Chapter 55
JAX
“Go and stay with Jax. Get away, finish recuperating in peace. The world is not going to end if you leave Elijah and Caleb in charge.”
Kat opens her mouth, scowling at her friend.
“I promise to keep an eye on them,” Pen says.
Kat closes her mouth, her eyes moving to me. I know she feels we’ve ganged up on her, but she still has a long way to go before she’s fighting fit. Her body has taken quite a battering, and despite being at her mum’s, she’s not switched off.
The infection has finally gone, but she still has to heal, both physically and mentally, from the trauma.
“Fine, but I’m holding you responsible if either of them messes up,” she says, staring her friend down.
Pen salutes her with a grin.
The woman in charge visited Kat at Pen’s request. She promised that nothing is going to happen without her prior knowledge.
Her specialist team is still working through the files we uncovered, tying them together with the information they found in Sir Leonard’s hidden office and building their case.
Over the weeks, they’ve removed the files, bit by bit, to another location.
The hotel is now back to being government-free.
I’m not sure Kat trusts her, but thankfully, she still trusts Pen.
But Francesca is concerned that Kat is not switching off. She caught her on the telephone to Michael, despite Elijah being there.
When the family first met to discuss where Kat would recuperate, Francesca wanted Kat with her.
No one vetoed this, as Francesca needed her daughter as much as she needed her mother.
Although Caleb and Gabriel were sceptical, as it would give Kat too much access to work, and given the ongoing investigation, they may need to question Francesca further about her role in hiding evidence.
The aim has been to allow Kat to recover without any stress, after two weeks in hospital recovering and four weeks at home, her brothers have realised that’s an impossibility with her staying at Frazer Manor.
“I don’t want to go and recuperate in another hotel,” Kat huffs. “No offence,” she says, looking at me.
“Maybe we don’t have to stay in a hotel,” I say.
Her gaze meets mine. “What do you mean?”
“I have a cabin. It’s in Yorkshire. I built it a couple of years ago.”
“You have a cabin in the UK?”
“You sound surprised?”
“I suppose I am. I always assumed you’d settle down in the US. It has, after all, been your home for the past sixteen years.”
I shrug. “I’ve always intended to come home. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved living and working in America, but I’ve always intended on moving back here, to be near my friends and family.”
“So, is it agreed? You’ll go and stay with Jax,” Pen asks.
“Fine,” Kat huffs again. “It appears to be the only way I’ll get any peace.”
“Excellent,” Pen says, making for the door. “I’ll let the others know.”
Kat’s eyes sparkle when she looks at me.
“Some alone time.” She sighs.
“Is that what you want?”
“More than anything.” She holds out her hand, and I take it in mine. “I love my family, but my mother is like an old mother hen, clucking around me. Caleb, Elijah and Gabriel are so overbearing I’m likely to throw something at one of them the next time they step into the room.”
“What about FHG?”
She smirks. “I trust my brothers, not that I’ll ever tell them that. It will all still be there when I get back. A wise man once told me that.”
I lean forward and press my lips to hers.
“He must be a very wise man,” I say against her mouth.
Her hand comes up and grasps the back of my head.
“You have no idea,” she says, pulling me down, kissing me with a passion I’ve missed.
We’ve spent minimal time alone together since her illness. She’s needed to recover. I can’t say I’ll be sorry to leave my friends behind and have Kat all to myself for a couple of weeks.
A cough sounds behind us.
I pull back, but drop my head against her forehead. Our eyes lock.
“Please, get me out of here!” Kat mouths.
“Are you sure?” Francesca says, an hour later, as I lift Kat’s suitcase into my car.
Pen packed it in record time when she heard where we were heading.
Kat pulls her mum in for a hug. “A change of scenery will do me the world of good,” she says. “Just think of all that fresh northern air.”
“And a certain man,” her mum says drily.
Kat grins, her head turning to mine. “There’s that as well.”
Francesca walks up to me, pulling me down for a hug. “Good thing I love you, stealing my daughter away,” she says, her voice thick as she pulls back and pats my cheek. “Take good care of her.”
I pull her in for another hug. “I promise,” I say.
She grips me tightly.
Elijah arrives, just as Kat’s about to get into the car.
