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“How was the flight?” Aaron asked when we stepped back inside. I glanced at Jack’s friend, still unsure of what to think about him. There was a degree of tension between them, and although I knew it wasn’t my place to get involved, I couldn’t help but feel like it was somehow related to me.
“Right as rain, brother,” Jack replied, his tone curt as he handed Aaron the keys.
Aaron’s eyes danced over to me. “What about you?”
“Well, if I had a comments card, I would say it was a nine out of ten. I’m taking away one point for the unnecessary showing off.”
Jack shrugged. “I have to keep things interesting.”
I laughed. “That’s one word for it. Terrifying, nauseating, and insane also come to mind.”
Aaron smirked. “So, where are you two running off to next? Princess and the little guy are in my office.”
I cringed, hoping Hunter hadn’t managed to get into anything too important. He had a thing for paper. Jack looked over at me. “I was thinking some lunch, that is, if you can stomach it.”
I elbowed him playfully in the ribs. “I’ll be fine. And this time, it’s on you. Payback.”
He grinned. “My pleasure.”
Aaron and the other museum patrons faded to the background as my mind flashed back to the night before, in Jack’s arms, his breath mingling with mine in frantic gasps as we crashed together.
I jerked back to attention as Jack reached for my hand. I blinked twice, clearing the daydream away, before following his lead down the hall to Aaron’s office. Princess was sitting in his office chair, and Hunter was on the floor below her, looking up at her with worshiping eyes.
We all laughed at the sight. “Well, hell, if Princess is willing to hold down the fort for the afternoon, I guess I can come out with you guys.”
I caught Jack give his friend a dark look, but Aaron didn’t back down. “Come on, there’s the Mexican joint up the beach, best fajitas you’ll ever eat!”
“Sounds great,” I answered, squeezing Jack’s hand to let him know it was all right.
Jack shrugged his shoulders back. “Fine, but you’re sitting in the back with the dogs.”
The lunch out was not nearly as close to a disaster as Jack had made it seem. Aaron had warmed up and they told me about some stories from their final tour together, and by the end of it, we were all laughing and the tension between the two men was gone.
Of course, the pitcher of margarita’s we’d all shared had probably gone a long way toward making that happen.
“I still can’t believe some of those stories!” I exclaimed as we left the museum after dropping Aaron off. “You’re like this totally laid back guy. It’s hard to imagine you as this machine gun toting, take no prisoners, kinda guy.”
Jack chuckled. “To be fair, we don’t tote machine guns.”
I waved my hand, dismissing his correction. My limbs were warm and loose, and I settled back against the seat, closing my eyes as I tilted my face up to the sinking sun. The fajitas had been just as Aaron had promised, some of the best I’d ever had. Between the lingering effects of the drinks, and the indulgent meal in my stomach, I was ready for an afternoon siesta.
I must have dozed off somewhere along the way, and when my eyes fluttered open again, we were coming to a stop in front of my rental house. I struggled to sit up straight and flicked a glance over at Jack, hoping I hadn’t been snoring or drooling on his leather seats. He was watching me with a warm smile and after he cut the engine, he reached across to brush a thumb along my cheek.
“Here,” he said, dropping his hand, reaching for a brown paper cup he had tucked between his legs. “Vanilla latte. Carly said it was your favorite.”
“When did we…?”
Jack laughed. “You were lights out. I thought a little pick me up might help.”
I took the cup and sucked in a long, slow sip of the subtly sweet drink. “Mmmm. God, I think that woman has magical coffee making powers. Thank you.”
“No problem. Truth be told, it was a little bit of a self-serving move. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.” His brown eyes locked with mine, and I jolted out of my sleepy, Mexican food coma at the intensity held behind his stare.
“I wasn’t either.” I looked up at the beach house. “Do you want to come inside? Princess is more than welcome.”
A quick peek into the backseat showed that the dogs were just as tired as we were. They were curled together, lulled to sleep by the car ride.
Jack got out of the car and reached back to grab Hunter, carrying him as he had up the beach the first time we’d gone out. Princess stirred when he removed her sleeping buddy and lazily got up and stretched before jumping out of the car.
