by Claire Raye
Jack’s words, his accent, his hard muscled body pressed against me, everything about him sends my body into a tailspin.
“I had no idea it would be this fucking hot. You were worth the wait,” Jack adds, his words low and deep and sexy as hell.
Neither one of us says another word.
We wake early the next morning, Jack going out for a run and me heading to the office before the property is busy with tours and visitors. With Ellen gone, I need to pick up the slack and payroll needs to be sent off to the bank along with making sure everything for the restaurant has been ordered.
I also have the couple who’s wedding I booked a few weeks back coming in for a tour of the property and go over a few things with them like choosing a caterer and finalizing numbers.
My life is weirdly calm and the normalcy of having Jack here is something I’ve grown quite accustomed to. A part of me begins to wonder if he really will go back to Australia. We’ve created a life together in just a few short months.
The couple arrives just before nine o’clock. They’re young and cute and excited, and I feel like they’re exactly the reason I finally started booking weddings again.
They sit down across from me in the two chairs I have set up in my office and we begin to go through the day, the number of guests and the catering options. I share with them the promotional pictures we have on file of the multiple weddings we have hosted to give them an idea of chair set-ups and locations.
Everything is going smoothly and suddenly the door to my office opens, but I don’t think much of it. People come and go throughout the day, especially Penny and our summer tour operators; dropping off invoices, picking up paychecks, and now with Jack here, he pops in from time to time.
But when I look up, I find Nate standing in the doorway, that smug smile on his face as he leans against the doorway.
I’m speechless, as I look back at the prospective wedding clients who are staring at Nate. I’m sure they’re wondering exactly the same thing I am. Why is he here?
This is getting out of hand, and as much as I’m a consummate professional, I want to yell out what the fuck right now.
“Planning your wedding?” he asks nonchalantly, like he has a place in this conversation. “It’s a beautiful place to have your wedding. We’re having our wedding here too,” he adds, motioning between him and me.
I’m absolutely fucking appalled at his audacity and his stupidity. He can’t possibly be this self-absorbed and unaware of the body language and tension that is now filling the room.
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t know you were getting married too,” the young bride-to-be squeals. Like we’re part of some ya-ya sisterhood traveling pants engaged girls tribe. Something I now realize I’m not sure I ever want to be a part of.
I guess I’m the only one giving off the what the fuck vibe.
“I’m sorry,” I interrupt, glaring at Nate as he winks at me from his now posted position in the doorway. “You’ll have to excuse me for a second.” I shove away from my desk and walk to where Nate is standing and mutter, “Can I speak to you outside?” Keeping my voice low, but allowing my animosity to be felt through the bite in my words. I’m not exactly giving off an aura of excitement.
“I like to surprise her here at work,” Nate says, chuckling a little as I shove past him. “She is my fiancé after all.” He’s smiling at the couple, but their faces are a cross somewhere between bewilderment and disgust. It’s what I imagine my face looked like the first time Ellen explained to me that our parents had to have sex in order for us to be born. A conversation that goes down in my record books as one of the worst. But it’s possible the one I’m about to have now just might top it.
When we’re finally outside, away from my office and out of an earshot of the couple, I spit out, “What in the actual fuck are you doing here?” My foot stomping the ground with each word. “First of all, I’m with clients and this is so not appropriate. Second, we are not in engaged, we are not getting married, and I’ve asked you repeatedly to go away.”
“How long are we going to do this, Lauren?” Nate asks, but it’s his tone that pisses me off even more. It’s casual, like I’m playing hard to get and he’s just waiting around for me to come to my senses.
It’s taking everything in me not to lose my shit and kick him in the dick.
“We’re not doing anything,” I hiss back. “We’re nothing. This is all you, and I want no part of it.”
“Fine, fine,” he says, holding his hands up in defense as if he’s going to concede that easily. “What’s it going to take for you to forgive me? Just tell me and I’ll do it.”
I let out a long slow breath trying to control the anger that’s burning inside me as I cross my arms over my chest.
“I forgive you,” I say, my words laced with venom, sliding from my tongue. “And what I need from you,” I watch as Nate nods his head, blissfully unaware of my hatred, “is for you to forget me, because as of this moment you’re dead to me.”
I stomp off, leaving him standing there, hopefully he’s been knocked down a few pegs and finally gets it through his thick skull that I give no fucks about him.
Luckily the couple seems unfazed by Nate’s unannounced and misguided appearance, and we continue uneventfully.
After gathering all the information we need to continue with the booking, we head out to the wedding ceremony site.
The last wedding it was set up for was mine. Everything has been stored in the shed off to the side for the last year; collecting dust and waiting for the moment when I had finally recovered.
I owe that moment to Jack. I know I made some mistakes, some big ones, but those mistakes led me to Jack. He was never a mistake.
I’m carrying a book of photographs that have been taken of the numerous weddings we’ve hosted. It gives the clients a better idea of what the empty space will look like or what it can look like on the day of their wedding.
