Love Like You've Never Been Hurt, page 23
By three o’clock on Friday Emma was still waiting for Brad to finish his script meeting and get back to her. It looked like she’d be here for the night. She’d have to pass the Phoenix building on her way to Brad’s so she decided to stop by and see Pete. At least she’d be closer by the time Brad was free. As she pulled into the visitor spaces at the front of the building, her cell phone rang.
“Hey you.”
“Hey Baby.”
She looked at the parking space a few yards away. J. Benson (C.O.O.). “You have great timing, I just pulled up next to your parking space.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I’m still running around and I’m stopping in to see Pete.”
“Why don’t you park in my space then? What’s mine is yours.”
“Hold on, I might do that.” She smiled, surprised at how much she liked the idea. She backed up and then pulled the car into his slot. “There, now I’m invading your space.”
“See, I can take care of you even when I’m not there. Hey, if you’re going in anyway, would you mind stopping by to see Lexi? She was going to give some files to Pete for me, but you could get them, if you wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course.” She was curious to meet his secretary, hoping that she wasn’t one of the leggy brunette beauties he seemed to attract. How many men had something going on with their secretary? She stopped herself before she could get carried away. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Will you be back tonight?”
“I don’t think so, I haven’t even gotten to see Brad yet.”
“Too bad.” He sounded disappointed.
“I know. I’m sorry. How about I come straight to you in the morning, say hello before my crazy day begins?”
“Yeah, do that,” he heaved an exaggerated sigh, “it’ll give me something to look forward to as I spend another night all by myself in that big old coach, lonely and alone.”
She laughed. “Isn’t Dan arriving tonight? You could go into town and see him. I’m sure Missy would be glad to see you, and Ben for that matter.”
“I might do that.”
“Well, I’ll be back early anyway.”
“OK, Baby. I’ll see you in the morning. Hurry home to me.”
“Bye, Jack.”
Judy looked up as she walked in. “Oh, hi Emma. Does he know you’re coming?”
“No, I thought I’d just stop in. Is he busy?”
“He’s got someone with him, but they should be done in ten minutes and then he’s free till four fifteen.”
“I’ll wait then if that’s all right. Actually, could you tell me where Lexi’s office is? Jack asked me to pick up some files from her.”
“I can do better than tell you,” smiled Judy, “I’ll walk you round there. How is Jack? We haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks.”
Emma wondered if Judy knew about her and Jack. She’d known Pete’s secretary for years, liked her, yet now she felt a little uncomfortable, not knowing quite what to say. “He seems to be getting on well with Pete’s place.”
“Oh good.”
Well, what else was she supposed to say? That he looked much more relaxed up there? That the fresh air and beautiful scenery seemed to suit him? That, considering all the great sex she was providing him with, he was doing very well, thank you? She blushed as they walked down the corridor where the plush carpet and wood paneling made her think of an exclusive club. She’d always thought that about Pete’s office, but now she realized it was Jack’s office too. The place he spent his days, working with Pete.
They arrived at a door, “Here we are then,” said Judy as she knocked and went in. A woman, in her early fifties, Emma guessed, was talking on the phone. “I’d better get back,” said Judy. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She showed Emma to a large chair and left.
The woman finished the call and came around her desk, beaming. “So you’re the beautiful Emma! So nice to meet you, Honey!”
The force of her friendly Texan drawl surprised Emma. She smiled back, a little uncertain.
“Oh, he just called, said you’d be coming.” She had curly red hair and bright blue eyes. Emma liked her immediately. “Would you mind if I give you a big old hug, Honey?” She’d wrapped her arms around her before Emma had chance to reply. The hug felt like coming home and Emma found herself hugging right back, feeling tears prick behind her eyes as she wondered what it would have been like to have grown up knowing a mother’s hugs. She didn’t have time to pursue sad thoughts though. Lexi was so warm and bubbly.
“The man is crazy about you, Hon.”
Emma blushed again, wishing she could control the blood that infused her face so often since she’d met Jack.
“Look at you! Blushing like a schoolgirl, aren’t you just the sweetest thing!”
“I, um...” She was completely thrown. She’d had visions of some tall, smoky beauty, eyeing her coolly and instead, here she was with this welcoming motherly figure doting on her.
“Oh, don’t you mind me. I’m a bit much for some folk.”
