Happily Ever After

Cascading raven curls…flawless ivory skin…sapphire blue eyes fringed with impossibly dark lashes…a full, heart shaped mouth…she was the ideal image of innocent seduction and it nearly stole Jack Ford's breath to look at her as she moved gracefully through the crowded ballroom, pausing at occasional intervals to speak to various guest who each smiled openly as she greeted them. She was completely at ease. Seemingly confident and sure of herself, Salina radiated a certain warmth and elegance…she made one instantly feel connected to her the moment she offered a simple but always genuine smile…standing near the bar, an untouched drink in his hand, Jack allowed himself to simply drink in the sight she made as her satin white, ankle length evening gown molded itself to her full breast and flared hips like a sensual second skin that Jack ached to feel pressed against his body, just as he ached for the chance to finally make Salina understand what she meant to him; he wanted at least once chance to prove to Salina that she was more to him than his father's beloved personal assistant…she was the one woman he wanted in his bed, in his arms, and in his life for life.

Falling in love with anyone, especially with a woman who viewed most men in a less than desirable light, had not been his plan…Jack had fully intended to stay unattached and on his own, having witnessed his father, Hank, marry and divorce three times, before realizing that he was not cut out to be a husband. He was married to his work. Law was the love of his life, leaving little room for anything else, save his son…Jack was the one person in life that Hank had not failed, as he had taken full custody shortly after Jack turned twelve, when his mother decided that she wanted to see the world…she wanted to live free and clear and Hank and Jack were both at ease with her decision.

Having always shared a special bond, Hank and Jack tended to do well on there own, even when Hank was married…they shared a common sense of humor and like Hank, Jack had an intense love for the law as well. He went to NYU. Harvard. He joined the firm that his father had established years before and quickly, easily, he began making a name for himself as an ambitious defense attorney with a steady winning streak…his life was just as he had wanted it to be, filled with success and women who understood what he wanted, what he was about and each was wise enough not to make demands they knew Jack would never grant.

At thirty two, Jack had viewed his life as full…complete…he had wanted for nothing in any real regard and had fully believed that little could rock the foundation of his world, until the late autumn morning when his father came into his office, announcing that he needed just a moment of Jack's time. He wanted to introduce Salina. He had just hired her, to replace, his previous assistant, who had left the job so she could move to Florida, to be closer to her ailing mother…Hank had been sad to see the woman go, but he had seemed pleased to have come across Salina via a placement agency.

She was twenty six, had lived in New York for only a year…she had been born and raised in Orlando…Hank had casually provided the information that Jack somehow managed to absorb even as it struck him…like a bolt of lightening hit him…his chest actually felt tight as his heart raced and he stared at what he instantly knew was a woman who would turn his life upside down. Inside out. Just looking at her confirmed it. Something incredible had arrived in his world…something innocently beautiful yet unbelievably sensual as she stood before him that first day in a demur black pants suit, her dark hair pulled back in a neat twist…he wanted to see that hair falling free around her slim shoulders…he found his mind filled with many very vivid images as Salina extended a small hand that he shook as he smiled at her, having already made up his mind to get his father alone before the end of the day so he could find out more than the basic information regarding Miss Salina Nolan.

It was hardly common to find himself so struck…so enchanted…he wanted to believe it was just a temporary reaction, but his gut told him that was not the case, as Salina followed his father out of the office while Jack set back down, unable to concentrate on work, as his mind was filled with Salina…with thoughts of what it would be like to see those blue eyes glazed with passion…see her ivory skin flushed…he nearly drove himself insane with erotic daydreams he eventually had to tamper, several hours later, when he found his father alone in his office, and without any pretense or attempt at subtle conversation, Jack demanded to know any and everything about Salina.

"I take it you are impressed." Hank couldn't help but smile as he leaned back, taking off his reading glasses as he looked at his son. "I have to say, I noticed the reaction you had to her and I don't blame you. I know she is a beautiful girl." But something in Hank's eyes seemed to darken and Jack picked up on it in an instant.

