Page 11 of Saving Salem
“You heard what Chance said last night. One of the things the Amir family will go after is the fact you’re a single mother, working two jobs. That means most of your day you’re away from Chloe. She’s either with a sitter or in daycare. Then you’re studying. Yes, I know you don’t hit the books until after Chloe’s asleep, but it’s another black mark against you.”
“Lots of women run single family households, hold down multiple jobs, and go to school while they have children. How fair is it to try and take away my daughter because I’m trying to give her a good life, a better life than she’d have had with the monster who sired her?”
Jack grabbed her hands with his, and she realized she’d been wringing them over and over. His gentle touch had her breath catching in her throat when she realized how close he was sitting beside her. It had been far too long since she’d been comfortable with a man getting that close. Max and Remy kept their distance whenever she was in the office alone with either of them, knowing without her telling them she was skittish around men, an aftereffect of Tarik’s abuse.
“I’m well aware many women are heads of households and raise children without a man around. My mother was a single parent after my dad died. She did an amazing job, and you’re doing one too.” Jack racked a hand through his dark hair, and Salem swallowed, watching the movement. The soft waves seemed to have a mind of their own, falling back across his forehead. “I know what I’m suggesting is sudden, Salem, and seems like a crazy scheme, but hear me out. For Chloe’s sake, we can make it work. I wish we had time for you to get to know me, but I promise I’ll never treat you the way Amir did. I have never raised my hand against a woman in anger, and I never will. I abhor any kind of domestic violence, and actively work to stop it as part of my job. I also promise I will do everything humanly possible to keep you and Chloe together, which is why I’m proposing we get married.”
“Jack, it’s—”
“Impulsive? Spontaneous? Crazy? Yeah, it probably is, but I also think it can work. The Amirs want to come after you for being a single mother? Then we remove that obstacle. If you marry me, you won’t be a single parent. Chloe will have two loving parents.”
“It can’t work, Jack. You live in Austin, I live in New Orleans. Even though we aren’t close, her grandparents—my parents—live there too. I can’t just up and move to Texas. What about work? School?” She shook her head again, beginning to feel like a bobblehead doll.
“I’ve already talked with Samuel Carpenter. He’s willing to hire me at Carpenter Security Services, no questions asked. My background as a Texas Ranger and the recommendation of my current captain makes my moving to New Orleans pretty much a nonissue. My captain waived my having to give notice, so if you say yes, I can move to New Orleans with you immediately. I have impeccable references. And if you’re concerned, I’m sure Ms. Patti and Douglas will vouch for me and my intentions.”
“Jack, you can’t give up your job. That’s crazy!”
“No, it’s spontaneous. And the timing couldn’t be better. I’ve been thinking about making a change. Being a Ranger is stressful, which is why there’s such a high burnout ratio. And I’ve got nothing tying me to Texas. My mom has her own career, her own life, her circle of friends. There’s nobody and nothing else tying me here.” He reached for her hands again, and Salem let him, her mind whirling at everything he proposed. “Salem, let me do this. Let me help save Chloe from Amir’s family.”
She shook her head. What he suggested seemed insane. The courts would never go for it. They’d know it was a ruse, something cooked up to keep the Amirs at bay, and it would only make things worse.
“Jack, are you listening to what you’re saying? Nobody is going to believe this is a real marriage. The judge will throw it out in a heartbeat, and it could make things worse, not better. Have you even run your idea by Chance? What does he think?”
“People get married all the time for reasons that are nobody’s business except their own. What is it the books call it?Marriages of convenience. We get married and get Chloe’s custody settled. You and I, we take things slow. Get to know each other. To the rest of the world, people we don’t care about, let them think that we met before Chloe was born, when you were visiting the Boudreaus here in Texas. We’ve gotten to know each other, kept in touch for the last year, and we’ve fallen for one another. Let ’em think we were having a long-distance relationship, and we moved our timetable for getting married up because of the custody thing. It’s a believable scenario, especially if the opposing side wants to introduce it in court. We can provide a stable family for Chloe with two parents to provide for her, eliminating most of the Amirs’ arguments.”
