Baker’s Law (29 page)

Connors nodded and hopped into Jax’s vehicle.

Before Jax went into the hospital, he pulled out his cell phone and called Callie.

She answered on the first ring. “Jax, what’s going on? I’ve been getting all sorts
of calls saying there was something crazy going on at Marissa’s shop. It’s all I could
do to keep Marlie here until we heard something.”

“Is Marlie still there?”

“Of course. Didn’t I just say—”

“Yes, you did.” Jax couldn’t help but smile at his sister. She had the same take-charge
attitude he did. “Can you do me a favor and drive her up to the hospital?”

Callie gasped.

“Marissa’s going to be okay, but there was an incident—” he gritted his teeth as he
said it “—at her shop. She’s going to want her sister up here.”

“We’ll be there in a jiffy.” His sister hung up without any further comment. There
was a first time for everything.

Doctors and nurses had poked and prodded for nearly two hours. Jax had had one of
his officers interview her in-between. She’d given him a statement about what had
happened from the time Bryant Travers had shown up at her shop up until Jax had busted
in and arrested him. At some point her sister had come to her room, but they’d only
been able to speak for a few minutes before another doctor had come in to check on
her.

Marissa had one broken rib from when Travers had finally gotten back into the office.
He’d immediately found her under the desk. When he couldn’t pull her out by her hair
he’d gotten frustrated and kicked at her until she finally managed to stab her letter
opener into his leg. He’d screamed and carried on like he hadn’t been holding her
hostage and trying to beat the tar out of her. During his onslaught, she’d managed
to keep her head pretty well covered. Once, his booted foot glanced off her shoulder,
then off her wrist until he made good—or bad as the case may be—contact with her side,
which had netted her the broken rib. Though, truth be told, it might as well have
been all of them broken, as badly as they hurt. She was also a little dehydrated,
since Travers hadn’t let her eat or drink, but the doctor assured her she wouldn’t
have to stay overnight despite all the tests they were running.

More than anything she needed blessed sleep. Her eyelids fell every quiet moment she
had, which weren’t many. When the last nurse bustled out, she closed her lids on a
sigh.

“She’s asleep.”

A voice jolted her eyes open. Hill and Jax stood at the opening of the curtains that
surrounded her bed. “I’m awake.” She smiled and tried to sit up, but the pain stole
her breath.

Hill paled but quickly schooled his face. He grabbed the lone chair in the room, slid
it over to the side of the bed and sat. He was careful to grasp her hand, mindful
of the IV. “How are you?” he asked at the same time she asked, “Are you okay?”

They both smiled.

“Two peas in a pod,” Jax said from behind Hill. “You both have your own crap to deal
with and all you can worry about is the other one.” He shook his head.

“What are you doing here?” Marissa squeezed Hill’s hand.

“Chief Carlisle brought me up to see you.”

“He had to see for himself that you were okay. I told him you were one tough lady.”

“I’m sorry I ran off.” Hill ducked his head.

“You came back. That’s all that matters. I’m so proud of you.” Marissa’s chin quivered.
“I’m the one who owes you an apology. I screwed up. I should have tried harder, gone
the right route to help you.”

Hill shook his head. “You did more for me than anyone else has since my mother passed.”
His voice broke a little. “I will never be able to thank you.”

“God, I don’t want thanks. I just want you to be safe. And happy.” She darted a glance
to Jax, unsure how Hill would be either safe or happy if he was locked up for the
break-ins, though she knew he needed to take responsibility for them.

Hill looked back over his shoulder. A wry smile tipped up the corner of his mouth
before he wiped it from his face. “I’m sorry Bryant came after you.”

“It’s not your fault. The dude has issues that had nothing to do with you.” The young
man had whined about his unfair life—from his parents’ refusal to buy him a car when
he was sixteen to his older brother getting thrown in jail for peddling a few drugs.
The kids were going to get their hands on them anyway, so why shouldn’t his brother
make a profit? Nothing they had done wrong was their fault, therefore they shouldn’t
be penalized.

Had she not been bound, Marissa would have smacked him over the head and told him
to grow a pair.

