“Oh really?” Jack asked, his brow pushed up in a questioning manner, but his lips slipping into a knowing smirk. “I didn’t know you were jealous, Andie. Although it looks becoming on you, if I may say so myself.”
Andie grinned at him. “You may,” she allowed, “but I’m not actually jealous. I’m just very…” She placed her lips close to his so there were only mere millimeters of air separating them. “…possessive,” she whispered.
Jack grinned, wanting so badly to kiss her but loving the game that was going on between the two too much to end it just yet. “Yeah?” he asked her, his jade green eyes darkening ever so slightly. “So then what are you going to do about it?”
Andie grazed her bottom lip with the edge of her teeth. “I’m going to take that ride with you,” she told him firmly.
It was just after one in the morning, and Jack had just slid back into bed from his usual scouting of his city. Even in her sleep, Andie somehow knew he was back in bed, and she turned and wrapped her arm around his waist, sighing, and falling deeper into sleep. Jack smiled at the sight of her face in the moonlight, and he slipped his arm around her shoulder. He was so content in these rare instances, where he worried about absolutely nothing, and he and Andie were alone. The silence was comfortable between them, and he could let his quiet thoughts run rampant without shame. However, at this point in time, those thoughts that used to run so free were troubled. What exactly did Vanessa want?
Jack was glad Andie trusted him enough not to pry into every detail about his relationship with Vanessa. He really didn’t like to think about it all that much, and so he had pushed the woman into the darkest corners of his mind. However, she managed to walk right back into his life with an actual reason, with something he actually needed to benefit Andie’s shelter. He couldn’t ignore her, nor could he tell her not to bother him. If he wanted Andie to attain the public trust–that this wasn’t his passion project he was allowing her to run-she needed an investor, and right now, the only offer they had was hers.
“You think too much, you know,” Andie mumbled, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek, even with her eyes closed. “Don’t worry ‘bout whatever you’re worried about… I’m here, mmmkay?” With that she rested her head back onto his shoulder and her breathing returned to an even pace, indicating that she had fallen asleep once again.
Jack nearly chuckled. It still baffled him that this woman knew so much about him, most of which he tried to keep hidden from everybody, including his aunt Beverly. But Andie had seen through him right from the very beginning, and she had no qualms about telling him about it, too. So many people he once thought were open and honest were merely lying to get in his good graces. The women he had dated before Andie were all the same; beautiful, but they had nothing to say. And then Andie crashed into his life, literally, called him an asshole, and disappeared in the crowd. Since that very moment, he couldn’t get her out of his head, and he fell in love. He didn’t want anything to come between them ever, and if something threatened their unity, he wanted nothing more than to take care of it.
But he couldn’t get rid of Vanessa, no matter how badly he wanted to. Something inside of him told him that Vanessa knew that too, and that she might use that to her advantage. He knew his ex-girlfriend could be quite the jealous little minx, to the extent of going to some extremes. This was what worried him. He just hoped Andie wouldn’t lose faith in him as a man, and in their relationship.
“Um… Beverly?” Andie asked as soon as she walked into the kitchen. Her eyes were focused on a rather large bouquet sitting on the counter of the sink. She had never seen one quite like it; it had sunflowers, roses, and even purple heathers - her three favorite flowers. Maybe Jack had gotten them for her as one of his rare-but-meaningful romantic gestures. A smile touched her face as she thought about it, tilting her head down and inhaling the sweet aromas the flowers provided. “When did these come in?” She picked her head up and curled a random strand of hair behind her ear, regarding her almost shyly.
“Maybe an hour ago,” Beverly responded. As usual, she was dressed in her forest green robe, her dark hair all around her. “There was no card. I just assumed they were for you. Jack tells me that these three flowers are your favorite.”
