What the Heart Takes

  Hell no. He needed to talk about this. Now. “I saw the drumsticks, Layne. Tell me what happened. Heaven and I deserve to know.”

  Dropping his shoulders, Layne made his way to the last step. He leaned against the rail, sweeping at the sand with his foot. “I had them out before I went to bed, tapping them against a rum bottle, and a glass, and even the bed. I miss playing.”

  “So what did you do, get pissed and set them on fire?”

  “No.” He tapped his finger against the rail, as though he heard a rhythm in his head. Then he stilled his hand. “I fell asleep with them in my hand.”

  “What did you do, replace your childhood blanket with a set of drumsticks?” Dylan all but snorted the question. It gained him a set of angry eyes.

  “No, smartass, I use them when I’m frustrated. It helps me clear my head when I can bang something.”

  “Or someone.”

  The words slipped out before Dylan could stop them. Hell, he didn’t want to stop them. Nothing he said could hurt Layne the way his friend wounded him. And nothing Layne said or did would make a difference. Not anytime soon. Not without a miracle.

  He waited for a comeback, but none ever came. The horizon held Layne’s attention as he stood at the edge of the sand.

  “So if you fell asleep with them in your hand, how did they catch fire?”

  “You tell me. All I know is that I woke from the dream, fighting to take a breath. Before I had time to realize what was happening, I noticed the sticks were on fire, as was my comforter and clothes.”

  A repeat performance of Layne’s earlier entrance tore through Dylan’s mind. He gritted his teeth from the same anger pumping through his fist. “Yeah, speaking of that.” He shifted his weight against the top step while glaring at his friend. “If you ever expose yourself to my wife again, I will kick your ass. You won’t get a warning and I will not show mercy.”

  The arrogant smile returned to Layne’s face. “What’s wrong, bro? Don’t you have faith in your soulmate, or are you afraid you don’t stack up to me?”

  Dylan descended the steps in haste. He didn’t care about sand or sounds, just controlling the need to punch Layne in the face.

  “I know how much my wife loves me. She is more than satisfied physically. Not just because I exceed her expectations. I satisfy her soul. That’s one thing you could never do, even if you had a chance.”

  The smile kinking Layne’s mouth fell. It didn’t take long for his brows to fold, or the hardness to reenter his eyes. It was in that brief moment that Dylan gained what he wanted—the satisfaction of getting under Layne’s skin.

  “Whatever.”

  Layne mumbled the word to himself. He turned around and faced the deck, but Dylan refused to back down. He grabbed his shoulder, pulling it until Layne looked at him.

  “Don’t whatever me. You made her uncomfortable tonight. Don’t do it again.”

  Layne chuckled under his breath as he nodded his head. His eyes landed on Dylan’s shoulder a second later. “Are we done?”

  “We will be, after you finish explaining what happened to your room.”

  “I put the fires out, opened the window to filter the smoke, and came out here to clear my head. I may have been here five minutes when I felt something pulling me back inside.” He stole a glance toward the cottage before he released a sigh. “I was returning to get my clothes when I found you both in my room talking about me. It was just as embarrassing for me as it was for her.”

  “Yeah, I could tell by your beast comment.”

  Layne flung his hands in the air. They slapped against his sides once they fell. “Look, I’ve apologized time and again for my mistakes. I don’t know what else to say, Dylan. This isn’t easy for any of us.”

  He looked as though he expected Dylan to say something, which made Dylan press his lips tighter. If his friend wanted forgiveness, tough shit. He wasn’t in the forgiving mood.

  When Layne finally turned to walk away, Dylan followed. Guilt ate at part of him for being such a dick, but pride kept him silent. The sooner Layne realized where he factored into this trio, the easier things would be for all of them.

  Just as Layne reached the door, he came to a stop. He sputtered something that sounded like a laugh then turned around and glared at Dylan. “You know what? You’re a self-righteous asshole. You give me hell for keeping secrets and stressing Heaven with my behavior. What about your secrets, Dylan? What about your behavior?”

