Chapter Eleven

Nora

They've been gone for an hour and I'm on pins and needles, wondering what's next. My home suddenly feels like it's closing in on me. John has been easy to get ready, but I had no idea where to start. The past six plus years of my life have been in this house. How am I supposed to just decide what I need and want to take with?

I think to myself that this is just temporary because I'm paying for the time John was taken. Will it be the length of time John was gone? I'm guessing so.

While they're gone, I remember that I need to make an important call. I have to clean out everything at the school. Rebecca has keys and can let me in, so I give her a call and ask her to meet me at the school. There are things I need, plus I can't just walk out without some explanation. She's going to flip, but I have to give her some sort of truth. Rebecca deserves it.

I have John dressed for the day, so I slide him into his car seat without any trouble, taking a couple of toys for the car ride.

"Hey, what's going on? This can't wait until Monday?"

"No. It's kind of important."

"Girl, you're freaking me out. Is this about what happened at the mall? I know you had a rough time, but you seem like yourself." I hug her as I send John to his little play area.

"No. It's not like that at all, and I wish I could explain more, except to say that the woman who left John in my care lied about who he is and how he ended up in her care. He wasn't her ward, and his parents aren't both dead. He was kidnapped, and his brother has been on the hunt for him ever since. It was a lucky twist of fate that I was at the mall and I was spotted. They came for him, and they want him back."

"You do have legal custody, right?"

"The documents are forged. Everything in there was faked, and, well, he's not going to press charges, but he's demanding that I accompany him to help look after John as repayment for the fourteen months that his brother was taken."

"Oh my God."

"I know. It's crazy."

"No." She points behind me, and standing in the doorframe, leaning against it and looking sexy as hell, is Jack MacNamara.

"Hello, little felon. Didn't I tell you to stay at the house?"

"Yes, but I needed to clear out my things and let my boss know I was leaving."

"That could have been done in writing, and your things could have been sent." He shakes his head. When I look back at Rebecca, she's practically panting in heat.

"Whatever. I didn't want to leave her in the lurch as it is."

"We have so many things to do in a short time, Nora."

"Not if you took a day or two."

"I've waited long enough. I'd say, fourteen months now," he adds, giving me a knowing look. My eyes widen because he's not even the least bit afraid to mention our situation.

"I'm confused," Rebecca says, playing innocent.

"Oh. Ms. Harrison forgot to mention that my brother was stolen from me," he answers with an air of annoyance.

"Oh, my goodness. I wasn't aware of his abduction—only the legal adoption."

"Yeah. Like I told you, Jack and I've straightened it out." I huff, glaring at him.

"Even though she doesn't like me."

"I can't see what there's not to like," Rebecca purrs. I'm about to kick her in the shins.

"Sorry, I'm taken." He sneers and takes my hand.

John finally notices his big brother and shouts his name. "Jack, Jack." He grabs his hand and pulls him over to his play area.

Jack tilts his head with a devilish grin that reaches his blue eyes and says, "Well, since I'm preoccupied, pack your things. You have twenty minutes, my pretty little fiancée."

Rebecca mouths, "Wow, he's so hot," as Jack drops to the floor in his impeccably tailored suit.

"Come on. Help me so I can get out of here." It takes a little longer, but Jack doesn't complain again. When I do come to get them, Jack's reading him a story that John's totally not paying attention to and riding a toy car over the pages. However, the second Jack stops the story, John grunts and puts his hand back on the page to read. So, I guess he's sort of paying some attention.

"Look, John. It's time to go," he says, closing the book.

"No, no," he shouts. Rebecca and I give each other a knowing look after having years of experience in this.

"Five more minutes," I call out. Jack looks at me, and I nod. He smiles, opens the book again, and continues with his story.

"So, he's making you leave with him for John? Ha. Looks like he wants much more than that. You're a lucky girl. He's so damn yummy, and I totally have some daddy issues to resolve."

"Get your own daddy. He's spoken for," I hiss.

A moment later, I feel Jack slide his hands around my waist. "Do you have what you need?"

"Yes," I gasp, pulling away from him. "We should get him ready to go. He doesn't have shoes on." I walk over and look for the missing shoes while Jack springs John onto his lap. "It's time to go."

"Go, go."

"Wow, I've heard him use a handful of words today. It's a miracle."

"It takes a lot to get them out. He only started using them this past month, so if you'd gotten here any sooner, you wouldn't have seen much of a change."

"He doesn't make any eye contact when you call his name."

"It may come in time."

"Let me help you carry these things," Rebecca offers. John is in Jack's arms while I gather my paperwork. As we step outside, he loads the truck, and I see that my car is gone. "Where's my vehicle?"

"I'm driving you back. Your car has been taken to the house." I give Rebecca a hug goodbye while Jack straps John in. He does it easily, and then I remember that he's probably done it many times before. He gives John a teddy bear and then he helps me into my seat before buckling me in.

"Sit your pretty butt down. Next time I tell you to stay put, you do it."

I roll my eyes, pretending not to be aroused by him. The man makes my core temp rise effortlessly, even when he's being an insufferable prick. I wave to Rebecca as we drive away. I'm going to miss my friend and job, and find tears welling up in my eyes.

