“It was either come here or go shopping for baby clothes.”
“Oh thanks. I won over shopping. Something you don’t like to do.”
He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “It wouldn’t have mattered what choices I had, you’d have been my first.”
First choice. She’d never been first in Rob’s life. If she had been, he might still be alive. But she’d been just as guilty about her priorities. She should have begged him to return home, but while he’d been gone she thrived in her demanding career as a producer.
“Did I say something wrong?” Jack asked.
“Not wrong but something astute.” She took in a breath and then exhaled it. “I realized how I was never a first choice to Rob. Everyone thinks we had the perfect marriage except for being apart. But the last few days, I’ve been thinking how during our three years of marriage, we were separated more than together. No wonder we never made time to have children.”
“Rob loved you,” Jack said. “He missed you while he was in Iraq.”
“He loved me in his own way, but we were both too independent. Our careers took on the passion we should’ve had in our marriage.”
“Rob might’ve been obsessed with reporting the news, but I wouldn’t say it was his first choice or priority. He planned on returning to you. He didn’t expect to get killed.”
“But that gets me too,” she said. “Several reporters have been seriously injured or killed in Iraq. He had to know he was taking a risk.”
“I suppose so but Rob talked several times about you. You were definitely on his mind a lot.”
She smoothed her napkin, staring at it. “I think he was afraid if we had a baby, I’d have asked him to give up reporting in Iraq. Rob liked to finish whatever he started.” A breeze fluttered through the trees, causing her to feel chilled. “It’s getting cooler out here. Let’s move inside and eat our dessert.”
Jack rose and picked up his plate. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to have a baby with Rob.”
“Me too. But at least I have my nieces and nephew.”
“I know what you mean. I’m looking forward to being an uncle.”
She walked to the patio door. “I hope you like coconut cream pie. I experimented a bit with my mom’s recipe and might give it on the show if we like it.” She noticed Jack had a sad expression. “Hey, you don’t have to eat any pie. Are you a cake kind of guy instead?”
He shook his head. “I need to tell you something.”
“I’ll start the coffee and we can go in the living room while it brews.”
While she measured the coffee grounds, she wondered what was bothering Jack. What did he want to tell her? He looked pretty miserable. After the kisses they’d shared that day, she had no doubt that Jack was as attracted to her as she was to him. She doubted he wanted to break things off, so what could it be?
“The coffee smells good.” He sat on the couch, giving her time to get comfortable next to him.
“I love the smell of coffee.” She didn’t want to rush him, so refrained from asking him what he needed to tell her.
He sighed. “This is hard because after I tell you, I’m afraid you won’t want to see me again.”
Fear gripped her. She didn’t want that to happen. He had to be exaggerating. “I’m not a judgmental type of person. Unless you murdered someone,” she gave him a reassuring grin and continued, “I can’t think of anything that would make me want to stop seeing you.”
“I witnessed Rob’s murder.” His troubled eyes met hers. “I saw him blown to bits. I had nightmares for a year.”
It took her a few minutes to absorb what Jack had just told her. She’d had nightmares, too, about Rob’s death, and she hadn’t even been there. Whitney swallowed and looked down at her hands for several moments to compose her thoughts. Finally, she raised her head and looked him in the eyes. “I’m sorry you were there. Just hearing what happened to Rob caused me to have terrible dreams.”
“There’s more. Something I’ve never told anyone.” He took a deep breath. “I was close to Rob.” He stared at her for several beats of her heart, his jaw jerking as he grit his teeth. “Very close. So close that…” He didn’t finish, and turned away.
He didn’t need to finish. Whitney understood what he tried to say and immediately her chest tightened and she felt queasy. The thought tore at her insides. While her stomach turned, she tried to find her voice. “You could’ve been killed too.”
She leaned against him and his arms went around her.
Jack said softly, “Rob wasn’t the only one who died that day. Part of me died too. It was time for us to leave the area. I’d already told him but he wasn’t ready. I was heading to tell him again. If I had insisted the first time, he might still be alive.”
