Therefore Belle quickly intervened by suggesting, “Why don’t we go inside, open a nice bottle of wine and talk about it where we’re comfortable?”
“Good idea,” Yasmin agreed as they watched Miles jerk open his car door that Jack immediately slammed closed.
Oh dear.
Belle hastened their step. “And let’s do that quickly,” she murmured.
“Good idea,” Yasmin agreed.
All three women raced up the steps where Belle, with effort, tugged open the heavy door and ushered them in.
“Fuck you!” she heard Miles shout, leaning in, his face an inch from Jack’s granite one and she closed her eyes, sent him strength and, for him but also for Joy and Yasmin, with effort, she shoved the door closed.
* * * * *
After a not-so-calming glass of wine and after Lila, who stood vigil at the window, told Belle that Miles was gone and Jack had “prowled into the house” (her words), Belle gave him some time.
Now Belle stood outside Jack’s study door and sought courage.
He loved her. He told her. He moved her into his home. He moved her into his room. He shared his dogs with her. And after she lost their baby, he didn’t leave her side.
And she loved him.
She could do this.
She closed her eyes, opened them, lifted a hand and knocked on the door.
She got no answer and still got no answer after a repeated knock.
She stared at the closed door wondering what to do next.
And as she stared, it came to her.
Jack was beyond that door.
And he was hers.
For three and a half weeks after she lost their child, he didn’t leave her side (well, most of the time, he did have to work).
Now he needed her at his.
Therefore she put her hand to the knob, turned it, opened the door and stuck her head through.
Jack was standing in the bay window looking out.
“Jack?” she called quietly and his torso twisted, his eyes coming to her.
“Belle, anyone else, they knock, I don’t answer, they go away. You do not have to knock.”
Belle wet her lips, buried a smile and walked in, closing the door behind her.
Yes, he was hers.
This unbelievably, criminally attractive man was… all… hers.
Jack watched her do this and when the door was closed he ordered her to do what she was going to do anyway.
“Come here.”