Chapter 29


    Chapter 29 Tunnel of Love


    Jane


    Looking down at Paisley’s sweet face, I know I can’t deny her anything. “Of course I’lle.” I promise,


    avoiding Ethan’s gaze.


    “Yay!” Paisley exims happily, looking back and forth between Ethan and I. Something seems to strike


    her then, and her little nose crinkles in confusion and concern. “Wait, what ’bout your game?”


    Ethan’s gaze zeroes in on me. I don’t need to look at him to know, I can feel the weight of his eyes on me


    like a pair of hundred pound weights. I should have foreseen this, I should have remembered the story I


    told the little girl about the hide and seek game. Now she’ll think I can’t ever be her mother because


    Ethan clearly found me. Panic bubbles up inside me, I don’t know how to answer her and keep up my lie


    for Ethan at the same time.


    “We put it on pause.” Ethan supplies, surprising me.


    “For you.dd gently, “because of your surgery.”


    “Oh.” Paisley chirps, epting our answer without further question. “Good.” She smiles toothily up at


    me. “I’m d.”


    “Me too.” I admit, unable to stop myself from running my fingers through her dark hair.


    I’m painfully aware of Ethan’s warm, hard body beneath me, and still hiding from his prating gaze,


    however, I’m alsopletely preupied by Paisley. Every time I see her it


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    feels like a dreame true. I’ve waited so long to hold her in my arms and hear her call me Mommy, I’d


    put up with Ethan for hours on end if it meant I got to spend more time with her like this. I just have to


    remain conscious of the fine line I’m walking. I can’t reveal too much in front of my ex, and I can’t let him


    trick me into revealing the truth.


    When we depart Paisley’s room a couple of hourster, he keeps his arm locked around my waist,


    forcing me to physically remove the powerful limb. I’m mildly shocked when he doesn’t stop me, but my


    victory is very short lived. “Would you care to tell me what that was about?” His deep voice sounds


    behind me.


    Btedly I realize he allowed me the victory of pushing him away, only so that my guard would be


    lowered when he made his next move. “Your daughter is very sweet.” I inform him simply, not truly


    answering his question.


    “You’ve visited her before.” Ethan rumbles, stating it as a fact, rather than I question.


    “I met her when Riley was here.” I shrug, “the children’s ward isn’t very big.”


    “Why didn’t you say?” He questions, pulling me to a stop just inside the building exit.


    “Because,” I inform him coldly, “lc would only have encouraged you.”


    I expect him to fight back instead he simply chuckles, “stubborn thing.”


    I freeze momentarily, shaking off my reaction as soon as I


    realize he caught me off guard again. He used to call me that all the time, in precisely the same way –


    never as a criticism or usation, always as a term of amused endearment. I continue walking without


    responding, praying he’ll let the matter drop.


    Naturally he thwarts me again, “Paisley’s mother was stubborn too.” He says to my back. “In fact, she


    never even told me she was pregnant.”


    “She sounds like a smart woman.’ I reply, trying not to take his obvious bait.


    “Oh she was.” He agrees, a sharp edge lining his silky tone. “It’ s only too bad Paisley never got to know


    her. She’s really needed a mother these past few years, and she’s going to need one as she grows up


    even more.”


    Tears are burning in my eyes, no matter how I try to fight them. If I stop now or look at him, he’ll see, so I


    simply continue moving towards the car. “Then you ought to marry Eve and be done with it.”


    —


    ——


    —


    ——-


    Ethan


    Marry Eve? I think,pletely aghast. She must be joking. Granted, I know that’s precisely what Eve


    wants, but I’ve never had any interest in the conniving she-wolf. I’ve only ever had eyes for Jane, which


    is why it hurt so much when she betrayed us on her graduation trip. If it weren’t for my mother’s word, l’ d


    never have believed Eve’s version of events, but their stories matched perfectly and even Jane hadn’t


    been able to deny what she’d done – even if she couldn’t exin it.


    Besides, my mate is clearly capable of incredible deception. She admitted she only married me for my


    money, then hid her pregnancy and faked her death. She’s wronged me in more ways than I can possibly


    count, and one day soon I n on getting all the answers i possibly can out of her. However until then I


    have to focus on simply making her admit her true identity. Only then can I bring her and my pups home


    where they belong.


    When we get back to Linda’s apartment, the kids are begging to go out on an adventure, with Riley


    suggesting the nearby amusement park. Jane was only too happy for an excuse to get the kids out of the


    house and away from me so she readily agreed. Of course she was considerably less pleased when the


    pups turned to me and asked if I woulde too.