Sadly, she understood how Jack felt. She’d thought so many times how she should’ve insisted on Rob changing assignments and getting out of Iraq. “And if I’d begged him to come home, he’d be alive now. But the truth is Rob never left anything undone until he felt like he was finished. He had to get the story at whatever cost.”
A sudden rush of tears ripped through her, and his arms tightened around her, pulling her to him. She’d cried for Rob before, but never like this. As she sobbed against his chest, Jack said, “I think now I always needed to tell you about the day he died.”
She choked back her cries. “I’m glad you did. It was hard for me to hear, but it had to be harder on you to tell me.”
After holding each other for what seemed like a long time, her crying subsided. Jack’s comforting hands rubbed her back and shoulders. His fingers pausing each time to curl around the base of her neck before moving down her spine again. Whitney’s heart pounded fiercely in her chest. She knew it wasn’t from the shock of what Jack had witnessed in Iraq. Finally, she realized that Rob would never be forgotten, but it was time to start moving on with her life.
She could only think of the incredible man next to her. Pulling slightly away from him, she said softly, “I feel like a burden’s been lifted.”
“I feel exactly the same way. I was afraid to tell you sooner because I thought you might not want to date me. I always knew I’d tell you when the time felt right.”
She’d been torn apart emotionally about Rob, but her feelings had started shifting when she’d met Jack. As she felt his body against hers, desire flamed hot inside her.
He leaned down and planted little kisses on her neck and moved up to her lips. He slid his tongue in effortlessly.
She clutched him tightly as his tongue moved inside her mouth. His hands slipped beneath the hem of her blouse, and his palms were hot against her skin. Whitney’s breath quickened and she closed her eyes, letting herself be lost in the sensation of his touch. Her body tingled even more when he pulled her top off, and he kissed the hollow between her breasts. His fingers found the bra hooks, but before he got to free her breasts from the lacy bra she wore, his cell phone rang.
Jack groaned and moved away from her enough to unclip the phone from his belt. He looked at the caller ID. “It’s Casey. I better answer it.”
She hoped the call would be short because she definitely didn’t want the evening to end. But when she heard Jack say to Casey, “I’ll be right there,” she knew something serious had happened.
He looked up from his phone and gave her a tender look. “I’m sorry. There’s been a bad accident. It involves three vehicles. They need me.”
“It’s okay. Be careful.”
He grinned. “I better do damage control here first.” After he slipped the top over her head, his lips brushed hers briefly.
Once Jack left, she decided she might as well go to bed early. Before she crawled into bed, her phone rang. Maybe Jack hadn’t been needed and wanted to know if it would be okay to come back. That’d be perfect to have him back with her.
She grabbed the phone next to her bed and was disappointed to see it wasn’t Jack’s number. She sat on the edge. “Hello.”
“Hi, Whi
tney. It’s Ben. I forgot to ask you when I was there earlier about your pilot. How’s it going?”
She should have kept Ben informed. He’d been great using his connections for them. “We’re going to make the pilot soon. Everything’s looking good. I can’t thank you enough for all your help—”
“No, it was nothing.”
She heard his nervous laugh. “Ben, we’ll do a great job. I have a positive feeling about us doing this program.”
“I was using your show for an excuse. I missed you this weekend.”
She hadn’t thought about him. She didn’t want to hurt Ben’s feelings but also didn’t want to lie. Avoiding saying how he hadn’t been missed by her was the best way to handle this situation. “I’m surprised you had time to think about me. How was your trip?”
“Meredith gave Adam lots of attention.”
“I’m glad Adam had a good time with his mom.” She paused for a moment. “Anna seemed happy about the trip.”
Ben cleared his throat. “I’m going to get straight to the point why I called. I like you a lot and know it could develop into something deeper. When you kissed me by the waterfall, I thought you returned my feelings, but I’m not so sure now. You were a bit distant when I cooked you dinner. We both know what Anna and I interrupted today, so I might as well just ask. Do I have a chance with you?”
