Breathe Read Online Free Page B

find new accommodations. “Thank you.”
    His lips thinned, and for the second time she got a sense of the power behind his frame. Perhaps she hadn’t seen it before because she’d known him since he was a boy. But there was no denying it. He was angry, though she couldn’t quite figure out why, and it emanated from his six-foot-plus frame. All the time he’d spent hands-on in the vineyards obviously hadn’t hurt either. He was strong and sun-kissed, and for a brief second it was like standing before a stranger.
    A mushroom popped in the pan and their gazes broke. Jace went and turned off the burners and faced her again. The anger she’d sensed was replaced with a cool sense of resignation. That hurt more than his displeasure with her.
    â€œWas he good to you, Anna? It’s so sad that you’re left now, so young. And with the children.”
    She’d heard it enough over the last few months that the sting should have gone out of it. But it hadn’t. She didn’t wince though, didn’t allow herself the indulgence. This kind of misplaced pity was why she’d left Saanich and the Island in the first place.
    â€œDon’t pity me, please. I can’t stand it. I’ve had enough of pity. I need to look forward.”
    â€œFair enough. What are your plans?”
    She had no idea. She would always have a place at Morelli, that much she knew. But she wasn’t sure she wanted it. She knew she had to make a good life for herself and the children, but she had no idea how to best go about it.
    â€œI don’t have any plans. I came here to just…get my feet beneath me. To think.”
    â€œTo hide.”
    She blinked. Perhaps she should be angry, but it was the truth. “Yes, Jace—” she sighed, “—to hide. To evaluate and make decisions away from prying eyes and useless advice.”
    â€œI see.”
    So did she, too late. That he was coming to the conclusion that his advice was not wanted. And perhaps it wasn’t. His life was very different from hers. It was what he’d wanted, all this independence and success. He’d made the choice long ago, and to hell with the consequences. But it was the years of prior friendship that had led her here now, and so she tried to build a bridge.
    â€œNot from you. You know me too well. I felt safe coming here.”
    â€œI’m glad.” The words were soft and seemed to say so much more, but it would do no good to try to read anything into them.
    His dark gaze caught hers again and she didn’t feel very safe at all. The way he was looking at her now brought back too many memories. And in the flash of a moment, she knew that if he came closer, she’d recognize his scent, his warmth, knew how his fingers would feel if he touched her.
    She backed away.
    His eyes cooled ever so slightly. “I am glad, Anna. I am glad our friendship still means something to you. That I can help in some way.”
    â€œI need to move on with my life, and forget about the past.”
    â€œYou intend to forget about the father of your children?”
    She wanted to lash out, whip out the words that Stefano had been a lying cheat who hadn’t cared for his family one bit, but that wasn’t a conversation she was up to having right now, so she merely answered, “Yes.”
    â€œDon’t you care? Don’t you think your children deserve to remember their father?” His face fell with incredulity.
    Her blood began to simmer at the condemning tone in his words. “What do you mean? Of course I care, but what difference does it make now? He’s dead.”
    â€œI don’t get it.” He shook his head, his eyes dark shards now. “I just don’t get it.”
    â€œWhat don’t you get? He’s gone. He is not their father anymore, and he is not my husband.”
    â€œ My God! ” he exploded. “Are you really that cold hearted, Anna? Did you stop