Love Me Tender

by Wendy Vella

  “I am not gooey.”

  “Buy some decorations. We’ll put up a tree, and you can sigh in private.”

  “I don’t have time to do that, and I don’t want a tree,” Rory lied. She’d always put up a tree, even when it was just her there to see it. She couldn’t help but let her eyes wander around the store. Fairy lights were everywhere, and it even smelled of Christmas.

  “You got money?”

  “I’m not answering that.”

  “For buying ornaments,” Jack said patiently.

  “My grandmother probably has some, if I wanted to put some up.”

  “Sure, but you need more. My aunt is always buying new ones each year. It’s tradition, so she says. She’s really bad now we have Gracie.”

  Rory wandered away as he talked and touched a silver rocking horse hanging in a tree. It had a long black mane of hair.

  “Is that the one you’d like, Rory?”

  “If you’re sure, then yes, thanks, Mrs. L.”

  The woman took it away to be wrapped up.

  Rory found a dove next.

  “Just buy it, Princess, I don’t have all day here. Day off, remember? I don’t want to spend it shopping.”

  Rory’s hand shot out to take the dove off the tree, and before she could stop herself she was paying for it.

  “Is that it?” Jack said as she started back out of the shop with the decorations in a bag.

  “Yes. Like I said, I don’t know if I’m putting up a tree.” But now he’d put the idea inside her head it was firmly fixed there.

  “Food,” he said as they left, taking her bag in one hand and her hand in the other.

  “We just ate your grilled cheese sandwiches!”

  “Two hours ago, have a heart.”

  “Jack, I’m not sure we should be holding hands like other people.”

  “Other people?”

  “You know, couples, and people like that.”

  He dropped her hand and moved to stand in front of her.

  “And we’re not people like that?”

  She shook her head, and for some reason that made him angry. His green eyes narrowed and his mouth opened to fire something at her, but before he could someone else spoke.

  “Hi, Jack.”

  A tall, leggy brunette walked up to stand beside him. She leaned in and closed her hand on Jack’s arm, planting a kiss on his lips.

  “Hi, I’m Layla, I work at the lodge.”

  Rory wasn’t sure how she managed a smile when she was experiencing a raging case of irrational jealousy.

  “I really enjoyed the other night, Jack. Are we still on for that ride today? I thought after maybe we could have dinner. I can cook.”

  Her hair was long, silky, and straight, Rory noted, thinking of her crazy curls, and she had a pretty face, with high cheekbones accented with just the right amount of color. Rory had never mastered makeup all that well. Layla’s clothes were designed to flatter a curvaceous figure.

  “Then maybe we could have a spa.”

  It was obvious that she was offering more than just a spa.

  “I really can’t make it, sorry, Layla, I need—”

  “Hey, don’t let me stop you,” Rory said, feeling the sense of well-being she’d had all morning, being with Jack, vanish. Her old insecurities resurfaced and suddenly she was furious that Jack had obviously been seeing other women while he was seeing her... or sleeping with her. “I was just leaving anyway. Bye.”

  “Rory, wait.”

  “All good, Jack. You catch up with your friend, I can walk home. See you later.”

  She didn’t look back as she headed off down the street, just kept walking leaving him holding the Christmas decorations.

  By the time she’d reached home she’d worked herself into a rage. Jealousy was an ugly trait, but right at that moment she had it in spades. Rory felt betrayed, and the hell of it was, she had no right to the emotion. They’d promised each other nothing. She had never experienced this kind of emotion before, and felt like a teenager after her first breakup.

  Yet the memory of cuddling into his body last night just wouldn’t budge. They’d been close this morning, sharing pasts and intimacies, and Rory had finally lowered the barriers she kept in place to keep herself safe.

  “Damn, damn, damn.”

  She should have known he’d been with other women while he was with her. The signs were there: the man loved women, and they loved him right back.

  The problem was he was just such a good guy. Rory sighed. And she cared for him.

  “Not your wisest move, Aurora May.”

  Stripping off her coat and sweater, as she was sweating beneath from her sprint home, she headed up the hall and into one of the spare bedrooms. This one she’d yet to explore, but hoped that maybe the Christmas decorations were here, because damn it, she was having a tree, and to hell with Jack Trainer. Not that he’d done anything to go to hell for, but she felt better saying it.

  Chapter 35

  Jack told Layla he wasn’t able to take her riding, and then left. She wasn’t overly upset, and why would she be? They were nothing but friends. Okay, maybe he’d thought one time there could be more, but not now.

  Now he was furious with Rory. She’d stalked away from him like the heroine in a bad movie, all pissed off for some reason he couldn’t work out.

  “What’s up?”

  “Hey, Dylan.”

  “You look like you want to punch something, and while I love you like a brother, I’m not putting my hand up.”

  “Women are confusing.”

  “You just working that out, son?”

  “Ha. No, I guess I always knew it, but managed to avoid too much in-depth involvement with the species unless they were related to me.”

