“It’s over.” A bouncer marched between them. “You’re both leaving. Separately. Starting with you.” He pointed atJack.
Jack nodded, and raised his eyebrow at Lola. “You coming?” A wintry mix flooded his veins. What if she went home with Hoyt? Couldn’t she wait until their divorce was official? He wasn’t going to put up with her playing the field in the town he loved while sharing his home. No way. Especially after he’d remained celibate the entire time they’d been apart.
A bob made its way down her throat, and she tucked some hair behind her ear. She shuffled her feet, the high heels tapping the flooring. She shot a confused look at Hoyt, then motioned to follow Jack. “Between dealing with a brand new jerk and the jerk I already know, guess mypick.”
“A smart choice, at last.” He flinched, and the ache above his cheek stung. He’d just made a fool of himself in front of the entire bar. Talk about smart choices.
“Jack,”Lola called, following him into the kitchen after they arrived back at the ranch. She wouldn’t let him off the hook without a conversation. Hell no. Who does he think heis?
Moonlight spilled over the granite countertop and tiles. Jack flicked on the light under the microwave, and continued to walk over to the freezer. He studied the contents in silence, ignoring her. He fumbled with one hand, while the other touched the area under hiseye.
She nudged his back, gestured at the chairs by the breakfast nook and ordered, “Sitdown.”
He tried to roll his eyes, but stopped midway because—she guessed—it hurt. Nevertheless, he plopped down on the seat, his back shifting against the wall. She reached for the pack of frozen peas inside the fridge and closed the door. He stretched his hand to grab the package, but she shook her head and took a seat on the chair in front ofhim.
“Allow me.” She lifted the cool chunk against his eye, and placed it on the bruise, a tad more abrasively than she would have had she not believed he had it coming.
“Ouch.” He clasped his fingers around her wrist, making her loosen her hold. The chillness of the peas contrasted against the warmth of his skin, and pure heat flooded her veins. Every single one of them. Still, she didn’t move, all of her nerves on full alert.
Clenching her legs together, she inhaled. Trying really hard to ignore the signals her body darted at her. Ruthlessly. Achingly. “How come Hoyt didn’t know you’re married?”
True, they hadn’t visited Hope Springs after their marriage, as husband and wife. And during the few times she had been on the ranch she had probably flown under the radar, preferring to spend time with her father than exploring town. Still. Had she been such a crappy mistake to him that he had never even shared the news with his friends and acquaintances? But then she shouldn’t be surprised when most of his guests at her wedding had been business partners rather than oldpals.
Pressing his lips together, Jack slumped against the wall, relinquishing his hold on her. She handed over the package, and he jerked his head back, placing the frozen bag over his forehead as if a headache approached with the new subject. A subject she wasn’t about to letgo.
“It’s not what you think. Hoyt and I aren’t buddies.”
“Oh, I believe you.” She brought her hands together in a soundless clap. “Why didn’t you fight back? You could have clocked him in your sleep.” The two of them were the same size, maybe Jack a tad taller. Did he try to keep from a bar brawl because he knew deep down he made a mistake?
“Whatever. I took a couple hits. No bigdeal.”
Frustratrion lodged in her throat. “Did you really mislead his sister?”
“No. Mel and I hung out a few times, but we never, we didn’t—”
“Have an affair? Screw?” She let out a hard laugh. “Please. Spare me.” From their time together, she knew damn well a red-blooded male like him couldn’t go without sex for too long. Heck, when they were together, even a whole day without making love had been a stretch. She touched her neck, the skin sticky under her palm. “Why did you never push for the divorce, Jack?”
“I did, at first.”
“Yes, but you can afford a team of lawyers. You couldhave—”
“I could,” he said, his voice rich and soothing like a miraculous lotion on sunburnt skin. A tremor surged through her. “Your dad asked me to give you time to come to terms with losing the baby and not wanting to be married anymore. He said you were always hotheaded.”
She leaned back against her chair, folded her arms and let out the question burning the tip of her tongue. “Did you ever think I’d change my mind about us?” she asked unsure what she wanted tohear.
His gaze held hers hostage. A spark pulsed in his cobalt eyes, and just for a moment the tile flooring under her feet dissolved. A different kind of warmth engulfed her. The kind squeezing the air out of her lungs. Breath by breath.
“No. But doing what he’d asked me felt right.”
She bit back a smile. Jack being uber responsible was no shocker, but Daddy noticing things she’d never had to tell him with words… A drop of hope entered into her sea of doubts. No matter how crazy her life got, she could always count on her father’s unconditional love to protect her. Her heart shrank to the size of a nugget. Even after his death.
He cleared his throat. “How about you and Berlin?”
“Berlin?” The frivolity of the question washed away the nostalgia welling inside her. “You mean London?”
“Yes. Whatever. I’m sure you two have been intimate.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You can’t judgeme.”
She smothered the hearty laughter floating up her throat. “I’m surprised you even know about his existence.” For a brief second, she toyed with the idea of telling Jack the man she frolicked with at the best parties in L.A. had an obsession for designer bags worse than her own, and he constantly stole her coconut scented hand moisturizer.
