Page 146 of Moon's Promise

“Try me.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Good choice.” He handed the waitress his credit card, then stared at Larissa until she started squirming in her seat. Her mom would look at her the same way until she would confess to doing something, knowing it would lead to punishment.

Inevitably, she caved and confessed. Avoiding his gaze, she stared back at her glass. “Do you ever think about fate?”

“I can’t say I have.”

“The night we had sex … do you think, if you hadn’t gone upstairs … and had stopped and talked … and Lana approached you, do you think you would have …?” Larissa couldn’t bring herself to finish the question.

When Moon remained silent and just continued to stare at her, she found herself trying to explain further.

“If Lana had made a play for you, would you have … been receptive?”

He didn’t answer, nor did he move his eyes away until the waitress came and set the receipt and card back on the table. Scrawling his signature, he handed the slip back. Only when she was out of hearing distance did Moon speak.

“The real question you should ask yourself is: would you rather Lana were sitting here with me, carrying my child?”

Larissa picked up the glass to take a drink to buy time. When she placed the glass down, she nearly dropped it. Moon reached out to right it, his demeanor so void of emotion that it was scary.

“I feel guilty,” she admitted. “I feel as if I stole something from her.”

Moon’s expression showed his surprise. “For God’s sake, what?”

“Her happiness. I feel guilty I’m so happy.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Moon found himself gutted by what Larissa said. If she had reached across the table and taken a filet knife to his stomach, the feeling would be the same.

“Are you ready?” he asked hoarsely.

“Yes.”

Rising, he took her arm to help her up from the chair before he placed his hand on the small of her back, then escorted her out of the restaurant.

“Are you angry at me?” she asked breathlessly.

Slowing down, he pushed the key fob, unlocking the SUV. “No, I’m not angry at you.”

“You seem to be.”

He clenched his jaw at hearing the hurt in her voice as he opened her car door. Leaning inside once she was seated, he guided the seat belt across her to click it in place. Then he raised his head and cupped her cheek, forcing her to meet his eyes. “You drive me insane. You know that, right?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you fucking cry.”

He felt like dog shit when she started blinking rapidly, her eyes watery.

Moon released Larissa, jerking himself out of the SUV. After making sure she wasn’t touching the door, he closed it.

“Motherfucking shit,” he cursed heatedly as he walked around the front of the vehicle. “Fucking hell.” Snapping his mouth closed, he got in the car.

“Moon, I …”

He started the car, and despite his anger, he drove back to her house.