Page 23 of Jethro

She actually gagged twice, forcing Jethro to run for a wastebasket and a cold towel. When he returned, she looked up at him.

“You are such a good man,” she said softly. “Why would you want to help me?”

Jethro sat back, still seated across from her but relaxing his position, hoping that she might do the same. He thought about how to phrase it and then just decided that telling all of it was best.

“There’s a strange phenomena that happens here at Belle Fleur. You can call it love at first sight or destined soul mates, or whatever. I wasn’t here when you and I met but I thought of you ever day after I put you on that helicopter.”

“Why?” she whispered.

“Because what I saw was a woman who’d endured more than most men could take. She was still holding onto two other women, praying they would all escape. She didn’t give up hope. She didn’t even breakdown when we found her. She was strong and capable.”

“It doesn’t sound like me,” she said with a tiny smirk. “Are you sure you’re not mixing me up with some other woman you rescued.”

“Never. There’s only one Aurora and I found her. And. I’d sure like to keep her. Here. With me. On this property.”

“K-keep her? Keep me?” she repeated. “Jethro, you saw what a mess I am. You saw me with Shep.”

“Yep, I sure did. There will come a time, Aurora, when you’ll see the same in me. I’ll break down, I’ll lose control.”

“You? Why?” she asked innocently.

“Aurora, it may not seem like it but seeing the things that happened to you, to the other women, watching villages get burned to the ground, people tortured, all of it, it weighs heavily on the mind of any soldier, sailor, or Marine. On the outside, we all look like we’re just fine. Solid as a rock. Made of steel.” He laughed, shaking his head.

“Is that funny?” she whispered.

“It’s ridiculous. We’re as fragile as anyone. I’m not sure why we do it. Male ego. Bravado. Tough guy mentality. I don’t know. But I have nightmares now and then. I see things, like those bodies in the building last night that make me start to slip.”

“What do you do?” she asked, genuinely interested.

“I rely on those around me. The joking? Kai, Sonny, all of my former teammates know that’s a way to get our heads on straight. The other men here do the same. It’s twisted and perverted but it works.”

“I can actually see that,” she said staring at him. “You seem so strong on the outside.” He nodded.

“I am. Strong as an ox and that’s where the illusion stops. Inside, I’m just like you Aurora. But here’s the thing. I want you to come to me. Go to Shep, Ashley, Erin, Alexandra, Winter, anyone here when you feel that coming on again. I want to be the person you trust, that you rely on.”

“Oh, Jethro,” she said with fresh tears. She shook her head, then stood walking toward him. She stopped in front of him. He was so big, their eyes nearly met as he was seated and she was standing. She reached for his massive hands, callused, rough, and warm.

Jethro didn’t move. He let her make all the decisions. When she took his hands, he stilled. Then she placed them on each side of her waist. One hand nearly completed the small circle but he held both where she’d settled them, his fingers touching at her back. Her own hands lay on top of his, then she sat on one knee.

“Ever since we met, I’ve wondered what it would feel like to have your hands on me. Would I be scared? Would I run? Somehow, today, I knew I wouldn’t. I don’t know what kind of life I can give you, Jethro but I know I want to try.”

“Listen to me,” he said earnestly. “If this, just holding you on my lap, is all I get, I’ll be the happiest man in the world.”

“We both know that can’t last forever,” she said with a sad smile.

“Trust me. I know it can.” He pulled her closer to his chest, still holding her waist as she settled her head on his shoulder. Within minutes, she was sound asleep. It would be four hours later before Jethro realized that he’d fallen asleep as well.

It was the first uninterrupted, peaceful sleep he’d had in five years. There was no way she was getting away from him now.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Christopher, Kev, Kai, and Sonny pulled up outside the Langley home and waited a moment. They took in the massive, ornate black iron gate that surrounded the property. There were two huge live oak trees positioned at opposite corners of the lot. Three magnolia trees that appeared to be at least a hundred years old, provided shade for an expertly positioned group of lawn furniture.

“Well, if that doesn’t scream money I’m not sure what does,” frowned Christopher.

“That house has to be a couple of million. I didn’t know they were that big in the Garden District,” said Kev.

“It’s old,” said Kai. “My mom used to clean houses like this when I was a kid. She’d talk about all the cool things in an old home that new ones didn’t have. This one has seen some history.”