Jesse's Girl

by Stephanie Taylor

  Jesse took a deep breath. “I tried to forget you. But all I wound up doing was making it even clearer to myself that it was you I wanted.”

  “How romantic. How many did you use to try to forget me?”

  Again Jesse fell silent. “Too many.”

  “How. Many.” Ally stood over him, arms crossed and waiting.

  “I honestly don’t know, Ally. It wasn’t like I was putting a notch on my bedpost every time. There were several.”

  Ally turned away from him. She couldn’t bear the thought. Nausea churned in her stomach.

  “What about you?” Jesse asked now.

  “None.”

  “Oh, come on, you can’t tell me you didn’t sleep with Michael.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “He wasn’t you, Jesse. But now I see I was going about forgetting you the wrong way. Clearly I should have slept with every guy who was willing.”

  “I never said I did that, Ally. Cut it out. Don’t insult me because you’re angry.”

  “I don’t have to insult you. I’m just telling the truth. If it insults you, maybe you should have chosen a different path for your life.”

  “I did the only thing that numbed me. I regret every second of it, too. Especially now that you’re here with me.”

  Ally smacked her lips. “Aww, again, so romantic!” she sneered.

  “Quit it.”

  She should have heeded the warning she saw in his eyes just before he stood in front of her, but she kept going.

  “Tell me, did you bring me here to protect me or just to make me fall in love with you again so you could break my heart? At least we’d be even then, huh?”

  Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulders and shook lightly. “Ally! I love you! I want to marry you! How much clearer can I get? What do you need from me to realize that this isn’t a joke or some morbid pay back?”

  Ally jerked out of his reach. “I need you to tell me you never felt anything for anyone else but me. The same way I’ve felt about you all these years.”

  Jesse straightened. “I can’t do that. And you can’t either or you wouldn’t have stayed with Michael for so long. Or waited to break it off with him.”

  Ally knew the truth. While Michael had been a nice distraction in her younger days, and she’d enjoyed his company and his kisses for a while as they began their relationship, eventually it had became a friendship. Yes, they’d kissed, but he’d never touched her heart the way Jesse had. Beautiful, strong Jesse. Who probably didn’t love her as much as he claimed. Perhaps he was just confused again.

  Tears gathered quickly in her eyes. “I can’t look at you right now.”

  Walking past him, Ally went into the bedroom and slammed the door, locking it after her dramatic exit.

  He didn’t come after her. He didn’t even call her name.

  ****

  Jesse sat on the couch staring at nothing in particular as the sun set below the tree line and cast an orange glow in the cabin’s living room. He’d heard Ally shuffling around in the bedroom. She’d taken a shower. Then he’d heard her crying. But still he didn’t go to her. Whatever she was going through wasn’t about him. Or maybe it was, but he knew he couldn’t change her mind until she was ready to believe the truth.

  With everything going on, he suspected her stress level was through the roof. Not to mention his injury kept her from having full confidence that he could protect her. Bum knee or not, he’d protect the woman he loved.

  An hour later, the bedroom doorknob turned, and Ally stepped out. She didn’t even look in his direction but headed straight for the kitchen and began preparing dinner instead.

  “I can do that,” he called, hoping against hope she wouldn’t hold all of this against him.

  “You need to stay off your knee. Have you been icing it and keeping it elevated? Do you need your pain medication?”

  “No to all.”

  To that, she said nothing and reached for the mayonnaise in the fridge. “Cheese or no?” Ally demanded with angry movements.

  “No.” He watched her. What could he say to her to make her believe he was serious about her? And why was she doubting him when she was the one left him standing in an airport alone and broken hearted?

  “Tea or soda?” she called from the fridge. Her round behind was in the air as she looked in the fridge for something.

  “Ally.”

  “Tea. Or. Soda.”

  He grinned at her feistiness. Despite how lost he felt right now, he was glad she hadn’t been permanently damaged. Her spirit remained the same.

