Saved by the Rancher (18 page)

Lily danced impatiently at Caleb’s feet, begging for her Jeep. Caleb went to the back of his wife’s new SUV and got the huge box out. Jenna stood at the front, pinned by Jack’s impenetrable stare and his quiet intensity.

“Jenna, which of these packages is yours? I’ll take them into the house for you.”

“The ones by Lily’s car seat are mine.”

Caleb hauled out the packages, lots of them. Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Victoria’s Secret. “I hope Summer’s stuff includes a Victoria’s Secret bag.”

Summer gave her husband a playful slap on the arm. “Knock it off. Take Jenna’s stuff inside and let’s get dinner started.”

Alone in the driveway, Jack leaned against his new car with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His silence made Jenna nervous that he might be upset about the gifts.

She walked over and stood in front of him. “Are you mad at me? Don’t you like the car?”

Jack’s face gave nothing away. His eyes turned cool blue, staring at her. “I love the car, but you didn’t need to buy it for me.”

“I wanted to say thank you, show you how much I appreciate what you did. You took care of me,” she explained without really conveying how deeply she felt about what he’d done for her.

“No one has ever done anything like this for me, for my family.”

“You said you always wanted one. It just so happens they had the ’69. A blue one,” she said with a smile and winked at him.

“Yeah, I like blue. I guess you figured that out. Nice dress, too, by the way.”

“It wasn’t that hard to figure out. But if you don’t like it, they had a really great black one. We could take it back and get that one if you want.”

“I like this one. Come here.” He reached out for her, his gaze locked with hers.

Jenna stepped into his arms, their faces inches apart. Looking deep into her eyes, he said, “I’m seriously falling hard for you. I can’t seem to stop myself.”

“Is this because of the car?” She only half teased.

Still serious, he answered, “It’s just you.”

She’d seen it in his eyes, felt it in the way he touched her, but now it radiated from him intensely. “I’m falling pretty hard for you, too, Jack. I only wanted to make you happy.”

“You make me happy. Just you, Jenna. You shouldn’t have done all this.” He was smiling now, a really big smile. “But since you did, it’s a really awesome car. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Want to take me for a ride?”

“Absolutely, but later. We have dinner still, and you have some more explaining to do.”

“I know, and I will after dinner. I have a few more surprises still.”

That same mischievous smile she had this morning appeared on her face, and it made him nervous. “Are you kidding me? What surprises?”

“You’ll see. Kiss me, Jack.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Not when it came to Jenna. He kissed her, long and passionately, burying his fingers in her hair. She held on to his shoulders. They lost themselves in each other. Jack trailed kisses over her forehead, down her nose, her cheek and jaw, and down her neck. She gripped her hands in his hair, holding him to her. Her body pressed against his.

Jack mumbled against her throat, “Ever since I saw you get out of that car wearing this dress, I’ve wanted to get my hands on you. You’re so beautiful.”

“Summer and Caleb are waiting for us.”

Silencing her attempts to stop him, he crushed his mouth to hers. Sliding his tongue over hers, savoring the taste of her.

Jack slowed the kisses and they ended on a long slow steady joining of lips. A breath away from his face, her eyes slowly opened. He pressed his forehead to hers and gazed into those green eyes that haunted him. “I missed you today,” he admitted.

The longer he knew her, the more intense the feelings inside him grew. The easier it was to tell her how he felt. Open and honest, she made it easy to be with her. No games. No pretenses. Maybe because he’d taken care of her when she was most vulnerable, they both felt they could let down their guard and just be themselves with each other. Something inside him acknowledged what a rare gift that was. She was a rare gift.

They started back to the house, Jack holding her hand. “Do I get to see anything on you from the Victoria’s Secret bags?”

“Everything. Later.” She gave him a wicked grin and winked.

“God, you’re killing me.” Jack put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side and kissed the side of her head. “I’m glad you’re home.”

“Me, too.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

D
AVID SAT AT
the center of the table, his grandfather and parents to his right, his fiancé on his left with her immediate family. Colleagues and close friends filled the rest of the long table. The restaurant was crowded, everyone’s eyes on the newly engaged couple.

