Serial Love: Saints Protection & Investigation by Maryann Jordan

small, but comfortable den was on the right, the walls of exposed logs with a fireplace at the end. A hall split the area, leading to the bedrooms. The open floor plan included a dining table at the other end, leading into the kitchen. The scent of homemade soup and bread filled the room.
    Bethany managed to disentangle herself, stalking into the kitchen. Lifting the lid on the crock-pot, she stirred the stew before checking to make sure the bread had not burned. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts as she heard Gram chatting with Jack as they placed the dishes on the table.
    She stood at the sink, looking out of the window overlooking the back of the property…the side where Jack lived. The sinking sun cast a myriad of colors over the evening sky, but for once she was not enjoying the view.
    She could not remove the events of the previous half hour out of her mind—the guests arguing, the fight, the rescue. Grasping the counter tightly to keep her legs from buckling, she suddenly felt a presence behind her.
    Jack’s arms reached around the counter, planting his hands on her trembling ones. He stepped forward until his front was touching her back. He rested his chin on her head, wrapping her in his warmth.
    She wanted to lean her head back into him but was afraid to move. Weeks ago, she told him all about herself when they sat on the porch. And he gave her nothing. But now?
    He felt her reticence and knew he needed to breach the gap he had caused. Keeping one arm on hers, he lifted his other and wrapped it around her middle pulling her into his hard body. Leaning his head to the side, he whispered, “Come on, doll. Give it to me.”
    With his soft encouragement, she dropped her head back into his chest, taking a shuttering breath. “I…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    “It’s adrenaline. It hit you when you rushed out, but now your body has to deal with the overload. You’ll be fine. It’ll pass, I promise.” Wrapping his other arm over her chest, he enveloped her as the trembling subsided.
    He felt her shudder, then a few minutes later felt her body begin to relax as he willed her to take from his strength.
    She closed her eyes, her mind utterly aware of every nuance. The power in his arms as they embraced her. The hard muscles of his pecs and abs as they were pressed against her back. The softness of his beard, as it tickled her ear when he leaned in and whispered. He could stand behind her and she fit snuggly underneath his chin as though meant just for his body. It had only been a minute but her body craved his presence.
    “You shouldn’t be kissing in the kitchen,” Gram admonished, walking into the room. Bethany jumped and Jack released her slowly, his chuckle rumbling over her.
    The dinner was simple but filling and Jack ate heartedly while enjoying keeping up with Ann’s conversations. Bethany had warned him that she was spending more and more time in the past, thinking that she was a young woman.
    “Gram, I’m going to clean up and then I’ll help you get ready for bed,” Bethany volunteered.
    “I’ve got this,” Jack said, motioning for her to go on with Ann.
    Offering him a small smile, she followed her grandmother down the hall. Jack quickly washed the dishes and wiped the counters. He moved into the den and wandered to the fireplace where the mantle was loaded with family pictures.
    He could not help but grin at the sight of Bethany as a baby, a gap-tooth grinning child, a pretty teenager, and a gorgeous young woman in her cap and gown, standing with her parents and grandparents.
    “She’s in bed,” Bethany whispered as she appeared in the room.
    Jack turned and stared at the woman standing in front of him. Her long blonde hair, now out of its braid, lay waving down her back and spilling over her shoulders. The faded jeans, that became that way due to hard labor and not from some fancy clothing store that sold them already faded, cupped her ass perfectly. The baggy, baby-blue