His voice was gentle, but there was no mistaking the steeliness beneath, the male protectiveness he was trying to hide from her. Jason Sarantos was staking claim to his child, regardless of the cost to her. Dammit. She couldn’t let herself fall victim to him. She couldn’t endure another repeat of trusting the wrong man, like she had with Paul, not again. But what other options did she have? None, right now. She had nowhere to live, and no source of income. She needed help right now. But just for now. What if she took his offer for just a few days, while she tried to get things organized? Yes, that would be okay. She could resist his charms and the feelings he stirred up in her for a short time. He would keep her safe for now, and then she could take her life back, but on solid ground because he’d given her time to figure it out.
She set her hand on her belly and made her decision. She’d take this gift and use it to give herself time, but she would be gone long before Jason Sarantos could start to destroy what was left of her heart. “Okay. For a couple weeks. No longer.”
Relief washed over Jason’s face, making him look ten years younger. She was shocked by how handsome he was, and her heart softened at the expression of raw relief on his face, by the realization of how much tension he’d been holding.
“You can stay as long as you want,” he said. “There’s no limit.”
“Two weeks,” she said firmly. “I just need a little time to get things organized.”
He met her gaze. “Two weeks, then.” But there was no mistaking the determination in his eyes. Jason Sarantos had a plan, and it didn’t involve Astrid leaving his carriage house in two weeks.
Damn men and their plans.
Chapter Nine
Jason sprinted up the stairs to Astrid’s old apartment. Dawn had barely hit, but he’d still driven like a madman to get over there, terrified Astrid had changed her mind and taken off during the night. He’d managed to get the sitter to come back at six in the morning, and he’d bolted the moment she’d arrived.
It had been a fucking night from hell. He’d dreamed of Lucas dying, the dreams so vivid he’d woken up drenched in sweat, his body trembling with grief. It was the worst the nightmares had been in years. He’d dreamed of Kate dying. He’d dreamed of Noah dying, dreams so intense he’d wound up sleeping on Noah’s floor so he could keep waking himself up to check that his son was alive and safe. And he’d been haunted by his growing terror that Astrid would cut out during the night, and he’d never find her again.
Raw terror had churned through him as he’d raced up Astrid’s steps at six-fifteen, and his relief had been astronomical when he’d shoved open the unlocked door to her apartment and seen her asleep in her bed.
Still there.
But shit, she looked so vulnerable while sleeping. Her dark hair spread out on the pillow, she was curled into a ball. Her hands were tucked under her chin as if she were trying to protect herself even in sleep. In that moment, she wasn’t the independent woman who had reminded him of Kate. She was a vulnerable woman struggling to survive, to hang on and make it one more day. He wanted to pick her up right then and carry her out, take her away from the shithole she was living in.
Instead, he sank down on the edge of her bed and forced himself to wait. He knew he should give her privacy and wait outside in his car, but the thought of being away from her was unacceptable. Just as he’d had to sleep on Noah’s floor to ensure he didn’t lose his son during the night, he couldn’t tear himself away from her. There had simply been too much loss in his life, and he couldn’t handle another. He had to protect what little he had left, and right now, that meant Astrid.
Jason braced his elbows on his knees and rested his forehead in his palms, trying to get a handle on his tension. Now that he was back in her apartment and knew Astrid was still here, he had to pull his shit together and calm down.
Astrid was his second chance.
He’d come to Maine for a second chance for Noah, and as God was his witness, this was a hell of a second chance. He didn’t even know what the hell to do with it, or with Astrid. All he knew was that he couldn’t let her go. Not yet. Not with his child.
A light knock sounded on the door, and Jason stood up as Griffin opened the door. Both men froze at the sight of each other in Astrid’s space.
“What are you doing here?” Griffin asked, his gaze shooting suspiciously to Astrid and back to Jason.
“There’s been a change of plans,” Jason said, ignoring the question. “Astrid’s moving into my carriage house.”
