Page 41 of Defending What is Mine

Jack chuckles as he relaxes into his seat. “Because I knew you couldn’t be trusted not to peek before Christmas.”

“What?” I scoff. “Can’t be trusted? You don’t think Nessa and I have enough self-control to be capable of waiting for Christmas to open a present?”

Jack shakes his head. “That’s not what I said, and you know it. Don’t go putting words in my mouth. I trust Vanessa completely.” He smiles as he waits for the joke to land. “As for the woman who admits she can resist everything except temptation…well, let’s just say I figured, why take the chance?”

“Anyway…” I roll my eyes. “How’s work been? And before you say it, I know, I know. There’s a lot you can’t talk about.”

Jack grins. “Oh, is that how it’s going to be now? We’re going straight to the cold shoulder routine?”

I make a pouty face and turn away to hide my smile, but Jack calls my bluff.

“Okay. It’s obvious I’ve upset you.” He sighs heavily. “I guess I’ll let you go to bed. At least that way you still have a chance at a good night’s sleep.”

“Noooo,” I whine. “Don’t go. Not yet.” When I turn back to the monitor, I find him grinning from ear to ear. “Oh! You’re such a cheater.”

Jack rubs at his chin with his thumb and index finger. “What? It’s okay for you to play, but not me?”

I bob my head. “See, you do get it.”

He rolls his eyes. “Anyway. Things here have been fine. If anything, it’s so quiet it’s boring. Overall, I guess it’s a good problem to have, but there are only so many ways to occupy your time, ya know? Especially when you constantly have someone on your mind. Someone you can’t seem to stop thinking about, no matter what you do. Always there, distracting you when you’re trying to focus on your work. Making you miss home, instead.”

“Really? I can only imagine how that would make it a challenge. So tell me, who is it?” I ask with an inquisitive smile. “Is it Chet? It’s Chet, isn’t it?”

“Nope.” Jack grins. “It’s not him. In fact, it’s not anyone on the ranch.”

“Hmmm. No one on the ranch?” I tap my index finger against my chin as I pretend to lose myself to thought. “So, I guess that would rule out your Mom…and your niece and nephew. Now I’m really curious.” Flirting with him, just letting myself go, playing and being silly—it feels so good, like the lights have been turned up on my life. Like there’s a filter, smoothing out all the hard lines and wrinkles, leaving only the beauty.

Jack nods knowingly as he rests his elbows against the edge of his desk. “Want a hint?” He doesn’t wait for my reply before continuing. “It’s a girl,” he says, waggling his eyebrows. “And you wanna know the worst part?”

Playing along, I bite my lip and nod enthusiastically.

“I can’t keep her off my mind because I’m head-over-heels in love with her.”

My heart leaps at his admission, giddily adding its agreement, but I lean forward and drop my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Oh! That does sound serious. Does she know? I mean, is this a mutual thing? Or is this more of a sad, unrequited love situation?”

Jack maintains a world-series-of-poker-worthy straight face. “I’d say she knows how I feel.” He looks down at his desk. “But, does she feel the same? I’m afraid that’s the million-dollar question.”

“Has she not made her feelings abundantly clear?”

“Nope,” Jack says in a slow, sad-sounding drawl.

“Well, if you want my opinion, any woman worth your time shouldn’t leave you guessing. If I were in her shoes, it would be my number one priority to ensure you knew.”

He smiles and leans closer to the camera. “You don’t say. And what, exactly, would you make sure I knew?”

I blush. Talking about my feelings has never been easy for me, but Jack deserves to hear it, even if it makes me uncomfortable. “I’d tell you that you’re the greatest man I’ve ever known. That I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined I could feel love so deeply. I’d tell you that for all the trust issues I have with men, you found a way to cut through all of it. That you somehow manage to be powerful and strong while simultaneously being patient and gentle. At least, with regard to me and my little one.”

“And…?” Jack rolls his wrist, gesturing with his hand for me to continue.

“Greedy, much?” I ask through a chuckle. “And, as a result, when you’re around I feel safe and protected and valued and special.”

I watch as the eager smile on his face begins to fall. “Oh…well, that’s all good.”

I clear my throat and hurry forward. “And I’d tell you that I love you more than I thought I could love anyone. More than I ever thought possible. I love you like…like…”

“Whoa.” Jack sits up and pushes his palms out into a slow-down gesture. “Easy now. You’re starting to sound a little over-the-top.” He drops me a wink when my jaw drops. “Seriously though, you do know I feel exactly the same way, don’t you? Because I need you to know that. All the way to your core. I couldn’t stand being this far away from you if I didn’t know you knew that.”

Nodding while I wipe at the corners of my eyes, I answer, “Yes. I know. With all my heart, I know it.”

---