That was going to break Carmen’s heart. «Did Kat include that in the paperwork?»
«Nope. I figured you could decide which parts to tell her.»
«She suspects already.» Alec sat back and scrubbed a hand over his face. «Suspecting isn’t the same as knowing, is it?»
«Not about something like this, it isn’t.»
He’d pushed her away because she wasn’t safe in his world. It had seemed stupid enough during the lonely nights he’d spent wishing she was in his bed. It seemed even stupider now, with proof in front of him in black and white — Carmen wasn’t safe in her own world, and it had nothing to do with him. She’d be in danger whether she was with him or not.
Hell, she’d be a whole lot safer with him. «I’m an idiot, aren’t I?»
«Yes,» Jackson replied instantly. «What are we talking about, specifically?»
Alec made a particularly rude gesture and earned himself a glare from the woman polishing the bar. «Acting like Carmen getting tangled up with me is more dangerous than the shit her family’s dragging her through. I blew her off like an asshole.»
«Oh, that. Yeah, you did.» The waitress delivered another round, and Jackson thanked her with a smile. «Good news is, there’s probably still time to fix it.»
«Yeah, these files will make a great peace offering. ‘Hi, honey. Your dad tried to kill you and your uncle’s a spineless coward. Wanna screw?»
His partner spewed beer all over the table. «And here I thought you were smoother than that.»
He was, usually, but Carmen scrambled his brain. She made the world blurry, like the mating urge was trying to take hold even though she wasn’t a wolf. Maybe the urge had been driving him the whole time, tying him in knots that nothing would ever undo. Making him dumb.
Only one way to find out. «I’ll polish my charm.»
«Good. I’m still putting out feelers about the witch but, like as not, we won’t hear a peep.»
«Dead ends and stonewalling. Business as usual.» Alec finished his beer and shoved the bottle away. «Anything else I need to know? Plagues? Rain of toads?»
«Nah, pestilence must have taken the week off.»
«Smartass. Just for that, you get to deal with Kat and her cousin. Keep Derek from storming the town and stirring up shit, would you?»
Jackson grinned. «You underestimate me.»
«Let’s hope.»
«Mm-hmm.» His partner slid the papers back into the satchel and handed it over to him. «In case Dr. Mendoza wants to see it for herself. I’m going to give Kat a ride and head home.»
«Sounds good.» Now all he had to do was learn how to grovel.
Chapter Ten
Carmen had just finished showering and dressing and was considering the Chinese takeout menu in her hand when the doorbell rang.
She peered through the window by the door, and her heart jumped. Alec stood on the porch, a leather folder in one hand. He was simply but neatly dressed in jeans and a black button-down shirt, and she looked down at her own clothes. Cotton lounge pants and a tank top had seemed fine for an evening in, but not with company.
Especially company that had fucked up and should now eat its heart out.
She opened the door, but held the edge instead of inviting him in. «Alec.»
He didn’t even greet her. «I’m sorry. I’m a jackass, and I’m sorry.»
Franklin must have put him up to apologizing. «I said I understood, and I do.» She raised both eyebrows. «Is there something else?»
Alec closed his fingers around the edge of the door, as if he was afraid she might jerk it shut. «You can’t possibly understand. I don’t even understand.»
Looking at him hurt, so much more when he looked at her that earnestly. «I don’t know what you want me to say. I forgive you? Just…go away, all right?»
«I can’t.» Uncertainty crept over her — his emotions, tinged with something almost like fear. «It was supposed to be clearer without you, but it’s not. Just hurts more.»
Part of her wanted to slam the door and retreat to a place where he couldn’t wound her again. «I can’t do this, Alec. What happens in another week or two when you decide that yes, you were right, your life is too dangerous for me?»
«You’re not Heidi.» His fingers tightened on the door until the wood creaked. «I could have walked away and kept her safe, but I’m so fucking self-involved I never realized that none of this shit came to your door because of me. I didn’t put you in danger, but I can protect you. Let me protect you.»
Had he really thought he was at fault? «My family’s been interfering with my life and my happiness for years. It’s not you.»
«I know that now.» He held up his other hand, revealing a portfolio. «Jackson rubbed the proof in my face. Sometimes I’m stuck in my ways. I need to have the truth smacked into me.»
She swung the door open and let him in. «I don’t understand.»
Relief flooded the room. Flooded his face. He stepped past her, his shoulder brushing her arm. «Kat figured out who paid for the house where the witch brought you.»
She opened her mouth to ask him to explain, but a flash of memory slammed into her, stealing her breath. She’d talked to her father the day of her kidnapping, had stood in the too-warm spring sunlight and argued with him.
We’re not talking about political alliances, Dad. We’re talking about the rest of my life, and I’m not for sale.
I’m sorry to hear you say that, honey.
The sadness in his voice had held a finality that made her hair stand on end. And something else he’d said had been enough to scare the hell out of her. Enough to make her call Julio.
I have to go now, but I’ll see you soon.
«It wasn’t Cesar,» she whispered hoarsely. «He didn’t know what Julio was talking about because he had no idea.»
«Your father rented the house six months ago.»
My father. Call — call my father. Please.
Where do you think we’re taking you?
Her knees wobbled, and Alec caught her with one arm. He pushed the door shut and twisted the lock, then swung her up into his arms and carried her to the couch. «Carmen? Stay with me.»
The exact words she’d wanted from him before, and the circumstances under which they came now made her laugh. It came out sounding hysterical, so she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. «Franklin said it. This has been the week from hell.»
«Yeah, it has.» He settled with her in his lap, one hand rubbing between her shoulder blades. «And I haven’t made it any easier on you by being an asshole and a coward.»
«Shut up.» She’d had the week from hell, all right, and being in his arms had been one of the few bright spots in it. «I don’t want to hear about how stupid you were. Just tell me you’re not going to do it again.»
«I’m not going to do it again.» It held the ring of truth, but regret still lingered. His fingers spread wide on her back as he sighed. «I don’t want to lay anything else on you…but there’s something else you need to know. About your uncle, and what he’s been up to.»
«Uh-huh.» It had to be more important than kissing the side of Alec’s neck, but that was what she found herself doing.
«Christ, Carmen.» His knuckles brushed her neck, and his fingers slid into her hair. «How are you feeling? Magical crap mostly gone?»
Her body responded too quickly to his touch, and she didn’t care. She’d been hungry for him before; now, she was starving. «I feel better,» she answered breathlessly. «Good.»
His eyes sparked with an interest echoed in the subtle shift of his emotions. «Good’s good.»
There was nothing between them this time, no reason to turn and walk away. Carmen took his other hand, folding both of hers around it. «This is going to sound» No, she wouldn’t apologize, and it couldn’t be ridiculous, not with him looking at her like that. «I missed you.»