Griffin’s eyes narrowed. “Is she? How’d you manage that?”
Jason moved in front of Astrid, blocking Griffin’s view of her. She was wearing a skimpy camisole and he didn’t want any other men seeing her in that vulnerable state. “It’s cool, Griffin. I’ve got it covered.”
Astrid mumbled something, and Jason glanced over his shoulder at her. Her eyes were still closed, but she’d rolled onto her back and flung her arm over her head. The sunlight was streaming across her, kissing her skin with golden warmth and casting shimmering highlights in her hair. In that moment, Jason knew she’d been sent from heaven for him. She was his. And he was keeping her.
He had to find a way to keep her.
He’d failed too many times already, and Astrid and the child she carried were his chance to do it right this time. I will not let you down, he promised. I swear it.
But as Griffin moved toward Jason and Astrid, he knew that this small town was not going to let him do it that easily. The town felt like it had a claim on Astrid as well, and they were going to make damn sure she was safe. “Back off, Griffin,” he said. “I’m on this.”
“I’m sure you are,” Griffin said quietly. “Did you sleep with her last night?”
“No.” Jason met his gaze, but Griffin clearly knew that he wasn’t being entirely forthright. Yes, he wasn’t lying. He hadn’t slept with her last night, but there was more shit going on. Griffin’s tense shoulders indicated he was well aware that Jason wasn’t telling the entire truth.
“You bastard,” Griffin growled. “You don’t get to come in here and abuse her—”
“I’m not. Jesus, I’m not.” Jason swore as Astrid mumbled in her sleep. “Let’s take it outside, Griffin,” he said quietly. “Astrid needs her sleep.”
“Does she?” Griffin didn’t move and didn’t back down “And why is she so tired? Did you have a private going away party for her? Did you take advantage of her emotional vulnerability because she was so sad to be leaving town?”
Jason’s adrenaline was raging. “Is that what you think of her? That someone can take advantage of Astrid? She’s stronger than that.”
“She’s not as strong as she likes people to think.”
“Shit, I know that. You don’t think I know that?” He looked over at Astrid and saw she had moved her hand over her face, as if she were trying to block out the sound. Vibrant energy raced through him, and he was suddenly jazzed almost out of his skin. She was waking up. His woman was waking up.
He couldn’t keep the shit-eating grin off his face, even as Griffin continued to harass him. All he could do was wait for the woman who carried his child to open her eyes.
Anticipation was a killer.
*
Astrid scrunched her eyes shut against the low murmur of voices. God, she was tired. So tired… Then she jerked awake as reality set in. There were voices in her apartment? She sat up abruptly and saw Jason in the doorway, talking in low voices with Griffin. For a moment, all she could do was stare blankly at them, trying to figure out why they were there.
Then she noticed Griffin’s jeans, tee shirt and heavy boots, and realized that he was ready for heavy lifting. Her things! Today was moving day. Last night’s events came rushing back to her, and she jerked her gaze to Jason. Was she really going to move into his carriage house? Or was he there to retract his offer?
To her surprise, Jason wasn’t watching Griffin. His gaze was fixed on hers, and heat flushed through her at the intense e
xpression on his face. He was watching her as if he owned the very air in her lungs, and he treasured every last bit of it.
A slow grin spread across his face, a smile meant only for her, and anticipation rushed through her. “Morning, Astrid.” His voice was a low rumble, rolling through her like a sensual caress.
She swallowed. “Hi,” she managed.
Griffin turned around, and she saw he looked furious. His eyes were dark, and his hands were bunched by his side. “Jason says you’re moving in with him.”
Excitement leapt through Astrid. “He did?” He wasn’t changing his mind? He was claiming her publicly, admitting to Griffin that she was staying with him? Paul had never claimed her, not even when he’d put the ring on her finger. She’d always felt like he wanted her to walk a step behind him and sit at the other end of the table…which he always had when they’d been at his family’s house for dinner.
