Diplomacy

continue.
    “We shared a lot in fifteen years of marriage, Lucas. She’s a wonderful woman; I’ll always think that. She deserved an explanation.”
    “What was there to explain?” Lucas wondered a little sternly.
    Jack rested his forehead against the young Brit’s. “I told her I loved her. Like a sister, or a friend. I told her I loved you in a way that was so different that I had got to the point where I couldn’t hide it anymore.”
    “But I was gone. I wasn’t there anymore, and you didn’t know where I was.”
    Jack smiled at the way Lucas was trying to look at him without breaking contact.
    “You sound like Maria.”
    Lucas poked him in the ribs.
    “Owww.” Jack put his hand on the spot Lucas had prodded and feigned pain, pulling away as much as he could
    “I’m sorry; your ribs still hurt?”
    Jack pulled Lucas close, hoping this would wipe the worried look off his face. “No, silly. It’s all healed. I meant what I told her, Luke. I knew I loved you more than I had ever loved anyone. The pain of losing you dulled a little over time, but when I saw you again today…”
    “I didn’t know if I could face you,” Lucas admitted. “I saw your mug shot on the visitor’s pass in my briefing folder and my heart stopped.”
    “Why?”
    “I walked out on you, Jack! And even if you forgave me for that, there was AnnElise and…”
    Jack silenced him with a kiss.
    “AnnElise is perfect, Luke. Seeing you with her, the way you care for her and love her… it made me fall in love with you all over again. “ He looked up at Lucas seriously. “I know this is all very sudden, but I hope I can continue to be part of your lives, Luke, yours and AnnElise’s.”

    D i p l o m a c y | 173

    Lucas looked up at him. “Are you serious?”
    Jack nodded. “If you’ll have me.”
    Lucas cuddled even closer to Jack. “You’ll be sick and tired of us soon enough, Jack. AnnElise is quite a handful, you know.” Jack just smiled.

    THEY both woke up a few hours later hearing AnnElise talk to herself.
    When Lucas realized they were still on the couch, limbs entangled, he apologized. “She does that all the time.”
    “She never cries?”
    Lucas shook his head. “She did when she was a baby, but now she doesn’t unless she’s really hurt. She ran through the house the other day and ran into the side of the door. All she said was ‘Lise bang’ and then she continued running.”
    “She must feel really safe around you,” Jack answered quietly.
    “You think so?” Lucas asked, a little unsure.
    Jack nodded. “So what are the plans for today?”
    “Well, it’s Saturday, so, we get up, have breakfast and around eleven, I drop AnnElise off at Liz’s to play with Liz’s boys, which she loves by the way, and then I do some grocery shopping and take a walk around. It’s usually my time away from everything, but I’d love to share it with you!”
    Lucas looked at Jack in such a way that Jack couldn’t deny him anything. Not that he wanted to. “So when do you have to pick up AnnElise?”
    “Around three. By that time Liz’s had enough of the kids, believe me!”
    “Nice of her to baby sit,” Jack remarked.
    “Well, single parents have to help each other out. You’ll get to know her two boys soon enough, because we take turns.” Jack smiled at the idea that Lucas seemed to take for granted that he would be around from now on.

    174 | Z a h r a O w e n s

Chapter Twenty-Two
    THE morning went by smoothly. AnnElise was still a little shy around Jack, but by the time they arrived at Liz’s place, she insisted on saying goodbye to Jack as well as her dad before running off to the playroom.
    Liz was her usual forward self when it came to the introductions.
    “So you’re the Ambassador who’s had a hold on Lucas’s heart for the past three years.”
    Jack smiled a little shyly, but figured his best defense was an offence. “Well, I was the married one, he was the irresistible one.” He gave Lucas a sideways look and could tell Liz clearly liked what she saw. “Well, at least he has taste in men.” She turned to Lucas and kissed him on the cheek. “Go have fun.
    Leave her here as long as you need.” She winked at Jack.
    When they were outside again, Jack couldn’t help himself. “She’s quite something, isn’t she? Exactly how much did you tell her about us?” Lucas chuckled. “One very desperate night, we ended up in the emergency room with AnnElise. She had a high fever and I