“That’s enough for now.” Jax patted Hill’s shoulder. “Marissa needs her rest. The
ADA is waiting for him to go over some of his statement.”

Hill stood but didn’t immediately relinquish his hold of her hand. The corner of his
mouth quirked up. “Everything’s going to be just fine.” He gave her fingers a quick
squeeze, then turned and left the room.

“It amazes me that after all he’s been through, he can still have hope.” Tears filled
her eyes but she fought to keep them from falling. “Thanks for bringing him up here.
I appreciate it.”

Jax nodded, but didn’t move closer or leave with Hill.

“Thanks for everything…at the shop.”

Again, Jax merely nodded.

She picked at the blanket. “You can go now.”

“Not just yet.”

“I already gave my statement to Officer Garrett.”

He smiled. “I know.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I think there’re some more apologies that need to go around.”

“You want me to apologize?” She should. It should have been the first thing out of
her mouth. But as his smiled widened, she clamped her lips shut.

“Not you. Me.” He finally moved away from the opening and came into the room. “I should
have listened to you about Hill. I’m sorry I wasn’t as open-minded as you asked me
to be. He’s a great kid. Has a good head on his shoulders.”

“You were right. He needs to be responsible for his part of the break-ins.”

“And he is. He stepped up. Thanks to you.”

Marissa shook her head. “No. Thanks to him.”

“He would disagree.” Jax sat in the chair Hill had vacated. “He did agree with me
on one thing.”

Marissa arched her eyebrows, then grimaced a little. Even her eyebrows hurt. How was
that possible? Jax’s smile faltered as he took his hand in his. “I’m fine.” She smiled
up at him. “What did y’all agree on?”

“That once he’s handled the charges against him, my house is bigger than yours for
all of us.”

Blood rushed to her head. “Wh-what did you say? I think I must have hurt my head worse
than I thought.”

“I know you like your house.” He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. “But
it’s a little too small for two strapping men, and then add in Soldier—who adores
Hill. Never seen the damned dog take to anyone as fast. Except maybe you. And then,
or course, when we have kids my house has more bedrooms.”

Marissa tried to keep her mouth from gaping. “You want to marry me?”

Jax arched his left eyebrow. “Are you asking me to marry you?” He set his other hand
over his heart. “I thought you’d never ask.” He leaned forward and placed a gentle
kiss on her lips. When he leaned back he was holding a small, leather box. “What fortuitous
timing that I brought this with me today.”

He set the ring box in her trembling hand, and then popped it open. Afterward, he
slid the chair to the side and got down on one knee. His head barely reached her shoulder
and he laughed. “This worked better in my mind.” He drew the chair back over and sat
back in it.

“I don’t…aren’t you…” Marissa looked at the ring in her hand. It was beautiful—a spectacular
round diamond surrounded by twelve tiny diamonds set in a gold band. “But the other
night. At my house.”

“Couples fight.”

She shifted her gaze back to Jax. “That was more than a fight.”

He leaned closer. “Then the makeup sex will be that much better.”

Warmth spread through her cheeks. And lower. “Jax…”

“Marissa.” His thumb once again stroked the back of her hand. “Do you love me? I think
you love me. I know I love you more than I thought possible.”

The corner of Marissa’s mouth twitched. “I love you.” It came out breathier than she’d
have liked. She hadn’t imagined lying in a hospital bed with tubes sticking out of
her as she told him for the first time. “I love you more than anything.”

“Then it’s settled. It’s a
yes.
”

She chuckled before she could help herself. “Just like that?”

“Honey, I don’t know what more you need. We love each other. I don’t know about you,
but seeing Travers standing over you took years off my life. I immediately flashed
on how lonely it’s been the past few days without you and I don’t ever want to feel
like that again.”

“And you really talked to Hill about it?”

“Yes, ma’am. I know you did what you thought was right by the boy. And I think given
the chance you would have done more. Once you got me thinking on it—and looking into
the legalities—I realized I was just as proud of what he accomplished as you were.
If you’re willing to try to make it legal—”

“I am.” Marissa tried to sit up, but pain stole her breath for a moment. “I want to.
I just don’t know how to go about it.”

