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"It's not because you feel obligated about Annie, right?"
She swallowed hard. "I will never sacrifice my well-being to a man for any reason," she said. "I learned my lesson. I accept your support of Annie, because I also see that she is a treasure, and that we both feel called to love her. So, yes, I get that, I accept that, and I'll never kiss you for her."
He smiled. "But you'll kiss me for me?"
"Right now I will. I don't know about tomorrow. But you have my permission to pursue me for the moment."
"Fantastic." Jacob's smile was radiant, lighting her up with his joy. "I'm going to kiss you now."
She sucked in her breath in anticipation. "All right."
"'All right?' That's your response?" He chuckled as he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her onto his lap. "How about something like, 'holy smokes, that's the best offer I've ever had. Kiss me, cowboy, and make me fall in love with you like no woman has ever fallen in love with a man before.' How about that? That sounds like a good response."
Anticipation raced through her, along with fear that she ignored. "Will you settle for 'kiss, me, cowboy?'"
He feigned a grumpy face, but his eyes were dancing. "For now, I guess, but I'm going to get the rest of that sentence out of you someday." He then kissed her, sparing her the need for a response.
Which was good, because a part of her had really wanted to say that last part. But she didn't have to say it now, because this amazing man wasn't going to give up on her, no matter how difficult it was for her to let him in.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jacob awoke instantly at the sound of the bedroom door opening. He peered over Phoebe's head and saw Annie wander out in the hall, rubbing her eyes, clutching a soft, pink blanket. It was deep night, and the house was dark, except for the two soft lights he'd kept on for her.
"Annie," he whispered. "Your mommy's over here."
She turned, saw them on the couch together, and then ran over, her bare feet barely making a noise as she ran. She dove on top of them, and he caught her before her knee hit him in the crotch.
"Mama," she whispered sleepily.
Phoebe woke up with a start. "Annie? What's wrong?"
"I want to sleep with you and Jacob." She nestled herself between the two of them, tucked her hands under her chin, and then immediately closed her eyes with a contented sigh.
Phoebe met Jacob's gaze over her daughter's head, and he gave a quick nod, to tell her it was fine with him. The couch was deep, and there was enough space for the three of them, as long as he stayed on his side.
Phoebe smiled sleepily at him, wrapped her arms around Annie, and then closed her eyes. Within moments, the room was filled with the deep breathing of mother and daughter sleeping soundly on the couch with him. Phoebe's feet were tucked with his, and Annie's back was against his chest, using him as a backrest.
He lifted his head so he could watch the two of them sleep. Both of them were completely relaxed in his arms, trusting him to keep them safe while they were at their most vulnerable.
Both of them had many reasons not to trust a man, and yet they had both surrendered fully to sleep while with him.
The deepest sense of satisfaction settled in Jacob, and he smiled. This was perfection, he realized. Or at least, perfection for him. It was the peace and the place he'd been missing his whole life, and suddenly, it had dropped into his life without any warning.
And, miraculously, he had let them in.
The floor creaked, and he raised his head to look. Cupcake was standing in the doorway, looking confused.
He laughed softly. "Cupcake. Come." He snapped his fingers. "Come on, boy."
The dog wagged his tail, then trotted across the floor. He hopped onto the couch, did a little circle, and then lay down in a tight little ball across Jacob and Phoebe's feet. The dog was warm, like a little foot furnace, and Jacob smiled. "No chaos tonight," he said softly. "Just peace."
He'd found he didn't mind the chaos of the day, but the peace of the nighttime? It had taken on a whole new meaning. All those frantic, desperate rides with Freedom in the darkest hours of the night, trying to outrun the noise and the shadows and the voices in his head? They'd been a reprieve, but never permanent. No healing, just a respite.
Right now, he felt like healing was possible. That there could be a time when he didn't have to guard against memories and demons, when the only thing in his head was peace.
He looked down at the three sleeping figures. They had an entire house to roam, and yet they were all on the couch with him.
And in the most unexpected of discoveries, that was exactly where he wanted them.
