The Jack & Jill Series

by Ann, Jewel E

  “So Chicago, huh? I’ve never been. This should be fun.”

  Lake.

  Luke whipped around in his seat to blue eyes that mirrored his. Lake smiled, pink Beats covering her ears.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  The older gentleman sitting next to her scowled at Luke.

  “I thought I’d surprise you. No one really likes to travel alone.”

  “You can’t be here.”

  She laughed. “We’ll be in the air in less than sixty seconds. I think I’m here to stay.”

  “The second we land in Chicago we’re getting you a ticket right back home.”

  “Um … okay, Dad.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Sir, I need you to face forward. We’re getting ready to take off.”

  Luke turned back around. Rage filled his mind. Lake would get a proper ass-chewing as soon as they landed in Chicago. Then he’d put her back on a plane.

  He slipped on his own headphones to block out the sound of her gabbing with the passenger next to her. The girl could chat it up with anyone. It would be a long flight.

  As soon as they exited the plane, he grabbed her arm.

  “Ticket counter. Now.”

  She tugged out of his grasp. “I’m an adult, Luke. You can’t tell me what to do.”

  “Have it your way.” He marched past her. If she wanted to see Chicago, she could see Chicago. He had a rental car to get, and then he would head back west to Omaha.

  “Luke! Stop!”

  He stopped, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth.

  “What the hell? I get it. You didn’t want me to come. But I’m here. You can’t just leave me.”

  “I told you it’s not safe for you to be here.”

  “What does that mean? You think I’m going to get mugged or raped? I’m not going to wander the streets alone at night. You can do your thing during the day and I’ll do mine. We can meet up for dinner. I promise I won’t be a burden.”

  “I love you and that’s why you can’t stay. You have to trust me on this. I’m begging you, please just go back home.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

  “Enjoy Michigan Avenue. I’ll see you back in San Francisco.” He continued on, setting a pace he knew she couldn’t keep.

  Thirty seconds later he turned to the sound of commotion behind him.

  “Dammit!” he jogged back to Lake.

  A crowd of people surrounded her.

  “I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.”

  Two men helped her to her feet while a lady shoved the spilled contents of Lake’s purse back inside it. Blood oozed from a gash above Lake’s eye.

  “Jesus, what happened?”

  “I was trying to catch up with my brother.” She scowled at him, garnering similar looks and sympathy from the small crowd of people.

  “I’m a doctor. Thanks. I’ll take it from here.” He smiled at the people around them as he took her bags and slung them over his shoulder. “Let’s go. We’ll stop by Urgent Care on our way out of town.”

  “We’re not staying in Chicago?” She held a wad of tissue to her forehead as he led her through the crowd.

  “No. We’re not.”

  *

  With a rental car and a stitched up forehead, Luke and Lake headed west, Omaha bound. Self-preservation didn’t matter when it was a solo trip. Lake’s stubbornness put her in danger and compromised Luke’s ability to find Jessica.

  “You can’t be mad at me forever.”

  He could.

  “The silent treatment is getting old. We’ve been on the road for three hours. Tell me where we’re going.”

  “Omaha.” Keeping it a secret wasn’t an option. Lake could read.

  “You know, I haven’t been to Omaha either, but I’m one hundred percent sure they have an airport. Did you overshoot your destination by a couple states on purpose?”

  “Yes.”

  “One word explanations. I can work with that. I like twenty questions. Let’s see … are you really going to Omaha for business?”

  “No.”

  “Hmm … did you purchase a cattle farm?”

  “No.” He gave her a quick sideways glance with a single squinted eye.

  Lake laughed. “Is Warren Buffett your financial advisor?”

  “No.”

  “Does this trip have anything to do with a woman?”

  Luke contemplated his answer, not sure if telling Lake the truth was a good idea. “Yes.”

  “OMG! Are you serious?”

  OMG confirmed she was not ready to handle the truth, but his options were limited.

  “Serious.”

  “How did you meet her? Does Charlie know? God, you’re such a pig. Do Mom and Dad know? Is it serious?”

