Love Me Tender

by Wendy Vella

  She looked up as if sensing him, and the smile grew.

  “Jack!” Staggering to her feet, she took a couple of steps toward him before dropping to her butt again.

  “Up you get, Princess.” He picked her up and held her there. “How you doing?”

  “Great!” She gave him a beautiful smile that had him swallowing hard. High as a kite, she’d lost her reserve and cynical edge. The worries that had dogged her since arriving in Ryker had disappeared... if only briefly.

  “Ready to head home now?”

  She frowned. “I like it here, they have these really yummy brownies.”

  “I just bet they do,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist. “Let’s go.”

  Lifting a hand in farewell, he headed back up the trail, taking Rory with him.

  “You should try them.”

  “Have done in the past.”

  “Aunt Jess could bake them.”

  “Not sure she’d have all the ingredients.”

  “We could get them for her.”

  “It’s a thought.” Jack held in his laughter as they reached the little boat. “In you get.”

  She couldn’t seem to negotiate it, so he picked her up and lowered her onto a seat.

  “My ears are cold.”

  Taking off his hat, he pulled it over her head.

  “Thanks.” She smiled again, and the impact hadn’t lessened any. “They’re nice people over here.”

  “They are,” he confirmed. “I spent some time with them in my troubled teens.”

  She looked at him, and her expression held no cynicism or mistrust.

  “I remember seeing you around Ryker and a few times at school and thinking you were a boy who needed a friend.”

  He had, but hadn’t known how to get one.

  “Do you know why I remember this, Jack?”

  “No, Rory, how about you tell me?”

  She exhaled loudly.

  “Because I felt the same way.”

  “You? Miss Popular?”

  “I was never allowed to be just myself. There were always expectations that I had to uphold.”

  In a roundabout way, Jack understood that. The opposite to him, who had no expectations but was constantly seeking something and never finding it, Rory had standards that were expected of her.

  “I miss him.”

  “Who?” Jack rowed slowly back across the water.

  “My father. In the end we were close. I wish I hadn’t just found out he was a louse.”

  “How did you just find that out?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “I nursed him. Leo and Matt came, but they couldn’t stay. But I was there till the end.”

  “Is that why you gave up being a vet?”

  Her sigh caught on the breeze.

  “Yes. But I’d do it again.”

  She’d be really pissed tomorrow when she realized she’d given away all her secrets, but Jack intended to take full advantage of her current state.

  When they reached the other side, he tied up the boat up and helped her out.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “I bet.” He took her hand and led her up the steps. “I’ll buy you a burger.”

  “Yummy!”

  After buckling her into the front seat of his pickup, he drove into town.

  “Stay here and I’ll get the food,” Jack said, parking.

  “Fries and a milkshake too.”

  Her cheeks were pink and her eyes bright and she looked so bloody cute he wanted to kiss her, but that wouldn’t be fair. Tomorrow, he vowed. He’d kiss her then.

  “Okay. Now be a good girl and stay here till I get back.”

  “Gotcha.” She held up her thumb.

  Shaking his head, Jack went to Phil’s Place and placed the order to go. When he came out she was sitting in the bed of his pickup.

  “What are you doing, you crazy woman? It’s freezing out here.”

  “I was getting Buzz’s perspective on the town and talking to a few of the locals.”

  Christ.

  “They were the nice ones, and all wanted me to have a nice day.”

  “That’s good then.” Jack put the food in the cab. “Let’s go.” He lifted her out.

  “I like you, Jack.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. It took all his willpower to ease her off his body and bundle her back into the cab. He then drove back to the boardwalk, which was thankfully empty.

  “Do you like me, Jack?”

  “Yes. Now eat your burger.”

  She did, shoveling food in like he usually did. Only when she’d slurped the last of the milkshake did she speak again.

  “That’s the best meal I’ve ever had.”

  “I’m sure it tasted that way. Can I ask you how many of those brownies you ate, Rory?”

  She frowned, her brow wrinkling while she thought about his question.

  “Not sure, maybe five.”

  Jesus.

  He got out and binned the trash. When he hopped back in she’d slid across to the middle of the bench seat.

  “You okay there, Princess?”

  “I need to ask you something.”

  “Shoot.”

  Her eyes were wide and slightly bloodshot now. He couldn’t stop the hand he lifted to run a finger down her cheek.

  “I found something in my dad’s briefcase.”

  “The one I opened for you?”

  She nodded. “When we left it was quick, and some of our stuff was packed away in Nana’s barn in the loft. I went up there and looked. We were meant to have it sent on but that never happened.”

  “Must have been tough seeing all that stuff again. Lots of memories.”

  “Yes.” She sighed, moving closer.

  It felt right to lift his arm, and she slid under to cuddle up to his side. She was going to be seriously pissed tomorrow when he recounted all that had happened

  “The thing is, Jack, I found something in that case.”

  “An unexpected something?”

  She was silent a while, and Jack had to admit it was nice sitting here with her in his arms. Peaceful, which was random, as the woman could not normally be termed that in any way. But he’d never really taken time to just sit with a woman before.

  “Jack?”

  “Yes.”

