A sad smile touched the corner of Donovan's mouth. "No."

"Whatever this is that's got you worried...will it hurt Jack?"

"Yes," she barely managed an answer.

"Did you do whatever it is on purpose with the express reason of hurting my son?"

"No," she whispered. "No I didn't. I don't even remember...I can't..." But she couldn't go on because those d.a.m.n stupid tears spilled over and Eden wrapped her in her arms, making it worse. She began to sob.

Eden comforted Donovan in a way her mother had never understood. It was about touch and feel, and it was about silence. Acceptance. After a few moments Eden gave her a gentle hug.

"It's time for you to face all your demons, because if you're going to survive this family and all that entails, you need to be stronger. If you're going to truly be worthy of my son, who I don't mind saying is one h.e.l.l of a man, you'll have to tell him the truth about whatever it is you think could hurt him. You owe him at least that."

She was right. Of course, she was right. Maverick had said the same thing when she'd finally let everything out earlier this morning.

Donovan wiped her arm across her face and blew out a long breath. "I know I wasn't who you envisioned for your son."

"No, you weren't." Eden said softly. "You were a whole lot wild and more than a little bit crazy. And the fights, oh the fights. The two of you were so pa.s.sionate about everything, and I don't recall a single family dinner you attended that didn't end in some sort of a disagreement. I can't lie, it worried me. You were both young and volatile and opinionated and headstrong. Everyone thinks Jack is the well-behaved Simon. What a crock. Cooper's got nothing on him."

Eden shrugged, her eyes kind. "The thing is, the past is the past and should stay there but when it rears its ugly head, you have to fight it head on. I feel that Jack is just what you need, and I think that Jack would be lost without you. He's been drifting for five years, and it's time for him to stay put. To put down some roots and give me some grandchildren."

Donovan's eyes slid away, and she felt her face burn. Was it possible that Eden knew? Had Maverick somehow spilled the beans?

"Noah has arranged for security so you don't have to be concerned about the paparazzi, at least for a little while. Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are a squirrely bunch, so I'm sure they'll find a way to get their photos. We're leaving for Bala. Dinner with some friends. You and Jack have some things to work out. Tell Maverick to get lost and get it done."

Eden moved toward the door, but paused before leaving the room. "I'm on your side Donovan, and not just because Jack is, but because I can see how much you love my son. I don't believe that love is always enough, and I can't guarantee a happily ever after, but I sure as h.e.l.l can pray for it."

That was good to know.

Donovan was going to need a boatload of prayers.

Chapter Twenty-Seven.

Jack closed the California shutters on the windows facing the lake. He couldn't believe the press was out there in such huge numbers already. h.e.l.l, with all the s.h.i.t going on in the world, you'd think that there were more important things to report on than Jack Simon and Donovan James. Christ he'd even spotted the CNN logo on one of the boats. b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.

"It's going to get bat s.h.i.t crazy, you know that right?"

Jack turned as his cousin Maverick walked in from outside.

"Mom and Dad head out?" he asked.

Maverick nodded and glanced around. "Where's Donovan?"

Good question. His lady had been real quiet, and he was starting to get more than a little concerned. A lot had happened over the last several days, and it was gonna take some time for the both of them to wrap their heads around it all.

"She headed up for a shower." He paused. "Any particular reason you're still hanging around?"

Maverick grabbed a beer out of the fridge and leaned against the kitchen counter. "Are you asking me to leave?"

Rick's att.i.tude annoyed the h.e.l.l out of Jack, and his temper spiked. He knew the two of them were close-real close-but still, he wanted Donovan to himself. Was that so wrong?

"Donovan and I have some things to work out. Some privacy would be appreciated."

Maverick took a long draw on his beer and fixed Jack with a look that was dead serious. Something about his cousin's demeanor put Jack on edge. Told him that things weren't going to go as easy as he'd like.

"I'm not going anywhere until I know she's good, if that's okay with you."

Jack's eyes narrowed dangerously. This was turning into a p.i.s.sing contest. "It's not okay."

Maverick took another swig of beer. "Let me rephrase. I'm not going anywhere until I know she's good, whether you like it or not."

Jack stared across the room at his cousin, hands clenched at his sides, jaw so tight his teeth ached. "What the h.e.l.l are you getting at? If you know something, spill or leave."

Maverick didn't answer. Not a good sign.

"What the h.e.l.l do you know, Rick?"

Rick sighed and grabbed another beer from the fridge. "It's not my place. Just promise me you'll listen and that you'll take a step back if needed. Can you do that? Keep your cool long enough to see the truth?"

Okay. This was starting to freak Jack the h.e.l.l out. What was this big 'thing' that Donovan had to tell him?

A squeak on the stairs told him that they weren't alone. Jack glanced up and spied Donovan hovering on the top step. She had that d.a.m.n 'deer in the headlights' look again, and his gut churned a bit.

Jack had always been the kind of guy to listen to his gut. It served him well in the political arena, and right now, his gut was telling him that it was crunch time. Something was gonna hit the fan, and d.a.m.ned if he knew what it was. Unless it was the pregnancy test? Had she taken it? Is that what this was all about?

"I'll be on the dock waving at the a.s.sholes out on the water." Maverick tipped his ball cap at Donovan. "I'm here if you need me."

Jack watched Donovan make her way down the stairs slowly, favoring her bad foot, and he crossed over to her, arms sliding across her shoulders to bring her in close. He held her for a long time, content to just feel her warmth, inhale her scent and listen to her breathe.

"Hey," he said kissing the top of her head. "You okay?"

Donovan's hands were fisted at his chest, and he could feel the tension in her body. She was trembling. All kinds of alarm bells were going off inside his head. Something was way off.

