Read Online To Have and to Hold by Nalini Singh - Free Book Online

“Okay.”
    She could almost feel her husband’s eyes on her as she covered the distance to Damon. That merely made her more determined. She had no intention of reenacting this morning’s mistake, but if Gabe thought she was going to come to heel like one of the station dogs, he had another think coming.
    Then Damon threw his arms around her.
    She’d had more than enough of male stupidity. “Let me go right this instant.” This little display would likely both worsen things in her own marriage and cause Kayla considerable pain. Jess couldn’t understand Damon’s behavior—the boy she’d grown up with had never been vindictive or malicious.
    He released her but she knew the damage had been done. “Can’t I hug my best friend now?”
    Well aware that his act had brought all eyes on them, she lowered her voice. “Don’t play games. Kayla—”
    â€œNo, Jess. I don’t want to talk about her.” The stubborn set of his jaw was intimately familiar.
    â€œWhy not?” she pushed. “You always told me everything.” Even his joy at first realizing he loved Kayla. “How could you do this, Damon? She’s pregnant.” Seeing Kayla had made at least one thing certain in Jess’s mind—no matter what else, Damon had taken vows. He’d made promises. And Jess believed in keeping promises. Even if they hurt. Even if you changed your mind.
    â€œWould it have been better if I’d stayed with her when I don’t love her anymore?” he snapped, unknowingly rejecting the principles by which she lived her life. “I’m giving her our place and I’m going to support her and the baby, too, so don’t make me into some kind of bad guy!” His voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “Don’t be like the rest of them and judge me without knowing the facts. Not you too, Jess.”
    She thrust a hand through her hair, her mind going in a hundred different directions. Part of her despised Damon for what he’d done, and that was the one thing she couldn’t have predicted. However, another part of her admired him for being true to his heart. Was she really making the better choice by remaining locked in a loveless marriage? “But—”
    â€œI told you I love you ,” he interrupted, raising a hand as if to put it on her cheek. “I was just too stupid to realize it before.”
    Jess didn’t know how she knew that Gabe had walked up behind her. She was praying her instincts were wrong when a muscled arm slid around her waist. All the blood left her face. “Gabe,” she said, wanting to head off a confrontation.
    â€œBe quiet, Jess.” The order was so low she barely caught it, but the anger behind it made her want to shiver. “I told you to stay away from my wife.”
    â€œIt’s a free country.”
    â€œ Damon .” Jess shook her head at the younger man. After a taut second that threatened to end in violence, he gave a shrug and walked off to join the Johnson girls.
    â€œLook at me and smile.” It was a command she normally would have resisted but she had a feeling she’d already pushed Gabe to the limit.
    Turning, she put a hand on his upper arm and looked up. “Whatever you think you heard, it wasn’t what you thought.”
    He bent down to whisper in her ear and she knew it was a move calculated to give the impression of their being a loving couple. “Yeah? I thought I heard another man professing his love for you.”
    She felt her spine lock as he confirmed the worst-case scenario.
    â€œNothing to say?” He dropped a kiss on her cheek as he lifted his head.
    â€œDon’t—”
    â€œWe’ll discuss it at home.”
    * * *
    The night drive back to Angel was the worst of her life. Gabe didn’t say a word and she knew it would be futile to try to make him talk when he’d decided otherwise. Even once they