“Yes, I came down on the afternoon train. Thanks so much for having me.” I smile at her and look over at Zac, who is drinking a Coke on the other side of the room. “You have a beautiful home.”
“We’re only here on the weekends,” she says casually. “I prefer the Greenwich home in Connecticut. You’ll have to visit us there one day.”
“Yeah, you’ll have to see my room.” Zac winks at me, and I just smile because there is no way that is going to happen.
In fact, tonight is definitely the last night that I will be seeing Zac. He already bombarded me with sexual connotations and showed me a big box of condoms that he’d bought for the weekend. Pig!
“Thank you for the offer,” I say politely.
“What offer?”
A deep voice sounds from behind me, and I freeze. I know that voice. He’s here. Jack’s here. I don’t turn around. I don’t want him to think that I care. And then he walks toward me and stops next to me, and I can’t resist. I look over and see his handsome face staring down at me. Blue eyes twinkling and teasing. My heartbeat does that dance it did the first time we locked eyes on each other.
“Why, hello there, Agnes,” he teases, and I feel my heart flutter like a butterfly flying into the distance.
“Hello, Mack,” I say, and his eyes laugh at my attempt to pretend I don’t remember. “Sorry, isn’t that your name? I forget. It’s been a while since I met you.”
“It’s Jack.” He grins easily, and he holds out his hand to shake mine. “And that’s okay. I know I’m pretty forgettable.”
“Ah, well, it is what it is.” We shake hands, and I can only hope my face isn’t bright red because I’m feeling hot. “Sorry to hear that.”
“I’m sure you are.” He grins. “How’s it going, Zaco?” He turns to his brother. “What offer did you make to Miss. Agnes here?”
“To see my room in the Greenwich house.” Zac gives his brother a hug. “My bed, to be exact.”
“Zac.” I glare at him, and he just laughs. I watch as Jack frowns and his mother pretends she didn’t hear what he just said. “Really?”
“My bad, Virgin Mary.” He cackles, and this time, I know my face is beet red. “Mom, any of the canapés ready? I’m hungry.”
“Let’s go to the kitchen and see what Martha has cooked up.” Mrs. Heathcliff spins around, and I watch as Zac follows her out of the room.
Now I’m left with just Jack, and I have no idea what to do or say.
“So, how are you, Katherine?” Jack moves closer to me and studies my face. “Been to any more clubs recently?”
“No. You?”
“A few.” He grins. “But mainly, I’ve been busy with work. How’s high school?”
“Fine. I’m about to graduate.”
“Oh?” He looks surprised. “Really?”
“In May.”
“Any big plans for college?”
“I wish. I’ll be in Whispering Haven at the local community college, helping my dad to pay the mortgage so we don’t find ourselves homeless,” I mutter and then remember who I’m talking to. “Or something like that.”
“Oh.” He frowns. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s not your problem.” I shrug and look around. “Nice home you have.”
“It’s my parents’.” He smiles. “I live somewhere far less ostentatious.”
“You mean you don’t have Edward Hopper and Van Gogh paintings on your walls?”
“You know your art?”
