Page 69 of Steel & Jenna
“Will you at least kiss me even if you’re still mad at me?”
“Fuck, Jen.” Using the hand he held, he dragged her to his chest andcrushedher lips with his. It was quick and powerful. Most of all, it was possessive and passionate. “No matter what else I’m feeling, I will always still kiss you.”
Her heart swelled. Jack let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her waist. She leaned her head against his shoulder as he led her from the office. He even put her purse strap over his other shoulder to carry it for her.
Mr. Zarin gave her a tentative smile. “Hi, Jenna. I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Hi, Mr. Zarin. Thank you for coming to get me.”
His raised eyebrow questioned her sanity, like there had been another other option for him. “I had to call your parents, Jenna. They needed to know where you are.”
Jenna made a face but didn’t take her head off of Jack’s shoulder. “I understand. I’m sorry I put you in that position. Are they on their way too?”
It was Mr. Zarin’s turn to make a face. His face darkened with obvious disapproval. “No. They felt it wasn’t necessary since we already stated we were coming to get you. However, I have been…” Hecleared his throat,“Instructed,” he bit out, “to bring you back to their house.”
Jenna turned her face into Jack’s neck in despair. Thelastplace she wanted to go was her parents’ house. She wanted to gohome…with Jack.
Jack’s arm tightened around her waist. She felt his lips against her forehead. “Come on. Let’s get you to the truck. Mr. Zarin can drive slowly on the way back.”
1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS, 12 DAYS
No matter how slow Mr. Zarin drove, eventually he was pulling Jack’s truck into the Scanlons’ driveway. Jenna was asleep in Jack’s arms. She’d passed out about twenty minutes back, even though she’d claimed she wasn’t tired.
The outside lights of the colonial-style mansion were bright as they pulled up the long drive. Despite the cold and the snow, everything was pristine. Like a picture or a movie set. As if every flake of snow had been placed on the ground by hand.
Every time Jack saw this house—if one could even call it that—it was a harsh reminder of the differences in their circumstances. But, in a way, it was also a reality check. Jack didn’t need riches. He didn’t need fame or fortune. He needed the woman in his arms to behis. That was his key to happiness, to fulfillment.
Jenna had expressed on many occasions how much she hated how her family lived. They had millions at their disposal and yet they used it to show off their wealth rather than to help those less fortunate. The only philanthropy they did was the kind that got her father’s businesses standing in the press.
Jack knew he needed a career that would allow Jenna and him to live comfortably, meaning without counting pennies at every paycheck. He wanted a decent house that fit him, Jenna, and their future kids. Maybe an in-law suite above the garage for when theZarins and Lilly visited. But they didn’t need a monstrosity that could be seen from outer space or had enough wings it could fly away.
Mr. Zarin put the truck into Park. No one exited or opened the front door to greet them. Jack and Mr. Zarin exchanged a look.
“I don’t want to wake her,” Jack whispered.
“You might have to,” Mr. Zarin said with a displeased expression. “I doubt they’re going to let you carry her to her bedroom, son.”
Jack had never even stepped foot on their property before. He wasn’t allowed to, which meant he’d never walked her to her door before, either. It always felt wrong, but the Scanlons had made it very clear that if he got out of whatever vehicle was dropping Jenna off that they would have him arrested for trespassing.
Jack dipped his head low. He pressed his mouth gently to hers as he rubbed her arm. She moaned, turning into him without opening her eyes. Her tongue swept along his bottom lip.
“Jack?” His name was barely a whisper on her lips.
He chuckled. “Damn well better be.”
Jenna blinked, as if just realizing the kiss wasn’t part of her dream. She picked up her head slightly. Looking around, he saw recognition and realization dawn on her.
She made a sad face. “I fell asleep.”
“It’s after midnight,” he reminded her. “You need to sleep.”
Jenna lowered her forehead to his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her. “I hate this,” she whined against his jacket. “I feel like I’m always saying ‘goodbye’ to you.”
He knew the feeling. He touched his lips to her short hair. He missed being able to run his fingers through the long locks. “It’s never ‘goodbye’, Jen. Just ‘goodbye for now’.”
“It doesn’t matter, Jack. My heart feels like it’s breaking every time.”
He held her tightly to his chest. Staring out the window at the Roman columns outside the front doors of her house, he wished yet again for time to move faster. He wanted to make Jenna his, of course, but more than that, he wanted to stop her pain. He hated to see her tears all because her parents wanted to keep them apart.
