by LJ Bradley
“If you say so.” She took a minute to settle in then picked up the conversation again. “Have you had a good time there on your own?”
He hadn’t planned on talking about Meg until he got home. He’d never dated anyone long enough for his family to get their hopes up, and once they caught wind of this he’d be bombarded with questions the second he walked out of the airport. “I’ve had a good time but I haven’t been on my own.”
“Oh?”
He pictured the frown line between her brows and smiled. “Her name’s Meg.”
“You’ve never mentioned a girl before,” she finally said. “Does that mean this is serious? Already?”
“Looks that way.” It had felt that way from the beginning. Now he’d experienced the difference between a deep, mutual attraction and a one-sided infatuation, there was no going back for him. No comparison. “Do you remember when we met?”
She laughed, unfazed by the change in subject. “Chemistry—no Economics class. You were sitting next to me.”
“Mmm. That wasn’t the first time I saw you, though. You were running through the courtyard in a hurry to get somewhere. You had this worried look on your face and you breezed right past me without looking my way.” He debated whether to say the next part out loud, decided it wouldn’t hurt anyone now if he did. “I wanted you from the second I saw you. It was instant, like all these feelings just slammed into my chest.”
“Jack.” Her voice had gone quiet. He wished he could see her while they were having this conversation, but if she’d been sitting here beside him or they’d connected via Facetime, he probably wouldn’t have brought the subject up in the first place.
“Do you remember when you met Josh?”
For a while her heavy breaths were his only answer. He wasn’t in too much of a hurry so he watched the waves and waited.
“At your parents’ place,” she said. “He walked outside while I was climbing from the pool.”
Jack smiled. “I was chasing you.”
He got a soft laugh out of her but she didn’t comment any further. He wondered if she’d been pulled back through time to that moment as well. “I planned on kissing you when I caught up to you.”
He heard her quick, indrawn breath. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jack knew all along he could have confessed his feelings to her and made her choose between him and his brother, but there wouldn’t have been any point. He saw the way the two of them looked at each other. Trying to come first in a competition where the winner had already been decided would have ruined his friendship with Catherine and his relationship with his brother—and he liked the girlfriend-stealing golden boy for the most part. “You know it wouldn’t have made any difference. He’s always been the one for you.”
Jack followed the progress of a surfer who’d just gained his feet, watching as he dropped in on an impressive wave. He felt lighter after spilling his secret, the tension that used to simmer beneath the surface gone now.
“I’m so sorry.”
Emotion turned her words thick and heavy and guilt seeped in to take some of the shine off his happiness. Jack sighed and rubbed his forehead. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Cat. That’s not why I called you.”
“There is. My God, I was thinking about what it must have been like for you to watch us get married all those years ago, and then to go back to Bali last week to see it happen all over again.”
He glanced around as if other people might be able to hear their conversation, then dipped his head and said in a low voice, “I didn’t want to upset you. None of this is your fault. I’m telling you now because it’s over. I’m good. Fucking great, if you want to know the truth.”
She let out a loud breath. He had no idea if he was just imagining it but he thought he detected a touch of relief in the sound. “Because of Meg?”
Jack picked up another handful of sand, watching it slide through his fingers as his thoughts switched to the woman in question. “Yeah, because of her. You’ll like her.”
“If she’s not your usual type I bet I will. Does she know about me… and you?”
“Uh-huh.” He stood and took in the view before turning his back on it for the last time. “I used the sob story to get her to have pity sex with me.”
“You did not!”
He laughed as he made his way across the sand. “Correct.”
“So… you really don’t have those feelings for me anymore?”
He didn’t have to be in the same room with her to know she had a hopeful look on her face. Jack wished he could wrap his arms around her and give her a good, long, platonic hug. “It’s safe to say my focus has shifted somewhere else, which means now I can stop staring daggers into Josh’s back.”
Catherine did that breathy little laugh that used to turn him on but now only made him smile. She went quiet again, and when she spoke her voice sounded husky and soft. “I know you said you don’t want an apology but I’m sorry for everything. If I’d had any idea what I’d been putting you through all this time I honestly would have been crushed. I never wanted to see you hurt.”
Which was one of the reasons he hadn’t dumped it on her until now. “Everything worked out in the end,” he said. “We’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.” Jack stepped up to the curb and watched the steady stream of traffic, waiting for his opportunity to cross. “I’ll see you in a few days okay?”
“Okay. And, Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
He smiled and told her he loved her, too. It lifted a weight off his shoulders knowing he could exchange those words with her and not have hidden feelings attached to them.
Chapter Seventeen
Jack: Not long ‘til I can get you naked again.
Meg: We’ve been through this. I’m not that easy.
Jack: Tell that to your panties.
Meg: I would if I was wearing any.
Jack: You’ll be the death of me, woman.
Meg: Oh, but what a way to go;)
Meg tidied up the workbench in the backroom, collecting the offcuts from the yellow roses she’d used to create Mrs. Tilly’s bouquet. The heady perfume from the flowers filled the air, clashing with the lemon scented cleaner Ally had been spraying around like a maniac.
