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there. Slowly, she inched backward, away from the room, away from him.
    She’s bolting! His heart plummeted to his knees.

 
     
     

Chapter 7
     
     
    The last hour had stretched unbearably. Jewel kept her eyes closed as Devon drove down the highway, skillfully maneuvering the sports car at a high speed.
    The small intimate interior of the Corvette pulsed with tension. The mixture of his clean fresh scent and the buttery leather seat cradling her crowded her senses.
    The feel of his occasional heated glances stirred a combination of desire and anticipation. But a part of her feared the expected confrontation. It was only a matter of time before he questioned her.
    Clasping her hands in her lap, aware of the gold band circling her finger, she prayed for the right answers. Will he understand my actions, my reasons? No, I hurt him…again. His icy, standoffish demeanor since their encounter in the house proved telling. The impersonal peck on her cheek spoke volumes. But it had been the wounded look in his gaze that twisted her heart and made her berate herself for being such a fool. If I could only take it back.
    He downshifted, easing on the accelerator. Suddenly, his large, warm hand covered her clasped one. She jumped, opening her eyes and twisting to him.
    A rueful grin inched up a corner of his mouth, sending a swift rush of warmth clear to her toes. “Any more of that and you wouldn’t have any blood left in them.”
    Releasing her breath slowly, she shot him a weak smile. Jewel forced herself to relax, loosening her grip under the welcome weight of his hand.
    Withdrawing his touch, he said, “You’d think I was going to beat you or something.”
    Sadness strummed to life at the distance, at the awkwardness. “You’re not?”
    He jerked his head to her, obviously sensing her distress. “I’ve never hit a woman in my life. I don’t intend to start now.”
    “No matter how much I hurt you, right?”
    “I’ll heal.” The vow sounded hollow as it rattled around the small enclosure. He paused. “I should thank you for going through with it after all.”
    Robbed of speech, she searched his profile. He gave nothing away. Frowning, she said, “But, you had to come get me.”
    Shrugging stiffly, he said, “You just backed up a couple of inches.”
    “And nearly called the whole thing off.” She shuttered at the weak part of herself. “You didn’t say a word, didn’t force me or anything. All you did was hold out your hand…”
    “And you took it. Why?” The tightness in his voice gave a great deal away.
    Dragging in a deep, shaky breath, she turned her head to look out the passenger window. Guardrails and trees whizzed by in a blur. “Do you really want to know?”
    “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”
    Peeking at him over her shoulder, she said, “Sean.”
    He laughed, catching her by surprise. “Well, why do you think I went through with it? Listen, dollface, I don’t know about you but it certainly takes a heck of a lot longer to jump into marriage than one week.”
    Easing back into her seat, she marveled at this side of him, the Devon she’d known so long ago. Playing along, she pointed out, “If you remember correctly, it took us months to decide the first time.”
    “For our son’s sake I’m glad we did. At least he wasn’t born a bastard.”
    And that’s so important to you. “Nobody ever knew about our secret marriage except us, Devon.”
    A muscle twitched along his clenched jaw. “That’s all about to change.”
    Alarmed, she asked, “How so?”
    “The papers. I made sure the announcement explained that it was a renewal of vows and I added our original wedding date.” He shrugged stiffly. “Reverend Duffy and his wife will back it up and I’ve given Gil a copy of the first license.”
    “You think of everything.” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
    “I try.” His was equally laced with mockery. Blowing out a breath, he said, “It’s for Sean’s