“Since Steph.”
My jaw dropped. “That long? Three years? Wow, I thought I had you beat. But it’s only been just over a year for me.” Not that sex had ever been anything like what we’d just done. I hadn’t even missed it, to be honest.
“That’s a long time, too.”
I lifted my shoulders. “Guess that explains it. We just needed to get something out of our systems.”
He nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets. “Yeah.”
We stood there for a moment as the crickets chirped around us. My heart was beating a little too fast for comfort as I looked at him in the dark, knowing I was the first woman he’d been with since his wife. It was messing with me… I wish I’d known. I might have tried to make it nicer or something, maybe not screamed so loud. Or bit him.
I mean…the first woman since his wife.
That meant something to me.
But I had no idea what to do with it.
“So,” I said briskly, as if we were wrapping up a business meeting, “I think the best thing would be to pretend this never happened.”
He nodded again. “I think so too.”
“We’ll just agree it was a moment of insanity, fueled by pent-up frustration,” I suggested, needing to file this in my brain somewhere, and not in my heart.
“Right.”
I put on a smile, but I didn’t feel happy at all. “And now that the moment of insanity has passed, I’d better get going.”
“Please let me drive you.” His voice was quiet and serious. “I won’t sleep tonight if I don’t, not that I sleep very well anyway.”
“You don’t sleep well?”
“No.”
It was something small but personal, and I was grateful for the admission. Still, I hesitated, glancing toward Pete and Georgia’s house. “Won’t someone see us and wonder what we’re doing?”
“No. It’s late. Pete goes to bed early, and Georgia is working tonight.”
I nodded. “OK, then.”
“I just have to get the keys. Come with me?”
“Sure.” We walked toward the cabin in silence, Jack’s hands still in his pockets and my arms crossed over my chest. I thought about asking to use his bathroom to clean up a little, but something about it didn’t feel right. Instead I waited for him on the porch, and then we retraced our steps back through the trees toward Pete and Georgia’s.
In the driveway, Jack opened the passenger door of his pickup for me and I climbed in. He got in the driver’s side just as I was pulling the bottom of my dress down as far as I could. I thought about asking Jack if he had a handkerchief, but he didn’t look like the type.
“What are you doing?” He gave me a funny look.
“Trying not to get the seat sticky,” I said, feeling heat in my cheeks. So much about sex was embarrassing.
He chuckled and started the truck. “Don’t worry about it. Really. Tell me where you’re staying?”
I gave him directions, and we were silent again on the two-minute ride. Thank God, I thought. Because the more he talked to me in that sweet, serious voice or smiled or laughed or showed me there was a gentleman inside that rough exterior, the more I liked him.
I didn’t want to like him.
When he pulled up next to the cottage, I opened the door. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Margot, wait.” He put a hand on my leg. “Don’t go yet.”
It’s better if you don’t touch me, Jack.
“Yes?”
“It’s not personal, my objection to your ideas for the farm. I can tell you’re good at what you do.”
“Thanks.”
He took his hand off my leg and rubbed his jaw. “I just don’t want things to change.”
“Even if the changes make sense? If they’ll bring in more money eventually? If they’ll make people happy?”
He didn’t answer, but I saw the stubborn set of his jaw return.
Sighing, I pushed the door all the way open and got out. “Goodnight, Jack. Thanks for the ride.” I shut the door and walked to the door, and he waited until I was safely inside before pulling away.
Another display of courtesy.
Damn him.
Later, I lay in bed, listening to the waves through the screens and struggling to process tonight’s surprises. The way Jack had apologized. The way he’d agreed he’d been mean and unfair. The unexpected—and vehement—insistence that he drive me home. The shock of that first kiss, when he’d grabbed me by both arms, his frustration giving way to passion all at once.
You’re going to take it.