Jack picked up the pen. “I bet you’re the cool Grandpa. What’s her name?”
“Jemma.”
Jack wrote a few lines and signed it. Signing autographs was still so weird. He handed the paper to Albert, who shook Jack’s hand.
“I can’t wait to tell her when she gets home from school. She won’t believe it.”
“Would she believe a picture?” Jack asked. “I can send you one.”
“I have my cell,” Albert said as he walked to the back of the store.
Jack looked around. Mother’s Day was fast approaching. He walked to the case that held earrings. The shop door opened, and he turned. Emily carried two bottles of water in the crook of her arm and was eating an ice cream cone.
Even from across the store, he saw the flash of anger in her eyes.
J
Emily figured Jack would be on the phone, not shopping. She suppressed the urge to throw the water bottles at him. She’d spent the whole time on line wondering what else she could say to make him understand.
This was her fault. She’d known last night what an epic mistake this was. He was used to getting his way. Emily had shared more with Jack in a few hours than she’d shared with Sully in the first five months. It had been one of the things she liked best about Sully. He never pushed her to share emotional stuff. Jack did nothing but push, even when he was trying not to. He couldn’t help himself, but he meant well. But she would give him no purchase here. She had to make a clean break; otherwise, he’d have hope, and he’d never let her go.
Nicki had told her to just move on, but she couldn’t. Emily didn’t want to make the same mistakes again. She’d almost married Sully. How could she have been so wrong? And why the fuck didn’t Sully talk to her if he was unhappy? And why did the asshole have to bring Tiffany back to their place? He could’ve fucked her in the city, and Emily wouldn’t have been the wiser. Okay, better she found out before. Oh God, how many others were there? Bastard.
The drip of the cold ice cream on her hand snapped her out of her internal hell.
“Just in time.” Jack strode over, giving her a quick kiss on the lips as he took the water bottles. “Is that for me?” He eyed the ice cream cone.
“Nope, I ate yours waiting on line for the water because it was melting. This one’s mine.” She took an exaggerated lick.
“Why can’t this one be mine?” Jack crossed his arms and leaned up against the counter.
“Because, this is vanilla chocolate swirl, my favorite.” She licked the cone again. “I got you a chocolate vanilla swirl.”
“Did you ask the guy for a vanilla chocolate swirl and a chocolate vanilla swirl, or did you say two vanilla chocolate swirls?” Jack pushed away from the counter and stood before her.
Emily backed up slowly, all the while licking the cone. “I don’t remember.”
He stalked toward her. “Emily, I want that cone.”
“What’ll ya give me for it?”
“What do you want for it?”
She bumped up against the counter.
“Ahem.”
Emily peered around Jack. An older gentleman stood a few feet away holding his cell phone. Jack had the weirdest effect on her. It felt like they were the only two people in the room. The sooner she left, the better. She handed the cone to Jack. “I reserve the right to ask for a favor.”
“Done.” He took the cone and licked. “Albert, this is Emily.”
“Hello, Albert, nice to meet you,” Emily said, shaking his hand.
“What a lovely girl, Jack.”
“Em, would you mind taking a picture of Albert and me? It’s for his granddaughter.”
Emily took the phone. “It’s okay, Albert,” Emily teased, “you can admit the photo is for you.”
Albert laughed.
“Hold on.” In five bites, Jack polished off the cone.
Emily dug a napkin from her pocket and handed it to Jack.
“Thanks, baby.”
Emily took three pictures and handed the phone to Albert. “How are those?”
He swiped the pictures to view them. “Great. Thank you. My granddaughter will be so excited.”
Seeing Jack’s credit card on the counter, Emily looked at Albert. “Did he buy anything from you?” Emily’s face heated. “A piece of Tanzanite jewelry, perhaps?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Okay then.” She pointed to the counter. “Jack, you shouldn’t leave your credit card lying around.” She sighed. “Silly rock star,” she said under her breath.
Jack picked up his credit card and walked over to the earring case. “Mother’s Day is coming up. I was thinking earrings.” He scanned the case. “How about those?”
Albert opened the case and handed the earrings to Jack.
Emily stood behind him, feeling awkward, until she saw his choice. Holy crap, they’re so huge they could be seen from space. From Jack’s grin, she could tell he was proud of his choice. It wasn’t her business, anyway.
“What do you think of these, Em?” Jack held the earrings out to her.
Crap. “They’re nice.”
“You don’t like them?”
“No, they’re beautiful.”
“What, then?”
“They’re kind of…big?”
“They’ll go nicely with a pendant I got her for her birthday.”
“Is the pendant that big?” Emily asked. Still none of her business. Why did he want her opinion, anyway? Buy the damn earrings and leave me out of it.
“No, bigger,” Jack said with pride.
Emily rolled her eyes.
“What?” Jack held them out to her.
Damn. Why hadn’t his ex-girlfriend explained it to him? Bad girlfriend. “Is your mom a princess?”
“Huh?” Jack’s puzzled expression was so cute.
“Or a game show hostess? Beauty pageant winner?”
“No, she’s an English teacher.”
“They’re beautiful, Jack. But…”
“What?”