Determination flashed across Jason’s face, and she realized that he half expected her to change her mind, to jump in her barely functioning car and run for the Vermont border.
He wasn’t going to let her do that, was he?
She smiled, new power rushing through her. Suddenly, Jason didn’t seem like a threat to her independence, or a danger to her heart. In the light of day, in the glare of her dire circumstances, he was her influx of strength, the temporary support system that would keep her afloat while she got her life together.
She wasn’t the naïve girl who’d let Paul decimate her heart. She wasn’t the innocent romantic who thought getting an engagement ring because she was pregnant meant the fairytale would come true. Nope. She was now a survivor who knew a brass ring when she saw it, and she knew exactly what it meant.
Jason’s offer meant a chance. It didn’t mean love, romance and forever. It meant she finally had an opportunity to start her life over the way she wanted it.
Griffin’s eyes narrowed. “Astrid,” he said softly, moving closer and blocking Jason with his shoulders. “You are always welcome to move in with me and Clare. There’s plenty of room, and you’re part of our family. If you’re staying in town, and by God, I hope you are, stay with us.”
Astrid saw the genuineness in Griffin’s eyes, and her throat tightened. He really meant it. He and Clare were barely started in their relationship, still trying to learn about each other and find private time around all the craziness of two teenage girls and two businesses, and yet he was willing to dump her in the middle of it. She smiled, the day suddenly feeling even brighter. “Thank you, Griffin. That means a lot. I appreciate it.”
He nodded. “So, you’ll come?”
She looked past him at Jason, who was leaning against the door jamb, his arms folded over his chest. He met her gaze, and the intensity of his expression said it all. This man she barely knew had one goal, and that was to protect her and keep her safe. It didn’t matter that it was because of the baby she carried. What mattered was that she had been given that gift. She wasn’t naïve enough to think she could fix her life without help right now, and she wasn’t going to turn down what Jason was offering her. “No,” she said, not taking her gaze off Jason. “I’m staying in Jason’s carriage house.” She finally looked at Griffin. “Not in his house, Griffin. His carriage house. Just for two weeks while I get things sorted out.”
Griffin’s eyes narrowed, and he looked back and forth between them. “You’re sure you’re okay, Astrid?”
Well, she was pretty damn sure she was far from okay, but right now, Jason had given her a breather to get it figured out. Dear God, she was pregnant.
No, no, no, she could not think about that.
Denial was the only order of the day. So she cast Griffin one of her trademark smiles. “I am fantastic,” she said. Then she threw the covers back, revealing the fact she’d been sleeping in only very short shorts. Griffin immediately looked away, but Jason’s eyes heated up as they traveled down her legs.
He didn’t even pretend not to stare, and awareness rippled over her at the realization that although Jason had made the offer last night because of the baby, he absolutely had not forgotten she was a woman. So, that was something at least. At least she existed as her own being.
Grinning, feeling optimistic and happy for the first time in months, she stood up. “Thanks so much for helping me move, Griffin—”
“Astrid.” Griffin took her arm and moved her to the side. “This isn’t like you to move in with him. I’m not blind. I can see the way he looks at you. What are you doing?”
She grinned at him, unable to keep her newly surging energy at bay. “Griffin. It wasn’t easy to manipulate an almost stranger into allowing me to move into the house of my dreams at a price I can afford, so don’t mess with it, okay? I’m the one in control here.” Which, weirdly, she felt like she was. Yes, Jason was doing his man thing, but at the same time, it was his protectiveness and ownership that was empowering her and giving her the freedom to breathe deeply again and the respite to think clearly. “It’s all good.”
Griffin studied her, and then he finally grinned. “You astound me, Astrid.”
She smiled. “I will take that as a compliment.” She squeezed his arm. “Thanks for helping me today, Griffin. I appreciate it.”
“It’s what we do in this town.” He winked. “Or so Eppie made sure to tell me fifteen times.” There was a loud roar of trucks outside, and then the sound of slamming doors and male voices.
