Galway Girl

He could see the guilt in her eyes, and immediately wanted to take back his words, but they’d been the truth, and it was never a good idea to bottle up the hurt and let it fester. No, it was better that they clear the air and get it all out. Nevertheless, his heart twisted at her expression and the way her voice choked up. He listened, confusion clouding his features as she spoke. Ashamed? Of bringing life to the world? Gods above and below, what had happened to make her say this?

He didn’t try to interject, reading her body language and knowing she wanted to get whatever she wanted to say out without interruption. After what? What had happened? Whatever it was, it was breaking her, and he stepped forward to finally close the distance and touch his nose to her forehead. She had no smell of a mate. Had she gotten carried away in her heat and ended up bearing the fruit of a one-time fling?

Confusion lay heavy on his face and in his tone as he finally spoke, once her words had petered out. “What happened? Who’s the father?” From his voice, it was clear the penny hadn’t dropped, and rape hadn’t come to mind. It was such an outlandish thought that anyone would want to harm his sweet, gentle healer of a sister that the consideration just didn’t come.