Trusting Jake (Blueprint To Love Book 1) (25 page)

"What is it?"

"Might be an infection. Could be flu . . . she's burning up. But she hit her head pretty hard when she passed out. We found her on the stairs. Kids said she fell." She glanced at her clipboard. "Looks worse than it actually is, though. All her vitals are stable."

"You're sure?" Relief coursed through him. Thank God.

  "They'll probably run a few tests just to make sure."

"I want to go with her."

"We'll need someone to watch the kids. Obviously, we can't leave 'em here alone."

"I'll stay with the children." His mother's soothing voice rose above the controlled chaos. She'd closed the front door, ready to take charge.

"Mona! Mommy's sick. What's gonna happen?" 

"Will you stay with us?" Alex chimed in.

"Of course, sweetheart. Just like last night. I'll stay with you until your mom comes home, okay?"

Jake felt Megan's icy fingers slip between his and he gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"Jake– is M-mommy-  Is she gonna d-die? Who will take c-care of us?"

Her terrified voice cracked as he pulled her into his arms, her rigid, little body pressed against his. Meg's anguished sobs rocked him to the core. With all he had, he wanted to make it better. He wanted to promise he would take care of them. For the rest of his life, he would protect and cherish and love them.

"It's all right, honey. Mommy's sick, but she'll get better. She's not going to die. I'm going to the hospital with her. I promise I'll bring her back home." Hugging her, he glanced to his mother, who was cuddling Alex. He only hoped Jen would feel the same way.        

"Sir? We're ready now. We're transporting her to St. John's. You may want to drive your own vehicle, otherwise you won't have a way to get home."

"Right. I-I'll follow right behind you."

Megan's arms tightened around his neck when he would have released her. "It's okay, Sweetie. I promise I'll bring Mommy home with lots of flowers." 

"B-but Daddy went to the h-hospital, too. And he still d-died."

Megan's matter-of-fact voice hit Jake like a sledgehammer. His hand stilled on her back as his body absorbed yet another shock. "W-what did you say? What about your dad?"

Alex piped in then. "He's dead. He got's in a car wreck last year."

Chapter 14

Jenna cautiously opened her eyes. Achy and tired, she tried to call for Megan and discovered her mouth was too dry to speak. Maybe Meg could get her a glass of water.

"Thirsty," she croaked in a tired sounding voice. The room was dimly lit, but a glance out the window told her it was still night. Her nose wrinkled up at the sharp, antiseptic smell. Who was cleaning her room? A shadow leaned over, placing a straw between her lips. She sucked greedily for a minute before falling back against the pillows. Dear Lord, she was exhausted. "Thanks, honey."   

"Can I get you anything else?"

Jake's voice. Was she dreaming? Forcing her eyes open, she squinted as they adjusted to the dark, then did a double-take as she realized this wasn't her room at all. A shiver of alarm made her throw her legs over the side of the bed. "Megan? Alex? W-where am I?" 

"Easy, Jen. I'm here. You're all right."

"Jake? Where-" Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Are we still in Baltimore?"

"No, honey. We're home. You're sick. You fell on the stairs and hit your head. We're at the hospital."

His fingers slid through hers. She felt his solid, familiar grip as he lifted her legs back into the bed and watched helplessly when he tucked the blankets around her. "I can't stay-  The kids-"

"Are with my mother," he explained. "They're fine, Jen. I just called Mona. She said Alex has fallen asleep. Megan's still awake, so they're watching TV."

Jenna sagged back against the pillows. "You're sure?"

"I promise. My mother's staying the night." He sat down next to the bed. "The doctor said I can bring you home tomorrow afternoon."        

She turned to find him watching her closely. "Thank you for– helping. How did you know?"

"I was at my mother's house. I was just leaving to come see you when Meg and Alex called me." 

The grim twist of his mouth didn't match the intensity burning in his eyes. Jake had been afraid. It gave her a foolish rush of hope. Maybe. . . Was it possible he cared? Her eyes filling with tears, she blinked them back. "They must have been terrified." 

"They weren't the only ones, Jen. I've never been so scared. I saw you lying there. . ." Wincing, he shook his head, visibly trying to erase the image. "Megan held herself together long enough to call for the ambulance. They were really brave."

She managed to smile through her tears. When she shivered with reaction, Jake immediately drew the blanket up around her shoulders. She felt his lips brush against her forehead before he sat down again. But his beautiful eyes gave nothing away as he continued to stare at her.

"Jen– Alex told me about his dad. About the car accident."

