Page 51 of Securing Jane

He’d purchased his own new vehicle too. A Hummer. It was over the top, but Storm didn’t care. He’d said that if she ever got into a situation like she’d been in again, he’d just run over anyone who dared to hurt her and carry her off like a Viking of old.

It was ridiculous, but since he mostly drove her Volvo and hadn’t really left her side except for during the workday, it didn’t bother her much.

“You’ll see,” Storm told her in response to her question about why he was in such a hurry.

Jane wanted to roll her eyes, but secretly she loved Storm’s surprises. He was generous, and with every day that passed, she loved him more and more. It was almost scary how much he’d come to mean to her in such a short time, but she was learning to embrace each moment, and life with Storm was beautiful in a way hers had never been before.

He stood on the passenger side of her SUV and waited until she was buckled in safely, then right before he shut the door, she watched him flick the lock mechanism. She’d called him out the first time he’d done that, but when he’d explained that never again was someone going to slip into the car when she wasn’t aware, she’d shut up about it.

Storm drove them toward his townhouse, and they made small talk. Jane was relieved the whole issue with Carlin and the bombs was over and done with. Dag and Brenae were safe, as were everyone else. There was no guarantee someone in the future wouldn’t take offense to something a superior officer did, but she hoped it wouldn’t happen while she was still working. Twice had been more than enough.

Storm pulled into the parking spot he’d arranged for her to have permanently at his complex, and she waited until he came around to her side of the car. That was another change in their routine. She didn’t need him to help her out of a vehicle, but she knew for his peace of mind, he needed to do it. And it wasn’t exactly a hardship to have him hold her hand as soon as she exited the car.

He led her up to his door and inside.

“So, what’s my surprise?” she asked impatiently.

Storm held up a finger. “Hang on just a bit longer,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.” Then he headed for the front door they’d just come through.

Jane was confused. They’d just gotten home. “But—”

“Wait,” he interrupted, then closed the door behind him.

All Jane could do was laugh. She had no idea what he was doing, but he’d never let her down with one of his surprises yet. Once it had been matching T-shirts he’d ordered online for them that said, “Andy and Red’s Boat Rentals, Zihuatanejo, Mexico.” She’d laughed and knew she’d treasure the shirt forever, simply because it was from their favorite movie.

Another day, he’d taken her out to eat, and Rocco, his teammates, and their wives had all joined them. It was crowded and noisy, but she’d never had a better time getting to know the men and women who meant so much to her man. Yet another time, he’d made her dinner, drawn her a bath, then joined her in it. They hadn’t had sex, but being intimate with him was more of a gift than he’d ever know. She’d almost lost that, and knowing he loved her and enjoyed simply cuddling with her was beautiful.

So she had no idea what was up Storm’s sleeve now, but she knew it would be something fantastic.

Just when she was getting a little anxious, she heard the front door open once more. Standing up from the couch where she’d been waiting, Jane turned—and her mouth opened in shock when her daughter entered the room ahead of Storm.

“Rose?”

“Mom…” her daughter said. Then she raced across the room and was in her arms.

Jane blinked in surprise at the display of affection. She couldn’t remember the last time Rose had initiated any kind of touch with her. Probably when she was about ten, before she’d turned so bitter.

“Are you really okay?” Rose asked quietly into Jane’s shoulder.

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, Jane did her best to memorize this moment. It had been a very long time since Rose had cared about anything other than herself, or when and where she was going to score her next hit.

Jane opened her eyes and pulled back to look at her daughter. “I’m okay. What’s brought this on?”

“I didn’t know how serious it was!” Rose said. “When you called a few weeks ago, you said a woman was mad at a guy from work and tried to use you to get to him. I had no idea she’d tried to blow you up!”

Jane looked over her shoulder and briefly met Storm’s gaze. He was leaning against the wall, watching them closely. She knew without a doubt that if Rose had done or said anything hurtful, he would’ve marched her ass right out of his house. Yes, he’d brought her there, but he wouldn’t hesitate to kick her out as well. Jane knew that as well as she knew her own name.

He hadn’t been happy hearing all the stories Jane had told him about her daughter…but that hadn’t kept him from doing what he knew might make Jane happy. Namely, trying to fix her relationship with Rose.

“I’m fine,” Jane reassured her daughter once more. “Storm was there, and he made sure of it.”

Rose turned to him then. “Thank you,” she said. “I know I thanked you over the phone when you called, but seriously…I mean it.”

“Your mom means the world to me, so you’re welcome. I’d do anything to make her happy and keep her safe.”

Jane could hear the warning in his words, and apparently, so could Rose.

“I’ve done lots of things in my life that I’ve regretted,” she said. “But I’m trying to change. Be a better person.”