Love Like You've Never Been Hurt (15 page)

“OK, then.” They had arrived at the resort, “Let’s
go find Ben and see what we can work out.”

Jack was riding in Ben’s truck with him on the way to
Gramps’ house. Ben was thrilled at the idea of going in with
Jack and Pete and wanted to talk to Joe straight away. He said they’d
find him up at his friend’s house. Pete had reluctantly left
for the city for a meeting he couldn’t miss.

“I really need to get myself a car,” said Jack, sad
he’d had to postpone car shopping with Emma. He wasn’t
used to being chauffeured around.

“Well, you know Joe will want to talk to me alone about
this, so that will give you something to talk to Gramps about. He’s
always tinkering with cars out there, and if you ask his advice he’ll
talk all day.”

“What’s he like?”

“Oh, he’s great, a bit gruff, but like I say, ask his
advice and he’ll warm to you.”

They drove on in silence. After a while Ben said, “I think
you and Emma would be great together.”

Jack smiled, “I hope so.”

“Well, getting on the right side of Gramps will earn you
some big brownie points, so let’s go get ‘em.”

They found the two old men in Gramps’ kitchen drinking
coffee.

“What do yer want?” asked Joe looking suspicious.

Ben turned to Jack. “Wasn’t I just telling you what a
sweet-natured old guy he is?”

“Bullshit!” Joe gave Jack a quick grin, then turned
back to Ben. “Yer out here on a Monday morning when yer should
have plenty to be keepin’ yer busy. So I reckons yer up to
somethin’, so what do yer want?”

“Nothing gets by you, does it, Sparky?” laughed Ben.
“What I want is to talk to you about this Armstrong guy.”

“Shifty little weasel,” said Joe, “but he’s
offering good money.”

“Yeah, Armstrong’s a shifty little weasel all right.”

Joe looked at Jack. “He a friend of yours?”

“No friend of mine. He’s a competitor.”

“So, you out here to compete with him then?”

“Yes, sir.” He looked at Dan, “Do you want to
lay it out for him?”

“Yup.” Ben poured himself some coffee and handed a cup
to Jack.

“Thanks, I’ll take mine outside.” He went out to
the front porch and Gramps followed him.

“I’d sooner come with you than listen to those two
squabble,” he said.

He set out down towards a little dock on the front of his property
and sat on a picnic bench by the water. “Take a load off,”
he said. Jack sat down beside him.

“So, you’re Pete’s rich-kid, city-boyfriend,
aren’t you?”

Jack had to laugh. “Well, I’m Pete’s friend, but
I’m no city-boy, and I suppose some folks might call me rich
now, but I was never a rich kid”

“Where you from then? What’s your story?”

“I grew up in Texas Hill country, that’s where I’m
from. And my story? Well, I guess I’m the kid from the wrong
side of the tracks who had a family to support, so I worked my ass
off to make sure I could. Got together with Pete, started a company
and we got so busy working it that when we turned around, the ‘rich’
thing just seemed to have crept up on us.”

Gramps smiled. “So why did a kid have a family to support?
Where was your Daddy?”

Jack wasn’t used to such direct questioning, but he wasn’t
about to shy away from it. “He died when I was seventeen.”

Gramps raised an eyebrow. “You were pretty much a man by
then. Why did you work as a kid?”

Gramps was sharp, he wasn’t going let him gloss over it. “I
started working when I was thirteen. Trying to bring in enough to
keep us fed, since anything he ever earned went to straight to the
bar.”

“Sorry son, don’t you mind me, I’m a nosey old
man.”

“No problem, sir. I don’t like the city-boy rich-kids
any more than you do. I’m glad to be up here and away from all
that for a while.”

Gramps nodded and they sat in companionable silence until Jack
remembered what Ben had told him.

“I hear you’re the man to ask some advice about a
car?”

“Well, that’d depend on what you want to know.”

“The best place around here to buy a pickup, and any
thoughts you have on what I should get. I’m going to be here
for a while, building Pete’s house. I don’t need anything
fancy, just a work horse, something reliable that’ll get me
around and haul the smaller stuff.”

