Love Like You've Never Been Hurt (17 page)

He could only shake his head as she still held his lips closed.

“Will you forgive me?” she asked.

He tried to talk again, but she buttoned his lips tight until he
gave in and nodded his head.

“And,” she took a deep breath, “have I
frightened you off by being such a prick tease?”

His eyes widened at the term, but he shook his head vigorously.

“Please will you still make me dinner tomorrow?”

Again he nodded.

“I’m so sorry, Jack. Please don’t give up on
me.” She let go of his lips and looked at him, not sure what to
expect.

“Never,” was the only word he spoke before his lips
found hers in a slow, deep, kiss.

They stood on her front porch. She put her arms around his waist
and leaned her head against him. “Thank you for understanding.”

“I’m sorry, Em.”

“Please don’t make me button your lip again.”
She gave him a weak smile.

“All right then. Are you going to be OK?”

“I’m fine. Will you stop by for coffee in the
morning?”

“You got it, Baby.”

“OK then.”

“OK then.”

“And you’ll still make me dinner tomorrow?”

“Try stopping me, you offered me your kitchen, remember?”
he smiled. “Em, don’t worry about tonight, it’s not
a problem, we went there too soon. It doesn’t change anything
for me, just that I know to go slower, and I’m sorry.”

“Thanks, Jack. So I’ll still see you in the morning?”

“Bright and early.” He tilted her chin up to him and
kissed her long and slow. “Good night, Baby.”

He waited while she let herself inside and he saw the lights go on
upstairs. He shook his head; he’d almost blown it. He needed to
dial it back and let her make all the moves from now on. He looked
down at the moonlit water of the lake. Time for a walk on the beach
to clear his head? No, what he really needed was a cold shower.

Emma busied herself, grinding coffee, squeezing oranges. She’d
hardly slept at all. Why, oh why had she been so silly? Of course he
knew how to unfasten a bra. What man didn’t? The fact that he
did it so expertly was just how he was. He did everything with
confidence, seemed to be expert at everything he touched. That was
part of what she found so attractive about him. She liked the feeling
of having a big capable man around. He gave the impression he could
handle anything with ease. She checked on the muffins in the oven.
Another few minutes and she would pull them out.

By the time the sky had lightened she’d given up on sleep
and taken a shower, and looking at her naked reflection when she
stepped out, she had reached a decision. Tonight she was going to
make it up to him. She was going to finish what they’d started
and she wouldn’t let any old hurts or silly fears interfere
with that.

Now, as she waited for Jack to come by for coffee, she hoped that
she hadn’t spoiled things, that she would still get the
opportunity to show him that she really did want him. He’d been
so sweet and gentle, hadn’t shown any of the frustration he
must have felt, but still, she hoped there would be no awkwardness
between them.

“Good Morning, Mouse,” Jack called from the deck.

“Let yourself in, it’s open.”

He strode into the kitchen and straight to Emma. He put his arms
around her waist and lifted her, twirling her around the kitchen, as
she giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. When he finally
loosened his grip and let her slide back down to the floor, she kept
her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“How’s my Mouse today?” he asked with a smile.
He was determined this morning should be light and fun. He didn’t
want last night’s events to cast a shadow over things.

“All the better for seeing you,” she beamed.

Wow, this was good. She wasn’t hanging on to her
embarrassment. He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled something
out. “I come bearing gifts.”

“Oooh, gifts for me?”

“Of course. Now close your eyes and hold your hand out.”

Smiling, she did as she was told. He dropped a pebble into her
outstretched hand. “You can open them now.”

She looked down at the pebble and a huge smile spread across her
face. “How beautiful!” It was a piece of flat, smooth
rose quartz that sparkled, shot through with pink lines. She looked
up at him, “More insider information, I take it?”

He was surprised by that. “No, just one of my little quirks.
Ever since I was a little kid I’ve appreciated natural beauty
in all its forms. I may still be a big kid in that respect, but I
love pretty pebbles. Walking the beach this morning, I spotted this
one and thought you would like it.” He was touched by the
expression on her face, she looked so happy.

