Until We Touch (13 page)

Jack reached for his water and took a swallow.

“You’ll talk to him about safe sex?” she asked.

He started to choke.

Larissa waited until he could breathe again. “I need you to say yes.”

“I’m not talking about the birds and bees with Percy.”

“I’m sure he knows where babies come from. He needs to practice safe sex. Having a child now would make things really hard on him. He needs a chance to fulfill his potential.”

And things had been going so well for at least the past—Jack checked his watch—fifteen minutes.

“I don’t get an entire day after Wendy leaves before you drop this particular bomb on me?”

She didn’t smile. If anything, her mouth turned down. “Jack, I’m serious. What if he got a girl pregnant?”

At least one of them would be getting some, he thought grimly. But that wasn’t her point. Larissa’s concern had a whole lot more to do with her past than with Percy. Not that she would admit it.

He stared into her blue eyes and saw the weariness of carrying around unreasonable guilt for years. It didn’t matter that her mother getting pregnant twenty-nine years ago wasn’t her fault. It didn’t matter that her father had wanted to do the right thing and that two people who never should have gotten married had. It wasn’t her responsibility that they’d been desperately unhappy until they’d finally divorced.

Larissa was the oldest child. She considered herself the reason her parents had been forced into an unhappy marriage. The fact that they were now happily married to other people didn’t make her feel better at all.

Had she been nearly anyone else, he would have told her to get over it. But he couldn’t. Because he carried the same type of guilt around, too. Not about his parents, but about his brother.

“Jack?”

“I’ll talk to him,” he said. “I promise.”

“Soon, right?”

“Yes, soon. Right after I finish banging my head against the wall.”

The worry faded as she smiled. “You always say that, but I’ve never seen you do it.”

“Some things are best done in private. How’s Dyna?”

“Beautiful. It’s nice to have a warm, furry body in bed with me.” She held up her hand. “Do
not
make any cracks about the guys I’ve dated.”

“Would I do that?” he asked.

“In a heartbeat.”

* * *

T
HE
REST
OF
lunch passed in easy conversation. Larissa ate too much, but how was she supposed to choose just a couple of things when there were so many options?

She leaned back in her chair as Jack cleared the table. He was moving better now, she thought, noticing the lack of stiffness in his shoulder.

“You know there’s surgery,” she said before she could stop herself.

Jack scraped the plates into the sink, then ran water and turned on the garbage disposal. When he walked back to the table, he put both hands on her shoulders, then bent down and kissed the top of her head.

“No.”

“They’ve made advances. It could help.”

“I’ve had surgery. It didn’t help.”

“It helped a little.”

“Not enough.”

He released her and she scrambled to her feet, prepared to take him on. Because this was important. He was always in pain and what if she wasn’t around to make him feel better?

“Taryn find her dress yet?” he asked in a very obvious attempt to change the subject. “Because I have to tell you, I don’t think I can take another afternoon in a wedding-gown store.”

“She’s decided and she’s going to look beautiful.”

“Good. She and Angel are good together. They fit.”

He was relaxed as he spoke. There was no tension, no sense of hesitation. She knew in her heart that whatever had happened between them all those years ago had never grown into anything more than friendship. They hadn’t been in love.

Because being in love would change everything. Being in love meant always thinking about the other person. It meant wanting to be close, having everything divided into Jack or not Jack. It meant being happier when he was around and needing his smile, his touch, like she needed air.

“Larissa?”

Jack’s voice came from very far away. Like through water. Or over a distance. She could hear him but she couldn’t react. She was too busy trying to stay standing as the truth slammed into her. That her mother had been right all along. She was in love with Jack.

“I have to go,” she said as she raced for the front door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”
Everything.
“I’m fine.” She would never be fine again.

* * *

L
ARISSA
DIDN
’
T
REMEMBER
much about getting from Jack’s house to the Score offices. She was out of breath so she’d probably run more than she was used to. She hurried into the building and raced down the hall. She flung open the door to Taryn’s office and stared at her friend.

