“I’m only taking Veronica for the party. That’s it.” Aaron left with a chuckle.
Jett really did owe, Aaron, didn’t he? As annoying as his friend’s tough love had been, there was nothing quite like getting back on his feet again. Sighing, he collapsed back into his chair and picked up Harry’s rock. Speaking of debts, it was time to pay one more. Punching in Ellie’s number, Jett screwed up his courage and made the call to Harry’s son.
Ellie answered with a sweet voice. “Jett, it’s been too long. It’s so good to hear from you.”
He took a deep breath. “I have a climbing event in two weeks. It’s called the HeatWave.”
“You’re climbing? I had no idea.”
“Yeah, I’ve been working with a physical therapist, and uh …” It felt like a lot to ask, and he wasn’t sure if she’d say yes, but he had to try. “I’m dedicating my climb to Harry, and I want you and the kids to come.” She turned silent, and he licked his lips. “I’ve got a present to give to Charlie. I’ve wanted to do it for a while. Harry took it off the mountain and wanted Charlie to have it, before … uh, we lost him.”
“Yes, I remember,” she whispered, and she cleared her throat. “I didn’t think that you still had it.”
“Yeah.” His heart felt like it was pounding out of his ears. “You think Charlie wants it?”
“He does.” She sniffed, and he knew she was crying. “I know he does.”
Chapter Sixteen
Hannah hooked her arm into Jett’s, taking in the beautiful evening sights of Eureka Springs downtown. A soft wind blew over his loose white-collared shirt, untucked over dark, slim fitted jeans. He kept stealing glances at her, and she hid her grin by biting her lip. He had a way of making her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
The echoes of drums played from a band in the square. Laughter and snippets of conversation broke through the pleasant night air, as Jett and Hannah walked around random furniture placed on the sidewalks and the middle of the road. Eureka Springs was holding yet another event that they were known for—“The Yards and Yards of Yard Sales.”
Everyone had brought out their junk to sell. They’d mostly closed down for the night, but there were still a few stalwart vendors watching them hopefully. Hannah was enchanted as she checked out the drawers on an antique wardrobe.
“You like that?” Jett asked.
Yes, but she had absolutely nowhere to put it. She shrugged and leaned against him. “It’s just so quaint.”
“Say the word and we’ll strap it onto the car and lug it out of here.”
She laughed, not able to imagine where he’d fit this huge piece of furniture in his expensive Audi Quattro Spyder convertible. “Maybe we’ll find something smaller.” A lot smaller, like a charm, so she’d satisfy his itch to buy her something. He was determined to make this her best birthday ever. Her aunt had texted her all day and had finally relaxed when Hannah told her that Jett was taking care of the festivities. That was an understatement. If he could produce a flying carpet, he would. She squeezed his arm in gratitude.
He stopped at a carefully folded pile of ’70s-style clothing and pulled out the most outrageous bell-bottom jumper he could find. He held it up to her. “I should’ve waited to buy your birthday present. What do you think?”
She covered her mouth so that she wouldn’t embarrass herself with her barking laugh. Now she knew he was teasing her. Her turquoise earrings swung past her ear. It was about the only thing she was wearing that belonged to her. He’d sent up the white baby doll dress to her room earlier. It was both sleek and cute—he’d read her style perfectly. Or Veronica had? The stern woman had passed it on to her with a bitter twist to her lips.
Jett’s hand traveled down her bare arm, and he clasped her hand in his. She doubted even her aunt would recognize her from that timid, stressed girl she’d been when she’d first crashed at her aunt’s house a few months earlier.
Maybe Ryan wouldn’t know her either, especially hiding in these crowds. She had no idea what had become of him. Even if his fate wasn’t as terrible as she’d initially thought, the odds were that he’d given up trying to find her. Her aunt hadn’t mentioned anything about him in her texts. He had to be long gone.
The spring in her step turned to a skip, and she swung around to kiss the man who had given her back her confidence. His grip tightened on her. He didn’t ask her any questions, only pressed his lips against hers, running his hands down her back. She stepped away, her heart singing, just before she looked around to see the vendors were gone.