Andie nodded, smiling. “Yes,” she told him. “They are.” She slid off her blazer jacket and threw it over her forearm, preparing to head upstairs and change before conducting the interviews today. Their stables had yet to actually have a proper master, and since her job started to take a lot more of her attention than she had originally intended, she and Jack decided that today they would take a half-day from work and interview the many applicants. “Speaking of, where is Jack, exactly?” She turned to face Beverly, who, she had to admit, was quite the expert at keeping her emotions hidden and controlled. However, Andie knew enough to know that she was keeping something from her. Jack’s aunt would always press her lips together and then silently sigh through her nose; that was the sign. “Beverly,” she said with a warning, crossing her hands over her chest.
“He called a few moments after the flowers arrived,” Beverly said, knowing it would be no use to lie to her. “It seemed he was pressed for time. He asked if you were here, but you weren’t. Apparently, he has a very important meeting scheduled with Vanessa for that time.”
“What?” Andie asked, blind-sighted by the news, and as a result, unable to get a control of her patience. “Why didn’t he call me to reschedule?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” Beverly replied, shrugging with as much dignity as a shrug would allow. “It sounded as though this meeting just came up.”
Andie scowled, and grabbed her purse. She reached in and plucked the cell phone up, quickly dialing Jack’s private line, and then started to pace as the ringing dominated her capacity to hear. Her heart started to pound painfully when she realized that he might not answer. And then what would she do? Leave a message? Hang up?
“I know, I know,” a voice said, picking up the phone. Andie instantly let out a sigh of relief she didn’t realize she had been holding, and she smiled when Jack actually did sound sincere. “I’m sorry. Vanessa called not even an hour ago, claiming we have to meet over some miniscule party thing that she’s planning. I have no idea why she needs to consult me about things like this and not you, but…” He let his voice trail off before sighing. “I’m not going to be able to make today. I tried calling, but you weren’t in yet, and when I tried your cell, you didn’t answer…”
Andie winced. She probably should have turned her phone up after getting out of that morning meeting. Oh well. “So what should I do?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. She knew it was selfish, but Andie felt as though they barely had any time to spend together anyways, and for Vanessa to steal time away from her over some party detail? Andie wanted to shoot her. Seriously. “I mean, all of the applicants are going to show up within the next fifteen minutes.”
“Why don’t you take care of it, Andie?” Jack suggested. “I’m really sorry, love, but I’ve got to go. I trust you to pick the right one. I’ll see you later tonight, okay? I love you.”
“Love you too,” Andie said dejectedly, hanging up. At that moment, she completely forgot to thank him for the flowers. She would have called him back, but Andie could already sense that he was stressed merely from the tension that radiated from the phone. That, and his voice. “Okay,” she murmured to herself as she headed up the stairs, rubbing her hands together. “Let’s do this.”
Andie quickly changed into one of Jack’s old plaid shirt. It was red, black, and gold, and the material was quite soft despite its age. Jack never wore it anymore, but it still smelled like him, and Andie inhaled deeply before pulling on worn, faded jeans. She threw her hair into two braids and then slipped on her beige riding boots before heading over to the stables. The walk was long, maybe fifteen to twenty minutes, but Andie loved the venture. The air was always fresh and the scent of pine always made her believe as though she was in a
large forest rather than a small portion of woods. If she didn’t have interviews to worry about, she probably would have taken more time on her walk. It was a beautiful June day, and the big, white clouds managed to blot out the majority of the sun’s rays. Luckily she had thrown on sunscreen before leaving. Having a mother living with mild skin cancer taught her that she would rather have a peachy skin tone and be safe, than risk cancer and get a tan.
There was about forty people waiting for her, and when they saw her advancing, they all quieted down, and most of the men stood up a bit straighter. “Hello everyone, and welcome to Phillip Stables,” she announced. “First, I want to thank you so much for coming. Your interest in running these stables really means a lot to me and Jack, who, as you can see, isn’t present. He wishes me to convey his sincerest apologies but something at work always comes up, so…” She let her voice trail off and clapped her hands together, wishing not to speak anymore on the matter. “Anyways, if you could all make a single file line, I will be conducting interviews in the inside of the barn. Please wait outside until your name is called. I’m going to pass a sheet of paper and a pen around; if you could all sign in…”
The interviews went much better than Andie had originally expected. However, as soon as each person left, she would glance to her left, expecting to decipher one of Jack’s heavily-guarded gazes that would normally crack her up. Then they would share a look, and she would fall in love with him all over again, deeper this time. Andie swallowed as she randomly called another name off the list, not even paying attention to who it was. She didn’t need Jack here to do these interviews, but she wanted him here, and knowing what he was missing, what they were missing together, tore away at Andie.
