Mack nodded. “Our grandfather served in the army once. Thankfully my folks took him in when he needed someone to look after him. Back then, this charity didn’t exist. It’s nice to know that things have gotten better.” He turned his eyes to Jane, and like the crack of a whip, he changed the subject. “So. Did you leave anyone behind? You haven’t mentioned any men in your life.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure I told you there wasn’t anyone.”
“No,” he drawled. “You said you’d come to my wedding, but you didn’t have a plus one because you just moved here.” His eyes shifted over her shoulder to presumably take in someone behind her. She didn’t know how she knew, but she figured it was Noah. Mack smirked at her as if he could read her mind. “Seems you and Noah had a good time dancing.”
She fought a blush, recalling the strange way her body had behaved when Noah had held her close. “Don’t tell my mother that.”
He arched a brow in question.
A sigh burst from her lips, and she gave Lacey a knowing look as if the sole fact they were both women was enough to have them relating to one another. “My mom isn’t exactly thrilled that I’m still single… and childless.”
Lacey snorted. “Moms can be hard.”
Apparently, Laceycouldunderstand.
Jane nodded. “It’s like my ability to get married and have children is all that makes me valuable.”
Both of the individuals before her frowned, and she immediately regretted venting about her ridiculous problems. There were bigger issues in the world than her finding someone and settling down.
She waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, enough about that. I came over here to tell you congratulations and that I was going to head out. I’m still not completely unpacked.” She grimaced and then laughed.
Mack’s expression didn’t lighten up. He reached forward and took her hand in a way he hadn’t since they were practically kids. “You’re enough, Jane. Don’t let your parents convince you otherwise.”
Her breath caught in her throat at his words. He would never know just how much she’d needed to hear that. She certainly wouldn’t tell him. Jane was nothing if not strong. She nodded, swallowing back the emotion that threatened to burst from her throat.
“We should hang out some time—share all of our sordid stories of overzealous parents. I assure you, I’ve got some doozies,” Lacey said with a smirk.
Mack’s disgruntled expression said he agreed on that front, and it made Jane more than a little curious. Whatever they’d dealt with had been enough to make Mack dislike his in-laws. But then his face split with a smile, and he leaned closer. “You know, you wouldn’t have to deal with your parents if you took Noah up on that pact of yours.”
Jane snorted. “Please don’t bring that up again.” She could feel her cheeks heating against her will, and by the looks of it, Lacey was well aware of the childish promise she’d made. “That wasages ago. We’re both adults and very different from when we were kids.”
“I don’t know,” Mack murmured, rubbing his jaw. “Noah might still be the same.”
He earned an elbow to his side at that comment. A grunt burst from him, and he shot his wife a wounded look. She simply gave him one of her own that said he needed to be nice.
Jane chuckled despite herself. If there was one thing for certain, she wouldn’t be telling Mack anything about the way Noah had made her feel. His little brother was most definitely different from when he’d been a kid. He was taller, broader, more filled out—and he smelled like a dream.
His cologne and aftershave were just the right amount of musk and spice. It didn’t burn her nose like some of the men she’d spent her time with. And the way his muscles rippled beneath her hand when she’d placed it on his upper arm made her more aware than she ought to have been regarding what he did for a living.
Cowboys worked hard, and it showed. They sported muscles that desk jockeys could only dream of. The mystery benefactor for her charity probably had nothing compared to Noah Reese. She might be interested in men who were willing to give up their time and money to help others, but she couldn’t deny how nice it felt to be held by a man who could literally sweep her off her feet.
“Earth to Jane,” Mack called.
Her eyes snapped to her friend, finding him smirking at her like he’d caught her doing something wrong. What had they been talking about? Shoot! It wasn’t Noah, was it? Would Mackrealize that she might be developing a small crush on the boy of her past?
“Don’t,” she warned.
“I didn’t say anything,” he said innocently enough.
Lacey, to her credit, glanced between the two of them with confusion. Well, at least she hadn’t figured anything out. And unless Mack voiced it, she wouldn’t be getting confirmation on anything, either.
Jane cleared her throat and pulled at her hair, twisting the ends around her fingers as she desperately sought out another topic of conversation—one that would allow her to shift into her goodbye again.
How had Mack managed to drag her back to talking to him?
She turned to Lacey. “How about you give me your phone, and I’ll put my number in it? We can get together after your honeymoon is over.”
“Oh, we’re not going anywhere.”
