by Savanna Grey
“It was my pleasure, Emma. My heart hurts for her and you. I am so glad she had a little fun today.” Jen Baker responded.
Emma agreed. One day at a time was how they were going to take it, and this day was turning out to be a good one.
Next they headed over to a Good Look salon. Pam Wilcox greeted them. “What’ll it be today, ladies?”
“We want the full pampering treatment, Pam. Mani, Pedi, cut and blow-dry. The works.” Emma said happily. “Spoil us rotten.”
Pam smiled. “You got it. Let’s get your manicures and pedicures started first. Come on back. Jill and Mandy will take great care of you.”
They were standing in front of the numerous bottles of nail polish, trying to decide what color they wanted to paint their nails.
“My mom always picked pink. She liked pink.” Olivia said very seriously. Emma’s heart felt a tug. “You’re right, Olivia. She loved pink.” She squatted down to her eye level. “What do you think? Do you want to go with pink today or try something new?”
She watched various emotions cross Olivia’s face. Confusion, fear, uncertainty and then confidence settled across her innocent features. “I want purple. I like purple.”
Emma smiled. She was making a statement whether she realized it or not. She was a strong little person with determination. She was a survivor.
“Purple it is.” Smiling, Emma was reminded that it truly is the simple things that mean a lot.
“Your water’s ready.” Mandy called to them. “Come on, Liv. Let’s make happy feet and hands.”
Olivia giggled thinking of the penguin movie that she loved to watch. “Yeah, maybe we can dance like penguins.”
The day passed quickly. They grabbed a quick lunch at the diner and made their last stop at the book store. Emma loved the smell of books. Crazy, she knew, but still, she did. She could spend hours in here just looking through the shelves. Elliot Franklin, the book store owner, saw them come in.
“Hi, Emma. Well, hello, Olivia.” Elliot greeted. “What are you looking for today, anything in particular?” he questioned. “We have the latest release of the Hickory Tree House series over there, Olivia if you read those.”
Olivia looked up at Emma for permission to browse. “Go ahead, Liv. Look around. Pick one. We have about a half hour before we need to head home.”
“What about you, Emma? We have the new Sparks novel in as well as A. L. Jackson’s, Janice Baker’s and the new one you asked about Mandee Mae’s. You know where to look.”
“Thanks, Elliot.” She’d been looking forward to A. L. Jackson’s release. She was definitely picking that one up. She may just have to splurge and get a couple.
While she was reading the covers of the new releases, Laura Tant came in with her daughter, Amy. Amy and Olivia were friends at school and attended the same dance class. While the girls were chatting, Laura came over to Emma.
“How is Olivia holding up? We’ve been very concerned.” Laura stated. Laura was a third grade teacher at the elementary school where Emma worked.
“She’s a strong little girl. Children are so resilient. Of course she’s heartbroken, but she is holding up.” Emma told Laura.
“Since the girls are on Spring Break, I was wondering if you’d let Olivia spend the night with Amy. She could come home with us after dance class. We’d love to have her. It might take her mind off things and let the girls play together.”
“I think that’s a great idea, Laura. I’ll ask her and bring her things to dance class.”
They said their goodbyes. Choosing their books, Emma paid for their purchases and wished Elliot well.
“How would you like to spend the night with Amy tonight, Liv? Her mom said you could go home with them after dance class. Would you like to do that?” Emma questioned Olivia on the way home.
“Yes. Oh, please. Can I?” Smiling at her excitement, Emma said she could.
Returning home, Olivia ran into the house calling for Jack.
Jack. If Olivia was spending the night at a friend’s house, that meant that she and Jack would be alone all night. Pin pricks of excitement pimpled her flesh at the possibilities of what could happen.
Giddy herself, she followed Olivia in.
Chapter Twelve
“So I understand we are flying solo tonight.” Jack said to Emma as he walked down the hallway from the office to the kitchen where Emma sat down their bags from shopping. He grinned from ear to ear.