Taryn was on the phone. She glanced up, took one look at Larissa and spoke into the receiver. “Jenny, I’m going to have to call you back...Uh-huh. This afternoon. I promise.” She hung up and stood. “Who’s dead?”

“No one. Everyone is fine.”

Taryn’s brows drew together. “You don’t look like everyone is fine.”

“They are. It’s not that. It’s me. It’s my mother. She was right.”

Larissa didn’t want to say the words out loud, so she waited for the truth to sink in. Taryn’s violet eyes widened.

Her friend swore. “Seriously? You’re in love with Jack?”

“I think so. Maybe. I was having lunch with him and he mentioned how you and Angel fit. And then I started thinking what it means to be in love.” She paused for breath. “Is it possible?”

Taryn sank back into her chair. “Dear God, I hope not.”

Larissa settled across from her. “Because it will end badly.”

“That’s one way of putting it. Jack doesn’t commit to anyone. He won’t let himself get that involved.” The worry returned. “You know that, right?”

Larissa nodded. “Of course. I’ve seen him with his women. He’s good for a few weeks and then he’s gone.” She was still trying to absorb the unexpected truth. In love with Jack? Seriously?

She didn’t have to ask how it had happened. He was a great guy. Giving to her causes, always there for her. Funny, charming, sexy. Maybe loving him had been inevitable.

“I really hate that my mother was right,” she admitted.

“That would be annoying.”

“It could be a stage in my emotional development,” she said slowly, thinking aloud. “Being around him like I have, maybe I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”

“I warned you about him when you first started.”

“And that was supposed to be enough?”

Taryn sighed. “I suppose not. So now what?”

“I’m not sure. I guess I have to figure out a way to get over him.”

“You’re not going to try to get him to fall in love with you?”

“No way. That’s not possible.” Although it was nice to think about. “If Jack was going to see me as anything more than his friend, don’t you think it would have happened by now?”

“Good point. So how exactly do you plan to get over Jack? He’s kind of a great guy.”

“How did you get over him?”

“I was never in love with him. We were friends and we still are.”

Oh, right. “So how do women get over any guy? You see him as he is, not as you want him to be. I need to focus on Jack’s flaws. He doesn’t commit, he’s emotionally unavailable.”

“Those would be the same thing,” Taryn murmured.

“Okay, so there are others. He’s not good boyfriend material. I know that. I’ve seen him with his other women. He’s...” Larissa felt the pieces fall into place. “I have an unrealistic view of what a relationship with Jack would be like. I’ve only seen that part of his life from the outside.”

“No,” Taryn said firmly. “I’m not sure where this is going, but I don’t like it.”

“It’s brilliant,” Larissa told her. “Totally brilliant. I’m not going to convince Jack to fall in love with me, I’m going to convince him to have an affair with me. Then he won’t be a romantic hero anymore. He’ll just be this guy I used to date. And then I’ll fall out of love with him.”

Taryn’s gaze was steady. “That is possibly the stupidest idea ever.”

“No, it’s brilliant. You’ll see.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“W
HO
ARE
WE
MEETING
?”
Larissa asked as she walked with Bailey to Brew-haha.

“Her name is Shelby Gilmore. She’s Kipling Gilmore’s sister.” Bailey grinned. “You know Kipling Gilmore, right?”

“Not personally, but I might have caught one or two of his events on TV,” Larissa admitted. Kipling had been a fantastic skier and had won two gold medals at the Olympic Games earlier that year. But right now she wasn’t all that interested in him or any other man who wasn’t Jack.

Not that she’d figured out what she was going to do about him, but she was mulling and eventually she would come up with a plan.

“I saw him, too,” Bailey said. “He’s totally hot.”

“So there’s an ulterior motive for helping his sister?”

Bailey laughed. “Not even close. Mayor Marsha asked that I help make Shelby feel at home. I’m still not sure how to do that myself, so I dragged you along. This has nothing to do with Kipling. He’s just a frame of reference.”

