My Husband, My Hero, My Baby

Jake Riley stood tall, his movements economical and precise. He was dressed simply in jeans and a plain gray shirt that did

my table and stood

. His voice was deeper tha

you' re J

site me. He didn' t smile. He just wa

ffice called," he said. "I' m still n

it ma

llion dollar company. You could have had anyone. You chose the guy at the bottom of the

alking about destiny and how we were meant to be. Jake was offering me an escape rou

a flicker of genuine curiosity about him, not just relief th

s, gone as quickly as it appeared.

, the cafe door swung op

rcloud of fury. His eyes locked on me, dismi

low as he strode toward our table. "What

don," I replied, my voice

ration of war. Brandon' s handsom

to make me jealous? It' s over. Tell

t, bruising. It was the same way he' d grabbed me in my past life, a g

of me,

come to your senses. You belong with me, Chloe. We both know that. I' l

with a mixture of old fear and ne

ensive cologne and entitlement. "Do you really want to throw everything away for this...

. I remembered the bankruptcy, my father' s empty eyes, the c

y arm free with a strength that surprised

y, revealing the monster beneath. His hand flew up and a sharp, stinging pain

in the quiet room. Gasps ripp

dn' t say a word. He simply placed himself between me and Brandon, a solid, immovable wall. His p

," Jake said, his voice calm

ain his composure. "This is b

nd!" I yelled, the word

yes were on me, checking to see if I was

," Jake said.

a manipulator, a snake. Faced with the raw, disciplined power radia

he hissed, before turning on his

was heavy. My cheek throb

n a car outside, must have seen the commoti

alright? I saw him...

the storm of my emotions. Jake remained standing, a si

the mirror. In my past life, I would have made excuses for him. He' s just passi

fool I

st of believing in a beautiful lie. This time, I knew the truth. Brandon' s touch wasn' t lo