Page 100 of Her Unending Horizon

A corner of his mouth twitched. “Mutual advantage, then.”

“Something like that,” I agreed.

Silence again.

“Why are you here?” he asked quietly.

“Three reasons,” I said. “One, I wanted to make sure you’re okay. Physically.” I glanced at his ribs. “Two… I wanted to know why you’ve been at Simon’s office. And…”

His jaw tightened.

“And?” he prompted gently.

I deflected. “How are the ribs?”

He twisted, bent, rolled his shoulders. “See? Fine.”

“Impressive. Want me to test that with a light tap?”

“How about you don’t.” He gave me half a smile. It made my heart do a flip. “And?” he pressed.

“Huh?”

“You had a third thing. What was it?”

“You’re supposed to tell me what you’re doing over at Onyx Security.”

He tilted his head and looked at me with that analyzing look. He knew something was up. “I’ll tell you about Onyx after you tell me your ‘and.’”

I looked down at the mug of coffee in front of me, hoping it had words swirling around in it that I could read. A script. Anything.

I took a breath.

Six weeks ago, I’d sat in an OB’s office and watched a future evaporate. Not just the future of not being able to have babies, but one niggling little thought that Zarek might not want a defective wife. It was too stupid to believe, but there you had it. I was too foolish to believe, and now he was asking me to tell him my secret that could potentially blow up all of my tomorrows.

“I went for a routine checkup,” I said. “Six weeks ago.”

His face drained of color. “What? Are you sick?”

“No,” I said quickly. “No. I’m not sick. I promise.”

He came around the counter and pulled me off the stool like he couldn’t help himself. “Then tell me.”

I swallowed.

“I’m never going to be able to have children,” I said. “There’s too much scarring. Carrying a pregnancy to term isn’t possible.”

I watched his eyes, looking for any sign, any nuance of rejection.

He pulled me into his arms.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said. “I’m so sorry.” For long moments he held me like that and I breathed in the scent of pine, leather, and Zarek. Savoring this moment as if it could be my last.

He pushed me back just enough to look into my eyes. “I love you the same now as I did three minutes ago. You are my life.” He’d said the right words. My man knew my deepest fear.

“But I can’t give you children,” I said, the old shame clawing up my throat. “I’m defective and⁠—”

He shook his head hard. “No.”