Chapter 26

26

JACK

I t takes a couple of days, working eighteen-hour days, doing everything to keep the anger pushed down and the hurt buried seven hundred miles deep. If I stop for a minute, remorse throttles me. I let my pride—she didn't trust me; she kept a secret—call the shots.

The woman I love is carrying our child, and I shouted at her and walked away from her, spent days hiding in my work to avoid the truth. If she didn't know I could keep her safe, if she didn't trust me with the biggest news, she must've been terrified. Which means I didn't show her. She had to face this alone and then got kidnapped and terrorized. I made an ass of myself, and she deserves better.

Outside the convenience store where she works, I wait in the car. When she walks out at the end of her shift, I roll down the window.

"Serena," I say, and she looks up, shock written on her face. "Will you get in, talk with me?"

As soon as she takes a step toward the car, I get out and hold the door for her. She looks up at me, uncertain, eyes wide and lips trembling. I take in the tired circles under her eyes, the messy ponytail and the sweet curve of her belly. I want to touch it, stroke it and kiss her lips, but I have truth to tell first.

While the driver pulls away from the curb, I turn to her and take her hand. She lets me, looks down at our hands and swallows hard.

"I owe you an apology," I begin, and her eyes flick up to mine in disbelief. "I should've proved to you that you could trust me to keep you safe, that you can tell me anything. I'm sorry you had to face this alone. You had the weight of the world on you. You must've been terrified, even before you got kidnapped by that asshole. I should have kept a guard on you. I'll show you that I can be part of our baby's life, that I'll do everything in my power to protect my family."

Serena rolls her lips under, eyes bright with tears. "I'm sorry, Jack. I should've told you right away. I was scared. Hell, I'm scared now. But the second you came through that door, and I was soaking wet and scared out of my mind, I knew you'd always come for us and protect us. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner."

"I walked out on you, Serena. I never will again, so help me God. I will make sure you know how much I love you, how cherished and protected you are, every day for the rest of our lives if you'll have me."

She throws her arms around me and sobs into my shoulder. I hold her close, rub her back in slow circles and let her cry. She's held all this inside, the fear and sadness. The pain of her tears scalds me, but I'm overjoyed to be the man who gets to comfort her and be her safe harbor.

"Let me make this up to you," I whisper into her hair. She looks up, bright, teary, trusting eyes on me. I kiss her, and it feels like coming home. I rock my mouth over hers, tasting her, teasing her until her sweet kiss becomes something fiery as she grips my shoulders. Tenderly, I stroke her cheek and the curve of her ear, her neck and trail my fingers down to her breasts. I caress her there and lap up her little moan before I put both my hands on her belly. I break the kiss, tip my forehead against hers.

"I need to ask you something," I say huskily.

"Yes—" she says, her full lips still parted, eyes glazed with desire. I smile at her reaction.

"That's what I'm hoping you'll say but hear me out first." I take the ring from my pocket and hold it up for her to see. A perfect diamond surrounded by rubies. "I had to get some red in there because of that dress you had on the night I met you at Bettino's—when you were gonna wait tables, pour drinks, strip, whatever you had to do to help your dad. I wanted somebody to love me with that kind of fierce loyalty, and I couldn't get you out of my head. It didn't take long before you had my whole heart, Serena, and you always will. I love you, and I want to help make your dreams come true, raise this baby together. If you let me regain your trust, in time, I hope you'll trust me again. I love you and I'll make you happy, I'll keep our child safe and make sure you have a beautiful life. Will you marry me?"

She sits in stunned silence, and I sweat it—she could say no. It's been intense, and I've put her through a lot. I wait, and when she speaks, a laugh comes out instead of words.

"Jack! You idiot—did you really think I don't love you anymore? I love you like crazy. I've moped around and cried and gone over and over everything I said to you and how I'd take it all back if you'd let me. I want to be with you, that's all I care about. Us and this baby we're expecting. If you want to make it official, that ring is gorgeous, but you don't have to marry me just because I'm pregnant."

"Now who's the idiot," I chuckle. "I have to marry you so I can lock you down before someone else steals your heart. I want to be your husband, Serena Mayfield. Will you have me?"

"Always," she says, her brilliant smile almost rocking me back with the force of her joy.

"How about tomorrow? Are you busy? Because we could get married tomorrow," I offer, thinking she'll resist.

"Why not today?" she asks mischievously.

"Today is even better. I'll make a call. But right now, I have something to show you. Let's call it an engagement gift."

"Uh, you got me a ring the size of Manhattan, Jack."

She admires it on her finger, and I steal a kiss. "This is bigger than the ring," I say, excited.