Until We Touch (9 page)

A woman seemed like the best solution, he told himself. A safe nonLarissa kind of woman. A woman who understood who he was and that he wasn’t looking for more than a night. But after two passes through the names, he couldn’t find a single one he wanted to talk to let alone have sex with.

He tossed the phone onto the coffee table and sighed.

What the hell? When had he and Larissa started kissing? This was the second time and like the first, he had no idea how it had happened.

Sure, she was pretty, and sure, he liked her, but so what? She was Larissa. His assistant, his friend. She mattered to him. A guy didn’t mess that up for something as meaningless as a night of sex. He could get that anywhere. What he couldn’t replace was her. So what had he been thinking?

Only he hadn’t been thinking. He’d been minding his own business, helping in the kitchen when bam—she was in his arms and he wasn’t holding back. The thing was, no matter how he tried, he couldn’t figure out the steps that had made it happen. It was as if those seconds had never existed.

He stood and grabbed his phone. After starting for the door, he turned around and sat on the couch. Thirty seconds later, he was walking out into the night. But instead of heading over to Larissa’s place, he went in the other direction. When he reached the small house with the motorcycle parked in the driveway, he turned up the walk.

Angel answered the front door. He was wearing jeans and nothing else. Jack stared at him for a second before putting the pieces together.

“Were you having sex?” he asked before he could stop himself.

Angel raised an eyebrow. “Not your business and if you’re asking to join us, the answer is no. Any threesome would go the other way.”

Angel walked off but left the front door open. Jack stepped into the foyer and waited. A couple of seconds later Taryn appeared. She wore a T-shirt over jeans and was barefoot. Her long blue-black hair hung straight and she didn’t have on any makeup.

“Sorry,” he said, immediately turning away.

She grabbed his arm and drew him back. “It’s fine. Don’t leave.” She studied him for a second. “What’s up? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re lying and not very well.”

She linked arms with him and led him to the kitchen. An open bottle of red wine sat on the counter. She poured them each a glass and handed him one, then moved into the living room.

“Angel isn’t joining us?” he asked.

“Probably not. I think he still worries about you. Well, us, really. The ‘you and I’ us.”

“Why? We work together. We’re friends.” Taryn was his best friend, except maybe for Larissa. The relationships were different, though.

“We used to be married,” Taryn reminded him.

They sat on the sofa. She angled toward him and tucked her feet under her.

“Our marriage was a long time ago,” Jack said, then sipped the Cab. “It’s not like we were in love.”

Taryn’s gaze was steady. “What’s really bothering you, Jack?”

A polite way of asking why he was there, he thought.

“I don’t know,” he said, telling the absolute truth. “Cal U Fool’s Gold isn’t looking for a coach. They’re deciding on whether or not to start a football team. I don’t know anything about that.”

“I’m sure you have strong opinions.”

He shrugged. “Sure. Of course they should have a team. But why put me on the committee? I don’t have any skin in the game.”

“Mayor Marsha, like God, moves in mysterious ways.”

“She’s a scary old broad.”

“Tell me about it.” She cupped the wineglass in her hands. “What else?”

“That kid.”

“Percy? He seems nice. Considering what he’s been through, he could be dealing drugs right now. He wants to do the right thing. I find that admirable.”

“He never graduated from high school.”

She smiled. “You say that as if you’re surprised. Larissa’s projects are rarely easy. So you’ll help him get his GED. Talk to Sam and Kenny. They’ll be on board with it.”

“He can’t read. He doesn’t want Larissa to know.”

Taryn’s carefully groomed eyebrows rose. “Seriously?” She held up her free hand. “Don’t answer. Okay—the lack of reading skills adds a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. Sam and Kenny will still help.”

She stretched out her feet until her arches rested on the side of his thigh. “None of this is the problem.”

“It isn’t?”

“No. The town is sucking you in and you don’t want to get involved.”

She was right about that part of it, although the bigger issue was Larissa.