“Uh-huh. Like I buy that. So you’re saying if he asked you out right now, you’d refuse?”

Bailey hesitated just long enough for Larissa to come to a stop and face her. “What?” she demanded. “Or rather, who? There’s somebody if you’re not accepting a date with Kipling Gilmore. I’ve heard he’s really nice. Why don’t you want to go out with him?”

Bailey laughed. “Maybe because I’ve never met the man and he certainly hasn’t asked me on a date. Besides, even if he were my type, which he’s not, you forget. I’m a single mom. It’s the best anti-date charm there is.”

Larissa hadn’t thought about that. Chloe, Bailey’s daughter, was adorable. Funny and sweet. She showed up at Score from time to time to get help with various FWM projects. The FWM—Future Warriors of the Máa-zib—was kind of like a scouting organization. But local, and with a Fool’s Gold twist.

“I thought guys were over worrying about women with kids,” she said.

“Not as much as you might think. But it’s fine. I’m not looking to get involved. Or date.” Her tone was a little wistful.

“You don’t sound convinced.”

Bailey sighed. “Okay, one hot night with Kipling Gilmore would go a long way toward brightening up my week, but that’s as much as I’m willing to commit to.”

“It’s enough.”

“What about you?” Bailey asked. “Any interest in the hunky skier?”

“I’m around hunky athletes all day,” Larissa reminded her as they crossed the street and approached the coffee shop. “I’m not looking for more.”

Nope, what she was looking for was a way to get over Jack. As she’d told Taryn, having a romantic—i.e., sexual—relationship with the man seemed like the best way to get over him. The only stumbling block was how she was going to get him to figure out he wanted her. Assuming he did.

They walked into Brew-haha. The coffee place was well lit and welcoming with lots of primary colors and an exceptional display of tempting pastries. There were a dozen or so tables, most of them empty in the middle of the afternoon. But a lone woman sat at one of them.

“That’s her,” Bailey said in a low voice. “I saw a picture.”

Shelby Gilmore was probably in her mid-twenties. She had gold-blond hair that fell past her shoulders and big blue eyes. She was petite, almost delicate. No, Larissa thought, suddenly feeling she had too long arms and legs and was way too tall. Not delicate. Ethereal. Like a fairy princess who had gotten caught in the wrong reality.

Talk about fanciful, she told herself. Where had that come from?

Shelby looked up as they approached the table. While she smiled, her gaze was wary.

“Hi,” Bailey said as she took a seat opposite. “I’m Bailey Voss and this is Larissa Owens. Thanks for meeting us.”

“You’re welcome.”

Bailey glanced at the small table between them. “We need coffee. I’m thinking a latte. What about you, Shelby?”

“Sure. A latte would be nice. Thank you.”

Larissa nodded her agreement and Bailey went off to place the orders. There was no one else in line, so she was back in a matter of a minute or so.

She sat down and sighed. “Patience is bringing over pastries with the order. That will be fine for those of you who are annoyingly skinny, but I don’t need the temptation.”

Larissa shook her head. “Yeah, right. Who wouldn’t want those curves of yours?” If she had Bailey’s figure, she would have a much easier time of getting Jack’s attention.

Bailey smiled. “If only that were true.” She looked at Shelby. “So, you’re wondering who we are and why we’re here.”

“A little,” Shelby admitted.

“We want to welcome you to Fool’s Gold. You’re new here. I moved here only a few years ago, so I know what it’s like to be a stranger in a small town where it seems like everyone knows everyone else.”

“That would be tough,” Larissa said, thinking when she’d moved to Fool’s Gold in the spring, she’d been with her Score family. So she didn’t have to feel by herself. But Shelby might not know anyone.

Shelby glanced between them. “I’m doing okay. I have a job at the bakery.”

Patience, the owner of Brew-haha walked up with a large tray. She put down three lattes and a plate of pastries. “You work for Amber, right? You’re the new baker? That’s great.” She pointed at the pastries. “I’ve been eating too many of those. You’re doing a really good job and you need to stop. I mean it.”

