Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“You pity him,” sensed Dax.
“A little. The guy’s in an impossible situation. He won’t like how she behaves, he won’t want it to continue, but he’ll naturally try to save her from herself and others.”
“And it doesn’t hurt you that he’d essentially take her side?”
“It doesn’t feel nice, but I wouldn’t expect anything else. She’s his partner.” I cocked my head. “Why would you think it might hurt me? I told you I’m not holding a candle for him.”
“You did. But people have a way of hiding their feelings from themselves when they don’t want to confront them.”
“In other words, you believe I simply tell myself I don’t care for him but it’s not actually true?” I asked with some surprise.
Dax pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t say I firmly believe that’s the case, but I think it’s certainly possible.”
I felt my eyes narrow. “Why? Do you have some leftover feelings for the women in your past other than Gracie?”
“No. But I can’t claim to have loved them.”
“Maybe you just weren’t in relationships with women who truly fit you.” It was possible he’d purposely—even if only on a subconscious level—sought out partners he couldn’t fully connect with. Like Brooks had pointed out, Dax kept his circle small and his mental walls up. It made sense that he’d avoid people who might sneak past his guard.
As I looked at Dax right then, it was hard to keep the compassion from creeping onto my expression. I ached for this person who’d only ever been able to trust the people closest to him; who’d been let down by the outside world so many times over that he’d developed protective patterns and barriers that steadily became integrated into his personality.
“Well,” I began, crossing my arms over my chest, “you’re wrong in thinking I have any lingering feelings for Grayden—I can safely assure you he killed every one of them.”
Dax studied me long and hard, saying nothing.
“Back to the matter of Felicity … what are you going to do?”
His shoulders rose and fell in a lazy, fluid movement. “Nothing she won’t deserve,” he prevaricated. “I warned her to stay away from you. She ignored me.”
“I think she believes that being related to you means she’s exempt from any consequences.”
“If so, she’ll soon be disabused of that theory.” His gaze flitted over my face. “Are you all right?”
“You mean am I upset after the little scene she caused? No. She’s just a dumbass with a big mouth. Nothing special or singular.”
“Maybe so. But never underestimate stupid people—common sense often eludes them, so they’ll do things they shouldn’t. Case in point.”
I allowed that with a slight incline of my head. “This will hopefully be the last stunt she pulls.”
“She behaves like a woman scorned,” he mused. “She didn’t act that way when Grayden was involved with others, from what I saw.”
“In her mind, she always had a hold on him when they were apart. She could yank on his strings any time, offer for them to reconcile, and he’d eagerly toddle back to her. She made that offer when he was dating me, but he turned her down.”
His eyes sharpened. “You cut the strings, in other words.”
“That’s the way she sees it. I felt it was more that he’d just gotten tired of her games.”
“If that were the case, he wouldn’t have gone back to her.”
“She talked of moving away with their kids. I don’t know if she ever intended to live up to what was a passive-aggressive threat, but he didn’t want to take that chance. He must still care for her, though. Especially if they’re trying for another baby.”
Dax twisted his mouth. “I’m not sure I believe they are. I wouldn’t put it past Grayden to lie for her in his attempt to defuse the situation. He shouldn’t have bothered trying. She fucked up one time too many. I won’t let it slide.”
“Maybe it makes me a bitch, but I don’t feel inclined to ask you to.”
“It doesn’t make you a bitch. It makes you someone who brooks no bullshit—nobody should have to.” He took slow steps toward me, and my pulse predictably skittered. “In my opinion, her problem with you isn’t merely that you cut those strings you mentioned before. Nor is it only that he still cares for you—which he does, I saw it clearly.” Dax came to a halt in front of me, standing so close our bodies almost brushed. “It’s that she doesn’t feel on equal footing around you. You outshine her.”
Which would have been quite a compliment, except … “It’s not difficult to outshine someone like Felicity. Anyway, enough about her. How was your day?”
“It went well,” was all he said.
“Wow, don’t overwhelm me with information.”
His lips bowed up. “There’s nothing interesting to tell.”
Nothing he wanted to tell, more like. “How about … you part with one thing you did today? Just one. I think you can handle that. Maybe.”