"Correct me if I am wrong, Dad, but are you warning me away from Salina."

"I wouldn't go as far as to say that I am warning you away, but I…" He paused as if he were not sure how to continue. "Naturally, Jack, I know I can trust you, so I am going to share with you what Salina shared with me about her past, because I think you need to know why I would be less than thrilled if someone were to do anything that would hurt this girl."

"You think I would hurt her?"

"Not intentionally. I know you, Jack. I know you are a good man."

"But…" Jack prompted, sensing something serious.

"Salina was very honest with me, during the interview, and as I told her, I respect her for that, just as I must confess that I respect her for…well, for being a very strong young woman who has survived a lot in her life."

"What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means…apparently, when Salina was sixteen, she ended up getting pregnant by a guy she was dating and her father insisted that what he called the right thing be done."

"By right thing I assume you mean marriage." It was certainly an old-fashioned view, if not somewhat insane, but that was the least of Jack's concerns at the moment as he set there, feeling certain that something horrible was coming.

"Yeah. Crazy I know. The girl was only sixteen and far too young for marriage."

"I have to agree with that, and my guess is she didn't want to get married."

Hank shook his head. "Hardly. At sixteen she had dreams for herself. And the guy she was pregnant by was her first…she had gotten a little drunk at a party one night and he took advantage of her."

"Christ." Jack shook his head.

"He was a bastard in more ways than not, but so was her father, and the wedding did happen despite all of Salina's pleading. She was stuck. Sixteen. Pregnant."

"With no one to turn to."

"Exactly. A sad situation."

"That got worse." He found it easy to make the guess and Hank nodded.

"Two days after their were married, Salina's husband, Carl, beat her for the first time and as a result, she suffered a miscarriage." Hank's voice took on a hard edge as he shared the information and Jack winced, feeling overcome with emotions…pity for Salina…rage towards the husband…it was a lot to process as he set there and tried to fully fathom the pain that Salina had so unfairly suffered.

"Tell me that she left him…"

But Hank again shook his head. "No, thanks to her father again."

"Religious restrictions that condemn divorce."

"Yes. It was out of the question and Salina was afraid."

"And Carl got worse as time went by."

"The beatings were a constant thing, and more than once, she ended up having to go to the hospital…she lost another baby along the way…" He made a bitter sound. "She told me, how it went on for about eight years, getting worse with each day it seemed, until one night, after Carl had been drinking, he really lost it and he told her that he was going to kill her once and for all." And, naturally, Salina had believed him…at that point she had been convinced she would eventually die at Carl's hand…she had suffered more than most could imagine during her years with him. She had lived in hell. She didn't want to die there…didn't want to be just a blurb story in the back of the newspaper…suddenly the need, the desire and the urge to fight back and survive exploded inside of her and somehow, she managed to break away from Carl and his rage long enough to rush into their small bedroom, to Carl's side of the bed, where she knew he kept a gun in his nightstand.

"She used the gun…" Jack couldn't finish the question.

"She doesn't clearly recall pulling the trigger, which doctors have attributed to some sort of shock that I can more than understand, but yes she did use the gun and I for one think she had every right."

"I would hardly argue with that." Standing, unable to stay seated, he moved about the room almost restlessly.

"Luckily, a decent lawyer in the public defenders office landed her case and with the hospital records to back up past abuse, as well as accounts from several neighbors, no charges were filed. It went down as self defense. But Salina…"

"Has had to rebuild her life from the ground up."

"And she has done a remarkable job. I admire her for it. She went back to school and she took college classes, then worked several temp jobs before moving to New York, where she did the same, before coming here."

"And you hired her."

"She told me about her history first, because she wanted to be honest, and I told her that I have no problem with anything in her past."

"Good. I am glad. I am glad she has a second chance."

"So am I, son. I think she is a good girl. I think she needs a break."

