Chapter 36

She heard the door open and close. Without moving to look, she knew who'd arrived. The air charged and sizzled, announcing him. Unwilling to meet his steely-eyed stare, Keesha lay tucked in a ball. Her eyes closed tightly in a useless attempt to block out the present and the past.

"Go away."

His footsteps sounded against the tile floor, bringing him closer. Too close. The scent of his zestfully clean soap drifted to her. Her hand clenched into a fist. Why did he come?

"I suppose you think you've won now--"

"No," Jason cut in.

"If you're not here to gloat, why are you here?"

"I don't know," he answered. "You don't want to see me."

"Understatement of the century."

He took another step closer. She didn't have to see him to know it. His scent became stronger. She buried her nose in the pillow. If she could find a way to block out the world...to change the last twenty-four hours.

"What does that mean?" His voice was lined with velvet. Soft and caressing.

She opened her eyes to be sure it really was Jason Morgan. As she dreaded, his blue orbs penetrated her to the core. How? Why?

"I don't want you here," she said, without losing eye contact. "Go away."

"I want to help."

"I don't care what you want."

He pushed his fists into the front pockets of his jeans. He made no move to leave. She frowned. He ignored her.

"Have you spoken to Tony?"

"It's none of your business."

A muscle worked at his jaw. "You know that's not true."

"You want to know how AJ's doing so that you can take our daughter away--"

He hitched in a harsh breath. "No, Keesha. I want to know for you. If there's any way I can help you. AJ's been drifting in and out of consciousness all afternoon, but you haven't seen him. Let me take you to him. Let me be there with you when he opens his eyes and sees you."

"Why?" Jason's presence and this current situation brought back everything she tried to bury when she learned of her pregnancy with Maya. Jason Morgan's offer of assistance bewildered her. Why couldn't this be a dream, a horrid nightmare? "Why?"

"It's the least I can do."