If I Loved You (Harper Falls Book 1) (12 page)

“By the time we eat our salads everything
else should be ready.”

They didn’t eat at the solid oak dining
table. It looked like it would seat an army. Instead, Jack led her
to the coffee table in front of the fire. It was still cool enough
in the evenings that the blaze felt good.

“I hope you don’t mind sitting on the floor.
I like eating over here.”

Rose settled in next to Jack, curling her
legs underneath her. The plush area rug provided a comfortable
cushion between them and the wood floor. They tucked into the
salad, an easy silence between them. Reaching for her wine Rose
took a sip. This was nice, relaxed. In a very short amount of time
she’d become very at ease with Jack. If it weren’t for the
no sex
thing, she wouldn't have had
a single complaint.

Get your mind off how
sexy he looks in jeans and pullover. Or how the pushed up
sleeves
showed
off his strong forearms
. Good Lord,
had she ever been turned on by forearms before? Then again, lately
it didn’t take much more than Jack walking in a room for her libido
to kick in. Or Jack sitting down. Or Jack licking his fork. It was
getting hot in here, maybe sitting this close to the fire hadn’t
been such a good idea.

Had she worn that dress on purpose? Jack
wondered. The raspberry colored knit hugged her like a glove
cupping every luscious curve of her body. Curves he was becoming
very used to dreaming about. And then he had to have the bright
idea of sitting on the floor. The hem of the dress was now half way
up her thighs. She had fantastic thighs. Had the fire suddenly
gotten hotter?

“A friend clued me in to what a celebrity
you are. Nice video, by the way.”

“Ah,” Jack shrugged. “You saw that.”

“Are you blushing?” Rose teased.

“Flushed,” Jack corrected her. “From the
fire.” God he hated that video. It had followed him around for
years. At least Rose seemed more amused than impressed. He’d lost
count of how many women had come on to him just because of that one
incident being posted online.

“You could have been hurt.”

That surprised him. He couldn’t remember a
single person, outside of his family, who’d commented on the danger
involved. There was none, not in that case. But Rose was genuinely
concerned.

“He turned out to be a flabby wacko. He
could have hurt Karen, but not me or anyone else who had any
experience and training.”

“But,” she turned to him. She wasn't that
easily convinced. “Even out of shape wackos can carry weapons. What
then?”

“In all the time I was in the business I
never got a scratch. Neither did Drew.” Jack raised her hand to his
lips. “But it’s sweet that you care.”

“Did you have sex with Karen Poe?”

“Well, when you change the direction of a
conversation you make it a big, fat, sharp turn.”

“I’m sorry.” Rose wanted to kick herself.
Why had she asked such a stupid question?
Because sex is on your mind
. And why had he slept
with Karen Poe but turned Rose down? And one has nothing to do with
the other, she admonished herself. And stop having a pointless
conversation in your head.

“I honestly don’t care if you had sex with
Karen Poe.” She quickly tried to backtrack. “Not that I would blame
you. She’s gorgeous. You’re gorgeous. Undoubtedly you would have
gorgeous sex.”

“So we must have had sex.” Jack liked that
Rose was a bit flustered and maybe a little jealous. “We didn’t.
But we became good friends. In fact, I still act as her honorary
bodyguard whenever she has a movie premiere. She thinks it’s good
luck.”

“I don’t want to know about the women in
your past, Jack.” She frowned. “Though if we are ever going to get
intimate we should discuss sexual health.”

“I always use condoms and get tested every
year when I have my physical.”

“Me too.” Then she clarified. “I make the
guy wear condoms; that is. I give blood regularly, so I know I
don’t have any diseases.”

“So we’re good.” Jack gave her hand another
kiss before picking up their dishes and heading to the kitchen.
“Looks like the casserole is hot and bubbling. I’ll dish some up.
Would you mind letting Edgar in? He should have worn himself out by
now chasing uncatchable squirrels.”

Rose opened the door prepared to call the
puppy but instead found him waiting as if he knew she was coming.
“Aren’t you a good boy? Come on in.”