“I don’t know your mom. Maybe she’ll like them.”
“Tell me the truth.”
The floodgates burst. “They’re huge. I can’t imagine that the woman who raised you would wear those that much, maybe on holidays and special occasions. I’m sure she loves whatever you get her, but these aren’t everyday earrings. I think she’d wear something smaller all the time.”
“Oh. Christie used to help me. She said when it comes to jewelry, especially diamonds, bigger was better.”
Emily kept her face neutral. “They’re not practical.”
Jack nodded. “Practical is better?”
“Yes, to me.” Emily shrugged. What the hell. “Sully got me this huge elaborate engagement ring, which was beautiful, but not practical. The marquise cut snagged on everything. I’d take it off as soon as I got home, and sometimes I’d forget to put it on and leave the house without it, which he hated.” They’d had more than a few fights over that. Sully had accused her of doing it on purpose.
“What do you suggest?” Jack asked as he turned to the display case.
Emily walked over and scanned the case. She pointed to a more modest pair, also round cut. “Those are a decent size, the kind she’d wear every day.”
Albert handed Jack her choice. “These are half carat each, set in fourteen karat yellow gold. I also have them in white gold.”
“Yellow or white?” Jack asked.
“Do you know what metal your mom’s wedding set is?”
Jack scrunched his face up. “No, why?”
“Well, I think it’s nice to match, but you can’t see the metal once they are in, so it doesn’t matter.”
“I’ll call my dad.” Jack took his phone out and called. “Voicemail.”
“How about your sister?”
He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Thanks.” He dialed and this time the call connected.
> “Hey, big brother,” came a thrilled voice from Jack’s phone.
“Hey, Trish. How are you?”
“I’m doing well.” They both chuckled.
So did Emily. Their mom was an English teacher.
“You’re still coming to dinner on Sunday?” Trish asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Jack said, smiling. “Hey, is Mom’s wedding band yellow or white gold?”
“White gold. Why?”
“I was thinking of getting her earrings for Mother’s Day.”
“Oh.”
Jack frowned at the phone. “Oh, what?”
Emily pointed to her earlobes.
“She has pierced ears, doesn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“What then?”
“Jack, it’s just—never mind. She’ll love whatever you get her.”
“Does she wear any of the jewelry I buy her when I’m not there?” Jack glanced at Emily; she could tell he hoped she was wrong.
“Sometimes.” Trish’s voice wavered.
“Trish?” Jack used his older brother voice.
Riley used to do that to her all the time, to remind her he was older. She smiled.
“No. It’s not that she doesn’t like what you buy her, Jack, it’s, just…”
“It’s gaudy, isn’t it?”
“Not gaudy, too big. You know Mom’s not into flash.”
“Well, you’ll be happy to know the first pair I picked out was vetoed. Another more practical pair is up for consideration.”
Emily blushed. Why? Not wanting to consider the possibilities, she looked away.
“Practical is good, Jack,” Trish said. “Are you seeing someone?”
“As a matter of fact”—Jack stopped when he looked at her—“Um, Trish, I have to go. I’ll see you Sunday. Love you.” Jack quickly disconnected the call, cutting his sister off. “Sorry about that. Little sister is a psych major. Very nosy.”
“Jack—”
“I know, I know. You don’t have to say it.” He put his hands up palms facing out. He turned to Albert. “White gold.”
Albert pulled another pair of earrings out in white gold and handed them to Jack.
“Perfect, I’ll take them.”
“Wonderful choice,” Albert said. “Would you like them gift wrapped?”
“That’d be great.” Jack handed his credit card to Albert.
Albert ran Jack’s card and handed it back. “I’ll just be a minute.”
“Thanks for your help.” Jack took her hand.
Emily pulled free and walked over to the other side of the store, feigning interest in the contents of the display case. This was silly. She couldn’t even be in a jewelry store without getting teary-eyed. Maybe they made a pill for this. Duh, of course, they did. They made a pill for everything these days. She took a long calming breath.
Jack walked up behind her. “Are you in the market for a man’s watch?”
Emily sniffled and wiped under her eyes with a napkin. “No.” She turned to face him. For once, he said nothing.
Albert came back and handed a bag to Jack. “It’s been a pleasure. You and Emily make a lovely couple. Good luck.”
Jack said nothing, but the smile that spread across his face said it all. She was screwed. She was going to hurt him. Well, fuck.
After they left the store, they walked for several minutes in silence. Exhaustion overtook her. What’d she been thinking? She never should’ve gone back to his hotel, not after he said he wanted to date her. He would never settle for less.
“I’m hungry,” Jack said. “Do you want to go back to the hotel to eat or stop somewhere along the way?”
“It’s so nice out, why don’t we keep walking and see what comes along?” She needed time to figure a way out of this mess, hopefully without causing him too much pain.
“Sounds good.”
They fell back into silence, which was fine by her. The longer she knew him, the longer the pro side of the list grew. But even if her life wasn’t in shambles, the con side remained. Rock star. She wanted no part of that attention.
