When it did, Jack asked, “What were you saying to the baby about me?”
He was gratified to feel her nuzzle closer, pressing her forehead against his jaw as her fingers clenched his shoulder. “Just telling him that you were right. I’d met Cassandra and Angus that evening and they were so strange. I was telling the baby you were right about it not going back to normal and boring.”
“I was right, my love, things are definitely still not normal and boring and, with those two and your father in the house, I fear things will not be normal and boring for some time.”
Her body tensed then eased and he couldn’t believe his ears when she let out a short, strangled giggle.
His arms clutched her even closer and he was beyond thrilled when she didn’t resist but, instead, melted.
After several long, satisfying moments, Belle shared on a whisper, “I know you’re going to think I’m even crazier, but, Jack, I’m scared of the stairs.”
“That isn’t crazy, Belle, not after what happened.”
Her fingers pressed into his shoulder and she cuddled even closer. “Okay, but, this is even crazier,” she pressed ever closer and admitted, “Jack, I think there might be something in this house that wants to hurt me.”
He rolled to his side, taking her with him and he placed his fist under her chin and tipped it up so he could look in her eyes. They were still stormy with worry but the tempest had subsided.
“Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Angus and Cassandra.”
She tilted her head into the pillow and, seeing it and loving it when she did that, Jack couldn’t stop his smile.
“We will?” she asked.
He nodded. “We will, poppet. They’ve been working while we’ve been away and they assure me you’re protected.”
Regardless of the fact that there was evidence to suggest that there was something amiss in his house and something mysterious about his connection with Belle, Jack still thought Angus and Cassandra’s assertions were rubbish.
But he knew Belle didn’t.
And he was willing to use whatever he could to calm that storm in her eyes.
His tactic succeeded.
She took a shuddering breath and gave him a tentative smile.
Jack allowed himself a moment to let her smile settle in his chest and his gut then he gave Belle a squeeze before he rolled and turned out the light.
When he had them settled, the front of Belle’s body cocooned to his, she spoke softly, “Jack, we need to talk about something else.”
“What, love?”
She hesitated and said, “This.”
“This?”
“This. Here. Now. You. Me.”
He gave her a squeeze and whispered, “No, poppet. The one thing that we don’t need to talk about is this. Here. Now. You or me.”
“But –”
“All of that is the only thing that’s good and right in this f**king crazy mess.”
She was quiet then she asked, “It is?”
“Don’t you feel it?” Jack asked in return.
Her reply was breathy and hesitant, “I want to.”