Page 108 of Falling for the Grumpiest Protector

He nods. "I'm glad she wasn't alone."

Something about the simplicity of the answer loosens a knot in my chest.

"She wasn't the only one who had a bad night."

Jack's attention shifts fully to me. "Nightmare?"

"Yeah."

He doesn't ask how bad. He doesn't need to.

"Maddy saw."

"How much?"

"Enough."

Jack looks down at his bottle.

"She woke up because Atlas went to get her. When I came around, she was sitting on the floor next to me." I rub a hand over my jaw. "She stayed there."

Jack is quiet.

"She didn't ask me anything this morning. Made coffee. Acted normal."

"That sounds like Maddy."

"I tried to explain."

"And?"

"She told me I could tell her when I was ready."

Jack turns his head. There's no smile now, no teasing.

"And then she kissed me goodbye."

For a moment, all I hear is the noise of the farm around us. Jack finally says, "How do you feel about that?"

I let out a slow breath. "That's the problem."

His brow furrows.

"I liked it." Jack waits. "I liked waking up and finding her there. I liked having her in my kitchen. I liked cooking with her. I liked that she didn't look at me differently this morning."

I look down at my hands. "And I wanted her to stay."

Saying it out loud makes something tighten beneath my ribs. Jack knows better than to make light of it.

"So why is that a problem?"

"Because I know where this can go."

His expression changes. He understands before I say the name.

"Diana."

"Yeah."