.”

“Do you think the legend is true?” Bryn asked.

“Yes.” There wasn’t a bit of doubt in his voice. “Open your eyes.” She did as he asked. His gaze was like an ice-blue tractor beam pulling her in. “I don’t want to lose you, but I don’t want to do anything to push you away. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I can’t lose you. What I said to your grandmother was true. Right now, you’re my rock. You’re the one person I can count on.”

He dropped his gaze and spoke in a soft voice. “Your grandparents, they’re trying to set up an arranged marriage for you. Do you want that?”

“No.” She didn’t even have to think about it. “I want to be with someone I love, not someone the Directorate deems as my compatible mate.”

“Good.” He looked up. “Then there’s only one suitable answer.”

“What?”

“This.” He leaned in, giving her time to back out if she wasn’t interested. Did she want him to kiss her? Hell, yes. Was it wrong? Right now it didn’t feel wrong. Letting her eyes flutter shut, she moved toward him; his warm breath feathered across her lips and—

Knock knock knock.

Startled, Bryn jerked backward.

“Of all the lousy timing.” Valmont shot to his feet, stalked across the room, and yanked the door open. From her vantage point on the couch, Bryn saw the last person she expected to show up at Valmont’s cabin. “Jaxon? What are you doing here?”

“My mother had a craving for cannoli. She asked me to pick some up from Fonzoli’s. The old woman who answered the door refused to give it to me unless I flew up here to speak with Bryn.” Jaxon shot her an evil glare. “She said, if you both don’t come back for Christmas lunch she will call Bryn’s grandmother. I don’t know what is going on between you two, and I don’t care.” He tossed a cell phone to Valmont. “Call the old lady. Tell her I delivered the message and I’ll be there in five minutes to pick up my order.”

Valmont stared at Jaxon like he was insane.

“My mother is pregnant, irrational, and more than likely crying. Make the call.”

Valmont dialed.

“Why isn’t your father picking up the cannoli for your mother?” Bryn asked.

“She asked him, and he volunteered me for the job,” Jaxon bit out.

She wanted to ask if he now agreed that his father was a jerk, but thought that might end in bloodshed.

Valmont hung up and tossed the phone back to Jaxon. “She doubled your order, no charge.”