If I Loved You (Harper Falls Book 1)

by Mary J. Williams

  “I’m the pilot.”

  Well, that was a surprise. Last night after dinner, Jack had told her that they would be taking H&W’s private plane. He hadn’t said anything about being a licensed pilot.

  “Does that make you nervous?”

  “Edgar and I trust you completely.”

  Jack wondered if she had any idea what hearing those casually delivered words did to him. Rose trusted him. He felt humbled that she had added him to a list that he knew to be very exclusive.

  “I once knew a guy who tried to impress me by giving me a ride in his private plane.”

  “Really.” Jack carried a clipboard with a list of things to check before they could take off.

  “Of course,” Rose said, bending down to pet Edgar, “once he’d given me a ride he then expected me to give him a ride. If you know what I mean.”

  Finished with his pre-flight routine, Jack handed the clipboard to an airport employee. He then came over to Rose, pulling her into his arms.

  “Oh, I know what you mean. Do you want me to track him down and beat him up?”

  “Yes.” She wrapped her arms around him. Tilting her head back, she met his sparkling eyes with her own. “But since he lives in Buenos Aires, and I doubt your mother would appreciate us being late, I say we let it go.”

  “Okay, but if you change your mind, just let me know.”

  Less than an hour later they were preparing to land at the airport located just a few miles from where Jack had grown up. He contacted the tower for instructions, giving the controller all the required information.

  “Jack.” The voice on the radio called enthusiastically. “Welcome back. We’re all looking forward to seeing you at the big shindig tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Thanks, Jarvis. Tell everyone I’m looking forward to it, too. How’s Betty?”

  “Sassy as always. Hey, I see your dad is just pulling up. Land safe.”

  “When Dad knows I’m flying in he listens for the plane and drives over to meet me.” Jack banked the plane and made his final approach.

  The landing was as smooth as the rest of the trip had been. During the flight, Jack told Rose that both he and Drew had gotten their pilot’s licenses while in college. When they were able to afford it, they bought their first plane. Sometimes, when they were flying a long distance, they hired a pilot. But otherwise they liked to fly themselves.

  Jack’s dad was waiting for them at the hanger. Rose immediately saw the resemblance. Tall and still lean, Ned Winston’s dark hair was peppered with gray. And though there were laugh lines around his eyes and mouth, he moved with ease of a man half his age. His grin was so much like his son’s Rose could easily imagine how as a younger man he would have attracted women in droves. And probably still would if he gave them an ounce of encouragement.

  “Welcome.” Ned met Rose as she exited the plane, reaching out to help her down the steps. “You must be Rose. Jack’s mother wanted to be here to greet you but if she'd come the whole bunch of them would have tried to pile into the truck. One look at that group and you’d have jumped right back on the plane. Best we immerse you gradually.”

  “Dad.” Jack hopped from the plane, Edgar right on his heels. He gave his father a fierce hug. It was obvious that both men were comfortable showing their affection for each other. When they’d finished their greeting, Jack’s dad kept his arm around his son’s shoulders.

  “We’ve been listening to your music, Rose. Jack’s sister Nina downloaded a whole mess of them and the girls have been playing them nonstop ever since they arrived yesterday. You have real talent, young lady.”

  “Thank you.” Rose looked over at Jack. Really? Jack grinned.

  “Don’t worry,” Ned added, winking. “We only play the PG stuff around the kids. The raunchier stuff is strictly adults only.”

  Rose broke out laughing and Jack’s dad laughed right with her. What a charmer. Yes, this man must still be beating them off with a stick.

  “Now, look who we have here. Edgar, your brother has been hopping around for days just waiting for you to get here.” Ned gave the dog a pat. “What do you say we get that luggage into the truck and be on our way?”

  The ride was a short one. Just as she had when they were flying overhead, Rose noticed how rural the area was. Jack had told her he'd grown up on a farm. But until now she hadn’t been able to imagine him as a farm boy.

