Page 64 of Jolene's Justice

After the boost their friends had given their self-esteems, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. They’d barely made it through Finch’s front door before clothes were flying.

Now, Jolene lay in his arms, content to be still for the first time in a long time. Even with everything that needed to be done with the bar, she was enjoying her down time. Probably far too much. Spending time with Finch, getting to know him on a deeper level, was a revelation, and she felt like she was seeing him in a whole new light. And she fell deeper every day.

She trailed her fingers through the springy hair on his chest. “I spoke to my dad today.”

“Yeah? How is he?” Gorden and Finch had taken to each other, and Finch was slowly learning the Scottish vernacular her father often slipped into using.

“He’s still his same old crabbity self.”

Finch snorted. “No surprise there.”

“Dante is keeping an eye on him. He won’t let him overdo it.”

“Good.”

“He’s selling the house.”

“No shit? I thought he never wanted to sell.”

“I guess our work on the house inspired him. He’s decided now’s the time to get out. He’s realized he doesn’t have the time or energy to take care of it anymore. He wants to move to a condo where everything is taken care of for him. And he’s going to hire a cleaning crew. No more dusting. No more cleaning bathrooms. And he’s most excited about not having to mow.”

“Good for him. I guess hecansee reason.”

Jolene laughed. Her father was a stubborn mule. That was for sure. She was just glad he was making some changes. “Too bad it took a heart attack to make him see reason.”

“Going through a scare like that can change a person’s perspective.”

She could tell he was thinking about what they’d been through. She wasn’t sure if it changed her perspective or made her appreciate what she had more. “Did it change yours?”

She waited patiently as he took a moment to ponder her question. “There’s no doubt that what happened was eye opening. I knew Angelica was capable of violence. I just never imagined she’d go as far as she did. And it kills me that I didn’t see it sooner.”

“You can’t think that way.”

“I know. I just wish I could have spared you all that hurt.”

“Me? She hurt you more than me.”

His fingers trailed up her back, sending tingles down her spine. She loved feeling his hands on her. She hoped it gave him as much comfort as it gave her.

“I’ve taken a lot of abuse from her over the years. I could handle most everything she’s ever thrown at me. But seeing you with her knife at your throat . . .” Jolene lifted her head to see his face when his words dropped off. His features were pinched, his eyes squeezed shut as if he was reliving it. “And then the fire. Finding you lying there . . . Fuck, Jolie. I just . . .” His face contorted in agony, his eyebrows furrowed, and his teeth clenched together. His eyes were scrunched shut so hard that his lashes quivered. The room was filled with a heavy silence, only broken by his labored breathing. He seemed to be struggling against an invisible force, his muscles tense and his body shaking. His fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. It was as though he was fighting a battle with the memory, and it was consuming him.

She could empathize with how he was feeling. She often woke up in a cold sweat after dreaming that they’d been too late to save him. The dream was always the same. She’d rush through that cabin door just as Angelica sank her blade into his gut. Then she’d hold him in her arms as his lifeblood drained away.

Every time she’d had the dream, she’d wake to find him right beside her. She took solace in his presence. Even in his sleep, he always seemed to sense that she needed him and pulled her closer. She’d snuggle in, breathing in his familiar scent, and feel the gentle rise and fall of his chest, and a sense of security would wash over her, lulling her back to sleep.

She rose up until she was hovering over him, her long hair sweeping down around her face. In an instant, his eyes sprang open, and she could see the pain and agony flicker across his face, causing her heart to clench. The torment in his eyes was palpable, almost as if she could reach out and touch it.

There was only one thing she could think of to say. She bracketed his face between her hands and stared into his eyes. “I love you. I’m right here. I’m safe. And I love you.”

The tension in his muscles melted away almost immediately. His facial features softened as he met her gaze. The green in his eyes was so intense that it almost appeared to overpower the blue. She loved that she could tell his mood through his eyes. This was her favorite. It conveyed his feelings for her without words.

He raked his fingers through her hair, drawing it away from her face. “Jolene,” he whispered. “My Jolie. I love you so much. My perceptionhaschanged. I see you. I see us. I see a wonderful future together. My happiness is immeasurable whenever you’re near. And I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings us.”

His fingers worked through her tangled hair, smoothing out the knots.

“Thank you for giving me a second chance. He leaned in close, his eyes locking on hers as he made a promise. “I won’t let you down.”

“I know,” she replied, the sound of her voice barely audible above the soft hum of the ceiling fan. As she reached up to run her fingers through his hair, the sound of their breathing became more pronounced. She moved closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body, and she kissed him, savoring the roughness of his stubble against her lips. With each kiss, the intensity grew, a fiery passion that conveyed all their promises. The feel of his strong arms wrapping around her sent shivers down her spine, and she knew in that moment that nothing could ever tear them apart again.

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