The diamond solitaire sparkled on Patricia’s hand, mocking him. He brought her fingers to his lips, kissing her knuckles above the offending ring.

“You look beautiful tonight, darling, though I prefer the blue dress to this green.” He traced his finger along her cheek. “The blue matches your eyes.”

Patricia’s pout at his first comment turned into a shy smile with the last. She’d learn how to please him in time. He’d make sure of it.

Seeing Patricia in green reminded him of Jenna’s eyes, the pale shade so soft and unique. His family may have believed he was moving on, but he had no intention of giving up his true wife.

“Are you enjoying the dinner?” Her eyes pleaded with him to say he was pleased with the small party she’d put together to surprise him. He hated surprises.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying you later.” Her eyes darkened with anticipation and a touch of apprehension. She wanted to be romanced and made love to in the bedroom. Maybe he’d take her on the living room floor from behind. Tonight, he’d continue to teach her to bend to his will and demands when he wanted her. Wherever and however he wanted her.

The guests tapped their utensils against their wine glasses, signaling the couple to kiss. David leaned in, pressed his lips to Patricia’s, and thought of nothing but kissing Jenna.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

D
INNER WAS A
ruckus family affair with lots of laughing and joking. Jack tucked away the memories they made tonight. He loved having his family around, but adding Jenna into the mix made the night that much more special. She fit. With him. With his family. In his life. He’d have to give some serious thought about how comfortable and easy it was to have her living with him and what that meant for his future. Their future.

Everyone moved into the Great Room after dinner, some entertainment news program playing on the TV. The coffee table and carpet were littered with boxes, plastic, tie wraps, and toys. Caleb and he had already put Lily’s Jeep together. Lily couldn’t wait to try it out, so she’d been driving it around the Great Room before and after dinner.

Expectations ran high as they waited for Jenna to join them and explain who she was, and reveal her ex-husband’s name.

“Look, that’s David Merrick. He’s one good-looking man. Rich. Runs some huge company.” Summer watched the TV from the sofa along with Caleb, Jack next to them on the love seat.

“What’s the matter with Jenna?” Lily asked.

Jenna stood still behind the sofas, unable to take her eyes off the image of that monster on the TV. Jack jumped up and moved to her side. He cupped her face in his warm hands. The instant he touched her, everything inside her focused on him. Afraid of the image of her ex on the TV, she reached out for Jack and the safety, security, and comfort innately a part of him.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“That’s him.” Barely able to speak, she saw Jack, but her mind switched to images of David hurting her and she flinched away. Jack refused to release her. “That-that’s him,” she stuttered. An eerie shiver ran through her whole body. She clamped her hands to Jack’s wrists near her face and held tight.

Summer pointed to the TV. “He’s been the most eligible bachelor for years now. He’s getting married to some socialite, they said. That’s the man who did this to you?”

“I’m going to be sick.” Jenna’s stomach pitched and rolled at the thought of some poor woman marrying that monster.

“No, you aren’t.” Jack tipped her chin up for her to see him. “Take a breath.” She tried, but couldn’t suck in enough air. Jack’s warm lips brushed a kiss to her forehead. The heat from his body, so close to hers, warmed the chill from her bones. She leaned her forehead against his chest, inhaled the familiar scents of horses, leather, hay, and just Jack. He kissed her head. “Come sit down,” he coaxed, and led her to the love seat and sat her down before she collapsed. His strong arms wrapped around her, protecting her from imagined ghosts.

Shocked, but trying to keep it together, she glanced at Lily playing on the floor.

“Summer, why don’t you take Lily for ice cream with Beth in the kitchen? She shouldn’t be here for this. I’ll wait until you get back to explain.”

Summer took Lily away. Jenna settled into the sofa, but Jack stood and paced the Great Room, pent-up anger vibrating around him.

Unable to keep silent, his temper flared. “I can’t believe that’s the guy who’s been hurting you. I swear to God, I’ll find him and kill him.”

