ke a blade. "You'd spin any excuse just t

ocking curl of his lips, "We've been using protectio

er expression turned into

her out for the so-called check-up. That night, Jerred had shocked her b

, and their intima

ing of alcohol and grinning wickedly, had leaned close to

ture from him-the flowers, the sudden tenderness, even the int

of it-the odd check-up, the roses, the intense passion-hadn

posed and reserved, driving him to act impulsively. He had forgot

that her pregnancy was nothing more than a

s voice hardened. "I know you've never felt any real

ble, the gold-embossed J gleaming under the light. "Ther

ittering card, a self-mocking

every so-called gift Jerred had ever offered

ished, he could toss away ten m

instead," he added, his tone

t. "If you agree to donate, I'll make su

a studied Jarred as i

reduced the moment to nothing

ss, the fragile warmth-suddenly felt li

truth was that she

e thought about that, her lashes lower

sion. Her voice came firm as she said, "I don't care how you

harpened with a fierce resolve. "If you think I'm

ad never truly belonged to h

m without question was the fr

d's safety for Jaylynn, a wom

grew heavy, silence pressing dow

hest; he had a nagging fear that someth

fe-soft-spoken, accommodating, smiling as s

erce, bristling with defiance, challenging him at ever

iet was shattered by the abru

call, his voice shifting at once-ge

gid at the table, could hear the fragile, tr

d to stand, I banged my hand against the metal frame of the bed. The IV came loos

now." Jarred's

e floor, and while murmuring words of comfor

sed, turning back to glance at Th

u're upset. I'll pretend I didn't hear that talk about divorce. As for the bone marrow donation, I expect

, the heavy door soon sl

lintered Thea's chest, as if the s

her trembling hand moved pr

uivering with fragile strength. "Don'

over her, she decided at that moment