"And she has no need for a man falling all over her." He paused in his pacing to look at Hank seriously. "I have to admit that I am attracted, and that I…" Sighing, he returned to the chair he had vacated, shaking his head as he did.

"I am not saying that you should not pursue her, if you are interested, but I will say that I do not see her as the type of woman you tended to gravitate towards."

"She isn't. I took one look at her and knew that."

"But…" As he asked, he couldn't help but smile and Jack did the same.

"But I think I could fall in love with that girl."

"Words I never thought I would hear you say."

"Words I never thought I would say." But he meant them and Hank sensed as much as Jack stood once more. "For what it is worth, I assure you, I will play this carefully and I won't make any move that I feel Salina might be uncomfortable with." He would respect her, as well as her feelings, but he couldn't deny the pull he felt…he couldn't deny that she drew him as no other woman ever had, and learning about the past she struggled to leave behind only made him more determined to reach out to her, to prove to her that not all men were like Carl…he wanted her to know that some men could and would adore her as she deserved.

The conversation with his father provided insight…it made him understand the brief fear that often flared in her eyes…knowing about her past explained to him why she seemed to be rather shy around all men, when she first met them and it ripped at something inside of him as he spent her first weeks at the firm, simply watching her from a distance. Learning how she interacted with others…she was a bright young woman who seemed eager to gain more confidence in herself and though she didn't know it, he silently cheered her…he smiled each time he saw her…ached when he thought about the pain she had known and how no one had been there to defend her when she needed it the most. Life in general had rather harshly dealt her an unfair, undeserved hand…fate owned her something…she deserved a chance to be happy…the need to tell her that, to assure her that she deserved to have all her dreams for herself come true was a constant presents with Jack, but the opportunity to say as much to her was slow in presenting itself, do in part to the simple fact that Salina avoided him in a quietly subtle manner so skillfully mastered that Jack didn't realize it right away.

Always professional and polite, she never sought Jack out unless it was necessary…she tried not to be in the same room with him…it wasn't until she had been with the firm for nearly three months that it occurred to Jack that Salina seemed on guard around him. She never did, he realized, look him in the eyes…she never called him by his first name, as she did with Hank, and others…she seemed almost skittish when it came to any dealings with him and it was his first reaction to believe that he frightened her somehow, never suspecting that her clear desire to avoid him stemmed from a more basic matter, as Salina was careful to never allow Jack, or anyone around her, to notice that Jack simply walking into a room wrecked compete and utter havoc on every one of her prized senses.

Having endured the worst relationship imaginable with a man who had nearly ended her life more than once, it had never actually occurred to Salina that she could really find a man attractive…she had not in any way been prepared for feeling every nerve ending in her body stand up at attention and scream each time Jack walked into the room. All he had to do was look at her and she felt herself melt…she found herself wanting to turn and run away from fear of the unknown…he was without a doubt the most handsome man she had ever had the chance to encounter with green, hazel highlighted eyes and thick, silver blond hair that always looked as if he had been repeatedly running his hands through it.

A towering six three, he possessed a powerful aura…he filled up the room when he came into it…his massive shoulders and muscle coiled arms radiated strength that might have been frightening, on another man, but Jack was so clearly kind and decent…each time he very easily smiled she could see that he was different. He was special. Not like her father, and most certainly not like her late husband, Jack was the kind of man who made women want to place their faith and trust in men in general…at least women who had not already served their own eight year tour in hell…a tour that left them unable to truly believe in or trust anyone, regardless how decent or attractive that person might have been.

Not for a moment, did she allow herself to daydream too intently about Jack…she knew that it do so would have been foolish as well as insane, given her history…a man like Jack Ford would not look twice at her. She was sure of it. He could have his pick of anyone, leaving him no cause to even consider seeing her as in his league…admitting to herself that she had a very serious crush was one thing, but along with the admission, she assured herself that she would not allow the feelings to get out of check; she assured herself that no one would ever know that in her dreams, the dreams she held close to her heart, she dreamed about what it would be like to be a woman that Jack would want…a woman he deserved…a woman who could so easily trust him and herself.

