Chapter 94 – Fiancée?
As Lee walked away, Doug came over to them.
"We have your back, Jack." Doug said. "Like always, we got you."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"That is what brothers are for." Doug said. "Dad offered a couple off duty NYPD officers if we needed them."
"Thank you." Jack said. "But I think we are okay right now. The other security will be here tomorrow and Gabe will be here as well."
"We couldn't be in better hands." Doug said.
"Nathan." Jack said. "Please stay a moment."
"Do you need us?" Doug asked.
"No." Jack said. "We will be down in a moment."
Doug nodded before him and Lee walked downstairs. Jack waited until he disappeared down the stairs before turning to Nathan.
"What did you need?" Nathan asked.
"Couple things." Jack said. "Do you trust Gabe?"
"With my life." Nathan said. "More importantly, I trust him with my niece's life."
Jack looked at Elizabeth and she nodded.
"Good enough for me." Jack said. "Why didn't you tell us he was working up here?"
"I didn't know." Nathan said. "He left for an undercover assignment about two weeks before your father hired me. We don't talk about our work, well at least not specifics. He doesn't know who I am protecting and I don't know what he is doing undercover. I mean there are times that we have helped each other, but that is rare."
"Understood." Jack said.
"What was the other thing?" Nathan said.
"When we were talking." Jack said. "Something came to me. If something were to happen, I would be excluded from helping Elizabeth as her father would be deemed next of kin. I think that there is a form that we can fill out and file that would help."
"Yes, there is." Nathan said.
"Good." Jack said. "If I print them out, would you be willing to be the second person if Elizabeth is agreeable?"
"Yes." Nathan said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I hadn't thought about that. What made you think about that?"
"Katie had to sign papers to allow her parents to make decisions when they have the kids." Jack said. "I know that it is different as they are the children's grandparents, but just in case something happened and Chris or Katie couldn't be reached for consent. She had to sign papers saying something similar for camp. I just don't want something to happen and your parents try to keep us apart."
"Then you need to sign one for me as well." Elizabeth said. "I don't want your mother to try to keep us apart if something happens."
"She is right." Nathan said. "I will be second on both if you want. If you want Doug or Lee I won't mind."
"No, you would be great." Jack said. "I didn't even think about that. We will need to file those at the courthouse tomorrow as well as sign the other papers."
"No problem." Nathan said. "What else do we need to do?"
"Bank." Jack said.
"Primal and farmers market." Elizabeth said. "I have the list from Gran."
"Perfect." Nathan said. "Now I will give you two a moment, but it is getting late and we have a lot going on the next couple of days."
Nathan walked away and headed downstairs. Jack didn't wait for Nathan to completely disappear before he leaned down and kissed Elizabeth. Elizabeth pulled back breathless and rested her forehead on Jack's.
"So fiancée?" Elizabeth said her voice was full of emotion.
"Sweetheart." Jack said.
Jack took her left hand and lifted it between them, running his thumb over the ring he had placed there.
"This …." Jack said. "This is a promise that we will one day be married and I didn't mean to spring that on you, but in my heart, you agreeing to this ring is agreeing to the rest. I hope one day soon, when you are ready, that I can replace this with a real engagement ring. I love you and can't wait to make you my wife."
"I love you too." Elizabeth said. "Besides, I love the sound of being your fiancée."
"Then future Mrs Thornton." Jack said. "I think we should head to our rooms. It has been a long day and if I stand here alone with you much longer, I don't know if I can continue to be a gentleman."
Elizabeth leaned forward and gave Jack a quick kiss before stepping back. Still holding his hand, she moved toward the stairs. Instead of letting go, Jack quickly followed. They walked downstairs and when they got to Elizabeth's room, Jack leaned in and gave Elizabeth a quick kiss.
"Goodnight, sweetheart." Jack whispered.
"Good night." Elizabeth whispered.
"Sleep well." Jack said.
"You as well." Elizabeth said.
Jack gave Elizabeth a dimpled grin. He took a step back, but didn't turn away. He slowly started backing to his room and only let go of Elizabeth's hand when distance required. He then quickly turned and went to his room, shutting the door. After he shut it, he leaned against it and let out a harsh breath.
"You okay over there?" Doug asked.
"I need to marry that woman." Jack said. "SOON!"
Both Doug and Nathan let out a little chuckle and Lee shook his head.
"Go take a shower." Doug said.
"Good idea." Jack said. "Maybe a cold one."
"I think you are right." Nathan said laughing.
Jack went to take a shower and when he came back, Doug and Lee were asleep, but Nathan was still up reading.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Nathan said. "Thank you for offering to let Gabe stay here."