“Candy Andie?” a voice asked, interrupting Andie’s thoughts.
Andie glanced up and a surprised smile touched her lips. “Gabe? Is that you?” she asked, standing up and throwing her arms out, waiting for the hug she knew was coming. Gabe Burr wrapped Andie into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet and twirling her around before finally releasing her. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s you,” she said, all worries temporarily vanishing. The two had been friends freshman year, but it was one of those friendships created out of survival; sitting next to each other in life science forced them to socialize, lest they want to be mute during their time there. She had heard a rumor that Gabe had a crush on Andie, but she never felt anything in return.
“Yeah, and I can’t believe you’re dating Jack Phillip,” Gabe said. Andie took a step back, taking him in. He still looked the absolute same, with sandy blond hair and crisp, blue eyes. He had a taut build, and was a good half a head taller than she was. He was obviously attractive, but he was also funny, and when he wanted, he could be quite charming. It was then that Andie realized how much she missed him; he would serve as a good distraction with all the drama going on concerning Vanessa.
“Well I am,” she said, flashing him a smile. “It must be that wicked charm I have.”
“Or your obvious good looks,” Gabe mused teasingly, “though I’m not sure what he sees in your face.”
Andie pressed her lips together in a tight smile and flipped her friend off, causing him to chuckle. “All right,” she said. “If I hire you, you’re not going to fuck around, right? You’re going to take care of my horses?”
“Of course,” Gabe replied, feigning hurt as he placed his hand over his chest. “You know, it hurts that you doubt me, Andie.”
“Speaking of which, don’t call me Candy Andie ever again,” she told him. Before Gabe could respond, Andie quickly continued. “Now, I have another… ten interviews which I will conduct to at least show I’m taking an interest. Come back Monday at ten in the morning, and if you’re late I’ll… well, I’ll do something.”
“I’m so scared,” Gabe teased, pulling Andie into another tight hug.
“Dinner’s finished, Jackie,” Beverly said, taking Jack’s coat from her ward as the man stepped through the house. “Miss Shepherd is upstairs taking a shower. She did hire an interesting stable master, although there’s a mischievous sparkle in her eye that tells me they’ve known each other for a while.” She folded Jack’s trench coat as Jack made his way into the kitchen, frustrated by how things turned out that evening. He wanted to be with Andie, making stupid jokes and interviewing people rather than at some posh restaurant, eating food he really didn’t like that cost him a small fortune. “…and if I may say, lovely idea today. About the flowers.”
This caused Jack to pause, he turned slightly, resting his hands loosely in his slack pockets. “What?” he asked softly, furrowing his brow. “What flowers?”
“These ones,” Beverly said, gesturing to the bouquet on the sink. “They came in earlier this afternoon addressed to Miss Shepherd, but there was no note, no sender. We all assumed they were from you.”
Jack’s heart clenched and he swallowed as he stared at the bouquet. They were all Andie’s favorites; sun flowers, roses, and heathers. He didn’t even believe that her own mother knew that those three were her favorite, let alone anyone else. Maybe somebody would guess one or two, but never all three, and he prided himself on remembering something about her like that. When it came to Andie, it was so easy for him. However, these flowers were sent to her by someone no one knew… He had this small but very deep feeling inside him that this wasn’t right.
“No,” he said, his fiery emerald gaze all but burning the flowers in the vase. “I didn’t send those.”
8
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you, darl?” Ollo asked, watching with his murky blue-brown eyes as Reese went through piles and piles of clothes looking for the right outfit.