  “Did you get up every morning before sunrise and milk the cows?” Rose teased. “And please tell me you had to walk twenty miles to school through ten feet of snow.”

  “As a matter of fact I did milk a cow.”

  “But we let him sleep until dawn.” Ned took his eyes off the road to send Rose a broad wink. “And it was only ten miles.”

  “Watch the flirting, old man, or I’ll tell Mom on you.”

  “That’s a good one, boy. There’s no bigger flirt in the county than your mother. Why, just the other day she had Ansell Waymart blushing so hard I thought the poor kid was going to expire on the spot.”

  Rose had never been around a father and son who teased like friends. The affection she’d witnessed when they greeted each other went beyond a filial bond. They liked each other. Rose could easily picture them hanging out—talking for hours. It gave her an odd sensation of warmth in her chest and she felt a tightening in her throat.

  “Hey, you’re awfully quiet.” Jack put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

  “When would she be able to get a word in? Between the two of us we've been yapping like there was no tomorrow.” Ned pulled the truck to a stop. “Rose will get the hang of things soon enough. Around here if you want to be heard? Yell louder than everyone else.”

  The house was an odd hodgepodge of styles. Painted a pale green with white trim, Rose stood for a moment trying to decide what the architect had had in mind with such an eclectic design. The porch was fairly standard, but it wasn’t in a straight line across the front because there was no straight line to follow. Now and then the structure would jut out in an unexpected direction making her imagination go wild with anticipation for seeing the inside. She pictured interesting triangular corners and hallways that led to nowhere. Rose was charmed and hoped at some point during her stay she could get a detailed tour.

  “What do you think of the old place?” Ned came up to stand next to her. He tilted his head as though he were looking for the first time, too.

  “Honestly? I’ve never seen anything like it my entire life.” She turned and grinned. “I absolutely love it.”

  “Beautiful and great taste. You’re a rare one Rose O’Brian.”

  “Dad built the place pretty much all by himself,” Jack told her, the pride in his voice unmistakable. “As the family grew, so did the house. Solid as a rock, too. That house will be here for generations to come.”

  Rose was about to ask Ned how he had managed it when front door burst open. What seemed like an unending stream of women, all talking at once, ran at them making Rose wish she was still in the safety of the truck.

  “Jackie.”

  Jack scooped up three of the women at once and twirled them in a circle. Kisses reigned on cheeks and mixed with laughter and overlapping dialogue. Soon the next impatient wave was pushing the first three to the side and they repeated process. Rose knew that Jack had six sisters, but there had to be fifteen women of varying sizes and ages vying for his attention.

  “Daughters and granddaughters.” Ned looked on with indulgence. “Jack’s the only boy among them.”

  “Your daughters have all had daughters?” Wow. That was amazing.

  “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Course, there are six sons-in-law.” Suddenly Ned’s eyes took on a look of dreamy affection. “Ah, there she is.”

  She had to be Jack’s mother. Standing on the porch, hands on hips, quietly waiting her turn. Rose thought she looked like a queen—a pagan queen.

  Lorna Winston’s short hair was the color of cotton candy and stuck up in artfully arr
anged tufts. An easy flowing top and long skirt gave her look that the fashion magazines would have termed boho chic. Back in New York Rose had known women who agonized for hours trying to look that effortlessly put together. Undoubtedly this woman did it every day of her life without even thinking about it.

  “Mom.”

  Just that single word, but spoken with absolute love. Jack gently peeled one of his nieces from his leg and quickly erased the distance between himself and his mother. She opened her arms and welcomed her only son, her baby.

  Rose felt the tightening in her throat again. If this kept up, she was going to find it awfully hard to swallow anything this weekend.

  “Now, let's see if you've been taking care of yourself.” Holding Jack at arm’s length, his mother looked him up and down. “You seem to be eating regularly. Good color in your cheeks. But what happened to all your beautiful hair?”

  Jack just grinned and pulled his mother in for another hug.

