Jack relaxed at Mimi’s kitchen table and watched Luanne shovel a bite of French toast into her mouth. He loved watching her eat. Was that weird? If it was he didn’t care. He pretty much loved everything about her. In fact…he loved her. He was in love with Luanne.

Well, damn it.

Just what this situation needed, love. Talk about terrible timing. He waited for the panic, but it didn’t come. He probably knew he loved her last night, but was too scared and freaked out to admit it. Still, this was the worst possible time for this to happen. His life was unraveling at the seams, and now he was in love.

Awesome.

After he fled the room last night, he hid in the bathroom for a while then went for a long drive, hoping to get some clarity. It hadn’t worked. He was split in two and unable to merge the pieces together. The only real conclusion he’d come to was that he needed to apologize to Luanne.

For her part, Luanne had been pleasant and cordial to him and he hated every minute of it. And now he was in love with her, he really hated it. Her unhappiness with him was a living thing, but she pretended she wasn’t upset. He didn’t want her to hide from him. Yes, that was hypocritical, but he’d deal with that later. For right now he wanted to knock down her barriers.

He slid his arm around the back of her chair. “You sure have pretty eyes, Luanne.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Thank you.” The words were wrapped around a mouthful of French toast, so it sounded like Hank ewww.

He winked at her the way he knew she hated.

“What are you up to, Jack?”

“Not a thing. Can’t I tell a pretty girl she has nice eyes?” He dabbed at her milk mustache with his napkin.

She slapped his hand away. “Stop it, or I’ll shove that napkin down your throat.”

Ah, there she was, his fierce little blossom. The sweet smell of jasmine shampoo filled his nose when he put his mouth to her ear. “I’m sorry for leaving last night. Will you forgive me?”

Her surprised gaze softened, and she gave him the sweetest smile he’d ever seen. “Yes.”

“Just like that?”

She shrugged. “I know you’re going through a tough time. I can understand that.”

“I should’ve stayed. It’s just—”

“Y’all eat up. There’s more where that came from.” Mimi placed another piece of egg-coated bread on the griddle.

“These are delicious, Mimi,” Luanne said.

Or he assumed that’s what she said. It was hard to tell with her mouth as full as it was. “You might want to slow down there, champ. I’d hate for you to choke and I’d have to give you mouth-to-mouth. On second thought…”

“You wish.” She flipped him the bird. Covertly, of course, since Mimi and Leslie were in the room.

He did indeed wish. Thoughts of her straddling him, with her hands in his hair and her lips on his, were all he could think about these days. He reached over and wiped a bit of syrup from her lower lip with his thumb. The sticky goodness was sweet on his tongue as he licked it off, while never looking away from her. “This syrup’s delicious, Mimi.”

“Your daddy and Kyle made it.”

The bites he’d eaten coagulated into a ball of confusion, disappointment, and anger in his belly. He pushed his plate away and picked up his coffee.

“Are you going to eat those?” Luanne asked.

He slid his plate her direction. “Be my guest.”

His daddy. He needed to decide what he was going to do about that situation. Mimi had stressed several times that Mitch was sick. But he wasn’t ready to confront him. And besides, what was there to confront? It sounded like the man had done all he could to protect Jack. He just wasn’t ready to see him yet.

The sound of the front door opening and closing came from the other room.

“Clyde, is that you?” Mimi called.

“No Mimi, it’s us.” Two men appeared in the entry to the kitchen. Both were tall, but one was blonde and fit, while the other leaned on a cane.

Even without anyone saying a thing. Jack knew this was his father.

Mimi dropped the spatula and gasped. “Mitch, Kyle, what in heaven’s name are you doing here?”

Mitch’s partner came into the room and kissed Leslie and Mimi on the cheek. “You know him, Mimi, stubborn as a mule. Once he found out Jack was here, nothing would stop him from coming.

A hand appeared in Jack’s face. “I’m Kyle Harris-Rawlings. You must be Jack.”

Jack never took his eyes off Mitch and Mitch never took his eyes off him.

“I’m Luanne Price, Kyle. It’s nice to meet you.”

Kyle didn’t seem the least bit flustered by Jack’s rudeness. He switched his focus to Luanne. “Oh, my word, if you aren’t the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

If Jack hadn’t been having an out-of-body experience, he would’ve laughed at that. Luanne was a lot of things, but cute wasn’t one of them. Fierce, fiery, spectacular, but not cute. However, he was in the middle of his own existential crisis, because the father he’d never known existed was standing six feet away from him.

