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“Running from me, Aurora? Really?” His tone is light and teasing, with no trace of agitation.
He’s in his usual designer jeans, loosely laced motorcycle boots, and black Henley, his hair perfectly tousled as always…but he’s different.
The change in his demeanor is staggering. His features are brighter. The dark circles under his eyes and the angry scowl are gone, and his devilish gaze holds a spark of life again.
My foolish brain conjures memories of him from the early stages of our relationship, and I know I need to get away or risk being sucked back into his orbit.
Worse than bumping into an irate Jackson is being blinded by a charming Jackson.
But I can’t force myself from him. He’s so close, close enough for me to feel the hum resonating between us.
He flashes a smug smirk, and his face beams with amusement. “You look good, too.”
I roll my eyes, too tongue-tied to formulate words. Fortunately, my floor is announced overhead, and a strong sense of relief washes over me, making me almost giddy.
“Sorry, that’s me.” A teasing smile plays across my lips, and I break free from his trance, eager to put some physical distance between us.
A large man blocking the front of the elevator turns to let me sneak by. With nowhere to go, he knocks into me. My protective instincts surge, my arm extends to shield my stomach, and I stumble backward…right into Jackson.
Wide eyes meet mine, guilt sears my face, and as predicted, his stunned expression twists into seething anger.
All too familiar with his fits of rage, I scramble forward, bumping into the same person again.
Jackson’s arm encircles my shoulders from behind, and he shoves the poor man who barely touched me. “Get the fuck out of the way!”
The guy stammers an apology, and people raise their phones.
That fist around my heart constricts, and terror grips me, my head spinning with dizziness. “Jax, please stop.”
Gray walls and greedy faces blur, and my mind races with fearful thoughts.
Jackson assumes this baby is his, and he’s furious I’ve kept this from him. He’ll demand a paternity test and scream accusations at me. I can only imagine the horror he’ll unleash when I tell him the babyisn’this.
It’ll go viral.
This is the worst possible outcome.
The air ceases in my lungs, and I drown in panic.
“Jax.” My voice is sluggish.I’msluggish.
Dark green eyes stare into mine. His lips are moving, but I can’t hear the words.
My thoughts spiral, and my heart hammers. My clammy skin burns, and nausea curdles in my stomach. My legs grow weak, and I grip Jackson’s shirt in a desperate bid to stay upright.
The world lurches sideways, and my vision distorts. A murmur of voices swirls around me, undistinguishable through the fog.
I become weightless and close my heavy eyes.
“Breathe, baby.”
A ragged inhale.
The enticing scent of familiar cologne.
A rapid heartbeat against my ear.
Blissful darkness.