Chapter 2 #4
For the first time in the history of our friendship, I felt like talking to Jack would make me feel worse instead of better. His protective concern usually made me feel cherished and strong, but today, it made me feel fragile. If the man asked if I was okay one more time, I might actually scream.
As I stalked to the front of the room, Environmental Guy’s face lit up with recognition and a smile. “Hawkins Sunday, right? Someone mentioned you were the guy with all the smart questions.” He beamed and offered his hand to shake. “Simon Wentworth, nice to meet you.”
I took his hand in mine. “Wentworth? As in…” I shut my mouth before I embarrassed myself by mentioning any of my novels. Not the time, Hawk.
Simon’s grin widened. “As in the character from Jane Austen’s Persuasion? My mom’s favorite. I swear that’s why she married my dad. Do you know the book?”
I swallowed hard and felt my face heat. There were signs, and then there were signs. “Yeah. Yes. Of course. Though Pride and Prejudice is my favorite of hers. Do you… do you read Jane Austen?”
“Not really? I’m a complete geek when it comes to my job. I love reading articles and studies on environmental impact and protecting our wild areas. It doesn’t leave much time for novels, as much as I love them. My mom says I’m missing out.”
“You are,” I agreed. “Novels are my favorite things…” I hardened my voice a fraction.
“After Glassy Ridge. You know, I haven’t seen any environmental impact studies from Evola’s recent developments outside Ithaca or up in Bangor.
Why is that? And I didn’t hear anything in your presentation about the endangered species on the Ridge.
Does that mean you haven’t looked into the situation? ”
Simon inclined his head. “A man who’s done his research,” he approved.
“Why am I not surprised? Hawkins, I assure you, Evola has a squeaky-clean track record. I don’t think you’ll find any complaints at all about Point Meduc or Morgan Falls.
And our teams have spent long hours figuring out how best to mitigate the impact on all native species.
But… why don’t you and I trade reading recommendations, just to be sure?
You can send me any information you think might be relevant, and I’ll see if I can get you copies of our ongoing studies at our recent builds.
If you want, I can talk you through them, too.
Explain the special considerations we made for environmental factors in those cases. ”
“Okay. Yeah. I’d appreciate that.” I rocked slightly on my feet. “You can call me Hawk. Everyone does.”
“Hawk,” he repeated solemnly. “Would you… that is to say…” He glanced down at his feet. “If you were interested in touring the area around the proposed resort sometime, we could do that. There are flag markers out there, and I could kind of walk you around the place? Maybe even change your mind?”
“You want to go hiking with me?” I asked, surprised.
“Only if you’re interested.” He gave me a shy smile. “No pressure.”
I looked at Simon more closely. He seemed cute and well-spoken, and his stammering earnestness reminded me of…
well, me. He might be employed by a villainous corporation, but that didn’t mean he, himself, was so terrible.
And I couldn’t lie, after Jack’s rejection, it felt pretty great to have someone pick me as a person they wanted to spend time with.
“That might be fun. But you’re gonna be the one changing your mind,” I added quickly. “Every single tree out there is magnificent. You’ll see.”
Simon chuckled lightly. “I consider myself warned.”
“Simon?” The lawyer from earlier looked back and forth between me and Simon disapprovingly. “We’re leaving now.”
“Sure. Coming.” Simon pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to me. “That’s my cell and my email address. Let me know when you’re free… Hawk.”
I nodded, tapping the card against my hand. “I will.”
Simon grinned and gave me a jaunty salute before walking away.
“What was that all about?” Jack demanded from behind me.
I turned to face him, and… Ugh.
It was not fair that his face was still so gorgeous, even now that things between us were impossible.
It was utterly unjust that my brain had somehow imprinted on him so that if anyone asked me to define a gorgeous, sexy man, I would automatically and without conscious thought describe Jack Wyatt.
It was inexcusable that just when I most needed to keep distance between us, every cell of my body yearned for him to give me a hug and tell me that we were going to be okay.
“That was me talking to the environmental compliance officer to address my concerns about the proposed development,” I said.
“Hmm.” Jack’s face creased in a frown. “You two seemed friendly.”
I shrugged. “You told me to keep an open mind.”
“Well, true.” Jack folded his arms over his chest, then quickly unfolded them and stuffed his hands in his pockets. A second later, he clasped them together behind his back. “But I didn’t mean…”
“Simon asked me to go hiking sometime,” I cut in. “He’s going to show me the layout of the proposed development, and I’ll try to convince him to stop it.”
“Wait, hold up. You’re going hiking? You and…” He waved a hand in the direction of the side door, where Simon and the others had departed.
“Simon,” I reminded him. “Yes. Is that a problem?”
Tell me it is, I begged silently. Say, “No, Hawk. I am bitterly jealous, for hiking is our thing, and I never want you to hike with another.” Say it, Jack.
“Of course not.”
“Right.” I tried not to let my disappointment show. One mortifying rejection per day was my limit. “Okay, then. Good night.”
I started to walk past him, but Jack stopped me with a hand on my arm. He licked his lips. “I, um… I think Simon might be interested in you. Not sure if you picked up on that. I thought that was something you should know so you could… handle it accordingly.”
“Accordingly.” I tilted my head to one side and studied him. Jack’s cheeks were flushed beneath his perfect golden tan, like he was worried or upset or even maybe… jealous, unlikely as that seemed.
I suddenly remembered Crys’s words from earlier. Make sure he’s looking at you in a way that drives brothers out of his mind altogether. Well… what did I have to lose?
“Ohhh. You mean, maybe he should be the guy I have sex with. What a great idea! I’ll put some lube in my backpack, just in case the opportunity arises.
What would I do without you, buddy?” I gave Jack an impulsive half hug, the kind I’d given him a hundred times, and tried very, very hard not to notice the spicy, woodsy scent of his cologne.
“Wait. Hawk. That’s not what I—”
“Good night!” I called over my shoulder as I made my way back to where Luke and Crys waited, adding a little shimmy to my step.
And for the second time that day—probably the second time in my entire life—I walked away from Jack Wyatt instead of standing by his side.
Only this time, I let myself imagine he was staring at my ass as I did so.