“Mitch, honey, sit down, before you fall down.” Leslie went to him and tried to lead him to a chair.

He waved her off and stood staring at Jack.

“Mitch, why in the world would you risk your health by getting on a plane?” Mimi went to him and fluttered her hands over his body.

“Because my son is here.” His voice cracked on the word son, and Jack had to fight the urge to run from the room.

“Don’t be a doodle, Mitch. Sit down,” Kyle said.

Mimi walked beside Mitch as he made his way to the chair opposite Jack. He vaguely wondered what she thought she would do if Mitch went down.

He extended his hand to Jack. “I’m Mitch Rawlings.”

Never let ’em see you sweat.

Jack leaned across the table and took his hand. “Jack Avery.”

Luanne squeezed his leg under the table. He ignored it, no matter how bad he wanted to hold on for dear life.

“Kyle, Mitch, are you hungry?” Mimi wiped her hands on her apron.

“Starvin’, Mimi,” Kyle said.

“I’m fine,” Mitch said.

“No you’re not.” Kyle sounded snappy, but even Jack could see the worry in the man’s face. “He’ll have a piece of French toast and a glass of milk. “You know what the doctor said.”

Mimi stopped and whirled around. “What did the doctor say?”

For the first time since he walked into the room Mitch looked away from his son and smiled at Mimi. “That my scans and blood work came back clear. But Dr. Travis says I’m too thin. He wants me to gain some weight.” His voice shook with emotion. “I’m cancer free, Mama. We just found out.”

Mimi dropped the spatula, then grabbed the bottom of her apron and buried her face in it, crying silently.

Mitch rose from the table and went to her, wrapping her in a hug. “It’s alright, Mama. It’s alright.”

She lowered the apron and took a huge breath. “Thank you, Jesus.”

Leslie and Kyle wiped their own tears and laughed. Mitch made his way back to his seat. On the way, he squeezed Leslie’s shoulder. She leaned her head to his arm, love radiating from her face. He dropped into his chair and put his arm around a crying Kyle, who immediately crumbled into his embrace.

Mitch glanced at Jack and Luanne. “He hasn’t broken down at all since we got the news. I think being here with the family he feels like he can finally let down his guard.”

Kyle sat up and wiped his face. “Stop talkin’ about me like I’m not here.”

The sweetest expression swept across Mitch’s face, and he wiped a tear from Kyle’s cheek. “I could never forget you’re here.”

Jack’s skin felt itchy. Not because of the poignant scene across the table from him, but because he felt like an interloper. He didn’t know these people, and it seemed wrong to be sharing in their pain and joy.

He took Luanne’s elbow and stood. “We’re going to run an errand.”

He had to give Luanne credit, she didn’t hesitate or balk. “Yes, I need a few things from the drug store.”

Everyone looked at him like he was crazy, and a little heartless. Everyone but Mitch, who’d started eating the food Mimi set in front of him. “Okay, I’ll see you when you get back.” And even though he didn’t want to, Jack’s estimation of the man grew exponentially.

“We’ll be back.” He escaped with Luanne in tow.

As soon as they were out the front door he dropped her arm and walked down the steps and into the yard, leaving her on the porch. At the edge of the yard he stumbled and caught himself against a tree. This was so embarrassing. It had taken all of his strength not to blow chunks in the kitchen, and now he almost fell to the ground.

A water bottle appeared in front of his face. “Here.”

He grabbed it and chugged. “Where’d you get that?”

“I had it in my purse.” She took the bottle back and replaced the lid. “You alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved her off. “I must’ve gotten too hot.”

“Uh-huh.”

It was evident she didn’t believe a word he said. He took her hand and led her through the trees. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

She stumbled along behind him. “Hey, slow down. Short legs here.”

“Oh, sorry.” He slowed his pace to match hers.

“Where are we going?”

He tightened his grip on her hand in case she decided to bolt. “To a place Leslie showed me yesterday.”

They walked maybe a quarter of a mile until they came to a clearing. There was a stream that opened into a small swimming hole, with a wooden structure next to the water. He dropped her hand and filled his lungs for the first time since seeing Mitch Rawlings walk into Mimi’s kitchen. Then he bent over with his hands on his knees and squeezed his lids shut.

“Jack?”

Shit. For a moment, he forgot she was there. Without opening his eyes, he said, “Yeah.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“What do you want to do?”

Forget this whole freakin’ mess. Not look pitiful. Take back some fucking control. He peeked up at her and gave her his most convincing I-don’t-give-a-shit-that-my-life-is-falling-apart smile. “Let’s go skinny-dipping.”

