Page 86 of Second Shot

I place Noah over my shoulder and rub his back. “They all knownow.”

“Yeah.” A small smile tugs at Kane’s lips, and he places his large palm over mine on Noah’s back, a look of pride in his eyes. “Theydo.”

God, this man. He undoes me. I spent so many years fighting him. Blaming him. And yet, the way he looks at me, like I’m the most precious thing in the world, makes my insides melt. Brick by brick, he’s torn down the fortress I’d built to protect my heart. The problem is, it’s left mevulnerable.

I lean into him, and he wraps his arms around me, creating a cocoon for Noah andI.

“Have I told you how much I love you, Jacobs?” he whispers in myear.

“I could handle hearing it again,” I mumble against hischest.

“You’re my world, Brynne.” He cups my jaw, brushing his lips across mine. It’s gentle and sweet, and I swear I hear every woman in the room sigh at the same time. “You and Noah. And whatever happens, we’ll get through ittogether.”

I believe him. More than that, I trusthim.

I place my hand on his cheek and prepare myself to say the words I’ve been holding back. “Ilove-”

“Miss Jacobs?” A nurse in scrubs stands at the door holding achart.

A nervous tension vibrates through the room which grows eerily quiet, except for the shuffling of clothes as peoplestand.

“That’s me.” I pull out of Kane’s embrace and take a step towards her, shifting Noah in my arms. My whole body trembles as I wait for what she has tosay.

“The surgery wentwell.”

Relieved sighs and murmurs fill theroom.

“Your father is in recovery right now. You can see him if you’dlike.”

I’mshaking.

“He’s all right?” I ask, needing theconfirmation.

“He’sstable.”

“Can I go with her?” Kane asks, placing his large hand on my lowerback.

Strength.

Warmth.

Love.

I feel it all in histouch.

“Are you family?” The nurse asks, glancing down at herchart.

Kane starts to say no, but I interrupt him. “Yes. He’s his son-in-law.”

It’s a small lie, but I hear the muffled whispers around the room. Kane gives me a sidelong glance, one that I don’tmeet.

The nurse gives us a skeptical look before nodding, and looking pointedly at Noah. “All right. But only the two ofyou.”

“I’ll take him,” Sophie says as she approaches, lifting Noah from my arms before I have the chance toprotest.

Kane takes my hand and we follow the nurse down a series of halls. I try not to glance into the open doors. The place smells like death mixed with antiseptic and bleach. There are sounds of constant chaotic beeping mixed with my own heartbeat that thumps wildly in myears.

“He’s in here,” the woman says, nodding to a room with no door. “He should be waking upsoon.”

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