“Come see.” She took him by the hand and led him to
the living room. On a high, small window sill sat a collection of
stones, large and small, some very similar to the one he’d
given her. “Aunt Martha and I used to spend hours pebble
hunting on that beach. These ones are the best of our collection. I
was surprised to see that they’re still set out here.”
She moved the stones around to give his pebble pride of place in the
center. “Thank you, Jack.”

“My pleasure,” he replied, and it really was. It was
such a small thing, but it filled him with hope and happiness that
she had placed his gift among her childhood treasures.

Back in the kitchen he sat at the counter, drinking coffee and
eating the delicious muffins. “So what does your day hold?”
he asked.

“Writing for me. I have to pop over to Gramps’ for a
while, but other than that I want to get as much writing time as I
can in, especially since tomorrow I won’t be able to.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I’m back to the city to get my car, remember?”

He did remember, Pete had refused to enlighten him about her
so-called ‘Mouse-mobile’, insisting he would have to be
patient.

“So, what do you drive?” he asked, his curiosity
piqued.

She smiled, “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“What’s the mystery?”

“No mystery, it’s just that they all tease me about my
love for my baby car.” She paused, “And you probably will
too.”

He couldn’t imagine what kind of car would have the others
teasing her, but he could wait until tomorrow to find out.

“Do you have a busy day?” she asked.

“Yeah, I have a lot of running around to do. Arranging
permits, talking to suppliers and contractors. Pete is wanting to
hurry things up now, so I’ll be greasing the wheels to get all
the groundwork done as fast as possible.” He looked at his
watch. “In fact, I should probably get going soon,” he
said reluctantly.

“What time are you thinking for dinner?”

He was pleased that she seemed keen to pin him down. He’d
feared he may have frightened her off, but it seemed she was doing
her best to show him he hadn’t.

“I was thinking I could be over here by six. Then you can
keep me company while I make you dinner. It won’t compare with
your cooking, but I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“I’m sure I will. Do you want me to get anything in?”

“No, thanks. I’ve got it covered. And no need for a
booze run, since I brought double yesterday.”

“OK, then. I shall leave myself in your capable hands.”

He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and said, “I’ll
look forward to that,” then immediately wished he hadn’t.
He looked at her, but she was laughing. OK, maybe he didn’t
need to be too cautious. He got down from his stool and kissed her
softly. “You have yourself a good day, little Mouse.”

“You too,” she smiled. “And, Jack, thank you.
Thank you for the pebble and for being so... you know, for making
this not...” she trailed off.

He planted a kiss on the top of her head. “No idea what you
mean,” he smiled, “but I’m sure glad you liked the
pebble. Thanks again for breakfast. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Later,” she smiled.

Emma spent the morning outlining her novel. She knew many writers
who simply went with the flow, started to write and went where the
story took them. That wasn’t her style, though. She preferred
to lay out a framework, to plot out the beginning, middle and end.
She couldn’t begin to write chapter one until she knew how
everything would pan out and where all her characters would end up by
the last page. She chewed her pen and stared out at the water.
Perhaps that was her problem. In life you couldn’t neatly
arrange the plot lines to your liking, couldn’t always know how
things would turn out. You had to let the story unfold and go where
it led. She thought about Jack. She couldn’t know how it would
go, and she shouldn’t try to figure it out; life didn’t
come with guarantees. She’d have to go with Aunt Martha’s
philosophy, and indulge in what she wanted. She shivered in
anticipation. And, she would just have to be prepared to pay for it.
If it ended badly, she’d survive. But at least she was going in
with her eyes open.

At noon she took a break and called Holly.

“Hey Em. You still coming tomorrow?”

“Yes, I am. Can you manage lunch?”

“I’ve kept midday clear especially.”

“Excellent. And have you kept next weekend clear too?”

“I have. It’ll be fun to see your Gramps again.”

