by Jamie Beck
“I’ll do my best, though I can’t make promises.” She sipped her beer. “I have to say, this is the last place I’d expect to see you.”
He shot her a quelling look. One that warned not to lecture or throw his confession in his face again. She couldn’t help herself. Having watched her mom lose the dance with addiction had made her unable to trust recovery.
Eventually, he sighed. “I started to watch the game on that old TV in the apartment, but missed the high def. Plus, it’s no fun watching the game alone. Sooner or later I need to be able to come to a bar without gritting my teeth or getting drunk, so it might as well be today.”
Oh. Gabby allowed the sweet flow of relief to rush through her veins. So he hadn’t come here for a drink. Made sense, really. If he wanted to drink, he could’ve bought a case and holed up in the apartment. That’s like what her mom had always done—used in private.
“Sorry.” She scrunched her nose. Fortunately, he smiled, apparently happy to allay her suspicions. “Can we start over? Pretend we just met, or at least pretend you didn’t see my ugly side last week?”
“What ugly side?” He cracked a smile, and she relaxed until Tess delivered the potato skins.
Her self-proclaimed horny friend then proceeded to lean over the bar to get closer to Jackson, her D-cups practically busting out of her snug T-shirt. Tess pointedly stared at his baseball cap. “You got a death wish, mister?”
“Maybe.” He smiled, but not with his eyes. Those settled on her name tag for a second longer than necessary. “Tess, is it?”
Gabby picked up a potato skin, hoping it would stop the churning in her stomach. She couldn’t even blame Jackson if he wanted to flirt with Tess. Tess, with her straight blond hair. Tess, with her long legs and short skirt. Tess, with her throaty voice. And let’s not forget, Tess, the kid-free girl in the bar.
Never before had she hated the sound of Tess’s name. Then she hated herself for being petty.
“And you are?” Tess flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Jackson.”
“Well, Jackson,” Tess cooed, “I hope you’re a good sport, ’cause your team is about to get crushed.”
“Oh, really?” Jackson turned to Gabby. “You agree, Gabby?”
Gabby shrugged and, to distract herself from being jealous, conjured up the image of her longtime fantasy lover. “Tom Brady’s the man, in more ways than one.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “He’s an ass.”
“Jealous much?” Surely every guy envied the handsome, athletic god that was Tom Brady.
“Of an accused ball-deflating pretty boy who also ditched his pregnant girlfriend for a supermodel?” Jackson chuckled. “Nope, not even a little bit jealous.”
Before Gabby could recover from that slam of her beloved sports hero, Tess asked, “You two know each other?”
“Jackson’s our tenant for the next few weeks.” Gabby sipped her beer again, uncomfortable with Tess’s scrutiny.
“Lucky you.” Tess cocked her hip, clearly eager to welcome the newcomer to town, and apparently now unwilling to settle for Tim. “Hey, Jackson, let’s make a bet. If the Pats lose, I’ll pick up your tab. If the Pats win, you owe me a dinner.”
Gabby almost choked on her potato skin. She and Tess had never competed for the same guy before, so she’d never been bothered by Tess’s aggressive flirting. Not that Gabby had any intention of getting together with Jackson now, but still.
“Can’t do the dinner,” he began, “but if the Pats win, I’ll give you a one hundred percent tip.”
Another sigh of relief flowed through Gabby after Jackson turned down Tess’s unsubtle invitation.
Tess wrinkled her nose, but didn’t push. “Cold hard cash isn’t exactly what I was after, but it’s a fair bet. You’re on.”
Jackson nodded and quickly scanned the menu. “I’ll start with the ‘Next Size Up’ Nachos and,” his gaze darted toward the bottles behind the bar as his hand balled into a fist, “a root beer.”
“Root beer?” Tess’s eyes widened.
Gabby noticed Jackson’s shoulders pull back a touch. “Sweet tooth.”
Tess nodded then spared Gabby a quick glance. “You need anything else, Gabs?”
“I’m good, thanks. Looks like those guys over there want another pitcher.” Gabby nodded across the bar, thankful for a legitimate excuse to send Tess away.
