by Hayden Wolfe
Her answer was one he could respect. He dipped his head. “I agree with Levi. Jack Zima-Sander has a nice ring to it.”
Blaine’s smile turned his heart over. “Mother is going to love you.”
Jack settled his hands at her lower back. “I hope so. I still need her permission to marry you.”
“You’ll get it.”
“Good.” Then Jack would only need to win over Blaine’s brother. According to Blaine, it’d be a tough sell. Jack would get it, though. He’d never fought for anything more important in his life.
Chapter 23
The sprawling old mansion wasn’t what Jack expected to find in the heart of Russia. Neither was the portrait of England’s royal family in the Zima library. Jack glanced from the large picture occupying a section of the wall to Blaine.
His confusion must’ve shown in his expression because Blaine laughed. “Mother’s from England. Her sister married into the extended family while she moved to Russia to marry my father.”
“That’s how you met Eliot, isn’t it?” And why Blaine spoke such perfect English.
Blaine nodded. “Our fathers were close. Mine actually played the violin solo of a symphony Eliot’s father wrote and continued to encourage Eliot’s love of music after his father passed away. I think that’s what made him continue to search for the Zima violin after I’d given up. He wanted to honor him in some small way.”
“And you gave up because your singing became more important than playing the violin?” The conclusion he reached didn’t fit Blaine’s personality, but hopefully, Blaine would enlighten him.
“Yes and no.” Blaine turned in a slow circle and surveyed the room. “I loved my dad. Very much. Being here in this house reminded me too much of him, which is why I moved out as soon as I could. But even being on my own, I couldn’t let him go.”
She walked to where a picture of a man sitting regally in a wingback chair had been prominently displayed above the fireplace. “I was obsessed with finding the violin he promised would be mine. I was the rightful owner of it, you see. Avery wanted nothing to do with music. The Zima violin was mine, and I wanted it back so badly, I was scrolling online shops in my free time, hoping I’d stumble across it. After a while, I decided it wasn’t healthy to fixate on an inanimate object, so I stopped searching and threw myself into my career. That’s when my singing really took off.”
Jack stroked his hand over Blaine’s hair, brushing it from her shoulder. “You’re glad to have your violin back, though. Aren’t you?”
“Very much.” Blaine tipped her head to the side and met his eyes. “I think its return is a sign from my dad, as silly as that sounds.”
“A sign of what?”
“I proved I could succeed with my singing. Now it’s time to focus my passion on something else.”
Jack touched the uninjured side of her face that would rest on her violin when she played. “Playing your violin.”
She covered his fingers so they both held her jaw. “Among other things.”
“Welcome to Russia, Mr. Sander.” A woman’s delicate voice jerked him and Blaine apart before he could confirm he was part of those things.
He faced the woman who’d spoken. No introduction was necessary. He could’ve been looking at an older version of Blaine. Jack closed the distance between them and took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Call me, Jack, please. And thank you, Mrs. Zima. I’ve been in many places across the globe, but never Russia.”
“Elizabeth, please.” Blaine’s mother tilted her head and studied him. “Do you like to travel?”
“Jack was in the American military, Mother.” Blaine stepped next to them.
“Marines, actually,” Jack clarified.
Intently scrutinizing him, Elizabeth nodded. “That’s good to know. My daughter could use a protector twenty-four hours a day.”
Blaine drew her mother away and led her to the fancy couch that didn’t look as if it’d be comfortable. Both Zima women sat demurely. “Jack’s not meant to be my bodyguard, Mother. I have Avery.”
“And Eliot’s best guard. That was very nice of him to lend you Alex’s services, but neither your brother nor Alex can be with you all the time. You need someone with you even at night until that coward who attacked you is caught.”
“I agree.” Jack joined Blaine and her mother on the couch. The hard cushion didn’t give as he settled his weight on it. No wonder the thing looked pristine. People who sat on it got up as soon as they could. He put the thought aside and focused on Blaine’s mother. “And I plan on protecting Blaine with my life if it comes to it. I’m nothing without her.”