“He’s really hoping you can make it.” Holly and
Gramps had met on a couple of his infrequent visits to the city and
he had taken a real shine to her.

“I’m bringing him some of that whiskey.”

“Oh, he’ll love you even more!”

“So, how are you settling in up there?”

“So far so good.”

“And Mr. Benson? Anything happening there?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Ooh, so something is happening?”

Emma laughed, “I think tomorrow I will have something to
tell you.”

“Oh my goodness! Well then, I hope you have a wonderful
evening. Get here as soon as you can, but drive safe, OK? Pick me up
at the store.”

“Will do, I’ll see you then.”

After lunch she headed over to Gramps’ house, eager to tell
him that Holly really was coming to his birthday.

“She’s a good girl that one,” he said as they
sat on the little dock in front of his house. “Been a good
friend to you.”

“Yes, she has. And can you believe in all the years I’ve
known her, she’s never met Pete?”

“That so?”

“Yes. Even that time she came up with me, she met Missy and
Ben, but Pete was away somewhere. Houston, I think.” She
realized as she said it that he must have been with Jack. It was
strange to think that their lives had overlapped so much already
without them ever knowing.

“So, you’re going to make sure they meet this time,
are you?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you might be on to something, Sunshine. But don’t
push it. Just put ‘em together and see what happens, eh? If
there’s going to be magic, they have to find it for
themselves.”

“I know. You’re right. As always.”

“Any chance you might start believing in magic again?”
He gave her a knowing look.

She smiled. “A wise man told me not so very long ago, ‘Don’t
push it. Just put ‘em together and see what happens’.”

“That so, huh?”

“Yes, Gramps. That’s so.”

“OK then, Mouse. You know I won’t push you.”

“Thanks Gramps.”

They sat a while longer, chatting about events in town and about
the party. Emma told him about her novel.

“I’m glad you’re wanting to write again.”

“Me too, and I really should get back to it.”

“Yeah, off you go. Now you’re up here, we can do this
anytime. It’s not like I have to wait weeks anymore ‘til
I can see you again. So you get back to your words, and I’ll
get back to my fishing pole.” He walked her back to the station
wagon. “Bet you’ll be glad to get your own wheels back
tomorrow, been a while now.”

“I can’t wait. It was good of Holly to let me use this
old thing for so long, but I want my baby back. Oh, and it was good
of you to let Jack use your old truck. It’s not like you with
someone you don’t know, though.”

“Oh, I’ve got his number, Sunshine. I’m just
doing my bit, he’s a good ‘un. I say give him a chance,
you might find your magic right there.”

Emma stared at him. Gramps had never spoken so openly about
something like that, and she was surprised.

He ignored her shock and carried on as if he’d mentioned
nothing more than the weather. “Now git! You’ve got work
to do and I’ve got fishies waiting on me.” He ambled back
to the house, leaving her staring after him.

Jack stood at Emma’s sink peeling sweet potatoes. He ran the
garbage disposal until it made a horrible grinding sound and stopped.

“That doesn’t sound too healthy.”

“Yeah,” Emma was sitting at the counter sipping a
light beer. “I need to call someone to get it replaced. There
are lots of things breaking down in this place.”

He looked at her, wondering whether to go there, deciding he
would. “Do you want me to pick one up and do it for you? It’s
an easy job.”

“I don’t know. I’m kind of thinking about
updating the whole kitchen,” she looked around. “The
whole house really, it’s not been touched for years.”

He decided to risk it. “Pete wasn’t kidding you know.
I could do all the work for you.” He hoped she would at least
think about it. He liked the idea of being the one to help her
reshape her home.

“I don’t know,” she smiled. “I have to
figure out what I want to do first.”

“Of course.” Ah well, he’d keep trying. At least
he’d planted the seed. He knew this was going to take a while
and, like he’d told Pete, he was in it for the long haul. He
was a patient man and it was rare that he didn’t get what he
set his mind to. He wasn’t so sure that he really could win
Emma over, past all her pain and mistrust, but he knew he was going
to give it everything he had.