Page 53 of Found By Him

I don’t know how to answer. I’m unsure if I should admit that these are the invoices I was presented when I was fired. I glance over to Chris.

Seeing my hesitation, Chris addresses the two men. “What kind of question is that? She already said they looked familiar and that they’re invoices for payments made by the company she worked for. What other reason does she need for them to look familiar?”

Thomas smiles without humor. “Just wanted to ask.”

Chris shifts in his chair, in obvious impatience. “Well, how about we ask the questions you actually want to ask so we don’t have to spend all Friday night here, waiting for you to get to the goddamn point?”

Benson crosses his arms. “Fair enough. Ella, did the payments for these invoices actually go to you?”

Chris shoots from his chair. “Okay, unless you’re arresting her, we’re done here. Ella, let’s go. Jack is waiting for you in the lobby.” I’m unsure if I can leave as he instructed, so I’m slow to stand. I jump when Chris shouts, “Ella, now.”

I push to shaky legs and follow Chris from the room. I’mscared to look back at the detectives, so I keep my eyes locked on the back of Chris’s suit jacket.

My body is quaking by the time we make it to the lobby. Jack stands from one of the small chairs, his brow furrowed as he looks me over to ensure I’m okay. Quickening my pace, I practically throw myself into his outstretched arms. He squeezes me to him, one of his hands holding my head gently to his chest. The vibrations of him speaking with Chris hit my cheek where it’s pressed against him, putting me at ease. I don’t even bother trying to listen to what they are saying.

I hear the door to the building open and close. Jack adjusts his hold on me. “Let’s get out of here,” he mumbles as he leads me from the building, keeping me tight against his side. He helps me into his vehicle and buckles me in, as usual.

He doesn’t say anything more as he climbs in and leaves the parking lot. Reaching over, he intertwines our fingers, pulling my hand onto the middle console. The warmth from his skin helps calm me a little more.

When he parks outside my building, he keeps a hold on my hand. The sound of his breathing soothes me. I drop my head back on the headrest and roll it to look in his direction.

His eyes are cautious as he watches me.

I force a smile. “I’m fine.”

His expression doesn’t change when he raises our hands and kisses the back of mine. Warmth spreads through my arm and zips right to my heart.

“Let’s go upstairs,” is all he says before popping his door open and stepping into the street.

I sigh as I follow suit. We meet on the sidewalk, Jack guiding me to the inside so he’s closest to the street. My first genuine smile in hours forms as we walk up to my condo insilence, because through all the awfulness of the day, I’m so grateful that I get to be with Jack at the end of it.

After a dinner of burgers and fries, Jack squeezes the inside of my thigh. We’re lounging on my couch, me with a glass of wine and him with a beer, watching bad reality TV. “I think we should watch a movie. Anything you want.”

I throw him a skeptical look, as I doubt we like the same kind of movies. “Anything I want?”

He nods definitively. “That’s what I said.”

I narrow my eyes, but shrug and scroll through the movie options, selecting one. Even though I considerWhile You Were Sleepinga Christmas movie, and it is only August, it’s one of my favorites.

I point to a throw blanket on the far side of Jack. “Can you hand me that blanket?”

He shifts so he can look behind me. “What’s wrong with that one over there?”

“That one isn’t my favorite.” Instead of waiting for him, I reach over him and grab the edge of the blanket and start to pull it out from under him.

He chuckles as he lifts his butt so I can pull the blanket the rest of the way out. Helping settle it over me, he wraps his arm around my shoulder as we cuddle into the couch.

Turning to kiss my hair softly, he murmurs against me. “You’re bad at this. I’m picking the next movie.”

I pinch his side and roll my eyes as he gives a low, amused grunt in response to my assault.

We watch the movie for a few minutes before he says, “I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of this, Gisella.”

At his soft tone, I turn my head so I can see him.

“I would do anything to make this right for you.”

And I believe him. Nodding, I lay my face back on his chest and slide my hand under his shirt, his skin hot againstmy palm and his heartbeat steady and strong under my cheek. “You’re doing exactly what I need.”

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