  “You.”

  Ally came up too quickly and slammed into the open fridge door. She straightened and rubbed her head while glaring at him. He suppressed a smile as he watched her from the couch. But before long, it was too much. He couldn’t help but let out a bark of laughter at her indignant pose. He loved her so much.

  When his mirth ended, she angled her hip and cocked an eyebrow. “Are you done yet?”

  That got him laughing again, and he just shook his head. She fixed their sandwiches while he tried to get himself in check. But it was hard. As children, he’d always been able to make her laugh. He was determined to do it again.

  Despite his pain, he stood and walked into the kitchen to help her with their food.

  “I’ve got this, sit down,” she barked.

  “I’ve got it, too. Shut up.”

  She glared. He allowed the corner of his mouth to slide up. Ignoring her, he poured them both water over a lot of ice, just the way she liked it. He placed the glasses on the table and dried his hands with a towel. When she turned her back to put something in the fridge, he wound up the towel and popped her in the behind.

  Again she straightened too fast and bumped her head.

  “Son of a—” she yelled.

  “Ally!” Jesse bent at the waste and guffawed. He pointed a finger at her, slapped at his jeans.

  “If I weren’t so nice, I’d kick you in the knee.”

  But he could see she was about to laugh because she bit her cheek, a telltale sign. He was almost there. Winding the towel up again, he bounced a little on his good foot, feigning agility. Ally held up her hands.

  “I don’t want to goof off, Jesse. I’m not in the mood.”

  “What are you in the mood for? A good fight?” He continued to bounce.

  “Actually, yes. I’d love to get my hands on the women you slept with and claw their eyes out. Then I would love getting my hands on you and knock you so hard in the head you forget all about them.”

  “That would hurt.”

  “Not nearly as bad as I want it to!” Ally crossed her arms without a hint of laughter on her face now.

  He popped her on the thigh. She squealed.

  “Stop it!”

  “Nope. Not until you smile.”

  “You’re going to be waiting awhile.” Ally’s foot tapped a staccato beat on the hard wood floor.

  He wound the towel slowly, deliberately.

  “Stop it, Jesse.”

  “What’s the password?”

  “Oh, crap no!”

  “Oh, yes.”

  She remembered. When he’d tortured her as a girl, she’d had to say a password he’d made up just to make her giggle.

  He snapped the towel dangerously close. Ally growled and narrowed her eyes.

  Crack.

  “Fine,” she muttered deadpan. “Jesse is awesome.”

  “Say it like you mean it. Cause I know you mean it.”

  “Believe what you want.”

  “Mean it.”

  This time she overdid it. “Jesse is awesome!”

  It was all he could do not to take her in his arms. Pop.

  “OW! I said it! What was that for?”

  “Just in case you were thinking about recanting as soon as I let up. ’Cause there is more where those came from.”

  Ally just rolled her eyes.

  “Now come here and give me a kiss.”<
br />
  “Absolutely not. I’m still mad at you!”

  “Then why are you smiling?”

  Again, she crossed her arms over her chest and tried to stare him down. It fell pathetically short when she let out an indelicate snort.

  “I’m not smiling!” But her mouth turned upward. “AAAH!” Her hands flew into the air in frustration.

  As she expressed her frustration, Jesse hobbled to her and pulled her flush against him. “I already have, by the way.”

  Ally frowned. “Huh?”

  “I’ve already forgotten all those other girls. I forgot the second I saw you walk into the station.” His knuckle brushed against her cheek as Ally looked up at him, her eyes round and beautiful.

  He dared to kiss her. Lightly, just to give her a taste.

  “It’s sweet that you’re jealous, though. I know the feeling. I could have ripped Michael’s heart out through his nose. Still could if you just say the words.”

  Ally’s eyes drifted closed. “I’m not jealous.”

  “I’m man enough to admit that I didn’t want anyone touching my girl, least of all an idiot like Michael.”

