The bullet had grazed the side of her breast, and she hated the way she looked in the mirror. Sure, she was slated for reconstructive plastic surgery later in the year if she chose to do it. But it was amazing how something like this could make her feel less confident.
She wore a dress tonight instead of her uniform because it made her feel more feminine. She’d even had her hair cut in a salon before leaving Norfolk, just the way Emma had styled it when they’d been in Bali. Maybe she would be brave enough to contact Jack sometime this week.
Janelle had a glass of wine before dinner, and then ordered the special, Fettuccini Alfredo, which ended up being absolutely delicious.
As she sat there with a cup of coffee after dinner, she happened to glance across the room.
And she couldn’t believe her eyes.
It was Jack, walking behind the hostess towards one of the restaurant tables with someone dark haired, exotic and voluptuous, who was apparently his date.
Janelle watched as Jack pulled the chair from under the table, waiting for the woman to be seated before he dropped into the chair across from her.
The woman stood, moving her chair to be near him, running her hand over his arm and reading over his shoulder as he studied the menu.
When she laid her chin on his shoulder, Janelle felt physically ill.
As the waitress approached with the check, Janelle took the folder from her hands giving her a credit card while writing in her signature along with a generous tip.
“Thank you,” the waitress murmured. “Would you like more coffee while you wait for me to return you card?”
“Yes, thank you,” Janelle murmured, distractedly.
She felt devastated. Deep down, she’d been assuming that Jack would be happy to see her. Maybe she’d been taking the connection they’d shared on Bali for granted all along.
A bus boy came over and poured more coffee, and Janelle sat, watching Jack and his date.
When the waitress came back and handed over her card, Janelle smiled. “I think I’ve changed my mind. Could I have another glass of wine? I can just pay cash if it’s easier. I’m not holding up a reservation by sitting here a little longer?”
“No. We’re actually a little slow tonight. I’d be happy to get you more wine. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Thank you,” Janelle answered.
Chapter Nineteen
Jack had been regretting his blind date from the moment he’d gone to pick up Heather at her apartment.
In fact, it was a blind date debacle. She was all over him like an octopus right from the start. Luckily, there weren’t too many people in the restaurant, so Jack tried subtly to lay low.
When she stood and moved her chair closer while they were being served drinks, he waited until after they’d ordered to try and discreetly move his chair away.
He wondered if she behaved like this all the time, or if she was just being selective with him.
At that moment, a couple she apparently knew appeared at the table to say hi, and Jack was able to slide his chair around the table.
“Jack,” she cooed, “this is Lacey and Brian Keegan. We’ve been friends since all of us were kids.
Lacey studied him intently. “You look so familiar, Jack. You must have been here during the summer when you were younger? It’s nice to meet you.”
“I think we might have met when I was hanging out with Matt Stevens. It’s nice to meet you too, Lacey, Brian.”
This was going to be a long night. Apparently, everyone she hung out with was a partier, and she and her family vacationed here every year at their summer house on the lake.
Heather must have made it clear that she wanted to be alone with him, because Lacey and Brian were soon gone.
Jack decided he needed another beer when she moved in closer again, this time attempting to get grabbier with her hands.
“Heather. I’m sure you’re a nice girl, but I don’t think this is going to work,” Jack said, trying to move away.
But just as he was ready to stand, someone came over to the table, deliberately knocking Heather’s drink into her lap.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said in a syrupy voice. “I was on my way to the rest room and accidentally knocked over your drink. At least there wasn’t too much left in the glass.”
And then Jack looked up and froze.
“Janelle?” he finally exclaimed, getting to his feet while Heather stood and glared.
Jack continued, “How long have you been in town? Why didn’t you write and tell me you were coming?”
She seemed furious when she answered, “Obviously, it was better that way, since you seem to have been keeping yourself busy.”
And then she spun around, stomping out from the restaurant.
“Ah, uhm.” Jack looked around helplessly, noticing that the waitress was approaching with their food.
“Could you help my, uh, date?” he asked. “She spilled her drink. I’ll be back in just a minute.”
Jack nearly ran through the restaurant, trying to find Janelle.
Where in the hell had she gone?
But finally, he saw her rushing outside from the lobby.
Quickly stepping up to the front desk, he pulled some bills from his wallet, handing them over to the receptionist. “This should more than cover my restaurant and bar bill. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m skipping out. I saw an old friend and I really need to catch up with her before she leaves the parking lot.”
The woman laughed. “That’s fine. I’ll let them know…?”
“Jack Wellman,” he answered, running through the lobby and outside through the mechanical doors as they swept open.
Janelle was already stepping into a vehicle when Jack finally caught up with her in the parking lot.
“Janelle, stop,” he called out.
She turned around, staring at him with obvious dismay.
But she must have seen something in his face that made her listen because she stood with the door wide open.
“This ought to tell you that you’re the one and only person I’ve ever wanted to be with.”
He closed the distance between them in two strides, and Jack pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply, passionately, like he was never going to let her go. They kissed like a dance and a duel, advancing and retreating, anger and pent up frustrations suddenly forgotten.