She tossed the scraps and pulled a pen from her apron pocket to check the order off her worksheet. Her delivery guy had been in and out of the shop all day with the Mother’s Day phone orders. She’d had a steady stream of walk-ins to process as well. Even though her work had kept her physically occupied, it hadn’t stopped her mind from wandering to Jack every time she found herself with a second to spare. She needed to see him again to put an end to this overpowering sense of anticipation.
Meg looked up as Ally walked into the backroom wearing jeans and a black City Blooms t-shirt. She’d pulled her dark hair into a topknot and tucked an orange gerbera in the side for decoration. The woman had worked like a trooper today staying on top of the heavier than usual workload. “The shop’s finally empty,” she said. “Thank God. Today was completely nuts.”
Normally they’d close at noon on a Saturday but that rule always went out the window on the Mother’s Day weekend. Meg tugged her apron off and shoved it under the bench. “Yay! Let’s get the hell out of here while we can.”
Ally laughed. “Any chance that eagerness has something to do with you wanting to pretty yourself up for Mr. Wonderful?”
Jack was stopping by her apartment to pick her up for dinner tonight. Meg only had an hour up her sleeve to work some miracles on her face and erase the exhaustion of the day. She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Not only that. It’s been a long day.”
Ally slipped her apron over her head and tossed it on the bench. “That’s because the most strenuous thing you’ve done over the past couple of weeks is apply sunscreen.”
Meg smiled and launched a piece of curling ribbon at her. “I’ll have you know I was out doing something every
day.”
“Something?” Her eyes widened. “Or someone?”
“Ha. How about you focus on your own love life instead of poking around in mine.”
Ally scrunched up her nose. “Because living vicariously through you is way more entertaining than wading through the dating pool. Have you seen what’s out there these days?”
Meg had been in the same position herself only a week ago so there wasn’t a whole lot she could say to that. Sometimes it was easier being single than wasting your time chasing after the wrong men. She pulled the elastic band from her ponytail and shook her hair free, hoping the kinks would have time to fall out before she got home. “I know. I can’t believe how lucky I was to find Jack.”
“You like him a lot, don’t you?”
It should have been a straightforward answer. She liked him, yes, but it had gone way beyond that, too. Meg had no idea what the stage between like and love was called, or how to explain it in a way that wouldn’t make her sound crazy. She almost cheered with relief when the tinkle of the bell over the main door saved the day.
“Did you flip the closed sign?”
Ally shook her head. “Not yet. I’ll take care of it. Just answer my question first.”
Meg had no hope of winning a battle of wills against the most stubborn person she’d ever met. It would be quicker to just give in and hope a few senseless details were enough to satisfy her. She threw her hands in the air and slapped them against her thighs in defeat. “I’m falling for him. After a week—one week!”
Hmm. Maybe it wasn’t so hard to explain after all.
Ally grinned, whether pleased with her persuasiveness or the answer itself, Meg had no idea.
“Cute,” she said. “There’s no rule you have to wait a certain amount of time before you feel something for someone—and spending an entire week with a guy is equal to at least a month of dating in real-world time.” She flicked a glance over her shoulder. “I’ve got more questions for you but they’ll have to wait.”
As she walked from the room and the sound of murmured voices drifted through from the shop, Meg experienced a surprising sense of relief. It may have been too soon to tell Jack how she felt about him but it was nice being able to share it with someone, especially since Ally didn’t appear shocked or worried about the news. She released a loud breath and glanced at the clock again, not feeling quite so much pressure anymore. She’d go home, freshen up, and put on something nice for dinner, then Jack would show up and make everything right in her world again.
Ally reappeared in the doorway, her eyes bright and her face flooded with color. The tiredness Meg had seen there only seconds ago appeared to have taken a hike. She frowned, rising on her toes to try to find the reason for her friend’s change in mood. “What’s going on?”
Ally clapped her hand over her mouth to hold in a laugh. “Oh, my God. Now I know why you couldn’t keep your hands off him. One look at the guy and I wanted to jump him myself.”
“You’re aware I can hear you, right?”
Meg’s eyes widened at the sound of the amused, masculine voice coming from the main floor. Her face heated, and when Ally swore under her breath and broke into a giggle, she almost burst out laughing too.
Her heart stuttered as a wave of nerves crashed over her. What if he’d heard her talking to Ally? What would he think of her now? She had no idea what he was even doing here. Meg combed her fingers through her hair, wishing she’d had a chance to clean up a bit before she saw him again. She shot Ally a panicked look.
Her friend didn’t appear worried in the slightest. “Just get out there,” she said with a laugh. “I promise I won’t eavesdrop much.”
She couldn’t hold back any longer. Meg hurried to the doorway, threw Ally one last glance then stepped out onto the main floor.