“You think you’re so smart,” he said by way of distraction.

“I
am
smart.” She poked him with her toes. “You know I’m right. Jack, you and Sam and Kenny were the ones who wanted to move here. Getting involved is a consequence of that. Just surrender to the mob and learn to like it. You’ll be happier if you let them in.”

“I don’t need them in my life.”

“You need some of them. Despite what you want us all to think, you do need people in your life.”

“Maybe,” he conceded.

“More than maybe.”

He didn’t bother answering. They both knew that she was right.

* * *

J
ACK
DIDN
’
T
SLEEP
much that night or the next. He couldn’t say exactly what was on his mind, but whatever the topic, it wasn’t restful. Everyone knew that when he didn’t get enough sleep, he got grumpy. So he did his best to avoid everyone in the office.

Which was why he went into the lunchroom at eleven-thirty—before the rest of the staff would descend. He pulled out a soda and swallowed half of it in a single gulp, then wondered what to do with the rest of his day.

The problem was they weren’t looking for clients and that was what he did best. He liked the thrill of the chase. The initial meetings, the presentations that blew away their expectations, the satisfaction of watching them sign on the dotted line. Only, he and Kenny were so good at their jobs that Score was at capacity. Taryn had hired an extra graphics person and was currently torturing three interns from Cal U Fool’s Gold in addition to all the permanent staff. Sam was busy with whatever it was he did with the financial stuff. Kenny didn’t mind not hunting down clients for a few weeks. Only Jack seemed to notice there was nothing to do.

He returned to his office and checked his email. Nothing had appeared in the past ten minutes. He could work out, except he already had. He’d also checked on Percy, read the sports section of two papers and had played computer games for the better part of an hour. Talk about sad.

Maybe he could work on plays, he thought. Design a few new ones, write down some favorites. Just in case Cal U Fool’s Gold ever added football back to their sports program.

He searched for a big pad of unlined paper. There were always several around the office. When he didn’t see one in his office, he headed for Sam’s.

Just to pass the time, he took the long way, by the locker rooms and around back. Which put him near Larissa’s massage room. His steps slowed.

The door was closed, which meant she was busy with someone. As Jack had just seen Taryn a few minutes before, he knew it had to be Kenny or Sam. Because she worked on both of them. It was her job.

As he approached the door, he heard gentle laughter. Larissa’s laugh, he thought, coming to a stop. That was followed by a male voice. A low male voice he recognized. Kenny’s words were a quiet rumble. He couldn’t catch exactly what his business partner was saying but it wasn’t hard to figure out where the conversation was going. Kenny was coming on to her. Right now he was probably picking her up in his big beefy hands and pulling her against him as he—

Jack grabbed the door handle and turned. He swept into the room, prepared to do battle. Although he couldn’t say for what.

But instead of a lover’s tryst, he found Kenny lying facedown. Larissa was standing by his feet, digging her fingers into Kenny’s calf muscles. They both turned to look at him.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, feeling like a prize idiot. “I, ah, didn’t know you were with someone.”

Larissa drew her eyebrows together. “The door was closed.”

“Was it?” Jack tried to smile and had a feeling it didn’t go well. “Sorry. I’ll catch you later.”

He started to leave, then turned back to Kenny. “We need to talk about the kid. Later, maybe.”

“Sure,” his friend said, relaxing back on the massage table. “You know how to find me. Obviously.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

“W
HAT
THE
HELL
is wrong with you?” Kenny demanded an hour later as he stood in the doorway to Jack’s office. The question was asked in a friendlier tone than Jack deserved and with only mild interest.

“Nothing,” Jack said, still embarrassed by his behavior.

Kenny pushed off the door frame and walked over to the desk. He claimed one of the visitor chairs and sat down.

Kenny’s blond hair was still damp from his shower and Jack would guess he’d come here directly from the locker room.

“Larissa was fooled,” Kenny told him. “But I wasn’t. What did you expect to find, bursting in like that? Us doing it on the massage table?”

