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Exhausted, Jack walked into his apartment, crossed the small living room, and dropped onto his couch, sinking into the seat. His T-shirt was grimy, and the jeans were one hole away from indecent. His stomach grumbled, but whatever energy he had left him on his way from the truck to the apartment. He wasn’t even sure how he’d managed to navigate the steps to the second story of his building.
He draped his arm over his eyes and let out of a breath. He knew he needed a shower, but moving… Moving was more energy than he could muster at the moment.
“You look beat.” Ruger’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Because I am,” he said without moving his arm.
“You should take a break and come fishing with Ethan and me tomorrow. We could plan the bachelor party.”
Jack took his arm from his eyes. “I can’t. I need to work. What brought you to town?”
“Booker and I are signing the papers for the house on Monday.”
“Monday? Then why are you in town this weekend, and why are you so dressed up tonight?”
“Ethan asked me to come home early. I think Serenity is trying to set me up with one of her friends. I asked Ethan, but he was dodging the question.”
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, but I don’t see anything coming from it. Those girls are on a different level. I mean, I don’t think I’m bad looking, but those sort of women are used to a certain lifestyle that I don’t think investment planning can give them.”
Jack shrugged. “Never know. Doesn’t hurt to try, I guess.”
“You could help me out and be my wingman.”
Shaking his head, he groaned. “I’m not going anywhere. I need a shower, food, and sleep. In that order. Maybe. We’ll see how hungry I am after I shower.”
“All right,” Ruger strode to the door. “I’ll catch you later.”
“I guess,” he said and waved from the couch. “I’ll see you later.”
Jack closed his eyes. Man, was he grateful for air-conditioning. He couldn’t remember who invented it, but that dude needed a medal or a peace prize or something. He sat there a few more moments, taking a minute to catch his breath and gather enough energy to move.
Unable to handle the smell of his own stench, he pushed off the couch and rambled out of the living room and into his bathroom. He set the shower to a temp just above freezing, peeled off his clothes, and stepped in, letting the water roll over his muscles.
In the last few days since Craig threatened to kick Charlie out of Stewart Mansion, he’d worked harder than he ever had, but he wouldn’t complain. Charlie was a sweet lady, and now that he knew Craig was up to something, Jack would work even harder to help her keep her home.
The highlight was Jo. Talking, laughing… flirting. It made work feel a lot less like work. He looked forward to seeing her every morning and hated to leave in the evening. He loved every minute he spent with her.
Just as he’d soaped up, the doorbell rang. Frustration swelled as it rang a second time. No doubt Ruger forgot his key or something. The guy was always forgetting something.
Jack quickly rinsed off, threw a towel around his waist, and left a trail of water as he made his way to the door. Just as it rang for the third time, he yanked the door open. “Ruger…”
Only it wasn’t Ruger.
“Jo?”
Her gaze flicked from his bare chest to his face and back. Her mouth opened and closed a few times. Finally, she blinked. “Um, I um…you worked so hard today, and I thought you might be hungry, and I didn’t want you to have to cook or call for takeout or something. But you’re probably sick of seeing me after all the time we’ve spent together. I can leave them?—”
“Jo.”
She clamped her lips shut and rolled them in.
Doing his best to keep a straight face, he asked, “Is there enough for two?”
She slowly nodded.
“Come on in. I’ll get dressed, and we can eat. Okay?”
