unable to take her eyes off the image of that monster on the TV. Jack jumped up and moved to her side. He cupped her face in his warm hands. The instant he touched her, everything inside her focused on him. Afraid of the image of her ex on the TV, she reached out for Jack and the safety, security, and comfort innately a part of him.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
“That’s him.” Barely able to speak, she saw Jack, but her mind switched to images of David hurting her and she flinched away. Jack refused to release her. “That-that’s him,” she stuttered. An eerie shiver ran through her whole body. She clamped her hands to Jack’s wrists near her face and held tight.
Summer pointed to the TV. “He’s been the most eligible bachelor for years now. He’s getting married to some socialite, they said. That’s the man who did this to you?”
“I’m going to be sick.” Jenna’s stomach pitched and rolled at the thought of some poor woman marrying that monster.
“No, you aren’t.” Jack tipped her chin up for her to see him. “Take a breath.” She tried, but couldn’t suck in enough air. Jack’s warm lips brushed a kiss to her forehead. The heat from his body, so close to hers, warmed the chill from her bones. She leaned her forehead against his chest, inhaled the familiar scents of horses, leather, hay, and just Jack. He kissed her head. “Come sit down,” he coaxed, and led her to the love seat and sat her down before she collapsed. His strong arms wrapped around her, protecting her from imagined ghosts.
Shocked, but trying to keep it together, she glanced at Lily playing on the floor.
“Summer, why don’t you take Lily for ice cream with Beth in the kitchen? She shouldn’t be here for this. I’ll wait until you get back to explain.”
Summer took Lily away. Jenna settled into the sofa, but Jack stood and paced the Great Room, pent-up anger vibrating around him.
Unable to keep silent, his temper flared. “I can’t believe that’s the guy who’s been hurting you. I swear to God, I’ll find him and kill him.”
Summer returned. “Jack, sit down. Let Jenna tell her story. Then you can rage.”
Jack glared at his sister, furious, then fell onto the sofa beside Jenna. After taking a very deep breath, he took her hand and squeezed it, offering her support. Softening, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. “Tell us everything, sweetheart.”
“Now you know who, David Merrick.” Just saying his name left a bad taste in her mouth.
She took a deep breath and began her story. “He and his family run one of the largest corporations in the U.S. and globally. I’m sure you’ve all heard of Merrick International. I met him when I was twenty-four, attending the University of San Francisco, my last year studying computer science and graphic art. He’s eight years older than me. He was visiting the college and gave some speech on business. His family also donated a large sum of money to the business program, which I found out later. Anyway, he was walking with a group of students, talking, and one of them ran into me and I dropped my books. Upset the person wasn’t paying attention, he apologized for the guy and helped me pick them up. We spoke briefly and he asked me to dinner. I accepted. Ordinary, simple, an attractive and charming man asked me for a date.”
She took another deep breath and continued. “After several dates, he told me about his business and family. He was like a prince, rich and powerful, and he liked me. He took me to all kinds of places, dinners, the opera, and charity benefits. Very overwhelming, but wonderful. After three months and a whirlwind courtship, we eloped. His family was furious. They couldn’t believe he’d married me so fast. When they confronted him, he said, ‘I’m obsessed with her. I can’t live without her.’ At the time, it seemed sweet. He loved me so much, couldn’t live without me, and he stood up for me to his family.
“After two months of wedded bliss, things changed. He changed. At first, it was subtle. He’d make a disparaging comment about my hair, or my dress. He’d dismiss my opinion, or do something big without consulting me. The changes went from subtle to aggressive very quickly. Any time I talked to another man, he got jealous. He wanted to know where I was and what