Love at First Sight - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,59
them in his look.
She nodded. He was just trying to protect her. Nothing was wrong between them. She forced herself to smile. “I know you’re doing it for me.”
He nodded. “Are you hungry? I could make you some breakfast before I leave.”
She would have liked that. But it wasn’t food she wanted. She wanted Jack and it was clear he was anxious to be on his way. “No, you go on and get your business finished. I can manage.” She saw him hesitate. He really didn’t want to leave her. “I was hoping to explore the chalet today, anyway.”
That seemed to do the trick. He smiled then, knowing how much she loved the old things Crazy Uncle Chuck had collected, and stepped to her, planting a quick kiss on her forehead. “I’m not leaving you alone. I called—”
“Jack, I don’t need a babysitter,” she said, touched by his concern but not wanting a stranger around. The truth was, it made her feel more vulnerable. “I feel safe here and no one even knows about this place, right?”
He nodded and smiled. “I know I’m probably being a little overprotective—”
“A little?” she asked, raising a brow, glad to see some of the worry fade in his gaze, some of the reinforcements come down from the wall between them. “Have you told Denny about the baby yet?”
“I’m stopping by there,” he said. “I just hate to get his hopes up, you know?”
She knew. For a moment, their gazes met, but Jack pulled away, stepped away. Let him finish this case, she told herself. Let him realize nothing is going to happen to you. You’ll always be with him. Always.
In the distance she could hear the whine of an engine as a vehicle climbed the mountain toward them.
“I’m going to go, then,” he said, sounding relieved.
“Tell your friend to make himself at home,” she said, not wanting to deal with company. She needed to be alone with her thoughts today. She wanted to think only about their lovemaking. Only about the love she’d seen in Jack’s eyes.
The chalet would be the perfect place to spend the rest of the afternoon. It was like finding lost treasure, all the wonderful old things. In them she felt a connection with the past. A solid foundation as if each generation built something for the next. Like the cabinetry she constructed. Something that would last.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Jack said, obviously distracted as he headed for his Jeep.
“Be careful,” she called after him. “I love you, Jack.”
He didn’t turn around. Maybe he hadn’t heard her.
She stared after him, his broad shoulders, the muscled back, his long legs, all so familiar now. How she ached to hold her husband and not let him go.
For just an instant, she felt such a terrible sense of foreboding she wanted desperately to call him back. It was such an odd feeling. She told herself being married to a cop she had to get used to him being in dangerous situations. But she knew it was more than that. This feeling that she might never see him again, that something would happen while he was gone that would separate them forever felt like a warning, an omen.
She shook it off. When had she started believing in premonitions? But she would have called Jack back. Would have begged him not to go—if she’d thought he would have listened. If she thought he could have stayed with her.
But a part of her knew her husband. Knew he had to go. Until the killer was caught, Jack Adams wasn’t going to let himself love her. Not the way her heart promised her that he wanted to.
So she watched him leave and prayed the killer would be caught soon. She needed her husband. And Jack needed her. Maybe he just didn’t realize how much yet.
JACK DROVE AWAY, sick inside. “I love you, Jack.” Her last words echoed in his head, in his heart, filling him with guilt and shame. He’d done things he wasn’t necessarily proud of, but he’d never been a coward. Or a liar. Or a thief.
He’d stolen her heart in the most despicable way, destined to break it. Let her memory come back, he prayed. Let her remember the killer before it’s too late. Karen’s safety was all that mattered. Even if it meant losing her.
He told himself he couldn’t think about any of that now. He had to catch the killer. Stop him before he got to Karen. Jack