Stone Romance (Stone Passion #2) by A.C. Warneke

and he did what he did because he only wanted to protect me and now he’s leaving and I think I’m going to die. It hurts so much, Jenna and I think I’m going to die.”
    Stroking Melanie’s hair, Jenna was at a loss for words. Just a few minutes ago she had felt as if she could take on the world, that it was a brand new day full of endless possibilities. And now her sister’s heart was breaking and she didn’t know what to do. And she felt a little guilty because Rhys had told her not everything was as perfect as it seemed and she hadn’t believed him, not really. “Is there anything I can do?”
    “Turn back time so that I never agreed to let Vaughn give up his nights for me,” Melanie replied miserably. “Then he could stay with me and I wouldn’t have to make a choice.”
    Not understanding what Melanie meant, Jenna tugged at the long, purple coat and urged, “At least get your winter gear off, Lenni.”
    Melanie’s half-hearted attempts at helping were enough to get the jacket and boots off, revealing Melanie’s rumpled summer dress and sun-kissed skin. It was apparent that Melanie had spent a lot of time over the past weeks on the enchanted roof of her apartment building and Jenna did not want to even begin to imagine what Lenni had been doing. It was pretty safe to say that her sister had no tan lines.
    Jenna’s skin was still slightly golden from the few hours she had spent up there a few weeks before. Since they had complete privacy, they had both taken off their bikini tops and enjoyed the sun on their bare skin. It had been a wonderful experience and she now realized it was also the moment she had started to wake up from her years’ long slumber. She also clearly recalled the gorgeous monkey gargoyle; he had been imbued with laughter and he had made her feel happy. Alive.
    In a way, the monkey did remind her of Rhys; there was something very mischievous about both of them, something wonderful and unexpected. And she was a horrible sister to be contemplating marble statues and sexy men when her sister was crying her eyes out. “ Shh ; it’ll be all right, Lenni; you’ll see.”
    “No it won’t,” she countered mournfully, looking up at Jenna with glossy eyes and a splotchy face. A shudder worked its way through her distraught body and she squeezed her eyes shut, turning away from Jenna. “No matter what happens it’s going to be awful.”
    “You can’t mean that,” Jenna chided, a little spark of anger threatening to flare up inside at Melanie’s callous words. Vaughn was still alive; whatever problems she was having with the man could be sorted out if they chose to do so. She ruthlessly snuffed the flame out knowing that if it weren’t for her sister, she wouldn’t have survived the loss of Jeremy, the birth of Ferris.
    “I can’t talk about this right now.” Pulling the cover over her head and shutting Jenna out, Melanie continued to sob inconsolably. Guilt and anger swirled in Jenna’s gut; she wanted to be there for Lenni and she didn’t know what to do. Rubbing the lump huddled on the bed , Jenna watched in helplessness as Melanie cried.
    Lying down on the bed, she curl ed her body around her sister’s, stroking her back and hoping it was giving some comfort. She didn’t talk, just held Melanie, her thoughts racing in circles over what could have possibly happened between last night and this afternoon. The only thing that she could think of that would be so devastating was if Vaughn was already married and had been living with his brothers while his wife and he worked out their differences. Maybe he hadn’t meant to fall in love with Melanie but it just sort of happened. And of course, once Melanie discovered his secret she couldn’t stay with him; she would cut out her own heart before she got involved with a married man.
    When Melanie’s body stopped shuddering, Jenna assumed she had finally submitted to the oblivion of sleep. She was going to rush out and switch