Gramps stood. “Come with me.” He led Jack around the
side of the house to a huge workshop at the back. Jack was impressed.
There was a pit and hydraulic lifts, and all sorts of equipment,
neatly kept and well organized.

“Wow! You sure know your stuff, what a great set-up.”

“It keeps me out of mischief,” smiled Gramps. He led
Jack out through a back door to where several vehicles stood. He
walked over to a Toyota pickup and leaned against it. It was old, but
it gleamed in perfect condition. It was a real beauty.

“See, if you want to,” said Gramps, “I’ll
take you down to my buddy’s dealership and we can get you a
good deal on one of those shiny new models, if that’s your
thing. Or there’s this one.”

“This is beautiful,” said Jack, “and perfect for
me. How much do you want for it?”

“Oh, she’s not for sale. But if you’re the man I
think you are then I’ll trust you to take care of my little
lady for a while, see how things work out.” Jack looked up
sharply and the old man met his gaze with a set of green eyes that
were so familiar. “See, you wouldn’t know it to look at
her,” he continued, “but she got real banged up a few
years back. Took us a long time to put her back together.” He
smiled to himself, “She has her quirks, can be a bit
temperamental if you don’t handle her right, but I’m
thinking you might be up to the job.”

Jack looked him straight in
the eye, certain now that they weren’t simply talking about the
truck. “I have no interest in the shiny new ones. I’m
honored that you would trust me with her and I give you my word, I’ll
do everything in my power to take real good care of her.”

“Don’t let me down, son.”

“I won’t, sir. One thing though? Would you mind if I
come to you for advice when I’m not handling her right?”

As Gramps chuckled his eyes danced, just like Emma’s. “It’s
a wise man who knows when to ask for help. You come to me, son.
Between us I think we should be able to troubleshoot her.” He
offered Jack his hand and slapped him on the back. “Now, let’s
go find you the keys and see if those two haven’t figured it
out yet.”

Jack felt happier and more alive than he had in long while as he
drove the truck out towards Emma’s. In a long while? When had
he ever felt this happy and alive? He was thrilled to have Gramps’
blessing. He genuinely liked the old guy and intended to make damned
sure he didn’t let him down. He’d take good care of Emma,
and of this truck. It also looked like he and Pete would be getting
more involved out here than he’d thought. Joe had been eager to
set up some kind of deal, especially when he realized that they
wanted to go into partnership with Ben, not simply buy the land.
There were lots of details to work out, but they’d agreed to
all get together with Pete when he returned on Friday.

He arrived back at Emma’s and his heart raced when he saw
her sitting on the deck. He shook his head as the blood flow stirred
in his pants, as it did every time he saw her. “Down boy,”
he muttered as he sat a moment longer, admiring the curve of her
neck. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a ponytail. She wore a
halter top the same bright green color as her eyes, the V-neck
showing enough of her cleavage to make him shift in his seat as the
throb in his shorts intensified. She looked up and waved as he got
out, looking a little puzzled to see him in Gramps’ old truck.

“How did that happen?” she asked as he climbed the
stairs to join her.

“I met your Gramps.”

“So I gather.”

“And he’s letting me borrow his truck while I’m
here.”

“Really! Well that’s good, he must have taken to you.”

Jack smiled, “You could say we reached an understanding.”

“I’m so glad. He can be a bit gruff when he doesn’t
know you. And how did it go with Ben?”

He told her about the meeting and Ben talking to Joe. “We’re
going to thrash out the details later with Pete, but it looks like
it’s a go. So, my little Mouse, you’d better get used to
having me around.”

“I am getting used to it,” she smiled shyly.

“And you like?”

“I like.”

“Then kiss me.” She stepped into his outstretched arms
and stood on tiptoe to place a small peck on his cheek. “You
can do better than that.” She put her hands on his shoulders
and pecked his lips. “Better than that,” he breathed as
he closed his arms around her, drawing her against him. He brought
his mouth close to hers and watched her plump pink lips part, as her
arms came up around his neck and she kissed him deeply.

“That’s more like it,” he said when he finally
lifted his head.

“Glad you approve.”

“Oh, I approve.”

“Well don’t get too comfortable, because I have to go
to town in a little while and this afternoon I have work to do.”