Summer returned. “Jack, sit down. Let Jenna tell her story. Then you can rage.”

Jack glared at his sister, furious, then fell onto the sofa beside Jenna. After taking a very deep breath, he took her hand and squeezed it, offering her support. Softening, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. “Tell us everything, sweetheart.”

“Now you know who, David Merrick.” Just saying his name left a bad taste in her mouth.

She took a deep breath and began her story. “He and his family run one of the largest corporations in the U.S. and globally. I’m sure you’ve all heard of Merrick International. I met him when I was twenty-four, attending the University of San Francisco, my last year studying computer science and graphic art. He’s eight years older than me. He was visiting the college and gave some speech on business. His family also donated a large sum of money to the business program, which I found out later. Anyway, he was walking with a group of students, talking, and one of them ran into me and I dropped my books. Upset the person wasn’t paying attention, he apologized for the guy and helped me pick them up. We spoke briefly and he asked me to dinner. I accepted. Ordinary, simple, an attractive and charming man asked me for a date.”

She took another deep breath and continued. “After several dates, he told me about his business and family. He was like a prince, rich and powerful, and he liked me. He took me to all kinds of places, dinners, the opera, and charity benefits. Very overwhelming, but wonderful. After three months and a whirlwind courtship, we eloped. His family was furious. They couldn’t believe he’d married me so fast. When they confronted him, he said, ‘I’m obsessed with her. I can’t live without her.’ At the time, it seemed sweet. He loved me so much, couldn’t live without me, and he stood up for me to his family.

“After two months of wedded bliss, things changed. He changed. At first, it was subtle. He’d make a disparaging comment about my hair, or my dress. He’d dismiss my opinion, or do something big without consulting me. The changes went from subtle to aggressive very quickly. Any time I talked to another man, he got jealous. He wanted to know where I was and what I was doing when I went to school. Soon, he made me leave school. He said I needed to be more involved in his life and business. I wanted to be a good wife, so I gave up school to make him happy. As a result, I lost touch with my friends. That was the beginning of his campaign to isolate me and keep me all to himself.

“His temper became volatile, so I thought it would be easier to give in. Soon, the jealousy turned to rage. We got home from a party late one night, his anger had been simmering for hours underneath the public persona he projects. He accused me of flirting with every man there, said I must be having an affair, and he slapped me. He said no wife of his would sleep around. I had stayed by his side the whole night, making his accusations completely irrational.” Lost in her memories, it took her a moment to break free of her past. “Anyway, that was the first time he hit me.

“Several more incidents happened. I ended up in the emergency room a few times. They never did anything. He’d make some lame excuse about his clumsy wife tripping in the garden and banging her head. No one would help me, or more accurately, go against him. He made several large donations to the hospital, and they looked the other way.

“He rarely left me alone. When I wasn’t with him, his people were watching. I had lost all my friends and feared telling my family. I feared what he would do to them if they spoke out against him. I feared being punished if I did, so I was alone in my misery.

“The last incident was the final straw. I knew I had to get out, or he’d kill me.” With a deep breath, she spit out the words, “He accused me again of cheating and threw me down a flight of stairs. I broke my arm in the fall, and he was forced to call an ambulance. He couldn’t stay with me during the X-rays. After they put the cast on, I snuck out of the hospital and took my chart with me. I ran and hid behind bushes and dumpsters, always looking over my shoulder, until I could find a way out of town.

“I hopped on a bus and found a cheap hotel several towns over. I stayed there for a few days until I recovered enough to visit the library and use their computer to find a lawyer. I found Ben. He helped me file for divorce.”

She looked at Jack. “Do you remember me telling you about the good work Ben does for battered women? He helped me, kept me hidden, set me up with a top-notch divorce attorney to keep his involvement a secret, and we went to court. The Merricks were furious because David never had me sign a prenuptial agreement. That left them wide open for me to take a large chunk of their empire.”

Summer leaned forward in her seat. “I remember now. They brought in a bunch of men who said you were having affairs with them. They also said you were a gold digger, who only married him for his money. The stories were sordid and terrible. They ripped you apart in the press.”