Chapter Twenty-two
The next day, Angie underwent her operation, and Jack arrived in time to see Mia and Maisie sitting with a strange man’s arms around them both.
Hackles that he never knew existed appeared.
Jealousy flared instantly, and he stuck his hands in his pockets so they wouldn’t wrap around the good-looker’s throat.
He approached and felt better when Maisie ran to him and threw herself into his arms.
“Jack! Yow’re hewe.” The princess knew he’d welcome her. She took it for granted, and that thrilled the hell outta him. At least someone was happy to see him because Mia sure as hell didn’t appear to feel that way. Not if burrowing herself closer to the other guy was any indication.
When he stood in front of the two of them, she grudgingly made introductions.
Ahh! So, this is Mark. Too handsome for any red-blooded man to immediately take to him, nevertheless, Mark’s all-seeing eyes dug trenches into Jack’s conscience. He sensed the guy knew exactly what had happened between him and Mia, which made no sense if they had a thing going on.
First, she wasn’t the sort of woman to cheat on someone she belonged to. How he knew that for certain made no sense. But he knew it just like he knew his own name was dumbass, and that Mark’s maleness didn’t present a threat.
But his strong attachment to Mia hung there for the world to see and not to underestimate. The dude had him on a waiting list. Whether they’d be acquaintances with problems, or ultimately friends, hung in the balance.
Whatever he’d done to turn things sour, he still hadn’t figured out, but the uneasy situation surfaced as her aloof stare didn’t quite meet his.
Suddenly, Mia’s expression turned from haughty to pleading. The doctor appeared, his mask hanging over his chest, and his face lined with tiredness from performing the long operation. Jack’s mood lightened after two words and the doc’s wry grin.
“She’s fine.”
“Thank God!” Mia sagged against Mark and let her hands cover her face.
Doc looked at Jack. “Before she let us give her the anesthetic, she made me promise that I would remind you of your deal, Jack.”
He laughed, part relief and part astonishment in the old gal’s tenacity. “She solidified the deal in case she didn’t make it.”
“Yep. Though she pretended to be strong, at the very last minute she grabbed my hand and gave me her eagle eye. You know the one that you better take seriously, or she’d deal with you?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m very familiar with that look.”
“Then you know what I was up against.” Doc turned and faced Mia. “She had a message for you too, young lady.”
Mia grinned; relief etched on her features. “I’m scared to ask.”
“She wanted you to follow your heart. Her words…”
Mia appeared flummoxed. “Why would she say that?”
“Probably because Angie stayed true to one love all her life. After I lost my wife, Mary, and tried to move in on her, she let me down easy. Said that only one man held her heart, and when he died, she buried it with him.” Doc coughed, his face reddening.
“I stepped down, and we remained good friends. A shame because that woman had it in her to make any man she loved feel like a giant.”
Jack could see Doc starting to move away from them, uncomfortable with the discussion. To give the guy a break, he spoke up. “She blackmailed me into making a promise I didn’t want to give. Any chance if I back out, she’ll take a turn for the worse?”
Laughing, Doc shook his head. “Oh no, you don’t. She’d come after me with a shotgun if she knew I gave you permission to renege. Besides, I agree with her. You’d make a wonderful mayor.”