His mouth moved from her cheeks to her throat, and his touch suddenly became tender when he realized he had her pinned against her truck.
Chapter Twenty
When he pulled her away from her vehicle, Janelle moved back toward Jack, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist when their lips met once again.
She wanted him, wanted that long, hard body stretched on top of her, wanted him inside her.
But suddenly, she realized it was much more than that. For the first time in her life, she’d been willing to take a risk, and had already given him her heart.
She’d been jealous seeing Jack with another woman, sure, but most of all, she’d been hurt.
Jack groaned, slowly pulling away.
“It was just a blind date,” he said, sounding urgent. “I never had any intention of going further, no matter who I’d been set up with. But I knew right away that the entire thing was a big mistake. All I’ve been doing is thinking of you, Janelle, nearly every waking minute, and now that I think about it, you were in a lot of my dreams too.”
She blinked. “A blind date? The woman was all over you.”
“It’s funny, but from the minute I met her, in my head, I was calling it a blind date debacle.”
Janelle had to laugh. “That’s one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard.”
“Why haven’t you emailed me? I’ve been feeling so lost.”
“I…was hurt.” She heaved a sigh. “In Iraq.”
Jack looked instantly stricken. “Damn it, Janelle. That’s even more of a reason you should have contacted me.” He looked her over. “Are you alrig
ht? We shouldn’t be standing out here in the cold. Let’s go back inside. I need to figure out what to do about Heather anyway. The date was officially at end, even before you dumped the drink into her lap, which, incidentally, I thought about doing myself.”
“Alright.” She grinned, grabbing her purse from inside her truck and closing and locking the door.
When they walked inside together, the receptionist smiled, obviously recognizing Jack.
“I’ve got some bad news for you, Sir. Your date decided to get a ride home with some friends because she couldn’t salvage her dress enough to feel comfortable. She said she’d get back with you tomorrow, so you two can plan your next date.”
“Like hell she will,” Janelle muttered grimly, causing both the receptionist and Jack to look at her, startled.
But when Jack started laughing, the receptionist grinned, winking at Jack. “Confidentially, I grew up with Heather, and I’d say it’s better to quit while you’re ahead.”
Janelle felt sheepish but started laughing when Jack did.
The receptionist continued, “They’re replacing your meal for you, free of charge. Our chef doesn’t like to send anything out from the kitchen that isn’t properly prepared.”
“Thank you,” Jack answered, glancing at her name tag. “I appreciate your help, Jody.”
When he attempted to pull out his wallet, probably intending to tip her, she held out a staying hand, looking at Janelle. “No need. I’ve been waiting for entertainment like this for a while now.”
Janelle blinked, giving her a slow smile. “Thanks, Jody.”
“How about it?” Jack asked, turning to Janelle. “I am kind of hungry.”
“I’ll sit and have a cup of coffee since I’ve already eaten.”
He wrapped an arm over her shoulder. “It seems like I’ve been waiting forever to put my arms around you again.”
“We need to talk,” she murmured.
“Yes, we do,” Jack said, escorting her to the table they were led to, where Jack’s beer and coat had been transferred. “First of all, what are you doing here in Crystal Rock?”
She hesitated, as Jack pulled out a chair.
“Sit,” he murmured, appearing to study her as she did. “If it’s something confidential, answer me with a cough.”
She coughed.
“Alright,” he murmured, taking a seat as the waitress reappeared and smiled.
“I guess I’ll have more coffee,” Janelle murmured, feeling sheepish.
“I’ll have another beer,” Jack said.
“I’ll have your steak back out here shortly,” the waitress murmured.
“Thank you,” Jack and Janelle answered simultaneously, and they looked at each other and smiled.
“But I’m also here for rehab,” Janelle admitted, watching as the waitress disappeared behind the door leading into the kitchen.
Jack’s look was stern. “What happened?”
“I was shot,” she confessed. “It was a first for me. I was laid up in the hospital in Germany for a short while and transferred back to Alabama. It was a deep graze.”
“Where?” he asked.
She held his gaze, laying a hand over her breast.
“Aw, Baby. Are you going to be alright?”
She bit her lip, turning away. “It looks awful.”
Jack laid down his beer, seeming suddenly angry. “Is that why you didn’t get in touch with me after it happened? Don’t you know that what we have doesn’t have a damn thing to do with appearances? It’s about our connection, Janelle, from the moment we met.”
Janelle felt like she was going to cry, and Jack must have noticed, because he moved his chair, sitting closer and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I promise, there’s not a single thing that will ever make me feel any different about you. And I’ve got news for you, you’re coming home with me tonight. No more of this avoidance of a relationship. It’s been a relationship from the start, and you know it.”
She bit her lip, as tears filled her eyes. “There are things that you don’t know about me.”
He shrugged. “So what? There are some pretty awful things you don’t know about me either, regarding my childhood. We’ll talk it out.”
“I kind of figured you had a secret,” she murmured.