Gabby turned to Jackson and bit back a smart-aleck remark about blondes. “My dad says you offered to repair our rotted clapboard. First the swing set, now this. I wonder what you must think of us and all of our shortcomings.”
Her question drew a sharp glance. He swiveled in his stool and leaned close enough so that she, but only she, could hear him. “Far as I can tell, you don’t have any flaws, Gabby.”
Her gaze dipped to his mouth, but then he pulled away.
Drumming his thumbs on the bar, he said, “Frankly, given what you know about me, I’m surprised you’d care what I think, let alone feel awkward about your faults, if there are any.”
Once again he’d set her adrift. Her thoughts spun like a whirlpool, while she groped helplessly for something, some comeback, to stay afloat.
Why did she care, really? Allowing herself to feel anything for him, to actively invite him into her thoughts or heart, would cause misery when he left, if not sooner. If it were only her feelings involved, she’d probably take the risk. But Luc’s tender heart didn’t deserve the special hell of a wasted attachment.
Luckily, the football game gave Jackson and her an excuse to exit the awkward conversation. Jackson let out a little whoop when his team gained forty-three yards on a single play.
Tess reappeared with Jackson’s root beer. “Nachos should be up in a second. You two okay?”
“Given the Giants field position after that punt return, I’d say I’m more than okay.” Jackson’s easy smile may as well have been some kind of laser beam for the way Tess positively melted in its presence. “In fact, maybe I should order up a feast, since it looks like it’s gonna be on the house.”
Gabby cleared her throat. “If you’re hungry, you can have one of these skins.”
“Thanks.” He grabbed one and took a big bite, licking the sour cream from his lip as he chewed. He hadn’t done it with the intention of making her thighs clamp together in a hot rush of lust, but it happened anyway. Shoot.
“I’ll be back with your nachos soon.” Tess winked at Jackson then sashayed to the next customer. At least two other men at the bar followed her ass with their eyes. No wonder she made buckets of money on game days.
“You’re one of the few guys I’ve ever seen turn Tess away.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she pressed her lips together. Jeez, she really needed to think before she spoke.
“Why does it sound like that makes you happy? You don’t like Tess?” He leaned closer, grinning.
“Of course I like Tess. She’s my friend.”
“Yet you don’t want to see her with me?” He wore a subtle grin that suggested he had a good suspicion about the reason.
Embarrassed, she blurted, “Why would I care if you’re with Tess, or anyone else for that matter?”
“You tell me.” He turned toward her now so that his knees touched her thighs. The temperature in the bar soared. His flirtatious grin—at least, if her memory served her well, that’s what it looked like—sent tingles fanning through her core. He touched her arm. “I’m glad to see you get out of that house and relax a bit.”
“Me too.”
He seemed to be holding his breath as if weighing his next words, but then he merely turned back toward the TV.
She missed the feel of his knees against her leg, and caught herself staring at the space between them when she said, “You weren’t one hundred percent wrong last week.”
“I was wrong.” He glanced at her. “Wrong to badger or judge you. You’ve got your shit together, which is more than I can say. Doesn’t say much for me, seeing that I’m almost a
decade older, but no wiser.”
“Maybe instead of beating yourself up for mistakes, you should take pride in the effort to change. I mean, it’s kind of a big deal, right? It’s not easy to change. God knows I wish I could change some things about myself.” She bit into a potato skin to avoid looking at him.
“Like what?” His gaze narrowed.
“For starters, I don’t often look before I leap, as my dad likes to remind me.” She shrugged. “Luc’s living proof of how that kind of impulsiveness can end.”
“Something tells me you’ve grown up a lot since becoming a mom.”
“I like to think so, but then I do or blurt something stupid before I take a second to consider the consequences.”
“I wouldn’t worry. Your tendency to say exactly what you think is attractive. At least, I think so.”
“You do?” Her body involuntarily tilted toward his.
He stared right in her eyes, his gaze warm and reassuring. “I do.”
Over Jackson’s shoulder, Gabby then saw the last person in town she wanted to talk to. “Noah.”