Salem’s mind raced a mile a minute, mulling over Jack’s suggestions, pulling them apart and scrutinizing each one. Was she really considering this insanity? Once she was free of Tarik’s domination, she’d sworn never to be another man’s pawn, to never allow a man to hold any kind of sway over her again. She’d hardened her heart, not allowing anyone close except for her daughter.
“Jack, I can’t love you.” The words shot out before she could stop them, and she put her hand to her lips, almost wishing she could call them back.
“I’m not asking for your love, Salem. Not yet anyway. I’m asking you to put Chloe first. I care about her. I’ve known that sweet baby her whole life. We don’t have to sleep together to co-parent Chloe.”
He was saying all the right things, but Salem still doubted. Tarik had been a silver-tongued devil-in-disguise. As much as she wanted to believe Jack, his idea still sounded crazy. Yet there was a tiny glimmer of hope, because sometimes the most insane, improbable notions made headlines. And right now she needed something to keep the Amirs from taking her baby.
“Let’s talk to Chance and Ivy. I’m not saying yes,” she paused before adding, “yet.”
Jack stood and held out his hand, waiting for her to take it. “Please, Salem, give me a chance. I swear you won’t regret it.”
Glancing between his hand stretched toward her and his face, she drew in a deep breath, and slowly placed her hand into his, allowing him to help her stand, and hoped she wasn’t making the biggest mistake in her life.
CHAPTER SIX
The last weekhad been a whirlwind of craziness. Salem still couldn’t believe she’d said yes to Jack’s insane proposal. It seemed like once she’d accepted, things had sped up until she could barely keep up. Before telling anybody, they’d met with Chance, with Ivy on speaker, and gone over the pros and cons of their plan. Finally, after tearing apart every idea, Chance and Ivy finally agreed the idea had merit. From there, they’d driven to the Big House and broken the news to Ms. Patti and Douglas.
She smiled, remembering the look on Ms. Patti’s face at the news. She’d practically glowed with a combination of approval and excitement, and immediately took over planning every detail. Within twenty-four hours, they had applied for the license, arranged for the justice of the peace to perform the ceremony at the courthouse, and invited all the Boudreaus for a small gathering afterward.
Jack had turned in his notice with the Rangers and called Samuel, arranging a start time for his new job with Carpenter Security Services. While he acted like he was excited about the new start, she suspected part of that was a front. And she felt like a giant boulder of guilt sat squarely on her shoulders. He was giving up everything for her and Chloe. His apartment, his job, even his community, all to move to Louisiana—for her.
It still seemed unreal, including the gold band on her ring finger. The ceremony had been beautiful—Ms. Patti saw to that. With the few guests crowded into the small chapel at the courthouse—and, yes, apparently Shiloh Springs’ courthouse had an onsite chapel—she and Jack exchanged vows. Douglas had given her away, and Ms. Patti had cried.
Tonight was the first night they’d spend together as husband and wife. Under the same roof. Sharing her bedroom. She glanced at the queen-sized bed taking up a huge portion of her tiny room, and her breath started coming out faster. Why hadn’t they talked about sharing a bed? Jack said he wouldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to, but for how long?
“Salem?”
She spun around, her breath catching in the back of her throat at the sound of his voice. Standing in the hallway, his serious gaze watched her, and she couldn’t help wondering if he could read her mind. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and she had the feeling he knew her thoughts, especially considering the heat that rushed into her cheeks.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. Where do you want these?” He nodded toward the suitcase and the diaper bag she’d carried all of Chloe’s things in. She huffed out a breath, running a hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face before letting it fall across her cheek. The longer bangs and style tended to fall into place, obscuring the scar on her face. It had faded from the vivid red from when it first happened, to now a dull pink, but every minute of every day she knew it was there, and cursed Tarik again. He’d stolen so much from her, including her sense of self-worth and independence, and she wondered if she’d ever get them back.
“Sorry. Just set them on the bed and I’ll take care of them.”
