Her Defender (MacLachlan Security Group Book 2)

by Rianna Campbell

  “Dad?”

  “Yes?” He asked, surprised.

  “Thank you.”

  Her father smiled and nodded before turning and walking away, closing the door behind him.

  Janie sat for several minutes staring into the box before she reached in and retrieved the stack of letters. She untied the ribbon and gingerly plucked three pages of folded paper from the first envelope.

  Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the letter and began to read.

  ✽✽✽

  Jackson’s mother was a force to be reckoned with when she was upset, and she had been furious when he’d explained the situation he was in.

  He’d had to listen to a solid ten minutes of her invoking God and all the saints for help with her stupid son and asking where she’d gone wrong as a parent. There was absolutely nothing that could beat Catholic guilt except maternal guilt.

  Once the wailing and gnashing of teeth had subsided, he’d enjoyed another five minutes or so of being asked questions that he never had the chance to answer. Questions like, “what were you thinking?” and “Is that how I raised you?”.

  That being said, she’d still been willing to do everything he asked, because he clearly needed all the help he could get. After a litany of apologies and promises to do better in the future, if he had one, he finally hung up.

  He’d spent the rest of the day moving more pieces into place and by the time he went to bed, he’d managed to fall asleep in his own bed, without the scotch. The next morning he was rested and ready for phase two of Operation Redemption.

  He snorted at himself for being a dork and got dressed. He only had a few days before the wedding and he needed to make sure he had everything ready. He should have started things sooner. He wished he hadn’t spent so much time doubting and moping and more time doing something.

  But he’d just have to do the best with the little time he had left and hope that it was enough.

  “Where you off to?” Parker asked as Jackson strode into the kitchen and poured a travel mug of coffee. “If you’re going to the gym, I’ll come with you.”

  “Uh, no, actually. I have some things to do today,” Jackson hedged.

  “Things?” Parker scoffed. “Like what?”

  “Just errands and stuff.” Jackson shrugged.

  “Why are you acting so weird?” Parker asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “I’m not. I’m just busy today,” Jackson replied, trying to keep his tone even and nonchalant.” Lord knew he was going to catch a rash of shit from everyone after the wedding if he did what he was planning. He certainly didn’t need any beforehand.

  “Dude, you going to get your balls waxed, or something?” Parker laughed.

  “Yup, you guessed it,” Jackson said over his shoulder as he made for the door.

  “You do you, man,” Parker said, barely containing his laughter. Jackson ignored him and closed the door behind him, rushing down the stairs.

  Two hours later, he was having second thoughts about his scheme. This was going to be much harder than he’d expected, and he was expecting it to be pretty damn difficult to begin with.

  And he still had one very large hurdle to tackle, one that would shut down the whole plan.

  “No time like the present,” he muttered as he started his car and steered it toward Connor’s apartment.

  By the time he’d pulled up outside Connor’s building, Jackson was a bundle of nerves. He dug his phone out of his pocket and dialed Connor’s number.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, man. Are you busy right now?” Jackson asked.

  “No, I’ve got time. What’s up?” Connor asked.

  “I’m outside. Can I come up?”

  “Sure,” Connor answered, clearly surprised.

  “Thanks.”

  A few minutes later, Connor greeted him as he stepped off the elevator. He extended a hand and Jackson shook it, pretending not to notice how closely Connor was watching him. He was scrutinizing his face like he’d be able to read his thoughts to find out why he was here.

  “Is he here?” he heard Alexandra call from inside the apartment.

  “Aye. He’s here,” Connor said, rolling his eyes. Jackson couldn’t help but smile.

  When Connor and Alexandra had first met last fall, there was a time- a very brief time- when Connor was afraid that Alexandra might be interested in Jackson. It hadn’t been true, and they were still good friends, but Connor seemed unable to let it go completely.

  Alexandra, who had a stubborn streak and very much enjoyed Connor’s jealous, possessive side, rarely missed an opportunity to wave a red flag in front of her Scottish bull, though she’d never admit it. True to form, she rushed out with a wide smile and threw her arms around his neck, giving him a tight hug.

  “What a nice surprise,” she said, pulling back and giving him a mischievous wink.

  “Good to see you, too, beautiful,” Jackson replied. Hell, Jackson was stubborn too and enjoyed watching the normally calm and collected Connor lose his cool.

  They all knew it was all for fun, even Connor. He just seemed to… forget from time to time.

  “What brings you by?” she asked, linking her arm through his and escorting him into the living room.

  “Well, that’s a good question,” Jackson said, stalling. He hadn’t figured out precisely how to word things. After all, Alexandra and Janie were best friends. He could trust Alexandra to help him with almost anything, but this… it might be crossing a boundary. And if she told Janie, he’d be royally fucked.

  “I think Jackson could use a drink first, love,” Connor interrupted with a knowing smile. Connor turned toward the kitchen, but Alexandra stopped him.

  “I’ll get them,” she said, brushing past Connor on her way to the kitchen. Connor’s reaction was subtle, but immediate. “That way you can have a little boy talk first,” she added, winking at Connor over her shoulder.

