Saved by the Rancher - By Jennifer Ryan Page 0,115
and you’ll return this to Ben, so he can lock it away again.”
“I promise. I’ll do exactly what you ask, but Jack will see the papers.”
“I know. I also know you’ll do your best not to hurt me, or him, with what you choose to have published.”
“You have my word. What else?”
They sat in the office a long while talking about their plans for San Francisco and the board meeting. Then they planned for what they knew would happen afterwards. She was trusting Sam with her life.
She’d been married to David and had years to plan her revenge. She’d planned well.
Chapter Fifty-Four
* * *
DAVID STOOD IN the moonlit room, staring down at the wrong woman sleeping in his bed. Despite her protests, he’d exhausted her with his ferocious lovemaking, punishing her in his own way for taking a place in his life that he’d given Jenna even before they’d said their vows. Vows he considered sacred and unbreakable. A promise he might have spoken twice, but only held credence the first time. After all, you only had one soul mate.
Patricia was nothing more than a placeholder. She served a purpose. At times, she was even a pleasant distraction. Like tonight.
His family thought he’d moved on, forgotten about Jenna and his love for her. Never.
David entered his study and sat behind his desk. He pulled the left side drawer open and took out the framed photo of him and Jenna on their wedding day. She smiled brightly up at him and he traced a finger over her lovely face.
“You’re so beautiful. We were so happy.”
He thought of the last time he’d seen her. Not so pretty after she’d shot off her mouth and made him put her in her place. Still, her strength and determination shined when she threatened to destroy him. He had to admit, her conviction gave him pause. He dismissed the threat then and now. He was David Merrick. No one could touch him. No one said no to him. She knew that. Perhaps she needed reminding. Again.
He knew just where to find her this time. No way would she leave her new protector, that stupid rancher. A smile spread across his face as he planned his next move.
Chapter Fifty-Five
* * *
JENNA BRUSHED DOWN Blue, trying not to think about the board meeting tomorrow. Jack, Sam, and she would fly to San Francisco in the morning. The more her mind tried to predict the events and outcome, the more her nerves built.
She’d asked Ben to return to Chicago. She hated to do it, but he had other business. She wanted to keep his involvement a secret from David. She couldn’t afford for David to take away her protector if things went terribly wrong tomorrow.
Sam had David under constant FBI surveillance since his return to San Francisco with his new wife. As far as Jenna knew, David remained unaware someone was watching his every move.
Sam spent most of the last two days coordinating security needed for the trip and on the ranch. He’d hired a couple of bodyguards, and with Jenna’s help, he’d sent Caleb, Summer, and Lily on vacation to Hawaii, just what their family needed before the new baby arrived. It would also keep them out of harm’s way if David decided to come after Jenna after the board meeting.
A private jet would fly her, Jack, Sam and their security team to San Francisco and back to Colorado the same day. Best not to make herself an easy target by staying overnight in San Francisco.
Jack was nervous about the trip, afraid for Jenna and the babies. He didn’t like having Jenna anywhere near David. He’d been so sweet to her over the last two nights. They would lie in bed and talk about what it was going to be like when the babies arrived. They came up with names and changed them several times. They speculated about whether the babies would be girls or boys, would they look like Jenna or Jack, and what would they be when they grew up.
Dreaming about the future with Jack was far simpler to think about than what might happen in San Francisco. She knew all the possibilities. She, Jack, and Sam went over all the what-ifs and maybes and planned for any and all contingencies.
Tomorrow everything would change. Once the plan was set in motion, there would be no turning back.
She brushed and stroked Blue with the curry comb. Her body healing slowly, the stitches still itched and pulled, but