“Who would do this?” she repeated, not expecting Jack to have the answers. But when she saw the guilt-ridden expression, she knew he did. “You know, don’t you?”
Jack was saved from answering when a police car pulled into the carpark. An officer with thinning salt-and-pepper hair emerged from the vehicle. He pulled the waist of his pants over a sagging belly and adjusted his gun belt.
Placing his hands on Lauren’s shoulders, Jack said, “Let me deal with this. Can you please wait for me over at the coffee shop? I’ll explain everything after I talk to the officer.”
“But…it’s my car. I should stay.”
“Please, Lauren.” Something in his eyes begged her to do what he asked.
She agreed, and made her way to the coffee shop across the street and ordered two coffees to go. Finding a vacant table next to the window, she sat down to wait for her order and watched Jack and the officer as they inspected her car. The officer pulled out a little black book, nodded as Jack spoke, and wrote in the book. They spoke for a couple more minutes, shook hands, and the officer got back in his car and drove away.
Jack looked for a break in traffic, then crossed the street.
Lauren paid for the coffees, met him outside the café, and handed him his cup.
In a calm, quiet tone that belied his stiff expression, he said, “We need to talk.”
The sober words made Lauren’s stomach tightened. “Yes, we do.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Walking side by side, Jack and Lauren sipped their coffees while gathering their thoughts. The boutiques in the surrounding area had closed for the day. Only the cafés and restaurants stayed open past two o’clock on a Saturday afternoon.
They continued to walk until they reached a small park. Banksia trees surrounded the perimeter, dappling the lush, green grass with afternoon sunlight. They found a bench seat under the shade to get out of the afternoon heat. Four young children laughed as they swung on the swings and flew down the slippery dip.
Jack knew Lauren was waiting for him to tell her who had ruined her car. How the fuck did Claire known he was involved with Lauren? The problem with Claire had become more serious than he’d anticipated. He was not okay with the bitch involving Lauren in her vendetta against him.
Running his hand through his hair, Jack blew out a breath. Over the past few weeks Lauren had let go of her insecurities and opened up. Sure, she wanted to believe Jack had been her very own sex therapist and she was now able to go and face all theMr. Prettysin town. As much as he hated to think about it, she could have any man she wanted. And it killed him to imagine her with anyone else.
His eyes connected with her unreadable expression. Her hair, which had been tied up in a neat bun when he entered her shop earlier in the day, was now in a loose ponytail. A few tendrils danced around her face with the breeze. A funny kind of thud happened in his chest. The feelings for her were stronger than he had ever had before. There was no denying that. And he cared too much to hide the truth from her. Dammit, he didn’t want to be another man in her life who lied.
“I know who damaged your car,” he said.
“I know you do.”
He winced at her clipped tone.
“Whoever wrecked your office decided my car was going to be their next masterpiece.”
She turned and glared at him. “I want to know why.”
Jack scrubbed his hand over his face. “Earlier in December, when Leah went on maternity leave, I needed help in the office, so I hired a woman named Claire. She stayed back late one night after work and we…” He cleared his throat. “Stuff happened.”
“You had sex.”
Shame weighed his shoulders down. “I regretted it straight away. I knew it was a stupid thing to do.”
He paused for a beat, hoping that she’d say ‘these things happen’ and she understood. But she sat as still as stone, so he continued.
“I tried to explain to her it had been a big mistake and it could never happen again, but she…let’s just say, didn’t take it well. She told me I’d regret treating her that way. And she didn’t wait long to make good on her threat. After she destroyed my office she slashed the tires of my car.”
Lauren raised an eyebrow. He had kept that part from her, and she didn’t look impressed.
“I thought she’d finished with her revenge, but now she’s involved you. I don’t know how she found out about us. I’m so sorry.”
Jack reached for her hand, but she pulled it away, and he sighed. He could see the trust they’d slowly built slipping away.
“And because she’s now involved you, I had to tell the police. Hopefully they’ll find her.”