  Nothing more was said. A brief exchange of angry eyes ended the conversation. The door closed behind Layne a moment later.

  Frustration sparked within Dylan’s soul as he watched him head toward his room. Heaven had to be feeling it too. Unless…

  He waited to see if she’d send him a comforting pulse of energy, but nothing ever came. Perfect. The baby was blocking them again, at least on his end. Hopefully Heaven was being blocked, too, which would be a blessing for a change.

  Rubbing his shoulder, he released a sigh, cursing himself for stooping to this level. He needed to get over his anger with Layne. More than that, he had to get over it. Anything less would make things worse on Heaven. As if she didn’t have enough to deal with.

  Yet each time he tried to forget what happened, he’d see the way Layne looked at her. Knowing they shared a connection proved too much. He didn’t want her connected to anyone but him, regardless of the person’s role in her life. Having his closest friend fill this role…

  He dug his fingers into the rail, fighting against the thought of Layne kissing Heaven. Where had it happened? How long did it last? Did he hold her in his arms when he did it?

  Layne could deny it all he wanted. He was in love with her, temporarily or not. Heaven sensed something as well. She’d all but confirmed it before they went to check on him.

  The storm brewing in Dylan’s heart continued to churn, just like the one heading toward the shore. He tempered his anger as best he could so that Heaven wouldn’t sense—

  Shit. Too late for that. The connection between them buzzed to life, filling him with a surge of disappointment. Her disappointment. It proved what he’d feared all along.

  He’d screwed shit up, again.

  * * *

  A rumble of thunder echoed in the distance as Dylan stood in the entrance of the cottage. He moved his eyes toward Layne’s door, debating on whether to leave him be or demand he turn down the music. Muffled beats resonated from his friend’s bedroom, which didn’t surprise Dylan in the least. Layne always turned to music when something bothered him. They both did. Making the music helped more than listening, but either one served its purpose.

  Deciding to give him space, Dylan moved through the living room. He ignored the sound, as well as his friend, hoping the former would soothe the latter. He rounded the corner, continuing up the hallway that led to his and Heaven’s room. Each step increased the strength of their bond, even though the pulse within beat unsteadily.

  He still didn’t understand how their child managed to block their connection or why it worked part of the time. His mom sure as hell didn’t give him enough information before he and Heaven left. She’d only provided them with a cryptic message.

  The baby is going into survival mode. I’m not sure how or why. All I know is that your child wants to protect its mother.

  His eyes darted to the door when he grew closer. It stood open, giving him a perfect view of the mirror on the dresser. The reflection within didn’t ease his mind. It gripped his heart, making the tightness in his chest worsen.

  Heaven hadn’t acknowledged his presence. She continued folding clothes before shoving them into a suitcase—his to be precise. Chestnut spirals swept across her back with every accentuated movement.

  Anyone could see the urgency in her body language, but Dylan knew it was more than that. Each erratic thump beating from her soul confirmed what he already knew. She’d sensed the argument between him and Layne.

  No matter how hard he tried not to, he kept letting her
down. Even when he was doing the right thing, his sole motivator behind tonight’s confrontation. Protecting her, her honor, and their child. Yet he slipped up, allowed his vengeance to get in the way instead of putting her first. He didn’t deserve to be with her, and he sure as hell didn’t deserve her love.

  “If you’re finished sulking, could you please start carrying stuff to the Jeep?”

  He tried to gauge her emotions, but nothing more than a hum continued between them. Why did the baby want to block them every time he upset her?

  …Your child wants to protect its mother.

  Ah hell…

  After all these months of guessing what those words meant, they finally made sense. The baby was trying to protect Heaven from everyone, including him, as best as a tiny soul could protect. It explained the erratic pattern of his and Heaven’s connection. Their child wasn’t strong enough to completely block them. Inexperience factored in too, kind of like Layne’s inexperience with his abilities. The way he struggled to learn them. His struggle and the baby’s struggle were one and the same, because the baby would have abilities too.