  Lake received the hairy eyeball again.

  “Sorry. Um … how did you meet her?”

  “She was my patient.”

  “Shit. Are you serious? That’s so unethical … and completely romantic. Oh man … you’re going to visit her for a lust-filled week and your little sister is tagging along. That’s not cool. Sorry, Bro. My bad. Now I feel regretful.”

  “Now you feel regretful? When I told you it wasn’t safe and you were putting yourself in danger, that didn’t faze you. But now that you think you’re putting a kink in my sex plans you feel regretful.”

  “A bit. Yes. When did she move to Omaha?”

  Luke bit his lips together, squinting a bit. “I’m not sure. Less than a year ago.”

  “Did you meet her before or after Jessica died?”

  “Before.”

  “Oh … Luke.” Disappointment laced her words. “Please tell me you weren’t cheating on Jessica.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Asshole,” she mumbled under her breath, turning her back to him to stare out her window.

  Twenty Questions ended before she got to twenty. Just as well, he wanted Lake to think about Jessica. He wanted her to miss Jessica. He wanted to prime her brain for what he would tell her when they arrived in Omaha. Even then, it would be too much for her to comprehend.

  A cold silence settled between them for the rest of the drive to Omaha. They stopped in Des Moines for dinner. Lake didn’t say a word, didn’t even look at him. He wanted to tell her, but not yet. The truth was irrational and Lake would need to be in that frame of mind before he could make her see it—make her accept it.

  They pulled into the parking garage of the Element hotel, and Lake jumped out before he put the car in park. In an angry march she headed straight to the lobby. He took his time getting their bags and checking them into their room.

  “Coming?” he asked, breezing past her to the elevator.

  Her flushed face confirmed she was seconds from exploding. He slid the key card in the door and held it open for her. As soon as it closed behind them, she turned, hands fisted, eyes squinted.

  “I hate you. You cheated on Jessica. Jessica! What the hell is wrong with you? We loved her. The whole family. I think we preferred her to you. You were going to marry her. How could you? I’m going to hate this woman we’re here to see. I don’t care what you think of her. I already hate her for trying to steal you from Jessica. The only reason I’m not taking a cab to the airport right this second is because I want to see her. I want to claw her goddamn eyes out.”

  Tears streamed down her face.

  “I idolized you. Jessica was a sister to me. I miss her so damn much. The only thing I have left is the memories of her—of you two together and now you’ve ruined that! You can’t be with this girl, Luke. You just can’t. She’s not Jessica.”

  “She is.”

  Lake shook her head. “Don’t you dare say that. Don’t you dare disrespect her memory like that. You’re such a bastard.”

  “I’m here for Jessica.”

  “Stop!” She covered her ears. “Just stop. Jessica wouldn’t want you here doing what you’re doing.”

  Luke couldn’t deny the probable tr
uth in that statement.

  “Lake?” He grabbed her hands.

  She fought him, squeezing her eyes shut.

  “Lake, look at me.”

  She opened her red eyes, the ugly-cry grimace still stuck to her face.

  “Jessica didn’t die.”

  “Oh my God … you’re seeing ghosts. This won’t end well.”

  He grabbed her face. “If you never listen to anything I say again, please hear this.”

  She blinked, holding her breath.

  “Her parents were murdered and her death was faked to protect her from being murdered too.”

  Lake blinked some more. Anger and fear converged into complete shock.

  “I saw her at the hotel in Houston. I was taken by the people who are supposedly protecting her. That’s why I stood Charlie up.”

  “Im-impossible,” Lake whispered.

  “I’m here to find her. She and Jude moved to Omaha, but some things have happened in her life and she’s gone again. I need to find her and this is the only place I know where to start.”

  “They took you. What does that mean? Took you where? Who took you?”

  Her words indicated enough acceptance that he let her go and took a step back. His chin tipped to his chest as he rubbed the tension in the back of his neck.

  “That’s a little more complicated. Let’s just say they don’t have much regard for my life or my family’s. Being here puts my life in danger.” He looked up at her.

