Rhapsody (The Bellator Saga Book 5) Read Free Page B

counterarguments. Caroline tried not to sound defensive. “What else has Natalie told you about me? I thought those sessions were private.”
    “They were. You’re telling me she never told you anything I told her?”
    “No comment.” She blushed. “I mean it. You should probably leave me alone. Especially if you’re going to analyze my so-called ulterior motives.”
    “And what, watch you continue to keep building this wall around you? I’ve been trying to tear it down, brick by brick, but each time I do you build it higher.” Jack gave her an agonized look. “You know, when you first came to, I thought-”
    “What? That I’d regained my joie de vivre ?”
    His tone was wistful. “That would have been nice.”
    She wasn’t about to admit she felt the same way, if only for a moment. But feelings were known to fade. “That woman is gone and you know it.”
    “No, she’s not. You like to pretend she is. For the briefest of moments I saw that spark in your eye. And then it went away.”
    He had too much foolish optimism for such an intelligent man. He’d seen enough of her to know what she’d become. “It’s not there, Jack. Not anymore. It’s somewhere in the Allegheny National Forest, abandoned like the rest of me.”
    Caroline could tell from the set of his jaw that she had gone too far. Jack got up from his chair, stretched, and started to move toward the door, then thought better of it and turned around. He knelt down on what had to be an incredibly uncomfortable floor and put his clasped hands on the bed next to her, as if in prayer.  Even though he had his head down, she could see that his eyes were wet.
    She’d done it again. And she hadn’t meant it. Not in the way he’d taken it. She’d intended to direct that comment at herself, not him. Never at him. All those ugly thoughts would rush out of her like water through a sieve. She had to learn to control herself. Every blow she landed wounded him even when he wasn’t a target.
    “Jack.” Caroline drifted her fingers over his hair, and he flinched. He shuffled toward the head of the bed, but made no other move to leave.
    “Don't,” he said quietly. “Don't pretend you care.”
    She withdrew her hand, curling her fingers around the mattress. “I do-” Caroline felt the tears rising up and took a moment to regain control. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
    He was silent for a long time. There wasn’t a clock in the room but she could swear she heard a metronome ticking off every second that passed, reminding her that any time she opened her mouth was yet another opportunity to destroy everything in her wake.
    “I want you to get better,” he said, his voice grating through every word. “That’s all I want. Nothing else. I want you in my life and I’ll take it however I can get it. Even if it means you hate me with every fiber of your being.” Jack leaned over to whisper in her ear. “You’ve still got that spark, Caroline. You just can’t see it right now. I’m not giving up. I lost you once and I’m not going through that again.” He kissed her forehead. “When you’re ready to be discharged you’ll be staying with me. No arguments. You’re not going to be alone.”

Chapter Two
     
    Jack stared at the items in his cart. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get all that random stuff back to his apartment. Maybe he should have taken Schroeder’s keys when he wasn’t looking. Not that the commander couldn’t have a vehicle if he wanted one; it was simply unnecessary. His residence was within short walking distance of anyplace important on the base, and if he wanted to go further all he had to do was jog. No Jeep, no tank, not a single thing could compare to what he was used to driving. Walking or running was just fine. It burned off more negative energy.
    He hoped he’d picked out the right things. That she’d like them. That her tastes hadn’t changed that much. Or that