Page 37 of Jack

“You want me to I will.” His thumb grazed her cheekbone, and she felt a Jack sized void opening up in her heart. He was a good man, and the thought anyone could hurt him made her so angry.

“He isn’t worth it, and that’s a story for another time, so get your hiney up, or Fitz will be banging on the door.”

The mild-mannered James Fitzgerald, known to them as Fitz, was a stickler for details. Everything had to be in place when and where it should be, so yesterday would have sent him into a meltdown. She knew while she’d worked on uncovering her sister’s past in the hopes it would uncover her present, Jack had been responding to email after email from Fitz.

“Let’s go then. Make sure you’re packed and ready to go by eleven.”

He grabbed his bag and swept his eyes around the room before placing his hand on her back and walking her out. He walked her to her room and kissed her lightly, not caring who saw them. Astrid blushed when she saw Blake raise his eye brows behind Jack’s back as he stepped out of the room he was sharing with Liam.

“Didn’t know it was bring your girlfriend to work day, Jack.”

Jack kept his eyes on her as he grinned. “Yeah, I forgot to hit send on the email. Sorry, Blake.”

Blake laughed as he walked past.

“Is that what I am, Jack? Your girlfriend?”

“You are as far as I’m concerned but if that doesn’t suit you, call us whatever you want. Make no mistake though, you’re mine now, Astrid.”

A shiver went through her at the dominant way he claimed her but gave her back control in the same moment. “Girlfriend suits me.”

He leaned in and gave her another peck on the lips. “Good.”

He walked away down the hall, and she watched until he turned the corner winking at her as he did. She thought her heart would beat out of her chest or she might swoon like in the movies. That was too much gorgeousness right there, and she may not survive but what a way to go.

She was barely through the door when her phone rang, the caller display showing Roz’s number. Astrid picked up. “Hey.”

“Are you kidding me? Sleeping with the fucking enemy, Astrid?”

Astrid walked to the end of the bed and sat. “Don’t be dramatic, Roz. Jack isn’t the enemy, and for the record, I haven’t slept with him yet.”

“Pax said that Blake said he called you his girlfriend.”

“He did. We’re seeing each other.”

“But you haven’t had sex yet?”

“No.”

“Isn’t that like buying a car without a test drive?”

Astrid couldn’t stop the grin at Roz’s words. “Really, Roz? You think with all that intensity Jack would be garbage between the sheets? Plus, if he fucks like he kisses, I can assure you that a test drive is unnecessary. In fact, for that analogy, it would be like buying a Lamborghini. You don’t need to drive it to know that it has some serious power under the hood.”

“Yeah, I guess so, and he might be an ass, but he is kinda hot.” Roz and Jack had a complex relationship that thrived on mutual dislike and respect for each other. “But if he hurts you, tell him I’ll carve out his heart with a rusty knife and feed it to him.”

“Don’t let K hear you say that.” Astrid heard a baby cry in the background. “Is that my favourite boy?”

“It is. He’s teething which is hell on earth for both of us. I kinda hate K right now for leaving me.”

“You could never hate him, and we both know it.”

“Uh-huh.”

“How are the girls?”

“Fine, both killing it in school.”

“I miss them, tell them I’ll bring them something back.”