Astrid frowned and peeked out the window. There were three pickup trucks parked beside Griffin’s, and seven men were climbing out of them. She recognized Jackson and a couple of the men from the softball team. Three of them she thought were from Jackson’s construction crew, because she’d seen them at the store with him. One man with short blond hair and a massive build she didn’t recognize, but he seemed to be hanging back by Jackson as well. “Who are they?”
“Your moving crew.” Griffin leaned past her and stuck his head out the window. “Around back, and up the stairs,” he shouted.
As the men hollered back and she heard the thud of boots heading up her stairs, Astrid began to smile, truly smile. So many people there to help her? She’d never had that happen before. It was such a treat, a delicious feeling. She looked across the room at Jason, who was already discussing with Griffin the order they would move things out, and a sense of immense peace settled over her.
Maybe she had no money, no creativity and no future, but right now, in that moment, she had a team helping her. She’d never been the recipient of that kind of support before, and it felt amazing—
Jason suddenly turned away from Griffin and strode across the room toward her. Her heart began to race as he approached, and anticipation swept through her. “Sweetheart,” he said as he reached her, sliding his arm down her bare skin as he brushed his lips against her ear. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t love seeing you dressed in almost nothing, but I’ll tell you right now that if I have to deal with seven other men checking you out in that outfit, it’s not going to be pretty.”
Heat flushed Astrid at the raw desire in his voice, and she swallowed. Paul had never been possessive of her. Not even for one minute. It was intoxicating to see the turmoil in Jason’s eyes. “I’m not yours,” she told him, unable to keep the tremble of awareness from her voice. “I’m just going to live in your carriage house.”
“Yeah, I know that.” He trailed his finger possessively down her arm in direct contradiction of his words, sending goose bumps shooting across her flesh. “But it’s not going to matter when the guys walk in here. I’m feeling possessive, jealous and ready to kick some ass in defense of you.”
Okay, wow, so there was no way to ignore how incredibly hot that was. His words went straight to her belly, to the part of her that was pure female. “You are a caveman,” she said, unable to keep the grin off her face.
Jason’s eyebrows shot up. “A caveman? Damn, woman, you keep giving me compliments like that, and I’ll have you pinned against the wall and naked in le
ss than a second.”
Heat flushed through her as she grabbed for a sweatshirt. “I’m not moving into your carriage house to become your concubine,” she snapped as she quickly pulled it over her arms and zipped it, all too aware of the men thudding up her stairs.
“You’re not?” The disappointment in Jason’s face was so comical she burst out laughing. “We’re going to have to renegotiate.” He grabbed the zipper of her sweatshirt and yanked it up to her chin. “You are going to be trouble, woman.” Then, in front of all the men who had just arrived, and before she had a chance to react, Jason had the audacity to grab her around the waist, haul her against him and plant one on her.
This kiss was hard and fast, in full view of the others, making it absolutely clear to everyone that there wasn’t anything the least bit platonic about Astrid moving into Jason’s carriage house. Jason grinned smugly as he released her and turned back to the men, who were all staring in shock at the sight of Astrid-the-Aloof being so thoroughly kissed.
Damn the man. He’d just claimed her in front of what was, in effect, her entire town, given how fast gossip spread. Arrogant beast.
But as Astrid turned away to grab her jeans, she couldn’t help but smile. Yes, she wasn’t going to be foolish enough to fall in love with the man, but she had to admit, she liked his style.
Every woman deserved to know what it felt like to be claimed from time to time, and she had finally had her turn.
And damn. It was good.
Chapter Ten
Ten hours later, long after the last strapping lad had left her house, Astrid sat down on a moving box and sighed with utter contentment.
The windows in the main living area of the carriage house opened out onto the lake, and she could see the late afternoon sun dancing across the water. The scent of freshly cut grass and pine trees wafted in the open window, and she could even hear the sound of birds chirping.
She had set up her tiny artist’s table in front of the windows, and there was so much natural light that she was actually in awe of what it did to the colors of her beads.
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