Page 41

Allie

T he hum of insects rises from the ground, growing louder as it reaches the air, and the metal chains holding the back porch swing squeak softly as it moves gently, back and forth.

On the light pink horizon, the sun is a neon-yellow ball sliced into perfect quarters by thin lavender clouds. The water is periwinkle blue with shades of purple haze drifting above it.

I watch a flock of seagulls fly into the pale orange sky, fluttering their wings and dipping their beaks in the rippling waters.

It’s a cool Sunday morning. My feet are up, and I’m wrapped in a crocheted blanket holding a mug of coffee. Jack’s strong arms surround me, and I rest my head against his chest as he twirls a lock of my hair between his fingers.

I hold his hand. His knuckles are swollen and scarred from where he tried to kill my ex with them. I couldn’t love him more if I tried.

Lifting my chin, I look up at him. His blue eyes are on the water. His cheeks are dusted in dark brown scruff, and the rising sun bathes his skin in attractive yellow light.

The set of his jaw is as focused as always, determined, daring. He’s my hero. He saved me, and now I’m here in his house after sleeping in his bed all night safe in his arms.

“How’s the wound?” My voice is soft, not wanting to disturb the serenity of this moment.

He blinks down at me, his eyes sliding over my face, from my forehead down my nose to my lips. His expression softens, and he leans forward inhaling the top of my head.

“I’ll be fine.” His voice shimmers in my veins. “How’s your shoulder?”

“Good.” I tuck my chin, nestling into his arms again. “It’s all good now.”

Everything happened with Rip so quickly, my head’s still spinning. I read once that most criminals are not masterminds, and after everything that happened these last few days, I’m convinced it’s true.

The only excuse I can make for my idiot ex is he never expected I’d be best friends with the younger sister of a sheriff who had access to all his information and knew exactly where he lived.

He counted on me being the same dumb girl who fell for his charming lies all those years ago in New Orleans. He thought he could bully me into helping him, but even if it hadn’t been for Garrett and Jack, I’d never have helped him.

The worst part is my friends being hurt.

Garret was wearing a Kevlar vest, which protected him from being killed. He was winded by the shot, and he said he’ll have a nasty bruise. But he wasn’t critically injured.

Jack caught a bullet to the shoulder. It went straight through, which the urgent care doctor said was a good thing. It didn’t hit any major nerves, and he should have a full recovery.

I still blink back tears when I see the bandages and his swollen, damaged knuckles.

My shoulder was strained from jumping out of bed with my hand tied to the frame, but it’s the least of my concerns.

We got back after midnight, after spending the day at the hospital and giving reports to the police department. Garrett stayed behind to be sure everything went smoothly.

Jack didn’t kill Rip Sinclair. He claims to be sorry he didn’t, but I’m glad he doesn’t have that hanging over his head.

Even if it would’ve been self-defense, even if Rip broke parole, crossed state lines, illegally rented a car in my name, and kidnapped me, I don’t want Jack bearing the guilt of taking a life. Even a bad one.

“Were you able to sleep last night?” Jack’s voice is gentle, and he rubs the damaged hand I love up and down my arm.

“I slept like a baby.” I smile, thinking about curling into his arms in the middle of his large bed. “Better than a baby, since babies don’t actually sleep very soundly.”

“They sure look cute doing it. Like you.”

A laugh huffs through my nose, and I hold his arm. “Speaking of babies, I need to see my big baby.”

I texted Austin as soon as I was safe, and we were on our way to urgent care. I had to use Jack’s phone, since I’d lost mine in the maze.

Then I FaceTimed with him when I was sure Rip was headed back to prison. I was glad I could tell him we were safe. I could tell him his dad was going away once and for all.

But even seeing his face wasn’t enough. I need to hold him, look into his eyes, and be sure he’s okay. What happened was traumatic enough, and for so long, it was just Austin and me.

“Dylan said they’re making a big breakfast at the restaurant this morning. Everyone’s anxious to see you’re not hurt.”

“Even though you assured them I wasn’t?” I look up at him again, and a little smile curls those serious lips.

He leans down and presses them to mine, and I reach up to thread my fingers in the back of his hair. Our mouths open, and our tongues slide together, and I could stay here forever.

Until my stomach growls.

We both laugh, and our teeth clink together. “I’d better get you fed. You haven’t had a decent meal since Friday. ”

“I guess breakfast at McDonald’s doesn’t count?”