"Donnie." He moved so that he could see her face. It was pale. He knew her. She was scared.

"We got this," he said.

She nodded but remained silent. Jack thought he'd try another tactic. "You hungry?"

"No." Her voice was so soft he could barely hear her. She pushed against him until he let her go, and Jack shoved his hands into the front pockets of his cargoes. He was strung tight. Too tight.

"Who were you talking to earlier?" he asked, watching her closely.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ears and turned toward the windows, but the blinds were drawn, so there was nothing for her to see.

"My mother."

Huh. He didn't think the two of them were speaking.

"How did that go?"

She shrugged and remained silent. Jack had no idea what the h.e.l.l was going on, but he was about done with the not knowing.

"Donnie, can we talk about whatever it is that's got you so upset?"

She exhaled and turned back to him and his heart turned over at the fear in her eyes. This wasn't looking good.

"The truth is hard, Jack, and I'm trying to be brave, but I'm scared."

He frowned. What the h.e.l.l was she talking about? He thought back to before. Back to Belize and then afterward. He'd been convinced she was hiding something. So what the h.e.l.l was it?

Impatient, he took the few steps needed to bring him back into her circle. "Babe, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." He tipped his head to the side, not liking the turn of events.

"There are things that you don't know. Something that I did and..." Whoosh. She blew out a long shaky breath. "I don't know if you can handle the truth." Her bottom lip trembled and a tear slid down her cheek. "And the not knowing is killing me."

"Whatever it is, it can't be that bad."

Could it? When the h.e.l.l had things turned so dark? Jack pushed his hands through his hair and swore.

"It's bad," she whispered.

The air, it was full of dark and heavy things, but Jack had to believe they'd find a way out of this mess.

He took a moment to get his s.h.i.t together. To find a place of calm. He had to get this right because this right here? This was the end zone. This was four seconds on the clock and one yard to go. There was no room for mistakes, and there was no turning back.

"Donovan it's not about handling anything. It's about trust." He looked into her eyes and hoped like h.e.l.l she knew that he was fighting for her. For them. For that d.a.m.n end zone.

"Do you love me enough to trust me with the truth?" he asked.

She stared up at him, those eyes shadowed and full of pain, and he had to ask himself, why the h.e.l.l wasn't she answering his question? After everything they'd gone through the last few days-the things they'd done and said-he thought that the love question was pretty much a moot point.

She opened her mouth to speak but the door slammed open behind them and they both turned. Sabrina was there, her face white, her breathing erratic.

"Jack, it's Brett. He can't breathe. He's having such a hard time," she wailed. "Something's wrong, and I need to get him to the hospital. Can you help me? He doesn't want the kids to see him taken away in an ambulance."

Jesus.

Jack looked at Donovan. "Go," she whispered. "I'll be here with the kids when you get back."

"Thank you," Sabrina said, her voice shaky. "They're out in the boathouse with Maverick. I don't want them to see him so...so broken."

Jack grabbed his keys, but before he left, he strode over to Donovan. He cupped her face in his hands so that she had no choice to but look up at him. To see what was inside him.

"When I get back, we'll fix whatever this is. Understand? Whatever the f.u.c.k it is doesn't matter."

She nodded. "Okay."

He kissed her fiercely. A hard, commanding kiss that spoke of love and pain and...

"I need you. Don't ever forget that," he whispered, before pressing one more kiss to her forehead and heading out the door.

When he caught sight of his buddy, Jack tried his d.a.m.nedest to keep things light, but it was hard to do. In the s.p.a.ce of twenty-four hours, Brett had deteriorated and it was a helpless kind of silence that fell between him and Sabrina as they helped Brett to Jack's truck and sped off into the night.

He had to slow down because the press that lined the top road was substantial. Security kept them off the private road leading to his place, but still, it was enough of an inconvenience, and it slowed them down.

Twenty minutes later, he was at the hospital with Brett and Sabrina, and less than an hour later, his friend was being examined, his pain somewhat managed. Jack strode up and down the halls, his body tight from adrenaline running way too high.

He spied someone lurking near the nurse's station and just about lost it. G.o.dd.a.m.n reporters. They were like vultures. He started forward and was nearly to the a.s.shole when a hand on his arm stopped him in his tracks.

Sabrina.

"Sit with me?"

He glared at the man who was still leaning against the nurse's station as if he had every right to be there, but Jack recognized him. He was a c.o.c.ky son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h from New York, and the a.s.shole wasn't even trying to hide the camera strapped around his neck.

"There's a private lounge to your right," he said. "I'll meet you there in a minute."

Sabrina squeezed his arm. "Don't do anything stupid."

Jack didn't stop until he was up in the guy's business. "If you don't take your slimy a.s.s out of this hospital, I'll personally throw you out."

The man grinned. "That would make me a ton of cash."

It took everything Jack had to keep his cool. To keep from laying hands on the b.a.s.t.a.r.d and getting rid of some of that pent up anger he was carrying around.

"Sir," the nurse behind the desk said. "Are you here for a patient?" She gave the reporter a no-nonsense look and raised her eyebrow.

"Nope."

Jack wanted to use his fist to wipe away the arrogant smile on his face.

"Then I'll have to ask you to leave. Security is already on its way."

The man pushed off from the desk. "No worries," he said with a smile aimed at the nurse. She wasn't having any of it.

"Now," she said.

"Sure," he replied, before glancing at Jack. "I was just hoping for a comment on the reported s.e.x tape featuring the lovely Donovan James. You two are hooking up again, no?"

Jack's fist shot out and would have connected with flesh and bone except a burly security guard grabbed him before he could do any damage.