Of course, trusting Jack, at least her ability to trust him, took a serious boost when she learned, via his father, that he had agreed to take on a case that Salina had been following very closely in the media, as it had, to many degrees, reminded her of her own life…hearing about a young woman named Nina Lewis shooting her boyfriend in self defense, while trying to find a means to escape yet another beating had touched something inside of Salina. It had quickly, bitterly, brought to life a host of memories…she had felt an instant connection to the woman she had seen on the news and learning that Jack Ford had agreed to serve as Nina's lawyer had prompted Salina to cease avoiding him, so she could go to him directly, to tell him how impressed she was with his actions.

She waited until the end of the day to go talk to him…she had spent most of the day finding the nerve to even begin a conversation and when she knocked on his office door and he called out for her to come in, her hands were shaking. Her heart raced. She felt anxious, as well as foolish…the man most likely didn't care what she thought…but she still wanted him to know as she opened the door and stepped inside to find him sitting behind his desk, his suit coat cast over the back of his chair while his tie laid crumpled on the floor…the top buttons on his shirt were undone and he looked casual and relaxed as he smiled up at her, clearly more than a little surprised.

"If I am interrupting you, I can come back…" She tried to back out of the office, she had a sudden urge to run, but Jack was quick to shake his head as he stood.

"You are not interrupting at all. Please. Come in Salina." It was a first, for her to make a move to approach him and he made him smile…he wanted to somehow see it as a sign, but he was careful not to get his hopes up as she eased slowly into the room, to pause before his desk, her hands locked together in a nervous gesture.

"I really don't want to bother you…"

"It isn't a bother. Really. I could use a break."

"Oh. I…well, I…" She blew out a breath and lifted her eyes to his. "I wanted to see you, so I could tell you that I think it is really great, the way you are defending Nina Lewis." She said it on a rush, it seemed to be the only way to get the words out and Jack felt her heart swell as he looked at her standing there.

"She has a right to a fair defense. I want her to get it."

"Will she? I mean, her boyfriend came from money."

"And she doesn't." Jack confirmed and she nodded.

"Will that make it more difficult for her? The fact that his family is well known?"

"I would like to say it won't have an impact, but I would be lying if I tried to pretend that it might not."

Shivering as if she were suddenly cold, she wrapped her arms around herself, looking at the floor. "Do you think she has a chance at all?" Her voice was soft, laced with such pain it took all Jack's will to resist the urge to go to her…he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her…he wanted somehow to comfort her, but he was wise enough to know she was not at all ready for him to approach her in that manner.

"I am going to work like hell to make sure Nina is treated fairly, and to tell you the truth, there is a lot of evidence to back up the past abuse."

"That stands in her favor, at least."

"The way it stood in yours."

The words were said before he had a chance to fully consider them and Salina lifted her eyes to his…he could see the pain there, but not surprise as he sighed and shook his head, feeling as if he were digging himself into a hole.

"I am sorry. My dad told me…" He let the thought go unfinished.

"I kind of figured that he had, and I don't mind." She tried to smile. "I work here, and it is only fair that you know about what I did." The effort to smile faded and she looked sad, and serious and Jack moved from behind his desk as she watched him.

"Look, I have wanted to say something to you for a while now, Salina, but I have not been sure how to approach the subject." He slid his hands into his pants pockets as he moved to stand in front of her…he didn't trust himself not to touch her as she looked up at him with wide sapphire eyes that called out to his soul.

"Does it have to do with what you know about me?"

"Actually, it does."

"Do…are you going to tell me that my past bothers you?" If he did, she knew she really could not blame him, but he shook his head.

"What I want to tell you is I admire you."

"You admire me?"

"How can I not, Salina?" He loved saying her name. "I won't pretend to understand all you suffered during your marriage, nor will I say I can imagine the depth of the pain you have known, because I can't. I can't begin to fathom what you endured. But I can tell you that I am in awe of you, because you are obviously a very strong young woman."