  “You have to be commended for that then. Does this woman have a name, or shall I take a guess?”

  “No.”

  Dylan smiled. “Princess Aurora May Haldane.”

  “She’s a small package of awkward and annoying.”

  “And not what the stallion is used to, is my guess.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Let’s go, you need to work off some aggression and I know just the way. Plus, I need your pickup. Where are you parked?”

  “Do I get a say in this?”

  “No.”

  He was soon driving under Dylan’s direction, and twenty minutes later he pulled up at the Hindells’ Christmas tree farm.

  “Why the hell are we here when you already have your tree up?”

  “Piper wants another one in Gracie’s bedroom. We thought we’d surprise her with it today.”

  “You do know she has control of you both, don’t you?”

  “Of course, but to be fair last night I told her she could only have one bowl of ice-cream.”

  Jack rolled his eyes as he got out, and they were soon walking through the trees.

  “So what’s the deal with Rory? Why are you angry with her?”

  Why the hell not, Jack thought. He couldn’t understand what was going on between them, so maybe someone else could. Dylan would keep his mouth shut too.

  “I’ve been spending some time with her, and then we were walking down the street today and she says that we shouldn’t hold hands because we don’t have a thing.”

  “And do you have a thing?”

  “Hell, I don’t know.”

  “Does she make you feel different than the others?”

  Jack jammed his hands in his pockets and thought about that as Dylan looked at the trees.

  “Maybe. It’s complicated.”

  “Then I’d take that as a yes. Complicated explained exactly how I felt about Pip.”

  “I really don’t want any of that.”

  “Aww, son, it happens to most of us at some time.”

  Jack saw a tree. Perfectly formed and bushy. He thought of Rory. It would be perfect in her place.

  “Layla from the lodge said, in front of Rory, that she enjoyed
the other night and were we still on for a ride today. She then asked about dinner and a spa. Rory walked away—stormed away, actually.”

  Dylan whistled as he started cutting down a tree.

  “What does that mean?”

  “Two things, possibly. The first, that she’s pissed you were seeing another woman while you were seeing her... I’m guessing you were seeing her?”

  Jack nodded.

  “Secondly, that she’s realized that she is pissed, which could also bring to the forefront that she feels something for you, which she definitely does not want to feel... a bit like you.”

  Jack liked the second idea better. The thought of Rory jealous appealed in a kind of weird way.

  “Give me that saw,” Jack said when Dylan had finished.

  * * *

  After dropping Dylan home, he drove to Rory’s, unloaded the tree, and carried it up the steps. He knocked, waited, knocked again, then rested the tree on the wall and headed to the barn.

  The place looked tidier, and he could see Rory had been busy. Inside, he found Phil lying in a box that had a blanket on the bottom.

  The cat opened an eye and looked at him, then lowered it, suggesting he wasn’t impressed with what he saw.

  “Where’s your owner?” He looked around but didn’t see any sign of Rory—but he did see a ladder going up into the roof. Climbing, he tested the rungs and they felt sturdy enough. He didn’t want Rory hurting herself.

  Reaching the opening, he climbed through. The place was loaded with boxes and crates.

  “Rory?”

  No reply, so he moved through the space and found her seated beside a large box. In her hands was a small cardboard star.

  “Hey, you.” He dropped to his haunches beside her. She looked up at him and he saw she’d been crying.

  “You said you didn’t have memories, but I did, Jack. So many of them are up here.”

  “You make that?” He touched the star. Covered in glitter, it had the words Merry Christmas written on it, obviously in a child’s hand.

  “Tafty used to help us put trees up in our rooms, as Mother wouldn’t let us decorate the one in the living area. I made this for mine when I was five.”

  “Okay, so that will have to go on the tree then. What else you got?”

  “All these. Things that Leo, Matt, and I made.”

  Jack leaned over her and loaded everything back into the box.

  “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He carried the box down, and Rory followed. Silently they walked back to the front door.

  “You brought me a tree.” The whispered words were accompanied by a sniff.

  “I didn’t have you down as a female who cried a lot.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Right.”

  She poked out her tongue, which was better than the utter despair he’d seen on her face before.

  “I got you a stand too; it’s in the pickup.”

  “I’ll get it.” She leapt off the steps and ran to retrieve it, and then opened the front door for him.

  “Living room is my guess?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “There.” He pointed to a corner.

  “No, there.” She pointed to the left.

  “What’s wrong with there?”

  “I like it better there?”

  “Your house.” He shrugged.

  “Yes, it is,” she said softly.

  Jack set up the tree while Rory went to get the decorations off the doorstep.

  “Right, it’s all yours now.” He stood back to admire it as Phil wandered in.

  “You don’t want to help?”

  “I thought you’d want to do it.”

  She was silent while she took a few things out of the box.

  “I’d like you to help me please, Jack.”

  He sighed loudly. “I have to cut it down and decorate it?”

  She nodded, looking small and vulnerable again.

  “Okay, but you have to make me food and coffee first.”

