Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
S ierra
I sat on the bed, hugging my knees, sobbing and shaking. The bedroom door opened, and Jack walked in.
“Get out!” I shouted, throwing a pillow at him.
“Calm down.”
“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down!” I screamed and found it hard to breathe. I gasped.
Jack ran over and cradled my face in his hands. “Look at me, Sierra. Name five objects in this room. Do it!” he shouted as he saw me struggling. “Five objects, Sierra!”
“Pillow, dresser, TV, lamp, curtains.” My breathing started to return to normal.
He pulled me into him and held me tight. “You have nothing to be afraid of. I’m here, and I’m going to help you get through this.”
“You’re the one who caused all this. Why, Jack? How could you?” I pushed him away.
“I’ll be right back and explain everything. You stay put.” He pointed at me.
He returned to the bedroom with the advent calendars a few moments later.
“Open yours, and I’ll open mine.” He climbed on the bed next to me.
We opened the little doors and took out the bottles of whiskey. Twisting off the cap, I drank the entire bottle in one gulp.
“Wow.” His brows furrowed.
The burn soothed and calmed me down.
“I love you so much, sweetheart. I had to do what was right. I went to that bakery and confronted her. She told me the story. If I hadn’t, you would have eventually because I know it’s been eating you up inside since you saw her. You needed to know the reason why she did what she did. Now you know. What you do with that information is up to you. I won’t push you, and we won’t talk about it if you don’t want to. But remember, I love you more than anything, and all I want is to make you happy.”
“Well, you didn’t make me happy, Jack. It hurts so bad.” I opened tomorrow’s door and took out the bottle.
“What are you doing?” He went to grab it from my hand.
“Touch my bottle, and I will hit you with it. You’ve been warned.”
“Okay.” He put his hands up. “I won’t touch it. Jesus, Sierra. It’s all out in the open now, and it’s time to put our pasts to rest and move on with our lives together.”
I sipped the whiskey, put the cap back on, and set it on the nightstand. He still made me feel safe even though I was mad at him. I snuggled my body against him as his arm wrapped tightly around me.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.”
“I don’t know how to feel, Jack.”
“I know you don’t.” His lips pressed against the top of my head. “I know all too well that same feeling.”
“My mother was a prostitute.”
“People make bad choices when they have nowhere else to turn. It doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a second chance.”
I lifted my head and stared at him, furrowing my brows.
“You had an epiphany, and suddenly, you know everything?”
He chuckled. “I wish I knew everything, but I don’t. I only know what you’re going through. I know our circumstances are a bit different, but I still know. We’ve spent a lifetime letting our pasts dictate how we feel out of abandonment and rejection. That chapter of our lives is over, sweetheart. We’re starting a new chapter—one where there isn’t any abandonment and rejection, only love, happiness, and family. I love you, Sierra Knight, and you love me. That’s how our new chapter is beginning.”
“Do I love you, Jack? Do I?”
“Yes. Through all your hurt and pain right now, you do love me. I can see it in your eyes.” He smiled.
I sighed and laid my head on his chest. “I do love you, but I have a headache.”
“How about I draw you a nice hot bubble bath so you can relax?”
“That sounds nice.”
He climbed off the bed, went into the bathroom, and turned on the bath water.
“Come on.” He took hold of my arm and pulled me up. “I poured in your favorite bubbles.”
I stripped out of my clothes and sank into the deep, bubbly tub, my head against the fluffy white bath pillow. My body started to relax. After climbing out, I put on my nightshirt and climbed into bed. I was exhausted and only wanted to sleep.
“I’m going to get Ellie from Gretchen’s house.” He leaned over and kissed my lips. “I’ll get her ready for bed and tell her you’re not feeling well.”
“Thank you. Don’t forget the elf,” I said.
“Any ideas?”
“Nope. Figure it out, Jack.” I rolled over, tucking my hands under the pillow.
“I will.” He sighed.
I was lightly sleeping when I felt little lips on my cheek and whispering in my ear.
“I hope you feel better. I love you.”
Rolling over, I saw Ellie on the other side of me.
“I love you too, sweetheart.” I hugged her.
“Elianna? What are you doing in here? I told you Sierra was sleeping and didn’t feel well. I asked you to get in bed.”
“Sorry, Daddy. I wanted to say goodnight.”
“It’s okay, Jack. She’s the sweetest little girl in the world. Goodnight, Ellie. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night, Sierra. Okay, Daddy. I’m ready to go to bed.” She ran out of the room.
“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t ever be sorry when it comes to her.” I smiled.
After I put her to bed, I’ll be in here. Can I get you anything?”
“Just your sexy body.”
“Uh, are you feeling better down there?”
“I didn’t mean for sex, Jack. I just want to snuggle with you.”
“Oh.” He smiled. “You can have all the snuggles you want, baby. I’ll be right back.”
I grabbed the TV remote and turned on the TV. A movie was ending, and another was starting. Jack walked into the room, changed into a pair of pajama bottoms, brushed his teeth, and climbed into bed.
“What’s on?” he asked, hooking his arm around me as I snuggled against him.
“I don’t know.” I hit the info button, and Home Alone was next.
“Huh, I never saw that movie,” Jack said.
“Me either. Want to watch it?” I looked up at him.
“I’ll watch anything you want to, sweetheart.”
We lay there and watched Home Alone, laughing throughout most of the movie. It felt good to laugh and, surprisingly, to watch a Christmas movie.
“What parents are dumb enough not to realize their kid is missing until it’s too late?” Jack asked.
“It’s a movie, Jack. Don’t question it.”
“Right. Good point.”
Three Days Later
“ Y ou and I are picking Ellie up from school and going to dinner, and then I have a surprise for both of you,” Jack said.
“Won’t it be too early for dinner?” My brows furrowed.
“It’ll be fine, Sierra.”
“What’s the surprise?” I asked, smiling.
“I’m not telling you. That’s why it’s a surprise. Now, get your hot ass back to work.”
“First, I have a question for you.” I walked over and sat on his lap.
“What’s your question?” His eyes stared into mine.
“Why did you fire your last assistant? Nobody around here seems to know. How is that even possible?”
He inhaled a sharp breath. “Why is it important that you know?”
“Because I love you and want to know every single thing.” I grinned.
“It was a Saturday night around ten o’clock. I had just left the bar with Daniel and stopped by the office because I needed a file for a meeting downtown Monday morning. I was going to spend that Sunday at home working on it. When I came up to my office, I opened my door and found my assistant fucking not only one guy but two.”
“Stop it! You did not.”
“Yes, I did. Unfortunately, I flipped the light switch and saw more than I bargained for. I kicked the guys out and waited for Stephanie to get dressed. Once she was, I fired her. She begged me not to tell anyone and said she was incredibly sorry. I fired her and promised I wouldn’t tell a soul if she left quietly. Want to know the worst part?”
“Jesus, it gets worse?” My brow arched.
“She was married.”
“Wow.”
“I had no idea she was into that kind of thing. That’s why nobody knows the reason I fired her, not even Daniel.”
“You’re a good man for keeping that to yourself.” I kissed his lips. “Okay. Off to work.”
The moment I got up from his lap, he slapped my ass.
“You’re in trouble for that, mister.” I pointed at him.
“I’m banking on it.” A grin crossed his lips.