Whitney didn’t even have to think about the answer, she knew it right away. Ben’s kiss had been wonderful, because it had been the first time she’d been close to a man in years. But her pulse raced thinking about Jack’s fervent kisses. Each time she saw him, the attraction between them was stronger. Jack was the man she wanted. “I like you, Ben, and think you’re a terrific guy, but—”
“I don’t have a chance because of Jack. Anna told me she could tell you were interested in him,” Ben said, interrupting her. “I’m not blind. I saw how you two looked together this evening.”
“You’re right. I have deep feelings for Jack, but where it will go, I don’t know. I just know I have to find out.”
“Man, I wish I hadn’t taken you hiking. Or that Jack hadn’t been the paramedic on the scene when you got hurt. I know Casey had wanted you two to date, but maybe if we’d had more time together before your fall, things might be different now.” Ben gave a small laugh. “I didn’t have enough time to charm you with my personality.”
Ben was wrong. Meeting Jack had been one of the best things to happen to her since Rob had died. Getting knocked unconscious had been a good thing because she might have put off going out on a date with Jack. But the timing wouldn’t have mattered. She was meant to fall in love with Jack.
Wait. Ben’s conversation forced her to think what Jack meant to her. The deep feelings were actually love. She was in love with Jack Hensley.
But what about Jack? She knew he cared for her, but did he love her too?
Chapter Seventeen
While Regan went to use the bathroom, Whitney tried to absorb how their talkative sister went mute on them during the taping of the pilot for their new show. In a soft voice she asked Shannon, “What happened to Regan? She was stiff and barely talked. I tried to get her involved in the conversation.”
“I know. What a surprise that she’d be the one to choke on the set.”
“We didn’t even have an audience. I guess the camera on her must have caused her to freeze up.” Whitney thought for a minute. “Maybe we should reshoot the pilot. What do you think?”
“That might help. I think she pulled us down a bit because we kept wondering what was wrong.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Regan leave the restroom. “Here she comes.”
Regan sat next to Shannon on the small sofa. She darted a curious glance at her sisters. “You both look guilty. I bet I know why. You were talking about my sad performance.”
Whitney nodded. “Was the seating a problem? We can make changes.”
Regan shook her head. “I liked being in the middle of you two.” Regan looked directly at Whitney. “And I’m the one who suggested you should be on the chair by yourself. I’m thinking when we have an audience, I’ll actually do better. I need people to feed off of and to see their reactions.”
“That’s true,” Shannon said. “You’re always the life of a party. You make people laugh and have a good time.”
Regan frowned. “I guess that’s one reason I clammed up because I started thinking our friends and family will expect me to be able to run my mouth without any problem. But what if I say something that ticks someone off in the audience or start getting hate mail?”
“I’m glad you told us your fears and I imagine we each have something we’re worried about.” Whitney smiled. “Since I feel I pushed us into this show, I’ll admit I’m a little afraid I might be uncomfortable with an audience. This is a big change for me being in front of the camera. I don’t want to blow this for us.”
Shannon shook her head. “You two are pathetic. Both of you will be awesome. I might be the boring one in the group. I can just hear my teenagers say that their Aunt Regan and Aunt Whitney are cool on TV. And then see them roll their eyes and ask me why I can’t be like their aunts.”
“I see Brandon and Caitlyn bragging to their friends how their mother is a TV celebrity.” Whitney smoothed her skirt. “We’re all having jitters. We can make adjustments as we go on and we’ll be fine.”
“I promise I’ll relax and we can do another pilot, but let’s face it, this isn’t New York City.” Regan leaned back on the sofa.
“You’re right. It’s a small local cable show. We’re intelligent women and we can do this.” Shannon sighed. “Just because I failed at my other businesses doesn’t mean this will be a flop.”
