5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Emma
I hold Jack in the middle of his cabin for over an hour. He doesn’t stop panting, his body shaking with fear the entire time.
I’ve never heard screams like it.
As I cradle him, my heart breaks for this man. He’s been through so much, and I can’t help but wonder how long he’s been like this. All the way up in the mountains, caught in the grips of a past that haunts him, a hero so vulnerable and alone.
It makes my chest ache with sadness.
I gently stroke his hair and help him come back to it slowly. I can feel his heartbeat calming beneath my touch, the tremors in his body gradually subsiding. I whisper soothing words in his ear, watching the way his hand is gripping my hip so tight, like he never wants me to leave.
I want so much for that to be the case. After our moment up at his old cabin, I feel like I have ruined everything. We’ve been growing closer and closer, I was sure he felt the same connection that I have been.
“Jack,” I murmur softly, pressing my lips to his forehead. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’m still here.”
Eventually, Jack’s breathing steadies and he looks up at me with weary eyes. The pain and fear etched on his face are a stark contrast to the stoic man I’ve spent the last two days with.
“I’m taking you to bed,” I tell him.
I rise to my feet and guide him with me. He stumbles to his feet and his vulnerability stirs something inside of me. I came to this mountain seeking the safety of an old family friend, but with it, I’ve found so much more.
The man who started out as my protector now needs me, and just as Dad would have wished, I’m as determined to be there for him as he is me.
We make our way through the dimly lit cabin, Jack’s heavy steps unsteady as they make the floorboards creak. I pull back the blankets and help him lie down, then slip beneath the sheets on the other side of the bed.
“I’ve got you, Jack. I’m not going anywhere.”
He curls into me, his hands still shaking.
“Th-thank you,” he whispers, his voice barely audible. “F-for being h-here.”
“I’ll always be here.”
We lay there in the peace of Jack’s cabin. It’s turning into a healing home, not just for me.
I haven’t stopped thinking about moving up to the mountain since Jack started teasing me about it on our hike. It makes sense. I have nothing left in the city. It’s always just been a place I lived because I had no other choice, but maybe now, maybe I do have a choice.
Minutes pass by and I feel Jack drift off to sleep. I slide down and curl into his warm body, wrapping my arms around him. The pull of sleep tugs at my eyes, and as much as I try to fight it, wanting to enjoy every last second of this moment, the warmth of my giant protector takes me over the edge and I fall asleep.
***
I stare out of the window of Jack’s truck as we drive down the mountain towards Misty Peaks. He rolls down the windows and pops an arm on the ledge, his brown skin shining in the sunshine.
Fresh air fills the cabin and I take in some deep breaths. So crisp and clean. The sun has been shining all morning as Jack and I cooked breakfast together, not once uttering a word about last night. He showed me his garden patch and where he collects his eggs, introducing me to his chickens as if they’re his family.
Jack truly loves it up here, and I can see why.
I gaze out at the beautiful scenery glistening in sunlight as we wind down the hill.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I say.
Jack agrees, nodding thoughtfully. “There’s no better place in the world.”
He glances my way and strikes me with a sexy-as-fuck wink. He slides his hand across my lap and finds my hand. We hold hands as we drive, and I feel like something might have clicked last night. Deep inside this gorgeous man, I think he wants me.
Yesterday, he rejected me. But I know he’s only doing it to be honorable. I’ve seen the way he looks at me, the way he stares at my lips. He wants it, I just need to get him to realize it.
I turn and look at him. He’s absolutely beautiful. The richness in his eyes is almost too much. With all the emotions flowing through both of us, the history of my father, the old scars that still impact Jack so much, it’s amazing that this connection is blooming so quickly.
I could love this man. I’m so at ease when he’s around. I don’t need to look over my shoulder. I don’t need to worry about my safety. I feel so… so… complete whenever I’m with him. I feel like I’ve known him my entire life, which in a weird way, I kind of have.
“I’ll drive you through Misty Peaks township first and then take you to a few of my favorite spots,” Jack says, one hand gripping the wheel, the other splitting my fingers with his so our fingers are entwined. “Maybe then I’ll have you convinced.”
I laugh and squeeze his hand. “I think you’ve already managed that.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Oh really? We never did settle on where you would live.”
Jack steers us around a sweeping bend and I get my first glimpse of Misty Peaks. It’s a small town, protected by a valley of enormous, snow-capped mountains. The streets are small and there are people on the cobbled sidewalk chatting to each other, no phones, no horns blaring.
It’s peaceful.
“There must be a real estate agent in this town,” I say. “Maybe they can help me find something.”
“Actually, funny story. I’ve heard from a few friends that a real estate agent is moving to Misty Peaks soon.”
“Oh, that’s good timing.”
“Yeah, apparently, she’s fallen in love with a Park Ranger or something. He’s just too damn stubborn to admit it.”
“Hmmmm, must be something in the water around here.”
He turns to me, chestnut brown eyes shining. “What do you mean by that?”
It’s my turn to wink at him. “Nothing.”
Jack laughs and pulls into a parking lot outside a cute little restaurant. He kills the engine and before I can even unbuckle myself, he’s around opening the door for me. He holds out a hand and I step down from his truck, looping my arm in his as we make our way to the entrance.