  Jackson didn’t miss Connor’s jaw tightening, or the way he stared at Alexandra’s jean-clad ass as she walked away. He suddenly felt like he was intruding on something and he almost turned tail and ran. If he were Connor, he’d certainly be wishing himself to hell at the moment.

  “I can come back later,” Jackson said, in a low voice once Alexandra was out of earshot.

  “Won’t help,” Connor said, shaking his head ruefully. “It’s always like this.”

  Connor finally tore his eyes away from his fiancé and sat down on the couch, nodding for Jackson to do the same.

  Jackson took a deep breath and seat at the other end of the sofa.

  “I have a huge favor to ask the two of you,” Jackson said. “And I need you both to keep quiet about it, even if you say no. Understand?” He flicked his eyes at Alexandra who was returning with two beers in hand and then back to Connor.

  “Ah. Janie,” Connor said, nodding.

  “Here you go,” Alexandra said, handing him a beer. She gave the other to Connor and then settled comfortably on his lap.

  “Thanks,” Jackson said, taking a swallow.

  “Jackson wants our help with something, but before he tells us, you need to promise not to say anything to anyone. Anyone, you understand?” He added with a significant look.

  Alexandra understood immediately and considered for a moment, biting her lip. She finally looked up, determined, and nodded once.

  “I promise,” she said solemnly.

  Jackson took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and laid out his entire plan as succinctly as possible. When he was done, Connor and Alexandra looked at each other, wide eyed.

  “Do you…” Alexandra began. “I mean, I don’t mean to be rude, but do you know what you’re doing, or are we basically signing up to watch a trainwreck?” she asked, crossing her arms and cocking her head to the side. He couldn’t lie.

  “Trainwreck, most likely.” He shrugged.

  “Sweet Christ,” Connor muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face. Alexandra cringed, but then patted his hand sympathetically.


  “You really love her, don’t you?” Alexandra said softly.

  “I do,” Jackson said, looking her in the eye. “More than I can say.”

  Alexandra smiled at him and he tried to smile back, though his stomach was turning itself inside out. He didn’t want to pressure them, it was their wedding day after all, but everything depended on this. If they said no, he’d have to scrap the whole plan and start over again.

  “I could talk to her, if you want,” Alexandra suggested. “Tell her-”

  “No.” Jackson shook his head. “She was always worried about screwing things up between you and her, or me and you. or you and Connor, or me and Connor. And I think I should be the one to tell her I love her, don’t you?”

  Alexandra nodded. “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Connor asked, surprised. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Yes,” she said firmly. “I wouldn’t be here, about to marry the love of my life, if it wasn’t for both of them,” she said, looking at Connor. She placed her hand on Connor’s face and the way they looked at each other made his chest ache. “Besides, as long as we get to say our vows, nothing else really matters.”

  “Are you sure?” Jackson asked, feeling guilty for interrupting what was clearly a tender moment between the two.

  “Absolutely,” she replied. “I’m rooting for you two. We’ll do whatever we can to help.”

  “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”

  “Oh, I think I have an idea,” she said with a wry smile.

  “Whatever gets you off the market,” Connor added, gripping Alexandra’s hip possessively and glaring at him for dramatic effect before winking at him when Alexandra wasn’t looking.

  “I owe you both.”

  “Oh, you certainly do. That’s the bonus,” Alexandra said with a grin. Jackson could certainly see why she was an excellent lawyer. Nothing got past her.

  Jackson heaved a sigh of relief and said his goodbyes, leaving the couple to… well, leaving the couple alone.

  Phases two and three complete, he mentally checked them off the list and considered phase four: a trip to the barber to make sure he looked his best when he came face to face with the woman he loved, possibly for the last time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Janie never thought she’d actually be sad to leave Mississippi, but she had to admit that the house didn’t feel the same now that she could picture her mother in it; working in the garden or baking in the kitchen.

  She’d spent the entire day after her father gave her the box of her mother’s things going through it. She’d examined each photo until they were etched in her memory. She’d carefully read through every letter between her parents, even when they made her cringe slightly. Teenage love letters were certainly a far cry from Shakespeare’s sonnets.

  But she had learned a lot. First and foremost, her parents had certainly been deeply in love. They were constantly talking about their future together; looking forward to all the things they would do and share.

  Knowing how little time they’d actually gotten to spend together, the letters were bittersweet. For the first time in her life, she finally understood at least some of what her father had been going through for all those years.

  To love someone so completely and then lose them so soon, and so suddenly, must have been devastating. She thought about Jackson and how much she’d felt for him in the span of a few short weeks. She tried to imagine that amplified by years, and then she imagined losing him. The pain in her heart at the thought nearly made her double over.

  She’d wanted to call him and tell him about everything that had happened. She wanted to tell him all the things she knew about her mother now that she hadn’t a week ago.

  For example, her mother had been witty. Her letters were filled with funny anecdotes, told with skill and style. Some of them had Janie laughing so hard that she cried. She’d have to stop and catch her breath before she could continue.