A pleased grin flitted across Elizabeth’s mouth. She glanced at her daughter. “Blaine, dear. There’s a stack of mail in your room. Likely there are some congratulatory letters there you should respond to. I’ve already been fielding calls from the family wanting to know the details of your engagement.”
Blaine’s eyes narrowed as if suspecting her mother was up to something, but she inclined her head. “Of course. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Don’t rush, darling. Jack and I will be getting to know each other.”
Blaine mouthed the word sorry before slipping from the room. Apparently, it was time for him to get grilled. Good thing he’d prepared for this talk.
Jack cleared his throat. “I know Blaine and I haven’t dated long but—”
“You want to marry her and would like my permission, correct?” A knowing, amused expression settled on Elizabeth’s face.
“Yes. I love Blaine. She’s everything I never knew I was waiting for. Now that I’ve found her, I can’t live without her. I hope you’ll give me and Blaine your blessings.”
Elizabeth inclined her head, then stared at him as if waiting for more.
He tugged at the shirt collar of the expensive suit he’d picked up just for this meeting. “And you should also know that I’m not marrying Blaine for her money. I don’t want a penny of it. I just want Blaine in my life. I want to be able to call her my wife and know she’ll be mine until the day I take my last breath.”
“The moment I saw the look on my little girl’s face when she was with you, I knew everything I needed to about your relationship. The two of you are perfect together.” Elizabeth patted his hand. “Of course you have my permission.”
A weight lifted from his shoulders. He exhaled. “Thank you, Elizabeth. Now I—”
Blaine walking into the room stopped his words. Her widened eyes and the panic stamped on her face jerked him to his feet. He was by her side in the next heartbeat. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Blaine shook her head. She glanced past him to look at her mom. “I need to get out of the house. I walked by Dad’s music room and…”
Elizabeth stood and motioned them out. “Go, go. I’ll see you both at the party tonight.”
Squeezing his hand tightly, Blaine hurried him from the room. Instead of leading him outside, she released his hand and rushed up the stairs. Jack followed Blaine to a large bedroom with a canopy bed. A box of letters and packages sat on a writing desk near the window. She moved directly to it.
Jack stopped her before she touched the box. “Is this fan mail?”
Blaine nodded quickly. “Some of it. Some is from family.”
He cursed under his breath. “There’s something from your attacker in there.”
“Yes,” Blaine answered, even though he hadn’t made it a question. “I don’t know how he got it… I don’t know… We need to check… If he—”
Jack grabbed Blaine’s biceps. “Look at me, angel.”
Once Blaine’s wild-eyed gaze focused on him, he said, “You don’t open any more mail without me looking at it first. Do you understand me? Don’t even touch the envelopes.” It was something Avery or Alex should’ve been doing anyway. Why neither of them treated her superfans as potential threats was beyond him. Maybe things were different in Russia. Jack didn’t know, but things would be changing, starting now.<
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She nodded quickly. “Okay, but right now, we need to check on Dad’s grave. We need to make sure he’s okay.”
Jack’s body went rigid. He eased his stiff fingers from Blaine’s delicate skin before he left a mark. “Let’s go wash your hands. Then we’re going to the hospital so they can run some blood work on you, okay? I think you might’ve touched—”
Blaine shook off his hold and hurried around him. She snatched something from the box and held a pocket watch in the air. “I’m not drugged or crazy. Look.”
Jack took the heavy pocket watch from her hand. The intricate carvings were worn, but Jack could easily make out the musical note etched into the front.
“Turn it over.”
He did. Engraved in the back was something in Russian, but he had no clue what.
“My parents’ initials and the day they were married.” Blaine lifted the chain from Jack’s hand and held the pocket watch cradled in her palm. “We buried this with my father.”
