“Figured you’d be calling tonight. Still enjoying married life?”
“Yes. You should try it sometime.”
“Why settle for one woman when there are so many to choose from?”
Drew remembered Jack being engaged once, years ago. He didn’t know how or why it ended, but ever since his friend had had a different view on women and relationships. “Whatever makes you happy.” When it came to women, what Jack did or didn’t do was none of Drew’s business. “How’d everything go this afternoon?”
“My lawyer said it went smoothly.”
They’d agreed it was best Jack not show up for the closing himself. By giving his lawyer power of attorney, Jack could send him to close the deal, and Kelsey would never see the man who purchased the garage. Later, if someday Kelsey did met Jack, she wouldn’t recognize him as Jackson Newton, the man who’d bought Bancroft Automotive.
“Outstanding.” He hadn’t expected any problems, but last-minute things came up. “Thanks again. We’ll work on getting it off your hands soon.”
Footsteps echoed from the hallway. “I’m back.” Kelsey’s voice drifted to him from the doorway.
Too damn close. He turned and smiled. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.” They’d have to finish this particular conversation some other time.
“Yeah. Tomorrow at your reception.”
He’d given Mom free rein on the invites. It made sense she’d invited Jack. They were close friends. “You’re coming?”
“Told your mom there was no way I’d miss this.”
Jack and Kelsey had never met. A lot of men were named Jack. She wouldn’t have any reason to believe the man she met tomorrow was the same man she’d just sold the garage to. He had nothing to worry about.
“Great. Look forward to seeing you.” Drew ended the brief call and stuck the cell phone back into his pocket. He didn’t wait for her to reach him. Instead he crossed the room. “I’m glad you’re home early. I thought you’d be out later.”
“Oh really? Does that mean you were just on the phone with your girlfriend? Is that why you hung up as soon as I walked in?”
“Who has the energy for a girlfriend, married to you? You wipe me out every night.” He pulled her in close. “I was talking to my agent. He’s coming to the party tomorrow and wanted to know the best route. We both know GPS doesn’t always take you the most direct way.”
“Jill really did invite everyone.”
“Seems like it.” He cleared his throat before he spoke again. “Today must have been hard. Are you okay?” He’d offered to go with her, but she’d insisted he keep his appointment with his trainer.
“It was difficult, but I’m okay. The new buyer didn’t show up. He sent his lawyer with a power of attorney instead to sign for him.”
“You said the dude was from out of state. He probably didn’t have the time to drive out here.”
“New York City. But if he’s going to own a business in town, he’ll need to find the time to visit. Luke said the man asked him to stay on as manager. Actually, he asked all the employees to stay on. Luke knows what he’s doing, but he’ll need some input from this new owner. There are some decisions a manager can’t make.”
In another six or eight months, they’d be the owners again. With Luke still working as the manager, how hands-on Jack planned to be until then was irrelevant.
“But you know what? It’s not my problem anymore. Getting a head start on the research papers in my bag is.” She stepped out of his arms. “Do you mind if I work on reading through some of them tonight? Tomorrow I won’t touch any schoolwork. Promise.”
He’d rather have her undivided attention, but wouldn’t ask her for it. Since she’d moved in with him, he’d seen how dedicated she was to her job. She might not love teaching middle school, but she put all her effort into it. “Read away. I’ll play some video games.”
“You’re the best. I knew I loved you for a reason.” She dropped a quick kiss on his cheek. “I’ll make it up to you later tonight.”
The guilt chewing through his stomach said the opposite. Drew shifted his weight, his conversation with Jack ringing in his ears. Yeah, right, the best. “You better.”
Chapter Sixteen
Drew grabbed her elbow as she stepped into a small crack, and stopped her from landing face-first on the pavement.
“Did I ever tell you I hate heels?” She straightened and carefully walked around the next crack in the parking lot. Plowing over the winter had taken its toll, and the restaurant needed to repave the lot.
