Page 18

18

Jack

M y phone vibrating has me stepping away from Nate and our potential clients. We just finished a meeting and are saying the obligatory farewells outside the restaurant where we were meeting.

“Ian.”

“Uh, boss. I think you need to come to Ella’s.”

My feet are already moving toward my SUV before he finishes his sentence. His tone sends a chill down my back. “What the fuck happened? Why isn’t she at work? Is she hurt?”

“Not entirely sure what happened, but she’s pretty upset. She called me to pick her up early from work. I’m worried about her.”

Seven minutes later, I’m parked and walking toward her building.

After I’m buzzed in, I practically sprint up to the fourth floor to get to her condo. Attempting to knock softly but failing, it sounds much more aggressive than intended. Ian opens the door with a grimmer-than-usual expression. Passing by him, I’m consumed by anger when I get to the living room, my mind racing with possibilities of what’s wrong. As soon as I enter her space, I see Gisella curled up on the couch. Face red and blotchy, her eyes are slightly swollen, and her makeup is smeared, but when they meet mine, the agony tearing through her makes me want to rip the world apart so I can put it back together in whatever way makes it perfect for her. The only thing that calms me is the slight relaxing of her tortured features when she sees me.

I stand in front of her TV, facing her, crossing my arms to prevent myself from going to her and pulling her into my lap to comfort her. Ian hovers nearby, watching Gisella with similar concern.

“Tell me why you’re upset.” Realizing how harsh I sound, I add a strained, “Please.”

She reaches down and pulls a throw blanket over her. “Well, I’m probably going to jail, so there’s that.”

My body tenses, and I glance over at Ian. Confusion has replaced his concern. Surely, I misheard her. “I’m sorry, come again?”

She sniffs and snuggles into the blanket. “Yep, you’re looking at Davidson County’s newest felon.” With a heavy exhale, she squeezes her eyes shut. “Also, I got fired.”

My fists and arms clench where I have them crossed over my chest. “Gisella,” I command. She looks up, and the depth of pain, uncertainty, and fear in her eyes breaks parts of my heart I didn’t even know existed. Despite the lividness rushing through my veins, I force my tone to be as gentle as possible. “Can you please tell me what happened? ”

She stares straight ahead, swiping tears off her cheek. “I’m being accused of what I think is something very serious. And I think I’m being framed.” She shakes her head in bewilderment. “I don’t know the extent of how serious, but it won’t end well for me.”

I’m reeling from this information. How could this woman, who volunteers at a senior center because it reminds her of her dead foster mother, ever be accused of doing anything illegal or unethical? And she’s being framed? I recognize I don’t know her well and that you never know sometimes, but every instinct I have honed over the many years of being in life-or-death situations tells me that whatever happened, she’s not involved.

She sniffs softly and wipes her cheeks one more time before leveling her tortured gaze on me. “I don’t want to go to jail, Jack.”

With that, she breaks down fully. She covers her face with her hands, her shoulders quaking with her sobs.

Not thinking twice, I sit next to her on the couch, wrap my arm around her shoulders, and pull her into me. She doesn’t resist. She collapses into my chest, her tears soaking my shirt. Holding her tighter, my other hand smooths down her hair. I press my lips to the top of her head, not sure if it’s to comfort her or myself.

“We’ll figure this out, Gisella.”

Instead of putting her at ease, like I intended, that seems to snap her out of her distress. She wiggles out from under my arm while shaking her head adamantly. Pushing herself back, her hands rest on my thigh, holding herself up as her determined eyes meet mine. “Jack, no. This isn’t your problem. You have more important things to do. And you’re already doing too much for me.”

Ignoring the electricity zipping through my body from where her hands are on me, I gently push a strand of hair behind her ear. “You not going to jail is pretty fucking important.”

Her breath stutters on her inhale, then she’s biting the inside of her lip. “I would really like to not go to jail.”

A soft laugh escapes my chest. Even with a blotchy, tear-stained face, Gisella is breathtaking and so damn sweet.

I glance over at Ian. He inclines his head, letting me know he’s going to leave. Gripping her biceps gently, I lean back from her. “I’m staying with you tonight. Let me walk Ian out.”

I almost don’t leave her when her fingers contract on my thigh and the distress that was starting to subside flares.

“I’ll be right back, I promise.”

Her chest expands as she inhales and nods, pushing away from me. “Okay.”

Once we are in the hallway, Ian turns to me. I glance at her closed door and cross my arms, then back at him. “I’m going to try to get more information from her about why she thinks she’s going to go to jail. I don’t even know how best to proceed…as if these texts weren’t enough.”

Ian shakes his head. “We can all talk once you learn more. I think Nate and Tyler will want to help if possible.”

“Agreed.”

I send a text to Nate, explaining why I had to leave and that I’ll need to talk to him tomorrow before entering her condo again.

By the time I join Gisella in her living room again, she appears to have composed herself. I sit down next to her, pulling her into my side again. Her head goes to my shoulder, and her hand to my chest as my arm wraps around her shoulder.