  “I think my father had an affair.”

  Of all the scenarios he’d expected, that wasn’t one of them.

  “Why do you think that?”

  “I found evidence. Do you want to see?”

  “Where is it?”

  “At the house.”

  “You want me to drive you back to stinkyville?”

  She giggled, then nodded.

  “Okay. Buckle up.”

  She leaned up and kissed his cheek, then did as he asked. Jack wondered if this was what she’d be like if life hadn’t turned on her.

  “You’re a nice guy.”

  “I’ve heard that a time or two.”

  “I’m sorry I gave you a hard time.”

  “I get it. I’m hot; that tends to unsettle a person.” He went for humor, deciding it was wrong to take advantage of her loose-tongued state.

  “You are hot, but it’s not that.” She spoke in the slow, concise way he’d heard people who were stoned do before.

  “You unsettle me, and I don’t want that in my life.”

  Ditto.

  “I don’t know what I want,” she said with a sad little sigh that broke his heart.

  “You’re doing great, Princess. Don’t overthink things tonight. Tomorrow will be soon enough.” Boy will it be soon enough.

  “I can’t let myself care about you.”

  “Good to know,” Jack said, feeling sweat break out on his brow.

  They drove up her drive, and he was pleased to see a cleaning van outside.

  “Did you organize this?”

  “Aunt Jess knew the company.”

  She studied him as he pulled his pickup to a stop. He l
ooked right back.

  “Like I said, you’re a good guy, you just don’t want people to see the real you.”

  Scarily close to the truth, Jack had to concede.

  “I won’t be a minute.” She climbed out and ran inside. Jack watched her, his mind running through what she’d said.

  I can’t let myself care for you.

  He wanted that too. He wasn’t a one-woman guy, not long-term anyway, so it was good she felt the same way... wasn’t it?

  He was still convincing himself when she walked back out the door carrying the briefcase. Was it true? Had her father had an affair? That had to knock her for six, believing one thing all her life and then finding out something else.

  “Everything okay? You took a while in there.”

  “Yes, those cleaners are doing a great job. Stan, one of them, was thirsty so I made him coffee. He has two children, and one has just gone away to college. He’s sad about that.”

  “You’re a real Chatty Cathy today.”

  “I’m interested in people.”

  “Today you’re interested in people.”

  “I could stay here now, Jack. Stan said it would be okay.”

  “Tomorrow.” Jack headed down the drive.

  She was quiet, and he wondered if the brownie buzz was wearing off slightly.

  “I should stay in the stables,” she said as he pulled up outside the house.

  “Not happening. Now out you get, brownie fiend.”

  “I think those brownies may have had something in them, Jack.”

  “Odds on they did.”

  “I’m stoned,” she whispered. “If Chief Blake is still here, you have to smuggle me up to my room. I don’t want to go to jail.”

  “His cruiser’s gone, so you’re safe.”

  “I’ve never broken the law before.” She looked seriously upset now.

  “A real career criminal is what you are,” he teased.

  “When I visited my father I vowed I’d never end up there.”

  Jack felt bad he’d teased her. She had to have a few hang-ups from her father’s stint inside, after all.

  “Take it from someone who’s done far worse than eat a few brownies: you’re in the clear, Princess.” He placed a hand on her head in reassurance. “I won’t let anyone take you away, I promise.”

  She looked up at him, open and vulnerable.

  “I don’t want to fall for you.” The words were whispered. “Because I think it will hurt me a lot more than you when it’s done.”

  “I won’t hurt you.”

  “Maybe not intentionally.”

  As she chose that moment to pull away and climb out of the car, Jack didn’t have to reply. He had no idea what he’d have said. But one thing was now startlingly clear to him: he cared deeply for Princess Aurora May.

  Chapter 32

  Rory woke in a strange bed. She knew it was in the Trainer house, just not how she got there. She remembered entering the house and greeting Luke, Aunt Jess, and Mr. Goldhirsh. Things got a bit fuzzy after that. There was coffee, and cake, which she’d devoured, then she sat on one of the sofas in the living area, and that was the last memory.

  Lifting up the covers, she checked her clothes. Someone had removed her jeans and socks, but she still wore everything else.

  Swallowing didn’t ease the dryness in her throat. Rory had a raging thirst that needed slaking. Fumbling around on the nightstand, she found a switch and hit the lights. Blinking, she got out of bed. The clock said 1:00 a.m., which meant she had the entire night to lie here remembering what a fool she’d made of herself. The brownies, talking to Jack and the things she’d said. The humiliation of facing him again was not a happy thought.

  There was a bathroom attached to her room, so she drank deep from the faucet, then looked longingly at the shower. Surely if she used it in here with her door shut she wouldn’t wake anyone.

  Turning on the jets, she stripped and climbed in, sighing as the water hit her body. After a blissful few minutes, she washed and climbed out, then untangled her wet hair with her fingers before she pulled on her long sleeved T-shirt and panties and hoped that sleep would come when she reached her bed. What she found upon opening the door was Jack, leaning back against her headboard looking lethal and dangerous to any female. He wore a T-shirt and shorts and was knitting.