"Absolutely." Jack said. "How long have you known him?"
"Since high school." Nathan said. "I met him my senior year. We lived in different towns, but had similar interests. We both went to school with the intent of becoming police officers. While we were getting our criminal justice degrees, he was recruited by the FBI. He took the opportunity that they were offering. After a year in Virginia, he moved up to the office in New York City. When he needed a place to stay, I offered my extra room. He never left."
"I know you might have told me." Jack said. "But why didn't you go the law enforcement route?"
"My mother." Nathan said. "Some irrational fear that she would lose me on the job. Little does she know that this is just as dangerous if not more. Normally working security, I don't have backup readily available. She just wants me to be safe. I think that everything that happened with Archie, my father, really messed with her. Our relationship has been better the last few years, but it is still strained."
"And your father?" Jack asked.
"A cheater and gambler who left us." Nathan said. "His other family was more important. I think that was why I was so upset when my sister married a guy that drank and liked to go to the casino."
"I am truly sorry for that." Jack said. "I understand wanting better for you sister, but you have to let it go. I am sure that she loves you. I am glad that you are here to protect me and Elizabeth. I am also glad that you will have another friend here. If there is anything that I can do to help you, please let me know. I know that I may not have been through what you have been through and you may think that I am spoiled or whatever, but I really do want to help people. I know that I have opportunities that many people don't get. I didn't ask for the money that I have been given, but it doesn't change the fact that I am still just a man. I may be good at making money, but I also am very generous with what I have."
"I don't think that you are spoiled." Nathan said. "I can see that you are generous to others. Thank you for the offer, but I have everything that I need. I am grateful to your family for giving my friend Katie a chance to start over. She really needs it."
"She earned that opportunity." Jack said. "You just were in the right place at the right time, but she wouldn't have been given the offer if she hadn't earned it. I know that I don't know her story, but she is more than welcome to start over here. I am glad that you mentioned her to Grandpa. I know that we have talked about something like that for a few years. We have honestly been waiting to find the right person to get things going."
"I know that she appreciates it." Nathan said. "I am almost finished here, then I need to get some sleep."
"Have a good night." Jack said.
Jack crawled into his bed, sent a few more texts, set an alarm and then quickly fell asleep dreaming of Elizabeth. Nathan finished reading his Bible, checked his guns and then also crawled into bed. He was tired and really needed sleep. He knew that he would have to be on the top of his game over the next few days, but he was also glad that he was going to have Gabe there to help him as he had been worried about the Classic and at least he realized why he had been so worried about it.
As much as Nathan trusted Gabe, he also knew that Gabe could sometimes have a chip on his shoulder when it came to rich people. With the information that Jack had dropped on him and Elizabeth earlier that night, Nathan was worried that Gabe would have a problem with Jack. Nathan prayed that they could work things out and Gabe would be able to stay, but he also figured that Gabe was going to have to prove to Jack that he was trustworthy. It took longer for Nathan to relax and fall asleep. His mind was going over everything that he knew and all that he needed to be aware of to keep his new friends safe.
Down the hall, Elizabeth was also having a hard time relaxing and falling asleep. As much as she loved Jack and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, she was still scared. She was scared that something would happen to him. She was also scared to a lesser extent that something would happen to her. She was afraid that she would lose Jack while he was trying to protect her. Everything that she had heard that night was playing in her head. She knew that her father and the Kensingtons wanted her back, but she didn't realize the lengths that they would go to. She wondered if her father ever really loved her or not. She knew that Charlie Kensington didn't love her and she was just some trophy for him. Something that he wanted but couldn't have. She wondered how many women that he had hurt and if he would ever learn.
Elizabeth sat up and prayed. She prayed for Jack and his family. She prayed for Nathan and Gabe. She prayed for the other members of the security team. Elizabeth prayed for Bill and his family. Finally, Elizabeth prayed that she would be granted peace and wisdom about what Jack had said. She honestly didn't know what was holding her back, but she knew that she needed to figure it out before she could fully commit to him. Elizabeth thought she had figured it out earlier, but at that moment, she wasn't sure. Elizabeth also prayed for peace about the money and all that it brought. She was shocked to learn some of the numbers that were attached to Jack's name and she wondered if she would be able to deal with everything that kind of money brought. She knew that it could make life just as hard as not having money. Elizabeth also realized that Jack didn't care about the money or make a big deal about it so she was going to follow his lead. Finally feeling a little better, Elizabeth crawled back into bed and fell asleep thinking about Jack and their future together.