Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 109

"Nothing. Nothing bad, I just…" She looks at me, her eyes wide with dark feelings pooling in this light. "I was talking about the future and your mom started showing me some antique jewelry after I talked about looking up inspiration for art and décor at future properties."

"And?"

She hesitates, sighing loudly.

"Don't you get it, Patton? We're bound to disappoint them, disappoint her, once the truth comes out. We're basking in all these smiles and glitzy stuff and it's all going to come crashing down."

I don't understand the tension in her voice.

"Why? Because my mother showed you some old jewelry and you talked about the future?"

"Because good things don't last! Not for me. Not for a black cat." "Lady Bug, fuck." I take her icy hands in mine.

All of her feels cold, really, but she's too stubborn to admit it and let me warm her.

"Good things do happen," I tell her, trying to be gentle but I'm growling anyway. That's what she needs right now, a gentle touch, even if it's frustrating as hell to have to convince her she deserves better than she's gotten before.

"I wish I had your confidence." She sighs again.

"Salem, look up." I wait for her eyes to meet mine before I say, "The good things are coming. We're living them right now. You deserve them."

She presses my hands to her lips, a kiss like spring rain.

"Yeah, you're right. I know you are even if I don't want to believe it," she whispers. "Thank you."

"You're being ridiculous, you know. All everybody talks about is how great we look together. My brothers can't believe I scored a woman like you."

She laughs harshly.

Let her wonder. If they weren't being real, they wouldn't have ripped the shit out of me over it.

"Now stop brooding and put this on." I shrug off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. "It's been a good night. My mom loves you. She loves Arlo. You've made friends with Junie, and you know what would make it better?"

"What?" Her hot tears shock me when I feel their heat, clinging to her face like rain glazing the trees.

"If we told Arlo. End our night on a high note."

"Hmm… yeah." She swallows and looks away, considering it. "It would be a big finish."

I wait, but she doesn't say yes. Fuck.

"He's brighter than you think," I snap. My shoulders slump a second later. "Sorry. I don't mean to be harsh. I just hate the years I've wasted without my son, and we need to make up for lost time."

"We will." She kisses me again. At least her lips are getting warmer now. "I'm the problem, Patton. I admit it. It's not just his reaction I'm worried about. It's losing this—losing you—when it's all so new. Can we please just have a little time? Just so I can be sure."

With a hand on her waist, I ease her back.

"I understand. This shit will shake up our lives permanently, no question. But I love the little man. And I want him to have a family. A real proper family beyond his mother, Salem, with everybody in this house knowing there's a new little Rory to spoil."

Her eyes twinkle as she pulls away. "You love Arlo, huh?"

I blink at her.

"He's my son, Salem. Of course I do." The other words—the same ones for her—stop dead on my tongue.

Shit, maybe it really is too soon.

Now isn't the moment. I can feel it in my skin.

And maybe I'm more like her than I think, holding back for the perfect opportunity, even if it's hard to imagine.