  “I don’t have lights, and they need to go on first.”

  “Lucky for you they were selling those at the tree farm. Go get them out of the pickup.”

  She did, and there was a definite skip in her step now as she hurried from the room.

  They put the lights up, and Rory turned them on.

  “Ooh, nice.”

  “Right, now food.”

  “First I want to put a decoration on.”

  She unwrapped the horse Mrs. L gave her and put it on the tree carefully.

  “FYI, Layla and I have never slept together, and sure we’ve spent a bit of time talking and hanging out, but nothing like you and I have.”

  The rustling stopped while she thought about what he’d said.

  “I’m sorry for the way I behaved.”

  “It’s okay, I understand. You were jealous, and who wouldn’t be.” He decided to go easy on her. “I’m hot.”

  “You are not that hot.”

  “Sure I am, everyone is saying it.”

  This time she sighed. “Okay, maybe you are, but Mr. Goldhirsh is not saying it.”

  He walked around the tree to where she stood, still fiddling with the horse, and kept walking until he’d backed her into the wall.

  “Don’t think too much, it makes you do dumb stuff, Princess.”

  “I don’t do dumb stuff.”

  “Yes,” he leaned in and kissed her softly, “you do.”

  Her arms went around his neck and they stayed there against that wall for a while, and Jack could honestly say there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

  “Right, now you’ve got a tree and been kissed, it’s time you did your half of the work and fed me.”

  She kissed him again, and it was a struggle to release her when she pushed against his chest. But he did, and she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him reeling.

  “Oh God!”

  Her cry had him running into the kitchen.

  “What? Did you cut yourself? Burn yourself?”

  She was staring into a cupboard.

  “Rory?”

  She slammed the door before facing him. Her face was pale, and she was shaking.

  “What’s going on?”

  “N-nothing.”

  “Like hell.” He picked her up and moved her out of the way, then reached for the cupboard.

  “I didn’t do it!” Her cry was from the heart.

  Opening the cupboard, he saw Ryker’s missing things. The tea set from Tea Total, the painting from A.S., and a few other items.

  “I didn’t, Jack. You have to believe me.”

  He turned to find her backing away from him.

  “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Hey.” He stopped her. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her in. “It’s okay, I know you didn’t take these things.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course. You’re an honest person, sweetheart, I know that.

  “I’ve done nothing to make you believe me, but thank you.” She was still shaking, but the color was returning to her face.

  “You’ve done plenty of things. Helped Mandy and Mrs. L. Been nice to a few of the others who deserved that niceness. Then there’s the way you are with me and mine.”

  “Jack, someone came into my house and placed those things in there deliberately. Wanting me to be caught. How did they know you’d be here to find them?”

  “It was a long shot, but if they’ve been watching us, and me being here last night, they probably knew my stomach would lead me to your kitchen at some stage. Whoever is doing this just made a big mistake to my mind. They just showed us they really are scared you’ll find out something. The problem is, we don’t know what that something is yet.”

  She shuddered.

  “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  “They don’t want to hurt me; they want to scare me out of town.”

  “You’re tou
gher than that.” He kissed her softly. “Way tougher.”

  Her shoulders straightened. “Damn straight I am.”

  “Atta girl. Now about that food?”

  “What do we do about the things?”

  “I’ll take care of them. Don’t worry about it.”

  “How?”

  “Trust me, okay?”

  “That’s asking a lot from someone who doesn’t trust easily.”

  He cupped her cheek, touching the skin with his thumb.

  “I don’t trust easily either, but I trust you.”

  “Really?” The thought pleased her. “I trust you too.”

  “There you go then. I’ll take care of those things you stole.”

  “Very funny. Now let me go so I can make us some food.”

  “It’s a hell of a thing,” he said, pulling her closer. “I can’t seem to let myself.”

  She rested her head on his chest and they stayed that way until they’d both calmed down. He was angry, and she was scared, and holding her was the only way he could settle them both.

  “Okay, I’m going to make us food, then we’ll decorate the tree if you’re still keen?”

  “You kidding me? It’s something I look forward to all year.” His drawl had her laughing.

  She made mac and cheese from scratch, which impressed him enough to have a second helping.

  “You’re a keeper, Princess,” Jack said without thinking.

  “What?”

  “My specialty mac and cheese is out of a box.”

  “I’ve tried those, they’re not bad, but this is healthier.”

  The uncomfortable moment passed.

  He did the dishes with her help, then they attacked the tree. Rory put on Christmas music.

  “I have to listen to that too?”

  “It’s tradition.”

  They decorated, and she told him where to put stuff, and he put it where he wanted.

  “Hell of a job, it has to be noted,” Jack said when they stepped back to admire the tree.

  “Hell of a job,” she agreed.

  “That spot right there,” he pointed to the floor in front of the tree, “would be excellent for making love.”

  “Jack!”

  “You were thinking it, I just said it.”

  Her giggle was sweet.

  “Thank you for today.”