“In the last ten minutes? No.” He couldn’t help giving her a hard time. She’d started complaining about her shoes the moment she slipped them on.
“Sorry. But really, whoever came up with the idea of heels never actually wore them.”
“You won’t have them on long. Don’t women always take them off at wedding receptions when they dance?” He hadn’t attended many, but it’d been the case at the few he’d made it to.
They passed by several rows of cars. Most had Massachusetts plates, but a few out-of-state ones were mixed in, including one from Florida. Had his grandparents driven up for the party? For years now they’d spent the winters in Florida, leaving right after Christmas and coming back north in late May or early June. He hadn’t seen them since the holidays, and hoped the car from Florida belonged to them.
He stopped at the entrance. “You look beautiful tonight.” Rather than buy a new dress for the party, she’d borrowed one from Ella. Kelsey said Ella had bought this one at a boutique in Paris. Wherever she’d picked it up, it looked amazing on Kelsey.
“You already told me.”
“Once wasn’t enough. Every single dude here tonight is going to be jealous.”
“I could say the same about the women. It’s a good thing all the guests are either family members or friends.”
The same hostess who’d greeted them on Valentine’s Day welcomed them inside. “Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie, it’s nice to see you again. Please follow me.” Rather than lead them through the dining room to a table, she walked them toward a staircase.
“Excellent, you’re here.” Mom came down the last two steps as they approached. She bypassed him and hugged Kelsey. “Kelsey, you look absolutely amazing. Where did you get your dress? It’s gorgeous.” Mom took Kelsey’s hand and started back up the stairs without so much as a nod in his direction.
“Hey, Mom. Nice to see you too.”
She stopped and came back down. “Oh, sorry.” She hugged him. “I’m a tad frazzled. We had a few last-minute hiccups. Nothing either of you need to worry about.” She took his hand this time. “You look very handsome. Come on, everyone is waiting upstairs for you.”
He’d told Mom to only invite family and close friends. Judging by the number of guests gathered, Mom considered a quarter of the town their friends. Everyone from his high school football coach to his parents’ next-door neighbors was there. Slowly, Drew and Kelsey made their way through the well-wishers toward the center of the dance floor and the table designated for them.
“When I saw you dance at Sean O’Brien’s wedding, I knew you’d end up together someday,” Mrs. Mitchell said. “It was the way you looked at her. My Harold used to look at me the same way.” The well-liked widow squeezed his hand, and he wished she’d shared the information with him back in the fall. “Take good care of each other no matter what. And never go to sleep angry. If Harold and I argued, we always made up before we went to bed.”
“We’ll remember, Mrs. Mitchell. Thank you for coming tonight,” Kelsey said.
They passed by a few more tables before reaching Jessie’s. She was sitting with her husband and stepdaughter, as well as Sean and Mia. When they approached, she immediately stood up and hugged them both. Unlike the night of the card game, Drew could easily tell she was expecting now. He couldn’t remember if Kelsey ever told him whether Jessie and Mack were having a boy or a girl. While Jessie, Mia, and Kelsey quickly caught up, he tur
ned his attention to Mack.
“Boy or girl?” he asked.
“Both.”
“Twins?”
“Jessie has two babies inside her. I’m going to have a little brother and a little sister,” Grace, Mack’s daughter, said, jumping into the conversation before her father answered.
If Kelsey had known, she hadn’t shared the news with him. He would’ve remembered Jessie and Mack were expecting twins.
“Sorry, I thought I told you,” Kelsey said after hearing Grace’s comment.
It took several more stops and short conversations, including one with his grandparents, but they eventually made it to the table of honor. Before dinner was served, his parents made a joint speech welcoming Kelsey to the family. Both Cody and John followed with ones of their own, each being sure to add in a funny and somewhat embarrassing story about him. He’d expected as much from his brothers. In June when John stood in his shoes, he’d repay the favor.
