by Nicole Vidal
“What is your dream job?”
“I’m sure if you dig for writings from my childhood, you will find I wanted to be everything from an astronaut to a lawyer. Truthfully, I always wanted to own a bookstore. A bookstore where you don’t necessarily have to buy a book to enjoy the space, a library of sorts. I would have books for sale but also a lending library as well.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“What about you?” I ask, wondering if he always wanted to be in the military.
“From an early age, I wanted to serve like my father. When I returned from my last tour and retired, I considered becoming a cop, but I didn’t want to put myself at risk every day for my job. Connor and I were lucky, our injuries were recoverable. Carter, Jones, Adams, and the others were not. The look on my mother’s face was too much to bear when I finally returned home. I can’t take a risk like that every single day.”
“Aren’t you taking risks like that right now—” I swallow hard. “—for me?” I stop walking and turn to face him.
“Yes.”
“Why?” Because you asked him.
He scrubs his hand down his face before sliding it along my jaw, his fingers trailing to the back of my neck. His eyes soften as he looks into mine, the blue of them serene and calm. A place I could get lost if I allow myself. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t already.
“Up until your text, I was fine being here alone with no one to share my nights. I was fine with my life if you were happy. Fine if you were safe. If I could see you when it worked for both of us, it was working for me. I was stuck feeling guilt for something completely out of my control. Guilt I unnecessarily placed on myself. Now, I can’t go back. I don’t see how I can let you go when this is over. I don’t want to.”
“Jacob—”
“Could you be happy here?”
“What do you mean here? Here as in living here or here as in with you?”
“Both, I think.” A hint of doubt creeps into his voice. That wasn’t the intent of my question. I know he can’t leave here. He built his business here. I would never ask him to leave for me.
“Jacob, I want you. I—”
He pulls my mouth to his, pouring every ounce of his heart into his kiss. The warmth and heat of his tongue tangling with mine makes my knees weak. He has kissed me more times than I can count, but this kiss…. He’s staking his claim, admitting that we have something worth fighting for. We could have a future together. A soft moan seeps past my lips as he gently pulls back.
“Norah, I—” His words are cut short by his phone ringing. “I’m sorry.”
I attempt to take a step away, but he pulls me back against his body. Sweet mercy! His large hand is flat against the small of my back, digging in just enough to make sure I know moving isn’t an option.
“Okay, I’ll talk to her and see what she remembers from that time frame and get back to you,” I overhear Jacob say to whoever called. It’s probably Blaine. I wonder what he found.
“What did Blaine find?”
Dropping his hand, he silently takes mine, leading me a bit further along the path. At a small clearing, there is a group of tables and chairs. He takes a seat in a chair, guiding me into his lap. He ignores my question and continues what he was saying before the call.
“I want to take you on a proper date, but there are two issues with that. First, I haven’t been on a date in way too long. Second, you can’t leave here yet.”
“I understand.” I smile and press my lips to his briefly. “Any idea how much longer I will not be able to leave?”
“Do you need something?” There is an edge to his question, letting me know if he can fix whatever it is, he will.
“Jacob, our circumstances are unique. I appreciate that you’ll do whatever you can to make this more palatable for me, and you have. Your home is idyllic and comfortable. I want you. I want to be with you, but I also want the freedom to see my family and friends. You can’t control that, and I understand completely, but I need to let Kelly know about Thanksgiving soon.”
“Okay. Hopefully, we’ll have a better idea in a few days how we’ll handle the ledger, or lack thereof, by Friday and if they follow through on their threat regarding Delores. Blaine indicated there’s a mention of the ledger in an email from Sergio Moretti to Stan dated about two and a half years ago. It mentions something about a prize and stashing the ledger with the prize. Does that mean anything to you?”
“Not off the top of my head. Is there a way for me to get into my personal email safely?”
“Maybe. What are you looking for?”
One hand is digging into my hip while the other is threaded with mine.
“My calendar is linked to my email. I might be able to recall something if I could review it.”
“Are you okay with Blaine downloading it and sending it to me?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Anything else?”
“Not right now.” I bring my legs over the arm of the chair and snuggle deeper into Jacob’s embrace. Aside from learning more about this caring protector with insane blue eyes, I need to figure out what I want to do with my life, at least professionally.
Chapter 38
Jacob
Sharing some of my feelings with Norah was easier than I thought. Now, I just need to make her world safe so she can go back to it, at least to visit. It takes Blaine less than an hour to send me a copy of her calendar back three years.
We’re walking back when I receive the copy. Tank meets us at the gate, his tail wagging. We aren’t alone.
“Who’s here, Tank?”
He barks before taking off back toward the house.
“How do you know someone is here?” Norah asks.
We need to work on her observation skills.
“Tank was inside when we left.”
We step onto the porch and remove our boots. I glance inside before we enter, but don’t see anyone.