“I’ve always known you’ve had one too.” He heaved a sigh. “Something to do with your family?”
“Yes,” she answered, looking into his eyes. “It’s the same for yours?”
“It is,” he said. “But let’s save it for tomorrow. Tonight’s just for us.”
She gave him a teary smile. “Alright.”
* * *
A few hours later, Janelle was following Jack’s truck as he led her through town and turned into an alley leading into a parking lot, located behind Northwest Property Management.
They’d talked about anything and everything while Jack was eating. He seemed pretty happy to learn that she would be staying in Crystal Rock for at least three months and possibly longer.
She’d never laughed so hard in her life when she’d seen the video of Nick dressed as Santa, stalking Emma while she was hanging around with her ex-boyfriend, Matt, whom Janelle had met the last time she’d visited Crystal Rock.
When she stepped out from the truck, Jack was there reaching for her hand and escorting her to the door that apparently led to his apartment upstairs.
“I’m impressed,” Janelle said, as they entered the apartment. “I love the fireplace especially.”
“Me too,” Jack admitted. “It’s gas, so I’ve had it running nearly every day. It puts out a lot of heat. Take a seat. Would you like something to drink?”
He flipped on the fireplace before moving to a bluetooth speaker and switching it on too. Soon, soft rock music was echoing through the room.
She was worried. It had been a long time since she’d had sex, and she was terribly nervous.
Of course, none of the men had been Jack, and then there was the damage to her breast, which still made her feel a heck of a lot less confident.
“What kind of drinks have you got to offer?”
“How about a wine cooler? It seems to me I remember that you ladies were drinking them that night in Bali when you weren’t trying those crazy tropical drinks.”
“That would be perfect,” she answered, smiling rather timidly.
He reached into the fridge and brought out a wine cooler for her and a beer for him. Laying them down momentarily, he slipped out of his suit jacket, wrapping it over the back of the kitchen stool before picking up the drinks and resting them on the coffee table.
“I’m nervous about this too, Janelle,” he said softly, seating himself beside her on the couch. “It’s been like, uh – forever for me.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Really,” he answered firmly. “Most of the women I meet seem to come on to me, and I’ve never really gotten into that. I like to be the one who asks.”
“That’s because you’re so good looking, Jack,” she answered. “A lot of women don’t take the time to look below the surface.”
“Men, too,” he said, snorting. “It’s never been about outward appearances with me when I’ve met a woman. Probably because of something terrible that happened to me in the past.” He sighed. “But like I said earlier, we can talk about that tomorrow.”
“Alright,” she answered softly, finishing her wine cooler.
Jack looked her over with obvious appreciation. “You look lovely tonight, by the way.”
“Thank you. You look lovely too, wearing that suit. I suppose it was part of the reason I got jealous, you dressing up for her.”
Jack barked out a laugh, before suddenly getting serious and reaching for her hand.
She heaved a sigh, letting him embrace it warmly while staring into his eyes.
They stood, and Jack walked her through the apartment and silently, he led her through a wide door into a massive master suite.
Through the
corner of her eye, Janelle could see it was beautifully decorated, and somewhere in the back of her mind she recognized that the same sultry rock music playing in the living room was echoing through the bedroom as well.
She’d had her share of short-term relationships, but this was probably the most romantic moment she’d ever experienced. Something magical was happening between the two of them, and Janelle knew she would always remember this night.
Jack let her head drop, pushed shut the door, and pulled her into his arms before cupping her face and pressing his lips against hers.
His kiss was everything she remembered and so much more, swirling down and around her like fiery heat, satisfying places that had longed for this ever since they’d met.
When he drew her close against him, she raised her hands to cradle his head, as he pulled her harder and harder against the hardness of his muscled chest.
But suddenly realizing just how much more she needed, she crushed against him urgently, wanting to connect with him in some indescribable way.
Their eyes met. Were hers as dark and desperate as his?
She playfully shoved him away, and began unbuttoning the rest of his shirt, shoving it over his shoulders and down his arms to the floor.
Oh, wow, Janelle thought to herself. He had the most beautiful body she’d ever seen, with his big broad shoulders, and muscular chest.
And those abs…
She inhaled an unsteady breath.
“What?” he murmured quizzically.
Shaking her head numbly, Janelle ran her fingertips across the breadth of his naked shoulders and through the dusting of hair on his chest, settling her mouth in the curve of his neck. Becoming bolder, her hand slid under his pants.
Jack groaned softly, jerking his hips as her hand cupped him. His head was thrown back, his strong throat exposed. He reached for her wrist, but she stayed his hand and squeezed him gently before her fingers lifted and wrapped themselves around him.
The touch of her hand, the scrape of her nails on the underside of his sensitive skin seemed to make him swell and stiffen again.
“Janelle. I didn’t think I could get any harder.” He started to laugh. “Stop it. Let’s slow down. It’s been so long for me.”
Jack's Blind Date Debacle (Hot Hunks Steamy Romance Book 8) Page 9
