Love Like You've Never Been Hurt (29 page)

He found Gramps sitting out on his front porch, drinking coffee
and eating doughnuts.

“Want to join me, son?”

“I’d love to.”

Gramps brought him out a coffee, “Help yourself,” he
said nodding toward the doughnuts.

Jack smiled, “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass. After
last week those things have lost their appeal.”

Gramps grinned at him. “Yeah, but it all worked out, eh
son?”

“It did. And in big part thanks to you. I’ve been
wanting to thank you.”

Gramps tapped the side of his nose with his finger. “Say no
more.”

Jack smiled gratefully, glad he didn’t have to spell it out,
though he had been fully prepared to.

“So, what brings you out here, she gone into hiding again?”

“No, sir. She’s gone down to the city, but she’s
not hiding. She’s doing her very best to face her fears and
give me a chance.”

“That’s good to hear. So what’s the question? I
can see plain as day you’ve got one and it’s a big un
ain’t it?”

Jack nodded; only the biggest question of his whole life. He
looked the old man in the eye. “Sir, I’ve come to ask
your permission to ask her to marry me.”

Gramps smirk faded and he looked away. Jack’s heart sank.
Surely he wasn’t going to say no?

“Jack, you’re a fine man. I like you, I think you know
that.”

Jack nodded, not sure he wanted to hear the ‘but’ that
he knew was coming.

“Nothing would please me better than to see you marry the
girl.” He smiled at the thought, “That sure would make an
old man happy, but I’m guessing you haven’t heard her
thoughts on marriage?”

“I have.”

“And yer still asking my permission?”

“She’s blaming marriage for what Rob did. A marriage
is defined by the two people that make it. For Emma and me it would
be great.”

“I don’t disagree with you, son. I know the truth of
what you’re saying. Hell, I lived it for forty-five years, a
wonderful marriage with a wonderful woman. I just don’t know
that you can convince Emma of the truth of it,”

Jack sighed, “I don’t know that I can either, but I’ll
die trying. I guess that’s what I want your permission, and
your blessing, to do.”

“That’s the easy part. You can have them by the bucket
load.” He patted Jack on the back, “I’m guessing a
man like you would have a plan. What have you got in mind?”

Jack told him what he was planning and when he’d finished,
Gramps sat smiling. “You’re a smart one, son. How could
any woman say no?” His eyes darkened. “If any woman could
though, it’s Em.”

“I know, but I have to try.”

“Well, I’m with you all the way. I’ll help any
way I can.”

“Thank you.”

“No, son. Thank you. I’m not going to be around
forever. It’s been weighing on me heavy that when I’m
gone she’ll have no one left. I mean, she’s got the gang
and they’ll always be there for her, but no one of her own. No
one who will love her and look out for her like I do, like you do.”

“I just hope she’ll let me.”

Emma had spent the afternoon with Carla in a totally
non-productive meeting about a movie she knew would never get off the
ground. Why, oh why, had she even agreed to come? Old habits were
hard to break, she supposed. When Carla set up a meeting, she came
running, even though all she really wanted these days was to be left
to write her novel, up at the lake – with Jack. She hoped
tomorrow’s session helping Brad go through his spec script
would prove to be more worthwhile.

As she let herself into her apartment she felt as though she’d
been away from it for months, not just a couple of weeks. She was so
grateful to Holly for keeping an eye on the place for her. Her friend
had left a note propped on the kitchen counter.

Call me when you get in – if you’re not too tired.
Holly x

She picked up the phone.

“Hey, how are you?”

“I’m great. I got done early with Carla so I’m
home already. Do you want to come over for dinner?”

“Of course I do. I’ll take your cooking over mine any
day of the week.”

“Come on over as soon as you’re ready. I’ll get
to work.”

She ran to the grocery store on the corner, another of the reasons
she loved her apartment. She picked up some chicken breasts and
everything else she would need and was home again within fifteen
minutes. As she chopped mushrooms her cell phone rang. Jack.

“Hey you!”

“Hey Baby. How did your day go?”

She told him about the meeting with Carla. “It was a big
waste of time really.”

“Well, I’m glad she didn’t offer you some
tempting project to drag you back to the city for any longer than
this. One night is enough.”