Jett smirked. “I think we cleared the place out.”
She wished. More than anything, she wanted Jett to herself.
There were swarms of people out for the drum festival in the lit square ahead. The bright moon poked through a black cloudy sky. All eight floors of the rocky limestone exterior of the Basin Park Hotel had been lit up in a bevy of warm lavender lights. That was where the gangsters lived out their glory days in the ’20s. The “coppers” ruined their nefarious fun when they raided the hotel using the same tunnels the gangsters used to smuggle liquor. The architecture hadn’t changed much from the old days, from their limestone hotels, government buildings, and restaurants to their Victorian houses. The residents of Eureka Springs lived side by side with their ghosts, and reveled in the fun.
“Where do you want to go first?” Jett asked her. “We’ve got an hour to kill before our reservation at the Basin Park Hotel.”
Hannah had a few ideas, and it involved chocolate. “I’ve a craving that only one earthly pleasure can slake,” she said in her best piratical drawl.
His brow rose, and she realized how strange that sounded and nudged him playfully. It was a quote she’d gotten from Aunt Lily when they visited downtown on Saturdays. It had become their signal that they were done with shopping and ready for the most sought-after treat on Spring Street. Jett would see soon.
She took his hand, noticing that it completely dwarfed hers, as she led him across the streets blocked off from traffic. She opened the door to a shop that had become almost as familiar to her as her aunt’s home. If she couldn’t introduce him to Aunt Lily yet, she’d settle for another beloved face. They pushed inside the shop, enveloped in the warm lights and sugary smells of Julie Ward’s Sweet Shoppe. As always, there was a line to the fudge.
“Oh.” Jett gave her a knowing look, that expressive forehead creasing on his beautiful face. “I understand now.”
Julie’s granddaughter, Crystal, worked the front counter. She was a younger version of Julie with a square jaw and twinkling eyes. Hannah and Jett waited in line, in the midst of mouthwatering smells, until they reached her. “Is Julie here?” Hannah asked.
Crystal’s head shot up from the cash register, and she gave a tired smile, pushing her dark hair behind her ear. “Oh yeah, Grams will be excited to see you.” Crystal disappeared into the back.
Julie Ward came out almost immediately, holding her arms out to Hannah for a hug. “I’ve been so worried for you, dearcakes! But you look fine. Hmm, a little too fine. What’s with the fancy dress?” Julie’s happy gaze ran over the white frock and turned suspicious as she glanced over at Jett. “My, my, my! Looks like Hannah got you back on your feet, no thanks to you!”
Jett colored sheepishly, but still he laughed. “I deserve that.” His green eyes swerved to Hannah. “And I don’t deserve her.”
“No, you don’t!” Julie squawked back. “Wait …” Her expression turned thoughtful. “Is this the same man who dragged my Persephone off to Hades? I was half afraid you’d never give her up. That could still be true.” She leaned back and fixed Jett with a considering look. “You’re certainly very … tall and handsome. Still! No excuse … well, unless you like him, Hannah. Then all is forgiven.”
Embarrassment rubbed against her insides, and Hannah let out a nervous giggle. “Yeah, Julie, I like him a lot.” Jett’s arm went around her, almost automatically, and she melted into his side.
&n
bsp; “Oh.” A gleam softened Julie’s eyes. “Well, why didn’t you say so?” She let out a titter. “Just wait until your aunt hears this. I love a good romance story.”
Jett’s eyes shot to Hannah. She hadn’t told him about Aunt Lily. All he knew was that Hannah came from out of town to work for Eureka Springs Healthcare and found a better offer with him.
She slanted an apologetic look at Jett. “Julie’s good friends with my aunt.”
“Yes, I am. I am. I told Lily where you were staying, Hannah.” She held up a defensive finger. “She had a right to know. She couldn’t believe you made me swear to secrecy … as if her own aunt couldn’t know where she was. What a notion.”
Now Hannah’s smile felt frozen. “She’s a little overprotective.”