  “Now, why don’t you bring your friend up here and introduce us. Girls, help bring those bags in and get back to supervising your men. I know Hal is a chef but the rest of them don’t know a pairing knife from a meat cleaver.”

  Waving as they went by, the group streamed back into the house. Ned gave her a quick hug and followed behind. Rose suddenly felt nervous. She’d met the rich and famous, worked with some of the biggest names in music. But meeting Jack’s mother was much more intimidating.

  “Mom, this is Rose O’Brian. Rose, my mother, Lorna Winston.”

  Rose didn’t know what Jack expected, but he stood there as if they were going to do something highly entertaining.

  “Alright, you did your duty. Now go see if your father needs any help in the backyard. He’s setting up tables and chairs and lord knows what else.” When Jack hesitated, she simply raised an eyebrow. He gave Rose one last look and then headed into the house.

  “He isn’t worried that I’ll scare you off,” Lorna assured her. “He is worried that I’ll tell you all kinds of embarrassing stories about him.” She linked arms with Rose and started to stroll around the yard. “And believe me I have plenty. But for now I just want to start the process of getting to know you. You’ve had an interesting career. Tell me how you got your start.”

  And just like that Rose’s nerves flew away. Lorna Winston put her so at ease that soon Rose felt as if she had known the woman for years. Lorna had a way about her that was genuine and welcoming. Oh, Rose suspected she could cut someone down in a heartbeat. She would be a fierce mother bear if anyone tried to hurt any of her cubs. But her nature was to gather people in, to accept them wholeheartedly. It didn’t take Rose long to come the conclusion that the world would be a better place if every child could be lucky enough to grow up with a mother like Lorna Winston.

  “There you are.” Jack joined them as they ended their walk at the back of the house. “Dad needs your supervision, Mom. He’s afraid he might be putting something in the wrong place.”

  “Was it something in particular?” Lorna gave Rose an amused look.

  “Nope. I think he’s afraid he’ll have to move everything if you don’t give your approval first.”

  “That sounds about right.” Just as her husband had done, Lorna hugged Rose. It was such a wonderfully natural gesture. “Now give your mother a kiss and then take Rose and show her where she’ll be staying.”

  Jack dutifully gave his mother’s cheek a light peck and then took Rose’s hand and led her into the house.

  Knowing she would have time later to explore, Rose only gave the entry and living room a quick perusal. Color. That’s what she was her first impression. Happy bursts of color filled both areas with welcoming appeal. Jack pulled her along and up the staircase to the first landing. Pictures covered the walls. Seeing what looked like Jack as his younger self, Rose decided she would be coming back here, and soon. The next set of stairs led to a more open loft area that looked down on the living room. They moved across the room to a door on the far wall.

  “With the whole gang here we’re all doubling up. You get to be my roomie.” He opened the door, moving to the side so that she could enter first.

  Rose was relieved to see that Jack’s parents hadn’t kept his room as some shrine to his youth. It looked like a comfortable guest room done in warm shades of blue and brown. The bed was huge, obviously they knew their son well. And the furniture wasn’t a boring matchy-matchy. Instead, it complimented the style of the room.

  “Just how many roomies have you had in here, Jack Rabbit?”

  “Besides the ones I snuck in when I was in high school?” Jack grabbed her and tossed her onto the bed. Before she could scramble off, he landed on top of her, effectively trapping her under his hard as rock body.

  Rose refused to giggle. Giggling was undignified. Instead, she hid her grin in the crook of his neck. Then, just for the hell of it, gave him a big, wet raspberry.

  “Hey,” Jack pulled back. He met her grin with one of his own. “Okay, if you must know you’re the first.” And the last, he added to himself.

  “Good answer.”

  Then she kissed him. It wasn’t a kiss that had anything to do with sex or the promise of it. It was just slow and warm and friendly. When she pulled back, she looked him straight in the eye.

  “There will be no sex while we’re in your parent’s home. Now get off me so I can unpack.”

  Jack rolled to the side. “You know they expect us to have sex.”