  “Shit…”

  He mumbled the words low enough so that Heaven wouldn’t hear them. Not that she would have anyway. Each time she shoved an item in the suitcase, the zipper jingled and clothes thumped together.

  He closed the door behind him and moved into the room, feeling the cool floor against his feet. How could he not have known that their child would have abilities? He did. Heaven did. Their parents… Yeah. There was a pattern. So what type of ability did the baby have?

  Slowing his pace, he came to a stop behind Heaven when another ripple of energy wavered around him. One that stole his breath—her anger.

  “Heaven…” The word was a whisper he barely heard himself. So had she. Her hands stilled atop the suitcase. “I’m sorry. For all of it.” He took another step, waiting for her to turn. She never did, even when the heat of their bodies melded. “I tried to stay calm. I tried really hard because I didn’t want you to feel any of it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to pack and get out of here. I’m ready to go home.”

  He hated the quiver in her voice. Hated the way it pulled his soul apart. Most of all, he hated knowing he was the reason for their pain.

  Without saying a word, he trailed his fingers up her arm, savoring the warmth of her skin. She dropped her head, slumping her shoulders before he tugged on one. She hesitated after the second tug, but gave in on the third. When she fully faced him, his chest constricted.

  The light above shimmered across her face, revealing the moist trail that led from her eyes to her cheeks. Those golden gems he wanted to gaze inside remained hidden underneath her lids.

  Swiping at a tear, he moved his other hand to the small of her back, pulling her closer. Her tiny belly would only allow them a certain level of closeness, both physically and emotionally. He sent her a comforting vibe, but it didn’t help. The ache in her heart increased, as did his.

  “Please, don’t cry.”

  Curls danced about her face with each shake of her head. “I can’t believe…” She paused when he tucked a stray lock behind her ear. Then her lips trembled. They parted a second later, as did her eyelids. “Did you really have to go there?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Another stream of tears slid down her face. “The kiss.”

  He fought to keep his eyes from stinging, but her words seized his heart, squeezing it like a vise. “I—I’m sorry.”

  She left his apology hanging as she pulled away and stepped around the bed. “If you really want to know, it happened in the living room, near the window by the rose bushes. I can’t tell you how long it lasted, not because I don’t want to tell you. I honestly don’t know. Most of it’s a blur now.”

  “Please, stop.”

  She ignored his pleas as if she hadn’t heard a word he spoke. Or maybe she had. Maybe she wanted him to feel all the hurt he’d pushed over to her. If that was her purpose, she’d succeeded. Each word she uttered ripped him apart.

  He had no one to blame but himself. It was his thoughts she threw in his face. His thoughts, his assumptions, his… Wait a second…

  Heaven didn’t give him time to finish the thought. Her voice rang through the air, again, increasing the ache in his heart. “Layne didn’t hold me in his arms. He had me pressed to the wall. I was literally pinned there, chest to chest with him. And not a bit of it made a difference to me. Because he wasn’t you.”

  What the hell? Mind reading wasn’t one of her abilities, yet she answered every question that rolled through his mind. Why hadn’t the baby protected her from that? “How did you know I was thinking about those things?”

  Forcing a laugh from her throat, she made her way to the closet, pulling the last of his clothes from the hangers. She held them to her chest as she turned back in his direction, but she didn’t look at him, even when she finally answered, “I felt it in you.”

  Each word she uttered rocked him to the core. He was an idiot. Plain and simple. How could he keep hurting the one person he couldn’t live without?

  “You have every right to be angry with me. I told you I’m a jealous jerk.”

  “Your jealousy isn’t the problem. It’s the fact that I tried to tell you everything, but you didn’t want to hear it. You said that none of it mattered. You lied to me.”

  “I screwed up. I know that. I just…” The rest of the thought went out the door when he noticed his clothes fall to the ground. Heaven stumbled against the bed, cradling her belly. Her face wrinkled as she struggled for a breath.