“Oh, no,” said Emma, “It’s not that, it’s just....”
“I’m not what you were expecting, right? You thought his secretary might be one of those stick insects,” she laughed, a sound so infectious Emma joined her, shaking her head.
“Don’t tell him, but yes, I was a little nervous to meet you.”
“Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. Like I said, the man is crazy about you. In all my years I’ve never known him like this. And Honey, we go back a long ways me and Jack. His momma’s my best friend, we went to school together and I’ve done Jack’s books for him since before he was old enough to file. When he was setting up Phoenix with Pete, he brought me with him. I was worried about him for a while there, we were buzzing around in that plane of his so much – Houston, Miami, New York, I didn’t know my tail from my elbow and he was burning out fast. Pete thought getting him to LA might fix him, but you know, even though it’s not been so crazy since we set down here, this city isn’t a good fit for him.” She smiled, “But these last few weeks, he’s doing much better and that’s all down to you.”
“I think being out at the lake is really suiting him.” Emma pictured him walking on the beach relaxed, smiling, the tension gone from his face.
“I think being with you is what’s suiting him. He’s laughing again, back to being a big old goofball. I was starting to think he’d gone and grown up on me, but now he’s happy.”
Emma smiled, touched, though a little overwhelmed, by Lexi’s forthright approach. “Well, we have been having fun.”
Lexi frowned. “He’s got a whole lot more than just fun on his mind Honey, what are you scared of?”
Emma was shocked to be asked outright like that. She looked down at her nails then up at Lexi who watched her with a reassuring smile. “Sorry, I told you I can be a bit much. It’s none of my business, I guess I’m getting a little carried away. Don’t let me scare you off. Here,” she picked up a bunch of files from her desk, “these are what he’s after.” She gave Emma another hug. “I’ll be seeing you again, Miss Emma, and you can call me any time you want.”
“Thank you, it’s so lovely to meet you.”
“You too, Hon, you too.”
Emma started towards the door.
“Hang on.” Lexi took a business card from her desk and wrote her number on the back. “I’m guessing you know the office number well enough, but that’s my cell on the back, and you can bet your tail I’ve never given that to none of those stick insects!” She laughed. “And don’t be so scared. If you ask me it’s him as is most likely to get his heartbroken and I’m hoping that won’t happen. You take care now and don’t forget, call me any time.”
Emma walked back to Pete’s office trying to process her meeting with Lexi. She was certainly a larger than life personality. She liked her immensely, and it seemed Jack had told her at least some of what was going on between them.
“What is going on between us?” she wondered. “Whatever it is, it’s good, just leave it at that for now.”
She turned over the business card, and now she had a new ally, that could only be a good thing, right?
“Mouse!” Pete grinned as she arrived back at his office. “Didn’t expect to see you today”
“Well, I was in the neighborhood and it’s been too long, I haven’t seen you since Sunday,” she laughed.
He nodded at the files she was carrying. “And he’s got you running errands for him now, has he?”
“He asked me to pick them up since I was here.”
“Good, saves me having to remember.”
“I met Lexi,”
“Don’t worry about her, her bark is worse than her bite.”
“I can’t imagine her barking or biting. Are we talking about the same person? That bubbly Texan lady who kept hugging me?”
Pete laughed, “She likes you then.”
“It would seem so. You mean she’s not always like that”
Pete looked a little uncomfortable.
“What?”
“Well, she’s kind of like, you know, the gatekeeper. Or in her case, Jack’s guard dog!”
“Oh,” realization dawned, “you mean she’s usually fending his girlfriends off, not being nice to them?”
“Oh, Mouse, I didn’t mean it like that, don’t get...”
“It’s all right, Pete, really. I’m trying very hard to be more mature about these things. Of course he’s had other girlfriends,” she smiled, “Lexi called them stick insects.”
Pete laughed at that.
“I have to deal with the positives. Lexi is lovely and she likes me. And, for the time being at least, Jack doesn’t have other girlfriends, because he’s with me.”
“Wow! You are getting grown up, Mouse. I’m impressed.”
“Me too. It’s not easy, but I’m working on it.”
“Well, good for you and you picked the right guy. You have to know he’d never mess around on you?”
“I hope you’re right, Pete. I don’t think I could handle that.”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about there, Em.”