“How are you feeling? ”

I feel her shrug against me. “Scared. Helpless. Mad.”

Nodding, I press my lips to the top of her head. “All understandable feelings. I promise you, we’ll figure out what’s going on.”

Her fingers trace a pattern on my chest, sending electricity straight to my groin. “I feel bad. First the texts, and now this.” She huffs out a laugh. “I swear I’m not usually this much of a hot mess.”

I respond honestly. “Even if you were, I wouldn’t care.”

Her hand stills at my comment. She pushes up, so she is looking down at me. “Jack,” she murmurs, eyes shimmering with desire.

My gaze trails down to her luscious lips. I have deprived myself of them for too long, trying to be a professional. But I can’t resist any longer.

I pull her head down to mine, and our lips meet. Her body melts against me, my hand gripping the back of her neck tight. A low moan vibrates against my lips. My tongue coaxes her to open and let me in. As soon as they do, I dive into exploring her deeper. I want everything from this woman, and this is just the beginning. Her taste is as sweet as I remember and something I don’t think I will ever tire of.

I’m about to lay us back on the couch to take this further, but a startled yelp flies from her lips when my phone, which is wedged between our bodies, starts to vibrate.

I release her with a growl of frustration and built-up sexual tension, retrieving my phone from my pocket. Gisella puts more space between us on the couch as she presses her fingers to her lips, and I frown. My hand clamps down on her thigh to keep her from moving too far away.

When I see the name on my phone, I mutter an annoyed, “Goddamn it.”

Gisella gives me a questioning look as I connect the call .

“Yes, Becky?”

“Jack, are you still coming over for dinner tonight?”

I completely forgot I was supposed to be at Becky’s tonight. She won’t care if I cancel, but knowing Gisella can hear Becky in her quiet condo, I raise my eyebrows to her in question. After I receive a short nod in response, I ask, “Can I bring someone?”

“Like one of the guys?”

“No, not one of the guys. A woman, actually.”

“A woman?” Becky exclaims so loudly that I have to pull the phone away from my ear.

I smile when Gisella presses her hands to her flushed cheeks. Her embarrassment is adorable.

“Damn, Becky. You’re so loud, and that’s saying something, since I’ve been in very close proximity to more than one bomb and more gunfire than I can count.”

“Oh, shut up. I was just surprised.”

I chuckle. “Clearly. So can I bring her?”

“I will be so pissed if you don’t.”

After reassuring her that we’ll be there, I disconnect the call.

“You sure you’re okay with going to my cousin’s?”

“Yes, I think it’ll be a good distraction.” Her voice is husky with residual arousal and makes me want to call my cousin and tell her we aren’t coming after all, but I resist.

Becky stands at her oven, assembling a casserole for dinner when we walk in. When she glances over her shoulder, her face breaks into a wide grin. “You made it!” She rushes over to us, careful not to touch us with her messy hands, as she gives me a hug and turns to Gisella. “Ella, is it? I’m a hugger, is that okay?”

I texted Becky before we left to come over to give her a heads up about Gisella so she didn’t say anything that would make Gisella feel uncomfortable.

Gisella spreads her arms for my cousin. “Yeah, absolutely. It’s so nice to meet you, Becky.”

After they release each other and Becky steps back to the stove, I usher Gisella over to the breakfast nook table. Once she is seated, I cage her in with one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair. “Do you want something to drink?”

Her smile sends warmth across my chest. “Sure, thank you.”

I go to the fridge and grab myself a beer and Gisella a glass of whatever white wine my cousin has open. Bringing them back to the table, I sit down next to Gisella.

While Becky peppers Gisella with questions, I take sips of my beer. I fight the urge to tell my cousin to chill out a little, but Gisella seems to be enjoying it. Her posture starts to relax, her laughter coming a little easier and much less forced.

Maybe Gisella was right, and this was the distraction she needed.

Eventually, Tim, Becky’s husband, joins us in the kitchen. He gives her a quick kiss on the lips before grabbing a beer and joining me and Gisella at the table. I nod a greeting and introduce him to Gisella.

After placing the casserole in the oven and pouring herself a glass of wine, Becky joins us. Becky and Gisella continue their lively conversation, and I’m happy to leave them to it.

When I glance over at Tim, he’s watching his wife with a slight smile on his face. I think back to when Becky first met Tim. Tyler was about eight at the time. Becky hadn’t dated much since she had Tyler, but getting pregnant at seventeen does change the trajectory of one’s dating life. I was happy she didn’t try to make it work with Tyler’s dad. He was an awful kid in school and, from what I’ve seen, is an even worse adult. I keep tabs on him to ensure there’s no indication that he might decide to bother Becky or Tyler, even if he signed away his parental rights long ago. I was already in the army when she met Tim, so I was unsure about their relationship when she called me. But as soon as I came home and saw how much he loved her and Tyler and how much he fit in with our group of friends, I gave Becky my stamp of approval and haven’t once regretted it to this day.

