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And then he strode across the room in an instant, throwing open the sash and leaning out into the night even as he pulled a pistol from his waistband.
She held back a scream as she saw the weapon. Squeezing her eyes shut, she heard him snarl as the hammer clicked back and then an eerie silence filled the room. Emily’s throat clogged as Jacob continued to scan the darkness. After what felt like minutes, but was likely only seconds, she unclogged her throat long enough to croak out. “Jacob?”
“Shhh,” he murmured. “It’s all right. I’m here.” He still scanned the darkness, his jaw hard, his body large and broad even as he comforted her.
Her breath hitched as she inched closer to him. “Who was that?”
“I don’t know,” he answered, straightening away from the window and closing it tightly once again. He still looked out into the darkness. “But pack up your things.”
“And take them where?” she asked, stopping a foot from him so that she remained out of view. Did he mean to leave the inn? Find another?
“To my room.”
“Y-y-your room?” she asked shivering with a new apprehension. It was one thing to speak privately with Jacob, but to be in a room alone with him…sleeping?
He finally looked away from the opening and toward her. Without the candle there was hardly enough light to see his features, but she could feel his gaze, and her skin prickled with awareness. “I can’t keep you safe if you’re in another room.”
Safe. The word unwound something inside her or perhaps that was his tone. Deep, masculine, full of some assurance that he was here to protect her. He was right, of course. The man who’d come to her window was a danger.
But as she looked at the breadth of Jacob’s shoulders, the way his strong jaw flexed she felt her stomach flutter with some unnamed need. Who was going to protect her from the feelings swirling inside her?
Having Emily in his room was certain to be a small form of torture.
Her small fingers curled into his as he led her down the hall, her breath hitching as he opened the door.
She’d decided to leave her trunk in her room, but the crate of papers was tucked under one of his arms, her reticule dangling from her wrist.
“Jacob?” Her voice trembled as she stepped into the room, her fingers flexing in his. “Do you think he’ll try…”
Quietly, he closed the door and set down the crate. Then, because he couldn’t resist, he pulled her close, something he’d meant not to do. He didn’t want to make the situation any more grey by adding more intimacy. It was bad enough he was in his room alone with her.
And Ashton was still in the forefront of his thoughts, but his allegiance was slowly shifting to include Emily. Perhaps even more powerfully. He felt this intense need to protect what was so beautiful about her.
If anyone other than Clara knew, he’d have to marry her for certain.
She brought a trembling hand to her forehead, his gut twisting for different reasons. She was so vulnerable. Both in situation, but also as a fragile beauty, she’d been left alone. Drawing in a deep gulp of air, he resolved to do whatever was necessary to keep her safe.
That included putting his attraction to the side in order to make certain no one harmed her. “Try to hurt you? I would never let anyone do that. Ever.”
“Really?” she breathed even as he eased away.
He didn’t want to. He’d like to keep holding, settle her closer still.
But with her feminine aroma permeating his senses he pulled further away as he cleared his throat. “Promise.”
He crossed the room and blew out his candle, casting the room into near darkness. He heard Emily set her reticule on the table and then sit on the bed. He looked over at her, noting that even in the dim light she appeared awkward and uncomfortable, her movements jerky as she tried to settle.
It almost made him smile. So innocent.
“I think it best you sleep in your clothes…at least for tonight.”
She gave an absent flutter of her hand. “Agreed.”
“We’ll leave very early tomorrow to try and make good time.”
She didn’t look at him, plucking at the coverlet on the bed. “Why do you think that man was at my window?”
“Most likely he was a petty thief,” Jacob said as he stationed himself next to his window, peering out into the night. Was the man still prowling about or had Jaco frightened him off?
