by Annie Rains
Danny frowned. “Wrong. I’m going to sit here and finish off the rest of the beers. I passed sulking after the third one.”
Jack looked at his watch. “I have to go. It’s an hour’s drive to get to Emma.” The world shifted on its axis as Jack stood. How many drinks had he had? He couldn’t remember. But he’d been drinking awhile, spacing them out. At least he’d thought he had.
Once his world had righted, he reached for his keys. Some small voice inside his head told him he should put them right back down. A larger voice, his roommate’s, called behind him, “Go get that girl and make her fall in love with you tonight.”
Jack turned, his body swaying with the quick movement. He was definitely drunk, but probably not over the legal limit. He was a big guy, which meant he could drink more than the average Joe. “Don’t wait up.”
* * *
Emma could hear her automatic coffee maker brewing a pot for her down the hall. She stared at the empty side of her bed. No Jack. At least she’d watched him go this time. He’d kissed her forehead and then her lips, telling her that he would let himself out.
Wouldn’t it have been nice to wake up with him this morning though? It’d been so long since she’d woken with a man in her bed that she might not have known what to do.
After several long moments, she got up, went to the bathroom, and then made her way toward the coffee as Barnaby trotted leisurely behind her. As she reached the kitchen, she flipped on the lights and jumped when there was a knock on her front door.
Who would be knocking at four a.m.? She stood frozen in her kitchen for a moment, only moving when the knock came again. She looked down at Barnaby, who obviously wasn’t fully awake yet either. “Now’s the time to be that guard dog you think you are,” she said quietly. Then she headed over to stare out the peephole, sucking in a breath when she saw Jack.
“What are you doing here?” she asked after she opened the door.
“This.” He stepped toward her and kissed her until she melted against him.
“No, really. What’s going on?” she asked once they came up for air. She stepped back, allowing him to come inside, and then closed the door behind him.
“Sam is taking your place at the café this morning. I wanted to wake up with you.”
Emma felt her heart skip a happy beat.
“I waited to knock until I saw your light come on. I wanted to catch you before you brushed your hair.”
Or her teeth. Emma slid a tongue over her teeth to do her own sort of cleaning.
“I thought if we can’t have the real thing, we could pretend…It worked before,” he said, charming every bone in her body.
She was still in her cotton shorts and T-shirt. Her hair was probably a sight to behold. She looked at Jack, who looked like he’d just rolled out of bed as well. “Now what?”
“Now we go back to bed and wake up together. We can take as long as we want. You don’t have anywhere to be, and neither do I.”
Emma smiled. “That sounds heavenly.”
Jack stepped toward her, locking his arms around her, engulfing her in his embrace. Then they headed down the hall and climbed into bed, disappearing under the sheets with tangling limbs. Emma wouldn’t mind waking up this way every morning. Forever.
* * *
At noon, Emma did the walk of shame into her café. Nina lifted a brow at her as Emma headed into the back room to put her bag away. She slipped an apron over her clothes and headed back out front.
“How was the morning?” Emma asked.
“I should ask you that,” Nina said.
“Thanks for opening.”
“Not a problem. Jack texted me last night before bed and said Sam would help.”
Emma shook her head and smiled. Had he planned this before they’d even made it to the bedroom last night?
“I wouldn’t have pegged Jack as such a romantic,” Nina said.
Emma grabbed a cloth and started wiping down the front counter. “Oh, he’s very romantic.”
When Nina didn’t come back with a witty comment, Emma looked over and met her dumbfounded expression. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were falling for him. Like, really falling for him.”
Emma paused. She’d resisted any feelings for Jack since he’d stood her up at her prom. They’d stepped safely back into the friend zone. But things had changed between them now.
She wanted a relationship. She wanted to fall in love and get married and have kids. There was nothing standing in the way.
Emma straightened. “I guess I am.”
Nina clapped a hand over her mouth. Then she flung open her arms and wrapped Emma in a huge hug. “I’m so happy for you. This is the best news.”
“Yeah.” Emma laughed as she pulled back.
“Does Jack feel the same way?” Nina asked.
“I…I don’t know. It’s too soon. I mean…” Emma shook her head. “We haven’t talked about our feelings really.”
“Well, actions speak louder than words. That’s what my mom always said, and it’s true. And his actions last night and this morning are of a man completely head over heels in love.”
Chapter Nineteen
A week later, Jack bumped along the trails at Evergreen Park with a trash collection bag and a long-handled reacher.
Park events were a great way to pull the community together, but it usually left a lot of work to be done the next morning. Who knew the Save the Bears event last night would create such a mess? There were maintenance workers who handled trash pickup, of course, but Jack tried to give them a hand when possible.
He stopped to grab empty cans, tossed out by event goers who’d decided to go for a walk in the woods. What those lovers had done in the woods he didn’t want to know.
Once the area was clean, he moved to another. He came to a clearing in the woods near Blue Sky Point where he’d found Diana. He wondered how her interviews had gone. He hoped someone had given her a shot. Everyone deserved a second chance. Even him. He and Emma were dating now, and this time he was going to do right by her. During the past week, they’d spent every possible second they could together. It wasn’t easy with a fifteen-year-old shadowing him, but they’d made it work.