Right now the space is just grass and grapevines and flowers, trees and tiny twinkling lights that don’t shine as brightly in the daylight.
“The date you are looking at is totally open,” I tell the couple, knowing that honestly every day for the next twenty years is open. Something I hope to change soon though. I think once I get through this first one, the rest will come more easily.
“We can do a day ceremony or a twilight one. I know it’s hard to picture at twilight, but I have…”
“It’s stunning at twilight,” I hear Jack’s voice call out and I watch him walk out from between a row of grapevines.
I’m smiling so wide my cheeks begin to hurt and when he walks up, I slip my hand into his giving it a quick squeeze before I let go.
“I’ve seen it done a bunch of times and it’s far better than a day wedding. Show them the pictures, Lu,” Jack says, tipping his head in the direction of the book I have tucked under my arm.
As I flip to the pages in the book, Jack walks over to the shed and unlocks it, pulling out a few chairs and setting them up.
We take a seat and the couple begins to thumb through the pictures, commenting and discussing as Jack fills them in on all the benefits to having a twilight wedding.
“The vineyard closes early on wedding days, so your guests will have full access to the property,” I chime in, not that I think I need to sell them on it. They’re both enamored.
“We also have two locations for the reception that will fit your party size. We have a fully restored barn or there’s our restaurant. Like I said, the property will be closed to the public,” I continue, as Jack also joins back in the conversation.
“Personally, if you go for the twilight wedding, the barn pairs well with it. Why don’t we take a look at it? That cool, Lu?” Jack asks and I’m still smiling like an idiot as I watch him so naturally fit into this environment.
Jack and I take them through the barn, but don’t move on to the restaurant as they decide they want the twilight wedding along with the reception in the barn.
“It was wonderful to meet you both,” Jack says, shaking their hands. “But I have to get back to work; my boss is a bit of a stickler,” he adds, tossing a thumb in my direction and giving me a wink. “I can’t wait to see your wedding. I’m sure it will be stunning.”
The couple thanks Jack for his help and I’m just as grateful as they are. I didn’t realize I needed it, but having someone by my side, helping with these kinds of things, takes the stress off.
Jack just makes everything in my life easier.
“That’s the one you’re going to marry,” the girl says, her face lighting up as she nods her head with certainty. “Not that other guy. You’re perfect together.”
“Thanks,” I reply not sure exactly what to say. “The other guy is my ex and I’m really sorry that he showed up like that. But I’m glad we were able to take you around the property and get things settled for you. Like Jack said, your wedding is going to be stunning.”
“I have no idea why you chose us to be the first wedding at the property, but we are beyond thankful. This is the only place I wanted my wedding and we’ve been holding out and hoping.”
“You can thank Jack for that.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jack
I’m lying on my back, staring up at the darkened ceiling, unable to sleep. Lu lies beside me, a hand resting on my stomach, her long even breaths telling me she’s in a deep, peaceful sleep right now.
I hadn’t been entirely truthful last night when I’d finally answered my phone and for the past twenty-four hours, it’s been bugging the hell out of me. The problem is, I don’t know how to explain it to Lu, not when I can barely even understand it myself.
Jack, it’s me, Mel, she’d started, stunning me into silence even though deep down, I knew it was going to be her when I answered. I don’t know why you’re ignoring me, but you’ve left me no other option. I’m coming to see you. There are things you need to know, things…
It was at that point that I’d hung up, too shocked to say anything, too freaked out to possibly believe it was true.
Could she really be coming here?
Although I’d acted like it was nothing, just an automated call from some warranty company or whatever, I could tell Lu didn’t buy it. But I hadn’t said anything more and instead, fired off a quick email to my parents as soon as I’d woken up this morning, asking them exactly what they’d said to Mel when she contacted them. I still hadn’t received a reply and so I had no idea what or how much they’d told her. They knew we’d broken up, they knew the reasons why, but fuck knows what Mel had said to them. Had she made up some bullshit that somehow convinced them she needed to see me and so they’d told her exactly where I was.
“Fuck,” I mutter, scrubbing a hand down my face in frustration.
Mel showing up here is the absolute last thing I need, and I knew, no matter what she had to say to me, nothing was going to change my mind about her or what had happened between us.
A repetitive ringing noise is what drags me from sleep and when I force my eyes open, I can see it’s now daylight. It feels like I’ve been asleep for about five minutes and it takes me a second or two to realize what it is that’s woken me.
By the time I put two and two together, the ringing has stopped. Reaching for my phone, I see the same unknown number message on my screen, signifying the missed call that I know has to have been from Mel.
I’m grateful Lu is in the shower, the sound of running water drifting through the closed door of her bathroom.
The phone rings again and I almost drop it in shock, fumbling a little as I quickly move to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Jack,” comes my name, a long exhale telling me she’s relieved I’ve answered this time.
“What do you want, Mel?” I ask, not bothering with a hello. “Why the fuck do you keep calling me?”
