Endangered Hearts (18 page)

"You did the right thing, Abby. God only knows what would have happened if you had tried to escape or fight her. It was all I could do to control her myself.” Clay added.

"I'm just glad it's over. I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder and wondering what's going to happen next."

A few days later, Abby and Jack walked down the corridor toward Jack's father's room in Atlanta Memorial Hospital. Jack held Abby's hand clasped in his own. She squeezed his hand as he paused before the entrance to the private room. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door, and they walked inside. Jack's father lay on the bed, propped up with a mass of pillows. His eyes focused on the door and immediately lit up when Jack and Abby stepped inside. “Son,” his gruff voice seemed loud in the small room. “I'm glad you're here. I'm so sorry for everything...” Weakly he held a hand out towards Jack, and Jack stepped over to take it in his own.

Stunned by how old and ill his father looked, Jack stopped his apology. “Not now, Dad. You just concentrate on getting better. We'll talk about everything once you're back home. Right now you just rest."

His dad looked like he wanted to say more, but he refrained.

Jack put his arm around Abby's shoulders and drew her closer against his side. The old man's eyes focused on her with unexpected acceptance and gratitude as Jack introduced them. “Dad, this is Abby, my fiancée. I told you about her on the phone. Abby, my father, Robert Cole."

Abby smiled. “It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

He smiled back at her. “Likewise, my dear. Welcome to the family."

"Thank you.” She bent down and dropped a kiss onto his cheek.

"You be good to my boy, you hear? God knows, he deserves it,” he whispered in her ear.

Abby smiled. “You can count on it,” she replied before standing back up.

After a few more minutes of conversation, it was clear that Jack's father was becoming tired, so Jack and Abby left with the promise to return the next day to visit again. As they made their way out of the hospital, he paused for a moment, looking down into her eyes. “I'm glad you made me come."

"Me, too,” she smiled at him gently. “I know it was hard for you."

"Not as hard as I had expected. He looks so thin and frail that it's hard to stay angry. It seems foolish to try to hold onto old hurts now. I just want to forgive and forget."

She held onto his arm. “I know. Now ... you promised me a special present. What is it?"

"It's a surprise.” Jack laughed and tugged her arm, drawing her out into the tide of people busily walking down the sidewalk.

It was good to see him so happy and carefree, Abby thought to herself as they wound their way through the oncoming pedestrian traffic. He stopped suddenly and dropped a short but passionate kiss onto her upturned mouth. “Actually, this surprise is as much for me as it is for you,” he commented mysteriously. He gestured to a small building in front of them with a sign that read
Georgia Peach's Tattoos and Body Piercing
. With a wicked gleam in his eye, Jack pushed open the door. “I promised myself this the first time I saw your cute little belly-button, and I always keep my promises."

"What are you talking about?” Abby questioned with a laugh, already having good idea what he wanted.

"You're mine, and I want to put my mark on you ... a sweet little diamond stud piercing in that delicious tummy of yours.” He paused, reaching out to brush a finger over her blouse right above the indentation of her navel. “Well, what do you say, angel? Are you willing?"

Abby didn't hesitate. “Let's do it."

Hours later, Abby and Jack lay entwined in a king-sized bed at his father's house. His head was pillowed on her tummy, and he stared in satisfaction at the glint from the heart-shaped diamond that nestled there. He smiled with pleasure at the sight. “I love you, angel."

He felt her belly shake silently with joyful laughter. “I love you, too, Jack.” Her hands tunneled through his hair in a tender caress.

"I want us to get married as soon as possible, sweetheart."

"If you really want to, that's fine with me. I don't want a big wedding anyway.” Abby agreed. “But are you sure that's what you want?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life.” Jack responded. “I want you tied to me in every way possible, so that there's not doubt in anyone's mind who you belong to."

"All right.” She tugged gently on his hair, and he lifted his body to cover her, his mouth closing over hers with a demanding kiss.

It didn't get any better than this, Jack thought.

About the Author:

Jolie Cain is a wife and mother of two whose home is in the Deep South. All her life she has created characters and stories, with dreams of one day bringing them to life. She finally decided to stop procrastinating and just do it! Thus, her first book was born. She has discovered that there's much more to writing than, well ... writing. But there's nothing quite as satisfying as taking an imaginary world and turning it into reality. Jolie invites you to visit her at her website at www.joliecain.com