“I have work to do too. I just wanted to say Hi. Do you mind
if I leave ‘that thing’, as you call it, over here until
tonight? I’ve got some running around to do.”

“Of course, it can stay here as long as you need.”

“I was wondering if I could make you dinner this evening,
since you’ve cooked for the masses all weekend.” He could
see that took her by surprise.

“Oh, no. I really don’t mind, it’s what I do.”

“No problem. Another day.” He was determined not to
push her any faster than she wanted to take this. She surprised him
by placing a hand on his arm, smiling.

“I didn’t mean no, I meant I don’t mind cooking
and since I have a wonderful kitchen and you are living in ‘that
thing’, I thought perhaps I could cook for you.”

“How could I say no? Though can I at least do the booze
run?”

She laughed, “You’re already getting the hang of how
things work around here. See you around seven?”

“You got it, Baby,”

Emma looked at her reflection and held her hair up then let it
fall around her shoulders. “Up or down?” she asked the
mirror. This was ridiculous. She’d tried on five different
outfits before finally settling on a white skirt and lilac colored
baby-doll top. Everything for dinner was ready to go. Salad and
pasta, bread ready to warm in the oven. She’d made a key-lime
pie for dessert too. She knew Jack had arrived back at the RV a
little while ago. Soon he’d be over here and the fun really
would begin. She decided to go half and half and fastened her hair
loosely at the nape of her neck.

Had she ever been this nervous about a date before? She thought
about the early days with Rob, then decided that was not a comparison
she wanted to make. In the last few years she’d dated a little,
only safe men though, ones she wasn’t really interested in.
She’d had a few enjoyable evenings, but a lot more boring ones.
More often than not recently she’d ended up pressing Pete into
service when she’d needed to take a date along anywhere. It had
been a great way to catch up with him and he’d saved her from
the dating hell of the beautiful, but superficial, Hollywood crowd.

She rubbed some of her
favorite lotion into her bare shoulders, fastened some gold hoops to
her ears and stood before the mirror. “Not too shabby,”
she smiled and headed back downstairs. She wished she could shake the
nerves. He’d been here for dinner the last two evenings, it
wasn’t like this was a first. Oh, who was she trying to kid?
Over the weekend he’d been one of the gang, and this was the
first time they would be alone together. Goose bumps ran down her
arms and she shivered at the thought of being alone with Jack Benson.
Where would it lead? His desire for her was obvious, she’d felt
it pressed against her when they’d kissed. She thought of the
night at Pete’s cabin, laying naked in bed with him as he’d
pulled her closer. Was she ready for that? She wanted him too, she
couldn’t deny it, but was she really ready for that? She hadn’t
slept with a man since Rob. Part of her wanted to throw caution to
the wind, but the other part was still afraid. Perhaps it would be
better to take this slowly.

“Knock, knock!” Jack shouted from the open doorway.

“Come on in.”

As he walked in carrying a huge paper bag, she inhaled sharply:
caution might soon be blowing in the wind. He was gorgeous! His
muscular legs were encased in faded blue jeans, with leather flip
flops on his feet and he wore a white short-sleeved shirt, untucked
and open at the collar. Delicious. He plonked the bag down on the
island and treated her to that smile that made her knees weak.

“Something smells good.”

“Pasta, I hope you’ll like it.”

He stepped towards her, buried his face in her neck and breathed
in. “You, I think,” he murmured against her skin sending
shock waves rippling all over her, “and I do like.”

She stepped back flustered, overwhelmed by the desire that swept
through her. If he carried on like that they’d never even make
it to the salad. “Just let me turn this down.” She ran to
the oven.

Jack went back to the bag, making light of the moment, and he
pulled out two bottles of wine. “I didn’t know which way
to go, so I went Sauvignon, one Cabernet, one Blanc.

Emma turned back to him, having regained her composure. “I
think the Cab.”

He uncorked the bottle and poured two glasses. Handing one to her,
he returned to the bag and pulled out a six pack of light beer. “I
like to cover my options, so these were for just in case.” She
smiled; he was irresistible. “You’re beautiful, Emma.”
This time he simply raised his glass to her.

She raised hers back. “You’re not too shabby
yourself.” She reached up and planted a peck on his cheek,
hoping he might draw her to him again.