That set Julie off on another tirade. “If that’s what you call overprotective. Hannah showed up on Lily’s doorstep without so much as a …” Julie stuttered to a stop at Hannah’s pleading expression. “Well, you know how we worry.”
Hannah sighed. Now that the danger from Ryan was over, Jett had every right to the truth, but she hadn’t felt like unloading all her dirty laundry on him on her birthday. She touched Jett’s arm. “I should introduce you to my aunt soon.”
“Yeah …” He watched her thoughtfully. “I’d like that.”
She’d messed up big time, but he only seemed confused, not angry—or worse, hurt. She began to breathe easier and decided to make the most of this night. She clutched at his hand. “What’s your favorite fudge?”
He scanned the array of flavors spread in the display case. “There’s a lot to choose from.”
“Dear,” Julie interrupted. “Don’t make him decide that way. Samples. He’ll need lots and lots of samples.” She waved excitedly at Crystal, who quickly cut out a slice of everything—tiger butter, brownie batter, peppermint Oreo.
Hannah was almost jealous that Jett got to try it all for the first time. Her eyes slid past the usuals to the more controversial flavors like caramel potato chip and peanut butter jelly protein. She danced forward. “How about I do the honors? Close your eyes, Jett.”
He smirked, his brows quirking up like he was game for anything. “Can I ask why?”
“Because it makes it more exciting.” She touched his bristled jaw, and after giving her a searching look, he closed his eyes. Crystal giggled beside her and elbowed Hannah, but Hannah had it covered. She popped a vanilla caramel into Jett’s mouth.
He caught her hand like he was trying to steady himself. “Okay, maybe smaller bites next time,” he said, laughing. “I’m going to go into a sugar coma.”
“Can you guess what that was?” Hannah asked.
“Something caramel?”
“Close enough.” She gave him the salted eggnog next, and he made a face and opened his eyes. Laughing, she tried to back away.
He slid his hands around her waist before she got too far. “I trusted you!”
“It’s not my fault! It’s tradition.”
Crystal giggled while Julie wagged her finger. “I don’t appreciate you using my fudge as a trick.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Ward.” Jett pulled Hannah closer, capturing her securely in front of him. “I’ll take her back to my underground world with me and make her pay.” Hannah should’ve known he’d use everyone’s colorful description of Hades to tease her. “After we buy out your store of all the salted eggnog you have. We’ll play our own game at home.”
“No!” Hannah squealed out. “You heard Julie. She only wants you to pick your favorite flavors.”
“Hmm.” He tugged Hannah closer. “What was that food Hades gave Persephone to force her to stay with him?”
“Pomegranate seeds,” Julie helpfully answered.
Jett grinned. “I’ll take some pomegranate fudge, please.”
Hannah melted at the sentiment.
Julie clasped her hands together. Her eyes were alight with excitement. “Go on, you kids. I’ll pack up some brownie batter for you, and you can play your little game at home with that.”
The little traitor. Julie was practically encouraging Jett to get his revenge. Julie wrapped up a block of the creamy fudge, and tucked it in a bag, refusing to take their money. Hannah couldn’t keep back her giggles as they made their way back across the street, her heart feeling so light and free she could fly. Every moment with Jett felt like perfection.
She expected them to go to the Basin Park Hotel for their dinner reservations, but he led her over a bridge to the main pavilion first, walking under the arch that said “The Balm of Life.”
This had always been Hannah’s favorite part of town. The band played near the hotel where a crowd gathered to watch. They approached the noise, and Jett led her to the side, where the aboveground well had been built of stone. Was this how Persephone felt after she’d fallen for Hades? Now that Julie had put the legend into Hannah’s mind, everywhere she turned, she saw the Greek tragedy, from the statues to the fountains and circular stone walls.
She pushed her elbows against the stone siding on the other side of Jett, looking down into the bottomless depths. The well had transformed throughout the years. It once had a fountain, then a grate. Now they’d temporarily turned it into a wishing well, and they could throw pennies down it. Glancing over at Jett from across the well, she realized he had no idea about this town’s history. Hannah had become fast friends with the tour guide Mollie when she’d first come into town, and she knew the stories better than most.