“Hey, sis, go and enjoy yourself. I’ve got everything covered,” he says, walking over and enveloping her in a bear hug.
Kat smiles up at him. “I know you do. I’m sorry you’re having to delay starting your new life.”
He inclines his head. “It’s not a problem. It’s giving me a whole new understanding of the life you and Dad live. It’s intense.”
“Never a dull moment. You never know, maybe you’ll want to—”
She doesn’t get to finish her words before he slams a finger over her lips.
“I can promise you this, I’ll be more than happy to hand it back to you,” he says with a smile, his eyes moving to Pen. “My priorities have changed.”
He moves away, going to stand next to Francesca. His arm wraps around her shoulder as he pulls her into his side.
“Kat’s in good hands,” he says, his eyes meeting mine.
“I know, it’s just…” she tails off before she finishes.
“I’m only going for a couple of weeks,” Kat says. “I promise to call, write, whatever you want.”
Pen chuckles. “Let Jax get on the road, or they’ll get caught in rush hour traffic.”
I shoot her a grateful look.
I open the door so Kat can get in, closing it behind her.
“Ready?” I ask, climbing into the driver’s seat.
Kat turns to look at me, her eyes looking heavenward. “About twenty minutes ago,” she chuckles.
“Okay then, let’s get this show on the road.”
I fire up the engine and pull away, watching Kat’s family wave us off.
Kat sits in silence, her eyes locked on the scenery outside the window.
The drive north takes four plus hours.
Kat is quiet. Too quiet.
“Are you in pain? We can stop if you are.”
“No pain, I promise. If there is, I’ll tell you,” she says, her voice tired and snappy. She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry. I’m not a good patient.” She sighs.
“You’ve been better than I anticipated,” I say truthfully.
Kat pushes my arm, and I grin.
“What? I would have thought you’d have found relinquishing control a lot harder.”
Her eyes darken, her tongue snaking out to moisten her lips. My cock hardens instantly, my mind wandering back to her relinquishing control to me. How she screamed out, as her orgasm ripped through her.
“There’s a time and a place,” she says, her eyes suddenly sparkling.
I swallow hard as her hand comes to rest on my thigh.
Interlocking our fingers, I lift them to my lips, catching her smile out of the corner of my eye.
Kat yawns and I recline her seat, putting up the heating to ensure she’s warm enough. It’s not long before her breathing deepens and I realise she’s gone to sleep.
She’s still asleep when I put the car into park in front of a large set of gates.
Kat opens her eyes slowly, turning her head towards me.
“Sorry,” she says. “I fell asleep. Great travelling companion, I am.”
I chuckle. “I’ll forgive you, this time,” I say. “We’re here.”
Kat moves her chair back into an upright position, her eyes taking in the scene before her.
Brick pillars supporting a large double gate, surrounded by twelve-foot laurel hedges, keep unwanted eyes out.
Kat turns to face me. “Wow. Impressive entrance.”
I grin. “This was my first big purchase.”
I hit a button on my key fob, and the gates open before she can say anything else. We drive in silence. Kat stares out the window, taking in the tree-lined drive to my home and the surrounding woodland.
“Woodland? How did you get planning permission?” Kat asks.
“The land held a derelict house. It still took me quite a few years to get planning permission to rebuild, but the house itself sits on the same footprint as the original, is self-sufficient and is in keeping with its surroundings. I also employ a local team to manage the adjacent land,” I say. “It was a win-win.”
We pull up outside the large stone cabin, which I call home.
“The house that Jax built,” she says under her breath.
I park the car, and Kat is out before I can get around to open her door.
“This is stunning,” she says, staring up at the Yorkshire stone building, before turning and taking in the surrounding area.
My chest expands at her words.
I move to stand next to her, my hand resting on her lower back.
She looks up at me, her eyes sparkling.
“Are you going to show me around?”
I drop a kiss on her nose, only to have her tilt her head and claim my mouth.
I return her kiss, although I’m cautious not to hurt her.
Kat growls and pulls me closer.
When we finally come up for air, we’re both panting.
“Show me your home.”
I take her hand in mine and lead her to the front door. Unlocking it, I push it open, holding my breath as she enters the hallway.
“Oh, Jax,” she breathes. “This is beautiful.”