Page 12 of Deception and New Direction (Ranger Shield Security #3)

RUTHIE

My mind was racing as we drove back to Jack’s house. Dash kept sticking his head up front to lick the side of my face or rest his head on my shoulder, likely because he sensed I was upset.

I sighed deeply. “ Sorry . I hope Granddad can get the attorney to let me donate the money. I just want them to leave me alone.”

“I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think you should get rid of that money if you’d like to keep it.

Let’s wait and talk to this O’Reilly guy.

It sounds like he’s done a pretty good job so far of keeping the money away from your dad and brother, so hopefully he can help you figure out a way to keep doing that even after your birthday. ”

“Before my mom died, my dad mentioned several times that he couldn’t wait until I turned eighteen and was no longer his problem .

Then , after she died, he never mentioned that particular comment again.

I honestly believed maybe he had softened a little since Mom died.

Now I’m realizing it was because he found out about the money and just wanted to keep me near. ”

Jack reached over, grabbed my hand, and squeezed it. His fingers lightly rubbed over the back of my hand, and I enjoyed it more than I probably should have. I let him keep ahold of it so as to not offend him. Not because it felt nice or anything.

Okay that was a lie.

I thought back to my childhood—memories that I hadn’t put too much weight into at the time, now suddenly had a different meaning.

I specifically remembered one night right before I graduated high school. My brother had brought Mal over, and he was blatantly flirting with me in front of my dad and brother.

I may not have had enough dating experience, but I watched enough movies to know that most dads and brothers were not cool with that. Except apparently mine.

“I know you like him, Jason , but can you tell him to lay off me,” I told my brother. “ I’m not interested.”

“You’re gonna need to find a husband sooner or later so you can get out of my house,” my father replied. “ Mal is a good option for you. Mostly because for some reason he finds you appealing, but he also has a good, solid job so he can take care of you and any sons you have.”

I noted that he hadn’t said daughters. I tried not to let that hurt more than it should. I was used to comments like that by now.

“If you don’t like Mal , that’s fine,” my dad added. “ But just make sure you come to me or your brother first before you decide to marry someone else. Just so we make sure you aren’t making a terrible decision.”

Terrible decision, my butt. I thought now. He likely just wanted the option to find out if the man could help him out with getting money from his cash cow.

“Sis, I agree with dad here,” my brother, ever the peacemaker, added. “ Just make sure you let us meet him before you elope. It’s my job as your brother to protect you from some idiot.”

“Chances are if she picks him, he’ll definitely be an idiot,” my dad remarked. “ At least by then, she’ll be his problem and not ours anymore.”

It was memories like these that kept coming back to me during the ride, after we got to Jack’s house, and as I tried to fall asleep. I had a feeling I was in for a restless night.

* * *

I couldn’t sleep. Everything from earlier in the day ran through my mind.

Even Dash gave out an exasperated sigh because he was not a fan of my tossing and turning in the bed.

Apparently , my inability to get some shut-eye was affecting his beauty sleep.

I finally gave up and decided to go out to the kitchen for a drink, hoping that would help.

Since I would only be going a short distance, I opted for only one crutch under my right arm and made my way quietly to the kitchen as to not wake Jack up.

Dash did not follow me, choosing instead to stay snuggled in the big bed.

As I exited the hallway and turned toward the kitchen area, I was looking to the ground, careful not to trip over anything.

“You okay?” a low voice said, causing me to gasp and jump back, and I saw Jack standing in the kitchen by the fridge.

“God, Jack , I think you just took three years off my life.” I put my hand over my heart and felt it racing.

“Sorry.”

“I came to get some water,” I told him as I walked to the cabinet.

With one hand holding my crutch, I used my free hand to grab a glass and filled it up. I walked back over to the counter and set my crutch to the side then turned back to face Jack while I leaned back against the counter for support.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked.

