Love Like You've Never Been Hurt (7 page)

“Sure.” She smiled. He seemed like a genuinely good
guy, and definitely easy on the eye.

“I talked to Dan earlier and he said he’d love to meet
Scott. He sounded excited about it too,” he grinned. “If
you imagine Scott in another fourteen years, you’ll get the
idea of who Dan is. I think the two of them could be really good for
each other.”

“Oh, thank you so much. You are a sweetheart! I love that
boy with all my heart, but there is so much I can’t share with
him. I’m not smart enough, you know?”

Jack nodded, “I do know, I always felt that way with Dan.
He’s not much younger than me, but with no father around, I
always felt responsible for him and I just couldn’t help with
the computer stuff. It’s not been easy for him, but he’s
managed to do really well for himself. When I told him about Scott he
loved the idea of helping him along. He asked if Scott wanted to come
down to Silicon Valley.” Missy tensed on hearing that. Jack
smiled. “Don’t worry. I told him it would be better for
him to come up here first, let you meet him, let Scott get to know
him.”

Missy smiled gratefully. “That would be easier. It’s
not that I’m not grateful and everything...”

“No need to explain, I get it.” Jack’s face
broke into a huge grin. “Anyway, there will be loads of times
that Dan can come up and hang out here over the summer.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I’ve agreed to build Pete’s house, so
I’m going to be staying up here for a while!” He seemed
thrilled.

Missy had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud.

“Is that so?”

Jack nodded happily, looking very pleased with himself.

“And how long has this been the plan?”

“Only since this afternoon. Pete had asked, but I didn’t
think I was going to do it. Now that I’m here though, I think
it’s going to work out great.”

Missy smiled back at him. This was definitely going to be an
interesting summer. “Oh, I think you might thoroughly enjoy
yourself.”

Pete and Ben emerged into the cool night air and came to join
them.

“More beer?” asked Ben. Missy and Jack both nodded and
he went back inside to return moments later with four cold bottles.
They sat at one of the picnic benches.

“Scott seems to be really enjoying himself,” said
Pete.

“He is,” said Missy, “it’s so good to see
him having fun with other kids.”

“Yeah,” Ben pointed his bottle at the dance floor,
“the biggest kid of all is right in the middle of it too.”
They all looked in through the open doors to see Emma dancing with
Scott and his friends. Scott was sticking close by her side and
bristling every time one of his friends danced too close.

Missy laughed, “He loves his Auntie Em so much.”

Ben beamed at her. “We all do, and like me, he’s going
to be a very happy boy that...” Missy kicked him under the
bench. He got the message. As Pete and Jack looked at him he mumbled,
“He’s going to be a very happy boy that she’s here
for his birthday. I just need to check on things downstairs. Miss,
will you give me a hand?” The two of them disappeared inside.

“What was that all about?” he asked as soon as they
were out of earshot.

“Sorry,” Missy laughed, “but it’s just too
funny. We know that Em’s staying up here for the summer, but
Pete and Jack don’t.”

“Oh,” Ben looked confused, “and?”

“Jack is staying for the summer too!”

“Oh, wow! Are they...?”

“Not yet, but have you seen him looking at her?”

“Hard to miss, huh? He seems like a good guy. He’s
certainly got a thing for her.”

“In a big way! The funniest part is that she’s got it
just as bad. But you know what she’s like, she’s too
scared to do anything about it. Says it can’t go anywhere AND
she thinks coming up here will help her stay out of his way.”

Ben laughed. “This should be fun to watch. And Pete doesn’t
know Em’s staying?”

“She’s not seen him since she decided.”

“You think we should tell him?”

“Tell me what?” asked Pete as he appeared behind them.
“I thought you two were up to something.”

“How much do you like your friend Jack?” asked Missy,
her eyes gleaming.

“I’d trust him with my life.” Pete looked back
to where Jack still sat sipping his beer.

“With your life, maybe, but would you trust him with our
Mouse?” Ben’s tone was laughing, but his eyes were
serious.

“You noticed, then?” grinned Pete. “It’s
OK though, you know what Em’s like. She still swears she’s
staying single. Anyway, Jack is going to be spending the summer up
here and she’ll be down in LA where he can’t get his
hands on her.”

