His eyes didn’t leave her face. She should have known better than to bring his entire attention on her when he was already focused on her. He saw too much. She didn’t want charming, sexy Wyatt. She wanted the jerk. The man with an edge so she could keep pushing him away. She didn’t dare believe in him. She’d never been able to believe in anyone but herself. She detested that she was so drawn to him that she could put aside life’s lessons to believe him. He offered a dream. A fantasy. But it was hollow. Who knew what he really wanted? But it wasn’t her.

“Baby,” he said softly, and her stomach rolled.

She shook her head and tried to close her eyes against his allure.

“I hurt you, didn’ I? You misunderstand me. I’m not afraid of what part you might have in all of this. I’ve been in your head just like you’ve been in mine. I do believe Whitney is usin’ you as bait, but for what, I have no idea. Of course I have to warn you, just in case you’re a far better actress than I believe you are, because if you betray us, you’ll end up dead, and that’s the last thing I want.”

“How did I misunderstand you, Wyatt?” She kept the tears out of her voice with an effort. She wasn’t about to show him more weakness than she already had. She could control tears when she wasn’t under the influence of painkillers.

There wasn’t any misunderstanding. He still considered she might be part of a larger conspiracy theory. And yes that hurt, right after he said he wouldn’t hurt her.

Wyatt was silent so long she couldn’t help but look at him. He took a breath and let it out. Shook his head. Raked his hands through his hair.

“If we’re bein’ honest here, Pepper, lovin’ you would be too easy. You’d become my world and wrap me around your little finger. You don’ know what I’m like, but a woman like you, a man like me lovin’ her, that could be paradise or sheer hell. I’ve got to figure out which before I put us in that position.”

The bottom dropped right out of her stomach. The heat between her legs increased tenfold. Her heart contracted. Wyatt forced himself to his feet and left the room. She didn’t say anything at all.

Chapter 8

What had possessed him to tell her the truth? To confess his fear? And he hadn’t even done a thorough job of it. What man wanted a woman who could become his world? To be tied up in knots? She had the potential to really crush him. Shatter him. Walk the hell all over him. Pepper was that kind of woman.

There were some women who were the kind you knew from the moment you set eyes on them that they were going to tear out your heart and keep it in their hot little hands. Wyatt knew he was going to keep her, and the risk to him would be enormous. He might pretend to her that she didn’t matter, but she was always going to matter.

He needed to find his grandmother. She was soothing. She was wise. She wouldn’t say a word unless he opened his mouth and asked her what the hell he was doing. He already knew it didn’t matter whether he knew what he was doing or not – he’d started down the path and the pull toward Pepper was too strong to walk away.

There were the babies. Already he didn’t want to let Ginger out of his sight. She was sweet and easily wrapped them all around her little finger. Everyone wanted to be the one to make her laugh. She was a very sober baby and didn’t know about dancing and music or joking. He wanted to be the one to teach her about family.

Instinctively, he headed for the parlor and wasn’t surprised to find his grandmother there playing with the baby. They were laughing together, Ginger delighting in the swamp pop music Nonny liked to blare every now and then. The little girl turned in circles in the middle of the worn, faded rug, mimicking Nonny’s movements.

He leaned one hip lazily against the doorjamb and watched them, the tension draining out of him. He remembered the music and the joy Nonny brought to the household. There had been plenty of hard work to be done in their home, but there was always more laughter.

He realized, watching the baby as she learned the joys of dancing, that he wanted this for his children – the freedom that came so easily in the bayou. They would learn to survive here and grow up to be loving, giving adults who believed in working hard but playing and loving just as hard.

It suddenly occurred to him that Pepper had never experienced this. She’d grown up a soldier. She didn’t know any more about laughter and love than Ginger. His childhood environment couldn’t have been more different. Still, she loved the children fiercely. He knew she’d walk through fire for them. She fought for them in her own way, and he had to convince her this was what was needed for them. This home. These people. His three little vipers would be at home here. He suddenly wanted to rush off half cocked, just like Grand-mere, and get the other two babies and bring them home.

A tingle of awareness went down his spine. Ezekiel, on the stairs, paused, let out a low warning whistle and instantly Ginger ceased dancing. Wyatt was across the room in one short leap, scooping up the baby.

“No, Nonny, keep the music goin’,” he cautioned when his grandmother reached to turn off her favorite song. “Malichai, get rid of the high chair. Come on, little one, you need to stay quiet and watch over Pepper for me. Can you do that?”

Ginger signed frantically.

“Too fast, baby. Your pere isn’ so good at signin’ yet.”

She slowed her little fingers enough that when he entered Pepper’s room he knew she sought reassurance. “Yes, they’re here, but they won’t take you back. Stay in here.”