  “He’s a good guy,” Ally argued.

  “He’s wrong for you,” Jesse insisted.

  “And you’re so right?” she fired back.

  “Oh, honey, yes. That’s one thing I’ve known for a long time. I just keep waiting for you to realize it.”

  He wanted to do wicked things to her just to prove how right he really was.

  “What if I don’t want to realize it?”

  “Then you’re lying to yourself.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

  “That confident, huh?”

  “So confident I still dream of all the things I used to do to you that summer. And that look in your eyes when we were done? It was enough to bring a man to his knees.”

  Ally’s breath came in short little puffs as his hands roamed up and down her arms.

  “We’ll take things slow, Ally. I’m a patient man. But you need to stop fighting this if we’re going to figure out if it can continue. I know how I feel, but how do you feel?”

  “I get crazy when I think we’ve wasted so much time without each other, Jesse. But I’m scared to death.”

  “If we weren’t, I’d be worried. Love is always a risk. But,” he kissed her mouth again, pushing his tongue inside just once before pulling away, “I need you to stop acting like a five-year-old who’s not getting her way. I slept with other girls. It’s a fact. But I came back to you, Ally. Because you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted in my bed and in my life forever.

  “I’m not getting in your bed this time, Jesse.”

  “I know. And I’m okay with that because I believe in us that much. I don’t need you in my bed for us to love each other. Won’t stop me from wanting you, but I do love you enough to honor what you want.”

  He thought that Ally might punch him for a second. Then, like a pin popping a balloon, her shoulders slumped and air rushed from her lungs. He kissed her then, as hard and desperately as he dared. He was happy that she gave as much as she took.

  His lips massaged hers, their tongues tangled and warred with each other. He sucked on her bottom lip and scraped his teeth along it before he finally forced himself to stop.

  Her arms came around his shoulders and hugged him fiercely.

  “I love you, Ally. Forever.”

  She whimpered dramatically with a little pout. “My head hurts.”

  Chapter 10

  Jesse had been in law enforcement long enough to know never to ignore his instincts when the hairs on his neck stood on end. And right now, those hairs stood at attention.

  Ally slept soundly, nestled against his body. He waited for whatever had awakened him to sound again. And then it was there again.

  Scratch.

  Would an intruder be so obnoxious?

  Jesse held his breath. He would be if he was trying to make Ally fearful and indicate to him that he knew where they were hidden away. He squeezed Ally’s hand gently. Not enough to startle her but enough to wake her.

  He knew the minute she woke up. She didn’t even move, but her body tensed, and he could no longer hear her breathing softly.

  “Stay here,” he whispered so softly he prayed she heard him.

  But her slight nod told him all he needed to go. The click of the hammer on his pistol could very well have been a gunshot as quiet as everything felt. One shot was all he needed to maim this guy enough to arrest him.

  He slipped from bed, his bare feet cold against the hardwood floor. The sound was coming from the front door. He did a safety scan around the cabin before he headed to the door. The scratching continued.

  The alarm hadn’t been triggered yet, either. He assumed that whoever was trying to get in didn’t realize the place was under high-tech security. Carefully, he backed up to a window in the living room that would allow him to see outside. With the barrel of his gun, he shifted the curtain so he could see the doorstep.

  Something was lying there. It was small, perhaps an animal. The scratching continued, and Jesse verified for a second time that the scratching was synonymous with a small movement he could see from his vantage point.

  Jesse opened the door a crack and looked down. Despite all the things he’d seen in his line of work, what stared back at him shocked him to his very core. A small dog, wet with blood and mud squirmed against the wooden porch. Its claws had been cut off, its eyeballs plucked out. Yet it was still alive.

  The dog tried to make a noise but when its mouth opened, he saw its tongue had been cut out. The sound came out like a gurgling whimper.

  Behind him, the alarm beeped, signaling that it was about to go off. Jesse looked around the cabin. Was this guy watching him? Watching them during the day?