Missy laughed. “Well,
the best laid plans of our Mouse seem to be going awry because she
decided today that
she
is
staying up here
for the summer!”

“Uh-oh!” Pete frowned, then smiled again, “Maybe
I need to be around too.”

“Yay!” cried Missy, “we’re putting the
band back together!” The guys laughed at her excitement.

“I can’t stay the whole summer, but I sure can get up
here a lot.” He looked back at Jack who was smiling as he
watched Emma with the kids.

“Guys, please can I be the one to drop the bombshell on
those two?”

“Only if we can watch!”

Emma came back from the bar with two beers for Gramps and Joe. She
put them down on the table and smiled. “I’m going outside
to catch up with the gang.” She’d loved dancing with
Scott and his friends and talking with Gramps and Joe, but now she
was ready to spend some time with her friends.

She plonked herself down at the picnic table where Ben was making
them all laugh with a story about a rich divorcee who had been wooing
him all through the off-season. She looked up at the night sky and
smiled; she felt happier than she had in a long time. This would be a
good summer and hopefully she’d be able to figure out where her
life went from here. She looked over at Jack who was laughing, head
thrown back. Too bad she’d be moving away from him, but she
knew it was for the best. She would never risk her heart again and
she knew that Jack, with his deep sexy laugh and gorgeous smile,
could shatter her heart completely if she gave him a chance. No, one
dinner with him on Thursday and then next weekend she would come up
here and begin her summer. Here she had her friends and her Gramps,
the beautiful lake and the fresh air. She had Aunt Martha’s
house to work on and a novel to write. She didn’t need a man,
no matter how attractive, to get in the way of that. He was part of
the LA life and she was leaving all that behind.

“So,” Pete turned towards her, “Ben tells me you
were out to Martha’s old place today?”

Emma realized she hadn’t told him her plans yet. “We
were. I’d forgotten how much I love that house.”

“It is a beauty, and the best spot there is on the lake.
What made you go out there?”

“Well, I’ve got something to tell you. I think you’re
going to like this.” Pete shot Jack a look she couldn’t
fathom, and Missy and Ben looked like they were about to laugh. “Have
you told him?” she asked them.

“Told me what?” asked Pete. “That you might need
some help doing the place up? Because if that’s the case, I
might know the very man.” She saw him look at Jack again.

“OK, so I didn’t tell you first!” she laughed.

“Tell him what?” asked Jack looking thoroughly
confused by the whole exchange. She looked at him, sad that she’d
be leaving him behind.

“That I’m staying up here for the summer.” Missy
and Ben both burst out laughing at the stunned look on Jack’s
face.

“And as I was saying,” smiled Pete, “she may
need some help with renovations” he looked at Jack, “if
you have time.”

Now it was Emma’s turn to look confused as understanding
spread across Jack’s face.

“If you have time?” she echoed. Jack had already
recovered and was grinning from ear to ear.

“Since I’m going to be up for the summer too, building
Pete’s house!”

Emma had no words. She looked from Jack to Pete and back again,
then at Missy and Ben who were still laughing.”

“Oh!” was all she could manage.

Pete laughed. “I’m so glad you’ve decided to
take some time up here, Em. You need it.” She stared at him.
“But you didn’t tell me,” he added.

She gave him a grudging smile. “I didn’t know myself
until Ben and I saw Gramps this morning.” She looked at Jack.
“So, you’re going to build him a house? Where?”

“Oh, you have to see it. It’s a gorgeous parcel on the
north shore. It’s on a headland with only one other house up
there....”

Ben and Missy both collapsed laughing. “Aunt Martha’s!”
they chorused.

Pete grabbed her hand. “Dance with me Em.” He dragged
her inside where the music had slowed and couples young and old
swayed together

She looked up at him. “What the heck have you done?”

“Mouse, I’m sorry. What can I say? My best friend and
partner is absolutely crazy about you and I happen to think he would
be wonderful for you. Even so, knowing your weird hang-ups about men
and relationships, I did not meddle...”

“Did not meddle?” she interrupted, “You just...”

He buttoned her lips together between his finger and thumb.

“Let me finish?” he laughed as her eyes bulged
furiously at him. “Can I let go?” She nodded. “I
did not meddle. In fact this afternoon I thought I was sending him
away from you. That he’d be up here and not, in his own words,
chasing you all over LA.”

“He said that?”

