“I do not find you funny,” Belle snapped.
He bent his neck to touch his lips to hers and after he lifted his head, he remarked, “That’s all right, poppet, I do.”
Then he moved to her side, arm still around her shoulders and guided her resistant body to the castle while she muttered, “I’m so pleased you amuse yourself.”
He stopped at the foot of the steps and turned her to his front.
She looked up at him to see his eyes still smiling but his voice was serious when he said, “I’ll not let anything harm you.”
Since he sounded serious, she did too when she told him, “I saw those ghosts, Jack.”
“I believe you,” he replied instantly and she was so relieved he didn’t think she was a raving lunatic, she relaxed into his body as his hand came to her jaw. “I don’t believe in them but I believe you think you saw them. But Belle, even if they do exist, they won’t hurt you and I wouldn’t let them. I promise.”
She just stared at him and made no reply.
“You’re safe in my home. You’ll always be safe in my home,” he told her.
She swallowed because his eyes had lost their smile and had become as serious as his voice.
She still made no reply.
“All right?” he asked when she didn’t speak.
She nodded but indicated her understanding of his serious words by letting her body rest deeper against his.
“Can we go inside now?” he enquired, his tone lightening back to teasing.
She looked up at the big castle behind him then at him.
Even though she believed Jack would keep her safe (or, at least, wanted to), she still did not want to go into his castle.
“I hope so,” she sighed dramatically.
When they walked inside his haunted castle, Jack was still chuckling.
Chapter Eleven
Complicated
Jack
Jack lounged diagonal on the couch in his study, his feet up on the coffee table.
Belle was asleep, curled into his side, arm resting lightly across his stomach, cheek to his chest. Jack had a book he was not reading in his hand which he held against his thigh, his thumb holding his place.
His eyes were looking out the window at the sea stretched out to the horizon.
Things had definitely changed with Belle.
Not much but he was making progress.
And he had Myrtle and Lewis to thank for it.
The evening before when they’d walked into the house after their time on the cliffs, Belle hadn’t left his presence.
He knew this was not because she wanted to be in his company but because she was frightened of the ghosts she thought she saw.
He’d explained to her she had nothing to be frightened about. There was nothing more he could do.
Except take advantage of her fear.
This he did without a shred of remorse.
Jack had been correct those months before, Belle was not someone he could take or he could win.
He had to earn his place in her heart.
And he was going to do this.
Not for the sake of his child but because he wanted Belle.
But she clearly was not going to make it easy for him. She’d proved this in many ways, starting with finding an excuse at her earliest opportunity to walk away from him without looking back that morning after the night they’d shared.
And she’d do it again. This he knew for she was, for some reason, absurdly terrified of him and also what they’d shared.
Therefore Jack had to do whatever he had to do to earn his place in her heart and that included entangling her in his life.
To do this, first, he had to win her trust. He’d had it once but she’d taken it from him.
Although he felt he was justified in his anger when she came back to him that didn’t change the fact that he hadn’t done himself any favours with his behaviour.
Regardless, inherently Jack understood it was essential he conquer the obstacle of repairing the damage he caused and earning her trust before anything else.
And he had little time to do it.
In fact, he had around five months.
At the outside.
He’d prefer to have this accomplished far sooner.
His preference being that very day.
If not, the next day, if he could manage it.
Obviously, Myrtle and Lewis making an appearance worked in his favour. And Jack Bennett was not one to waste an opportunity.
So he didn’t.
The night before, Belle had sat at his side at dinner and before they left the table, she’d turned her head to him and timidly asked if she could join him during his nightly walk with the dogs or, more precisely, she’d asked his shoulder.
He’d agreed and they’d taken their silent but peaceful stroll.
When they came back, he went to his study and she went in search of her grandmother.
Not long later, a soft knock came at the door.
When he called, he was surprised to see Belle put her head through and even more shyly ask him if it would be too much bother if she sat with him.
He knew this mortified her on about the same significantly elevated level as it pleased him.
What he didn’t know was how to make something that was clearly difficult for her, easier on her.
He decided simply to nod. She’d scooted in with her sketchpad and a box of coloured pencils, head bowed, cheeks pink and without a word sat in the armchair across the room from him.
Then she’d spent the evening in his study while he worked at his desk.
This, too, they did silently until it was late and she was so drowsy, he saw her head was nodding in an effort to stay awake.
Although Jack very much liked Belle sitting, feet tucked underneath her, silent and busy while he worked, the only noise being the scratching of her pencils on her sketch pad and he wished this to continue, he’d taken pity on her.
He’d finished with his work and escorted her to her room. There, he lifted her face to his with a hand at her jaw and touched her lips with his own.
Then he left her at her door.
He had every intention of going to his room, preparing for bed and joining her in hers but he’d had a call come just as he was about to leave his room.
Five minutes into his call, there was a knock on the door.
Still talking, he opened it.
Belle stood there wearing a cream-coloured silk nightgown with thin straps, a chiffon ruffle at the hem at her knees as well as around the neckline. Although it exposed a good deal of skin, it was not overtly tempting. It was simple, delicate, intensely feminine and, because of all of this, very sexy.
He knew instantly she’d designed it.
Her eyes went to his phone and Jack said into it, “A minute.”