Chapter Seventy-One
Emily
After dinner, I hold the baby close to my chest, kick my feet up onto the coffee table and lean into Jake’s side.
When he wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head, I sigh and inhale his scent.
Fresh soap and cologne mixed with baby shampoo.
Pure heaven. I could live like this forever.
“I wish we were here at the same time more.” The baby squirms in my arms, readjusting until she’s content. We’re learning each other’s rhythms, so unless I’m changing her or giving her a bath, she’s easy to console. And the girl loves to eat her feelings after changing.
“About that. I talked to your mom today, she said she feels confident she can watch her during the day. The doctor released her to light duty, and if she needs help lifting her, Kaleb has switched to nights.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Kaleb has switched to nights?”
“Yes, he’s switching for a few weeks to help your mom with Grace.”
“But he just got off nights.”
Jake shrugs in response. “He owes me for that Christmas where he interrupted our visit in your mom’s kitchen.”
“I thought that was Spencer.”
His eyes darken as his jaw flexes. “Do not bring that guy’s name up around me. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist.”
I bite my bottom lip to keep from grinning as I tilt my head and stare pensively at the ceiling. “I wonder what he’s doing now. I might still have his number.”
“If you call him, I’ll find him and punch him in the face again.”
“Again?” I arch an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware that there was any punching involved.”
His body stiffens beside me. “We might’ve had words when he returned from Brookhaven. Okay, it was more my fist in his face than words. And for his safety, if you happen to care so much about him, I wouldn’t contact him if I were you.”
Grace’s eyes pop open into little slits as if she senses the energy shift in the room. “Don’t cry, baby girl.” I lift her closer to my face and kiss her temple. “I’m sorry for teasing Daddy, but it’s impossible to resist getting a rise out of him. He’s a possessive man.”
“Yes, I am, and I have no problems saying it.”
I wink and settle back against him. “You don’t have any reason to be jealous of what’s his name or anyone else for that matter. I love you, and no one else.”
His eyes are warm and filled with lust. “You don’t know what that does to me. You saying that you love me and calling me Grace’s daddy in the same conversation.”
“Oh….” My heart skips a beat in my chest. “I wasn’t even thinking. It just came out.”
“Well, keep saying it.” He cups my cheeks.
The adoration in his gaze makes my toes curl.
“I love you. I’ve loved you for so long that I don’t remember what it feels like not to have you invading every inch of me.
I’m the luckiest man in the world to have your heart in my hands.
” He shifts his attention to Grace. “And this little bonus baby is the icing on the cake. I’ll always protect and cherish both of you. ”
“That’s the sweetest thing that anyone has ever said to me.”
His thumb brushes along my cheekbone. “It had better be or we’d be back at the start of the conversation where I threatened to slay all the other men that have touched you, looked at you, thought about you, breathed around you–”
I laugh and shake my head, cutting into his list of grievances. “Enough already. I’m yours.”
“And I’m yours.” He releases my cheek and palms the top of Grace’s head. “And we’re having our most important conversation with this little angel between us.”
“It’s better than an island and Sp–”
His lips crash over mine as he kisses me until my breath is gone. Yes, for some reason, I love getting this man all worked up. His tongue swipes between my parted lips. Yes, this’s the reason.
He leans back and bites his bottom lip. “You’re a sassy little one, aren’t you, Pretty Girl?”
“Maybe. When it comes to you.” My heart races in my chest. There’s only one way this situation is going to play out, and every inch of my body is preparing for that inevitability.
“Good,” he growls. “Hold that thought until later when I take that sweet ass of yours against the island here from running your mouth.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’re such a little tease.” The energy radiating off him causes the walls of my sex to convulse. “I can’t wait to rip those shorts and panties off you and swat your ass.”
I squirm against the sofa cushions putting much needed pressure against my clit. “You know exactly how to turn a woman on.”
“No.” He shakes his head as his expression sobers.
“I know exactly how to turn you on. You, only. I don’t care about anyone else but you.
And it’s my mission in life to find all the ways it takes to please you.
” He kisses my lips and leans back against the cushions putting some much-needed space between us.
I suck down a gulp of air. At least now, breathing is possible.
“I happen to love the sound of that.”
He pulls back. “On a less fun note, I spoke with Mackenzie today.”
“Yeah?” My stomach clenches as the thought of losing Grace makes me want to run to a country that doesn’t extradite back to the U.S.
Not that I don’t care about her. I do want a better life for Mackenzie, because I know her current situation is shit. Which only serves to make me feel like a bigger bitch.
“Yes, I tried to get her to go to a shelter now that Chad is out of the picture, but she won’t go. She went so far as to say that if I didn’t leave her alone, she’d claim I was trying to put the moves on her.”
I straighten my spine. “I don’t want you to get into trouble. I should–”
“Don’t worry. I had the camera on, so there’s no question what my intentions were.
She also was clear about not wanting you to interfere.
She’s scared shitless of Chad. I wish I could say that I don’t understand what makes a woman stay in a home where she’s abused, but I know. I know too damned well.”
“You tried.” I pat Grace’s back as she whimpers. “At this point, all we can do is protect Grace and give her the life Mackenzie should’ve had. One without fear and pain.”
The lump in my throat is large enough to choke me. Like Jake, I’ve seen the aftermath of abusive relationships. Busted faces. Broken teeth. Bruises under clothes that no one else sees but the paramedics before they claim it’s not a big deal and happened due to their own stupid clumsiness.
I nuzzle my face against Grace’s cheek. You’re never going to be a statistic.
No asshole is going to push and shove you around until you’re destroyed and believe there’s nowhere else to run.
Until you have no friends or family to turn to.
Until all your money belongs to him. Until you have no resources. No self-worth.
That will never be you, Grace. Never. You’ll always know that you’re loved and cherished. Always. A tear tracks down my cheek.
“Baby.” Jake swipes the tear away with his thumb. “She’s safe, and we’ll keep her safe.”
“Yes, we will,” I say it like a vow. And it is.
Jake places his arm around my shoulders again and twirls a strand of hair that’s escaped from my messy bun. “Speaking of safe. Do you think Iris would be willing to let you and Grace move in with me after court? It’s more secure, I have a fenced in yard, and security cameras.”
“And handcuffs?”
“Yes,” he chuckles but soon turns serious. “I want to know that you’re both safe.”
This is real. He’s offering it all. Him. A home. A fenced in yard. Safety. Security. Love. A future.
“Just one second.” I climb to my feet and quickly place Grace into her crib. The only movement she makes in the transition is puckering her lips, twisting her head, and then sighing as she drifts back to sleep.
She’s beautiful. Perfect. Seeing her like this makes my chest ache.
I send Iris a message, letting her know that as soon as she approves, Grace and I will be moving in with Jake. Moments later, she messages me back, assuring me that she’s fast-tracked Jake’s fostering application and his approval should come around that time.
When I return to the living room, the room in my chest disappears completely. This beautiful man is all mine. Every inch of his delicious body is mine. His gorgeous soul. His protectiveness. His possessiveness. Molten heat settles in my core.
“Come here, my possessive man.” I waggle my finger at him and twist on my heel. “I think I left something for you on the kitchen island.” I glance over my shoulder. “Me.”
“Fuck, yes, you did.” The growl in his voice drenches my panties.