“This is a place of healing, actually,” she said. He looked up with surprise, and she decided to give him the full story. “There was a blind Sioux princess whose eyesight was restored when she bathed in the waters of Eureka Springs.”
“Really?” His eyes glittered brightly. “I knew there was something in the water. Never that.”
“Yeah, apparently no one could keep its healing powers a secret. The Sioux tried—for thousands of years, even—but as soon as one snake oil salesman got wind of it, the place became overrun with the sick and lame. It started with soldiers from the Civil War, and soon the whole town was made of people looking to be healed, all brought together because of hope.”
Jett took a deep breath, staring over at her. “Hope is a beautiful thing. This place worked for me.” He reached over the well and took her hand. “You’re a part of that.” With his other hand, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a necklace.
Warmth spread through her when she saw the glorious butterfly pendant. Of course he’d be so thoughtful; he put his heart into everything. “Oh, Jett!”
He walked around the well and slid it around her neck, where he kissed the tender skin above it. His bristled cheek slid against her jaw. She lightly pressed his chin with her hand and pushed her lips against his. She adored this man, from his wry humor to his gentle touches.
“Mmm.” His mouth turned up. “You taste like chocolate.”
She laughed, just as she glanced over his shoulder. Her stomach jolted, making her sick; Ryan stood behind Jett in the crowd. She fell back as her whole life tipped upside down, like she’d hit the high and plummeted to the ground in a roller coaster. Just as suddenly as he’d appeared, Ryan slipped back into the throng of people. Tears blinded her. What if Ryan had a gun? He’d hurt Jett.
And now? Ryan could be anywhere.
She swiveled to stare back at Jett. She couldn’t tell him what was happening—maybe bits and pieces, but if she told him everything, Ryan would only turn Jett against her with that autopsy report. Even without a weapon, Ryan could make her dance like a marionette on strings with his false evidence against her. He could take her down with a word. It was either go back to Ryan, or go to jail … or run. Nothing had changed.
All she could do was put some distance between her and the man who had ruined her life. “Jett,” she breathed. “We need to go home.”
Chapter Seventeen
Hannah wouldn’t explain herself. She sat in the passenger’s side, shivering. Her butterfly pendant glittere
d in the moonlight. She looked terrified. Earlier, Jett had turned to where she’d stared sightlessly into the crowd, and he’d seen nothing. Her hands had grasped his, and she’d pleaded with him to go.
He glanced over at her as they passed the Sweetheart Tree in the middle of the shadowed, lonely road of the Mountain Cove Retreat. “Hey,” he said. “You want to tell me what happened?”
“Um.” She wiped at a tear that slid down her cheek. He reached out to touch her arm. “I saw someone from my past.”
He felt the anger twist into his gut and wished he could’ve caught sight of whoever had made her so scared. “You want me to take care of it?”
For some reason, that made her tears fall faster. He hurriedly parked in front of his home, which was made of stacks of granite. It had served as his fortress to hide away and lick his wounds from the accident, but now it served a dual purpose: to keep Hannah safe. Maybe he was taking his Persephone away to his underground lair. He’d hide her away from the world if that was what took these tears away.
He got out of the car and met her in front of the hood, gathering her into his arms. “I’m here with you.” She didn’t need to be afraid. A thought occurred to him. “Is that why you didn’t want to go out? Has someone been threatening you?”
She hesitated. “No, no, it’s not as big a deal as all that. I’m just overreacting. This guy … he just brought up really bad memories.”
“A guy? What did he do?” He ran a hand down her back. “Is he from around here?”
She stiffened, though her tears still ran freely, and she hid her face against his chest, shaking her head. “It’s fine. I just dated him. Just one of those jerks, you know?”
That’s not what this felt like. “If he’s bothering you, we can call the police.”
“No.” She clasped his arms. “I just want to forget about him.”
He took a deep breath. Obviously, Hannah didn’t want trouble, but if he caught sight of her ex, he wouldn’t hesitate to go after him. He took her hand and went into the house, pushing open the rustic mahogany door at the front.
Her Broken Hero Billionaire (Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Book 8) Page 12