“Shit.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Blaine focused on him. “We need to check out Dad’s grave. If someone dug it up, Mother will be heartbroken. This wasn’t the only sentimental piece she’d placed in his casket.”
“Let the police handle it.” Jack took the pocket watch and placed on in the box of letters. “We have a party to get ready for, remember?”
Blaine grasped his wrist. Once he glanced at her, she said quietly, “Please, Jack. The police won’t go out there until next week. This isn’t exactly an emergency. Besides, I want to visit my dad. To tell him about you.”
Her voice choked on unshed tears. She’d been dealing with emotions she couldn’t control for weeks. One minute, happy. The next, sad. Kyle mentioned Ronnie was the same way. Pregnancy hormones took their toll on a woman.
He sighed. “We’ll report it first. If the police recommend we stay away, that’s what we’re going to do.”
She stood a little taller and nodded, then pulled out her cell phone. “I understand. I’ll call now.”
While Blaine dialed, Jack picked up the torn package the pocket watch had been sent in. No name. No return address. No mark from the postal office. This letter had been hand delivered.
The moment Blaine got off the phone, he asked, “Who would pick up the mail for your mom?”
“One of our staff. We have a mailbox at the local post office.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Call the police back. I think they should interview the staff.”
“I can, but it won’t do any good.” Blaine slid her phone into her back pocket. “The officer assigned to my case won’t be back until Monday.”
Jack glanced around the room. Suddenly being in this large, fancy mansion didn’t feel safe. He wanted Blaine out of here. “I think we should talk to your mother about moving this party to next weekend. I want the staff investigated. There was no return address or marking on that letter from the postal service. Somebody had to have dropped it in this box after it was picked up at the post office.”
Blaine sighed. She looked at the door. “I don’t know if I can do this to her, Jack. I haven’t seen my mother so happy in years. She’s such a romantic at heart. Me being in love is almost like her second chance too. She’ll live through us. I know that sounds…sad, but she has nothing else. Her family is in England. Avery’s traveling with me all the time. And I don’t visit as much as I should. I’m too busy.”
“And this house depresses you when you come here, so you avoid it.”
With a wan smile on her face, Blaine nodded. “She really should leave it too. She’s too young to be alone. Dad never would’ve wanted her to wither away, but that’s what’s happened.”
“We can convince her to visit us once the babies are born, but for this weekend—”
“Avery will be here. So will Alex. He’s staying on until they catch my attacker.” Blaine took his hands in hers. “Please, Jack. I’ll follow whatever protective measure you think I should, but please don’t make Mother cancel this party. She’s happy. Really happy. I want her to stay that way.”
Damn. He hated this. “I don’t know. Your safety is more important than your mother’s feelings. I’m sure she’d agree.”
“We’ll call Avery and fill this place with guards if we have to, send all the staff home. Once the trays of appetizers are set out, we don’t really need anyone. Avery can tend the bar. It’ll be fine.”
She’d come up with an answer to everything. He knew it. There was only one thing left to do. “You eat nothing tonight. We’ll go out before the party and eat. And you only drink from a water bottle we buy from the local store.”
“And I won’t leave your side, even to go to the bathroom.” She grinned. “You can come with me and guard me.”
He laughed. Another discussion he’d lost. He really should be getting used to this. “Fine.”
“And in the meantime, we’ll stop by the cemetery. We don’t have to stay long. Just a quick peek at Dad’s grave.”
An argument sat on the tip of his tongue. He didn’t bother uttering it. She’d shoot it down, and he’d end up agreeing with her. Besides, he had a hard time believing they’d find anything unusual at the cemetery. If someone had dug up a grave, the caretakers would realize it and report the incident. Likely, the pocket watch Blaine had gotten had never made it into her father’s casket. The only question left was, why?
Blaine slid a cautious look his way. “We have a couple of hours before the party starts. The cemetery is only fifteen minutes away.”