* * *

Luanne’s heart broke a little bit for Jack at that moment. He was trying so hard to hold it together and pretend like nothing happened that he was now talking like a crazy man. “You want to go skinny dipping? Now?”

He began undoing the buttons of his shirt with jerky movements. “Yes. It’s hot as hell out here. We should jump in and cool off. Don’t ya think?”

His words came out so fast she could hardly understand him. “Skinny-dipping isn’t exactly what I had planned today. Why don’t we sit and talk?”

He worked at toeing one shoe off while still unbuttoning his shirt. “What’s the matter Lulu, you chicken?”

His movements were choppy and manic, not at all like the sleek, smooth-talking Jack Avery she’d come to know, and lov—no, she didn’t do love. But she did care about him, and the idiot couldn’t get out of his own way long enough to realize that he didn’t have to hide from her. After all, hadn’t she told him things and opened up to him in a way that she never had to anyone else?

There was no help for it. She’d have to do something drastic to snap him out of this fight or flight episode. He was way past reason. And because she cared about him, she’d do this for him.

She grabbed the hem of her Charity Mart green sundress and began inching it up her legs.

Jack stopped moving. “What are you doing?”

“I’m getting undressed.”

“I can see that.” He sounded downright peevish.

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “You said we were going skinny-dipping.”

“I…um…I didn’t think…”

Her dress inched up a little more.

He stilled her hand. “Stop that.”

She smoothed down the material. “Then stop acting like an idiot and talk to me.”

There was a long beat of silence then he exploded. “Gaaaaaaah!” He stomped away then stomped back to her. “This is so fucked up!”

“I know.” It was all she could say until he calmed down. She held her ground as hurricane Jack whirled around her.

“Look at my hands.” Both shook like puppies in a thunderstorm. “I don’t do this.” He hid the evidence of his freak-out by crossing his arms over his chest, the shaking appendages shoved into his armpits. “I do not lose it.”

“I know.” It was a strain to keep her voice steady and even. It was so hard watching him suffer this way.

He jabbed his finger in the direction of Mimi’s house. “Did you see what happened in there? Why is he here? I wasn’t ready to see him.” He laced his fingers on top of his head and took several shaky breaths.

“I know.” The breathing seemed to be working. When he opened his lids, the wildness was gone, but the torture was still front and center. Seeing him in this much pain hurt her heart and caused a strange, powerful sensation to seep between her ribs and fill her chest.

He stalked around for a bit more, mumbling and muttering to himself, then finally seemed to run out of steam. “What do I do, Lu?”

“Come with me.” She took his hand and led him to the wooden structure by the pond. He followed along wordlessly, which worried her more than his ranting.

The little shack wasn’t a shack at all, but a bird observatory. Comfy chairs and a chaise lounge filled the space. A glass wall revealed the pond’s bank, the beautiful green meadow dotted with wild flowers beyond, and an electronic bird feeder like the one Gigi had in her yard hanging in a tree. Birds of all shapes and sizes loitered around waiting for the bounty. She led Jack to the chaise. “Sit.”

He did, then rested his elbows on his knees, clasped his hands between his legs, and dropped his head. The scrape of the chair she pulled in front of him seemed to get his attention.

“I’m sorry.” His handsome face was drawn and flushed from his outburst.

His leg was warm and strong under her fingers. “You have nothing to be sorry for. That was a hell of a blow. I get it. This is a lot to take in.”

With his elbows still on his knees, one hand over his mouth, he stared out the window. She could see his emotions and his brilliant brain fighting for control. The silence almost killed her, but she waited him out.

“Do you think I’m a shit for running out of there?”

She pushed back a lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead. He still wasn’t looking at her. “No.”

“I’m…hell, I don’t know what I am.”

“You’re not wrong for being freaked out. I’d be freaked out too.”

“Really?”

It leveled her to see him so unsure of himself, but she could tell he wasn’t ready or able to talk about it. She was grateful for the honest emotions he had shown her, though. Baby steps. She could wait. “No. But, let’s face it, you’re wimpier than me.”

He snorted a laugh. “Thanks.”

Satisfaction unfurled in her when he turned back to her and grinned. A real grin, not one of the fake, counterfeit, plastic things he gave when he was hiding from her. She shrugged. “If a friend can’t kick you when you’re down, then who can?”

His laughter was a victory. Winning a gold medal couldn’t possibly be better than knowing she’d made things better for him. Especially when she considered how much he’d done for her. “Feel better?”

