Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jack
“We’re going into town later tonight to hit the bars. You want to join us?” Paulo asks on Saturday afternoon.
“Nah, I have plans already, but thanks.”
“They have anything to do with the lady who showed up last night?” Nick asks, cocking an eyebrow at me.
“No,” I reply flatly. “Is nothing private around here?”
“A car like that, I thought the insurance adjuster was back, and I was merely trying to save you from a murder charge,” he says teasingly.
“Man, that guy was an ass.”
Nick chuckles and nods. “You’re not going to tell me who was in the car?”
“Not important.”
“Okay, well, I’ve got some cattle to round up, and we’re going to do that. You look like shit and should probably go in and rest,” Nick says as he cocks an eyebrow at me questioningly.
He’s right, but I won’t tell him that. I’m in extra pain and incredibly tired today, but I didn’t sleep much after Savannah showed up.
I like Brynn. I want to see where this goes with her.
Savannah showing up has kind of rocked me. It’s not that I still have feelings for her, but it is pulling up a lot of the things she did to me.
Am I just opening myself up to more heartbreak by allowing Brynn in? Should I just remain single forever?
I blow out a long breath and walk into the house. John and Olivia are sitting at the kitchen table, eating a late lunch.
“Hey, Mr. Jack,” Olivia smiles. “Will you be at Ava’s birthday party tomorrow?”
“I will. I assume you will be, too?”
“Yes, sir. Mom and I are going to go shopping for a bit after she closes the shop to get a present.”
“That will be fun.”
“Saturdays are real busy for her, but Tabby is covering the deliveries for her. Popo is going to drive me into town to meet up with her so we can go before mine and Popo’s card game tonight.”
“What time are you doing that?” I ask, my eyes flitting over to John, who’s half asleep in the chair.
There are subtle hints here and there, but it’s clear that John is struggling with his memory. I don’t want to risk anything happening to him behind the wheel, so it’ll just be better if I don’t let him get there.
“In about an hour.”
“Tell you what, I have to go into town, too. Why don’t I take you with me, and Popo doesn’t have to waste gas?”
“You don’t—” John says quickly.
“I don’t mind. Really. Maybe Olivia can give me some insight on what I should buy my niece.”
“That sounds great.” John smiles gratefully.
An hour later, I glance over at Olivia as she buckles her seatbelt, her small hands pulling the strap snugly across her chest. She swings her feet idly, her sneakers tapping lightly against the floorboard.
“You all set?” I ask, starting up the truck.
She nods, a little smile playing at her lips. “Yep.”
I back out of the driveway, steering us toward town. The sun is bright overhead, casting golden streaks across the wide Hicks Creek sky. Olivia hums softly beside me, her fingers drumming against her knee.
“So,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence. “What do you think Ava would like?”
Olivia snorts, covering her mouth to hide her laugh. “A puppy or a pony.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Well, that’s a surefire way to get me disowned. I think her mom would kill me if I showed up with either of those.”
She grins. “Yeah, probably. But honestly, she’d like anything you get her. She’s really into that band right now—Midnight Horizon. She’s been talking about their concert for weeks, but she couldn’t get tickets.”
I make a mental note of that. I know Joanne and Rick probably can’t afford something like that, and if it’s what Ava really wants, I’ll do my best to make it happen.
“Good to know,” I say, keeping my tone casual.
We fall into a lull again, the town coming into view as we near the outskirts. Olivia shifts in her seat, her fingers tracing patterns on the window. “Thanks for driving me into town, by the way. I don’t think Popo was having a good day, and he really shouldn’t be driving.”
Her voice is light, but there’s something in the way she says it that tugs at me. I glance over at her, noting the way she’s avoiding my eyes.
“Yeah, I got that sense, too,” I say carefully. “I’m glad you said something.”
She nods, still looking out the window, and I don’t push. She’s a smart kid—too perceptive for her age.
Before long, I’m pulling up to the flower shop where Brynn is outside unloading her truck. Olivia hops out of the truck, her braid swinging behind her as she crosses the parking lot to her mom. Brynn looks up in surprise when she sees me.
“Jack?” she says, brows raising. “I thought—”
“Popo wasn’t feeling great,” Olivia says, shrugging as she steps inside. “So, Mr. Jack brought me.”
“Not feeling great? Maybe we should—”
I hold up a hand. “No need for you to rush back. I’m going to grab some things and be there later. You two enjoy your shopping trip, and I’ll see you tonight.”
She starts to protest, but I just glance at Olivia, giving her a quick smile before stepping back. “Bye, Olivia. Have fun.”
Before Brynn can say anything else, I turn and head toward my truck, already making a plan to get those concert tickets. Anything to make Ava’s birthday one to remember.
Later that evening, I take a deep breath and knock on Brynn’s door, rubbing my palm against the side of my jeans as I wait. I’m not nervous. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. It’s just dinner. Just Brynn. But damn if my chest doesn’t feel a little tight anyway.
The door swings open, and my brain short-circuits.