“Yes, so it would seem” Emma replied nonchalantly. “Olivia, please take these bags to your room. I’ll help you put your things away in a minute. We need to put a bag together for you to take to Amy’s house.” Olivia happily grabbed her shopping bags and ran upstairs. “And don’t run.” Emma hollered after her.
Jack chuckled at her. She was a natural at handling kids. Why wasn’t she married with a house full of them, he wondered? Whoa! Where did that come from?
“I have an idea.” Jack said as he walked slowly toward her, a funny look in his eye that made her a little on edge, not in a bad way, but still on edge.
“Oh yeah. What might that be?” she asked. She thought she might be game for anything where Jack was concerned. He made her feel adventurous. Something she normally wasn’t.
“How about I make dinner for us? I’ll get things started while you drop Olivia off at dance. It will give us a chance to spend some quiet time together uninterrupted.” He walked directly to her, stopping a breath away. “What do you say?” he asked.
She wasn’t one to play games. She wanted to spend time alone with Jack. “That sounds like a wonderful idea to me.”
“It looks like the two of you had a good day judging by the number of bags and the big smile on Olivia’s face.” As he talked he pulled her into him, his arms locking around her.
Her breath caught. “Yes. We did. Olivia tried on fifty dresses at the shop. She…” Whatever she was going to say was lost as Jack took her lips with his, slowly pulling on her lower lip and tasting her inner sweetness.
“I missed you.” He whispered against her lips.
He made her brain go foggy. “You did?” Setting her away from him, he chuckled. “Yes, I did. Don’t sound so surprised.”
“Now, if I don’t let go of you before I kiss you again, we might be caught in a precarious situation. I haven’t stopped thinking about your breakfast bar comment all day.” Heat emanated from his gaze.
Blushing profusely, Emma stepped back. “We wouldn’t want that.” she said and surprised him yet again with, “at least not until tonight.”
He went to grab her yet again, but she side-stepped and went around the kitchen island.
“Uh uh uh. Behave yourself. I’ll reward you later.” Giggling like a school girl, she raced up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.
Bowing his head, Jack admitted he hadn’t been prepared for the sexier side of Emma. It complemented the sweet, confident and caring woman he’d known existed and added an intimacy to their relationship that he guessed few had been privy to. He didn’t like the thought of other men being with Emma. He knew he had no official claim to her, but while they were together, there would be no one else. He didn’t share.
Emma left to deliver Olivia to dance class. She explained to the teacher, Miss Cary that Olivia would be going home with Amy after dance class.
“I want you to have fun at Amy’s, Olivia, but if you need anything, you call me, okay? It doesn’t matter what time it is.” Emma was surprised at the trepidation of letting Olivia out of her sight created. “Love you, Liv.” She never left without a kiss and a hug good-bye. Off she went.
The ten minute drive back to the house wasn’t enough time for Emma to calm her nerves. She didn’t know why she had suddenly become so unsettled. Well, yes, she did. She would be spending the evening alone with Jack. He turned her inside out with wanting him. She thought she did the same to him. She wasn’t certain how much of this feeling was nervousness and how much was excitement at the prospect of being with him
again.
Taking a fortifying breath, she entered the house and immediately smelled wonderful things coming from the kitchen.
“What smells so delicious?” she asked Jack as she entered the kitchen. She was greeted with the sight of Jack tied up in Dana’s flowered apron.
“Oh, that’s a good look for you, Jack. Very masculine.” she teased.
He was stirring a large stainless steel pot with what looked to be a pasta sauce. “Come taste test for me. It’s home-made spaghetti sauce.”
He held a large wooden spoon up to her mouth, blowing on the spoon to cool the contents. Lifting the spoon to her mouth, she tasted the sauce. It was spectacular, flavors burst onto her taste buds.
She licked her lips, cleaning the excess sauce. “Jack, that’s absolutely delicious. Where did you learn to cook like that?” She was pleasantly surprised by his apparent cooking skills.