At that moment, Emma’s phone rang. She put the files down and checked the display, “Would you excuse me a minute, Pete?”
“Sure, use the meeting room if you like.”
Emma stepped through the double doors. “Hey, Brad, are you all done?
Oh, OK.
No, of course. No problem. Call me Monday then.
Ok. Yes. Have a good weekend.”
She hung up. Brad wasn’t going to be free this afternoon at all. Looking around she realized she was standing in the spot where she’d knocked Jack over. She smiled, remembering the feel of his arm around her and her first look into his deep brown eyes. And now she got to go home to him! She stepped back into Pete’s office.
“My meeting just canceled.”
“You don’t look disappointed.”
“Because, if you really don’t mind bringing Holly, this means I can go home now.”
“You know I don’t mind. I’ll call her when I get done here.”
“Thanks Pete, you’re the best.”
He smiled, “Anything for you, Em.” He checked his watch, “If you get going now you might still catch dinner with lover boy.”
She grinned back at him, “You don’t need to tell me twice,” she hugged him. “I’m off. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He laughed as she hurried to the door. “Yeah, see you then. You drive safe though, no speeding tickets, OK?”
“Yes Boss!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
After she’d left the worst of the traffic behind, Emma called Holly.
“Hey Sweetie.”
“Hey, I’m sorry, but I’m leaving tonight.”
“No problem. I kind of knew you would. I’ll bet Jack’s pleased.”
“I haven’t told him. When I talked to him this afternoon I still thought I’d have to stay and he was teasing me about abandoning him. I’m going to surprise him, tell him he made me feel too guilty to leave him all alone.”
Holly laughed, “I’m sure he’ll love that.”
“I hope so.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Thanks Holly. Pete said he’d call you later about picking you up. Be warned, he usually leaves early.”
“Hey, I’m just the hitch hiker, I’ll do whatever he says.”
“Don’t tell him that,” laughed Emma, “you’ll give him all kinds of ideas!”
“Honestly, Em! Leave it alone. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
It was almost eight thirty when Emma turned onto North Shore; the traffic out of the city was always worse on Fridays. Her heart did that happy little skitter as she pulled into her driveway. She’d decided to leave the car here and walk down the beach to see Jack at the RV. She’d spent much of the drive up thinking about what she would say, how she could tease him about having to come back to him, just so he wouldn’t have to spend the night alone. She really was pleased with herself. She was going along with all of this, not over thinking everything and instead listening to the part of her that didn’t want to run scared. She left her bag in the car, not wanting to waste time taking it inside. She set out down the path to the beach. Looking out at the last of the evening sun she felt so happy.
Then she froze.
At the far end of the beach she saw Jack. He was with a woman. Emma began to shake as she watched them walk side by side at the water’s edge, their dark heads close together as they talked. Jack said something and the woman laughed and punched his arm. She was tall and slender with long dark hair – a stick insect! Jack held something out and the woman looked at it and nodded. He laughed. He looked so happy. She saw him shrug and grin that sexy grin. The woman reached up and hugged him and he hugged her right back. He really did look so very happy. Emma’s heart was pounding in her ears. No, No, NO! She turned and ran for her car. She couldn’t stand to see any more.
She drove out onto the unpaved road that led back to the freeway. She had no idea where she was going as she swiped at the tears rolling down her face. How could he? On her beach, their beach! Where they’d walked so many times, held hands, collected pebbles. She began to sob as she drove. “Oh, Jack!” She pulled over, no longer able to see the road. She sat there a long time until the sobs subsided. How could he do that to her? Why tell her he loved her? How could she have been so wrong? She heard Pete’s voice, just hours ago saying,
“You have to know he’d never mess around on you.”
Lexi’s voice, “The man is crazy about you.”
Jack himself, “Hurry home to me, Baby.”
Ha! Why, Jack? Because if I’m not quick enough you’ll have to find someone else to warm your bed?
Only this afternoon she’d been so taken in by him she’d told Pete he didn’t have any other girlfriends. How wrong she’d been. How wrong they’d all been!
It was getting dark. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t sit here all night and she certainly didn’t want to go home. She didn’t want to risk seeing them again, or risk Jack seeing her. What would he do? Would he try to hide the woman, pretend there was nothing going on? Or would he be like Rob and tell her she was being ridiculous? After all, she’d left him alone for two nights, what did she expect? How she wished she’d called to tell him she was coming back. But, no, then she wouldn’t have known. He’d still be keeping this woman secret somewhere. Who was she? Where had she come from? Was she a tourist he’d picked up at the lake or a girlfriend who had come out to visit him? Whoever she was, she was welcome to him.