Shelby smiled. “Thanks. I like my job. Amber is really easy to work for.”

“She’s just lovely,” Patience said. “All right, I’ll leave you three to your afternoon treats. Yell if you need anything.”

Each of them took a latte. Shelby ignored the pastries, but Larissa reached for the cheese-and-blueberry one and took a bite.

“Heaven,” she said when she’d chewed and swallowed. “One of yours?”

Shelby nodded.

Bailey eyed the high-calorie snack before pushing the plate away. “So, Shelby, how are you enjoying the town?”

“It’s fine.”

Larissa sensed the other woman wasn’t comfortable with their meeting. “Have you been to any of the festivals? They’re pretty fun. I loved the books festival. I met several of my favorite authors and got books signed as birthday and Christmas gifts for family. I grew up in Los Angeles. Killer weather, but there’s not much of a small-town feel.”

“Fool’s Gold would be a change,” Shelby said. “I’m from Colorado. I’m used to smaller towns but nothing like this.”

“Fool’s Gold is unique,” Bailey said.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Bailey glanced at Larissa, her expression desperate. Larissa struggled for something to say.

“Um, Bailey works for Mayor Marsha,” she blurted. “She’s the longest-serving mayor in California, by the way. She knows your brother.”

Shelby turned her attention to Bailey. “When did she meet Kip?”

“Earlier this year. Right after his accident. She was in New Zealand.” Bailey paused. “I’m not sure exactly how she met him, what with him being in a hospital and all.”

Shelby’s wariness faded. “Then it was her!”

“What was her?”

“The old lady my brother told me about. After...” She swallowed. “My mom died a couple of months ago. She had cancer and it wasn’t unexpected, but it was still hard.”

Larissa instinctively reached for Shelby’s hand. Bailey was already touching her arm.

“I’m sorry,” Bailey said. “About your mom. When you lose a family member, it’s awful.” She swallowed. “I lost my husband last year.”

“Then you know,” Shelby said quietly. “Thank you both for meeting me. I’m sorry if I seem a little standoffish. It’s just things were hard with my mom and my dad...well, there’s no need to talk about him.” She managed a slight smile. “Let’s just say that right after Kip’s accident, two men showed up out of nowhere and took care of me and my mom.”

“Do you know their names?” Larissa asked, wondering if there was a town connection.

“Ford and Angel.”

“Those are our guys,” Bailey said. “They’re both at the bodyguard school. Interesting that they came and found you.” She looked at Larissa. “It has to be Mayor Marsha.”

Larissa nodded. “Everyone says she knows things there’s no way to know. It’s kind of mystical. I like it.”

Shelby nodded. “Me, too. I owe her.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to get back to work, but it was great to meet you both. Maybe we could do this again.”

“I’d like that,” Larissa said.

Bailey nodded. “Very much.”

They exchanged cell numbers and Shelby left. Bailey grabbed one of the pastries and took a bite.

“That was a challenge,” she said when she’d swallowed. “I thought she was going to bolt when we first sat down.”

“She was wary,” Larissa said. “She’s dealing with something and I think it’s more than what happened to her mom.” There had been something in her eyes. Something Larissa sometimes saw when she talked to parents of a child in need of a transplant that didn’t look as if it was going to happen. Hopelessness.

Bailey finished the pastry and licked her fingers. “Thanks for coming with me. I would have totally blown it on my own.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. You would have done great.”

“I wish. So what’s new with you? Ready to admit you’re in love with Jack?”

Larissa felt her mouth drop open. “How did you know?”

Bailey stared at her. “What? You are? I was kidding. You’re in love with Jack? When did that happen? When did you two start dating? Why am I always the last to know?”

“We’re not dating. We’re friends.”

Bailey sagged back in her seat. “What? You said you’re in love with him. Start at the beginning and speak slowly. I need to catch up.”

