“I—I can’t do this. I can’t be a part of this anymore.”
She pulled on his arm as if she wanted him to turn around, but he kept firm in his position. “Are you backing out of this because it’s getting hard, or is it something else? Because I remember you saying that you’d protect me with your life. Were you lying?”
He spun around, gripping her arms as he pulled her closer and leaned toward her face. “No. I am trying to protect you. Since I learned that I’m your Keeper, I’ve done everything I can to learn what I am and how I can keep you alive.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
And there it was—the question that would rip them apart if he gave her an honest answer. So he didn’t. “I think our friendship is getting in the way of my duties. Maybe we shouldn’t be friends anymore.”
A stare down between them began. Each passing second, the fire in his energy gained strength, filling every nerve in his body. He tried to turn around, but the pull of her soul held him in place, just a few inches from her face. He couldn’t breathe, or speak, or swallow the lump in his throat.
The cool wind continued to blow, whipping through her hair and his. He wanted her to go back to the car and give him a few minutes. She didn’t need to be out there, but he needed to cool off. Why wouldn’t she give him space?
He’d never seen this stubborn side of her, except once in Aruba, when he and her mother refused to allow her to be alone on the beach. Guess the last five months of dealing with him and Dylan had finally pushed her over the edge. It was kind of sexy…
No! It wasn’t sexy. It couldn’t be when it involved her because she…he couldn’t think…
What the hell was wrong with him? She made him crazy as hell one minute, mad as hell the next, and when he thought he’d had enough, she’d reel him right back in.
He needed to release her from his grip, was about to do just that when she reached up and swiped a strand of hair from his face.
Damn it. It was these little things that had his heart in such a mess. Those instances when she treated him like he was the only thing that mattered. Was this what Dylan felt?
“Layne,” she whispered, lowering her hand back to her side. “How much of the dream do you remember?”
“Everything.” He didn’t know why he told her that. He’d never planned to, but the words fell out as though he had no control over his mouth.
“I remember, too, including what you said to me when we were alone.”
Sweet Jesus. Why was she bringing this up right now? Did she want Dylan to murder him?
The warmth of her skin faded from his hands as he took a step back. “Don’t talk about that, Heaven. I’m sure Dylan has sensed your absence and is awake inside the car, listening to us.”
Her eyes fell from his and shifted to the car. A small crease formed just above her nose as she stared hard. Maybe she’d spotted Dylan or she was taking his advice and dropping the subject. Then a smile replaced the unpleasant expression. Dark ringlets swept her shoulders as she shook her head.
“Trust me when I say, Dylan’s sound asleep. So talk to me.”
“Heaven, I can’t explain what happened in the dream.”
“I can,” she answered, closing the gap he just put between them. “You showed a side of yourself to me that you don’t show many people. Everything you said in that dream was honest, but the thought of getting close to someone scares you. That’s why you’re blaming it on our friendship.”
Fuck… Guess everything Dylan told him was true. The dreams brought out their honesty. They said and did things from the heart and soul.
“Look, I know how the dreams work for you and Dylan, but they don’t work like that for me. You saw and heard what you wanted. None of it was real.”
“You’re such a liar, Layne. Stop it! Okay?” Her fingers pressed her forehead as she turned to the side, gazing in the distance.
He wanted to defend himself against her insinuations, but he couldn’t. He was a liar, had been all of his life. The only difference was the purpose of the lies. They used to benefit him. Now, they were for protection…her protection, from him.
“Maybe you’re right, Layne. Maybe we shouldn’t be friends. I need someone I can depend on, someone I can trust.”
It amazed him how such a simple phrase could rock him to the core. “Are you saying that you can’t trust me?”
Her shoulders rose higher before returning to normal, but what incited him the most was the distance in her eyes. “I’m not sure. I know you’re hiding stuff from me, which hurts because we need trust and honesty in our connection. I have to know you, Layne. The real you, not the tough guy the rest of the world thinks they know.”
“This is me, Heaven.” He jabbed his finger in his chest. “I’m an asshole, an untrustworthy asshole that tucks and runs when things get tough. I’m selfish. I use women, I betray my friends, and I’m the world’s worst Keeper.” Another step brought their faces so close, the steam from his breath dissipated onto her skin. “Am I forgetting anything?”
She parted her lips to answer, but creaking filled the air. He gazed over her shoulder, meeting Dylan’s heavy, but curious eyes. Time seemed suspended as he waited for Heaven to turn around and explain what was happening. Yet no words filled the air. Her eyes remained on him, holding him in place.
“Heaven?” The groggy sound of Dylan’s voice caused her eyes to flutter shut. She pressed her lips together and released a breath. Then golden gems gazed up at him.
“We’re okay, Dylan. Layne’s having a diva moment, but I think I have him calmed down. We’ll be in the car in a second.”
In an instant, Dylan glared at him. Fucking perfect. Now he’d start his shit again.
To his surprise, Dylan simply shook his head and got back inside, but the thump from the closing door was a good enough indication of how he really felt.
Layne started to walk by Heaven when she reached over and pressed her hand to his chest. “That list you recited for me is a bunch of crap, and you know it. Don’t start your bullshit with me, Layne Perry. I know more than you think I do. I just wished you let me know the deeper part of you.”