She’d been shocked that Albert recognized Jack. The man had to be in his sixties. What grandfather took an interest in his granddaughter’s music? Not hers. She’d grown up with one set of grandparents, and they’d never recovered from the loss of their only daughter. No! Get off the accident because she couldn’t handle those thoughts on top of everything else. Her pulse was already racing. She took a few deep breaths and cleared her mind. She focused on Jack’s hand holding hers. Okay. Better.
Across the street, she saw a café. “How about there?” Emily pointed. Bella Luna Café.
“Sure.” Jack brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
They crossed the street, swept along by the sheer volume of people. Jack tightened his grip on her hand.
The door opened just as they were coming to it, and Nicki and Curt walked out.
What the fuck? Shit. Emily was screwed.
Nicki’s face broke into a satisfied grin. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Curt’s arm was around her, and he carried two bags from a boutique they’d passed.
“Nicki,” Emily said.
Curt and Jack exchanged a simple “Hey.”
“Hello, Jack. So nice to see you again,” Nicki purred. “Did you have a pleasant evening?” She cocked her hip out and rested her hand on it.
“How’s your hand, Curt? Will you be able to play guitar tonight?” Emily asked.
Curt and Jack both snickered.
Another couple was trying to leave the café, so the four of them moved out of the doorway.
“Curt, don’t Jack and Emily make a beautiful couple?”
Curt nodded but wisely said nothing.
“It’s nice to see you again, Nicki.” Jack grabbed Emily’s elbow and maneuvered her closer to the door.
Curt did the same with Nicki, but away from the door. “Emily, a pleasure to see you again.” At the curb, he hailed a cab and they were gone.
J
Snuggled next to Curt in the cab, Nicki would’ve patted herself on the back if she could’ve. There’d be hell to pay for helping Jack last night, but it’d be worth it. Emi had needed to cut loose, and she was glowing.
She glanced at Curt. He’d taken the bags when they’d walked out of the café. Tad never would’ve done that. Curt was tall, handsome, with soulful crystal blue eyes, and had long blond hair. She wasn’t usually attracted to guys with ponytails, but Curt pulled it off. At least he didn’t do the man-bun. That was one trend that needed to die. Now.
He also had a very innocent way of viewing the world. Things were simple with him. He was a sweetie, not at all her usual type. Emily would say her usual type was the problem. She was right, of course.
Curt asked her to spend the next week with him. He saw past her defenses just like Emi did. She didn’t feel the same way about breakups as Emi; if the attraction was there, she was all in. Maybe she got her heart broken more that way, but one of these days, she’d risk it all, and it would be the right guy.
Jack had that same look that all the guys did when they were into Emi. She didn’t realize the attention she got. It was like she only noticed when she was interested, and Emi was definitely interested.
chapter
TWENTY-TWO
Lunch passed in near silence. She’d been distant since they’d run into Curt and Nicki, but Jack hadn’t a clue why. A melancholy had settled over her, and she avoided looking at him. Em answered all his questions with one-word answers, polite but detached, not like earlier. Her smiles were all forced. Jack knew something bigger was going on, and it was sparked by seeing Nicki. No matter what he said, the playful banter they’d shared was gone. When their server Trent asked for a picture, Emily obliged, snapping a few pictures. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk, so he occupied his mind by reciting the lyrics to the song he’d written last night. M
aybe she just needed time. Jack hoped that was all it was.
She only ate half her sandwich and offered Jack her pickle.
“You okay?”
When she finally looked at him, he could see the effort she put into collecting herself. She forced a smile. “That was unprecedented.”
“What?”
“I cannot believe Nicki’s still with Curt. That’s a break in her behavior. Maybe it’s a rock star thing. That has to mean more than an average”—Emily leaned in closer, lowering her voice—“revenge lay, right?”
“I don’t know how to answer that.”
Emily tilted her head. “Normally she would’ve skulked out in the middle of the night, the way she says guys do. She sleeps with a bunch of random guys, and the last one is her next boyfriend. It’s foolproof, really.”
Okay, she was concerned for her friend. Earlier, she’d checked her phone several times.
But Jack had his own concerns. Curt had been taken advantage of before. They’d been shopping, and Jack recognized the store they’d been to, as it was one of Christie’s favorites. He couldn’t imagine Emily being friends with a rapacious female, but Nicki had expensive tastes. “I don’t know quite how to put this, but Curt’s been generous in the past, overly generous...”
Emily’s eyes met his. “Nicki doesn’t need Curt’s money.”
She didn’t elaborate, but he felt she was being honest, so he dropped it.
Honesty was a rarity in this business. The farther up the ladder the band climbed, the more lies they heard. Jack was honest enough to admit he liked his ego stroked but not with lies. When people began telling them what they thought they wanted to hear, they’d relied on each other to be honest.
Even Dex. When he’d suggested Jack make a solo album, he’d lost it and told Dex to fuck off. He’d no desire to record music without the guys, and Dex wouldn’t bring that topic up again.
Someone was always looking for a piece. One of the first things Sid told them was “Give away enough pieces of yourself, and you’ll be left with nothing.” They’d been young and stupid and had no idea what he was talking about, but his words stuck with Jack. Em would give him her honest opinion, always tell him the truth. She seemed to have shaken off whatever was bothering her.
With You: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 1) Page 20