“When we talked about it before, I said my mother was insane. No way I was in love with him,” Larissa said.

“Only you are.”

“I didn’t know it.”

“Apparently not. So this revelation came over time?”

Larissa nodded. “I mean, it’s Jack. He’s good-looking and sweet. He’s always there for me and he supports my causes. We hang out all the time. And he has a body.”

“Which you’ve seen and touched.” Bailey pressed her lips together. “I can see how it happened. You were minding your own business and the man sucked you in. Now what? Do you declare your undying devotion and beg to be taken?”

“Sort of.”

“Wow. Impressive.”

Larissa smiled. “Don’t be impressed. What I mean is I’m going to figure out how to fall out of love with Jack and that involves sex.”

Bailey put down her latte. “I always thought I was one of the brighter bulbs in the chandelier. I guess that’s not true. Where does the sex fit in?”

“Jack isn’t going to fall for me. He’s emotionally unavailable. So there’s no happy ending with him. If I want a normal romantic life, it needs to be with someone else. Only how does a normal guy compete with Jack?”

“That would be tough. So how does having sex with Jack help?”

“It removes the mystery. I’ll see him for who he is and let the fantasy go.”

Bailey looked doubtful. “Or you’ll bond with him and fall even deeper in love.”

Something Larissa hadn’t thought of. “I think if I focus on his flaws, I’ll be fine.”

“You do realize if you’re wrong, you’re digging a pit you’ll never crawl out of.”

Larissa brushed away the information. “I’ll be fine.”

“If you say so. I’m assuming there’s a plan.”

“There is.”

Bailey raised her eyebrows expectantly. “And it is what?”

“I’m going to seduce him.”

* * *

J
ACK
CARRIED
THE
bags of takeout carefully. He had burritos, along with chips and salsa and guacamole from Margaritaville and he knew better than to risk anything spilling. The women in his life were serious about their chips and guacamole.

Larissa’s call requesting he bring over dinner had come in the late afternoon. Percy was going to hang with Kenny for the evening. The former receiver was going to explain basic U.S. history using a couple of comic books he’d found on the subject. Percy’s reading was improving every day but there was no way he was ready to tackle an actual high-school-level textbook on the subject.

Sam was already working with the teen on his math skills. Percy had a good grasp of basic concepts. Algebra came easy to him. Sam had actually looked gleeful when he’d mentioned taking Percy through introductory calculus. The man did love his numbers, which was good for the company and their individual financial portfolios.

Jack climbed the stairs to Larissa’s second-floor apartment, knocked once and let himself inside.

“It’s me,” he called as he walked into the kitchen and set the food on the counter. Dyna strolled up to greet him.

“Hey, pretty girl.” Jack picked up the cat. She instantly relaxed in his arms and began to purr. He rubbed her face. Big blue eyes stared back at him.

“Hi, Jack.”

He turned, prepared to offer Larissa a greeting. But the words got stuck in his throat. Or maybe it was the fact that he couldn’t breathe that made speaking impossible.

She stood in the center of her living room. That was okay. People stood in living rooms all the time. He knew that. The difference wasn’t the where, it was the what the hell. As in what the hell was she wearing?

Instead of her usual yoga pants and a T-shirt, or even jeans, she had on some kind of silky robe. The bottom barely covered her butt and just kissed her thighs. Her hair was long and a little curly and if he didn’t know better he would say she was wearing makeup.

The combination was unbelievable sexy. Wanting hit him like a linebacker and nearly knocked him senseless. Or maybe it was the lack of air that killed the last few surviving brain cells. He wasn’t sure.

He drew in a breath and carefully lowered Dyna to the floor. When he straightened, Larissa was still standing there in that damn robe.

“Am I, ah, early?” he asked, knowing it was just a matter of seconds before the blood pulsing through his body settled uncomfortably in his groin and his desire would be there for the world to see.

Dammit all to hell, why did she have to be so beautiful? And sexy?

Larissa stared at him coolly. “You’re not early.”