"Relax, Nora. We can come back, or you can invite her to Chicago. I'm sure she'd enjoy it. There are plenty of daddies I can introduce her to," he says, giving me a wink.

"You heard?"

"She wasn't quiet, but I did miss your response."

"It was nothing."

"You're a bad liar. You shut her up, so it must have been something of value."

"You are so…" I roll my eyes and ignore him, looking out the window, refusing to give him what he wants. He's already gotten enough wins today.

"That's fine." We hit up a drive-thru and pick up dinner before going back to the house. When I get there, the men are in the house with five new suitcases. "Oh my. Those are large."

"I wanted to make sure you could fit enough of his things and yours. We can get more another time, but for now, I need you to eat and then we can pack a bit." We both take turns feeding John while eating our burgers and fries. John will only eat the fries and a chicken strip. He doesn't eat much, but I make sure he gets his chewable vitamins as well. He's growing just right despite his food choices.

It takes two hours to pack up my clothes and my important documents. Then, I go into John's room to find Jack has packed most of John's clothes.

"Do you want to take all his toys?"

"All of them?"

"Well, does he play with them?"

"No. There's an entire bin I was going to donate. That's why he tossed them out and doesn't like them mixed up." Jack huffs out a deep sigh. "Don't worry. I'll sort them and then we'll pack all his favorites."

He stops me with his hands cupping my face and stares down at me. "No, you're not doing any of that. We'll take them all. We have the luggage for a reason. You look tired, beautiful. You should get some sleep."

"Thanks for telling me I look like shit."

He chuckles, and the sound shocks my system, vibrating through my womanly parts. Why the hell is he so damn sexy? "I didn't say that, sugar. What I said is you need to get some rest. We will be leaving in the morning and he's ready to go to sleep, so I think it's best if we all lie down." His hand rests on my hip, giving it a squeeze, and I swear I can feel it in every part of my body. I look up in his eyes, and I wonder where he plans to sleep tonight. "Do you think you'll be safe in that room tonight?" he asks me. "Do you sleep in there with him?"

"He's fine. I close the door and leave the light on just in case he gets frightened."

"Okay. Well, then, let's get you ready for bed."

"I can get myself ready for bed. I'm a big girl. Are you guys going to be okay?"

"I think we can handle ourselves."

He walks me toward the bedroom and leans down, pressing his lips to my cheek. "Get some sleep."

"So damn bossy," I remark with more sass than I mean to give off.

"I am. Now get to bed." He taps my ass, and my body bursts with unfulfilled need.

"Careful there, mister."

"Good night, beautiful."

"Good night." He smirks at me and then I head into my room alone, closing the door behind me, doing my best not to invite him in. I don't know what's come over me; maybe it's the fact that he's insanely gorgeous and enticingly hot, but I want him to take me into his arms and make love to me all night long. It's crazy because I know exactly the kind of man he is, and tomorrow he'll take control of my life completely, dragging me back to my father and to his—a place I swore I'd never go back to. Shaking off the stupid, lustful thoughts and the fears about tomorrow, I focus on tonight and how much I want to get some sleep.

Stripping out of my clothes, I head into my bathroom and turn on my shower because for the first time in a while, I can take a peaceful shower knowing that John has someone to watch over him. With a sigh, I let the water sluice over my body and let my muscles relax by closing my eyes and enjoying the peace. I don't know how long I'm in there, but suddenly my shower is interrupted by the cries coming from the other room. I knew it wouldn't last, quickly throwing a towel around my body and another on my hair.

I rush out of the bathroom and down the hall to John's room.

"What the fuck? I got him. Get the fuck back in your room and put some clothes on before I have to kill someone." I realize that both he and his men are there trying to calm John down who had woken up.

I quickly rushed back to change into my pajamas and came back out to check on John. Jack's eyes are on me just as he closes the bedroom door again. "He's fine. He's asleep now. You, on the other hand, need a spanking, young lady."

"You wouldn't dare."

"The hell I wouldn't." He stalks toward me, and I move backwards, my back hitting the wall until there's nothing separating us except for clothes. He clicks his tongue against his teeth. "What am I going to do with you? Running out of the room practically naked, soaking wet with a towel barely covering your fucking pussy, tits bouncing with every step. Looking absolutely fuckable."

I look down like a fool and notice that his cock has made a stiff impression on his slacks, begging to get out of his zipper. The damn thing must be like a bat in there. "Not my problem."

"You're going to help me with my problem when I strip you out of these poor excuses for pajamas and fuck the shit out of you until you're screaming my name and we wake John up again." I swallow hard. Feeling bold, I reach out and brush my hand along his chest, grateful that he lost his suit jacket so that he's only wearing his dress shirt.

"I'm a virgin."

"Excuse me?"

"Jeremy was my first boyfriend since I moved here. Well, technically, my first boyfriend ever, and I wasn't quite ready."

"Fuck, you're such a surprise," he answers with a chuckle. "It's time for bed."

He waits for me to get under the covers before he turns off the lights and walks out of the room.