“Hey, just because I am a bachelor, doesn’t mean I don’t eat. I’m not the kind of guy to heat up microwave dinners, well, not most nights anyway. I like to cook.”
That was something Dana hadn’t shared over the years. She never would have guessed that Jack was good in the kitchen. Now the bedroom was a different story. She’d thought about that all too often through the years. She still hadn’t processed the fact that she could now reference for herself how good he was.
“I just put the noodles in. They’ll be done in a few minutes. Bread’s in the oven.”
She surveyed the dining room table intimately set for two. “You’ve been busy.” she told him, impressed with what he had accomplished in such a short time. It obviously wasn’t the first time he had done this. Emma didn’t want to be reminded of the numerous women Dana had talked about that Jack wined and dined. She didn’t want to be just another name in his black book.
Stop it, Em. Go with the moment. You weren’t expecting long-term commitment from him. Enjoy the time you do have together. Her inner voice was determined to not let her ruin this night.
“How about a glass of wine?” Emma frowned. One glass should be alright. “Okay,” she answered, “but don’t try and get me drunk to have your way with me.”
Laughing Jack assured her, “I’ve seen you tipsy, remember? I don’t want to do anything to get in the way of my plans tonight, Emma. I want you fully aware of what I am doing to you.” His tone had changed to a raw, seductive caress.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she gulped down her wine. Maybe she did need some fortifying if she was going to be able to keep up with Jack tonight.
The table was set in the kitchen nook. Candles flickered off the windows, casting an intimate glow. “This is lovely, Jack. You didn’t have to go to this much trouble, but I don’t mind telling you that I’m glad you did.”
His gaze met hers across the room as he dished up pasta. “Just a small way of thanking you for everything you’ve done, Emma. I don’t know what I would have done without you, honestly.” His eyes glazed over, filling with emotion.
She’d yet to see Jack cry over his sister’s and husband’s deaths, but she could see in that moment it wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge.
“Here. Let me help you.” She took the plates from him so that he could carry over the salad and bread. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was, but the tantalizing aroma made her stomach growl.
“Somebody’s happy you are feeding me.” Laughing at herself, she sat the plates down.
They settled in to their meal, quiet at first, but once they had sated their initial hunger, conversation flowed easily. They weren’t strangers, had known one another for eight years, but truly hadn’t ever had an in-depth conversation. It had always been superficial social conversation during his holiday or special event visits. This was very different.
“Did you always know you wanted to be a lawyer, Jack?” she queried. She wanted to understand better what made him tick.
Taking a sip of his wine, he didn’t hesitate. “Pretty much, at least from high school on. Once I joined the debate team, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Then in college when I studied Business Law, that’s when I decided what I wanted to special in.” He couldn’t hide the passion he felt about his work.
“Why Business Law? What is it about Business Law that drew you in?”
“I like negotiating contracts. The mostly clear-cut guidelines that keep people honest and putting in black and white what the agreement is, what the expectations are. Of course there is always interpretation of the law that gets in the way. That’s where I feed my love of debate in the courtroom, convincing the judge my interpretation is the right one, based on the laws of course.” Jack’s dark brown eyes shone brightly.
“It’s obvious you love what you do, Jack. You’ve worked hard to advance in your firm, I know. Dana bragged about you all the time. She was so proud of you.”
His happy glowed dimmed slightly. “She was my biggest champion, especially after Mom and Dad passed.”
Emma thought of how he must be feeling with his parents, and now Dana gone. She knew how she’d feel. Alone. Her parents had retired to Florida, so she didn’t get to see them like when they lived a few blocks away, but they Skyped frequently. She adored them and counted on their support and love.
“Jack, family comes in all shapes and sizes. Friends are the family you get to choose. You have Olivia, and I’m here for you if you want me to be. You have an entire town that will be here if you need them. Don’t forget that.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re a pretty amazing woman, you know that?”