“Oh, there you are.” My mother comes into the main living area from down the hall and hugs us both. I watch Norah in my mom’s embrace. Her expression is hard to decipher. I’m not sure if she’s sad or happy. Sad because her mom isn’t here, but happy that mine is willing to welcome her.
“Hi, Mrs. Blackthorne. How are you?”
“Please call me Connie. I’m well, and you?”
“Same.”
“Is everything okay, Mom? You don’t normally just stop by.”
“Joyce fell on some ice at the courthouse this afternoon. I just left her at the hospital.”
“Is she going to be okay? Is she home? How badly is she injured?” I ask a slew of questions rapidly.
“Connie, could you excuse us for a minute?” Norah asks to slow down my questions.
“Of course.”
Norah takes my hand and leads me into the bedroom. “Is one of your staff here?”
I run through the assignments in my head. Callen is with Miss Goldberg. Christoph has returned from his event with Miss Forrester. Nolan is unassigned right now, and Maia isn’t due back to Maine for another week.
“Probably, why?”
“Call them. You need to see Joyce with your own eyes. It’s the only way to make that look dissipate.”
“What look?”
“The uncertainty you have in your eyes. It’s the same look you had on the plane when you told me I was going with Connor before you kissed me. The look was different after you kissed me. Have one of them or all of them come stay with me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. As much as I would like to go with you, I can’t. But you need to go.”
She would be willing to come with me. This woman is beyond what I deserve.
“Do you have a preference who stays with you?”
“No.”
Reluctantly, I dial the phone at the bunkhouse. “Hello, Jacob. What’s up?” Christoph answers.
“I need at least one of you to come keep Norah company. I need to visit Joyce.”
“Give us ten
minutes,” he replies before hanging up.
I turn back to the woman beside me. “Thank you, Norah. I’m sure this is awkward for you.”
“Not at all. Joyce holds a special place in your life, not only as your social worker but your best friend’s mother and your mother-in-law.”
“I have no words right now to explain what’s going on in my head.” My heart too if I’m being completely honest with myself. I slide both hands along her jaw and kiss her thoroughly, her lips plump from mine as I pull away.
“Hey, boss man. We’re here,” I hear Nolan call from the foyer. I also hear my mom greeting them. I press my lips to Norah’s again briefly.
“Go. I’ll be fine.”
I don’t want to leave her, but I’m grateful she understands my need to see Joyce with my own eyes.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I hurry out of the room with my wallet and keys in hand.
“Will Mrs. Michelson be okay?” I overhear Nolan asking my mom.
“Eventually, yes,” my mother replies as I step into the kitchen.
“Thanks for coming, Nolan. She’ll be right out.”
“No problem. The others will be here momentarily.”
“Ready, Mom?”
“You’re coming?” she asks, grabbing her purse.
“Yes.”
We pass Maia and Christoph on our way out the door.
“Where is she?” I ask my mother as we walk to our cars.
“She was being discharged when I left to come here. She’s just getting home now. Is everything okay with Norah?”
“What do you mean?”
“The threat is still out there?”
“Yes, it’s why she is staying here.”
“She suggested it?”
“Yes.” I let that just hang there. I know what my mother is getting at. Norah cares about you; don’t screw it up. “Okay, I’ll follow you there.”
I settle into the driver’s seat and exhale. It’s imperative that I find that ledger or some other way to get the Morettis out of Norah’s life. Every day I spend with her, I learn something else that I love about her. Her insistence that I visit Joyce is admirable and selfless. My past doesn’t bother Norah at all. She deserves everything she wants out of this life. One of the things she wants is me. I’m willing to try again with her as soon as she is safe.
A little over thirty minutes later, I pull into the Michelsons’ driveway. Closely after my mom, I enter their home. Joyce is sitting on the couch with her cast right arm and her left leg wrapped in a brace propped up on a pillow.
“Oh, Jacob! You didn’t have to come.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Where is Norah?”
“She stayed with my team. It still isn’t safe to move her more than necessary.”
“Yet she insisted you come?”
A look of surprise must have crossed my face.
“Don’t look so surprised. She’s special, Jake.”
She is. “Enough about me. What happened?”
Joyce retells the story of her injury for probably the fiftieth time today. Edward is making some snacks in the kitchen with my mom and Connor.
Chapter 39
Norah
That look when Connie told Jacob about Joyce was too much. Pushing him to leave me with his team was necessary. His concerns about my feelings are difficult to understand. Everyone has a past. I wouldn’t expect Mara’s family to never see him again after her sudden death. The fact that her family and Jacob’s parents have a relationship reaching before their children were born, it’s natural they would still be part of his life.
“Thank you for coming guys. Does anyone know where Jacob has cards, games, etc.?”
“I do,” Maia says. “Come on.”
I rise and follow her down the hall. She steps into the room on the left past the guest bedroom.
“How are you, Maia?”
“I’m fine.”
“What’s going on with you and Nolan?”
Shock appears on her face. “What? Nothing. Why?”
“It’s just something I see when he looks at you. Is that against the rules?”