Frozen, she turned to him. The fleeting glimmer of hope died. Her worst fear– that he would discover the truth from someone else. Jake had heard stories about her from Baldwin, and now from her children.

"He said Rick died."

The stabbing pain in her chest made it difficult to breathe. A new round of shivers jolted through her. All she could do was stare at him as her eyes filled with a fresh batch of tears.

"It's true– isn't it?"

Nodding as she fought for control, her voice was a raspy whisper. "He'd already left me for–  b-but we– the divorce. . ." Her lips began to tremble as the time-worn cracks in the dam of hurt and lies finally burst. "I-I wanted. . . so badly– to tell you." She felt his reassuring weight when he shifted from the chair to her bed. When he pulled her into his arms, she welcomed the comfort only he could bring. She would drink in this feeling for as long as possible, because soon he would be gone. She'd lied to him. And now . . . he knew it.

"So many times. . . I wanted to tell you the truth."

"Sshh. Babe . . . it's okay."

"How can it be okay? I– l-lied to you. I lied to everyone-"

"Let's not talk now. I want you to feel better. We have plenty of time later."

Holding her in those strong, capable arms, her head tucked safely against his shoulder, Jen knew she would never forget how it felt. As long as she lived, she would try to remember this single moment– when Jake made every problem disappear, simply by holding her. When he made everything okay. When his endless strength seeped into her body and make her stronger. She wished this single moment would last forever.  

He continued to hold her, stroking her back while she wrestled with the knowledge that everything had changed. She could no longer fall back on a web of lies to distance herself from the outside world. She would have to trust herself enough to stand on her own. She could finally be honest with Jake. She'd longed to confide in him.

Jenna stiffened as she acknowledged this might be the very last time she'd ever hold him like this. His fingers increased their gentle pressure, kneading her anxiety away.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I want you to stop worrying, okay?" His lips pressed gently against her temple.

"Aren't you angry with me?" What if he couldn't forgive her? A vision of Mona flashed before her eyes and she shivered. It had been years and Jake couldn't forgive his mother. He would likely never trust her again.  

"No, Jen. Just relax."

The thought of losing him made her stomach twist with dread. How would she live without him? "Please don't leave me." Jen didn't realize she had whispered the plea, until his hands paused in their soothing motion. Only a moment passed before his fingers were back at work, massaging the tension from her spine. As her aching muscles began to liquefy under his powerful fingers, she sagged against him, her eyes too heavy to stay open.

***

True to his word, Jake brought her home the next day. He rejoiced in Alex and Megan's happiness. Then he'd carried Jen upstairs and tucked her into bed, where she still remained nearly two days later.

His mother had beamed when he announced his plans to move in for a few days and take care of Jen himself. Jake read her thoughts. He needed to be involved– that having a family meant being there for them. Mona stayed through dinner the first night before quietly leaving Jen and the kids under his care.

Watching his mother drive away, he'd panicked for a moment, before squaring his shoulders and getting to work. He'd supervised bathing, homework, kitten wrangling and kitchen clean-up before shepherding the kids off to bed. He'd learned nighttime routines of story-telling and teeth brushing and water fetching before they finally fell asleep, a sleepy-eyed kitten curled on the end of each bed. All the while, Jenna slept, blissfully unaware of all the parental rules he was probably violating.

Not that the kids seemed to mind. As long as their mother wasn't dying, they seemed perfectly happy to live on hamburgers and chocolate milk for the rest of their lives. Jake had lost a few points with Alex when he'd held firm on the subject of bathing. Smiling over the memory, he picked up toys in the living room. The little guy had a pretty convincing argument for the once-a-week plan.  

It had been surprisingly easy to rearrange his schedule at work. It helped that he'd planned to be in Baltimore for an extra day. Armed with a laptop and a mountain of files, he'd been amazed to discover how much he could accomplish after the kids were tucked in bed. He'd also been pleased to discover Jeff was eager to pick up the slack. Jen had been right. Who would have dreamed his younger brother actually craved more responsibility?

Mostly, he focused on Jenna. Walloped by the overwhelming need to protect her, he'd beaten a path to her bedroom door, just watching her sleep. She was a thousand percent better than the night he'd walked in and found her lying on the floor. The bruise on her forehead was already turning yellow and starting to fade, but she was still weak and tired. The medication for her infection caused her to sleep nearly round the clock the first day home. The few times she awakened, he'd been there waiting.

Jen had been shocked to see him. Each time she opened her eyes, he read it in her expression. She was in unfamiliar territory. When the kids bounced on her bed each evening, catching her up on the day's adventures, she would smile over their antics. But her expression had been far too grateful to suit him.

