Page 90 of Redeeming Melodies

"Yeah?" Pulled back enough to see his face. "How'd you handle it?"

"Small towns protect their own." His smile turned fierce. "And you're one of us now. Already talked to Caleb about using some of his ranch hands for extra security if needed. Nina's got a creative way of spilling drinks on reporters who don't take no for an answer."

The image of Nina "accidentally" dumping coffee on paparazzi almost made me laugh. Almost.

"But what about Tommy? They'll be all over him."

"Let them try." Jake's voice held pure sheriff authority. "Between my deputies and Caleb's crew, no one's getting near this property without permission. Tommy will be safe here."

Safe. The word hit different coming from Jake. Because he didn't just mean physically safe - he meant emotionally safe. Protected from cameras and questions and all the bullshit Vanessa was stirring up.

"There's another option." His thumb traced patterns on my back, soothing. "If it gets too intense here, you could head back to New York for a bit. Draw their attention away from the town."

My heart stopped. "You want me to leave?"

"Fuck no." His kiss landed fierce against my temple. "Want you right here where I can protect you. But I need you to know you have options. That we'll figure this out together, whatever that looks like."

"I can't go back there." The words came out smaller than intended. "Can't let her win like that."

"Then we fight." Simple, certain. "We protect what matters - Tommy, this town, us. Together."

"The town might not want this fight." The fear finally voiced itself. "Might resent having their peace disrupted because of me."

Jake's laugh surprised me. "You really don't get small towns yet, do you? This place? These people? They love a good 'fuck you' to outsiders trying to mess with one of their own. Andtrust me, you became one of their own the moment you started renovating that old house."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." His smile went soft. "Sarah's already planning to name a breakfast special after you. Nina's got a whiskey with your name on it. Even old man Jenkins asked if you needed help fixing that loose shutter on your porch."

Something warm unfurled in my chest, pushing back against the cold dread Vanessa had planted. "Didn't know about the shutter."

"That's the point." Jake's fingers carded through my hair. "People here? They notice stuff. Care about stuff. Not because they're nosy, but because this is what community means. Having each other's backs, especially when shit gets tough."

"Even when that shit brings national media to their doorstep?"

"Especially then." His kiss tasted like certainty. "Let them come. They'll find a town that knows how to close ranks around its own."

Found myself believing him. Because this was Jake - steady, sure Jake who protected what mattered with everything he had.

"Okay." Breathed the word against his neck. "Okay, we fight. But promise me something?"

"Anything."

"If it gets too much, if the town starts suffering because of this, you'll tell me? We'll figure out Plan B?"

His arms tightened. "Promise. But it won't come to that. You know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you're worth fighting for." The words came fierce, certain. "This life we're building? Worth protecting. And I'm not the only one who thinks so."

Jake's departureleft the house too quiet, too empty. His kiss goodbye still burned on my lips, but duty called - sheriff's work didn't stop just because my life was imploding.

The rage I'd been holding back bubbled up like acid. Vanessa's performance played on repeat in my head, each calculated tear, every perfectly timed pause designed to make me look unstable. Before I could talk myself out of it, my phone was in my hand, her number dialed.

She answered on the second ring. "I was wondering when you'd call."

"What the fuck was that?" My voice came out like gravel. Paced to the backyard, needing space to explode. "A press conference? Really? You couldn't even give me the courtesy of a heads up before dragging our private life into the spotlight?"

---