  Realization robbed her face of all color. “And mine is too,” she whispered.

  Luke nodded. “I think you should forget everything we’ve just discussed and get on the first flight out tomorrow.”

  “Is that what those people said to you?”

  “More or less, just with a little more force and a lot more threat.”

  “But you’re here anyway.”

  “I love her. I was miserable when I thought she died, but knowing she’s alive is a different kind of pain—the kind that will kill me if I can’t be with her.”

  “You’re not cheating on her?”

  Only Lake could bring a smile to his face in the midst of so much pain. “That depends on how you look at it. I’m searching for a woman with Jessica’s build, but blond hair, and she goes by the name Jillian Knight.”

  “Jillian Knight?”

  Luke nodded.

  “I can’t imagine her as a blonde. How does it look on her?”

  “Hideous. Stunning. Disturbing. Mesmerizing.”

  Lake laughed. “Well, let’s get some sleep. We have a blonde bombshell named Jillian Knight to track down tomorrow.”

  “I want you to go home.”

  “I know and I love you too, but by all rights I’m living on borrowed time, with a fake leg and a job that doesn’t pay. I think doing anything but living on the edge would be a crime at this point.”

  “I’m serious. If anything happens to you—”

  She pressed her finger to his mouth. “Shh … I love her too.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her into him for a big hug. “Some guy, with my scrutinizing approval of course, is going to snatch you up one day and he’s going to be the luckiest guy alive.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Knight

  With minimal convincing, Jackson talked Ryn into staying the weekend at his place. He hesitated for a fraction of a second when she reminded him Gunner would have to come over too. The that-dog-wants-to-rip-my-balls-off look ended with a smile and silent acquiescence.

  Jackson loved to eat. Ryn loved to cook. They were a perfect match by any standard. The pang of guilt she felt when he woke up early to go for a run while she nestled back under the covers disappeared the second she realized the kitchen was all hers. A Friday night trip to the store before coming to his place ensured she had everything she needed to make muffins, bacon, seasoned hash, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. It did seem a bit excessive for two people, but Ryn couldn’t resist.

  Gunner gave a warning growl when the doorbell rang.

  “The dope must have locked himself out.” She wiped her hands and traipsed to the front door wearing nothing but Jackson’s large T-shirt.

  Ryn opened the door with a big grin that morphed into a grimace at the two strangers that stood on the opposite side of the storm door that thankfully fogged over within seconds.

  “Shoot!” She held up a finger. “Just a minute.” Closing the door, she ran into the bedroom and stripped the T-shirt from her embarrassingly-flushed body then slid into her jeans, a bra, and sweater. There was no time to deal with her hair, so she ran her fingers through it on the way back to the front door.

  “Sorry about that. I was expecting someone else.”

  The man smiled. “That’s fine. Sorry to disturb you so early in the morning. We’re looking for Jackson Knight.”

  “He went for a jog.”

  The dark-haired man looked around at the snow covered ground and shook his head with a slight grin. “Of course he did,” he mumbled to himself. “We’re old friends. Would you mind if we waited for him?”

  Ryn assessed them both. The girl looked young, maybe Maddie’s age. Harmless.

  With Gunner as her backup, she stepped back, welcoming them inside the house.

  “I’m Ryn Middleton.” She smiled and offered to take their coats.

  “Luke, and this is my sister, Lake.” They both slipped off their shoes then shook her hand.

  Lake had a prosthetic leg. Ryn tried not to stare.

  “Nasty car accident.”

  Her staring didn’t go unnoticed. Ryn gave her a polite smile.

  “Looks like you’re lucky to be alive.”

  “Most days.” Lake ginned at her brother before returning her attention to Ryn.

  “So … Luke and Lake. Your mother must have been a glutton for punishment.”

  Lake giggled. “You have no idea. We have three other siblings: Lane, Lara, and Liam.”

  “Wow.” Ryn pulled the cranberry-orange muffins from the oven. “So how do you know Jackson?”