It was fully dark now. If she couldn’t go home, where could she go? Not to Gramps, he’d know there was something wrong and she didn’t want to upset him, especially not tonight before his party. Missy? No. Dan would be there. OK, then. Ben. He had a spare room in his apartment, she could stay there. Then they could get everything ready together in the morning too. She took a deep breath. This would not spoil the party. She wouldn’t let it.
She started the car and dialed Ben, her hands still shaking. His voice over the speakers sounded reassuring, so familiar.
“Hey Mouse.”
“Hey Ben.”
“What time will you be over tomorrow?”
“Would it be OK if I come over tonight?”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“A place to stay.”
“What’s up, Em?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
“Do you want to come to the restaurant?”
“Can I meet you at the apartment, in about fifteen minutes?”
“Of course. Em, are you all right?”
“Not really, no. I’ll see you in a few.” She stifled another sob as she hung up and headed down the west shore. He’d sounded so concerned, why she couldn’t she have fallen in love with Ben? He was good looking and successful too, but more importantly he was honest and trustworthy and, like Missy and Pete, he loved her and he’d always been there for her. Protected her from pain instead of inflicting it.
She arrived at the resort and hurried past the restaurant where the band were playing out on the deck and the Friday night crowd danced. She ran up the stairs to Ben’s apartment and knocked. He let her in, his face full of concern.
“What’s going on, Em?”
She burst into tears and he wrapped her in a hug.
“Shh, it’s OK, little Mouse. It’s OK. It’ll all be OK.” He stroked her hair and held her gently as she cried and cried. Eventually she pulled herself together.
“Thanks, Ben. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m here for you, Em. We all are. Is this a whiskey night?”
She nodded and gave him a small smile. The four of them had a tradition of whiskey nights whenever one of them hit a bump in the road of life. He brought a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
“Want to sit outside?”
She nodded. They sat on his balcony directly above the lake and he poured two glasses. Emma downed hers in one go.
“Whoa, slow down, Mouse. Are you going to talk to me?”
She nodded pushing her glass forward for a refill.
“Hey you.”
“Hey Baby.”
She looked at the parking space a few yards away. J. Benson (C.O.O.). “You have great timing, I just pulled up next to your parking space.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I’m still running around and I’m stopping in to see Pete.”
“Why don’t you park in my space then? What’s mine is yours.”
“Hold on, I might do that.” She smiled, surprised at how much she liked the idea. She backed up and then pulled the car into his slot. “There, now I’m invading your space.”
“See, I can take care of you even when I’m not there. Hey, if you’re going in anyway, would you mind stopping by to see Lexi? She was going to give some files to Pete for me, but you could get them, if you wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course.” She was curious to meet his secretary, hoping that she wasn’t one of the leggy brunette beauties he seemed to attract. How many men had something going on with their secretary? She stopped herself before she could get carried away. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Will you be back tonight?”
“I don’t think so, I haven’t even gotten to see Brad yet.”
“Too bad.” He sounded disappointed.
“I know. I’m sorry. How about I come straight to you in the morning, say hello before my crazy day begins?”
“Yeah, do that,” he heaved an exaggerated sigh, “it’ll give me something to look forward to as I spend another night all by myself in that big old coach, lonely and alone.”
She laughed. “Isn’t Dan arriving tonight? You could go into town and see him. I’m sure Missy would be glad to see you, and Ben for that matter.”
“I might do that.”
“Well, I’ll be back early anyway.”
“OK, Baby. I’ll see you in the morning. Hurry home to me.”
“Bye, Jack.”
Judy looked up as she walked in. “Oh, hi Emma. Does he know you’re coming?”
“No, I thought I’d just stop in. Is he busy?”
“He’s got someone with him, but they should be done in ten minutes and then he’s free till four fifteen.”
“I’ll wait then if that’s all right. Actually, could you tell me where Lexi’s office is? Jack asked me to pick up some files from her.”
“I can do better than tell you,” smiled Judy, “I’ll walk you round there. How is Jack? We haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks.”
