Rev It Up (Black Knights Inc. #3)(86)

“Chère,” he held her at arms’ length. “You both share in the guilt on this one. You both do. Doncha go shoulderin’ it all by yourself.”

She nodded, gulping down the sobs that threatened at the back of her throat, wishing she could believe him.

They were silent then. Her wiping away the hot tears on her cheeks as she tried to get herself back under control. Him watching her so intently it wasn’t helping matters in the least. Then he went a made things oh so much worse by asking, “Do you love him?”

And yep, so much for getting herself back under control. A new torrent of tears spilled from her eyes. “Of course I love him,” she admitted aloud for the first time ever. The words seemed to hang in the air, buoyant in their freedom. “I’ve always loved him,” she finished quietly, her shattered heart cutting at her insides until she thought she might die from the pain of it.

“Well then, there ya go. Love conquers all.”

Oh, if only it were that simple…

***

Balancing three cups of coffee in her hands, Vanessa carefully made her way down the hall of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. When she reached Rock—looking far too sexy leaning back against the wall, grrrr—and Michelle—looking like she’d been through nuclear winter, poor woman—she handed off two of the cups and then popped the lid off the third, blowing over the top of the steaming, brown, life-saving liquid.

Since joining BKI, she’d learned it was almost possible to live on the stuff.

“So what’s up,” she asked, taking a sip and glancing back and forth between the two of them. “What are you two chitchatting about?”

“The fact that love conquers all,” Rock said, sipping his coffee and eyeing her over the rim.

“Does it?” she asked, quickly glancing over at Michelle.

Michelle opened her mouth to respond but shut it again when Rock’s phone made a really weird pinging noise.

“Merde,” he cursed, digging in his hip pocket and pulling out his phone, frowning at the screen. “I’ve got to go.”

Uh-huh. And she knew what that meant. His other job was calling.

“When will you be back?” she asked, surprised to discover she was holding her breath, waiting for the answer.

“Dunno,” he shook his head, turning away. Then he seemed to hesitate, swinging around to pin her with a hard stare. “I want you to know…” He slid a sidelong glance toward Michelle. “I…I just wanted to say that I enjoyed our time together,” he swallowed and scratched his ear. And with that heart-stopping declaration, he turned and strutted down the hall with that loose, hip-shot swagger that drove her insane.

She turned back to Michelle. “And with that,” she snapped her fingers, “poof. He’s gone.”

“Welcome to the wonderful world of Black Knights Incorporated,” Michelle muttered, her expression filled with understanding. “Of course, if it’s any consolation, I’ve known Rock a long time, and I’ve never seen him look at another woman the way he looks at you.”

She snorted. “Fat lot of good that does me considering he seems determined to keep me at arm’s length.”

Resignation flickered through Michelle’s swollen, bloodshot eyes. “From the little Frank has told me about what Rock’s involved in, from the little Frank knows, it’s probably best that Rock does keep you at arm’s length.”

“Yeah, well, a girl can always dream, can’t she?”

Michelle smiled sadly and patted her on the shoulder before they both turned and headed into Snake’s hospital room to sit vigil. Only they hadn’t gone more than a few feet when Michelle abruptly stopped in front of her.

“Damn,” she cursed, spilling some of her coffee on the floor when she slammed into the woman’s back. “What gives?”

Then she glanced around Michelle to see Jake’s very pale, very awake face.

“I heard what you and Rock were talking about,” he said, and Michelle jerked upright like someone shoved a cattle-prod straight up her ass.

“Which part?” The poor woman’s voice was barely a whisper, her eyes wide and unblinking.

“All of it.”

Vanessa looked back and forth between the two of them, and her “angst light” clicked on. Big time.

Okay. Time to beat feet, Van.

Glancing at her watch, she announced, “Look at the time. Man, it’s getting late. I’m sure I’m late for something. I can’t think of what, but I’m sure it’s important and—” She stopped, swallowing, smiling weakly before deciding to cut her losses.

Then she did the smart thing and turned to make her escape.

***

Jake watched BKI’s communications specialist turn tail and run before he let his gaze linger on Shell’s anxious expression.

There were a dozen stiletto-wearing demons tap-dancing on his brain every time he opened his eyes, but he’d take the pain. Oh mama, would he take the pain, just to see Shell’s face when she finally told him she loved him.

“But you’re wrong,” he murmured, “about one very important thing.”

She choked, her shoulders hitching up around her ears, “I am?”

“Yes.” He nodded, despite the fact that it caused the demons to start in with their best impression of River Dance. “Because I can forgive you, Shell. I have forgiven you.”