He flung his hands in the air, letting them fall to his sides as he stared at the taillights. “Why is this so important?”
For as long as he lived, he’d never forget this moment or the intensity of their connection. How it pulled him closer, like a moth to the proverbial flame, especially when she whispered, “Because the man you keep hidden is the one who will save me.”
CHAPTER 7
Heaven stared at the bare trees lining the edge of her parents’ property. Even with no leaves, they provided great shelter for the main house, preventing any passersby from snooping. It reminded her of Dylan’s house in L.A., minus the shale wall and security gate. Neither of those items would keep her safe anyway. The incident in Aruba had proven that. As long as transporters existed, she could never be alone.
The rental car slowed as it proceeded to the driveway between the walls of trees. She moved her eyes toward Layne, noting the rigidness in his body. His hands perched perfectly at ten and two on the steering wheel. Wide eyes roamed one side of the property to the other.
He worked his lower lip into his mouth, brushing the top lip against his soul patch. She’d never paid much attention to the tiny section of hair below his lip, but watching him work his mouth against it gained more than her attention. It hinted to the emotions he was trying to hide—curiosity, insecurity, and anxiety.
She parted her lips to ask what was wrong but thought better. Anger still stirred her heart over their confrontation on the side of the road. If he didn’t want to be her friend, she wouldn’t force him, nor would she continue to coddle him as she had in the past. She didn’t deserve his attitude, and he sure as hell didn’t deserve her friendship.
While her instincts urged her not to ignore him, she didn’t have a choice. She’d said all that she could. The rest was up to him. He would either choose to expl
ore their connection or keep her at a distance.
Sensing Dylan’s eyes upon her, she gazed out the window, eyeing the willow tree in the yard. With bare limbs dangling toward the ground, the tree seemed as sullen as her husband. She had no doubt he was brooding over finding her and Layne on the side of the road, not just arguing, but also standing close to each other. In fact, they stood so close, one might assume they were sharing a kiss, especially with the way Layne’s face hovered mere inches from hers. Add in the tension between them and anyone would question what had happened.
She had.
The moment she’d returned to the car, waves of confusion rolled off Dylan. Those waves increased when Layne joined them, reclaiming his driving duties. No matter how many miles they’d put behind them, it hadn’t eased her husband’s mind. Even at this very moment, erratic beats of his energy bruised her soul.
At least he wasn’t asking questions, but the urge to do so ate at him. Vibrations spread across the seat each time he tapped his fingers. It coupled with the annoyance swirling from his soul. He directed most of the ill energy toward Layne, but it didn’t stop her from sensing it.
Biting her tongue, she chose not to confront him on the negativity. His behavior proved no different than Layne’s, but it was twice as hurtful. She didn’t know any other way to convince him of her love. He had to accept Layne’s role in her life or suffer to himself.
Her body shifted forward when Layne applied the brakes, bringing the car to a stop behind her mother’s vehicle. He killed the engine a second later, as well as the silence.
“The GPS ends here. I assume I’m in the right place.”
“Yes, you are.” She didn’t bother looking at him when she answered. He was in the right place, in more ways than one. What a pity it was to know he hadn’t figured that out.
Unfastening her seat belt, she slipped her feet inside her shoes, gazing at one of the second floor windows, the one she knew to be her parents’ bedroom. A soft glow illuminated the blinds a moment later. Either they’d heard the car pull up, or one of them had sensed her arrival.
The door handle met her palm as she pulled on it, letting the door crack open. She didn’t realize how much heat radiated within the car until a brisk gust of wind blew inside. When her eyes landed on the dashboard, her skin prickled. The knob on the temperature control pointed in the ‘off’ position.
Layne…
His emotions were all over the place, as was his energy. No wonder the car was so warm. It was these little things that fed her suspicion on his lack of honesty. Something was going on with his abilities. Something he hadn’t shared with her, though she still couldn’t figure out why. If he’d learned how to access them, why wouldn’t he share that information?
The frustration of it all had her desperate for escape. She finished opening the door and stepped out of the car before either could object. The pull of Dylan’s energy said he wanted to do just that. Instead, he opened his door a few seconds later, followed by Layne.
Neither had enough time to get out of the car before she’d made her way to the porch steps. The more distance she put between them, the easier she could breathe. If she spent one more second with just the two of them, she’d lose her mind.
Their conflicting energy intertwined, sending out a force strong enough to knock her off balance. She staggered across the porch toward the door. Dylan must have noticed. He called to her, but she couldn’t focus on his voice. Instead, she stared at the opening door and the man who stood inside it.
Seeing her father’s towering figure eased her stress, especially when he pulled her into an embrace. He’d been her protector long before Dylan or Layne. She had no doubts he’d protect her from them as well.
“Heaven? Are you okay?”
Was her frustration that noticeable or was he tapping into her thoughts? Guess it didn’t matter. Right now, she welcomed any type of distraction, for herself as well as the duo she’d abandoned at the car.
“I’m fine, Dad, aside from needing a break from those two.”