That was exactly what Jack had been imagining, but hearing Kenny say it made him sound stupid. Or worse—needy.

“No. Why would you even ask?”

Kenny shook his head. “Like I said before, what’s wrong with you, man?”

Jack surrendered to the inevitable. “It’s Larissa’s mother.”

“What?”

“When she was here a few weeks ago, she came to see me.”

Kenny still looked confused. “If she said I’m sleeping with Larissa, she’s wrong. Larissa is gorgeous, but jeez, she’s like my sister.” He shuddered. “There’s no way.”

Despite everything, Jack smiled. “No, that wasn’t her point. She said...” He swore, not wanting to repeat the words. “She said I should fire Larissa so she would move back to L.A., find some guy and get married.”

“Why can’t she do that here?”

“Her mother thinks she’s in love with me.”

Kenny gave one long whistle. “Hell.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Is it true?”

“What? No. Of course not. We work together.” When his friend didn’t look convinced, Jack added, “She knows me.”

Kenny grinned. “You got a point there. And knowing you, she should know better.” He chuckled at his joke. “So what’s the problem?”

“There isn’t one.”

“Try again, because I’m not buying that.”

Jack considered his options. “Having her mom say that made things strange between us,” he said, hedging with facts while avoiding the whole I-kissed-her reality. “We’re still settling in.”

Kenny’s grin widened. “So that’s why you got a boner. You’re seeing her in a whole new light.”

“Shut up.”

Kenny chuckled. “Yeah, poor Jack. Falling for the woman right under his nose.”

“I’m not falling for her. We’re friends. I care about her. That’s different.”

“Be sure you keep it to friendship,” Kenny said, his humor fading. “She’s part of our family. You don’t get to mess that up.”

“I won’t. And thanks for taking my side.”

“Screw your side. This is for the greater good. So nothing’s happened, right?”

Jack hesitated a nanosecond too long.

Kenny slapped his large hands on the desk. “What?” he demanded. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“Like hell it was nothing. Tell me.”

Jack groaned. “We kissed.”

“You
kissed
her?”

Kenny’s voice echoed off the walls.

Jack glared at him. “Keep it down. You want everyone to know?”

“They’re going to find out when they ask why I pulverized you.”

“You’re not going to hurt me,” Jack told him. “And it was just one kiss. Twice.”

“You kissed her twice?”

“Yes, but I can’t say how it happened. One second we were talking and then—”

Kenny stood up. He swore loudly as he walked to the door and slammed it shut, then he stalked back to the desk and leaned over it menacingly.

“You kissed her?” he demanded.

Jack nodded.

“Twice.”

Another nod.

“Two kisses as in two different times and places?”

“Want me to draw a diagram?”

Kenny glared at him. “Don’t you try any attitude on me, McGarry. I’m protecting my own here, even from you. What were you thinking? Oh, wait. Let me guess. You weren’t. Jesus, Mary and Joseph. You’re an idiot. Worse.”

Jack almost felt relieved to be yelled at. Maybe now he wouldn’t have to feel so guilty.

“We only kissed,” he said quickly. “There was nothing else.”

“Like that makes it okay?” Kenny straightened. “I have to think.”

“There’s nothing to think about. It won’t happen again.”

“Where have I heard that before? Besides, there’s something going on, even if it’s just in your pointed head. Look at how you burst in on me before. You thought I was making a move on your girl.”

Jack started to protest, only to stop. No, he told himself. It couldn’t be that. He wasn’t interested in Larissa that way. He couldn’t be. He needed her in his life. If they took things any further, it would all go to hell and she would walk. Because his relationships always ended. Usually sooner rather than later.

Kenny nodded slowly. “I see the wheels turning. I’m glad you’re coming to your senses. You’re right—you can’t screw around with her. Literally or figuratively. She’s part of us. Now tell me you’re going to back off and never go there again.”

“I’m backing off,” Jack said, knowing he had to. “You’re right. It’s too big a risk. For all of us.”

