Page 27 of Her Faithful Protector

With that, Sam waves us goodbye.

Jack inputs a security code at the door to lock it. Obviously, he has been briefed. He then turns to me, “You need some sleep. I thought you were going to pass out when I got here.”

I simply plop myself on the couch. “I don’t even know where the bedroom is. And I don’t really want to sleep.”

“Rest here then.” He guides me to lie flat across the longcouch. Then he spots Quinton’s giraffe teether resting on the side table. He pauses but stops short at showing his reaction.

My body sighs in anguish. “He must be anxious to play with it again. He must be crying.” Those words make me wither as if life drains out through my pores.

Jack reaches for a throw blanket, draping it over me. He leans closer, and his fingertips caress my arm. “Hang in there.”

I bring my hand to my tired face, trying to compose myself. Jack rises from his seat, but I reach out and grasp his hand, halting his departure.

“I need to change,” he says.

If it were any other man, I would have requested a shower. But with Jack, his scent pulls me in. Somehow, his perspiration becomes a symbol of his unwavering dedication to me. He has earned his place in my heart, the whole him—blood, sweat, and tears.

“Please, stay,” I implore meekly, shifting myself in to give him room on the couch. He settles down beside my legs, his hand caressing my thigh.

“You know, Ava, when we were in Bozeman, you told me how after a day in court, sometimes you’d spend the night reflecting on the faces you drew,” Jack recalls.

“That’s right.”

“And you didn’t enjoy cases where it was a David versus Goliath battle. Especially during long trials when you noticed the expressions of the innocent ones deteriorating. Didn’t you say, sometimes, you wished you could tell them not to give up?” he adds.

I chuckle, impressed that he actually remembers. Then I explain, “I never allowed my emotions to interfere with my work. It was my job to separate my thoughts from what was presented to me. Occasionally, I sympathized with some of thepeople. I’m only human. But it only happened when I was away from my pastels and paper.”

Jack nods understandingly. “What I wanted to say is... that’s how I feel right now. I want to be the one in your corner, telling you not to give up. I know it’s easier said than done, but you can’t lose faith,” he says earnestly.

I rub his arm, grateful for his support. “We had some interesting conversations back then,” I muse.

“We did,” he murmurs, gently stroking each of my fingers. “Remember when you said tall men have slower reflexes?”

“It’s true!” I insist. “The longer your limbs, the longer it takes for signals to travel from your brain.”

“No, Ava. Come on! I defeated you in every game of ball toss!” Jack defends himself, playfully reaching over to tickle me. “See!”

I attempt to repel his rapid attacks, but I find myself unable to keep up. I let out a giggle and wriggle around. “Alright! Alright!”

A satisfied smile spreads across his face as he looks at me. “That’s what I wanted to see.”

We laugh some more, and then I remind him slowly, “I almost fell asleep in your room that night.”

“Why did you move?”

“I was pregnant, you silly!”

His ‘yeah’ is barely audible, but the intensity in his eyes speaks volumes. “Did you wish you had slept in my bed? That maybe... we had gone further?”

I sigh. “I did.”

“My kidnapping didn’t bother you?”

“Why should it?”

He tilts his head, exhaling. “Well, I’ve succeeded in distracting you, haven’t I?”

I give his hand a squeeze. I do feel better, while he’sapparently ready to move on from where our conversation in Bozeman has left off. I steer our chat to the more current matter. “Hey, what else did you find in L.A.?”

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