  “Don’t get creepy, even if it is unintentional.” Rose gave an exclamation of pleasure when she opened the closet door and found a full walk-in. And an attached bath. “Your dad is amazing. This is amazing high-end work.”

  “When he was in college he worked as a carpenter’s apprentice. Rose,” he rolled over so that she didn’t appear to be upside down. "We're sharing a room, a room my parents willingly put us in—together.

  “I know it doesn’t make any sense. Even though your parents assume we’ve been having sex they don’t know it.” She turned. “Unless you…?”

  “Now who's being creepy? I don’t discuss my love life with my parents. But it just doesn't make sense to deny ourselves."

  Rose couldn’t explain why she felt the way she did. Maybe it was because she’d just spent the better part of an hour with his mother. Maybe it was because she’d never gone with a man to meet his family and stayed in his childhood bedroom. All she knew was that it felt weird to think of having sex with him—here.

  “And promise me you won’t try anything in the middle of the night. You and I both know I won’t be able to turn you down.” She kept going, ignoring his smirk. “I’ll expect you to be a gentleman. Oh, and don’t come to bed naked.”

  “Do you think my sisters go without when they visit?”

  “That’s different, they’re—.”

  Rose didn’t finish; she didn’t have to. Jack knew what she was going to say. That’s different, they’re married. She couldn't even say the word. But he wasn’t going to let it hang over them for the rest of the weekend like some crap bomb waiting to explode.

  “What do you say we finish unpacking, and then I’ll introduce you the rest of the crowd. Don’t worry about remembering everyone’s name. We all answer to hey you.”

  “What will you give me if I do remember all the names and faces?”

  “Well…” Jack looked toward the bed.

  “Something non-sexual.” Rose shook her head. “Swerve that mind to another track, Jackie. How about if I can do it you detail my car when we get home, and if I can’t I’ll do the same for your SUV.”

  “You’re on.” Jack knew it wasn’t a bet she would make if she weren't sure she would win, but he was fine with losing this one. Besides, it would tickle his family to death if she were able to call them all by name after one introduction.

  Dinner was a lively affair, which was to be expected when the twenty-seven occupants ranged in age from six months to sixty. There was no designated children’s table or differ
ent meal times. Young and old ate together at a huge galley style table made, of course, by Ned. While she was helping to put out the silverware, Rose had marveled at the craftsmanship involved in taking one long piece of wood and making a piece of art. Art that they used and appreciated every day of the year.

  “Technically today is our anniversary, but Saturday is a better fit for a big celebration.”

  “Mom wanted to be a June bride,” Nan, the oldest Winston child, informed Rose.

  Shaking her head, Lorna laughed. “Mom wanted to get hitched before her water broke. You, my lovely Nan, were about ready to make your debut when Dad and I said I do.”

  Everyone joined in the laughter, especially Nan. “Well, I like my version. Telling people that my parents suddenly became traditional and decided to make me legitimate isn’t nearly as romantic as the June bride story.”

  “They say when you marry in June, you’re a bride all your life,” Rose said without thinking. When she realized the table had quieted and she had become the center of attention, she cursed the song book that constantly ran through her head.

  “Sorry, I know that’s a bit corny.”

  “I thought that it was lovely,” Margie, the oldest granddaughter sighed. “Is it a poem?”

  “Maybe.” Rose had never thought about where it had originally come from. “But I was quoting a song from Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.” She caught Jack’s amused look. Remembering where she was, she caught herself just before she stuck her tongue out at him.

  “I loved that movie,” Nan exclaimed and the proceeded to fill everyone in on the plot. Rose thoroughly enjoyed the heated arguments over what happened when in the story. When someone insisted on getting their phone so they could look up who played the youngest brother, Ned put his foot down. There were no electronics at the dinner table.

  “Fine,” Anna, the middle child of the group huffed. “But it’s going to drive me crazy until I know.”

  “You can stand to wait until were done eating.” Ned was easy going about most things, but this was a no negotiations rule.