Jack’s brain still wasn’t working properly, his dick still focused on getting upstairs and into Lauren. He was determined to keep things compartmentalized, to separate sex and the job,Lauren here, Dare Island there, no problem. But Tess’s arrival had blurred his neat divisions.
Before he could formulate a response, he heard quick, firm strides cross the kitchen floor and Luke Fletcher walked in.
“Hey. Hi, Mom.” His sharp blue gaze cut to Jack. “I saw the patrol vehicle outside. Mom acting drunk and disorderly again?”
Tess rolled her eyes, clearly accustomed to her son’s teasing.
But Jack heard the concern beneath the gibe. If he’d been thinking with his big head instead of his little one, he would have realized that a police vehicle parked outside the Pirates’ Rest in the middle of the afternoon would be a red flag to Luke.
But he hadn’t thought at all. And now Tess and Luke were both looking at him, speculation in their eyes.
“Everything’s fine.” Everything but his dick, pressing insistently against his fly. He cleared his throat. “I gave Lauren a ride home.”
“Lauren Patterson.” She offered her hand to Luke, a smile in her voice, like she was delighted to meet him. Like she wasn’t embarrassed at all to be caught tangling tongues with the town’s chief of police.
Maybe she did this all the time, brought men back to her room. Jack realized he was clenching his jaw and relaxed it deliberately. He’d been only too happy to follow her upstairs. He was in no position to judge.
“I’m a client of Meg’s,” she was saying to Luke.
Luke shook her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Meg’s brother.”
Her smile broadened. “I guessed. You’re getting married soon, right?”
Luke’s pleasure showed in his grin. “Next week.”
“Congratulations,” she said warmly.
“Thanks.” Luke threw a wicked look at Jack. “Are you Jack’s date for the wedding?”
Jack narrowed his eyes. He might have to put up with Tess mucking around in his personal life. He didn’t have to take that shit from his subordinate.
Lauren came unexpectedly to his rescue.Hostage Girl, taking action in a crisis. “We’re not thinking that far ahead yet.”
Tess lifted her brows again. “It’s only a week until the wedding.”
“I just meant...” She shifted, throwing Jack a laughing, help-me-out-here look over her shoulder.
He let her go reluctantly, keeping his expression impassive.Whatdidshe mean?Maybe he would have invited her. If he’d thought about it. Which he hadn’t. She wasn’t part of his life here. It wasn’t like they weredating.
Which was kind of Tess’s point.
Shit. He was thirty-eight years old. Tess was nothismother. His sex life was his own business.
“I’m sure it’s too late to add someone to your guest list,” Lauren said when he didn’t say anything.
“Always room for a plus one,” Tess said blandly.
“What is this, a party?” Meg Fletcher stood in the doorway, surveying the half-filled glasses of wine on the counter. “Why wasn’t I invited?”
Tess waved a hand. “Help yourself.”
“Seems like everybody else is,” Luke said.
Jack made himself stand still. Never let them see you sweat. Or squirm.
Lauren’s gaze met his, her eyes alight with laughter. And the tension that had been part of him for the past year and a half, the coil that was so tightly woundall the time, suddenly relaxed. She made things so... easy. Because, yeah, okay, the situation was pretty funny. Frustrating as hell, but bearable, as long as Lauren smiled at him with laughter in her eyes.
A corner of his mouth curled in response.