“I figured as much.” Jax lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss gently on
her palm. “Which is why I asked Hill how he’d feel about you
and me
adopting him. Giving him a permanent home. Believe it or not, he thought it was a
great idea.”

Tears filled Marissa’s eyes.

“Say
yes.
” Jax stood. “Marry me, Marissa. I love you. I will do everything in my power to always
make you happy, but I have to warn you. With me, comes my family.”

She laughed. “Are you trying to scare me off?”

“Ha, no. But Callie, she’s a little bit of a buttinski, so no promises where she’s
concerned. My mother, well, you know Bunny.” He shrugged.

“This is you trying to convince me?” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I guess if
you can take me
and
a teenager you’re braver than I thought. How could I turn that down?”

“Is that a
yes?
”

“It’s a most definite
yes.
I love you.”

“Woohoo!” Jax clapped his hands together then bent down and gave her a quick kiss
just as the nurse rushed in to quiet him.

“Sorry, sorry, but it’s not every day a man gets engaged.”

The surly nurse replaced her glower with a lopsided smile. “Congrats, Chief. Now hush
it.” She waggled her finger before hurrying back out of the room.

Jax smiled at the departing nurse. He was tempted to hoot again. He was so happy.
He’d always thought when he proposed for the first—and last—time he’d be nervous.
But he hadn’t been. Earlier that morning, he’d been scared out of his mind when he
knew Marissa was in danger and hurt. Once she was safe, and he’d talked things over
with Hill, the rightness of it all, and his love for this woman, gave him all the
courage he needed. He hadn’t even thought twice about it.

And she’d said
yes.

That was all he needed. Everything else would fall into place.

By the time they released Marissa, it was half past six. He’d come and gone to the
hospital many times, alternating his visits with the work he needed to do. When he
knew she was set to be released, he’d taken half an hour to run home, shower and change
out of his uniform. Jax leaned against the door frame and watched her struggle to
push her robe into her bag.

Marissa stood next to the bed, her right arm in a sling. The doctor said it would
only be as a precaution for her shoulder, wrist and rib to not be jostled. A flutter
rippled through Jax’s chest. He’d been so close to losing her, so close to screwing
it up all on his own. Then when damned Travers had gotten the bug up his ass to hold
her hostage to get back at Hill… Jax was damn lucky on many, many counts.

Marissa turned toward him and a smile spread quickly across her entire face. “Hey,
what are you doing here?”

“I came to take my woman home.” He smiled back and leaned forward to give her a kiss
on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Ready to get out of here.” Marissa frowned at him. “I thought Marlie was coming.”

“You’re not happy to see me? You haven’t already changed your mind about marrying
me, have you?”

Her frown morphed into an easy smile. “You’re not getting off that easily. I just
thought she was picking me up.”

Jax rolled his eyes. “Once Marlie knew you were okay, she went back into wedding mode.”
He shrugged his shoulders.

A nurse came in before Marissa could comment. She helped settle Marissa in a wheelchair.

“Aw man, do I have to?” Marissa whined even as she lifted her feet up.

Jax laughed, then leaned down to drop a kiss on her head. “Yes, yes you do. Doctor’s
orders.” He gathered up her bags, amazed one woman could accumulate so much stuff
and not even stay overnight. They rode down to the first floor in silence.

“I don’t get a police escort home?” Marissa asked once she was settled into the front
seat of his truck.

“The cruiser, and the chief, are off duty for the evening.” He leaned over and touched
her knee gently. It was so hard not to put his hands all over her. He wanted nothing
more than to take her into his arms and not come up for days, but she needed time
to heal and to rest. “You comfortable?”

She smiled up at him. “Yes.” Her smile faded just as quickly. “I feel terrible.”

“What can I do?” Jax hadn’t even pulled away from the curb at the hospital. “Do I
need to run back in and get a doctor?”

“No, nothing like that. I’m just worried about Hill. I hate that I’m going home and
he’s locked in a cell.”

Jax twined their fingers together as he eased the truck from curb. “Everything will
be fine. I promise you.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “We’re
going to make a quick stop by your shop on the way home if you don’t mind.”