  Her mother had been beautiful, and Janie looked a lot like her. She hadn’t fully processed that yet. She didn’t know what to make of it.

  And then a curious thing had happened. All the terrible things that Nancy used to say to her started to come through, but they weren’t as strident as they’d been before. They were more like a buzzing mosquito: annoying and constant, but somewhere in the background rather than front and center.

  And then, another voice rang through loud and clear.

  So fucking beautiful…

  It had startled her and for a moment she thought she’d heard it spoken aloud. When had that happened? When had Jackson’s voice become a part of her? When had she etched that particular memory in her mind so that she could recall it with such clarity?

  Bonnie would probably tell her that she hadn’t. That it was her subconscious telling her what she already knew but in a way that would make it easier to accept, or something like that.

  It had never been Nancy’s voice in her head. It had always been her own, spouting all the negative things Nancy said because Janie had internalized them as a child. Jackson’s voice wasn’t really his, either. But he had certainly boosted her confidence.

  The way he’d looked at her, as if she was the most beautiful woman in the room, no matter where they were. The way he’d touched her as if he couldn’t stand to be away from her; like he wanted to be as close to her as possible.

  He’d made her feel wanted and cherished and valued in a way that she never had before - in a way that she’d never felt worthy of.

  Even what he’d done - that conversation with her father - had been because he cared about her. He’d been upset at the way her stepmother had treated her and the way her father had failed to stand up for her. He’d been trying to protect her - trying to defend her.

  She’d asked her father about it and his response had surprised her.

  “He was right,” he said simply.

  “Excuse me?” she asked.

  “Your man pulled me aside and told me to pull my head out of my ass and really look around.”

  “He’s not my man,” Janie corrected him.

  “That’s a shame,” he replied, looking at her over the rims of his readers from where he sat across the breakfast table that morning. “He was certainly crazy about you.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I may not be the most perceptive man, but I’m not blind. That man wanted to beat me to a pulp for hurting you. He either has a very strong sense of honor, or he cares about you very much. My money is on both.”

  Janie was silent, absorbing what her father had said.

  “He seems like a good man, Janie,” he added hesitantly. “I know I’m in no position to give you advice, but I’m going to anyway.” He folded he paper he’d been reading and set it aside. He removed his glasses and folded his hands on the table in front of him. “Life is short, Pumpkin. Too short to waste time pussyfooting around when you find someone you want to spend your life with.

  “You may not be that serious about him yet, but I’d bet he’s that serious about you. I know a thing or two about men in love, and he had all the signs. I might add you’ve got a few of them yourself.”

  Janie sat, stunned. Could that be true. Could she actually… be in love with him? She liked him. A lot. He was sexy and funny and sweet. His smile gave her butterflies and his laugh made her feel light as a feather. He was so caring and loyal and devoted to his family. She thought about him almost constantly and when they were together it was like…

  “Oh, no,” Janie gasped. She did love him.

  “Ah, you see? I knew you’d get there eventually.”

  “No. No, no. What do I do?” Janie whined.

  “What in the world are you talking about? You go back to New York and you tell him how you feel.”

  “What if you’re wrong. What if he’s not in love with me?”

  Janie was beginning to panic. This was precisely her nightmare scenario; her worst fear. What if she told him and
he didn’t feel the same way? What if another person she loved abandoned her? What if she made herself vulnerable and she ended up getting hurt? Again.

  What if he’d already moved on? She’d tossed him out and then cut off all contact for more than a month! That was way longer than they’d actually been together.

  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” her father said, smiling sadly. “Your mother was fond of saying that. What if I’m right, and he does love you?”

  If he loves me…

  “I need to pack,” Janie said, jumping up from her chair.

  “I thought you might,” he said, smiling. “I’ll drive you to the airport when you’re ready.”

  Without another word, Janie rushed upstairs, her thoughts in a whirl. How exactly was she supposed to do this? Did she just show up on his doorstep and tell him she loved him? Did she call him?

  First things first. She needed to get back to New York. She’d have to figure everything else out on the plane.

  ✽✽✽

  Jackson couldn’t help himself from looking around the room every few seconds, looking for any sight of Janie. Alexandra hadn’t heard from her since the day before yesterday. She’d texted that she was flying back to New York and should arrive late that night.

  Alexandra had tried calling her phone but it went straight to voicemail every time. She’d told him that she’d been so worried by yesterday afternoon that she’d finally called her father in Mississippi. He couldn’t tell them anything. He’d told her the same thing: he’d dropped Janie off at the airport in Jackson the day before to catch her flight back to New York. He hadn’t heard from her since.

  Connor and Alexandra had booked a vineyard in the fingerlakes for their wedding and most of the wedding party had already checked in at the hotel. Angel had stayed behind to work the day shift today and planned to drive up tomorrow so she could be here in time for the rehearsal dinner and the bachelorette party that was planned for later the same evening.

  She hadn’t heard from Janie either, but promised to call as soon as she got home. Angel was working all day, though, and Janie might be home for hours before Angel got home from work.