Page 29 of Those Who Are Bound

Jonah

JonaharrivedatLucy’sapartment that evening still high from his morning with Elliott.

He’d wondered yesterday what would light up her eyes, and throughout the morning, he’d seen glimpses here and there. She wasn’t as reserved as he’d pegged her for, even though a shroud of sadness came over her occasionally—understandably. She’d lost everyone in her life. The outward toughness was her defense; he was pleased she had allowed him a glimpse past it. With so much loss in her life, it would be easy for her to shut everyone out to keep from experiencing that pain again.

Getting to know a person was tricky. Pushing too much too soon could result in a lovely day with a request that it end there. He didn’t want that; he wanted tomorrow and the next day, and any day beyond that he could get. Although he wanted to know everything about her right now, he’d have to wait for the things that turned her eyes from storm clouds into sparkling diamonds.

That’s why he’d given her the control.

He’d noted the tension that rolled off her from time to time, especially when Officer—Detective—Elliott was mentioned. Beyond what she’d provided, that man was not up for discussion. Of course, Jonah was curious, considering the man seemed to have been an important part of her life and the only person she had left.

But then the thought hit him: the heavy bag—because of her brother’s death, because of her anger around it; it was understandable. The man was wrapped around painful memories.

It was like she’d stopped living two years ago when her brother’s life had ended.

So he was even luckier that she’d been with him today. Even more so, because based on her story, there had been a moment in time, if not for her detective friend, she would have ceased to exist.The thought was a gut punch.

After she’d tumbled down the hill and laughed when he thought she’d cry, he’d been incredibly turned on. He’d watched her take determined steps back up. He’d wanted to find Lucy and hug the life out of her for throwing Elliott in his path. He didn’t know any woman, including Lucy, who would fall down a hill and not only lie laughing at the bottom of it but insist on getting up and charging to the top. Was it possible to fall in love with someone so quickly? Because he was afraid he was dangerously close to it.

At the top, she’d presented him with the first of several tests. In his arms, she looked up at him, silently begging to be kissed. Jonah read all of her signals loud and clear, as did the rest of his body, which had been eager to answer her call. Having her in his arms could have gotten awkward quickly.

Although it felt amazing, and yes, she fit perfectly, he wasn’t going to move that fast with her, no matter what he wanted—what they both wanted. But like he told her, he wanted more than immediate gratification. So he stepped back before his body announced to her that it was a willing participant, eager to seek out her warmer, tighter, wetter regions.

As well traveled as she was, she must have seen more impressive things than that river this morning, but she’d looked at it as though he had shown her paradise. He loved that she’d accepted the beauty for what it was, and hadn’t compared it to anything she had seen before.Slipping his hands into his pockets, he’d watched her stare, lifting her gaze and sweeping along the river. He’d seen the place before many times, in all seasons, and as beautiful as it was, watching her was more breathtaking.He was completely enamored.

There was so much more he wanted to know about her. They’d kept it light, the same surface-level stuff that most new couples exchanged. The word gave him a charge: couple. That he could see that with her reminded him to proceed with caution; they didn’t know each other yet. They were definitely attracted to one another; the sexual energy couldn’t be denied or ignored.

He’d looked to the clouds, toward the heavens, asking for this to be possible.

Entering Lucy’s apartment, he called out, “Luce?”

Her answer came from the balcony, “Out here.”

Jonah helped himself to a glass of iced tea before joining her.

She was staring at an image on the laptop Elliott had given to her. Sitting in the chair next to her, he asked, “What are you staring at with such… Is that Elliott?”

It was a picture taken at a funeral. Of Elliott, sitting alone in a chair under one of those horrible green tents, snow on the ground, flowers scattered on and around the casket in stark contrast.

In the photo, she was wearing a black dress coat, her mouth partially open in a sob that conveyed how her heart had been ripped out, the expression on her face so filled with pain it was tangible, watching a casket being lowered into the frozen ground; her eyes on it as though she wanted to join its descent. She was gripping the tri-fold flag in her arms like it was the only thing anchoring her to the Earth at that moment.

Who would take such a picture? Who would take such a picture and thengiveit to her?

Belatedly, Lucy answered, “Gage’s funeral. I assume. She’s holding a flag. She’d mentioned he was in the military.”

Jonah stared, every human part of him empathizing with the grief of the woman in the photo. Yes, it was her brother’s funeral: she was alone, there was only one casket. Had it been her parents’ funeral, he imagined there would be two, and her brother would have been with her. He asked sharply, “Why do you have this?”

She looked at him with a mixture of innocence and guilt, as only Lucy could. “It was here—there’s a folder on the laptop. I know it was private and she didn’t even think about it being here, and I shouldn’t be—”

Jonah looked back at her, incredulous. “No, you shouldn’t be; that’s personal.” He reached out and turned the laptop so he wouldn’t be tempted to study it further. Looking at the raw, naked pain on her tear-streaked face felt like an invasion. Itwasan invasion.

Sighing, Lucy clicked out of the folder. “It’s Gage’s laptop. I didn’t know that picture was on here. There were videos; he played guitar. He was good. Country songs.”

Jonah instructed, “Stick to the job.”

“He was so young. Only a year younger than you when he died. He was only thirty-five.” She looked back at the laptop. “He looked so healthy, but he was prepared. He had his legal affairs in order. I found his will, so he was preparing for whatever happened. Maybe he was sick.”

“Lucy, stop.” He gave her his disappointed look.

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