Page 45 of Her Faithful Protector

Quinton wriggles, prompting us to break the kiss. Jack’s sunglasses slip down from his head, and that seems to excite the boy as he points at Jack. “Po po po!”

I giggle almost as loudly as Quinton.

“He’s been saying that all day,” Jack says. “What is it?”

“Paw Patrol. That kid’s show.” I look at him, still laughing. “You, in your sunglasses.”

Jack smiles, his lips curving into a heartwarming arc. The sweetness of the moment compels me to lean in and press my lips against his once more.

“Are you all right, Ava Belle?” he murmurs, gesturing at Sam’s jacket, the fabric bearing the remnants of a recent altercation.

“Your brother made sure I was,” I explain, glancing at Sam, who’s patiently standing a few paces away.

Jack’s eyes meet Sam’s, a silent understanding passing between them. With a face filled with gratitude, he says to his big brother, “What are you doing? Come here.”

The four of us come together, embracing tightly, as relieved sighs escape our lips and blend with the sound of Quinton’s babbling. It takes adversity to arrive at this point, but this is one of the best moments of my life.

Sitting on the grass, we encircle Quinton as we let him crawl on a blanket.

I glance around, searching for a glimpse of the infamous Townsend house. “So, where did you find Quinton? I can’t see a house anywhere here.”

“The house is a bit further away, on the other side of the forest,” Jack answers. “I saved Quinton near a creek. There’s a path that runs from a park not far from the house.”

“A creek?” Anxiety creeps into my voice. What could have possibly happened?

Jack rubs the top of my hand, calming me. “Your babysitter panicked when she tried to escape. But Quinton seemed to take it all in his stride. Probably thought it was just a grand adventure.”

“Oh, baby.” I hold Quinton close, my hands carefully patting his small body, searching for any signs of harm.

“He’s all right,” Jack’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “But—don’t be mad—I did make him cry.” His innocent smirk melts me as he explains, “I believe he thought I was taking him back to the house. So I wandered back into the park, strolling along the tree-lined path until we ended up here. Quinton looked content, and I thought it’d be the perfect spot to wait for you.”

I caress Jack’s cheek. He is my hero, the one who saved my precious child. This will be a story I’ll share with Quinton time and time again, as well as with our future children and their children.

Then Quinton starts to fuss. I gently bounce him up and down, but he continues to squirm. His tiny hands reach out, grasping at the air as if trying to communicate something.

“He may be hungry,” Jack says.

I glance at him, my eyebrows raised in surprise. My potential baby daddy is absolutely spot on. Sam looks at him, too, perhaps thinking the same question—how does the Marine know?

Sam smiles crookedly, then gets up, his footsteps rustling the grass as he walks away. “I’ll go check on Comet and handle our escort,” he said, nodding toward the trooper standing nearby. “Are you two okay here?”

“Yeah,” Jack responds. He watches Sam’s retreating figure.

“We both owe him,” I murmur.

Meanwhile, Quinton continues to squirm in my arms, interrupting my attempts to prepare for his breastfeeding. “Hold him, please?” I hand him over to Jack, at the same time stealing glances at his muscles straining against his snug T-shirt. I can’t wait to lay my body down on those carved abs.

Quinton cries. Jack holds him close, his large handsshaking him gently in an attempt to soothe him. I take off Sam’s jacket, revealing my torn shirt, a stark reminder of the events that unfolded.

“What happened?” Jack’s eyes widen.

“They found out I was wired, but Sam took control of the situation. I’m okay, Jack.” I remove my shirt and unclasp my bra, letting my boobs spill out.

I reach out to Quinton, my fingers brushing against his soft cheek. “Come here, baby.” The warmth of his tiny body brushes against mine as his lips latch onto my nipple. How I missed this.

“Must feel good to be a mother,” Jack whispers.

“I wouldn’t trade it with anything else.” I softly chuckle as Quinton’s sucking becomes more pronounced.

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