  He didn’t waste any time kneeling in front of her or pressing his hands near hers. “Take a deep breath.”

  “I’m fine,” she grumbled, gritting her teeth.

  “No, you’re not,” he shot back, feeling the hardness in her stomach. “You’re having another contraction, Heaven. You have to calm down.” He pressed his lips against the space between his hand and hers, and then met her eyes again. “Please.”

  She parted her lips with a response, but the bedroom door gained her attention, or rather, the way it shook inside its frame. A round of knocks echoed through the room, followed by a voice.

  “Is everything okay?”

  Just the sound of Layne’s voice sent an irritable prickle across Dylan’s skin. He cleared his voice, shouting back, “Everything is fine.”

  He listened for Layne’s footsteps to disappear down the hall, but no sounds filled the house. Maybe his friend decided to eavesdrop on their conversation. And just as Dylan decided he didn’t care, he heard Layne’s voice once more.

  “Are you okay, Heaven?”

  Either Layne was deliberately trying to piss him off, or his friend had finally accepted his advice—start putting Heaven first. He gazed up at her, worried that she’d push him away and go talk to Layne, but she didn’t. Her eyes remained locked with his as she caressed his face.

  “I’m fine, Layne. Give us a few more minutes. We’ll load our bags when we’re finished.”

  Silence reclaimed the room. Then footsteps echoed from the hall, signaling them to Layne’s departure. It was hard to concentrate on anything with the way she kept staring in his eyes, reading his soul. He pushed deep pulses of love toward her, but the ones she pushed back gave him a spark of hope.

  “How am I supposed to stay calm when you and Layne are at each other’s throats?”

  “Because our baby needs you to. The doctor said you have to keep your blood pressure down. He seemed worried that you might have that clampsy thingy.”

  The look on her face was priceless. The crease above her nose…one raised brow…half a smile on her beautiful lips. He felt his face heating under her stare because he knew he sounded like an idiot. She knew it too.

  “Clampsy thingy?” she chuckled. “Do you mean preeclampsia?”

  “Yeah… That’s what I said.” He tried to hide the smile teasing his mouth, but her laught
er drew it out, anyway. “What?”

  She shook her head before leaning forward and pressing it against his. “You drive me crazy. You know that? One minute you have me so angry, and then the next, I’m laughing. How do you do that?”

  “It’s a secret.”

  The smile that formed on her lips fell as quickly as her eyes. Her breath beat against his cheek when she released a sigh. “Everyone and their secrets. My whole life is built on secrets.”

  She tried to pull away, but he pressed his hands to the sides of her face and stared in her eyes. “I’m sorry for being such an ass. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the baby.”

  “I don’t understand how you can sense…him? Her? I don’t even know how to refer to the baby. Maybe you should just tell me so I’ll know.”

  He did his best to keep a straight face because deep down he knew how frustrated she felt. Telling her was tempting, and for that reason, he wanted to laugh but didn’t. “You don’t mean that, Heaven. I know how much you want to be surprised. So we’ll use a temporary name. How about…Mac, for McBride?”

  She shrugged her shoulders, letting them slump. “It sounds boyish. Is this your way of hinting that it’s a boy?”

  His laughter couldn’t be contained this time. It roared from his chest, causing her to do the same. The sound of her laughter did more than make him smile. It eased the tension burning through his body. He caressed her belly once more, feeling a twinge of relief when he noticed the hardness had faded. “It’s not boyish. A lot of Mackenzie’s get nicknamed Mac.”

  She rolled her eyes this time, but a chuckle shook her chest. He cherished the sound, cherished the fact that she loved him despite his flaws. God knows he had his share, but the twinkle in her eyes said she didn’t care.

  He knew her anger had dissipated, but something still upset her. The way she chewed on her lower lip said as much. He couldn’t leave this room until he knew that everything between them was good.

  “What else is on your mind? I sense something bothering you.”

  Her eyes swept the room before darting to the door. “It’s not just you that upset me tonight. Layne did too. He’s hiding something.”