“I told you, he’s crazy about you. So you see, this
really is not my fault and I can’t stand for my Mouse to be mad
at me. Sometimes fate intervenes you know, Em. Even when we think we
know better.”

Emma stared up at him. She couldn’t stay cross with him for
long, and had never been able to.

“Still friends?” he asked.

“Always, Idiot.” She replied in a ritual they’d
shared for over twenty years.

“Good,” he breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m
sorry I had to drop it on you like that, but you have to admit it was
too good not to.”

She slapped his arm and smiled. “I have to admit I’d
have done the same to you given the chance, and I hope you realize I
shall get you back whenever I can. So you’re really going to
build on my headland?”

“Hell, yeah! We’re going to be neighbors, kiddo!”

“So, that man is going to be out there all summer?”

“That man is a very good man and you might want to give him
a chance.”

For a moment she felt as afraid as she had all those years ago
when their friendship first began. New kid in class, newly orphaned,
hurting, alone and trusting no one. Pete held her a little closer.

“It’s OK, Em. You know I’ve always got your
back. Not all men are like the asshole you married. You’re not
going to go through that again.”

“But, Pete, that’s the point! I married an asshole and
I thought he was wonderful. I adored him and he broke my heart. I am
a terrible judge of character and I can’t be trusted. And no, I
won’t go through that again, EVER!”

He tipped her chin and tried to make her smile by whirling her
around the dance floor. She managed a weak smile.

“
Mouse, you may be a
terrible judge of character, but I’m not. I told you Rob was an
asshole and I’m telling you Jack is one of the nicest guys
you’ll ever meet. But that’s all; I’m not telling
you what to do with it. What matters most is that you enjoy your time
up here. Rest, relax, get your sparkle back, OK? And if it’s
really going to bother you, I’ll forget the house, not send him
up here.”

“Oh, no Pete. I can stay out of his way. I want you to have
your house, to spend more time here yourself. I’m sorry. I’m
being silly.”

“It’s not silly, Em. I understand, just trust me,
hey?”

Jack and Ben watched Pete dance with Emma. Missy had gone to check
on Scott.

“Welcome to Summer Lake, then.” Ben slapped him on the
back and smiled.

“Thanks, I’m not sure what to make of this though.”

“I’m not surprised, Pete just landed one on both of
you!”

“Well, I can’t say it was an unpleasant surprise for
me, but I’m not sure what Emma made of it.” The hurt and
confusion in her eyes had touched him. “What’s the deal
with her being so anti-men?”

Ben looked at him. “She’s not so much anti-men, as
anti-relationships. She’s been hurt.”

“No shit!”

“Listen, you seem like a straight up guy to me. I’ll
be happy to help out and hang out when you come up here. Hell, it’ll
be good to have a new buddy around. But when it comes to Emma, I
think she should be the one to talk to you about it, not me.”

“Fair enough,” said Jack, liking Ben even more.

“I will say though, that if you can make our Mouse happy,
you’ll make me and Pete and a whole bunch of other people
around here happy too.”

Jack smiled. “I’m going to try my damnedest to do
that.” Standing up, he shook Ben’s hand. “Wish me
luck!”

He tapped Pete on the shoulder. “May I cut in?” He
raised an eyebrow, hoping that neither of them would refuse. Pete
looked at Emma who gave a small nod. Pete stepped away. Jack placed a
hand on the small of her back and offered her his other. She smiled
as he led her around the floor.

“Ballroom?” she asked. “You do surprise me.”

“As I told you already, Miss Douglas, I am not the man you
prejudged me to be. I am full of surprises. Good ones,” he
added hastily. “Let’s just say I had to learn ballroom
many years ago in order to help someone I care about very much.”

“A girlfriend?”

“My little brother actually, but that’s a story for
another day.”

The music changed to a slow ballad and he dropped his hands to her
waist, drawing her closer. He felt his heartbeat quicken as she
placed a hand against his chest and looped the other up around his
neck. He shifted a little, hoping she couldn’t feel how much
she aroused him. Man, what was she doing to him? Whenever he’d
danced with a woman like this before, the whole point had been to let
her know how much she aroused him and move quickly on to what came
next. Now here he was, slow dancing in a room full of teenagers and
grandparents, hoping not to scare away this beautiful little Mouse.