“Gabs.” He rounded Jackson and wedged himself between them before planting a kiss on her cheek. Then he eyeballed Jackson, clearly engaged in some kind of manly squaring off. Not that Jackson would’ve been aware of it. Gabby just knew Noah.
“Hey, I think we met the other week at the diner.” Noah’s hand remained on the back of Gabby’s chair. “You were soaked through, right?”
“I was.” Jackson’s demeanor turned guarded.
Noah’s gaze darted from Jackson’s cap to Gabby.
“Why are you sitting here feeding the enemy?” Noah’s joking tone didn’t quite camouflage the edge in his question. “Surely that’s illegal.”
He chuckled at his stupid cop joke.
“Jackson’s our tenant for the next few weeks,” Gabby replied.
“Is that right?” Noah pasted a smile on his face. The one she used to find winsome, but now knew to be calculating. “Did you get around to fly-fishing yet?”
“Not yet. I’ve been busy.” Jackson flicked a quick glance at Noah and then forced his eyes back on the game. All traces of his warmth had vanished.
“Hiking?” Noah pressed.
“A bit.” Jackson gave Noah a sidelong look before casually chomping down a huge bite of the nachos Tess had just delivered.
“Noah, quit quizzing the guy. He’s on vacation.” Gabby wished she could close her eyes and make Noah disappear.
“Sorry.” Noah raised his hands in surrender. Then he casually brushed his hand across her shoulder and let it linger, as if it belonged there. “So, how’s our boy? I was thinking maybe I’d swing by and take Luc out for ice cream.”
Jackson flinched. Not noticeably enough to catch Noah’s attention. In fact, to the rest of the room, Jackson probably appeared riveted to the screen. But Gabby, with her heightened awareness of everything he did, had detected it.
She shrugged Noah’s hand off her shoulder. “Luc would love to see you.” And then, because she couldn’t help herself or stop her stupid impulses any more than she could breathe underwater, she added, “You could play with him on the swing set Jackson built.”
For a millisecond, Noah’s eyes widened. Gabby had never before seen him thunderstruck, so she savored the little win before her inevitable regret wiped it away. She should know better than to bait Noah. It usually didn’t end well.
“Well, ain’t that kind of you, Jackson.” Noah’s gaze narrowed a touch. “I see now what’s got you so . . . busy.”
Gabby held her breath.
Jackson flitted a quick glance at Noah. “Happy to help.” Then the bar erupted in a cheer and Jackson’s face contorted thanks to a fumble recovery by the Pats. “Dammit!”
Although only at the end of the first half, Gabby’s appetite had fled. For a precious few minutes, she’d felt like a single girl again, flirting with a handsome boy. But between Noah’s uninvited company and watching Tess flirt with Jackson, she’d had her fill of the bar. Perhaps the comfort and security of her living room suited her after all.
“Guys, this has been a blast, but Luc will be waking up soon. Don’t want to take advantage of my dad.” She scooted off her stool. “See you all later.”
Jackson nonchalantly waved good-bye and then cheered when his team blocked a long pass. When Noah slid onto her seat and called out to Tess, Gabby watched Jackson’s eyes close like he’d sent up a silent prayer for patience.
Amen, brother.
On the way home, she sent up her own prayer. Please don’t let Jackson believe one word that comes out of Noah’s mouth.
Excepting the frequent interruptions from Noah and Tess, Jackson divided his attention between the television and his nachos. By the end of the third quarter, however, his hopes for a good time watching the game had all but evaporated.
He barely remembered the days when having fun had been easy. When he could enjoy a bar, a game, a meal, without a care. When he’d lived moment to moment, worry-free, because he’d believed himself invincible. Because he’d believed the future to be full of promise. Because he’d trusted others as well as himself.
Ha. Because he’d been stupid.
“Looks like Tess is hot for you.” Noah tossed back a handful of mixed nuts. “Been there, done that. But you might want to go for it.”
Noah wasn’t the first guy Jackson had met who bragged about his conquests, but considering the fact they barely knew each other, well, he couldn’t believe this asswipe was Luc’s dad. Did Noah talk about Gabby that way, too?
“In fact, she’d be perfect for a guy like you.” Noah gulped down more of his beer and turned toward Jackson.
