to. He needed to fix her leg. “You’re lucky. You tore only four of the stitches. I’ll fix them, then you can eat.”
“Stop touching it, you’re hurting me.”
Jack took her hand when she tried to swat him away again. He leaned in close and kept her hand between both of his. Their eyes locked. Both of them aware of the heat shimmering between them. “It’s okay.” He didn’t know if he meant her leg, or this strange connection between them. “I’ll fix it fast. I’d never hurt you on purpose.”
With no choice left to her, she gave in with a hesitant nod. Instead of obsessing about the needle, she concentrated on how warm Jack’s hands had felt around hers and the deep, penetrating way he looked at her.
“All done,” Jack announced, his hand on her thigh. She glanced down and got the shock of her life when she saw how many other stitches he put in all together.
“Oh, God. Look at that. Look what he did,” Jenna cried. Summer held her hand and stroked her hair. Jack brushed his hand down her leg in a long soft stroke.
“I got the glass out of it, cleaned it really well, and closed it up. The antibiotics are helping with the infection. It looks much better today.”
“He wouldn’t stop,” she sobbed. “He found the belt on the floor, and he wouldn’t stop. He wouldn’t get off of me. He took a shard of mirror and sliced it down my leg. He hacked at my hair and pulled it so hard I saw stars. He threw me down and hit me in the head with a silver candlestick holder. I woke up on the floor and I ran.”
Summer and Jack stared as the horrible words spilled from her mouth. Summer stroked her hair, and Jack laid his hand on her calf. Funny, she was getting used to that simple gesture.
Jenna pulled the sheet closer around her and wiped at her eyes. She took a deep breath and felt better for getting it out. Finally, telling someone what happened.
“Sorry, I’m fine now.”
Jack didn’t speak. Touched, Jenna understood they knew someone had done this to her, but hearing her tell them how it happened turned Jack quiet and introspective.
Jenna continued to stare at Jack’s face, trying to figure out why he cared so much. In her experience, people were usually reluctant to get involved in other people’s business. Not Jack. He’d come to her rescue, brought her into his home, fixed her injuries, and appeared to genuinely care about her well-being and safety. Leary, she’d thought good things about her ex. Boy, had she read him wrong. But Jack . . . He seemed different. Genuine.
“You should get it out. You’ll feel better for it,” Summer reassured her. “Have some food. You must be starved. Jack, Beth is keeping yours warm in the kitchen. Go down. I’ll help Jenna get cleaned up after she eats.”
Sorry she’d put that sad look on Jack’s face, she tried to smile when he stood to leave. He hesitated, opened his mouth to say something before he thought better of it. When he did speak, his words were matter-of-fact, but his voice held a trace of something she wished she could place. It made her heart reach out as if it had arms that wanted to hold on to him and never let go.
“I’ll bandage up your thigh after you eat something. Eat slowly. You’ve had a shock and you don’t want to make yourself sick.” Without looking back, he headed out the door, Sally at his heels. Even though Summer remained, Jenna felt the familiar loneliness she’d lived with for years. When Jack was with her, she didn’t feel it at all.
Chapter Fifteen
* * *
“IS BETH JACK’S girlfriend or wife?” Jenna asked, embarrassed for being so completely obvious. He didn’t wear a ring, but what did that really mean these days. Now she felt silly for asking and maybe dreaming of something so foolish.
“No. Beth takes care of the house and cooks for Jack. He hasn’t had anyone in his life for a while,” Summer offered with a knowing smile. “I’ve never seen him so”—she paused and tilted her head, thinking before saying—“connected to someone. He’s definitely attracted to you, but it’s something deeper,” she added.
Jenna let out her breath on a soft sigh. Sure something was happening between herself and Jack. Relieved he didn’t have another woman in his life. Odd to be relieved, since at some point she’d