“It does not.” His voice is a teasing scold.

He holds my arm as I unwind from the blanket and stand. My lips tighten when I study his arm in a sling.

“I need to talk to Liv anyway.” Reaching down, I take his coffee mug. “I’m going to get her to help me change my name ASAP. I never dreamed Rip could pull a stunt like that, and it’s never going to happen again.”

Jack catches my waist, stopping me before I can go to the kitchen. “Maybe I can help you with that.”

My brow furrows, and I hesitate. “Help me with what?”

He carefully removes the sling then takes the coffee cups out of my hands and puts them on the side table. Holding both of my hands in his, he pulls me between his legs while he’s still sitting.

“For so long, I tried to bury myself in work and pretend like this wasn’t happening between us. I tried to deny my feelings and tell myself you didn’t think of me that way…”

My heart beats faster, and energy surges in my stomach. “Jack…”

“I’m not denying it any more.” His blue eyes hold mine, and I’m drawn to him like a flower to the sun. “I’m not pretending anymore. I want you standing beside me, and I don’t care who knows or what they say. You’re mine, Allie, and if you’re changing your name, you’re changing it to Bradford.”

Tears fall onto both my cheeks when I blink. “What are you saying?”

I know what he’s saying, but I have to hear him speak the words.

“All the way, on that long drive in the dark, when every mile was an eternity, and I didn’t know if you were okay, if you were scared, if he was hurting you.

Turning it over and over in my mind, all I could think about were the things we never did…

I knew when you were in my arms again, it was for keeps.

” He looks down at my hands, studying my fingers, specifically my left ones. “Come with me. ”

He stands abruptly, leading me through the screen door into his large house. We pass through the kitchen into the living room, down the long hall to his master suite.

We’re moving quickly, and my heart is racing. My eyes are fixed on his broad shoulders, and I can’t stop the smile aching in my cheeks.

“Where are we going?” My voice is high, anticipating what I know is coming.

A little fish is in my stomach… Hell, a whole school of fish is in my stomach flipping and going crazy. When we reach the bed he stops, turning and catching my shoulders.

“Wait here.”

I wait as he disappears into the long closet. He drops down, and I hear the sound of boxes moving. A series of short beeps is followed by the sound of a metal door opening. Leaning forward on my toes, I peer at him holding a box and taking something out.

He turns, and I step back quickly, looking around like I wasn’t peeking.

“I’ve had this a long time.” His brow furrows as he studies it. “It wasn’t with me in Texas, so I never gave it to Kimmie’s mom. It wasn’t meant for her.”

A delicate ring is in his hand, and my stomach dips as a deep exhale pushes down. I can’t fight the tears flooding my eyes.

“Oh, Jack…” Clasping my hands together, I lift them to my nose. “Is that?—?”

His blue eyes meet mine, and he’s so serious. “It was my mother’s ring.” His voice is quiet. “Dad gave it to me after she died. He told me to save it for the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

I hiccup, and a quiet whimper slips from my throat. I cover my mouth with my right hand as he takes my left one in both of his.

“I love you, Allie.” He looks up at me, and tears blur my vision. “I want you to marry me. I want you to be my wife and live in this house and help me take care of Kimmie and let me be there for you and Austin.”

“I love the way you love my son. You’re a better dad to him than he’s ever had.”

“He’s a great kid.” He smiles, blinking up at me. “He reminds me a lot of myself.”

“And I love Kimmie, too.” I’m talking fast. “She’s so funny and sweet and fierce. I hope she might love me, too.”

My hands are shaking, and my mind won’t slow down. I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve dreamed of this so many times. I pictured how it might happen, but I never, ever expected his mother’s ring.

“She already loves you.” His voice is warm. “But what about me?”

“What?” My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

“How do you feel about me?”

His tone has an unexpected touch of vulnerability, and emotion flashes from my stomach to my chest to my flushed cheeks.

“Seriously?” A laugh bursts through my lips, and I reach up to put my hands on his neck.

“I’ve loved you for so long, Jack Bradford!

I’ve dreamed about you every night, and every time we’d walk down that aisle, I’d imagine what it would be like if it were really us and not your brother or your sister getting married.

What if you were my man, looking at me that way, with so much love in your eyes? ”

His brow lowers, and he leans down to kiss my lips before straightening. “It is me now, asking you, Allie Sinclair?—”

“LaSalle,” I quickly correct. “My maiden name is LaSalle.”