Page 50 of Jenna's Threatened Sanctuary

He released his grip on her hair and set his wine on the coffee table. He straightened and reached for her hands, holding them tight in the empty space between them. He wanted to wipe away the lingering tension and get back the easy banter they’d established in the last few days. “Look at me.”

She lifted her shy gaze to meet his.

“I understand now that you were in an impossible situation. Stella was your sister, your family. I shouldn’t have insisted that you pick her or me. That was a mistake I wish like hell I could take back. I was so devastated when I was kicked out of the police academy—when you refused to kick Stella out. But being young and dumb and acting so impulsively cost me so much more. It cost me you.”

Unshed tears glimmered in her eyes. “I’ve missed you every single day.”

Sadness weighed him down. This was the woman he’d planned a future with, the woman he’d wanted to marry and start a family with. “I hope we can put that behind us. That we can trust each other. But even if you can’t, whatever you need from me—ever—I’m here.”

Jenna lifted one hand from his, leaving the other firmly in his grip, and molded her palm to his jaw. “There’s nothing left to say. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing more between us.”

His gaze met hers, searching for answers, needing to understand what she meant. Fear kept his words tucked inside. “What do you want from me?” His eyes drifted closed. He needed to shut out everything, needed to pull himself together.

Soft lips pressed against his. His heart sputtered in his chest. He opened his eyes, and Jenna’s beautiful face hovered so damn close to his.

She batted her long, dark lashes. “I want you.”

The sputtering from moments before stalled. He wanted nothing more than to take Jenna back to his room and show her exactly what she meant to him. He rose on trembling legs and scooped Jenna into his arms. A sharp jab of pain pierced his side, but he didn’t care. Any amount of discomfort was worth holding Jenna close. She looped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder.

Excitement battled with sorrow. Tonight, he and Jenna would either be rekindling their love or saying their final goodbye.

22

Soft sunlight filtered through the uncovered window and fell across Jenna’s face. Memories of a night spent in Calvin’s arms lifted her lips. She’d wanted nothing more than to wake up beside him this morning, but she’d tiptoed back into her room once Calvin had drifted to sleep to be close to Oliver.

Lifting her arms high, she stretched her lax muscles, and glanced at the clock on the nightstand.

Alarm set her on her feet, anxiety heightening when Oliver was nowhere to be found. At nine a.m., Oliver should have wakened hours ago. She hurried to the portable crib and found a note instead of her baby.

Little man and I are hanging out downstairs.

Calvin

Warm tingles of joy exploded in the pit of her stomach. Last night had been filled with sweet kisses and reawakened passions, but this gesture created a deeper emotion than she’d ever experienced. Created a sense of love and longing she would do everything in her power to keep.

She took a few extra minutes to run a comb through her hair and dress before heading downstairs to find her two favorite guys.

The salty smell of bacon guided her into the kitchen. Calvin glanced over his shoulder and grinned as she stepped into the room. “Morning. My best buddy and I thought we’d let you sleep in a little. How ya feeling?”

The twinkle in his eyes made her giddy and told her he knew exactly how she felt—satisfied and filled with hope. Promises hadn’t been made, but that would come. She was sure of it.

A slight limp slowed her pace as she grinned at Calvin on her way to the table. She ran a hand over Oliver’s head and dipped her chin at Mrs. Collins, who hid a sly smile behind her steaming mug of coffee.

“Glad you got some rest,” Mrs. Collins said, amusement lifting her words.

Heat crashed against her cheeks.

“Sit,” Calvin said. “I’ll bring you some coffee.”

She settled into the chair beside Oliver, who happily plucked up cereal and shoved the pieces in his mouth. “I haven’t slept past seven a.m. since Oliver was born. I could get used to waking late and being served coffee and bacon.”

Calvin placed a mug in front of her and dropped a kiss to the top of her head. “That’s the plan.”

Her toes curled. She’d assumed if they decided to give their relationship another shot, they’d take things slow. Start with a few dinners or ice cream out with Oliver. Jumping in too quick could be confusing for her little boy, especially if things didn’t work.

But spending time in his bed had changed everything. Feelings that had lain dormant for years were rekindled, reminding her of all the reasons she’d fallen in love with Calvinthe first time. And now that the floodgates were open, there was no turning back.

As long as Calvin was on the same page.

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