Ava's breath hitched. She hadn't expected such a declaration from him, and the weight of his words pressed down on her. Swearing on her unborn baby, she couldn't bring herself to lie. But admitting the truth meant acknowledging a vulnerability she had tried so hard to hide.
She lowered her eyes, her mind racing as she searched for a way out of this. But there was no escape, not from this moment, and not from the truth that lingered between them.
Cameron lifted his head, his eyes searching hers, waiting for her response. His proximity, the feel of his hands still resting on her waist, made it hard to think clearly.
"I…," Ava began, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn't say it. She couldn't admit that, yes, in that brief moment, she had felt safe. She had felt the warmth of his arms around her, the way his presence had calmed her fears, if only temporarily.
Her silence was enough.