She followed the bounding dog who paused to
greet Jack before running back to the hall and out of sight.

“It’s his dinner time too,” Jack explained.
Rose watched as he filled their plates with something that smelled
amazing. He brought the dishes out and set them on the table. Their
eyes met and held, and he must have read the questions she hadn’t
been brave enough to ask.

“We will have sex, Rose.” He pulled her into
a warm, gentle hug. Leaning back he met her gaze again. “But I like
what we’re doing here. In just a week I know so much more about
you, and I
like
you, Rose. I hope
you feel the same.”

“I do.” Rose snuggled deeper into his
embrace. It felt good to have him hold her. “It’s not like I’ve
ever been that into sex. It’s nice, sometimes it’s very nice. But
when the possibility of it isn’t even on the table you tend to
think of it a lot more.”

“First of all, when
we
have sex it’s going to be a lot better than
nice.”

“Bragging?” Rose grinned into his chest.

“Just stating the truth.” Jack gave her a
playful slap on the butt. “Second, the possibility is more than on
the table. In fact, you see that?” He gestured with his head
towards the huge dining room table. “We will have sex on that and
on that sofa and on that rug. And in all likelihood that kitchen
counter.”

“Now you
are
bragging.”

“Again, just stating the truth.”

ROSE LOOKED DOWN at the paper in her hand
and then looked again. Still looking she picked up her phone and
hit speed dial.

“Had sex yet?”

“I’m regretting telling you about any of
that.” Tyler had been answering her calls with the same question
for over a week. It was getting old.

“Sorry, that was the last time, I promise.”
And once Tyler made a promise then it was written in stone. “So
what’s up?”

“Are there etiquette rules for when a guy
sends you a doctor's report clearing him of any sexually
transmitted diseases?”

“Say again?”

“I’d rather not.” Rose looked at the paper
one more time as if she expected the words to have magically
rearranged themselves. It had arrived earlier that morning by
messenger. Jack had told her last night that he was clean, and she
believed him. And yet he'd still sent over documented proof.

“I hope we’re talking about Jack because if
random guys are sending you their medical records, well, there are
some seriously weird dudes out there.”

Rose laughed. Leave it to Tyler.

“But what do you think it means?

“It means you're going to be having sex with
Jack Winston,” Tyler said. “And sooner than later.”

Rose did a little happy dance around her
living room. Then a thought hit her.

“Do I reciprocate?”

“I wish I was recording this so I could play
it back to you at a later date.” Tyler sighed. "I doubt there are
any hard and fast rules for something like this. Wait,
is
there anything like this?”

“Tyler.”

“But,” Tyler continued. “I’d say yes,
reciprocate. If he was thoughtful enough to let you know he’s clean
then you should be equally as thoughtful. And the minute you hang
up I’m calling Dani and telling her every detail of this
conversation.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less. Besides,
it will save me having to do it.”

“She’ll call you as soon as I’ve finished,”
Tyler warned her.

“I know. But in the meantime I’ll have
called my doctor and gotten her to send the information to Jack.”
Rose was already scrolling through her numbers for her doctor’s
office.

“Then get at it. See you soon.”

As Rose was dialing she thought about just
how right Tyler was, this
was
weird.
But it meant she and Jack were going to have sex—soon. For that,
she could live with a little weird.

ONE WEEK LATER and still no sex.

Rose was curled up on her sofa binge
watching old
Seinfeld
episodes.
Nothing new there. But tonight she was curled up next to Jack. His
arm was tucked snuggly around her shoulders, her favorite blanket
covering them. His hand gently rubbed up and down her arm. It was
nice, comfortable and completely non-sexual.

They’d met for lunch the day of the medical
records exchange. At first Rose had felt slightly awkward but Jack
had treated it as an everyday occurrence. It put her at ease, but
it prompted her to ask if it was the norm for him.

“This is the first time,” he assured her. “I
want you to feel safe with me, in as well as out of the bedroom. I
thought this might be one more way to do that.”

