Page 32 of Saving Salem
“You’re both quite welcome.” She stopped on her way to the front door and spun around. “Oh, I almost forgot! I swear my brains all over the place lately. The ladies gathered a few things for you both. Clothes, toothbrushes, some pajamas, and other essentials to get you through the next couple of days, until you can pick out the stuff you need.” She pointed toward a duffle bag sitting by the fireplace.
“Please tell everyone how much we appreciate their help. I hate the thought of putting this smoky thing back on after my shower.” Salem pulled at her neckline grimacing.
“Not a problem, girlfriend. We’ve got you covered.”
“Stephanie, let’s go.”
“You’re such a spoilsport, Nate.” She walked to the door, pulling it open. “Alright, guys and gals, I’m out of here. Heading home to see the hubby. Believe it or not, he’s fixing dinner tonight.” Stephanie grinned before tossing a set of keys onto the island. “You’re staying here tonight, Samuel’s suggestion, although it sounded more like an order. You’ll be safe. Nobody gets into this building after hours without the passcode. If you need anything, you’ve got my number, and I’m just one floor down. Second door on the left.”
“Come on, Nate, let’s give them a chance to look over their new place.” Stephanie gave her a wink before dragging Nate out by the arm, leaving her and Jack alone.
“Subtlety has never been Stephanie’s strong suit.” Jack slid onto the stool Stephanie had vacated, his knees touching hers. His clothing was covered with blotches of black soot, and his hair and face looked like they’d been wiped down with a wet wipe. And to her, he looked like a hero. He’d saved the life of her daughter. There was nothing more important to her in the whole world. She’d been distraught when she realized Jack hadn’t followed her out of the building. She didn’t want to lose him; he’d become too important to her. Too special.
“She’s newly married, she thinks everybody should be as happy in life as she is. I think it’s sweet.”
Jack looked around for the first time, taking in the apartment. “What do you think of the place?” He gestured around the living room and kitchen.
“I think it’s amazing. All of this,” she waved her hand around, frantically gesturing, “it’s like something out of a dream. I feel like I should pinch myself to see if it’s real.”
Jack leaned forward and grabbed both of her hands, holding her still. “No pinching. I think we’ve both had enough drama for one day. Want to show me around?”
“Yes. Let me check on Chloe real quick, make sure she’s going to stay asleep for a few minutes. Otherwise, she’s going to be running races with all this open space.”
Jack walked with her over to where Chloe slept inside her cocoon of pillows with a throw blanket beneath her. She looked like an angel, sweet and innocent, and the need to protect her rose in him. A swell of love for the little girl filled her at the thought of how differently the night could have turned out. If they hadn’t gotten out of the apartment fast enough, it didn’t bear thinking about. Shaking her head, she started talking about the apartment.
“What do you think of the place, Salem? Would you and Chloe be comfortable here?”
“Of course. It’s beautiful. This whole apartment is over two thousand square feet, with this living room and kitchen having an open concept as you can see. Stephanie said it comes fully furnished, but if there’s anything you don’t like—”
“I’ll leave decorating up to you. My place back in Austin was mostly decorated by my mom, and it was pretty Spartan. I want you to be comfortable, to feel like it’s your home. Anything you want to change is fine with me.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, back here there are three bedrooms. The one here,” she gestured to the room on the left side of the hallway, “I thought might be good for a nursery for Chloe.” The walls were painted a pale green with cream trim and accents. Soft curtains hung from the window on the far wall. A full-size bed currently sat against the wall to the right of the door, with a white headboard and footboard. White nightstands flanked each side of the bed, with lamps on each one. A stack of books sat on one nightstand, not in a neat pile but haphazardly placed, with a bookmark sticking out of the top one.
“It’ll make a great nursery. With the way the window’s positioned, it’ll get sunlight early in the day, so it won’t keep her up when it’s time to go to bed.”
“Exactly,” she whispered. “The one across the hall is the primary.” She stood to the side, allowing him to walk through the doorway, taking in the room she’d already fallen in love with. A large king-size bed occupied a large portion of the space, with a gorgeous aquamarine-colored bedspread with a texture to it that almost felt like velvet, soft against her fingertips when she’d run her hand across it earlier. The wrought iron headboard was simple scrollwork that looked deceptively feminine, but had thicker bands which kept it from feeling too girly. A darker wood predominated the furniture, the nightstands and tallboy chest of drawers a deep rich mahogany. The walls were painted a rich gray with the trim a few shades lighter. The room felt warm and inviting, with abstract art pieces on the walls echoing the colors in the room.
“I like it.” Jack opened the double doors leading to the master closet, a walk-in that currently stood empty. “Guess we’re going to have to go shopping to fill all this space. Of course, we’ll have to shop anyway, since I’m not sure if there’s anything salvageable left in the apartment.”
“Jack, I’m so sorry. You lost everything you brought with you.”
“Sweetheart, you lost everything, too. It’s almost like we’re starting over.”
She blinked back the tears, letting his words sink in. They really were starting over.
“You’re right. I don’t think it hit me until just now. How lucky we are, I mean. Especially me. Stuff can be replaced. Belongings are simply things. But my life? Chloe’s life? Your life, Jack. Those have meaning. I was never afraid because you were there. I knew, in here,” she thumped her chest with her fist, “you’d protect us, make sure we made it out. And you did.”
“As long as I’m alive, I will always protect you and Chloe. I told you that in Texas. I gave you my word when I spoke our marriage vows. I know we’ve come into this whole situation to convince the courts that we are a family, and we love our daughter. And I do love Chloe already.”
“I know you do, Jack.”
“I care about you, too, Salem.” His fingertips traced her jaw line softly before skimming along her throat and to her shoulder. Her eyes drifted closed and she drew in a soft breath. A tingle seemed to race across her skin, every place that he touched, and she wanted more. She wanted to feel his lips against hers. They’d never kissed. Even at the end of their wedding ceremony, he’d simply kissed her cheek, and suddenly she wondered what it would feel like to have Jack kiss her like a lover.
She tilted her face up, hoping he’d realize she wanted him to take the next step, wanted him to kiss her. She wanted—him.
The feel of his breath against her lips almost had her moaning. So close. Would he be a soft kisser, giving her sweet, long kisses that lasted for hours? Or would he take what he wanted, devouring her and leaving her breathless and wanting more?
A hard knock on the front door of the apartment shattered the illusion she’d created, and her eyes popped open to find him bare inches away, staring down at her. Neither moved until the knock on the door sounded again, and Chloe let out a cry.