After he released her from his embrace, he ushered her inside. “Do you need me to run interference? You can go to your old room and cool off if you need a few minutes.”
She stepped toward the staircase, half tempted to take him up on the offer. Solitude was a precious commodity that many took for granted. She used to do the same before she met Dylan. Much had changed since then and in such a short time.
Even if she managed to get away for a moment, she’d never enjoy it. Thanks to her abilities, she’d be forever linked to the emotions of those around her. Being out of Dylan or Layne’s presence would evoke emotions she didn’t want to feel.
“As tempting as it is, I can’t sneak off, Dad. It would make things worse. I feel their energy. Remember?”
A spark of recognition flitted in his eyes as they fell to her belly. Then his chuckle filled the air. “They’re in hover mode, aren’t they?”
“Humph,” she grunted, watching Delia enter the room from the kitchen. “It’s more like smother mode.”
In spite of her frustration with the men in her life, she was glad to see her mother-in-law. Maybe Delia could talk some sense into her son…and Layne.
Right on cue, the sources of her frustration stepped under the threshold. Dylan moved through the door to the left where her father stood. Layne remained a few steps behind. He closed the door behind him as Dylan reached his hand toward her dad.
It didn’t surprise her that Dylan was quick to shake her father’s hand. He respected her dad, but he wanted to remain on his good side too. His recent behavior weighed on his mind, and he knew her father could read those thoughts. This was his way of admitting his faults before her dad had a chance to reproach him.
Layne, on the other hand, kept his distance. He gave her father a polite nod, but focused on his new surroundings, as if he was looking for signs of danger. His duties to her came naturally, whether he believed in himself or not.
She believed.
He swept his eyes over every part of the house, studying any objects that entered his vision. It all came to a halt when he noticed Delia. For an instant, he seemed relieved to see Dylan’s mother. Truth be known, they all were. She could provide them with answers to their questions. Yet his energy said it was more than that. He had something to say to her. The way he twitched his lips confirmed her suspicion.
The thought faded from her mind just as a warm hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see who it was when she met a set of olive colored eyes. The same warmth she saw in them also spread across the set of lips below them. Both signified one truth she could never deny—her mother’s love.
When her mother reached the final step, a perfect blend of curiosity and relief swirled within her energy. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mom.” She cradled her belly once her mother’s eyes shifted to it.
“Wow,” her mom chuckled, “Your little bump is an array of colors.” She reached forward, as though she wanted to touch her stomach, but hesitated at the last minute. “There’s so much pink and silver. The baby loves you, Heaven. So much unconditional love beats in that tiny heart.”
Heaven fought with the moisture stinging her eyes. She couldn’t wait to meet her child. Couldn’t wait to see and hold the beautiful miracle that she and Dylan created. Even the thought of him holding the baby warmed her inside.
But the anticipation she felt soon disappeared. Her mother’s smile receded as she leaned closer. She hadn’t moved her eyes from Heaven’s waist, but something in her energy shifted.
“Is everything okay, Mom?”
“Magenta…and lavender.” Her mother mumbled the words before she gazed behind her where Dylan and Layne stood. She gave each one a thorough look, then moved her eyes back to Heaven. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”
The rapid beat of Heaven’s heart echoed in her ears. Had her mother sensed something about the baby? Perhaps she’d picked up on the friction between Dylan and Layne.
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
Her mother raised a brow in a look she knew from childhood, the famous I’m-not-buying-your-innocence-routine. The majority of those looks went to Faith while she and Hope stood witness, but both had their share of the same.
“Well, the magenta aura… No. Let’s talk about the other first. There’s a sporadic lavender aura that’s wavering around your child. I sense a psychic shield.”
The mysterious answer fed Heaven’s curiosity. As if she didn’t have enough questions needing answers. “A psychic shield?”
“Yes,” Delia cooed from behind. She wrapped her arm around Heaven’s waist and placed her hand flush on her stomach. “Remember how I told you and Dylan that the baby feels a need to protect you?” She waited until Heaven nodded. “I sense that need has grown stronger. Your little one is working overtime to keep you calm. The question is, why?”
Hesitating on an answer, Heaven moved her eyes across the room, noting Dylan and her father deep in conversation. Layne, on the other hand, was staring at her. The moment her cheeks tingled with warmth, she glanced at Delia again. “I, um…I don’t know, Delia. Maybe it has something to do with the dream that brought us home.”
* * *
Darkness began to wane as twilight lingered in the sky. Heaven gazed out the window, noting a bluish hue to the east. It warned of dawn’s impending arrival, as well as her lack of sleep.
She leaned over the arm of the couch, grabbing her bottle of water from the end table. The warmth of Dylan’s body returned as she righted herself, but she didn’t meet his gaze. With the rapid thrum of their connection, she knew what she needed about his state of mind. Not much had changed since they left the car.
The cap atop her bottle twisted with ease. Plastic met her lips, sending a rush of cool liquid to soothe the dryness in her throat. Dryness she’d acquired after talking about the dream for the last twenty minutes.
Neither her parents nor Delia had said a word the entire time she spoke. Judging by their pressed lips and long faces, their silence had no end in sight.
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