“This place does the best carbonara,” Jack tells me.
My tongue swells with saliva. The smell of garlic and wine hits my nose the moment we step inside.
“Jack! What a lovely surprise!”
A young lady, not much older than me, comes over and greets us. She’s wearing a red chequered apron that hugs her curvy figure.
“How are you, Marium?” Jack asks.
“Fine, thanks. What brings you to town?” Marium glances at me, her eyes capturing our locked hands. “Or should I say, who brings you to town?”
Jack chuckles a deep laugh that makes my body heat. “Oh, yes. This is Emma and she would love it if you made your special pasta for her.”
I smile and shake Marium’s hand. She makes me feel welcome and shows us to the best table in the restaurant. It’s not long before I’m sipping a glorious red wine and slurping perfectly cooked fettucine pasta. I was surprised when Jack ordered a juice, but when he’s finished it, he looks super refreshed.
“You weren’t joking when you said this was good,” I say, swiping a slop of sauce from the corner of my mouth.
Jack nods, leaning back to clutch his stomach. “It’s the best. Marium has only been here a few months, but she’s got the town talking with her food. I heard that she’s been spending some time up in the hills, getting advice from a mystery stranger.”
“For someone who stays hidden up in his cabin, you seem to know an awful lot of the town gossip, mister,” I tease, raising a brow.
Jack laughs, a booming sound that melts my heart. “Oh, don’t even get me started on my old military buddies who hang out at the bar.”
“Well if they’re anything like you, I’d love to meet them.”
Jack’s eyes darken at my words, like something has swarmed over him. I swear I hear him growl, like he’s about to jump over and wrap me in bubble wrap, ready to protect me whatever the cost.
We continue chatting the whole time as we finish our meal. Jack gives Marium a healthy tip as we leave and tells me to wait by the front door as he quickly goes to the bathroom.
I look through the window, smiling at the adorable town below. It’s nice, having felt lost my entire life, that now I’m standing here, feeling at home.
“Alright,” Jack sneaks up behind me, catching me by surprise.
“Shit,” I breathe, holding my chest.
My heart is pounding, every hair on my arm suddenly raised. It’s a feeling swarming my insides that I got used to in the city, but now I haven’t felt it in a few days, it’s making me feel nauseous.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he says, holding the door open for me.
I try a smile and step out, that sudden surprise making my legs wobbly. I guess the city will leaves its scars on me, just like the war did with Jack. Old memories will fade, but the feeling of being constantly watched won’t disappear just yet.
Luckily, Jack is quick to extinguish any bad feelings as we drive up a winding stretch of road.
I love that he’s so protective. There’s no chance of anyone laying a hand on me while he’s around. My big burly protector.
“We’ve got one last place to stop before I take you home,” Jack tells me. “It’s my favorite place ever.”
I hum in the seat next to him. “I thought we went there yesterday?”
Jack laughs and shakes his head. “I have lots of favorite places.”
Twenty minutes later we’re standing at a lookout, wind blasting through my hair. Rugged peaks of mountains are daggering the sky, the sunshine covering the landscape in a warm, golden glow.
“Emma,” Jack moves in behind me, his big hands sliding around my middle as he pulls my back against his chest. “I never thanked you for last night, but I wanted to bring you here before I did.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
“I do. Because I’ve spent countless nights alone, the memory of seeing what I saw that night haunting me to the point where I’ve considered giving in to the dark demons inside my head.”
I turn in his arms and hold his face. “Don’t ever say that again.”
Jack takes a long breath, like he’s about to say something he’s unsure of.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect your father,” Jack says, the thickness of his voice choking in his throat. “I tried, but I was too late.”
“It’s not your fault. No one blames you.”
“I blame me. He always had our backs, and the one night he need us, we weren’t there. It should have been me in that blast. He should have come home to his wife and kid.”
I grip his hands tighter. “You can’t live this way, Jack. You need to forgive yourself.”
“I won’t. But I’m telling you now, what you did for me last night, the way you held me and supported me…” His eyes drop to my lips and my heart hammers against my chest. “No one has ever done that for me.”
I quickly wipe the tears from my eyes. The beauty of the mountains behind me, the vast world of which we’re just a tiny part of. It’s all a reflection of how I feel about this rugged man. His eyes are too much, his warm touch everything.
“I’ll do it every day for the rest of my life.”
Jack swallows hard. “Emma, if I give in to you, there’s no going back.”
“I want that.”
He stares at my mouth. Those stunning eyes that have seen too much looking over my face like it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He makes me complete.
“Kiss me, Jack.”
I lean forward and tilt my head, Jack does the rest.
I moan as his lips collide with mine. There’s no holding back this time, no hesitation. My hands go to Jack’s chest and his lips part, his tongue invading my mouth. He groans and grips my hips, my body surrounded by his heat.
“Oh, Jack,” I whimper into his mouth.
He just grunts and picks me up. Pure muscle carries me back to his truck where he settles me on the hood, positioning himself between my legs. There’s a swarm of butterflies crashing around in my body, desperate for more.
“Take me home, Jack.”
He growls and nips at my lip. “Home? You mean that?”
I nod, my forehead pressing against his as I swallow his hard kisses. “I mean it. Take me home, back to our cabin.”