As dinner was served, Drew checked to see who else had made the party tonight. Some of the friends and family members gathered, he hadn’t seen in a long time. He caught sight of Jack seated with a couple of old friends from high school and two women he thought were Kelsey’s cousins. Unlike her parents who had spent their entire lives in North Salem, Kelsey’s aunt had moved out of state after getting married. Over the years, she and her husband would visit and bring Kelsey’s cousins, but the last time he remembered seeing them was at Ian’s funeral.
“I don’t know how Jill pulled this together so fast. It looks like everyone is here. I even spotted Mariah and Jen. I’ll have to go over and say hello after dinner.”
He’d been correct. The two women seated with Jack were her cousins. “Mom doesn’t fool around when it comes to planning a party. Are your aunt and uncle here? I haven’t seen them.”
Kelsey reached for her fork and nodded. “They walked in during Cody’s speech. Mom used to joke that Aunt Suzanne would be late for her own funeral. Uncle Mike is at the bar. My aunt must have gone to the ladies’ room because they were sitting with my cousins.”
Drew was glad Kelsey had family present tonight.
“I don’t see Uncle Rich, but he hates traveling. But Aunt Karla and my cousin Dominic are here,” she said, referring to her uncle’s wife and son.
He couldn’t recall ever meeting her mom’s older brother. The man lived in Colorado with his family and hated traveling, especially if it involved stepping on a plane. He hadn’t even attended Ian’s funeral. Considering how small Kelsey’s family was, Drew thought it would’ve been nice if the man came to his niece’s reception.
A traditional cake cutting and first dance followed dinner. Then the DJ Mom hired for the evening put on some popular dance music. People of all ages took to the dance floor while others switched seats and had conversations with people they hadn’t seen in a long time, Kelsey included. After thanking Coach Striker and his wife for coming, she’d left his side to say hello to her aunt and uncle.
Alone for the moment, he headed over to the open bar where Jack was ordering a drink and talking with CJ Major, another New England Rebels player.
“Glad you both made it tonight,” Drew said.
“When I first saw the headline announcing you’d gotten married, I didn’t believe it,” CJ said. “Last time I saw you, you were headed on vacation with the redhead you were dating. I don’t remember her name.”
“I knew he planned to propose, and the news took me by surprise too,” Jack said. “Are you going to introduce us to her?”
Drew checked to see if she was still talking with her aunt Suzanne. She wasn’t. Instead she was chatting with Dakota Smith and walking in his direction. Before she reached him, Dakota left her side, leaving her to continue alone. “Looks like you’re about to.” Whether he wanted Kelsey to meet Jack or not, there was no stopping it now.
She put her arm around his waist and kissed him. “Sorry I took so long. Aunt Suzanne was catching me up. I haven’t seen her in almost a year.”
“No worries, I kept myself busy.” He nodded toward Jack. “Kelsey, this is Jack. We roomed together for three years at LSU, and now he’s my agent.” He gestured toward his teammate. “You probably recognize CJ.” CJ had appeared on his fair share of billboards and television ads during his football career.
Kelsey smiled and thanked them both for coming. “Do either of you have any embarrassing stories you’d care to share about my husband?” He didn’t miss the gleam in her eye.
“Let’s skip the stories, and I’ll get you a drink instead?” Drew asked. Heaven knew what stories Jack might share from their college days.
“How about a Mai Tai to drink while I hear the stories?”
“Smart woman, I like the way she thinks,” Jack said. “Order her a drink while I think up a few good ones from our time at LSU.”
Drew moved toward the bar. If Kelsey wanted a Mai Tai, he’d get her one. He wanted a beer anyway.
“Newton.” Cody’s voice stopped him, and he turned.
His brother slapped Jack on the shoulder. “Can’t believe you managed to get your butt out of your Manhattan penthouse. How’ve you been?”
Kelsey’s eyebrows dipped, and she blinked several times. Drew’s stomach rolled, and he bit down on the inside of his cheek while he waited for what he feared was coming.