She didn’t handle compliments well. Blushing, she replied, “Oh, yes. My kindergarten cape has done wonders.”
“We all have a purpose, Emma. I’ve watched you over the years, and certainly had a close-up view this week of how you relate to Olivia. You have an amazing talent with children. You’re a natural.” he said sincerely.
“Thank You, Jack. That means a lot to me. I do love what I do. I guess I knew early on that I wanted to work with children. When I started babysitting, I realized how much I loved reading to them, helping them, doing art projects. It felt so good to see the excitement they gleaned from learning something new and being able to do it themselves.” Jack smiled at her response.
Emma laughed. “Big mistake getting me to talk about teaching. I could go on for hours.”
“I guess we are fortunate we both chose a path doing something we love. Not many people can say that.” Jack caressed her cheek. Emma stared up at him.
“What are we doing, Jack? We crossed a line last night where we can’t go back. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship because I like you and for Olivia’s sake. She needs both of us in her life.”
“Emma, I hadn’t planned on sleeping with you, but I can also tell you I don’t think I could have prevented it either.” Her breath caught and held. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I do you, Emma.”
“Really?” Emma didn’t know if she could say anything else. Her skin was tingling again the way he always made her feel.
“Really.” He chuckled. “Don’t sound so surprised. You drive me crazy with need. I think you felt the same way, didn’t you? Otherwise, I’m pretty sure nothing would have happened between us.”
“This could get really messy, Jack.” Emma said, chewing on her lower lip.
He leaned forward and placed a tender kiss to her lips, lingering. “Not if we don’t let it, Emma. Can’t we just enjoy each other in the time we have together. I need you, but if you tell me you don’t want me or need me in return, I’ll leave it alone. I’ll respect your wishes, Emma. I don’t take what isn’t freely given. I can’t make you promises of forever, Em. I know that’s what you deserve, but my life isn’t here. It’s in Richmond, and I can’t see you living anywhere else but here in Garrett’s Point.”
Her heart constricted in her chest. Any deep down hope she carried that maybe there was a future for them, died. Consciously she knew it wasn’t in the cards, but she realized
in that small cavern where dreams lived, she had been hoping that his feelings for her were deeper than just flat out need.
She couldn’t deny how much she wanted and needed him. Could she embrace the short time they did have together and be satisfied? Would her heart recover when all was said and done? She’d never had a fling before. That wasn’t part of her normal DNA. Why was she suddenly okay with it? Did that belittle her by giving in to Jack so easily? She wasn’t happy about that, but she wasn’t a complete prude either. Her feelings for Jack were real. The depth of those feelings was what scared her. What scared her even more was the thought of not savoring every moment she was given with him. She couldn’t walk away. She didn’t want to. She was going for it. Wouldn’t Kat be proud she thought, a small laugh escaping.
Jack watched the play of emotions battling inside her. Her face was an open book. She would be a terrible poker player. “Em?”
He watched as Emma stood, her expression one of determination. She held out her hand to him, giving him her acceptance without saying the words.
“Are you certain?” he whispered. His gut knotted. This is what he wanted, but something in the back of his mind was red-flagging him. Why was trepidation trying to seep in? Because he didn’t want to hurt her. That’s why. He’d never worried about that before. Women slept with him, knowing there were no strings attached, so why was he suddenly hesitating when he wanted her more than anything? He’d been honest with her. He didn’t need to feel guilty, so what the hell was wrong? He cared. That’s what was wrong. A shiver ran down his spine as he pushed the thought away. It didn’t mean anything. Of course he cared. She was Olivia’s joint guardian and was his sister’s best friend. That was all.
Feeling liberated, Emma stepped into him lifting her arms around his neck she whispered again his lips, “I’ve never been more certain, now are you coming or not?” She slipped out of his arms and headed toward the stairs.
Jack watched her sweet little rump sachet across the room, teasing him with every step. He wasn’t cumming yet, but he planned to…more than once, and he couldn’t be the only one.