Jack pointed the ATV back toward his office. He had a full bag of trash that he dropped in the dumpster behind the building before going inside for a cool drink. When he walked inside, Amanda was waiting for him.
Jack wiped the sweat off his brow. “What are you doing here?”
She shrugged and got up to hug him.
He held up his hands. “Oh no. You don’t want to do that. I’m gross.”
“You’ve always been gross,” she said, hugging him anyway. “I’m out.”
“You didn’t tell me you were leaving the facility so soon.”
“Well, I checked myself in, and I can check myself out. I’m feeling a lot better, and I miss Sam.”
Jack inspected his sister outwardly. She looked much better than she had when she’d first gone into treatment. “Sam is working at the café this morning. He’s got two jobs this summer.”
“I think I’ll wait to let him know I’m here until his shift is over.” Amanda smiled. “Maybe I’ll take him out to dinner.”
Jack nodded. “I recommend somewhere with a buffet because your son can eat.”
This made Amanda laugh. “Oh, I know.”
It was good to see his sister happy. “You work from home so there’s no reason to run off anytime soon. Why don’t you stay with me on the lake for the rest of the summer?” he asked.
“What?” Her smile dropped.
Jack shrugged. “I have room. Stay with me. Sam is just getting settled in here, and I think he’s got himself a girlfriend.” At least Jack suspected that’s why Sam’s mood had been so chipper lately. Emma had mentioned a teenage girl who was frequenting the café when Sam was on shift.
“My Sam?” Amanda asked with a little surprise. “Wow. I guess he’s growing up.” Amanda shook her head. “I
f I stayed awhile, we’d probably drive one another batty like we did as kids.”
“Doubt it. Just consider it.”
“I will, but don’t get your hopes up.”
Jack nodded. “Too late.” He gestured toward the refrigerator in the far corner of the room. “I’m going to grab a water. Want one?” he asked.
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
He brought two bottles back and sat on a chair across from her. The cool AC felt good on his skin after being outside in the hot sun for the last couple hours. “So you’re doing better, huh?”
Amanda twisted the cap off her bottled water. “A lot.”
“You never did tell me all the details. I mean, did something happen to put you in a tailspin?”
She sipped for a long moment. “It was just a slow descent. Sometimes it happens so slowly that you don’t even know it’s happening.”
Jack nodded.
“I tried to get better on my own. I wanted to be there for Sam. He needs me.”
“He’s pretty grown these days,” Jack countered.
“He is. One day he’ll leave to live his own life, and then I’ll really be alone.”
“You’re never alone. You know that. You can always call me. Or Mom…Probably not Dad,” he said, knowing it would get her to laugh.
“Yeah, Dad is about the last person I’d call for help.”
“If you won’t commit for the rest of the summer,” Jack said, “just commit to staying until next weekend. Emma has organized a 5K event in her mom’s memory for next Saturday. She’s doing it alongside the Women’s Wellness Fair in Evergreen Park. It’ll be a great day, and I know Sam would want to go. He’s helped out a lot.”
Amanda peeled the label off her water bottle. “Yeah, okay. I can handle a week with you. Is it too late for me to sign up to walk in the event?”
Jack smiled. “I happen to be dating the event coordinator. I can get you in, if it is.”
Amanda laughed. “You’re dating her for real this time, right? Not just pretending for some goofball reason.”
“I take offense to that,” he joked.
“Are you walking or running?” she asked.
“Walking.”
“I remember Emma’s mom,” Amanda said. “We were just kids, but I still think about her. You and I went through a lot growing up, but we never lost a parent. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for Emma.”
Jack nodded. He hadn’t realized just how hard it’d been on Emma. She’d been avoiding seeing a doctor because she was terrified of ending up like her mom. He was glad she’d finally gone and gotten her clean bill of health. Now she could live her life fully. “Emma is strong,” he told Amanda. “Courageous. She inspires me to do better.”
“Oh. Wow.”
Jack looked at his sister. “What?”
“How long have you been in love with her?”
He scratched the side of his face where a beard was already trying to fill in even though he’d shaved three hours earlier. “I’m not.”
Amanda tilted her head. “I thought you were done pretending with me.”
Jack started peeling the label of his water bottle too. “Since college. Maybe before that.” Amanda already knew about the night he’d driven drunk to take Emma to her prom. It was one of his most shameful moments. “Her dad still thinks I’m scum of the earth.”
“That night was over ten years ago. People change. You’ve changed.”
Jack nodded. “Maybe so, but Emma is still his little girl. I’m pretty sure he hates the fact that we’re dating. There’s no way he’ll ever let things get further than that.”
Amanda’s mouth popped open. “You mean marriage? Oh my goodness, my brother wants to get married.”
Jack waved a hand. “No. I mean, yes, one day, but not now. Emma and I just started dating. And the point was that her dad isn’t thrilled.”
“So change his mind,” Amanda said with a broad smile. “You said you admired how courageous Emma is. Follow in her footsteps and be brave.”