Her reaction only confirmed his suspicions– that she'd been neglected and abandoned by her husband . . . left to struggle on her own. She'd never been treasured. Learning he took better care of her than her former husband made him furious. It made him want to hurt every guy who had insulted and abused her. He hoped Jen would see in him something she'd never found in a man before. Respect. Kindness. Love.  

He paused at the sound of footsteps overhead and heard the shower start as he put the kettle on for tea. New Year's Eve. The kids were at a friend's house for lunch and a movie. The house was quiet. Jenna was feeling much better. Today, they would finally talk.            

***

Cinching the knot in her bathrobe, Jen released a calming breath. She was feeling human again. When her stomach growled a protest, she realized food would be first on the agenda. Then she would call Jake. Whatever was going to happen to them would happen today. She couldn't handle another day of not knowing where they stood. Today was the day she would begin rebuilding her life.

Entering the hallway, she was greeted with the scent of cinnamon wafting up the stairway. She gripped the rail tightly while she took the stairs, her legs suddenly wobbly as she realized he was still there. He'd been there every time she'd opened her eyes. When she'd burned with fever, he'd washed her face. When she'd awakened thirsty, he'd held the glass to her lips. When she'd shivered with cold, he'd tucked in the blankets. Two nights earlier, he'd fed her soup out of a coffee mug in the middle of the night. Memories of his dark head on the pillow had her scrunching up her nose. Had that been Baltimore . . . or here?    

Jake had taken care of her children when she was too sick to do it. And now . . . he'd made her breakfast. Pausing on the steps, she blinked back a rush of tears. Damn– she wouldn't cry. Jake Traynor was a kind, compassionate, wonderful man. Despite her lies, he'd been there for her. Whether or not he wanted her in his future– she owed him everything for the care he'd provided them.

When the oven door opened, she heard Jake curse as he dropped a pan on the stove with a clatter. Stifling a chuckle, she rounded the corner into the kitchen. Though he was definitely a superhero in her eyes, he was still distinctly human when it came to cooking.

"What are you still doing here?" His back to her, he was at the sink, running cold water over his fingers. "Jake?"

He jerked around, surprised to find her standing there. "Hey– how're you feeling?"

"I feel much better, actually." Her heart pounding, she clutched the knot on her bathrobe, certain he would see her shaking with nerves. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

"I– uh. . . Jeff's covering the bases. I wanted to stay here until you felt better."

Managing to tear her gaze from his face, she glanced toward the stove. It was safer to focus on cinnamon rolls than to stare into those gorgeous, compassionate eyes. Jake looked tired. He looked– strained, as though he was dreading their looming conversation. As though he couldn't wait to finally leave.

"What's all this? You made breakfast?"

He shook his head derisively as he dried his hands. "Well, that was the plan, but I'm not sure they're edible." Crossing the room, he gently nudged her toward the dining room. "I'll bring you some tea. You shouldn't be on your feet."

Pulling back a chair, he motioned for her to sit. Jen hesitated, unsure she could sip tea and carry on a polite conversation. Not with their lives hanging in the balance . . . with so much still unresolved. "I can't believe you stayed. How can I ever thank you? For everything you've done for me?" Swallowing her fear, she forced her gaze to his face. "Why Jake? Why would you do this for me?"   

"Because I care about you– I need you."

"You need me?" Sinking into the chair, her legs seemed to collapse under her weight.

"I want you healthy," he continued, his eyes earnest. "You were run-down, and I feel responsible for that. You've been working too hard."

"Jake . . . we have to talk. What happened between us . . ." Her eyes burned with unshed tears, despite her intentions. He
needed
her. "It was a mistake. I never should have-" 

"It was
not
a mistake," he interrupted.

"Jake. . . I-I can't keep working for you." Not if she hoped to retain her sanity. "I know we're a good team, but you're going to have to find someone else."

"I don't want anyone else. I'll
never
want anyone else."

An icy lump of misery forming in her stomach, she continued. "I saw you with him. I know you talked with Baldwin." Shivers coursing through her, she wrapped her arms around her waist. "I'm sure he delighted in telling you what happened when I worked in Baltimore." She forced herself to meet his gaze. "He's a lying bastard. He ruined my life for the s-sport of it."

Pulling his chair around the table, Jake sat next to her. "He told me what he did."

Too frozen with shame to comprehend his words, she glanced at him. "Did you– believe him?"

Taking her icy hands in his, he edged closer. "He told me a disgusting story about a woman . . . how they'd all been hitting on her, but she wouldn't-" He released an angry sigh, his expression harsh. "A woman named Jenny Cahill."