  “I was closer friends to his sister, Jillian,” Luke said.

  Ryn poured two glasses of orange juice and offered them to her guests.

  “Oh no. We didn’t mean to intrude on your breakfast.” Luke had an earnest smile, mature but boyish at the same time.

  “You’re not intruding. I never get to cook for many besides myself, and I was just thinking how overboard I went for just two people. Here … I insist.”

  Luke and Lake took the juice and thanked her.

  “Have a seat.” Ryn nodded to the table. “I have muffins, bacon, and hash too. Unless you’re vegetarians like Jillian.”

  “No, we’re not,” Luke grinned at his sister as if there was some sort of inside joke.

  “So you’re from New York too?”

  Lake squinted her eyes a bit.

  “Yes. Yes we are.” Luke took a sip of his juice. “So are you and Jackson … together?”

  “I know what you’re thinking. I’m older and he’s … younger and—”

  “No.” Luke saved her from her impending rant of insecurity. “I was just thinking the guy I used to know never had women making breakfast in his kitchen.”

  Ryn nodded. “He told me he wasn’t much of the relationship type before …”

  “Before you?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah. Boy, that sounds conceited, doesn’t it? I don’t mean it like I think I’m something special or anything.”

  “You’re beautiful. Age doesn’t matter. It would seem he’s lucky to have found you. I’m sure you make him a better man.”

  Both Ryn and Luke stared at Lake. Those were mature words coming from a young woman. Ryn couldn’t imagine Maddie saying something like that.

  “Thank you.” Ryn smiled, the kind she could feel across her whole body. “It would seem you showed up this morning just to make my day.”

  Lake laughed, nudging her brother’s leg under the table. “Hear that? I’ve made someone’s da
y.”

  “So what brings you two to Omaha? I hope not to see Jillian. She’s out of town and we’re not sure when she’ll return.”

  “Do you know where she is?” Luke asked.

  Ryn set two plates filled with food in front of Luke and Lake. “I don’t. Did you know she lost someone close to her recently?”

  They both nodded.

  Ryn frowned. She didn’t like the truth behind AJ’s death, but with each passing day she understood it—understood Jackson—a little more.

  “I think she needed some space, some time to grieve and try to make sense of everything.”

  “Have either you or Jackson heard from her?”

  “I haven’t and I don’t think he has either. She left her phone behind so there’s no way to contact her until she decides to call home.”

  They all turned as the front door opened.

  *

  Nothing ruined a long night of sex with Ryn like an unfamiliar car in the driveway that said he would not be having his way with her in the shower. The Martha-Stewart-moved-in-here smell that greeted him when he opened the front door almost made up for the lack of shower sex he would’ve had. Almost.

  “Hey, I see you didn’t slip on the ice and break your neck.” Ryn kissed him on the cheek as he toed off his running shoes.

  “Whose car is in the driveway?” Jackson followed Ryn around the corner.

  “Ours. It’s a rental.” The damn thorn in his side smiled.

  He and Ryn were good. Jackson embraced his new identity, his new life. Why did the past insist on resurfacing? Only on the rarest of occasions was Jackson at a loss for words, but at that moment he had nothing. He felt stranded in the middle of a mine field, not daring to move a single step. What had they told Ryn?

  “So you’ve met my friends.” He forced a smile at Ryn. “And you’re feeding them my breakfast.”

  “Yes.” She set a plate of food down on the table and motioned for him to take a seat. “And there’s plenty of food.”

  “We thought we’d make the trip from New York to check on Jillian. She can’t be doing well.” Luke held his gaze to Jackson’s, probably trying to read his mind.

  “What a wasted trip. I’m sure Ryn told you she’s not here and we don’t know when she’ll return.” Jackson eyed Lake. He’d only met her a handful of times. Each one of those times he deemed her to be doable. Jessica threatened both testicles if he so much as looked at Lake for more than two seconds at a time. He didn’t look at her that way anymore. She reminded him of Maddie—too damn young and immature.