An abundance of giftware filled the shelves on one half of the room. Floral arrangements and potted plants covered the display tables on the other. Jack stood by the counter in the center where she’d set up a row of stools for customer consultations. He picked up a silver angel and turned it over in his long, tanned fingers, rubbing his thumb along the extended wing. It brought back memories of the times he’d touched her in the same way.
Her heart warmed at the sight of him. He wore a slim-fitting charcoal suit with a grey shirt and black tie. He’d styled his dark hair and his jaw was clean-shaven for the first time since she’d known him. He looked so put-together it made her feel self-conscious in her jeans and t-shirt.
“Welcome to City Blooms,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
He set down the ornament and lifted his head. “You really want me to answer that?”
Her breath caught at the amusement in his eyes. Meg bit back a smile and her body thrummed with excitement. She wanted to run to him and jump into his arms. It took every ounce of restraint to stay put. “Probably not, with big ears back there.”
“Aw, come on!”
Jack smiled at the whining tone in Ally’s voice but his gaze never wavered from hers. They stood watching each other, neither of them apparently in a hurry to make a move. If he’d caught her admitting her feelings for him to Ally he gave no indication.
“So… what do we do now?” she asked.
“Maybe you should come over here and pick up where you left off.”
She remembered the last time he’d said those words to her, back when they first met and she’d made the decision to spend the night with him. It seemed like a lifetime ago now that she’d been standing outside his door trying to build the courage to knock. Now here he was in her shop, making the effort to be a part of her life and looking exactly like he belonged here.
She took a couple of steps toward him, leaving enough of a distance that he couldn’t touch her without moving closer himself. “How’s that?”
His eyes shined with laughter. “Pathetic.”
Meg smiled at yet another reminder of their first night together. The tenderness in his expression, the longing in his features, had her unable to stay away a moment longer. She hurried across the room and crashed into him, laughing as he let out a surprised oof at the contact.
She clung to him and breathed him in. Jack hugged her so tight he barely left room for air. “Mmm… I missed you,” he said.
She felt the smoothness of his jaw, the beat of his heart against her chest. “I missed you, too,” she said, pulling back to plant a kiss on him. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to take a look at your shop before you show me your place.”
Five minutes ago, Meg had been sapped of energy. Now she had an abundance of it. “Let me show you around and introduce you to Ally before we head off.”
He nudged a length of hair back from her cheek and the faintest of smiles appeared. “Sounds good. I’ve heard women like to get their best friend’s approval for the guy they’ve fallen for.”
A sound that could only be described as a cackle came from the back room. Meg’s stomach dropped and she suddenly wished she could make herself invisible. “I’m going to kill you, Ally! Just so you know!”
Jack smiled and pulled her against him. As soon as their bodies aligned his humor disappeared and he tipped her chin so her eyes could meet his. He swept his thumb over her jaw and gazed down at her. “You make me happy,” he said, “and I’ll do everything I can to make you happy, too.”
Too late for that, Meg thought, her mouth twitching with the beginnings of a smile. He achieved that goal the moment he set eyes on her and whistled.
She had a feeling it would only get better from here.
Epilogue
Two years later
“I’m so thrilled for you two,” Catherine said. She took a sip from her sparkling water then rested the glass on her nine-month pregnant belly. She’d reached the point now where she didn’t like to stand up for too long, but Meg thought she looked just as pretty and elegant as she had back when they first met.
They were sitting side by side at the bridal tab
le watching Jack waltz with his aunt in the middle of the dancefloor. Even though he was surrounded by guests, he still stood out to her like a beacon—her husband, the man who’d asked her to be his wife a year after their week together in Bali. She had a ring on her finger now but Meg could still barely believe they were married.
She smiled at her new sister-in-law, taking in the healthy glow in her cheeks and the way her pale, yellow dress draped over her swollen stomach. Catherine had balked at the idea of being a bridesmaid in her current condition, but Meg wouldn’t have had it any other way. Catherine had treated her like a member of the Townsend family right from the start, and it hadn’t taken Meg long to figure out why Jack had harbored such strong feelings for the woman. She’d fallen a little in love with her herself.
“I’m happy for you two as well,” Meg said, referring to their impending arrival, a baby who’d taken three attempts through IVF to conceive. Meg hadn’t been a part of their lives during the first two tries, but she’d had a front row seat to all the anxiety, hope and stress involved in the most recent round.
Catherine smiled and shot a glance at the dancefloor. “The way Jack keeps looking at you it won’t be long before you’re in this position as well, then you too can know the joy of cankles, stretchmarks and being kicked from the inside by a miniature soccer player.”
Meg laughed and fought the urge to touch her own stomach, an impulse she’d had more and more trouble controlling. With the hectic weeks leading up to the wedding she’d somehow managed to lose track of her period, and now she was about nine weeks along. She’d only confirmed her pregnancy a few days ago, but seeing those two lines on the test had triggered an automatic need to caress her flat belly and croon to a baby who didn’t even have ears yet. She’d kept the news from Jack so she could surprise him with it tonight during her speech, which—she checked the filigree watch Ally had made her borrow—was happening in less than fifteen minutes.