“Two, remember?” She was still hoping to leave
tomorrow evening, but she didn’t want to say so in case her
work with Brad ran on.

“Two then, but I know you’ll be back for sure on
Saturday.”

“I will. How about you, how did your day go?”

“Oh, I’ve been real busy. I got lots of important
business taken care of,” he sounded very pleased with himself.

The doorbell rang. “Hold on. Holly’s at the door.”
She let her friend in.

“I’ll let you go then, Babe. Say hi to Holly for me.
Can I call you tomorrow?”

“Yes, please.”

“OK, I love you, Babe.”

“I love you too, Jack.”

As Emma hung up Holly’s face was a picture. “Did I
really just hear you say that?”

Emma nodded.

“Well, what the...? Less than a week ago you were convinced
he’d only wanted you for the sex and had then done a runner.”

“I know, I know. But then a dear friend of mine gave me a
severe talking to and told me to grow up. I’ve been working on
doing that and this is the result. Thank you.”

Holly gave her a big hug. “You are most welcome. I can’t
believe that our little chat led to this. Want to tell me all about
it?”

“There’s not really much to tell, Holly. Other than I
am scared to death. Almost every instinct I have is telling me to run
like crazy, as far and as fast as I can away from him. But part of me
wants to run to him. At the moment that part is winning, but I don’t
know for how long.”

“Well, good for you, girl. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Hm, about getting you up there. I would like to get back
tomorrow if I can get done early enough.”

“I can drive myself then, early Saturday morning. I really
do need to work on that.”

“Yes, you do, but not this weekend. I fixed you up with a
ride, just in case.”

“A ride?”

“Yes, Pete is happy to bring you with him if I have to leave
early.”

“Emma!”

“What? It makes all kinds of sense. I can get back to Jack
and you two can get to know each other on the way up.”

“I’ve never met the guy.”

“You’ll love him. He’s great company.”

“Perhaps so, but you don’t want the first time you
meet a person to be on a four-hour road trip!”

“It’ll be fine. He really doesn’t mind. He’s
glad to help me out.”

“And what if I mind? Does he know you’re trying to set
us up?”

Emma grinned, “He has no clue!”

“Oh, Em!”

“Say you will? Of course, if you really don’t want to
then I can leave Jack all alone for another night and stay until
Saturday, just so that I can take you.”

Holly laughed, “Great, don’t give me much choice, do
you?”

“Is that a yes?”

“That’s a yes, but I’m not happy about it.”

“Oh, you will be. Seriously, Pete is great fun, a really
nice guy. There are so few of us real people in this town, we have to
stick together.”

“Well, I guess that’s true.”

“
I already gave him
your number so he can call and arrange to pick you up though there’s
still a chance that you’ll be coming with me if I can’t
get out of here tomorrow.”

“Ok, whatever works.”

By three o’clock on Friday Emma was still waiting for Brad
to finish his script meeting and get back to her. It looked like
she’d be here for the night. She’d have to pass the
Phoenix building on her way to Brad’s so she decided to stop by
and see Pete. At least she’d be closer by the time Brad was
free. As she pulled into the visitor spaces at the front of the
building, her cell phone rang.

“Hey you.”

“Hey Baby.”

She looked at the parking
space a few yards away.
J.
Benson (C.O.O.).
“You
have great timing, I just pulled up next to your parking space.”

“You did?”

“Yes, I’m still running around and I’m stopping
in to see Pete.”

“Why don’t you park in my space then? What’s
mine is yours.”

“Hold on, I might do that.” She smiled, surprised at
how much she liked the idea. She backed up and then pulled the car
into his slot. “There, now I’m invading your space.”

“See, I can take care of you even when I’m not there.
Hey, if you’re going in anyway, would you mind stopping by to
see Lexi? She was going to give some files to Pete for me, but you
could get them, if you wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course.” She was curious to meet his secretary,
hoping that she wasn’t one of the leggy brunette beauties he
seemed to attract. How many men had something going on with their
secretary? She stopped herself before she could get carried away. “I
don’t mind at all.”

“Will you be back tonight?”

“I don’t think so, I haven’t even gotten to see
Brad yet.”

