Her eyes light up, hopeful. “What if you sleep on the couch? I can sleep on the floor, and we can figure it out in the morning. It’s late, and I’m tired.”
I groan. “No can do. I’m old school, and you sleeping anywhere other than the bed is something I can’t allow.”
She twists her hands, still not meeting my eyes. “Fine. We’re adults. We can both sleep in the bed. I assume you don’t have atwin bed—that might get awkward.” The corners of her beautiful mouth turn up.
I grab the back of my neck, trying to work out the tension. I sure as shit didn’t expect her to say that. “Uhh.”
“Or I can take the couch, like any other house guest.”
“No. I’ll sleep on the couch. I’m almost done cleaning up the blood anyway. My bed is your best option.”
“No, I?—”
I lock my arms over my chest. “Don’t finish that sentence. The bed, and that’s the end of it.”
She nods.
I guide her into my room. The idea of sleeping next to this woman swims in my head and makes me dizzy. Not yet. Not when she’s so upset.
She shuffles down the hall then hands the comb back to me. When I reach for it, our fingers brush. The electrical charge between us jolts me again. I roll back the sheets in an invite for her to climb in. She pauses, staring at me with her doe eyes.
“You’re tucking me in?” she asks.
“After a night like you’ve had, you need someone taking care of you. Is that okay?”
She nods again, climbing in. I wonder why she’s so quiet, and then understanding washes over me. She’s holding back tears. The thought alone of someone trying to hurt and violate her makes anger and adrenaline course through my veins. “I won’t let anything happen to you again. Okay?”
When she doesn’t respond, I take that as my cue to shut up.
“Goodnight, Jessi,” I say as I shut the door.
CHAPTER 15
JESSI
Irub the sleep from my eyes as panic rushes through me. Where am I? Then everything from last night hits me like a Mac truck. At Jack’s house. In his room.
I don’t have my phone. Therefore, I have no clue what time it is. Did Rachel make it home last night? Does she know what happened?
Jack’s room is not what I expected. Last night was so chaotic that I didn’t take any of it in. Its moody, with hunter green walls and honey-colored wood floors, and the furniture matches the vibe, wood dressers and a broken-in tan leather armchair. I’m enveloped in the pine and leather smell I’ve craved since he towered over me the night of my birthday.
Never in a million years would I have guessed that biker Jack would have such good design taste. I wonder if a girlfriend helped him. That thought irritates me the minute I think it, so I shove it aside. I have zero claim to him. Why do I care if someone helped him decorate?
I sit up and try to wrap my mind around the fact that I slept in Jack’s bed last night. Over the last few months, I’ve dreamed of this moment a hundred times. None of those dreams included the reason I ended up here last night, though.
My feet hit the cool floor. I need to get up and moving. As much as I wish I could hide in here rather than face Jack, I know it’s not an option.
I’m extremely upset about what happened with David, but I’m not shocked. They’re all assholes who always get what they want. If they don’t, they take it. I hope I broke his perfect pretty nose. Screw him—and Austin too.
I rip the Band-Aid off and head downstairs, despite only being in a T-shirt, Jack’s T-shirt. Jack’s already dressed, and his clothes are covered in grease and dirt. How in the hell does he make them so appealing? He must already be working on a bike in his garage. “Good morning,” I say quietly. “I wanted to thank you for everything you did last night, and I’m sorry for any trouble I caused you.”
Jack doesn’t reply. Maybe after sleeping on his rash decision, he has decided this might not be the best idea, and he’s trying to figure out how to break the news to me, so I blurt out, “I think things are good. I’m sure it was because they were drunk. I’ll be sure I’m not home for any more parties. I’ll head back now.”
“Like hell you are,” Jack protests. I’m stunned into silence, not knowing what to say or do. “Here’s the deal. I can’t let you go back there alone. I also believe that calling Shannon home could cause you more harm, unfortunately. The way I see it, either we call your dad and he comes back, or you stay here. Those are your two options, darlin’.”
I stare at him. Why does he want to protect me so much? “I’m nineteen. I can take care of myself,” I say.
“Do you like coffee?” He’s moved on like it’s no big deal.