Drew’s friend and agent was named Jack Newton. There could be several hundred Jack Newtons in the world. New York City probably had over eight million people living in it, so statistically there could be more than two men in the city with the same name. But how likely was it another man named Jack Newton from New York City would have any interest in buying an automotive garage in a town like North Salem? She’d admit it was plausible, but not probable.
Kelsey looked at Drew. His face told her everything she needed to know. The Jack Newton standing with them and the one who’d bought Bancroft Automotive this month were one and the same.
She clenched her hands until her nails dug into her palms, and tried to keep from saying something she shouldn’t in a crowded room. Around her Jack, Cody, and CJ discussed baseball as if nothing unusual had just been revealed. Drew, though, kept his eyes locked on her, only reinforcing what she already suspected. He’d somehow been involved with Jack’s decision to buy a business in town. Before she accused Drew of meddling, she needed to further confirm her suspicion.
She waited for a lull in the baseball discussion. “I’m curious, is Jack short for John? I had a friend in high school named John, but everyone called him Jack. I never understood why. The two names are the same length.”
Jack took a sip from the martini glass in his hand before answering. “No, it’s short for Jackson. It was my mother’s maiden name. She decided it’d make a good first name. I don’t agree, and I hardly ever use it.”
Across from her, Drew flinched, giving her all the evidence she needed.
“I’ve only visited Manhattan a few times. I could never live there. It’s way too busy.”
“That’s why I love it. Whether it’s two in the afternoon or two in the morning, you can find something to do,” Jack said. “I don’t think I could ever live in a small town like North Salem.”
“Do you still want the Mai Tai?” Drew asked. “Or would you rather go dance?”
The DJ had put on the same slow ballad they’d danced to at Sean and Mia’s reception.
Did he hope to get her away from Jack, CJ, and his brother before she learned anything else he hoped to keep a secret? She’d stick around and find out. “No, I’d still love the drink. We can dance more later.”
***
It took a boatload of willpower, but she’d managed to keep her suspicions to herself up until now. The party was over though and they were home. Now she could say exactly what was on her mind and get some answers. Answers she already knew she wasn’t going to like. Drew had deceived her.
Even a guilty man deserved a chance to defend himself, so she’d give that much.
&n
bsp; “Whatever last-minute problems came up, Mom threw a great party tonight.” Drew pulled off his tie and tossed it on the bed. “The woman should become a professional party planner.”
“She did a nice job. And it was nice seeing everyone. Especially my family. I should try to visit them more.” You’re stalling. Get to the point.
“Still can’t get over Jessie and Mack’s news.” His shirt followed the tie, leaving him standing there in a plain white undershirt and his suit pants. “Twins. Better him than me.”
Enough small talk. “Your agent bought Bancroft Auto.” She crossed her arms and continued. “Don’t try to deny it. Other people might share the name Jackson Newton, but I don’t buy there are two living in New York City and both know North Salem exists.”
He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair, but didn’t meet her eyes.
“What did you do?” He’s silence was his guilty confession. Now she wanted the details. “Drew?”
“After you rejected the first offer, I asked him to make one. Told him to offer full asking price, so you’d accept immediately.”
Her friends would do anything for her, but she didn’t think it included purchasing a business they didn’t want. “And he went along with it? Is he secretly in love with you?”
Drew cracked a half smile. “Believe me, he’s not in love with me. He’s as straight as I am.” He took a few steps closer, but perhaps sensing the frustration bubbling up inside her, he stopped. “The plan was he’d put the place up for sale in six or eight months, and I’d buy it from him.”
Knowing he’d deceived her and hearing him admit it were two different things. “Why?” The confusion brewing inside her since meeting Jack veered to anger. “Why did you do it?”
“You wouldn’t sell it to me. And I didn’t want it going to a stranger,” Drew answered, his voice reflecting his own frustration. “I knew you didn’t really want to sell. This way you got the money you needed, and eventually it’d belong to you again.”
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