Page 16 of Desperate Temptations

C ain watched Jessa unlock her front door before he led her over the threshold. He could tell she was exhausted, and he didn’t know how much longer she would be able to stay on her feet. She set her purse and briefcase down and stood, looking around in a daze.

Cain stood beside her and scrutinized her carefully. He wanted her to eat and then sleep. He was going to make sure she got what she needed, no matter how hard she fought him.

“I’ll look around your kitchen and make us a quick dinner. I want you to go and change into something comfortable.”

She shook her head, clearly uncomfortable with him in her house.

“Let me at least help.”

He went to her, grasped her shoulders, and bent so he could see her face. Her beautiful green eyes were dull with fatigue, and dark circles under her eyes made her look older than she was.

“No, Jessa, you won’t help. You’ll do what I say, or I’ll come in and help you change,” he said gently, ignoring her look of shock. Cain’s hands traveled up and down her arms in a soothing rhythm. “You look ready to fall over. When you’ve changed, come out and eat, and then we’ll talk. Okay?”

She finally nodded, turned, and walked away.

Cain watched her go, disturbed. She looked ready to drop.

He didn’t know what had happened this week, but he was determined to find out.

He rummaged through her cabinets and refrigerator and decided on a vegetable-and-cheese omelet and toast. Simple and quick.

Within thirty minutes, she walked into the kitchen as he was setting the plates of food on the table. He placed a glass of wine by her plate and grabbed a beer for himself. He watched her drop into the chair and stare at her plate, her face a blank slate.

“Start eating, Jessa.” He’d feed her if he had to, but relaxed when she picked up her fork.

Jessa took a small bite and hummed in pleasure, keeping her eyes on her plate. “This is really good.”

Cain smiled and took a bite of his own.

He kept glancing at her. She looked so young sitting there in sweats and a college t-shirt, with no make-up and her messy hair down around her shoulders.

Every time he’d seen her, whether she was tired, happy, sad, or angry, she was the most beautiful woman in the world to him, and that would never change.