Kenny stared at him for a long time before nodding. “You’re making the right decision. Stick to it or I’ll kill you.”

Jack started to say he’d have to catch him first, then remembered who he was talking to. Back in the day, Kenny could outrun all of them down a football field. He would guess that hadn’t changed overmuch.

“Point taken,” he said grudgingly.

“Good. Now about Percy—we’re going to need a plan. He said he didn’t graduate from high school.”

Jack nodded. “He also said he doesn’t read really well. By the way, he doesn’t want Larissa to know that.”

Kenny’s grin returned. “You have competition. Good to know.”

“I’m pretty sure I have a leg up on Percy.”

“I don’t know. He’s young and probably virile. Oh, wait, that’s not one of your problems.” Kenny snickered then drew in a breath. “I can help with English requirement and some history. Sam will take math, but you’re going to have to get him reading.”

“Will do,” Jack said, wondering if they would flip a coin over the science information the kid would need to know. “Any suggestions on how to start him reading?”

“No. Go online.”

Jack perked up. “Great idea. You can find everything on the internet.”

“Good. Entertain yourself. Just stay away from our girl.”

* * *

P
APER
M
OON
HAD
started life as a bridal boutique. At least Larissa was pretty sure that was the more sophisticated way to refer to it. In her mind, it had been a wedding-gown store. Then about a year ago, Isabel had decided to open a fancy clothing store in the adjacent space. There had been lots of remodeling, a grand opening and now Paper Moon served women at every stage of their lives. Well, not while pregnant, although there was a store for that in Fool’s Gold.

Paper Moon wasn’t Larissa’s kind of place. Not only wasn’t she interested in a bridal gown, she didn’t wear designer clothes. Her idea of dressing up was to wear jeans instead of yoga pants. She never curled her hair or bothered with makeup. About once a month, she had the thought she should spend more time on her appearance, maybe try another style with her hair or put on mascara. But the impulse usually passed and then she was fine.

Although she could make a case that shopping in the fancy places was really nice. Especially when champagne was involved.

She took another sip of the bubbly liquid and settled more comfortably in the very cushy love seat on the bride side of the store. In front of her was a platform and a half circle of eight mirrors. The platform was big enough for a bride in the most ridiculously huge dress and half her family. Larissa supposed the mirrors were there to reflect the magnificence of it all.

Taryn walked around in a robe and bare feet. She was pale and shaking.

“This is totally ridiculous,” she announced, picking up her champagne glass, draining it, then putting it down again. “Why am I even here? I could be at work. Being productive.”

Isabel, a beautiful blonde with a curvy figure, rolled her eyes. “I knew you were going to be difficult, but this is completely over-the-top.” She glanced at Madeline, her assistant. “It’s time.”

Madeline grinned. “Really?”

“What?” Taryn demanded. “I hate this. I’m going to punish all of you later.” Her gaze landed on Larissa. “Not you. You’re here for moral support.”

“And to help the men in white coats with the restraints,” Larissa murmured.

Taryn glared at her. “Funny,” she said, her tone icy. “Very funny.”

Madeline nodded. “You’re right. It’s necessary.” She walked to the front of the store and locked the front door, then turned the sign to show the store was “closed for a private event.”

“Better?” Isabel asked. “No one will come in or out. I’ve closed the door between the two sides of the store, so you have complete privacy.”

The normally unflappable Taryn sniffed twice, then covered her face with her hands. “I’m a wreck.”

“Yes, you are,” Larissa said cheerfully. “But impressively so.”

Taryn straightened. “Fine. Mock me all you want. This is really hard for me.” She drew in a breath. “All right. Go get them.”

Isabel nodded at Madeline who disappeared into the back of the store. Isabel then led Taryn to a straight-backed chair in front of a small dresser.

“Let’s get you ready,” she said gently.

“I’m ready,” Taryn told her, obviously reluctant to sit. “What? I’m wearing makeup.”

“Just sit.”