Brynn stands in the doorway, framed by the soft light from inside, wearing a flowing sundress the color of fresh cream.
The fabric flutters around her legs, brushing against her skin, and for a second, all I can do is stare.
I’ve never seen her in anything but jeans, work boots, and grit.
She’s always been beautiful, but this… this is something else. She’s breathtaking.
She shifts on her feet, her lips pressing together like she’s about to second-guess herself. “What?” she asks, her voice softer than usual, uncertain.
I shake my head, grinning as I pull myself together. “Nothing. Just… you look beautiful.”
Her cheeks flush, and she ducks her head slightly. “Thanks. You clean up nice yourself.”
I glance down at my jeans and button-up shirt, feeling a little overdressed compared to my usual worn tees, but at least I don’t look like I just came off the ranch. “Shall we?” I ask, offering my arm with a teasing smirk.
She rolls her eyes but takes it anyway, letting me lead her to the truck.
“I never expected to see you in a dress again. I was starting to think you were surgically attached to those jeans,” I tease as I help her into the truck.
She smirks, twirling slightly so the dress flows around her. “What can I say? I like to keep you on your toes.”
“Yeah? What other surprises are you hiding?”
We pull out of the driveway and head into town.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she says as she raises an eyebrow.
“You’re right—I would. Guess I’ll just have to stick around and find out.”
I pull into the lot of the only real sit-down restaurant in town, a small steakhouse that’s been around for as long as I can remember. I park and move to her side of the truck, opening the door before she can do it herself.
She raises an eyebrow. “Chivalry’s still alive, huh?”
“Only for special occasions,” I quip. “And women in pretty dresses.”
She laughs, shaking her head as she climbs out. We walk inside, and the hostess—who’s known me since I was a kid—gives me a once-over before her gaze flicks to Brynn.
“Well, well, Jack. Haven’t seen you bring a date in here in, well… ever.”
“I haven’t lived here in, well, forever,” I answer with a laugh.
Brynn smirks, glancing up at me. “Guess I should feel honored.”
I lean down just enough for my words to be for her ears only. “You should.”
She sucks in a breath but doesn’t pull away, and I count that as a win.
We get seated in a booth toward the back, away from the handful of other patrons. The air carries the scent of grilled steak, baked potatoes, and warm rolls, and my stomach growls in response. Brynn must hear it because she snickers as she picks up her menu.
“Don’t even start,” I warn her, flipping mine open.
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” she says, the humor still in her voice.
When the waitress comes by, we order steaks—medium rare for me, medium for her—and settle into a rhythm of playful conversation, exchanging jabs and teasing remarks like it’s second nature.
This is nice and a drastic change from us being at each other’s throats when we first met. I like both sides of her.
“Why haven’t you ever brought a date here?” Brynn asks after a while, pushing a fry through a puddle of ketchup. “I mean, you lived here before. You never dated anyone serious back then?”
I shrug, twirling my glass of whiskey in my hand. “I didn’t really date a lot in high school or after because I was always taking care of everyone at home. My older brother, well, he was kind of a mess, and mom was always working, so someone had to take care of Joanne.”
“I know the two of you are really close. Joanne speaks very highly of you and the role you played for her growing up. She told me about your brother, too. I’m sorry. So, was your ex-wife your first girlfriend?”
“Real girlfriend, I guess, yes, you could say that. After Savannah…” I trail off, sighing. “I haven’t been in a rush to let someone in again.”
Her fingers go still against the rim of her glass, her expression softening. “I get that.”
I study her for a second. “You?”
She hesitates, then shrugs. “Same, I guess. Clay was my first boyfriend, and then…I haven’t dated at all since we split up.
Men aren’t always interested in the single mom, and they certainly don’t understand my responsibilities to the ranch and my business.
I guess I get it and have just accepted love isn’t in the cards for me. ”
Her eyes go down to the table quickly, and my chest tightens.
“You don’t believe that.”
She laughs drily. “I know it. I’ve seen what happens when you trust too much. When you love too hard.”
I reach across the table, my fingers brushing against hers. “You ever think maybe you just haven’t found the right person?”
She exhales slowly, her eyes locked on mine. “And you think you’re the right person?”
I don’t break her gaze, don’t even hesitate. “I think I’d damn well like the chance to prove I could be.”
Whoa, that’s bold of me.
But there’s no remorse in what I said. I mean it. I want to see where this goes between us.
Something flickers across her face—fear, maybe, or hope—but she doesn’t pull away. Doesn’t shut me out. That’s enough for now.
The rest of dinner is quieter but not uncomfortable.
We talk about the ranch and the cattle, and I change the subject before either of us mentions Lane’s name again.
I could tell by the way her eyes got vacant and her posture went rigid that there was more to the story than what she’s shared with me.
We finish dinner, and I stand to pull her chair out for her. As we’re leaving the restaurant, I hear someone call my name. I close my eyes as I recognize the voice. My entire body goes rigid.
Savannah.