Emma wondered if Judy knew about her and Jack. She’d known Pete’s secretary for years, liked her, yet now she felt a little uncomfortable, not knowing quite what to say. “He seems to be getting on well with Pete’s place.”
“Oh good.”
Well, what else was she supposed to say? That he looked much more relaxed up there? That the fresh air and beautiful scenery seemed to suit him? That, considering all the great sex she was providing him with, he was doing very well, thank you? She blushed as they walked down the corridor where the plush carpet and wood paneling made her think of an exclusive club. She’d always thought that about Pete’s office, but now she realized it was Jack’s office too. The place he spent his days, working with Pete.
They arrived at a door, “Here we are then,” said Judy as she knocked and went in. A woman, in her early fifties, Emma guessed, was talking on the phone. “I’d better get back,” said Judy. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She showed Emma to a large chair and left.
The woman finished the call and came around her desk, beaming. “So you’re the beautiful Emma! So nice to meet you, Honey!”
The force of her friendly Texan drawl surprised Emma. She smiled back, a little uncertain.
“Oh, he just called, said you’d be coming.” She had curly red hair and bright blue eyes. Emma liked her immediately. “Would you mind if I give you a big old hug, Honey?” She’d wrapped her arms around her before Emma had chance to reply. The hug felt like coming home and Emma found herself hugging right back, feeling tears prick behind her eyes as she wondered what it would have been like to have grown up knowing a mother’s hugs. She didn’t have time to pursue sad thoughts though. Lexi was so warm and bubbly.
“The man is crazy about you, Hon.”
Emma blushed again, wishing she could control the blood that infused her face so often since she’d met Jack.
“Look at you! Blushing like a schoolgirl, aren’t you just the sweetest thing!”
“I, um...” She was completely thrown. She’d had visions of some tall, smoky beauty, eyeing her coolly and instead, here she was with this welcoming motherly figure doting on her.
“Oh, don’t you mind me. I’m a bit much for some folk.”
“Oh, no,” said Emma, “It’s not that, it’s just....”
“I’m not what you were expecting, right? You thought his secretary might be one of those stick insects,” she laughed, a sound so infectious Emma joined her, shaking her head.
“Don’t tell him, but yes, I was a little nervous to meet you.”
“Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. Like I said, the man is crazy about you. In all my years I’ve never known him like this. And Honey, we go back a long ways me and Jack. His momma’s my best friend, we went to school together and I’ve done Jack’s books for him since before he was old enough to file. When he was setting up Phoenix with Pete, he brought me with him. I was worried about him for a while there, we were buzzing around in that plane of his so much – Houston, Miami, New York, I didn’t know my tail from my elbow and he was burning out fast. Pete thought getting him to LA might fix him, but you know, even though it’s not been so crazy since we set down here, this city isn’t a good fit for him.” She smiled, “But these last few weeks, he’s doing much better and that’s all down to you.”
“I think being out at the lake is really suiting him.” Emma pictured him walking on the beach relaxed, smiling, the tension gone from his face.
“I think being with you is what’s suiting him. He’s laughing again, back to being a big old goofball. I was starting to think he’d gone and grown up on me, but now he’s happy.”
Emma smiled, touched, though a little overwhelmed, by Lexi’s forthright approach. “Well, we have been having fun.”
Lexi frowned. “He’s got a whole lot more than just fun on his mind Honey, what are you scared of?”
Emma was shocked to be asked outright like that. She looked down at her nails then up at Lexi who watched her with a reassuring smile. “Sorry, I told you I can be a bit much. It’s none of my business, I guess I’m getting a little carried away. Don’t let me scare you off. Here,” she picked up a bunch of files from her desk, “these are what he’s after.” She gave Emma another hug. “I’ll be seeing you again, Miss Emma, and you can call me any time you want.”
“Thank you, it’s so lovely to meet you.”
“You too, Hon, you too.”
Emma started towards the door.
“Hang on.” Lexi took a business card from her desk and wrote her number on the back. “I’m guessing you know the office number well enough, but that’s my cell on the back, and you can bet your tail I’ve never given that to none of those stick insects!” She laughed. “And don’t be so scared. If you ask me it’s him as is most likely to get his heartbroken and I’m hoping that won’t happen. You take care now and don’t forget, call me any time.”