“Brave how?” Jack asked, not understanding.
“Invite Emma’s family over for dinner,” she suggested.
Just the suggestion sent fear coursing through Jack’s body. “Be brave,” he repeated to Amanda’s steady smile. He looked at her for a long moment. “Emma isn’t the only one I admire for her courage. I admire the heck out of you too.”
“Aww.” She tilted her head. “Thanks.”
“The women in my life rock.” He nodded to himself. “And I’m going to follow their lead and win Emma’s dad’s approval.”
* * *
The coffee was weak.
Emma drew back and sucked in an audible breath. “What?” she said as she looked at her iPad.
Nina glanced over her shoulder at her from the café’s counter, tossing her a questioning look. She used a pair of tongs to place a pastry on a napkin and offered it to Mayor Everson, who scrunched his brows at Emma as well.
“Everything okay, Emma?” he asked.
Emma lifted a hand to her forehead and turned away from the tablet’s screen. Then she walked over to say hello to Brian. “Yes, fine. I should just stay far away from the A-List website, but I can’t seem to help myself. I got a review that said the coffee was weak.”
Brian tsked. “That’s an opinion, and it depends on the coffee drinker. I’ve always loved your coffee, which is why I’m here so often. You don’t seem to be suffering for business so I’d say a lot of others agree with me.”
Emma placed her hands on her hips. “Who writes these reviews anyway?”
Brian shrugged. “I learned a long time ago that some people will love what you’re doing and some won’t. It’s just part of the territory.”
“I for one love you,” Nina told him. “And your wife is amazing too.”
Brian smiled. “I think so.”
“Is Jessica going to join the race?” Emma asked him.
“Oh yeah. We both are,” he said. “She’ll be walking, and I’ve got wheels and two strong arms. I think a day to focus on the women in this community and their health is a wonderful idea. And, as you know, Jess and I are all about worthwhile causes. I’m also spreading the word to everyone I come in contact with.”
“So it’s you. The registrations have far surpassed what I had hoped for. At last check, I think there were almost five hundred people signed up.”
“That’s a lot of T-shirts,” Nina commented.
Brian took the coffee and his pastry. “Speaking of Jessica, I’m meeting her for a little midmorning date. We thought we’d nab one of the new tables you placed outside and enjoy the weather.”
“Please do,” Emma said.
She watched the mayor head toward the door, where another patron opened it for him. She’d put the table outside because of a negative review, and it had proved to be a good idea. She turned back to Nina. “Maybe we should add a new coffee drink that has an extra shot of espresso for those who want something stronger.”
Nina gave her an are-you-serious? look. “You’re a people pleaser to a fault.”
Emma didn’t take offense. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, but that’s totally what you are. I think the new drink will be a hit. We just need a really good name for it. What do you think?”
“Double Stuff?” Emma suggested.
“Like the Oreo?”
Emma frowned. “Caffeine Overload?”
Nina grimaced. “We can keep thinking on it. It’s a great idea, but you don’t need to check the A-List and get yourself upset in order to think up new ways to improve the café. You’re the boss so I can’t tell you what to do, but you should stop reading that site.”
“I know.” An idea came to Emma, and she straightened. “Maybe you can check the site for me. If there’s a negative review, you can read it, and if there’s a way to address the feedback, then you can tell me.”
Nina slid her a look. The café was slow right now so she was le
aning against the counter looking relaxed. Emma was slightly jealous. She was juggling so many balls right now between the café and the event.
There was also the genetic testing that was hanging over her like a storm cloud. She hadn’t told anyone she’d taken the test. Hopefully it would be negative, and she could put her fears to rest once and for all.
Nina pointed a finger. “Okay, I’ll screen the site for you if you promise to stay away from it yourself. I’ll check it once a week and let you know only if there’s something legit that needs to be addressed.”
Emma nodded. “I’m okay with that.”
“Good. And since you’re agreeing to things, it’s slow in here. You need to go out and clear your head. Maybe even think up a name for the new drink.”
Emma pulled off her apron. “A walk sounds great, actually. But why do I feel like you just want to get rid of me?”
Nina chuckled. “Your stress is stressing me out. I’m just trying to help you find a more relaxed vibe, that’s all.”
“Vibe!” Emma said, pulling her bag over her shoulder and turning toward Nina. “We could call the new drink Vibe.”
Nina seemed to consider the name. “I’d like a Vibe, please,” she said, pretending to be a customer. “It has a good ring to it. Very hip.”
Emma smiled. “See? I don’t even need a walk.”
“Oh, but you do. Your vibe is still stressed.” Nina gave Emma a soft push to start walking around the counter. “I’ll call you if things get crazy here.”
Emma waved. “I’ll be back soon.”
She had to admit that a walk to clear her head was a good idea. As she walked, her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and smiled at the sight of Jack’s name. She had it so bad for this guy. She opened his text.
Dinner tonight? Tammy’s Log Cabin around 7?
She didn’t even have to think about it. Yes.
She watched dots bounce along the screen as she waited for his response.
It’s gonna sound weird, but can you invite your dad and stepmom?