    “He can’t!” She yelped far too quickly, flushing and then amending her words. “He’s on bedrest.”


    “Actually I’d love toe.” I correct her, making the pups


    cheer triumphantly.


    “If you’re well enough for an amusement park, you’re well enough to go home.” Jane narrows her eyes.


    “Don’t you have Alpha business to take care of?”


    “I haven’t had a vacation in years, besides, I’m going to be off for Paisley’s surgery anyway.” I exin,


    “this way I’ll just start a day early.”


    “But your head!” Jane sputters, beside herself.


    “I won’t go on any roller coasters,” My head is still aching enough to make the idea make me feel mildly


    ill.


    “That’s okay!” Riley immediately replies, “Mommy doesn’t like them either so she can keep youpany


    while we ride.”


    Jane shoots her daughter an exasperated look, but I can only grin at the clever pup. “That’s a great


    idea.”


    —————–


    My high spirits onlyst a little while. Make no mistake, I’m thrilled to be spending time with Jane and the


    pups, but I can’ t stop thinking that this is wrong. Poor Paisley is stuck in a lumpy hospital bed while I’m


    out in the sunshine chasing her siblings around an amusement park.


    “Are you thinking about Paisley?” Jane asks softly. We’re standing at the exit of an rmingly tall roller


    coaster currently whizzing her pups through the air, and my mate has clearly noticed my subdued mood.


    Sighing and dragging a hand through my hair, I admit. “I feel guilty being here without her.”


    She nods in understanding, “I don’t know any parent who wouldn’t feel that way.” She shares, “But you


    can bring her when she’s well again.”


    “Or,” I suggest, for once beingpletely sincere without a single thought for scheming, “We could bring


    her together. The pups did say they want to meet her.”


    Jane frowns, looking so tempted my heart beats a bit faster. “She probably won’t be healed enough in


    time.” She finally answers, “We’re leaving after the fragranceunch, remember.”


    A growl bursts out of me before I can stop it, and Jane jolts in surprise, dropping her gaze and belying


    the alpha scentyered into her perfume. There’s my little omega.


    “Shhh, I’m sorry.” I soothe, reaching out and pulling her under my arm. “My wolf simply doesn’t like the


    idea of you leaving.”


    “Well he’s going to have to get used to it.” Jane replies stiffly, “Because it’s going to happen.”


    Before I can reply the pups are racing towards us, their cheeks red and hair windswept. “How was it!?”


    Jane asks excitedly.


    “So fun, Mommy!” They answer together.


    “I’m so d.” She answers, hugging them, “where do you want to go next?”


    The kids look around, thinking hard, then Riley catches sight of something that makes her eyes go wide,


    and begins whispering to her brothers. The next thing I know they’re pointing across the park, “let’s go on


    that one!” Parker suggests.


    Turning to follow their line of sight, we both blink in surprise, “the tunnel of love?” Jane asks in confusion,


    eyeing the cheesy ride normally reserved for couples. “Why would you want to go on that ride? It’s for


    grown ups.”


    “Yeah, but it’s really slow ‘n’ gentle.” Ryder exins, “So you two cane on it with us.”


    “Come on, Mommy, please!” Riley adds, “we haven’ gotten to go on ‘nything with you yet.”


    Jane exhales as if she’s heading to her own execution rather


    than a silly boat ride. “fine.”


    “Yay!” The kids cry, dragging us towards the heart shaped entrance.


    When we reach the front of the line it bes obvious that we can’t all fit in a swan boat together, but


    when Jane suggests we split up and each sit with one or two of the pups, they object again. “No, we


    want to sit together!”


    “I guess that settles it.” I shrug, climbing into one of the cars and pulling Jane behind me.


    As the ride sets off down a dark, artificially starlit tunnel, Jane tries to huddle in the corner so that our


    bodies won’t touch. Rolling my eyes, I drag her across the bench towards me. However I must have


    used more force than I realized because instead of sliding over so that we’re side by side, Jane ends up


    halfway in myp, looking up at me with wide eyes.


    Her small palms are braced against my chest, and our faces are only inches apart. I drag my knuckles


    across her cheek, cupping her face in my hand. I was too drunk to really remember ourst kiss, but I’m


    determined to remember this one.


    Closing the final distance between us, I lower my mouth to hers.