Page 40 of Don't Lie to Me
“I’m going to take a shower first if that’s all right. But Emma, I want you to think about something.” At my raised eyebrows, he continued. “I know what it’s like to be without a dad. Even if the dad sucks, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone; especially Logan.”
He grabbed his clothes and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door quietly. I stood there for several minutes staring at the door he walked through with my jaw hanging wide open. Well…what in the hell was I supposed to say to that?
Ten minutes later, Jack came out of the bedroom looking positively perfect. He poured himself a cup of coffee, grabbed a bagel off my counter and took a huge bite once he joined me at the table.
I cupped my coffee mug and blew gently. It was all for show. I’d been staring at the full cup ever since I took my first sip ten minutes ago.
“I think you’re right,” I said regretfully.
Jack nodded as if he knew I would say that all along. “It’s a habit.”
“Shut up. This isn’t funny.”
He winked at me and took another huge bite of the bagel, his voice sounding muffled when he spoke. “It’s a little funny.”
“Well at least one of us can have some fun today,” I muttered and then took another sip of my coffee.
“Here’s what you need to understand.” Jack’s eyes changed to a dark brown and his lips pulled into a tight smile. I watched as he set his coffee down and gingerly clasped his hands together on the table. I imagined this was very much the same posture he took when he was about to enter into a hostile takeover of some corporation. He was all business again, but his expression was fierce as he steeled his gaze at me.
“You’re mine. And I protect what’s mine. I’m going to handle Marcus working for me, and together – you and me are going to handle the shit about him being Logan’s dad. But I promise you this; I will take care of you, and I will keep you safe. And if he steps off the very thin line we’re going to give him to prove that he’s not the douchebag dumbass he used to be, then his ass is mine.” He quirked an eyebrow at me. “You got me?”
Yeah…wow…I got him….there were just so many things wrong with that statement. And yet, it all sounded so good. I was his to protect and keep safe and take care.
Not a problem.
It was the best thing I had heard in weeks…possibly years….and I instantly wanted to cling to the small amount of hope he gave me, that everything was going to be just fine.
I didn’t want to waste the time arguing about the wrongness of his possessiveness because the rest of it felt so perfect, so I nodded and smiled sheepishly.
His.
He was right. I absolutely, positively belonged to him.
When Jack was done with his coffee, he stood up and scribbled something down on his business card. I cringed when he handed it to me.
“That’s his number. Call him when you’re ready; but if it’s okay, I’d like to be there with you.”
I stood up and gave him a quick kiss. “For someone who was sure they’d fuck up a relationship, you’re pretty good at it.”
He rewarded me with a kiss much less quick than the one I dished out, and a smile that showed his perfectly white teeth.
“Only for you.” He ran his hand through my hair gently and smiled down at me. “I’ve got some things to take care of this morning. Talk to you later?”
I walked him out and once the door shut behind me, I sat down on the table and stared at the card. My pulse raced just thinking about calling Marcus and telling him about Logan. Would he even want anything to do with Logan? He was so quick to walk away years ago, maybe he wouldn’t claim him. I wondered what hurt more – the fear of Marcus wanting to know Logan, or the fear he wouldn’t?
Since Jack’s business card wasn’t going to give me any answers, I threw it on the counter and went to take a shower to get ready before Logan crawled out of bed.
Almost two weeks went by and neither Jack nor I broached the subject of Marcus. He had mentioned his name, regrettably, in passing a few times when it involved work, but Jack stayed true to his word and didn’t say anything about me telling him about Logan.
I appreciated the space. I needed it.
The truth was, as soon as Jack told me he thought Logan deserved to know his dad, I agreed to tell Marcus. I was just doing a really good job at avoiding the ‘when’ of the whole thing.
I had other things on my mind.
Like the fact that I was in a limo, on my way to the Children’s Charity Ball with Jack and it was officially our third date.
I knew I shouldn’t have cared.
