Page 139 of Protected By Duval
"So..." Tracy leaned in with a curious gleam in her eyes, "when is the wedding?"
Noelle bit into her bottom lip and blushed. "We're already married."
Tracy's jaw dropped open.
Before she could say a word about it, Jack flopped down on the grass in front of them. "What's going on?"
Noelle smiled at the S.W.A.T. officer.
Jack was like McCrae in a lot of ways. They were both hard on the outside, but softer on the inside.
"Those assholes wouldn't let me show CeeCee how to kick their asses."
Noelle grimaced before she could hold it back. "W-what?"
Jack shrugged and pulled the elastic out of her hair. "CeeCee heard that I'm a bouncer. She thought I was some kind of... of a gymnast or something. I said I'd show her what I do when I work at the bars and Duval threatened to kick my ass if I did." Jack rushed on. "He didn't use those words, but I got the gist." She sagged back onto her elbows, pouting as much as Jack could pout. "I wasn't going to show her how to crack a guy in the nuts or anything like that. I was just going to show her a few helpful moves if someone tried to grab her up off of the street, you know? Helpful... self-defense stuff."
Noelle couldn't help but smile at that. "We'll talk about that later. I'm sure McCrae jumped to conclusions. He's super protective of her."
Jack grinned at her words. "Super protective is something that man always is. But with CeeCee?" Jack whistled through her teeth. The man is practically a caveman!"
She lifted her chin toward Tracy. "Can you imagine what he's gonna be like when he knocks Noelle up?"
Noelle choked on air. And Jack jumped up to give a soft series of pats on her back.
"Sorry."
Noelle lifted a hand to wave her off. "I... I'm okay. I just..." She tried to think of what to say. They hadn't discussed what to say to people and this day? This day was about Ciela. "I'm not-"
Jack waved her off. "No worries. I talk too much. I say crazy stuff. I'm still surprised West hasn't tried to boot me off of S.W.A.T. yet."
"Stop that," Tracy was glaring at Jack. It wasn't anger that Noelle read. "You're part of the team and you know how much West loves all of you." Tracy's expression lightened. "Like a dad or a big brother."
Jack laughed. "Daddy West." She rolled her eyes and then Noelle saw Jack look in her direction. "You and Duval aren't like that, right?" She waggled her eyebrows. "Daddy? Or... maybe a little fun with cuffs?"
Noelle felt her face flame.
They hadn't done any of that, but McCrae was a hard man on the job and definitely in bed. Oh, he could be gentle at times, but when he was worked up, when they were safely alone? Goodness... the man could-
"All right," McCrae walked up and Noelle smiled when he took her hand. "Whatever Jack's saying to you... don't listen to her."
* * *
DUVAL
Jack gave him a half-hidden middle finger, and he raised a brow at that. “Don’t give me shit, Jack. You know you’re teasing ‘Elle.”
“’Elle,” Jack sighed and batted her eyelashes, “he’s soooo romantic.”
He flipped her off, careful to keep the gesture low and tight to his leg so the public wouldn’t see it. “Don’t mess with my woman.”
Jack leaned forward, cupping a hand around her mouth. “CAVEMAN.”
Beside him, Noelle laughed softly.
“Yes,” she turned her head to look at him, “but he’s my caveman.”
He had his hand around hers and walked her away from Jack and Tracy, only partly because he thought Jack could be a pain in the ass.