The ability to meld into this makeshift family that Becky and I have built around us was always the one trait my own past relationships all severely lacked. I didn’t bring many around them, but the ones I did never quite fit for one reason or another.

Even in the couple of days that both Tyler and Ian have spent around her, it’s evident they’re very much Team Gisella. It makes me even more settled about my decision.

The evening continues with more conversation, laughs, and lots of wine for Gisella and Becky. Tim and I thoroughly enjoy watching them unwind and get a little tipsy as the night progresses.

After many adorable drunken arguments from both of them, I’m able to convince Gisella it’s time to go.

Becky and Gisella are hugging for the fourth time when Becky says, “Ella, you have to come to Alice’s retirement party this weekend. It’ll be so much fun.”

Gisella stutters. “Oh, uh, I don’t want to intrude. I don’t even know her. ”

Becky brushes off her concerns. “Alice loves everyone. She’ll want to meet you anyway. You have to come!” She whips her head in my direction. “Jack, tell her. She has to come.”

I stifle my laugh as I pull Gisella away from my cousin and into my side. I love how she melts against me. “I’m not going to force her to come if she doesn’t want to. But I would love it if she came to the party.”

“Really?” Gisella asks incredulously, curious eyes shining up at me.

As if I could ever not want her to come with me. This woman has effectively changed me, and I don’t even know what we are or what we’re doing.

“Yes, really.” I smile down at her, running my hand down her back to her waist. The contented sigh that leaves her settles deep into my chest.

After one more round of goodbyes and helping Gisella into the vehicle, we’re finally on the road back to her place.

As I glance over, Gisella has her head tipped back, her eyes closed, with a hint of a smile. She looks so different from how she did when I got to her condo today. I’m so relieved she could have a night like tonight after everything she’s been going through.

I walk her upstairs without incident, and she quickly gets ready for bed and climbs under the covers.

“Sit up,” I command, as I lower myself onto the bed next to her. She doesn’t hesitate. “Here, take these and drink the water.”

She holds out her hands for the pills and grabs the glass from me. “So bossy…” she mumbles with a smirk before she swallows the pills and chugs the water. Then she holds the glass out for me to take. “Thanks, Dad .”

I raise my eyebrows at her sass, and she giggles while she collapses back onto her pillow. I have zero interest in that particular kink, but everything else about this woman turns me on, so I would make an exception if she had wanted to.

After taking the glass to the kitchen and refilling it, so if she needs more water in the middle of the night, she’ll have it easily accessible, I return to her room. I set it on the nightstand and sit on the bed next to her, caging her in with my hands on either side of her.

She’s looking up at me with a mix of drunken lust and playfulness. “I don’t want to call you daddy.”

The snort of laughter that leaves me makes her giggle more. “I don’t want you to, either.” She nods once, as if we settled a big debate. “But I do have a question…where do you want me to sleep?”

I know where I would prefer to sleep, but I want her to make the decision.

Her eyes search my face for a few breaths. “I want you to sleep in my bed.”

She gets a quick peck on the lips before I say, “Great answer.”

I strip off my clothes to just my boxer briefs, with Gisella watching my every move. Once I’m under the covers, she scoots next to me, and I open my arm so she can cuddle into my side. With her head on my shoulder and hand on my chest, I can breathe a little deeper.

“You know,” she starts to say, tone soft and sweet, “we got interrupted earlier…”

I tighten my hold on her. “You’re right, we did.”

She shifts in my arms so she can look at my face. “Jack, I really like you.”

My huff of laughter flutters the few hairs that have escaped her messy bun. “I’m glad to hear that, because I really like you, too.”

With her face beaming at my admission, she settles her cheek back down. “I should feel bad. This really couldn’t be worse timing, and it’s kind of crazy how fast it happened, but I can’t help it.” Each word tickles the hairs on my chest.

My fingers trail a circle on her shoulder as she snuggles deeper into my side. “I don’t give a shit about timing or how fast or slow we’re supposed to go to get here. I’m just glad we are.”

She turns her head to press a kiss to my pec, and my skin tingles as her hand slides down my stomach. My dick perks up at the contact.

I gently grip her wrist, halting her progress. “I can’t even express how much I want that, but the first time I fuck you, my cousin won’t have gotten you drunk before.”

Her exhale of frustration blows across my bare skin, making me smirk.

“Fine.” Her hand moves back up to my chest as she toys with my chest hair, which is no less arousing. Then she’s smiling as she tilts her head up to look at me. “Thank you for tonight, Jack. I had a really good time. Your cousin is so great.”

I kiss the top of her head and breathe in the sweet floral scent of her shampoo. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. She thinks you are pretty great yourself.” My hand trails down her back and settles on her hip. “Go to sleep, baby.”

The endearment sounds so natural to my ears. Everything around us may be chaotic and imploding, but this right here, with her by my side, feels easy and right.

She gives one last sigh before relaxing into me. As soon as her breath evens out, I close my eyes and let sleep engulf me. And it’s the most pleasant rest I’ve had in maybe my whole life.