“Because you won’t respond to my messages,” she says, as though it’s obvious. “You didn’t even tell me…”
“I thought I’d made it abundantly clear I didn’t ever want to speak to you again,” I say, cutting her off. “I don’t care what you have to tell me, Mel and I sure as shit don’t want to see you.”
“But, Jack,” she says, her voice pleading. “I need…”
“No,” I say, cutting her off again. “I don’t give a fuck about what you think you need. You and I are over, so please, stop calling me.”
“I…”
I hang up, just as the shower cuts off. My heart is pounding in my chest as I flick my phone to silent in case Mel still doesn’t get the message and decides to call again. Guilt flashes through me at the secret I know I’m keeping from Lu, at how much it will hurt her if she ever finds out. Fuck, I can’t even imagine what would happen if Mel does show up here and Lu discovers that I knew it was a possibility.
“Hey, sleepy,” she says, smiling as she opens the door and walks into her bedroom, a towel wrapped around her body.
“Hey,” I say, dropping my phone on the bed as I reach a hand to her.
Lu takes my hand in hers, sitting beside me as she leans in and kisses me. “You okay?” she asks. “You don’t look so good.”
I shrug. “I’m okay,” I tell her, offering a small smile. “Just didn’t sleep that well last night.”
It’s not a lie. Not exactly.
Lu returns the smile, leaning in to press a kiss to my lips again. “Why don’t you stay in bed,” she whispers against my mouth. “Try and get some more sleep?”
I slip my other hand into her hair, holding her against me. “I’ll stay if you stay,” I whisper, brushing my lips against hers.
She sighs, squeezing my hand. “I don’t think you’d get much sleep if I stayed,” she says.
“But it would be fun,” I offer, kissing the corner of her mouth.
Lu pulls back, offering me an apologetic smile. “It would,” she agrees. “But I can’t. With Ellen away, I’ve got to…” she trails off as I sit up to face her, cupping her jaw in my hands.
“It’s okay, Lu. I get it, seriously.”
“You should stay though,” she says, eyes flicking over my face as she smooths a hand over my cheek. “Take the morning off, boss’ orders.”
I smile even as I lean into her touch. “No, things to do, it’s all good,” I say, kissing her once more before I throw off the covers and head into the shower.
I spend the day on edge, my nerves frayed as I imagine every car that pulls into the carpark as being driven by Mel. I can’t believe I’m even contemplating the possibility of her showing up here, but I know I have to. I know it’s something she’s capable of and the only thing I know is that I need to tell Lu about it before it actually happens.
The last thing I need is those two coming face to face with each other.
“Jack?” comes Tommy’s voice, forcing me back to the present.
“Yeah,” I say, walking out of the shed.
He nods, his expression neutral as he walks up to me. Although no more has been said about the whole Lu and me thing, I know he still has issues with it. Our conversations are strictly work related these days, but they’re tense and it’s obvious there’s an unspoken hostility there, on both sides.
And while I know now it doesn’t come from a place of jealousy, but as more of a big brother protective type of thing, it still pisses me off that he thinks I’m not good enough for Lu. That I could ever hurt her like he assumes I will.
“Looks like those parts have finally arrived,” he says, handing me an invoice. “Earlier than we thought,” he continues, even as my heart starts to pound in my chest at what this really means. “Means we can get that crusher back up and running and you can…”
“I can what,” I say, my words harsh as I cut him off.
Tommy stares at me, his mouth set in a firm line. Eventually he shrugs, offering a, “get back
to whatever it is you were doing before this,” as though that’s what he’s really thinking.
I shake my head, shoving the invoice into my back pocket. “Where are they?” I ask.
Tommy tilts his head. “Up at the office.”
I nod, swallowing hard as I wonder if this now means Lu knows they’re here too. “Thanks,” I say, before turning and walking off.
When I get up to the office, I see the two huge boxes sitting outside Lu’s office. She isn’t inside though, and I can’t help but say a silent thank you that maybe she doesn’t yet know.
Even though it’s going to take me a week or so to install them, another week to put the crusher back together and maybe a week of tests, I know we’ve both been silently dreading their arrival. As though their delivery puts an end date on this thing that’s been going on between us.
It’s not what I want, not by a long shot. But at the same time, I’m still no closer to finding a way to change that.
Exhaling, I know staring at these boxes is not going to give me the answer, so I rope one of the guys into helping me and together we carry them back down to the shed. The invoice is still in my pocket, burning a hole there because I haven’t left it on Lu’s desk like I normally would.
After we unpack the boxes and I check everything is there, I call it a day, finishing up earlier than I normally would, because my mood has gone from on edge to well and truly pissed off.
As I walk back to Lu’s house, my brain turning over the events of the last twenty-four hours, I can’t help but think back to the other day and the tiny idea I had as I drove home from the supermarket. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I call up google and type the details into the search bar. When I get the information I’m looking for, I type in the number and hit call on my phone.
It’s answered immediately, the woman announcing the name of her company and asking how she can help. I quickly explain what I’m after and we set up a time to meet later this afternoon.