She did feel safe with Jack. They saw each
other every day, and they were developing a bond that was new for
Rose. She had men who were friends and men she dated. She’d never
known a man that combined the two. Jack’s plan to get to know each
other before sex was working. She still wanted him, desperately.
And Jack was very affectionate. They had even had a few hot and
heavy make out sessions. But that was as far as it went. He always
pulled back before it went too far. She’d never even seen him
without his shirt on. He had gotten under her shirt one time, but
the only bare skin touched was on her back. She was fine if it
turned out that was all there was going to be. She just had to know
one way or the other.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go out to
Tom Tom’s Tavern
tomorrow
night.”

Rose lifted her head and frowned slightly.
Had she missed something?

“I’m sorry,” she said. “What, where?”

Jack laughed. Damn, Rose thought, he was so
gorgeous. And funny and sexy. She liked Jack as a friend, but it
was going to be torture never having him in her bed.

“Did I catch you dozing?”

“No.” Rose sat up and ran a hand through her
hair. “My mind was wandering a bit. What were you saying?”

“Saturday night Drew and I are getting
together with some of the guys on our security crew for drinks and
pool. You've never hung out with Drew, and I thought this would be
a good opportunity. You could invite Tyler and Dani if you
want.”

“Tyler and Drew in the same room for an
entire evening?” It was a hard concept to wrap her head around. “It
sounds like a recipe for disaster if they would even agree to
it.”

“He’s an idiot,” Jack said.

“Yes.” You couldn’t argue with the
truth.

“And Tyler is—”

“The injured party,” Rose interrupted. “I
don’t know what Drew has told you. I don’t want to know. But what
happened between them is all on him.”

“There
are
two sides, Rose.”

“And he’s never tried to explain his. Not
then and not in all the time that has followed.” Drew Harper had
hit her shit list ten years ago, and nothing had happened since to
move him off. But she would admit that he could be a dick head to
Tyler and still be a good friend to Jack. If he wanted them to meet
up, she was willing. Besides, how much socializing could you really
do inside a crowded, noisy bar?

“I’ll ask them but I can’t guarantee that
Tyler will show. Jack,” she asked warily. "This isn’t some
ill-advised attempt at matchmaking is it?”

“I promise it’s just what I said,” Jack
assured her. “Shall I pick you up?”

Rose shook her head. “I’ll come with Dani.
And Tyler if she agrees.”

“Forming a united front?”

“Girl power never dies, even when you’ve
become women. Can I get you something more to drink?”

“Only if you’re getting something. Don’t
make a special trip for me.”

Considerate. She had to add that to the
growing list of Jack’s stellar qualities. She grabbed one of the
beers she’d recently started keeping in her fridge and poured
herself a glass of water. Or maybe he was too considerate. It was
time to find out.

Jack took the beer and smiled. “Thanks,
sweetheart. Do you feel like more Seinfeld or are you in the mood
for something else?”

Now there was an opening if ever she heard
one.

“I’ve been thinking, Jack.”

“I’m all for that. My sisters have informed
me for years that the sexiest thing about a woman is her
brain.”

“Your sisters are so interesting. I’d love
to…” Damn it, she would not let him side track her. Jack was so
good at that even when he didn’t know he was doing it.

“I’ve been thinking,” she began again, “that
I like you. More and more.”

“I like you too.”

“And maybe we should stop the pretense and
be happy with just that.”

It had sounded better in her head. But she’d
said it and the rest was up to Jack.

“Let me get this straight.” He sat his beer
down and turned towards her. “You want to keep on being friends,
hanging out and so forth. But you never want to have sex. At least
not with me.”

“Hey, this isn’t about what
I
want. I made my feelings clear on the very first
night.” Rose was annoyed that Jack was turning this back on her. “I
agreed to wait—against my better judgment. And I know you keep
telling me how much you want me but let’s face it, Jack. We are
firmly in the friend zone. And I’ve decided that I’m okay with
that. So be honest with me and yourself. You’re just not that
attracted to me. You’ve tried. And I appreciate it. But let’s
forget about the sex so we can relax and just be friends.