Jack sighed and took her hand. “Call Avery and Alex. Let them know where we’re going. If one of them can meet us there, that’d be best.”
Blaine kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Jack. I knew you’d see it my way.”
He snorted. He didn’t know why he bothered disagreeing. Blaine had proved from the first moment she met him that she could get her way. At least in this case, they’d be getting backup for this little excursion.
Except, Jack didn’t know who he trusted to have at their back. A brother who’d failed not only Blaine but Iona. Or an ex-Royal guard lent to them by a man who wanted Blaine to give up her singing career. In that respect, Eliot had gotten his way, but he hadn’t won. Blaine had put her career on hold, but she hadn’t done it for Eliot or his orchestra. She’d done so for the babies she’d created with Jack. Guess that meant Jack had won. And he’d make sure he held his winning hand—Blaine and their babies—close. Losing them wasn’t an option.
Chapter 24
Five years had passed since Blaine had last stepped foot in her family’s church. She’d stopped coming here around the same time she’d stopped looking for the Zima violin. Moving on and up had been her driving mantra then. Blaine couldn’t say what would guide her now, but she knew who’d be walking her path alongside her.
Blaine glanced at Jack. He stared, transfixed, at the altar. She couldn’t blame him. Her familial church was breathtaking. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Jack cast a sideways glance at her. “It’s exactly what I expected an old church to look like. Ours back home is nice but cold. I feel like I’m walking in an institution when I step inside.”
The white marble and simple modern sculptures of the church Kyle and Ronnie married in did carry a colder vibe than hers. The designers of Jack’s church had definitely gone with a pure theme. “But with the flowers scattered throughout, it’s lovely, as if life has sprung from the hardest of places.”
“I know you mentioned a simple marriage in your mother’s garden, but why not here?” Jack waved his hand to encompass the altar. “In this church. It’d make for some beautiful pictures.”
Blaine prodded the side of her mouth with her tongue, a habit she’d gotten into after the attack. Although the scar wasn’t horrible, it wasn’t a reminder she wanted to carry or be reminded of fifty years from now. After the babies were born, a plastic surgeon would be able to minimize it. “I was thinking. Maybe we should wait until after the babies
are born. I’d love to have an official wedding in Sander’s Valley during the fall. The backdrop of trees will be better. Now, we can just sign the paperwork. No dress. No pictures.”
Jack skimmed his finger alongside her scar. “This doesn’t distract from your beauty, angel. It’s a sign of how strong you are. You haven’t let this keep you down. You’ve gathered the pieces of your life and are reshaping them into something beautiful.”
“When you put it that way, my reasoning sounds shallow. Truthfully, I don’t want to think about the attack anymore. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder or wondering what I might find in my fan mail.” She motioned to the door. “And I’m tired of being followed by a bodyguard. I don’t want Alex here.”
“He’s not here with us exactly. He’s given us privacy.”
“No, he already discovered what I wanted to see for myself.” After checking out the church and cemetery, Alex had retreated to the woods near where they’d parked their car. “There was no need for us to even come here.”
“I don’t get it, Blaine. You wanted to see if your dad’s grave was disturbed. Alex made a trip out here to do that for you.” He turned Blaine’s face toward him. “Aren’t you happy you didn’t have to find his disturbed grave first?”
“I am. It’s just that…” She made a frustrated sound. “I’m tired of everyone protecting me. Doing everything for me. I want to be the one to handle my own problems for once. Paying people to do that isn’t as satisfying.”
“What about having someone in your life whose sole goal is your happiness and health?” Jack brushed his finger over her lower lip. “Do I fall into that category of people you’re tired of meddling in your life?”
“No.” Annoyance gave the word a harsh bite. She didn’t like the sound of her anger, but this whole situation wasn’t turning out the way she’d planned. “I want you with me. Walking by my side in all things. That’s why I wanted you to come here with me. To support me. To stand by me during those times when all I want to do is curl into a ball and cry.”