“If it’s okay with you two, I’ll get this pilot to Jerry so he can show it to the cable executives. We don’t need to do it over because he’s already given us the go ahead.” Whitney rose. “He’s anxious to get us on the air twice a week so Cora has more time with their daughters and even though her surgery was successful, he wants her to slow down.”
* * *
A month later on a lovely June day, Whitney watched the TV monitor in the dressing room and was impressed with what she saw. “Your college student’s doing a fantastic job of warming up the audience. I’m glad you recommended him.”
“He seemed to pick the right major. I think he’ll do well in broadcasting.” Shannon put her hand on Regan’s shoulder. “Could you stop moving around? I guess you’re antsy but you’re making me nervous.”
Regan gave a broad smile. “I’m excited about doing a show with my sisters. Can you blame me? I just wish Mom and Dad were here.”
Whitney hugged Regan, then Shannon. “It’s hard without them here, but we have each other.”
“I wish they were here too. But we probably wouldn’t be standing here waiting to go on our new talk show if Dad hadn’t died and Mom hadn’t gotten cancer and died.” Shannon looked at Whitney. “You’d still be in New York City.”
“Maybe not. After Rob was killed, I might have decided to move back home, but you could be right. I did love producing The Bold News.” She laughed. “Molly called to wish us luck. She still can’t believe I’m going to be in front of the camera instead of behind it.”
“You don’t mind not being producer or the show runner, do you?” Regan asked.
Whitney shook her head. “It was satisfying but I don’t miss it. I’m having fun deciding what will be on our show. I’m relieved we can control what we talk about and have so much input. Cora has a good staff. And I like this small and homey studio in Cornett.”
“We might need a bigger studio. Cora can’t believe we have this many friends and relatives. She said this is the largest audience they’ve ever had in the studio.” Shannon pointed to her halter dress with a slightly flared skirt. “Do I look okay in this?”
“You look gorgeous,” Regan said. “Your shoulders are shown off in the flattering dress cut.”
Whitney nodded. “I�
��m glad you decided to go with the blue one.”
“Hey Whit, when are you going skydiving?”
Shannon said, “That’s right. You said you might go if we did a business together.”
“You’ve been flying with Jack.” Regan fingered her silver necklace. “Now you can go skydiving for another adventure.”
“If someone had told me a few months ago, I’d enjoy flying, I’d never have believed them,” Whitney said. “Jack helped me get over my fear. Actually I’m going to skydive soon. Jack’s going with me.”
“We should get it taped to put on our show,” Shannon said in an excited voice.
“Sounds like Ben’s definitely out of the picture,” Regan said.
Whitney had another woman in mind for her neighbor. “If things don’t work out between Ben and Anna, I’m going to introduce Molly to Ben.”
Regan frowned. “I don’t see a long-distance relationship working for them.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you two that Molly’s thinking of visiting and moving here,” Whitney said. “She’s tired of big city life and might like to try a small town.”
Shannon raised her eyebrows. “Now that’s a surprise.”
“It’s almost time to go on, but I just want to tell you both something before the show starts. It means a lot to me that we’re doing this together.” On the verge of tears, she said, “And today’s the second anniversary of Rob’s death. I can’t think of another place I’d rather be.”
“I remembered but didn’t know whether to mention it.” Shannon squeezed her hand.
“Rob would be so proud of you, Whit.” Regan swallowed hard and placed her arm around her shoulders.
The floor manager signaled to them to enter. Whitney quickly left the dressing room and walked on the set. She waved to the audience. Regan and Shannon followed her, sitting on the sofa. After she sat on the cushioned chair, Whitney said, “Good morning. Welcome to The Chick Gabfest Show. We have fun topics for you this morning. Regan’s going to show you how to get a lot of flower arrangements out of one store bought bouquet. Believe me, she’s creative in making her home look chic with her stunning arrangements. And the best part is she spends very little money doing it.
Whitney in Charge Page 16
