“Hi. Everything okay?” she asked, gesturing to the phone he still held in his hand.

He nodded. “Avery is pregnant. My half sister,” he explained, a smile on his face.

“That’s great news!” Faith lowered herself to the bed, sitting beside him.

“It is.” Another Dare baby. More people to add to those he loved and worried about, he thought. “What’s doing with my mom?”

“She turned in for the night. I think the long day finally caught up with her.”

He nodded. “Did she mention my father?”

Faith shook her head. “I got the distinct impression she didn’t want to go there. We talked about other things. I like her.” She studied him intently, her brows furrowed over narrowed eyes. “What’s wrong?”

She was exceptionally good at reading him, he thought. But he wasn’t up for an emotional conversation tonight. Especially when he had no idea what he wanted to reveal about his feelings.

“I’m just tired. I think I’ll take a shower and turn in early, too,” he said.

She flinched at his brusque tone. But for a man used to living alone, to thriving on being by himself, he found himself suddenly surrounded by women. By emotions. Theirs as well as his. And though he wanted to lose himself in her body, he was afraid that meant losing his heart as well. And he wasn’t ready to face that truth. Not now.

And maybe not ever.

Chapter Eight

Jason finished his cup of coffee and glanced at the two women looking at him expectantly. He turned to his mother first. “I’m going to drop you off at Sienna’s on my way to work.” He’d been neglecting his duties, and one of the things he’d decided while tossing and turning last night was that it was time for him to get back to normal. To do his job while protecting Faith at the same time.

The new arrangement would also allow him to get his bearings and his emotions back on an even keel. They’d been together twenty-four seven, and it was messing with what he knew he both wanted and needed in his life.

He met Faith’s curious gaze, and he knew she was going to be hurt by what he said next. Gritting his teeth, he dove in. “I called Jack Renault, and he’s going to pick you up and escort you to work today. He’ll be on bodyguard duty, so you have nothing to worry about.”

He’d caught her, mug halfway to her mouth. She slowly lowered it and nodded. She met his gaze, to her credit, not looking away as he severed the routine they’d been in for the last few weeks with no explanation.

“Okay.” She straightened her shoulders, clearly holding back whatever she was feeling. “What time will he be here?”

“Thirty minutes.”

She nodded. “I’m going to finish getting ready.” She placed the mug into the sink, and without another word, she turned and walked away.

Jason exhaled, watching her go.