Emma walked back to Pete’s office trying to process her meeting with Lexi. She was certainly a larger than life personality. She liked her immensely, and it seemed Jack had told her at least some of what was going on between them.
“What is going on between us?” she wondered. “Whatever it is, it’s good, just leave it at that for now.”
She turned over the business card, and now she had a new ally, that could only be a good thing, right?
“Mouse!” Pete grinned as she arrived back at his office. “Didn’t expect to see you today”
“Well, I was in the neighborhood and it’s been too long, I haven’t seen you since Sunday,” she laughed.
He nodded at the files she was carrying. “And he’s got you running errands for him now, has he?”
“He asked me to pick them up since I was here.”
“Good, saves me having to remember.”
“I met Lexi,”
“Don’t worry about her, her bark is worse than her bite.”
“I can’t imagine her barking or biting. Are we talking about the same person? That bubbly Texan lady who kept hugging me?”
Pete laughed, “She likes you then.”
“It would seem so. You mean she’s not always like that”
Pete looked a little uncomfortable.
“What?”
“Well, she’s kind of like, you know, the gatekeeper. Or in her case, Jack’s guard dog!”
“Oh,” realization dawned, “you mean she’s usually fending his girlfriends off, not being nice to them?”
“Oh, Mouse, I didn’t mean it like that, don’t get...”
“It’s all right, Pete, really. I’m trying very hard to be more mature about these things. Of course he’s had other girlfriends,” she smiled, “Lexi called them stick insects.”
Pete laughed at that.
“I have to deal with the positives. Lexi is lovely and she likes me. And, for the time being at least, Jack doesn’t have other girlfriends, because he’s with me.”
“Wow! You are getting grown up, Mouse. I’m impressed.”
“Me too. It’s not easy, but I’m working on it.”
“Well, good for you and you picked the right guy. You have to know he’d never mess around on you?”
“I hope you’re right, Pete. I don’t think I could handle that.”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about there, Em.”
At that moment, Emma’s phone rang. She put the files down and checked the display, “Would you excuse me a minute, Pete?”
“Sure, use the meeting room if you like.”
Emma stepped through the double doors. “Hey, Brad, are you all done?
Oh, OK.
No, of course. No problem. Call me Monday then.
Ok. Yes. Have a good weekend.”
She hung up. Brad wasn’t going to be free this afternoon at all. Looking around she realized she was standing in the spot where she’d knocked Jack over. She smiled, remembering the feel of his arm around her and her first look into his deep brown eyes. And now she got to go home to him! She stepped back into Pete’s office.
“My meeting just canceled.”
“You don’t look disappointed.”
“Because, if you really don’t mind bringing Holly, this means I can go home now.”
“You know I don’t mind. I’ll call her when I get done here.”
“Thanks Pete, you’re the best.”
He smiled, “Anything for you, Em.” He checked his watch, “If you get going now you might still catch dinner with lover boy.”
She grinned back at him, “You don’t need to tell me twice,” she hugged him. “I’m off. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He laughed as she hurried to the door. “Yeah, see you then. You drive safe though, no speeding tickets, OK?”
“Yes Boss!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
After she’d left the worst of the traffic behind, Emma called Holly.
“Hey Sweetie.”
“Hey, I’m sorry, but I’m leaving tonight.”
“No problem. I kind of knew you would. I’ll bet Jack’s pleased.”
“I haven’t told him. When I talked to him this afternoon I still thought I’d have to stay and he was teasing me about abandoning him. I’m going to surprise him, tell him he made me feel too guilty to leave him all alone.”
Holly laughed, “I’m sure he’ll love that.”
“I hope so.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Thanks Holly. Pete said he’d call you later about picking you up. Be warned, he usually leaves early.”
“Hey, I’m just the hitch hiker, I’ll do whatever he says.”
“Don’t tell him that,” laughed Emma, “you’ll give him all kinds of ideas!”
“Honestly, Em! Leave it alone. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
It was almost eight thirty when Emma turned onto North Shore; the traffic out of the city was always worse on Fridays. Her heart did that happy little skitter as she pulled into her driveway. She’d decided to leave the car here and walk down the beach to see Jack at the RV. She’d spent much of the drive up thinking about what she would say, how she could tease him about having to come back to him, just so he wouldn’t have to spend the night alone. She really was pleased with herself. She was going along with all of this, not over thinking everything and instead listening to the part of her that didn’t want to run scared. She left her bag in the car, not wanting to waste time taking it inside. She set out down the path to the beach. Looking out at the last of the evening sun she felt so happy.
