Takeoff (Open Skies #5) - Becca Jameson Page 0,3
it couldn’t be helped. He’d deal with their questions later. Or never. He’d dodged the inquisition when Raeann first ditched him a month ago. He could dodge their inquiries this time too if need be.
It was only ten when they reached his house. The party had been early. Apparently, Bex turned into a pumpkin by about nine these days. Not surprising.
He parked in the garage and shut off the engine, beyond aware that neither of them had spoken during the entire drive.
Raeann jumped down from her side of the SUV and followed him into the kitchen, setting her purse on the island as she passed him. The only light was coming from the living room lamp and Deacon decided to leave it that way for now.
He opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, handing it to her before lifting a second. “Unless you’d rather have something else?” It wasn’t likely. He knew she preferred water over just about any other drink. She’d had two glasses of wine at the party, and that was her limit most of the time. Her job as a flight attendant required her to be prepared to get called in with short notice.
Raeann carried the water with her but didn’t open it. She made her way into his living room and curled up in the corner of his black leather sectional.
It was weird. He’d only dated her for two weeks. It had been twice that long since the last time she’d been in his home. And yet, that spot on his sofa felt like hers. She looked comfortable when she kicked off her flats and tucked her feet up under her skirt.
She was wearing a sexy black dress with a colorful short jacket over it. Floral. Bright. It looked amazing with her hair.
Deacon sat a few feet from her, angling his body toward hers. “Did I do something wrong?” he asked right off the bat. He needed to eliminate the possibility.
She shook her head and met his gaze. “No. Never.” A strange smile lifted the corners of her lips. “If anything, you did something right. Too right. I’m sorry I stopped answering you. It was rude and immature of me. We’re grown adults, not in high school. You deserved better.”
He nodded slowly. “Would you like to talk about it?”
She smiled again. “Do I have a choice?”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m not going to force you to talk to me. So, yes. You have choices.”
She tipped her head back and groaned. “Why do you have to be so nice?”
He licked his lips. “Because I’m a nice guy?”
“Well, stop it. It makes it hard for me to tell you to take a hike.”
“I’m pretty sure I got that message loud and clear a month ago. You did it fine without words. I’m not going to ask you out again. I have a shred of pride left,” he joked. At least he hoped it sounded lighthearted. “But I’m worried about you. You seem…distracted. I suspect something happened to you a month ago.”
She lowered her gaze to his. “Are you psychic or something?”
He shrugged. “No, but I don’t think you’re the sort of person who usually drops someone like a hot potato without a word. I also know that the woman I dated for two weeks was not the same woman I saw tonight. You’re stressed about something. Your smile isn’t broad enough. You’re tense and fidgety.”
“Maybe I was nervous about seeing you,” she pointed out.
“Oh, I have no doubt.” Silence filled the air for several seconds before Deacon added in a soft voice, “Talk to me, Rae.”
She offered him a slow smile. “You’re the only person I’ve ever let call me Rae.”
“Does it bother you?”
“No. I like it.” She dropped her head back again, staring at the ceiling. Seconds ticked by while he waited. “It’s like a pandora’s box, Deacon. I don’t want to open it.”
“That sounds incredibly lonely.” His chest tightened. At least he wasn’t wrong. Something was not right in her world. “Have you told anyone else?”
She shook her head.
“Then you need a friend.”
She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Maybe I just need to leave it all in the box where it’s nice and tidy.”
“Except there’s a hole in the corner of the box, and you’re running out of tape to patch it,” he hedged.
She lowered her gaze again. A tear slid down her cheek as she nodded.
Deacon turned around to grab the box of tissues off the end table and