I stood there, taking a sip, as I let both my heart rate and brain calm back down before answering him. “ I couldn’t get my mind to stop racing with everything that happened today. I hate feeling scared and weak over this. I’m usually much stronger.”

“Ruthie, you’re one of the strongest women I know.

Feeling apprehensive about this situation doesn’t make you weak.

It actually makes you smart. You have the instinct to recognize when something doesn’t feel right, and you have to trust that feeling.

It’s okay to tell me how you’re feeling. You shouldn’t keep that bottled up.”

I looked up at him and for the first time noticed he was just standing there in flannel pants. No shirt, just his bare chest.

I slowly scanned over his chest and noticed several small marks that marred his chest and right shoulder. Before I thought better of it, I asked him what those were.

“Shrapnel,” he answered matter-of-factly. “ IED went off nearby, and I got hit with some debris. I was lucky.”

“You consider getting hit by shrapnel lucky?” His definition was clearly different than mine.

“I consider it lucky that the only injuries I sustained from the shrapnel were these small scars. Other guys weren’t as lucky.”

I felt like an idiot now. “ I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“Can I ask what happened?”

“Sure,” he responded but didn’t give me anything else.

I stood there staring at him, but he just looked right back at me. I took that as my cue to move on.

“Is that why you couldn’t sleep and were here in the kitchen?” I asked.

He didn’t answer right away. He cleared his throat before shaking his head. “ No .”

“What was it then?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh no, you don’t. This is sharing time. Spill .” I set my glass down and put my hand on my hip, giving him my best attitude. “ You just told me it wasn’t healthy to keep that bottled up, and now you do just that. I call bullshhhh…shticks.”

“Nice save,” he muttered regarding my curse.

“Nice deflection.” I crossed my arms under my chest, full attitude back in place.

“You don’t want to know,” he said calmly, but his voice had changed.

“Try me.” My eyebrow raised, letting him know I was throwing down on this challenge.

“You.”

“Me?”

He didn’t respond verbally, just nodded.

“What about me?”

He didn’t answer though, so I pressed.

“ What did you think about exactly…when you thought of me.”

His eyes became very intense. His jawline twitched. “ Everything I wanted to do to your body.”

Was it getting hot in here?

I didn’t know why, but I wanted to know more. Some part of my subconscious needed to know.

“Tell me, Jack .”

He shook his head in response.

“I want you to tell me. I want to hear you say it.”

He took two steps closer to me, putting him only inches from me. If he breathed hard enough, I could probably feel it on my face.

“You in those damn tight skirts you wear. I want to yank that skirt up to your waist so I can see that divine space between your legs. Bury my face in there. My cock.” He paused, putting his arm on either side of me on the kitchen counter, effectively caging me in.

“ Take my time enjoying you. Bring you pleasure that you’ve never felt before.

Then you give me permission to do it again—and let me worship that body like I was meant to do. ”

Ohmigod. Could you come just from having a man talk seductively to you?

I was panting now as I stared back at him.

“Jack,” I whispered as I moved my eyes to look at his lips.

“Keep staring at me like that, and I’m going to kiss you.” His voice was low and husky.

I licked my own lips as I briefly imagined what it would feel like to have him kiss me.

He growled, and then his lips were on mine.

The kiss may have started out gentle and soft, but once I put my hands to his hair and raked my nails over his scalp, things took off.

He slid his hands up my sides, and the heat from his touch felt like it was scalding my skin.

When his hands reached my neck, he took over the kiss.

He devoured my mouth as I enjoyed the taste and feel of him.

Clank. Thud .

The noise startled me out of my kissing stupor to see my crutch had fallen to the floor.

Jack leaned down to pick it up and handed it to me. “ Good night, Ruthie .”

He walked out of the kitchen and toward his room. I stood there frozen, half dazed and confused.

What just happened?

My fingers pressed against my lips, remembering the kiss. It was both amazing and unbelievable. It was also dangerous. Jack was dangerous—and I was in trouble.