Page 45 of Jessica's Hero
“Jess.” He frames my face with his hands and kisses me again. Sparks of joy and desire radiate through my body, traveling to parts that have been in hibernation for years. “My beautiful girlfriend.”
Oh.
He’s called me beautiful before, but I never really believed it.
But the way he says it, his expression earnest and his gaze soft but steady on mine…
Maybe he reallydoesthink I’m beautiful.
Maybe, for the first time in seventeen years, I’ve found someone who sees past the scars and the mistakes of my past.
Hugging me close, Kane’s lips press to the top of my head. His heart thuds hard against me. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he murmurs. “I was so worried.”
A chord twangs in my chest, exquisitely sweet and painful at the same time. “I was scared,” I admit quietly. “All I wanted was you.”
His arms convulse around me. “Ah, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I wish I’d been there.”
“No, it’s not your fault.”
A sigh, and then, “Maybe not. But, Jess. I’m not letting anything like that happen again. It can’t.” Expression sobering, he adds, “We need to make a plan. For going forward. You know that, right?”
My chest squeezes. “What are you thinking? More security at my house?”
“Well, yes. But that’s not all.”
“What else, then? I can’t afford to stay at a hotel for more than a couple of days. Eventually I have to go home. And what’s to stop someone—” My mouth clamps shut at the stormy look on his face. “Anyway. I’m not sure what else I can do.”
“It’s not so much whatyoucan do.” Kane pauses. “It’s what everyone else can.”
“Everyone else?”
A beat later, I realize what he’s thinking. And I’m already shaking my head. “Kane, no. I don’t want to get Nora involved.”
“It’s not just Nora,” he replies. “It’s all of Blade andArrow. And the police. And the rest of my friends. They all want to help.”
“I can’t afford to hire Blade and Arrow,” I protest. “And really, it’s not the kind of case they take on. Some broken windows? A mysterious burglar who stole some fruit and a rug? Unidentified footprints outside my house? They deal with dark web crap and stalkers and stuff like that. Not some local who’s still holding a grudge against me.”
Kane looks at me very seriously. “Sweetheart. Those things you just said? I don’t want to scare you, but that’s how a lot of stalking cases start. Small things that escalate. What if it’s not rocks through the windows next time? What if they set your house on fire? Or decide to… Shit. Anything could happen. And that’s unacceptable.”
A shudder racks my body. “I’m sure no one would?—”
“You don’tknow, Jess. You think it’s just someone with a grudge. But until we catch this person?—”
“Assuming it’s one person,” I interject. “Considering how many people don’t like me in town…”
His jaw turns to stone. “Which is bullshit. These assholes need to get a life. Stop fucking messing with you when—” On an exhale, he continues in a calmer tone, “It’s not okay, sweetheart. And I know you’ve been trying to deal with this on your own. But that’s over now. I’ve got your back. And by extension, so do my friends.”
Without warning, my eyes prickle with tears. My nose stings.“Kane.”
“I mean it, Jess. You are not alone anymore. Okay? Will you let me help? Let my friends help? Letyourfriends help.” Before I can answer, he adds, “Yes, your friends. Nora. Thea. Ari. Don’t you think they want to help?”
“I didn’t want to drag Nora into it,” I mumble. “And Thea and Ari… we’re just starting to be friends again.”
“Well, they care.” Adjusting me on his lap, Kane strokes my hair as he holds my gaze. “I made some calls first thing this morning. Grant is headed over to your house to fix the windows. Thea is working with a cleaning company to clear up all the glass. Ari and Cash volunteered to go over to pack up some of your things. And?—”
“Wait. What? Pack up my things?”
Pink touches his cheeks again. And if I wasn’t so unsettled by all these recent developments, I’d spend more time appreciating just how cute Kane is when he blushes.
