Page 107 of Beautiful Secrets

“You are a good man. A kind man.” She searches my face again. “Any woman would be happy to have you.” A tiny shrug. “Even me.”

“Even you?” I cock my head at her.

She looks away. But she doesn’t let go of my hand.

I grip her tighter, willing her to look at me, but she keeps her eyes downcast.

Giving me time to think. To consider what she’s telling me. Because she knows I’ll try and joke my way out of this. That’s how I handle everything, isn’t it?—I shove it away or, if that’s not possible, then I laugh it off.

It’s worked for me so far, hasn’t it?

Because Mika can say what she wants, I’m no fucking wolf. Yeah, I’m on medication, and that keeps me tame…but there’s always a chance the measly little chain holding me back will snap.

And then what?

Thenfucking what?

People could get hurt.

Mika.

My Mika could get hurt.

And I’d only have myself to blame.

But sitting here in this warm, dusty little room—her fingers locked with mine—it’s just a little easier to pretend that I’m not a violent, psychotic man.

But I’d still be pretending.

Wouldn’t I?

Fuck.

I pull my hand away and grab a cup of tea with it like some kind of excuse. I hand it over to Mika, but she grabs my wrist instead of the warm mug.

“Christ, woman,” I mutter.

“What if things were different?” she asks quietly. “If I was not a Vasiliev?”

“And what? If I wasn’t a Hendry?” I peel her fingers off my wrist and push the cup into her grasping hand. “Then we’d never have met, and none of this shit would even matter.”

“Exactly.”

I frown at her.

“None of thisshitmatters.”

I laugh. “Except it does, little rabbit.” When she reaches for me with her other hand, I put a fucking biscuit in it. “It always will.”

When I finally make eye contact with her again, her pain spears right the fuck through me. She opens her mouth, but I don’t give her a chance to speak.

“Who is he?” I look at her belly, back up into her eyes.

She stiffens. “He…he is a bear.” Her voice drops. “That is how I know you are not one.”

“Why won’t you tell me?”

“Because it is none of your business.” She sits up straight and takes a quick sip of her tea. “You refuse to make it your business.”