“Fine, we will keep track and you can pay me back once you get a job,” he conceded. I eyed him warily, finding it hard to believe he’d caved so quickly.
“And you’ll take the money when I try to pay you back?”
“I will,” Jack promised. “This isn’t about you being a shiny toy for me to play with, Slade. And even though I would love nothing more than to spoil you rotten, because I get the impression you haven’t had nearly enough of that in your life, I respect that it’s important for you to be self-sufficient. It’s an admirable trait and one I can fully support.”
I hopped up from Jack’s lap, turned around and held out a hand for him. “Fine, I’ll let you help me, but only if you let me pay you back every penny. We can put the receipts in an envelope.”
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.” He ruffled the top of my head, and I scowled at him. The fucker had the audacity to laugh before motioning for me to move. Jack followed me into the kitchen and began dishing up the fruit and yogurt while I brewed the pot of coffee I had abandoned earlier.
We sat in companionable silence as we ate. I still had plenty of unanswered questions, but I didn’t know where to start. And, for once, I didn’t feel like I needed to speak just to fill the silence.
“What do you have planned for today?” Jack asked after he was finished eating.
“I need to talk to Eli,” I replied. “I’m not sure he’ll have anything I can do, but Jordan isn’t going to let up until I ask Eli for a job.”
“Give yourself some credit, Slade. You can do just about anything you put your mind to.” He gathered the dishes, then stopped me with a single raised eyebrow when I stood. “Sit. I’ve got this.”
I flipped around in my chair, resting my arms across the back as Jack washed our bowls and silverware. I probably should’ve fought with him, telling him he was a guest and didn’t have to clean up, but this felt weirdly right. I let out a huff of amusement. Weirdly right, pretty much summed up how everything with Jack felt.
“The way I see it, you’re holding yourself back,” Jack explained, glancing over his shoulder to make sure I was paying attention to him. “You’ve got it in your head that you’re going to fail because the last thing you tried didn’t work out. It’s easier to give up than risk failing again. But Slade, that’s no way to live in the long run.”
“More life lessons with Jack?” I teased.
Jack shrugged. “It’s not intentional, I swear. But dammit, Slade, you’re a good man. Eli sees that, and he’ll be happy to help.”
“You’re wrong,” I argued. “Eli doesn’t know me well enough to have an honest opinion, but I’m pretty sure he’s not my biggest fan. He might laugh in my face and tell me to get lost.”
“He won’t,” Jack said with certainty. “If he does, you let me know and I’ll call him.”
“You’re not my knight in shining armor,” I reminded him. “Let me do this on my own, please.”
Jack held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, but don’t forget that you don’t have to do everything on your own. And I’m a pushy enough bastard that I’ll step in if I think you need help but you’re being too stubborn to admit it.”
I didn’t want to get into this with him. I didn’t want to explain that on my own was the way I did everything. So, I did what I do best. I changed the subject. “What about you? Do you have any meetings today?”
“No, but I will have to go in tonight. Business picks up toward the end of the week, and it would be nice to get things set so I can try to sneak over here to see you at least once this weekend.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I told him. “I’m a big boy. I’ll be fine on my own. And really, I’m not as fragile as you seem to think I am.”
Jack stalked across the room until he was hovering over me. “It’s not about thinking you’re incapable. If anyone here needs a reminder of just how capable you are,it’s you. I want to make time to visit you, because your mouth and your ass are addictive as hell. It’s all about not wanting to deprive myself, really.”
“Oh, well as long as it’s all about you,” I teased. I’d fully expected Jack to wake up this morning and make his excuses, but here he was telling me he was going to rearrange his work schedule for me.
“It’s a shame I don’t work typical business hours, or I’d be tempted to whisk you away somewhere for the weekend.”
Yes, a total shame. Although, I wasn’t sure we were at the point of weekend getaways just yet. Then again, I’dneverbeen at that point, so maybe it was a totally normal part of most relationships.
“You don’t strike me as the type of guy who works nights and weekends. Don’t you have people to work the shit hours for you?”
“I do, but I am a firm believer in being around during the height of business. It’s easier to handle any…issues that arise.” His scowl made me wonder just what he did because, again, the suit didn’t seem to fit with any job that would have weekend emergencies.
“What do you do that there would be that many problems on the weekends?”
Jack sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. For a few drawn-out moments, I wondered if he was going to ignore the question. “Have you ever heard of The Lodge?”
I barked out a laugh. Of course, I’d heard of it. Everyone had heard of The Lodge. I nodded.
“Well, that’s my place.”