  “What are you doing?”

  He should look ridiculous; instead he looked, if possible, more male.

  “I found your knitting in the top of your bag, it was open by the way, so I’m doing a few rows.”

  “You’re a freak, you know that right?” Rory said. “I bet your legions of admirers don’t know about this side of you.”

  He shrugged, putting the knitting on the nightstand. “It doesn’t bother me if they do. How you feeling?”

  “Ah, good thanks.” She couldn’t look at him. “Why are you in here wearing shorts and a T-shirt?”

  “I couldn’t come in here naked, so I pulled these on.”

  Thoughts of the large body naked and warm from slumber made her throat dry up again.

  “Rory.”

  “What.” She hadn’t moved from the doorway.

  “Look at me.”

  “I’m tired, Jack, I need sleep.”

  “Actually, what you need is to look at me.”

  She found a gentle smile on his face.

  “Let’s get this over with, shall we?”

  “What?”

  “You declared that I was the most handsome man you’d ever met and that you want to have my babies. I manfully restrained myself.”

  “I did not!”

  “You did.” His smile was wicked now. “Declared your undying love for me too.”

  “Ha ha.”

  “Now we’ve got that out the way, how about we go through that briefcase?” He nodded to the wall and she saw the case that had been her father’s constant companion there.

  “It’s one in the morning, and I shouldn’t have said anything about that, Jack. Really, this is my business, so just forget it.”

  “I can be trusted, Princess, and you already told me what you suspect.”

  She looked at the case again, and then him.

  “I should really talk to my brothers about it first.”

  He didn’t speak, just watched her.

  “I mean, it may not even be true.”

  “But you think it is.”

  “I—yes,” Rory whispered. “But there’s more, Jack, and it’s big.”

  “Okay.”

  He didn’t push and she was grateful. She wanted to talk to someone about what she’d learned, to work through her next step. It should be her brothers, but Jack was here and she knew he was good at working things out. He’d keep her secrets if she asked him.

  “This going to take long?”

  “Be quiet, I’m thinking.”

  “Ah, there’s my girl. The surly, bad-tempered Princess Aurora May.”

  Picking up the briefcase, she carried it to the bed, then climbed on to sit cross-legged before him.

  “Nice panties.”

  “There is nothing wrong with them.”

  “They’re camouflage. Everything is wrong with them.”

  “Well, excuse the hell out of me that I don’t have sexy lingerie!”

  He moved so quickly she didn’t have a chance to brace herself. Seconds later she was on her back, the briefcase beside her on the bed.

  “No one said anything about them not being sexy, Princess.”

  “Jack, this is not a good idea. Last time we tried this you freaked out.”

  “I did not freak out, I had a moment. Now it’s passed.”

  His kiss was hot and seeking, and Rory battled to stay unaffected.

  “No, really, this is a bad idea.”

  “Ah-ha.” His mouth nibbled along her jaw to her ear, where he whispered something dirty.

  “Jack.” Rory tried to sound serious.

  “Rory.”

  She literally melted
as his hand slid under her shirt to cup her breasts.

  “You feel good, baby.”

  “That’s n-not playing fair.”

  “I’m all about fair.” His words were mumbled as he stripped her out of her top and began kissing the side of one breast. “I’ve heard sex is great if you’ve eaten too many brownies.”

  Her laugh was forced and turned to a squeak as he licked her nipple.

  “I’ve also heard sex is great to relieve tension, and there’s no doubting you’re tense, Princess.”

  “I am now.” Rory arched off the bed as he sucked on her nipple.

  “You won’t be soon,” he purred. “Sweet little breasts the perfect size.”

  “Too little.”

  “Too perfect,” he countered, sitting upright and stripping off his shirt. He returned to her breasts, moving from one to the other and tormenting her. Rory was moaning by the time he moved lower.

  His laugh was dirty.

  “Just as well Luke is a deep sleeper.”

  “Oh God.”

  “He’s down the other end of the house. We’re good, Princess. Scream away!”

  “Jack, we should stop.” Rory looked down at him. He was now at her waist.

  “Not a chance.” The look he gave her was X-rated.

  She felt his mouth on her ribs, then his teeth graze the plane of her stomach, then his breath through her panties. Her bones were liquid as he pushed them aside and gave her the most intimate kiss of all.

  “Jack,” Rory breathed as he ran his tongue over the hard nub between her thighs.

  It was bliss and torture all rolled together. He brought her to the brink and back so many times, she was soon desperate for release.

  “Jack!” She reached down and grabbed a handful of his hair, and tugged. He slipped his fingers inside her, and she shuddered to a powerful release.

  “Bastard,” she managed to whisper as he moved back up her body. “I’ll teach you.”

  Pushing his shoulders, she forced him onto his back.

  “Rory—”

  “Shut up.” She kissed him, pouring everything she felt but had no idea how to identify into it. Every feeling and raw emotion that this man brought out inside her.

  She touched his nipples, nibbling and licking, then moved down his body. So many taut planes and muscles to explore. When she encountered a scar on his side, she looked up at him. His eyes were focused on her, the green depths filled with desire.