Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
They stopped at an ice cream parlor that had so many flavors it was nearly impossible to choose just one.
Jack had four.
“How are you so fit when you eat so much ice cream?” she asked as they left after finishing their treat.
She was walking slightly behind him.
He turned to her, wriggling his eyebrows. “Were you just checking me out?”
“No!”
She was such a liar. She’d totally been checking him out.
Grinning, he grabbed her hand. “Stop walking behind me. I need you where I can see you to keep you out of trouble.”
“I never get into trouble.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Uh-huh.”
A strange feeling worked its way up her spine, and she turned, but couldn’t see anything.
As they approached the corner, she spotted several people in the distance holding signs in the air.
“Polyamory isn’t right! You need to be cleansed! Man and wife is the natural way!”
“Motherfuckers,” Jack muttered.
She glanced up, surprise filling her. She’d never seen this look on Jack’s face before.
Dark. Intense.
Suddenly, two of them broke off as they spotted her and Jack, walking toward them with signs in the air.
“Get out of our way,” Jack said, pulling her close to him. As they moved past, one of them reached for her, gripping her arm. Unfortunately, he grabbed the wrist that Uncle Willy had bruised. While it was mostly healed, it was still tender and his touch was so hard that it made her cry out in pain.
“You must—” he started saying before he was cut off.
Jack moved so quickly that she didn’t even have time to react. He had the older guy pinned to a building, his hand on his throat. “Do not touch my woman! Understand me!”
What . . . who . . . her heart raced in shock. Who was this guy? She had never heard Jack sound quite this . . . dangerous.
And his woman?
Yikes.
“Get off him! This is assault!” the other man screeched.
Monkeyballs! Jack was going to get into trouble. She rushed over to him. “Jack, let him go! Now!”
“He hurt you!”
“I’m fine. It was only because it was my sore wrist. I’m good, he didn’t hurt me. Please, Jack! I need you.”
Jack let the guy go and he slumped on the ground, taking deep breaths as he stared up at Jack in fear.
“Jack,” she said shakily. Her entire body was trembling. Then she was pulled against Jack’s firm body and held tight as he moved them past the group who were glaring at them.
She was still shaking when they reached his truck, which he’d already unlocked. Opening the door, he lifted her in and reached across her to grab the seatbelt.
Maggie didn’t even try to take over; she just sat there and let him take care of everything.
Running to the other side, he climbed in and drove off.
27
Maggie glanced over at Jack and saw the way he was holding the steering wheel. His knuckles were white.
“Jack, are y-you all right?”
He shook his head and she sucked in a trembling breath. She didn’t think they were headed in the right direction for the hospital, but she didn’t protest.
Suddenly, he turned off and parked in a big lot that looked out over the ocean. It was a breath-taking view, but she didn’t have eyes for anyone but the guy sitting beside her. His jaw was tense as he stared out the window.
“Jack?” she whispered when she couldn’t take the silence anymore.
“Don’t be scared of me.”
Shock filled her. What?
Is that what he thought? That she was now scared of him?
“I’m not scared of you, Jack.”
He turned to face her. His face was completely blank. Which was kind of terrifying. This wasn’t her Jack.
But perhaps this man was also Jack. He was intense. He could be threatening. Deadly.
However, she wasn’t actually scared of him.
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
He raised his hand to her, holding it out. As though daring her to touch him and prove that she wasn’t afraid.
So, of course, she put her hand in his without hesitation. “I’m not.”
“I saw your face after I pulled back from that guy. You were scared of me.” It was an accusation. But she thought she saw a hint of something else in his face.
Fear? Worry?
“I was scared that you were going to get into trouble. I still am. What if he calls the police? What if he presses assault charges?” She rubbed at her chest with her free hand.
Suddenly, he drew back and got out of the truck. He moved around the front and opened her door.
Undoing her belt, he picked her up and carried her out toward the beach. Sitting on a large rock at the edge of the beach, he settled her sideways on his lap.
She snuggled in, closing her eyes and just letting him hold her.
Soothe her.
His lightly patted her bottom. “You’re not to worry about me.”
She snorted. “Hello, my name is Maggie. Have we met? I worry about everything.”