Then she froze.
At the far end of the beach she saw Jack. He was with a woman. Emma began to shake as she watched them walk side by side at the water’s edge, their dark heads close together as they talked. Jack said something and the woman laughed and punched his arm. She was tall and slender with long dark hair – a stick insect! Jack held something out and the woman looked at it and nodded. He laughed. He looked so happy. She saw him shrug and grin that sexy grin. The woman reached up and hugged him and he hugged her right back. He really did look so very happy. Emma’s heart was pounding in her ears. No, No, NO! She turned and ran for her car. She couldn’t stand to see any more.
She drove out onto the unpaved road that led back to the freeway. She had no idea where she was going as she swiped at the tears rolling down her face. How could he? On her beach, their beach! Where they’d walked so many times, held hands, collected pebbles. She began to sob as she drove. “Oh, Jack!” She pulled over, no longer able to see the road. She sat there a long time until the sobs subsided. How could he do that to her? Why tell her he loved her? How could she have been so wrong? She heard Pete’s voice, just hours ago saying,
“You have to know he’d never mess around on you.”
Lexi’s voice, “The man is crazy about you.”
Jack himself, “Hurry home to me, Baby.”
Ha! Why, Jack? Because if I’m not quick enough you’ll have to find someone else to warm your bed?
Only this afternoon she’d been so taken in by him she’d told Pete he didn’t have any other girlfriends. How wrong she’d been. How wrong they’d all been!
It was getting dark. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t sit here all night and she certainly didn’t want to go home. She didn’t want to risk seeing them again, or risk Jack seeing her. What would he do? Would he try to hide the woman, pretend there was nothing going on? Or would he be like Rob and tell her she was being ridiculous? After all, she’d left him alone for two nights, what did she expect? How she wished she’d called to tell him she was coming back. But, no, then she wouldn’t have known. He’d still be keeping this woman secret somewhere. Who was she? Where had she come from? Was she a tourist he’d picked up at the lake or a girlfriend who had come out to visit him? Whoever she was, she was welcome to him.
It was fully dark now. If she couldn’t go home, where could she go? Not to Gramps, he’d know there was something wrong and she didn’t want to upset him, especially not tonight before his party. Missy? No. Dan would be there. OK, then. Ben. He had a spare room in his apartment, she could stay there. Then they could get everything ready together in the morning too. She took a deep breath. This would not spoil the party. She wouldn’t let it.
She started the car and dialed Ben, her hands still shaking. His voice over the speakers sounded reassuring, so familiar.
“Hey Mouse.”
“Hey Ben.”
“What time will you be over tomorrow?”
“Would it be OK if I come over tonight?”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“A place to stay.”
“What’s up, Em?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
“Do you want to come to the restaurant?”
“Can I meet you at the apartment, in about fifteen minutes?”
“Of course. Em, are you all right?”
“Not really, no. I’ll see you in a few.” She stifled another sob as she hung up and headed down the west shore. He’d sounded so concerned, why she couldn’t she have fallen in love with Ben? He was good looking and successful too, but more importantly he was honest and trustworthy and, like Missy and Pete, he loved her and he’d always been there for her. Protected her from pain instead of inflicting it.
She arrived at the resort and hurried past the restaurant where the band were playing out on the deck and the Friday night crowd danced. She ran up the stairs to Ben’s apartment and knocked. He let her in, his face full of concern.
“What’s going on, Em?”
She burst into tears and he wrapped her in a hug.
“Shh, it’s OK, little Mouse. It’s OK. It’ll all be OK.” He stroked her hair and held her gently as she cried and cried. Eventually she pulled herself together.
“Thanks, Ben. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m here for you, Em. We all are. Is this a whiskey night?”
She nodded and gave him a small smile. The four of them had a tradition of whiskey nights whenever one of them hit a bump in the road of life. He brought a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
“Want to sit outside?”
She nodded. They sat on his balcony directly above the lake and he poured two glasses. Emma downed hers in one go.
“Whoa, slow down, Mouse. Are you going to talk to me?”
She nodded pushing her glass forward for a refill.
