AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But it beats working in a cubicle, doesn’t it?”
Robert held his bottle out in a toast. “Amen to that.” After a long pull, he gave Jack a sly look, trying to keep in a grin. “Seems like your love life has picked up since we were out last.”
“It’s only been a week! No keeping secrets on this island, that’s for sure.”
Robert burst into laughter. “You’re right about that. You should have seen Alex and Hope. They thought they were so on the down low. Everyone could see they were interested in each other, except the two of them. Tommy and I were considerin’ a bet.” Both men stopped to laugh, then Robert shook his head. “After they finally got together, it was pretty obvious, even though they still tried to play it cool. Don’t try to hide it, dude.”
Jack’s smile faded as he picked at the label on his beer. “Be honest with me. Am I making a big mistake by getting involved with Sara?”
Robert raised his brows. “Why would you say that? You’re both adults. It’s no one else’s business.”
“Come on. You know better than that. Her sister and brother-in-law own the resort. Alex is my direct boss. If things go up in flames, whose side do you think they’ll take?”
Robert shrugged. “Yeah, you’ve got a point, there. But they’re both pretty fair people, and you get along with both of them.”
“Yeah. But what do you think Alex would do if his favorite sister-in-law’s heart got broken by me?”
Robert grinned, then tried to hide it by rubbing a finger over his upper lip. “Uh, he’d probably break you in half.”
“Exactly. I’m not afraid to mix it up with anyone, but Alex isn’t exactly anyone, is he?”
“No, he isn’t.” Then he turned to look fully at Jack. “Why are you so worried about this? Are you guys that serious already?”
“No.” But over the previous week, they had spent more nights together than apart. He was doing his best to keep his distance emotionally, but that was getting harder.
“Seems like you’re lookin’ to cross a bridge you can’t even see yet. Relax, man, and enjoy yourself.”
Jack finished his beer. “You’re probably right, but I’m still gun shy. I got left once, and Sara doesn’t seem like the serious type. I just don’t want it to happen again. This is the first time I’ve gotten involved since my divorce, so maybe I’m overthinking it.”
“Getting left does leave a mark, doesn’t it?”
Jack stared at the bar, eyes unfocused. “When my wife was going through her fads, she never even tried to include me. I always felt like an outsider, like I wasn’t important. In my own marriage! I can’t go through that again.” He sighed, shaking his head rapidly to snap out of the unhappy memories. “But that’s no reason to look for problems with Sara that aren’t even there.” He tossed a five-dollar bill on the bar counter and bartender Maurice nodded at him. “I better go. See you later.”
* * *
After returning to Serenity, Jack sat in his pickup, staring at Sara’s apartment. It was after eight, and her lights were obvious against the black sky. I should go straight to my apartment and get ready for bed.
Instead, he exited the Ranger and climbed the stairs, almost without conscious thought. Sara answered his knock, dressed in a T-shirt—plain this time—and black leggings. Her hair fell in a flat sheet halfway down her back and he just drank her in, his heart thumping. She gave him a crooked grin, leaning one hand on the open door. “If you’d let me know you were coming, I could make myself presentable. You always catch me at my worst.”
He smiled back, and all thoughts of his failed marriage fled. “If this is your worst, you worry way too much.”
After giving him a welcome kiss, she headed toward the kitchen, beckoning him. “Suit yourself. Want a glass of red wine?” A half-full glass sat on the counter, next to an open bottle.
“Sure. Pour away.”
They settled on her couch, and she nestled into the hollow of his shoulder, like she belonged there. He planted a kiss on top of her head. “Is tomorrow the big day?”
“The first of two, yes. Alex is splitting the final check-out over two days.”
Jack nodded. “That’s usually how it’s done. How are you feeling about it now?” Her second pool session had gone well, but being in open water often brought out the jitters in students.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m a lot more confident than I was at first.” She paused and an adorable pink flush spread across her neck. “Remember when I told you I was nervous during the first pool session?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t go into the specifics with you. It was too embarrassing.” She sat up and faced him. “Jack, I couldn’t even put my face in the water. All I could think of was that Alex was a SEAL and God knows what he had to go through. It only made me more nervous.”
“But you got over it. You told me by the end of the class, you were doing great.”
