| |
The door to the cottage shuts behind me, and I kick off my boots. The shower calling to me after the evening at the club, and everything we did in the private room.
Jack’s phone chimes with a text. Pulling it from his pocket, he pauses before passing it to me. “You can check it. I have nothing to hide.”
Humoring him, I take the phone and open the message. The words happy to help show on screen from an unknown contact, but I recognize the phone number.
“Jack?” A wave of heat rushes to my face and my stomach lurches, ready to purge everything.
“Yeah, baby.”
“Why are you talking to Eben?”
“He’s important to you, and you’re important to me. So, I went to see him when I was in Chicago. It was only right to talk to him in person.” Jack stands tall, justified in his reasoning. I am touched by the sentiment, but the fear in my chest spreads out like a cancer taking up root wherever it can.
“And what is he happy to help with?” I say, trying to contain my worry.
“It’s nothing.” He shrugs and steps toward me. Raising my hand, I motion for him to stop. As he waits, his expression becomes unreadable.
“It’s never nothing with him. Did you ever think there was a reason you haven’t met him before? Why I don’t let him visit us? Why he has never met Silas?” I can feel my voice getting higher in pitch as I speak.
“Harper—” He reaches out and I swat his hand away.
“No! You don’t get it, Jack. Eben isn’t someone we fucking mess with. Yes, he is my brother, and I love him, but he isn’t safe. The company he keeps is not safe. What if someone saw you? Shit. Where did you see him?”
Taking another chance, he reaches out and pulls me into his arms, his chest to my back. The warmth of his body and the scent of cedar assaults my senses, disarming me for a moment. “At his office. Harper, you need to tell me what is bothering you so bad.”
“He thrives on favors owed. And when he collects, it won’t be a fair trade.”
“I need to you calm down.”
I turn in my spot to face him as his skin pales and his arms drop to his sides. Walking around him, I slip on my boots and grab my coat from the rack. Before my hand grips the doorknob, Jack’s arm is around me again.
“Where are you going?” His deep voice sinks into my skin as his body presses against my back, knowing I am weak for him.
“I need some space, Jack. I need to cool down and I can’t do it here. Not with you and your fucking body.” Jack’s stifled laugh earns him a sideways stare.
“I can’t let you go out there, Harper. It’s two in the morning. Stay here. If it is space you need, I will go.” Letting me go, he grabs his coat and keys.
“This is your home, Jack.”
“I have somewhere I can go for a bit.” He puts on his boots and opens the door. Before slipping out into the night, he turns and says, “I love you.”
Then he is gone.
*
Guilt tries to set in, but I am still so pissed. Picking up my phone, I hit the picture of my brother’s face a little too hard, not giving a shit that it’s the middle of the night. He picks up on the fourth ring.
“Is everything okay?” he asks in a panic.
“What did you do?” I spit out before realizing that yelling isn’t going to fix this.
“What do you mean?”
“What did you rope Jack into?” Pushing the patio door open, I walk out on the back deck, the cold night air whipping around me. The sound of a woman’s voice can be heard in the background, albeit muffled, followed by Eben tossing back his blankets.
“He came to me.”
“I want his debt.”
“I don’t think you understand what you are saying, Harper.”
“Don’t patronize me, Eben. I know more than you think I do. That’s why I got out of Chicago. Now, are you going to agree to this or not?”
“No, because Jack owes me nothing. Now, when you are less angry and it isn’t in the middle of the night, let’s try having a civil conversation. I love you, Harper. Good night.” The calls drops.
I am getting awfully tired of being hung up on.
Stepping back inside, I look around the house that Jack turned into a home for our son. I can’t help but feel grateful for having such a man in my life. A man who knows me better than I know myself. A man who doesn’t give me what I want, but what I need. All of this brings me to the final painful conclusion.
I fucked up.
I slip out of my dress and into a pair of sweats and a hoodie. Tying my hair up in a messy bun, I wash my face and brush my teeth before returning to the living room to wait for Jack. I know I needed a moment, but maybe he needed some time, too.
The hands on my cat clock, how hanging from its new spot in the kitchen, tick loudly through the empty house as the stress builds.
Picking up my phone, I call Jack only for his phone to ring beside me, tucked between the cushions of the couch. Shit. What if something happened? What if he was in an accident and can’t call for help?
In a panic, I call Wolf.
“Harper, what’s going on? Is the baby okay?” His groggy voice reminds me it is three in the morning.
“I’m fine. Have you seen Jack?”
“No. Isn’t he with you?”
“We got into an argument and he left over an hour ago. He forgot his phone. I don’t know where he is.”
“Did you check the house?”
“I’m in the house, Wolf. I would fucking know if he was here!” Jesus, I thought he was supposed to be smart.
“Sunrise Point. He is probably there.”
“Why would he be there?”
“I’m getting dressed. I will come get you and take you there.”
“No Wolf. Just tell me where it is.” In the background, I can hear Aubrey say something.
“What did she say?”
“She said you are a big girl and to stop hovering.”
“Listen to your wife and give me the address.”