“Too bad.” He sounded disappointed.

“I know. I’m sorry. How about I come straight to you
in the morning, say hello before my crazy day begins?”

“Yeah, do that,” he heaved an exaggerated sigh, “it’ll
give me something to look forward to as I spend another night all by
myself in that big old coach, lonely and alone.”

She laughed. “Isn’t Dan arriving tonight? You could go
into town and see him. I’m sure Missy would be glad to see you,
and Ben for that matter.”

“I might do that.”

“Well, I’ll be back early anyway.”

“OK, Baby. I’ll see you in the morning. Hurry home to
me.”

“Bye, Jack.”

Judy looked up as she walked in. “Oh, hi Emma. Does he know
you’re coming?”

“No, I thought I’d just stop in. Is he busy?”

“He’s got someone with him, but they should be done in
ten minutes and then he’s free till four fifteen.”

“I’ll wait then if that’s all right. Actually,
could you tell me where Lexi’s office is? Jack asked me to pick
up some files from her.”

“I can do better than tell you,” smiled Judy, “I’ll
walk you round there. How is Jack? We haven’t seen him in a
couple of weeks.”

Emma wondered if Judy knew about her and Jack. She’d known
Pete’s secretary for years, liked her, yet now she felt a
little uncomfortable, not knowing quite what to say. “He seems
to be getting on well with Pete’s place.”

“Oh good.”

Well, what else was she supposed to say? That he looked much more
relaxed up there? That the fresh air and beautiful scenery seemed to
suit him? That, considering all the great sex she was providing him
with, he was doing very well, thank you? She blushed as they walked
down the corridor where the plush carpet and wood paneling made her
think of an exclusive club. She’d always thought that about
Pete’s office, but now she realized it was Jack’s office
too. The place he spent his days, working with Pete.

They arrived at a door, “Here we are then,” said Judy
as she knocked and went in. A woman, in her early fifties, Emma
guessed, was talking on the phone. “I’d better get back,”
said Judy. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She
showed Emma to a large chair and left.

The woman finished the call and came around her desk, beaming. “So
you’re the beautiful Emma! So nice to meet you, Honey!”

The force of her friendly Texan drawl surprised Emma. She smiled
back, a little uncertain.

“Oh, he just called, said you’d be coming.” She
had curly red hair and bright blue eyes. Emma liked her immediately.
“Would you mind if I give you a big old hug, Honey?”
She’d wrapped her arms around her before Emma had chance to
reply. The hug felt like coming home and Emma found herself hugging
right back, feeling tears prick behind her eyes as she wondered what
it would have been like to have grown up knowing a mother’s
hugs. She didn’t have time to pursue sad thoughts though. Lexi
was so warm and bubbly.

“The man is crazy about you, Hon.”

Emma blushed again, wishing she could control the blood that
infused her face so often since she’d met Jack.

“Look at you! Blushing like a schoolgirl, aren’t you
just the sweetest thing!”

“I, um...” She was completely thrown. She’d had
visions of some tall, smoky beauty, eyeing her coolly and instead,
here she was with this welcoming motherly figure doting on her.

“Oh, don’t you mind me. I’m a bit much for some
folk.”

“Oh, no,” said Emma, “It’s not that, it’s
just....”

“I’m not what you were expecting, right? You thought
his secretary might be one of those stick insects,” she
laughed, a sound so infectious Emma joined her, shaking her head.

“Don’t tell him, but yes, I was a little nervous to
meet you.”

“
Don’t you worry
that pretty little head of yours. Like I said, the man is crazy about
you. In all my years I’ve never known him like this. And Honey,
we go back a long ways me and Jack. His momma’s my best friend,
we went to school together and I’ve done Jack’s books for
him since before he was old enough to file. When he was setting up
Phoenix with Pete, he brought me with him. I was worried about him
for a while there, we were buzzing around in that plane of his so
much – Houston, Miami, New York, I didn’t know my tail
from my elbow and he was burning out fast. Pete thought getting him
to LA might fix him, but you know, even though it’s not been so
crazy since we set down here, this city isn’t a good fit for
him.” She smiled, “But these last few weeks, he’s
doing much better and that’s all down to you.”