Annie's Song(6)
Surprisingly, her voice sounded normal. “Confusion, concern.” A smile threatened. “Cowardice.”
“And alliteration. You may be many things, Claire, but a coward is not one of them.”
Easing her hand free, she laid them both in her lap, out of reach. Marcus frowned. “I am, because I am going to use my son as an excuse when I say no to whatever you have planned after dinner.”
He raised an eyebrow, and she knew he was annoyed. “What if I told you I had nothing planned?”
“Then I won’t need to make excuses. Marcus,” Claire took in a breath, forced herself to keep eye contact. “Zach is scared, and I will not do anything to perpetuate that fear. So this goes slow—probably too slow for you—or it ends.”
“Claire—”
“I told you he would come first.” She spoke over him, fighting the need to soothe, to touch, to take him right there in the restaurant— Stop. Distance—I need distance. “And until he feels comfortable, confident in his place in my life, I won’t jeopardize the shaky balance we have right now.” She blurted out the one thing she didn’t plan on telling him tonight. “We’re leaving for England in a couple of days, to join Annie and Eric.” Marcus stood, startling her. He dropped money on the table and pulled her to her feet. “What—”
“Not a word.”
They left the restaurant, passing their waiter—who carried their dinner plates on a tray. He opened his mouth, stopped when Marcus stuffed some bills into his shirt pocket. By the time they hit the sidewalk Claire was all but running to keep up with him.
“Marcus—”
“No.” He jaywalked across Beach, lifted her to the boardwalk and dragged her after him. Once they hit the sand he picked her up and carried her, dropping her on the deserted beach. “Now we have words.”
“You arrogant—” Claire kicked off her shoes, so angry she wanted to punch something. Preferably his face. He had embarrassed her, dragging her around like a boy with a prize, shushing her like she was five. “How dare you treat me like that. And if you try an ounce of your damn hocus pocus on me, Jinn, so help me I’ll jam your own fist down your—”
He kissed her silent.
The tenderness, the power of it, had her gripping his arms, her legs refusing to hold her. His arms slid around her, hauled her up against his chest. Heat surrounded them, wind and sand brushing her bare skin. That heat spread through her, and she stilled as she realized what Marcus was doing.
Pulling away, she met his eyes. Gold swallowed the jade green, proof that he was using his power to soothe her. “Stop—Marcus, please—don’t waste your healing—”
“Claire. You have been, and always will be deserving of my care. And as much as I hate to make the comparison, I am like Annie. I know all your secrets, and I love you anyway.”
“Heaven above.” She lowered her head to his shoulder. “You certainly know how to humble.”
“That was not my intention. This was: you are important to me. I am willing to wait until Zach accepts my presence in your life.” He settled her to the sand, long fingers closing around her hand. “And there is no expiration on that. Take as long as you need, as long as he needs. Though I would prefer sooner rather than later.”
His smile made her ache. His words eased the weight on her heart.
“I’ll work on it. Now, Jinn, since you paid for a meal we didn’t eat, the dinner we do eat is on me.” She raised her hand before he could argue. “How does a steak dinner shared in the back of my shop sound?”
“The twelve ounce porterhouse from Billie’s Pub?” He bent over her hand, kissed her palm. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”
“My boys and their meat.” Still in turmoil from his kiss, she freed her hand, picked up her shoes. “If we hurry, there may still be some of her apple pie left.”
She laughed as he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the boardwalk. They stopped long enough for her to slip on her shoes. She didn’t bother with her hair; the evening damp had its way with her waves, and nothing short of a full dunking would calm them.
“Claire.” Marcus cradled her cheek, those beautiful gold-laced green eyes studying her. “We will make this work. Whatever it takes, we will be a family.”
She closed her eyes, felt his lips brush over hers. Family.
The one thing she always wanted.
The one thing she never thought she would have.
SIX
Annie rolled over, blinking at the morning sunlight streaming in through the window. Sunlight—
She sat, nearly blinded by the bright room. And bolted across the room as the now familiar nausea clutched her stomach.