  He didn’t have a shot at making it to a vet with the poor animal. The blood loss alone would be too much. Even now, its breathing and thrashing had slowed and its eyes had taken on a glassy stare. Full of regret, he aimed between the helpless dog’s ears and with a grimace, he pulled the trigger.

  Let the perp think of that what he wanted.

  The boom of the shot echoed through the woods. No doubt, whoever had put the dog there would hear it.

  “Jesse!” Ally screamed as she came running out of the bedroom, her face so white it was in stark contrast to the dark.

  Before she reached him, Jesse closed the door so she couldn’t see the carnage on the porch and reset the alarm. Tears streamed down her face, and he looped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

  “Jesse! Are you okay?” Her screeches gave testament to the panic he saw in her eyes.

  “I’m fine, sweetheart. False alarm.” He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the ugly truth.

  “Why did you shoot your gun?”

  “Got spooked,” he explained simply. He could tell she didn’t believe him when she narrowed her eyes.

  “Tell me the truth.”

  He sighed. But of course. Ally would never settle for less than the truth.

  Instead of telling her, he picked up his cell phone and called Lucky. He answered on the third ring.

  “Sorry to call in the middle of the night, man, but I’ve got more evidence on the porch of the cabin. I want the area swept. ”

  “What? Did you kill someone?” She tugged at his sleeves.

  “I’ll be there in twenty,” Lucky said and the call ended.

  Jesse turned to Ally. “Listen, I don’t want you to see what’s out there. It’s not a person, but what ever this guy is looking to do, he’s clearly sending a message to us.”

  Ally’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “What was it?”

  “Someone hurt an animal pretty bad.”

  “How?”

  “They cut out the dog’s eyes and tongue and cut its toes off.”

  “The murderer. Why would he cut its toes off?”

  “It’s a calling card. Sort of a way for him to identify himself without iden
tifying himself. Make sense?”

  “Yes.”

  Jesse could hear sirens in the distance… again. What he wouldn’t give for this to be over so he could focus on his and Ally’s relationship. But right now, keeping her alive was far more important than his own selfish desires.

  “I’m scared, Jesse,” she whispered. Beneath his touch, her body trembled.

  “No one is going to hurt you, Ally. If they do, it will be over my dead body.” His voice was low, and he felt like letting loose a possessive animalistic growl.

  “Let’s not talk about dead bodies. It’s just all getting a little too real. Before tonight, I could almost pretend what I saw in that dark alley was a dream. But not now. Not with a poor, defenseless animal dead because of me.”

  A few moments later, the first patrol car arrived, followed shortly after that by Lucky.

  When he saw Ally, he drew her into a quick hug. “You okay?” he asked against her hair.

  “Yeah. Jesse’s here.”

  “You need to call your sister and your dad. They’re worried sick.” He handed her his cell phone, and she turned to make the calls.

  Lucky turned to Jesse. “Murderer, no doubt. He left his calling card.”

  Jesse nodded. “I know. That’s what I told Ally already. It’s clear he’s trying to play with her. I just can’t think about what he’d do to her if he got her alone.”

  Lucky laid a comforting hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “Not gonna happen. Not between the both of us looking after her.”

  Jesse let his defenses down for a moment and slumped on the couch. He desperately needed his knee to heal so he’d feel like he was capable of protecting her fully.

  “We’ll sweep the area and look for any more evidence. You’ll have to fill out reports since you fired your gun. We’ll leave that for next time you’re in the office. Just don’t forget.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I’ll let you know if we find anything. Go be with Ally. She’s fragile right now.”

  Boy, did he know it. Just pulling her into his arms made him feel like he might break her. She didn’t sob, only quietly shed tears while she spoke in hushed voices to her sister on his cell phone.

  When she hung up, she exhaled. “I need to call Daddy.”

  Gently, he forced her chin up so she was forced to look at him. “You’re safe.”