Taryn did as she was told. Isabel opened a couple of drawers and pulled out a brush, a few pins and a sort of knit-crocheted thing with beautiful ivory roses along one side.

“What is it?” Taryn asked.

“A snood. It’s to hold your hair up while you’re trying on dresses.”

As she spoke, Isabel ran a brush through Taryn’s dark hair. She loosely braided it for about three inches, then picked up the snood and slipped it around the ends. A few pins later, it was secure, with the row of lace roses acting as a decoration.

The snood captured all her hair, but in a soft, almost old-fashioned kind of way. Taryn suddenly looked younger and more approachable.

Madeline returned with a rolling rack filled with wedding gowns. Larissa stared at the confections of lace and silk and knew this was going to be a fashion show like no other.

“These are samples,” Isabel said, walking toward the dresses. “That means they’re around a size ten, so they’ll be falling off your bony butt. Something I find intensely annoying.”

Taryn looked away from her reflection and studied the dresses. “You got the ones I mentioned to you?”

“Yes, and a few others. I also have two couture dresses. They are literally one of a kind, so I practically had to give them a kidney to get them. You will notice a significant charge on your credit card for the privilege of trying them on.” Isabel grinned. “The charge will be refunded if you don’t want the dresses, of course.”

“You know you don’t have to pay a deposit when you buy retail, like a normal person,” Larissa teased.

Madeline walked over and sat next to her. “It was really tough to get them.” She lowered her voice. “I didn’t know credit cards could have a limit that high.”

“Taryn has a unique relationship with clothes,” Larissa said. “I think it’s fun to look at it like a show or something. You know—Broadway. But without the singing.”

Taryn walked over to the dresses and touched the first one. Her mouth twisted and Larissa knew her friend was fighting tears. Because weddings were always complicated, she thought. She’d been through two with her sisters.

Always a bridesmaid,
she thought as she sipped her champagne.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to get married, she thought wistfully. Of course she did. And have a family and all that went with it. It was just there wasn’t anyone who made her believe that forever was possible.

She had a feeling Taryn would tell her that was because she didn’t put herself out there. She was too busy saving the world to save herself.

Her friend might have a point, Larissa admitted to herself. Her causes were a distraction and sometimes that was a good thing.

Taryn dropped her robe, revealing a perfectly toned body in a flesh-colored thong and strapless bra. “Let’s do this,” she said.

Madeline stood and walked over to the rack. Together she and Isabel removed the dress from its hanger and carried it over to the platform.

“For some of them, stepping in is easier than trying to pull it over your head,” Isabel told Taryn.

The pile of lace and silk pooled on the carpeted platform. Taryn carefully stepped into the middle and the two women drew it up around her.

Larissa hadn’t gone dress shopping with her sisters. She’d shown up for her fittings and had been in both weddings. But the whole bride-marriage thing hadn’t been that interesting to her. Now she wondered if she’d missed out on more than she’d realized. If her mother were here, the woman would be crying. It wouldn’t matter that Taryn wasn’t her daughter. Nancy Owens loved a wedding.

Probably because she hadn’t had a big one of her own, Larissa thought, feeling the familiar guilt. At least not the first time. Larissa’s mother had gotten pregnant and then married in haste. Larissa had been born five months later.

She knew that she wasn’t responsible for what had happened to her parents. That they’d made the decision to sleep together and then had suffered the consequences. But she also knew that if her mother hadn’t gotten pregnant, her parents wouldn’t have married each other. They wouldn’t have suffered through a failing relationship for years before finally admitting what everyone else already knew. That they would be better off apart.

Their subsequent remarriages were happy ones. The extended family often spent holidays together. Some of Larissa’s friends in high school had lamented how their own parents were so mean during their divorces. That Larissa was lucky with what she’d been through.

She understood how they’d meant the comments and had never admitted that in her heart, she felt responsible. She was the reason her parents had to get married. And although they never blamed her, she couldn’t escape the sense of having messed up both of their lives.