“Please, Mitch,” Chloe said, her voice soft. “Do it for me.”
The man—Mitch—hesitated like he was considering her words.
One beat passed, then another, then another. Was he going to do it? Was he going to surrender the knife or was he going to hurt Chloe?
Jake didn’t dare even breathe. If something happened to her he didn’t know what he would do. Seeing her in such peril, knowing he could lose her for good, brought everything into sharp relief. He loved her. He knew that now. No question.
Finally, finally, Mitch let the hand that was holding the knife drop to his side and the arm he had around Chloe loosened.
Chloe could feel a trickle of blood at her throat, but the moment the knife was away from her, she shoved away from Mitch and sprinted to Jake, flinging herself into his arms. His left hand went around her, his right still holding the gun pointed at Mitch. She buried her face in his chest, sweet relief rolling over her in waves. Her emotions were so powerful—relief, gratitude, love—that she couldn’t speak.
She heard sirens. They sounded like they were nearly there.
“Drop the knife,” Jake said. His tone was so commanding, his body so strong, she felt completely safe and secure. He would protect her. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Ever. Love for him sank deep into her soul. After everything, he’d come through for her. If it wasn’t for him, who knew what she would be facing.
She didn’t want to think about that. Instead, she turned her head to see what Mitch was going to do and was gratified to see him dropping the knife.
“Hands in the air,” Jake said. “Turn around and walk slowly backwards toward me.”
Mitch was complying. Moments later several police officers burst into the room and Jake put his gun away. Before long, Mitch was in custody.
Chapter Forty-Three
The paramedics had checked the cut on Chloe’s throat, which turned out to be very minor, then she and Jake had both given their statements to the police. Now she and Jake were sitting in Chloe’s music room, the one place where she was able to feel peace. This time though, instead of Jake sitting across from her, she’d insisted that he sit beside her on the couch. It was still very early in the morning, but Chloe was glad she and Jake finally had time alone.
“Do you think Chad will be okay?” Chloe asked Jake as she nestled against him.
“The paramedics got him stabilized, so yeah, I think he will be.”
“What do you think happened? I mean, how did Mitch get the jump on him?”
“He was asleep, after all.”
As Chloe had been. Remembering the way she’d felt when she’d known someone was in her room made her shiver.
“Are you cold?” Jake asked.
She shook her head. “No. I’m okay.” She turned her head and smiled at him. “Just so grateful that you got there when you did.” She narrowed her eyes. “How did you know to come?”
He gazed at her a moment, then smiled. “I didn’t know. Not really. I just…” He shook his head. “I just had this sense that you needed me. It was so weird.” Then he grinned. “Were you thinking about me?”
She had been. So much. She laughed. “Maybe.”
“So, it was like a telepathic thing.”
“I don’t know. I mean, what were you thinking about me?”
They were facing each other now. Chloe loved having him sitting right beside her. And really, it felt very different, because he wasn’t there as her bodyguard. He was there just to be with her.
“I was thinking,” he said, “that I care about you enough to quit Titan Security and have you hire me yourself. If that’s what it takes.”
“If that’s what it takes to do what?” She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear him say it.
“If that’s what it takes for us to be together.”
She smiled. “Well, as it happens, I do have an opening in the bodyguard department. But I changed my mind.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You did?”
At the expression on his face, she laughed. “Not that I mind having you to protect me, but I’d rather just have you be with me as my…” Should she say it? Was it too soon? But she knew how she felt and she didn’t want to hide her feelings.
“As your what?”
“My boyfriend.”
Jake couldn’t help himself. He chuckled.
“Why are you laughing?” she asked, her blue eyes sparkling.
“Because I’m being promoted from bodyguard to boyfriend.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “That is a promotion, isn’t it?”
Either way—boyfriend or bodyguard—Tyler would fire him. Well, maybe not, since he had saved the day. Didn’t matter though. He’d already decided Chloe was more important than his job.
“So,” she said, her eyes twinkling, “are you taking that promotion?”
He ran a finger along her jaw, then kissed her softly. “Yes, I believe I am.”
She threw her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. He breathed her in as he wrapped her in his arms and held her close. He didn’t want to leave her side, didn’t want to leave her care to anyone else.
He pictured the knife at her throat, recalled how he’d felt, how devastated he’d known he would be if anything happened to her. Remembered the realization of how he felt.
He put a hand on the back of her head, holding her tenderly against his shoulder. “I love you, Chloe.” The words were spoken softly, but fervently.
She pulled away and gazed at him, her blue eyes wide.
Had he said it too soon? Had he scared her away? But he had to tell her how he felt. He couldn’t keep it to himself.
“I love you too, Jake.”
The emotion in her eyes blew him away. She felt the same way towards him. He could see it clearly written there.
He smiled, his heart bursting with the love he felt for her, and now that he had said the words he couldn’t imagine keeping them to himself. Not now that she had become his world.
Happiness bloomed within Chloe. Jake loved her. He’d said it. Without her asking. And he’d said it first, which only made it sweeter. And he said he wanted to be her boyfriend. After the awful way the morning had started, it was only getting better now.
“What do you think Beth’s going to say?” Jake asked, one eyebrow cocked.
She wasn’t going to be happy. Then again, after hearing about the break-in, Chloe being taken hostage, and then Jake saving her, maybe she would change her mind. Either way, it didn’t matter. Chloe was in love and she was going to follow her heart, regardless of what her best friend thought. Beth would just have to get used to it.
“Don’t worry about her,” she said to Jake. “I’ll talk to her.”
He kissed her on the forehead. “Whatever you say.”
She chuckled, then snuggled close to him, her heart filled to the brim with happiness.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Jake walked with Chloe along the red carpet, their fingers intertwined. Her bodyguard hung back, keeping a respectful distance. It was one of the bodyguards from his own firm, Silver Shadow Security. When news had gotten out about the way he’d saved Chloe’s life six months earlier, he’d been deluged with job offers from celebrities and high-powered clients. Chloe had suggested he start his own firm, and after thinking about it he’d realized it was the perfect solution, although he’d declined her offer to fund his new business. Silver Shadow Security was thriving, giving Titan Security a run for its money, although there was plenty of clients to go around. Jake was keeping extremely busy and had a new respect for Tyler.