But he’d been outrageously possessive when they were married. If Belle even glanced at another man, Calvin would lose it and Belle would pay the price.
Belle had fretted that the media would find out about Calvin and Belle and feed on it like everything else.
This, fortunately and miraculously, did not happen.
Then Belle had fretted that her appearance in the news would remind Calvin of her existence and he’d re-enter her life. He’d done it before, trying to win her back before eventually giving up.
This, fortunately and also miraculously, didn’t happen either.
However, pictures of Belle and Jack kissing, Jack holding her close to his side, Jack pressing his forehead to hers, would wind Calvin up until he was out-of-control.
And, since it was Jack, it would be worse.
Jack was a better man than Calvin in a lot of ways (heck, in every way), many which Calvin would never know.
But the ones he would know, that Jack was richer than him, famous, more accomplished and far more handsome, would drive Calvin up the wall.
Calvin had spent years convincing Belle that she was lucky to have him, that she couldn’t dream of ever finding another man, that he’d gone slumming when he chose her.
The fact that Belle could catch the eye of a man far better than Calvin and the media rubbing his nose in it on a near day-to-day basis would drive Calvin over the brink.
He’d lose it and take it out on her.
Gram spoke again and Belle took her hands away from her face when she did. “You need be careful, my sweet.”
Belle turned her head to look at her grandmother and nodded.
“It’s a good thing you’re living here and Jack’s taking you to work,” Gram stated. “Just keep your eyes peeled and, in the meantime, your mother and I’ll frequent the shop. But, until you tell Jack what happened with Calvin, I don’t want you to go anywhere alone, okay?”
“Okay,” Belle whispered.
“He won’t hurt you again, honeypot,” Mom reassured. “We wouldn’t let him and now, Jack won’t.”
In her heart, Belle knew this was true.
And her heart spoke to her soul and they both came to an agreement.
It was just her mind that worked against her.
“I think Joy would tackle him and beat him senseless,” Gram commented.
“I’d hate to think what Yasmin would do,” Mom added.
“I don’t hate to think of it,” Gram grinned.
“Can we not talk about Calvin anymore?” Belle asked quietly.
Both her mother and grandmother looked at her and a miracle occurred.
For, at the same time, they agreed.
* * * * *
Belle sat in the window seat of her bedroom wearing a cotton nightgown in a pretty pastel plaid, a drawstring tie at the bodice forming a ruffle along the neckline and wide, ruffle-edged straps. It came down to mid-thigh and, to ward off the cold brought on by the change of weather, she’d put on a pair of thick, pink socks and pulled on a short, pink, jersey dressing gown with a wide hood.
She’d designed the nightgown and robe, a new line of clothing that she’d added to her inventory last summer that had taken off like a shot.
She had not, of course, designed the socks.
The storm had come anew, bringing with it flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder.
Belle watched the storm and let it clear her mind which, fortunately, worked.
After her discussion with her Mom and Gram, instead of going to Jack which had been his unspoken but understood wish, she’d stayed in her Mom’s room. They’d lain in bed and chatted like they’d done thousands of times before, never lacking for conversation.
She was enjoying some time alone with her mother.
But she was also avoiding Jack.
No longer because she was scared of him, it was now because she was scared of her feelings for him.
Therefore, sitting in her window in her room non-thinking, she was also avoiding her thoughts.
And thus she was startled when the door opened and she heard the jangle of dog tags.
She looked to the door to see Jack’s form silhouetted in the light from the hall, Baron and Gretl forging straight toward Belle.
The light was extinguished when Jack closed the door and Belle’s mind was gripped with fear, wondering at his mood, wondering how he’d feel that she didn’t accept his invitation, wondering if he was angry with her.
Absently, she scratched both dogs’ heads while she watched Jack walk toward her.
She could barely see him, the moon was shadowed by clouds and there was no light on in her room. But she could see that he was fully-clothed though she couldn’t see what he was wearing, it looked like a long-sleeved tee and a pair of pyjama pants.
Instead of shifting her and settling behind her (which she kind of hoped he’d do), she watched in frozen silence as he sat on the window seat by her bent legs.
The dogs moved to accommodate him and she heard them settle not far away.
Then his shadowed hand came out and the backs of his fingers ran the length of the side of her thigh from knee to hip, pushing her nightgown along as his fingers met it.
This made her tremble but she trembled in a different way than he normally made her tremble because this was not a sexual touch but a tender one.
“What’s on your mind, poppet?” he asked and she noted immediately he didn’t sound angry or even put out.
He sounded gentle and curious.
“Nothing,” she told him.
“Nothing?” he asked, now sounding slightly disbelieving but mostly teasing.
“The storm has cleared my head,” she explained and she saw Jack’s head turn to look out the window. When he didn’t reply, she added, “I love thunderstorms.”
She saw him face her again and he remarked softly, “I see.” She didn’t know what he saw but he told her, “This is why Lila paints thunderstorms.”
She’d been right. He knew about the Storm Series.
Belle nodded then worried he couldn’t see her nod so she said, “Yes.”
“She loves you a great deal,” Jack remarked then went on. “Though, I’ve noticed she hasn’t offered me any lemon drops.”
Belle felt a soft giggle float up her throat and instead of pushing it back, she let it go.
When she did, Jack moved.
But he didn’t settle in behind her.
He settled opposite her, positioning his long legs so they were cocked on either side of her, his feet against her hips.
She found something about this profound.
It was as if he sensed she needed space and although he wasn’t willing to give it to her, he was willing to give it to her in a way that was a compromise that worked for both of them.