Chapter 35

Jess heard the elevator signal its arrival. She shook her head. The desk attendant hadn't called up to ask for permission to send anyone up. She thought she was hearing things until she saw the elevator doors opening. She reached inside the grocery bag and brought out the bread and eggs. She set the bread on the counter next to the toaster and placed the egg carton inside the fridge.

"Hello, Jess," she heard from behind her.

Slowly she turned from the fridge. "Hank," she acknowledged as she closed the fridge door. "What are you doing here?"

"Could ask you the same thing."

"Not an answer, so don't even go there," she said, leaning up against the fridge.

"I thought we needed to talk."

"Ok. So talk."

"It's been three days, Jess. When are you going to come home?"

"When you come to your senses and realize I'm trying to protect and save your ass before you make a bigger one out of yourself?"

"I know that. That's why I'm here."

"How did you find me? I kept my phone off so you couldn't track me." She looked at him. "Never mind. CI's. All you had to say was find this woman, and you get out of jail free next time."

He started toward her. He stopped a foot short of her. "You were right. I was getting too carried away. I get it that you're only trying to protect me, and I get it that you think Olive is probably playing me. I love you for that. It shows me that you do love me."

"I-" she started, but he raised his hand and pressed his index finger to her lips.

"Shhhh. Let me finish." She closed her mouth and looked up at him. She waited for him to continue.

"She may or may not be playing me, but I promised her I would help her out until the baby came. I can't go back on my word. You don't have to like it, but it's something that I want and have to do. I can't turn my back on her, just like I couldn't turn my back on Justin when he was being such a pain in the ass. Justin has leave coming and he's coming home. I'm going to step back and let them work things out. I'll be there if they need me. It's the least I can do, Jess. Even though you don't think so, this could be my Grandchild."

"I get that,"she said, swallowing the lump in her throat. "What I don't get is how you just buy this line she's selling without checking it out. That isn't you, Hank. You always run down every lead and possibility." She sighed. "I just don't want to see you getting hurt."

"Or being taken advantage of," he added.

"That too." She reached out and circled his neck with her arms. "I love you. It's my job to protect your ass."

Hank dropped a kiss on her mouth. He felt her body melt against him.

"Mmmm…." she whispered in his ear. "Someone's getting a raging hard on."

"Sperm count up to my eyeballs, Babe. It's been a long three days," he admitted.

"Yes, it has," she agreed.

"So are we good here?"

She leaned her head on his shoulder. "We're good."

"Good to know," he said as he tightened his arms around her.