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His tension was palpable, and it was making her anxious. "Jacob," she said softly. "I don't know what happened in your past, but I need you to believe in your ability to keep us safe. I need to do this. Dylan chose you for a reason. Can you keep us safe? If I were to go online and this guy finds us, can you keep us safe?"
His jaw flexed, and for a long time, he didn't answer. Then finally, he nodded. "I can. Yeah."
She felt his hesitation. "But…?"
"I need to carry a gun. I don't want to do that with Annie around. I don't want to scare her or endanger her."
"I have four guns at home. I have a safe under my bed, one in my office, and one in the kitchen. I also have one in the car. Eliana made me learn how to shoot and made me have the guns. Because no relocation can be completely secure, she makes sure all her clients can defend themselves if they have to."
Regret flickered through Jacob's eyes. "I don't like that you and Annie have to live like that."
She sighed. "Honestly, I don’t either. I got rid of all my guns after my ex died, but when Eliana showed up on my doorstep with Annie, she had more guns for me. But my point is that if you need to carry a gun to keep us safe, then please, carry a gun. I didn't bring any with me when you picked us up."
He stared at her for a long time, then turned and silently walked across the living room to a safe in the corner. He opened it with his handprint, then pulled out a shoulder holster and a gun. He put them on, then put a jacket on before turning to face her.
His jaw was hard, his eyes like flint. Putting on that gun had flipped a switch in Jacob.
CHAPTER TEN
She could feel his energy had shifted. His nerves were strung taut, and he was on edge. Absolutely focused on safety and defense.
She sighed. "We're not good for you, are we? We're making you go to a place you don't want to be."
Jacob held up his hand to silence her, then walked across the living room. He slipped his hand under her chin. "You make me go to a place I fucking love." Then he kissed her.
The kiss was pure intensity, as if he were channeling all the fierceness echoing through him into the kiss. Not at her, but with her. Into her. His muscles were taut and hard, his body looming over her like a human shield. He had flipped a switch, but she could tell now it was raw, untamed, unapologetic power. The man she'd first met had been contained and controlled, but the man kissing her was pure fire and heat, and power.
She might not want to get tangled up with him, or any man, but there was no chance of her summoning any resistance to the intensity pouring through him. But before she could wrap her arms around his neck and lean into him, he released her and stepped back.
She narrowed her eyes as she watched him. "You're so much more on edge than you were," she said. "How is that good for you?"
He just shook his head. "It's complicated. What time is your class?"
Not the most subtle change of subject she'd ever experienced, but she decided to let him redirect her. What made a man as strong and tough as Jacob be so tense? What made a man like him lock himself in a prison of his own making? Whatever his past was, it still held him in a very tight grip, and she and Annie had made his past come alive for him again, somehow.
She didn't like that they'd done that to him. Not at all. "Five o'clock."
He nodded. "We'll be sure to be back in plenty of time."
"From what?"
"You and Annie want to go for a ride today?" he asked. "Freedom needs a run. Annie can ride with me. I'll keep her safe."
The idea of a horse ride sounded like a dream. "I'd love that. And I'd love for her to have that experience."
He flashed her a grin. "Great." He stretched his shoulders. "I need to go feed the horses, so as soon as Annie's up, we need to head over there so I can take care of them."
"We'll be okay in the house. You can go to the barn."
"Can't. Not when we're on high alert. We're sticking together." At that moment, Cupcake barked at the front door and wagged his tail. "Even you, puppy." He strode to the door and opened it for Cupcake, but stood in the open door, so he could watch the dog and the inside at the same time.
His attention to Phoebe and Annie was absolute. It felt good, but at the same time, Phoebe craved her freedom and her independence. She didn't want to be under lockdown.
Jacob was watching her. "What's wrong?"
She stretched her arms over her head. "Just feeling restless here. I'm used to my independence and freedom."
"Me, too."
