Page 27 of Jolene's Justice

“God, Jolene,” he uttered, his voice full of anguish. “I’m so sorry.”

Her gaze drifted down to their joined hands, taking in the smattering of freckles on the back of his and up his arm. The curse of a redhead. The faint scar on his arm caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but wonder about its origin.

With a deep breath, she squeezed his hand, offering comfort while gathering courage from the connection to continue. “It took me a long time before I felt confident enough to try again. Emma and I had been close in college. She invited me to visit while she was in the Coast Guard, and I never left. The moment I drove through Lake Haven, I was drawn to its quaint charm. It reminded me so much of my hometown. I opened Jolene’s bar and never looked back.”

“And then you met me, and I brought it all back up for you,” he said, his voice heavy with remorse. He let go of her hand and sat forward, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “Fuck, Jolene. No wonder you don’t want anything to do with me.”

“I’m beginning to see that the two situations may be as different as night and day,” she confessed.

He quickly lifted his head and turned toward her. She could see the regret and anguish that he’d caused her pain in his eyes. And that was how she knew he was nothing like Harrison. It was then that she resolved to hear him out when he was ready to discuss it once more.

“I never wanted to hurt you,” he implored. “I’d been separated for years. After I met you, I filed for divorce. It’s taking forever. You were a breath of fresh air. Things with her . . . my marriage . . . hadn’t been good. I hadn’t intended to take things so far with you. At least not until my divorce was final. I just . . . couldn’t stay away.” His gaze dropped from hers, and he fidgeted with his hands. “You must hate me.”

“I thought I did. But lately, I’ve begun to see things differently. Seeing the anguish you feel at this moment, I can tell you are nothing like Harrison. I think I’m ready to hear you out.”

Her phone dinged with another text, interrupting the moment. Another threat flashed on the screen.

DON’T GET COMFORTABLE. I’LL SEE TO IT YOU LOSE EVERYTHING.

“Jesus Christ. This person is relentless,” Finch muttered. “We should contact Emma. See if she can work her magic to find out who’s behind this.”

“I thought about it, but she’s on tour with Marcus. I don’t want to disturb them.”

“She’s your best friend and cares about you. She’d want to help. In fact, I think she’d be pissed you’ve waited so long.”

Jolene snickered to herself, knowing full well that Emma would definitely be thoroughly annoyed. “You’re probably right. I’ll call her in the morning.”

“Do you think you can go back to sleep?” he asked, his hand slipping hesitantly over hers once again.

Could she? Now that she remembered the shadowed figure under her window, she wasn’t sure. “I-I guess.”

Finch reached up and cupped her cheek, the warmth from his palm giving her more comfort that she ever thought possible. She leaned into it, closing her eyes. “We’re going to figure this out. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

She nodded, feeling the sudden sting of tears at the veracity in his words. She knew without a doubt that he would do everything in his power to protect her. Her faith in that truth never wavered, even when she hated him.

“Tomorrow we’ll go get some cameras to set up around the house. Maybe some motion sensor lights. Nobody will get that close again without us knowing.”

“Thank you, Finch. After this past year, I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad you’re here.”

The smile he gave her shot straight to her heart. It was so incredibly childlike and uncomplicated. It was the way she’d once believed Finch navigated life, what he was truly like inside. But there was more to him than met the eye. Something deep inside that he kept hidden from the world. Some inner wound that had sliced him up. And was probably still slashing through him.

“Go on up,” he prompted. “I’m gonna do a perimeter check, then make sure everything is locked up tight.”

“Okay.” She rose to her feet, and he mirrored her action. He stood so close she could feel the heat from his body. An invisible warmth wrapped around her, and she drank in the comfort of his nearness.

She couldn’t resist taking in the sight of his well-defined arms and broad shoulders. Her eyes roamed over his tempting form, taking in the way his clothes hugged his body. He really was devilishly handsome. His sharp cheekbones cast shadows over his chiseled jawline, and his piercing hazel eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. His tousled hair seemed to beg for a woman’s touch.

She struggled to battle the intense need to be near him. It was too easy to get lost in the way he looked at her. She was so tired of fighting. Couldn’t she have this one moment to lose herself, forget all her troubles, and just feel?

Yeah. She was taking it.

Fisting his T-shirt in her hand, she took a chance. She slowly rose onto the balls of her feet, the wood floor cool beneath her toes as she lifted herself onto her tiptoes. Their laborious breathing filled the air as she leaned in closer to him, her heart racing in anticipation. The outdoorsy scent of his cologne, mixed with the subtle aroma of candy, caused her senses to heighten. As she touched her lips to his, a rush of warmth spread throughout her body, making her heart skip a beat.

She played her lips across his, teasing them open. He acquiesced, and she slipped her tongue inside the warm recesses of his mouth. At the first touch, he let out a growl. His arms encircled her, one hand on her back, the other at her nape as he held her tightly to him. His embrace was entirely male, and she melted.

With his mouth moving over hers, she felt every inch of his soft lips. His kisses were slow and drugging, making her feel like she was lost in a dream. His tongue sent shivers of desire racing through her. Her eager response shocked her, but she knew it was too late to hold back now.

His lips broke from hers and traveled a fiery path along her jaw, then to her neck, and finally up to her earlobe. He whispered into her ear, sending tingles throughout her entire body. “I know what a gift you’re giving me right now.” The warmth of his breath and the sound of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. “I won’t squander it.”

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