Whatever that meant.
He had never seen the girl so frazzled before. If he had to admit it, it was kind of cute. The bridge of her nose got this little wrinkle over it and her grey eyes got this shine, this focus, where nothing and nobody could get to her. In fact, he had never seen her make such a mess before, especially not in his room.
Well, technically, it was her room now. He tended to sleep on the couch,sometimes he would sleep on the bed every now and then,or wherever he collapsed on any given evening. He wanted her to have his bed; at least he knew it was comfortable and he could keep an eye on her every night. She was having a rough time as it was, what with her family being killed by one of the biggest bitches that roamed this earth. It definitely didn’t help that he had a history with the murderer in another life, another time. Now that Reese was back in school trying to get her life together, all he wanted to do was protect her, to keep her from harm. Yet, all she seemed to want to do was put herself in harm’s way. Yes, it was her destiny, and yes, he was her trainer and the person who had to ensure she fulfilled that role, but that didn’t mean she had to start right now.
“It’s called girls’ night for a reason, Ollo,” Reese said from the small, walk-in closet. She held up a lacy white dress before deciding against it and dropping it on the carpeted floor. “We’re going to the diner for some dinner and catching up. That’s it. Nothing else.” She grabbed a dangerously low-cut red top that he involuntarily narrowed his eyes at before eventually tossing that to the floor as well. “It’s my first time going out. And you heard Phillip – I have to talk to Andie.”
“And how do you suppose you’ll do that with Carey and Piper there?” he asked, raising a brow.
Reese shrugged. “I’m not sure,” she admitted, “but I’ll figure it out. Now, can you please give me some privacy? Just because you have better hair than a lot of girls I know doesn’t make you one of us.”
Ollo grinned his trademark cheeky grin and forced Reese to push him out of the room. He knew he was good looking, but whenever she complimented him, it made him even more confident than he already was.
Which was definitely saying something.
After another twenty minutes of deciding on an outfit and then forty-five minutes of actually getting ready, Reese was ready for her first ou
ting since the loss of her family. She was wearing a short, white mini-skirt and a sky-blue boyfriend shirt with her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. It felt nice to dress up for something; normally, she was in yoga pants, a messy ponytail, and no makeup, training in the basement. Tonight, however, she felt feminine. She hadn’t realized she missed the feeling until just now.
When she walked out of the room, Ollo was on the couch, watching reality television. When he saw her, however, his entire focus shifted to her, and she watched as he took her in. He didn’t even hide the fact that he was blatantly staring at her. She might have blushed if she wasn’t already wearing some.
“My, my,” he said, meeting her eyes. “Don’t you clean up nice. I tend to forget you’re a girl sometimes.”
“I forget how charming you are,” she retorted. She grabbed her purse from the dining room table, and as she headed out the door, called over her shoulder, “Don’t wait up!”
Girls’ night at the diner was a success, and Reese realized just how much she missed hanging out with her friends. Apparently, Carey had started seeing a new guy–Brent Ryan, the quarterback of the junior varsity football team–while Piper was considering actually going out with Henry.
Yes, Henry.
Which was amazing because Piper was the one thing Henry cared about more than his power. When asked what made her change her mind, she turned pink and said that as intimidating as he was, he knew exactly what to do to woo her.
Both were exceeding in their classes as well, with Piper earning a highly coveted medical internship at Onyx General, and Carey getting into the honors program at the University of Onyx.
Andie was happy with Jack, and even admitted that the two had done it, which Andie couldn’t say without flushing the same color as her hair. She was also launching her own non-profit business,an animal shelter,with the help from her beaux. Apparently, she hired Gabriel Burr to be the Phillip stable master, which didn’t seem right at all to Reese for two reasons: Burr’s father wanted Black Wing to turn himself in and there was no way in hell Gabriel Burr would clean up horse shit unless it was for a very good reason. Then again, perhaps Jack facilitated the hire; keep your enemies close, and all that.
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