“Not that I’m aware of, but there’s nothing going on. What do you mean how he looks at me?”
“He looks like he wants to devour you.”
She looks away from me. “You mean exactly how Jacob looks at you.” I’m sure my face is bright red. “There is no denying it, don’t bother trying.”
“It’s complicated.”
“No, it isn’t. You clearly care about him if you sent him to visit Joyce.”
“I do. It isn’t complicated on my end.”
We chat more while browsing the games in the guest closet. We opt for Yahtzee and return to the living room. The guys have turned SportsCenter on and gathered some snacks. Maia and I sit on the floor near the ottoman and set up to play.
“Norah, what do you want to drink?” Christoph asks from the kitchen.
“Water would be great, thanks.”
Christoph brings a round of waters into the living room. The anchor is talking about tomorrow’s game between the Bears and the Vikings.
“There’s no way the Bears can win that game. This sportscaster is crazy,” Nolan blurts as if the anchor could respond.
“You’re wrong,” I say, much to everyone’s surprise. All eyes cast in my direction.
“You’re a Bears fan. You poor thing. You and Jacob are made for—”
Maia elbows Nolan, who abruptly stops talking. Apparently, everyone believes there is a personal relationship between Jacob and me.
“The defense will have no problem keeping the running game in check,” I inform him, quickly changing the subject. “The Vikings running back will be lucky to hit fifty yards. The Vikings quarterback needs a balanced game to win. His wide receiving core is weak at this point in the season, so many injuries. Do you even have a first stringer left?”
Christoph rolls a Yahtzee on his first roll of his second turn.. He jumps up and does a little dance around the couch. It’s nice seeing the less serious side of Jacob’s team. Maia rolls next and gets a full house.
“Care to make a wager?” Nolan suggests.
“Whatever it is, it can’t be money. I don’t have access to mine right now,” I remind him.
“Loser prepares dinner for the entire team. It must be an actual meal, not takeout or delivery.”
“Deal. Just so we’re clear. I’m betting the Bears win, and you’re taking the Vikings to win.”
“Yes,” Nolan replies.
I shake Nolan’s hand and then roll a Yahtzee. A good omen, perhaps. We continue the game.
Christoph wins the first round by a huge margin, and Maia cleans house in the second game. Near nine, Tank’s ears perk up and he runs to the front door. Moments later, Jacob strolls in.
I consider the appropriate response to my… my what… boyfriend coming home while I’m hanging out with his employees. Bodyguards, Norah. Don’t fool yourself, they’re here to protect you. I decide to wait until later to ask Jacob about it. I want to throw my arms around him and ask how Joyce is, but Nolan beats me to it.
“How is Mrs. Michelson?”
“She’ll be fine eventually. Her arm is broken, and her knee is badly sprained.”
“Glad to hear it’s nothing too serious. Did you know that Norah is a Bears fan?”
“Yes.”
“She bet me that the Bears are going to win tomorrow over the Vikings,” Nolan states as if it’s an impossible feat.
“She’s correct. What is the wager?” Jacob asks.
“The loser prepares a home-cooked meal for the entire team.”
“I hope you can cook, Nolan.” Jacob winks at me as I pass him with the empty water bottles. “Thank you for coming.”
“It’s no problem. We were hanging out in the bunkhouse. Plus Norah’s so much easier going than most of our clients,” Maia states as they get ready to leave.
I recycle the water bottles
and wash the few dishes, setting them to dry. I wonder if all their clients are difficult. Perhaps it’s because only Jacob is really dealing with me regarding the mess in my professional life.
After he closes the front door and engages the alarm, he moves to me faster than I’ve ever experienced before. His lips cover mine like he hasn’t kissed me in months not hours. Regardless of how often he kisses me, it feels like it’s just the two of us. Everything else falls away. Nothing else matters. Not the fact that I have a bounty on my head or the fact I have Delores’s life in my hands, without the ability to save her. My professional life is in shambles, yet everything else feels like it’s finally falling into place.
“Hi,” I whisper when he eases his mouth from mine.
“Hi.” He sets me on the counter, resting his hands on my hips.
“How is Joyce, truly?”
“She’ll be fine. She will hate the physical therapy and likely her therapist, but her spirits are surprisingly good.”
“Did you know that Nolan has feelings for Maia?”
A slight moment passes before he speaks. “I saw a brief glimpse when he realized she was taken and then another after she was drugged. He looked exactly like I did while I was waiting with you. Why?”
“I asked Maia if there was anything going on. She replied no but pressed why I thought that.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her Nolan looks at her like he wants to devour her.”
“What was her response?”
“She said, ‘You mean the way Jacob looks at you.’”
“She isn’t wrong. I was fooling myself thinking my feelings for you were well hidden. Hell, my father saw it when he showed up at the Michelsons.”
“Do you have a rule against them dating?”
“No, but I won’t compromise a client’s safety because of their relationship.”
“Makes sense. Are you and I a secret?”
“Clearly not if Maia is asking questions.”
