Wishing she could go back and change things, Ellie fought back tears of her own. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am for hurting you like I did. I never intended for things to play out this way.”
Jack nodded along. “I know.”
Ellie peered into the deepening night, gathering her thoughts. When she’d composed herself, she turned to Jack and said, “What would Sara say if she knew I was here tonight?”
Jack’s posture stiffened. “Does it matter?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But shouldn’t it matter to you?”
Jack appeared to be thinking. “If I were in love with her, I would,” he finally said.
Ellie felt her heart pitter-patter against her chest. “If you’re not in love with her, then why are you with her?”
He shrugged. “Sara’s attractive, and fun to be around. Besides that, she worships the ground I walk on.”
“But?”
“But she’s not…” He turned away.
“Not what?” Ellie leaned closer and touched his forearm, gently prodding him.
Jack looked up at her, his face pained. “She’s not you, Ellie. She’ll never be you.”
Ellie leaned away, taking a moment to consider his words. Before she could respond, lightning fractured the night sky, followed by the distant rumble of thunder.
“A storm is coming.” She cast an eye to the south. “I should probably go before it gets bad.”
Jack stood and followed her into the kitchen. “You could stay.”
His offer stopped her cold.
“It’s already midnight, and you’ve been drinking. Besides, I have plenty of room upstairs.”
Ellie found herself breathless, caught off guard by his invitation. “Jack,” she said, turning on her heel, “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Because of Sara?”
Sara was the least of her worries. “That and because we may end up doing something we’ll regret tomorrow.”
Jack seemed unfazed by her words. “I won’t have any regrets,” he finally said as his eyes bore into hers.
After swallowing the lump in her throat, Ellie said, “Be that as it may, the last thing I want is to cause trouble for you. I feel as if I’ve done plenty of that already.”
“And while I appreciate your concern,” he said with a firm voice, “I’m a grown man, and I’m free to make my own decisions.”
Ellie’s heart burst into a jaunt as warmth radiated from her center.
A clap of thunder broke her concentration, and she looked away.
“At least let me show you the upstairs,” he implored. “Then you can make up your mind.”
A part of Ellie had wanted to see the upstairs since she arrived.
“Okay,” she said, giving in to the urge.What am I getting myself into?But she knew where this would lead. She had imagined it ever since the moment she saw Jack at the ruins, had dreamed the night before of his lips on hers, his hands in places he hadn’t touched in years. Suddenly, her thoughts were a jumbled mess.
Jack took her hand and led her to the upper floor, where an empty bedroom waited. “And this would be your room,” he said, turning on the light.
Her eyes flitted about the room, taking in the oversized poster bed, floral drapes, and mint green walls. Clearly, it had been designed by a woman for a woman. “It’s nice,” she said. “Did you decorate it yourself?”