Jackson didn’t want to take the bait but—his nerves no longer subdued by booze—he couldn’t let it pass. With contrived composure, he crunched down another nacho before replying, “A guy like me?”
“Yeah.” Noah slapped Jackson’s arm as if they’d been buddies for years. “A vacationer looking for a good time, not a good girl.”
If any guy ever talked about Jackson’s sister that way, he’d end up with a black eye in two seconds flat. Tess wasn’t a relative or even a friend, but he’d defend her anyway. “I doubt Tess would appreciate that particular praise.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Noah smirked. “The way she’s been watching you, I think she just might.”
Jackson hadn’t quite figured out Noah’s real agenda, but he doubted the guy wanted to be pals. And Jackson wasn’t looking for friends—definitely not one like Noah.
“Either way, I’m not interested.” He ate another nacho, wishing Noah would take the hint and wander off.
“In her, or in women?” Noah chuckled. The guy had a bad habit of laughing at his own jokes. Why’d Gabby’s ex have to be Noah, of all people? A small-town cop he couldn’t risk antagonizing. On that thought, he let that last jibe go.
“What I am interested in is watching the rest of this game.” Jackson faced the screen again, hoping Noah would lose interest and wander off.
Noah tossed another handful of nuts back before he leaned close. “Guess I don’t have to worry about you going after Gabby, then. Cute as hell, that one, though not as much fun as she used to be. She’s lost all her humor since becoming a mom.”
Jackson wasn’t born yesterday. He recognized Noah’s ploy—first urging Jackson toward Tess, now undermining Gabby’s appeal in an attempt to turn Jackson off. Only a true dick would talk about the mother of his kid that way to mark his territory. Gabby deserved so much better.
Perhaps Jackson should’ve stopped to think about how what he said next could affect her, but Noah had pushed one too many buttons. “Probably ’cause being a single mom isn’t too funny.”
“She won’t be single forever.” Noah finished his beer in one long gulp, then studied the bottleneck while picking at its label. “We were too young to know what the hell we were doing when she got pregnant. But I’ve had my fun these past few years. Now I’m ready to s
ettle down.”
Jackson bit back a curse. “You think she’s been waiting around for you?”
“Not exactly. I know I hurt her. We were great together before Luc, so I just need to remind her of all that. And after all, I am Luc’s dad.” Noah turned to Jackson and, for the first time, Jackson considered maybe Noah wasn’t only jerking him around. Despite being an utter jackass, this guy actually did want Gabby. That much was written across his face, plain as the sun in the sky.
“Let’s face it, I don’t have much competition in this town. Besides, coming from a broken home,” Noah continued, “Gabby’s always wanted a secure family. I can convince her to give Luc what she never had, even if she still has some doubts about me.”
The candid admission of rather manipulative plans caused Jackson to accidentally bite down on his tongue while chewing his nachos.
After an initial “over my dead body” reaction, Jackson couldn’t help but wonder if Noah’s claims were true.
Jackson didn’t know Gabby well enough to know whether she’d honestly gotten over Noah, or if her harsh opinions about him the other night were simply pride covering hurt feelings. And at the end of the day, this lame excuse for a man was Luc’s dad. If the guy was ready to commit to his son and Gabby, what right did Jackson have to interfere or cast judgment?
He’d be out of this town in a month, anyway. The fact that Gabby deserved someone ten billion times better than Noah shouldn’t matter to him a bit. But it did. Damn if, in twelve days, her happiness hadn’t become important to him.
“I’m not overly worried about losing my girl. One way or another, I’ll make sure we end up together.”
Like the first time they’d met, Jackson’s spine tingled from the chill in Noah’s tone. He wouldn’t call the dude evil, but determined and potentially dangerous fit the bill.
“Well, pal,” Noah sighed, “enjoy the rest of the game. I’ll make sure no one here harasses you too much when the Pats win.”
Noah threw twenty dollars on the bar and strode over to the tables where three other men were drinking. Apparently the sole purpose of Noah’s little visit had been to investigate Gabby’s “new friend” and then warn him off.