He looked at her like he’d discovered the answer to a calculation he’d been working on his whole life. “I do.” He took her face in his hands and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “Thank you.”

The drugging kiss he gave her twisted her mind until she couldn’t tell up from down, right from wrong. This man did it for her, and all he’d ever done was kiss her. She stroked the scruff on his face. “I like this.”

He licked the side of her bottom lip. “I want to make you feel good, Luanne. Will you let me?”

“Yes.” She’d been craving his body for far too long with no relief. Her fingers grasped his shoulders as his hands slid to her butt.

“Hold on.” It was a command not a request. He picked her up and carried her out of the shelter.

She had no intention of letting go. “Where are we going?”

“I think I still want to go skinny-dipping.”

She laughed. “Jack, that water’s going to be cold.”

“I don’t care. I want you wet and naked.”

The flash of white teeth in his wicked smile convinced her that naked and wet was a spectacular idea. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her flip-flops, and the grass tickled her feet when he lowered her to the ground. Faster than she could blink, he pulled her sundress over her head and her thong down her legs.

He stood back, his hungry gaze devouring her. “Beautiful.”

The softly spoken word knocked the breath from her body. It was the craziest thing. Bared to the world, the most exposed she’d ever been in her life, and yet she’d never felt more powerful under his worshipful stare.

She moved to the water’s edge, and kept walking until she was waist-deep in the pond, taking short breaths to try to adjust to the cold temperature. But even the chilly water couldn’t tame the inferno burning inside when she turned to face him.

Holy hell.

The only thing more edible than Jack Avery in a custom-tailored suit was Jack Avery in nothing at all. He was spectacular, all long bones, muscle and sinew. A craving to roam every inch of his body with her eyes, fingers, and mouth gripped her and refused to let go. Her hands skimmed along the top of the pond. “Come on in, Jack. The water’s fine.”

He barely made a ripple as he sliced through the water, eating up the distance with long, purposeful steps to get to her. His wet hands cupped her cheeks and he tilted her face to his. “Luanne.” The whisper blew across her face.

“Yes?”

He took her mouth in a kiss that burned away the memory of every other kiss in her life. He may not have been able to open up and share his feelings, but he more than made up for it with his body. His kisses grew wild and out of control. He plundered her mouth, stealing any thoughts other than how much she needed him inside her.

She couldn’t hold back the moan when he slid his hands to her bottom and picked her up again. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she felt the hard heat of him there pressing, insisting, promising.

He adjusted her weight so that he held her with one arm. With his free hand, he traced each vertebra of her spine, banding her flesh with his wet fingers. Pleasure seeped through her skin at every point of contact. “The things I want to do to you…” His voice was hoarse and guttural.

“Jack.” She tilted her head to the side as he skimmed the tip of his tongue along her neck.

He chuckled. “Do you like that?”

“Yes.” It was desperate and needy and she didn’t give a damn.

He nipped her earlobe, then licked and kissed the sting away. “Mmm, you taste good.” He cupped one breast, his thumb circling the nipple until she cried out in frustration.

“I wonder if you taste as sweet here?” Without any warning, he yanked her higher and latched his mouth onto the stiff peak.

She wove her fingers through this thick hair and held him in place. His tongue swirled across the tip, then he sucked it in deeper. The fire obliterated her will to think and consumed her body with a desperate hunger.

Unable to take the building fire another moment, she lowered her head and kissed him hard. Her pelvis ground against him. Her mouth, her hips were both imitating what she wanted the rest of her body to do. “Make love to me, Jack.”

“Hang on, baby, I’ve got you.”

His panted words were dry and gritty. They clawed their way through her body, increasing the desperate need building at her core. Without warning, he slid two fingers between her legs and pushed into her. “Jack.” She rocked against his hand. He withdrew far enough to rub the sensitive nub until she bucked in his arms. This time he pushed his fingers deep into her, sending showers of light cascading behind her closed lids. “It’s too much. It’s too—”

“Let go. Trust me.”

For one brief moment, her rational brain understood that his plea meant so much more than what they were doing in the lake. Her mouth opened to answer, but his fingers filled her again and again and again until she couldn’t hold on anymore. Pleasure spiraled through her body and she threw her head back and cried out his name.

This man destroyed her. She nestled into the crook of his neck while she waited for her heart to slow down its punishing pace. She placed tiny kisses on his neck until enough strength returned to lift her head. “I do, you know. Trust you.”

He smiled like he’d won the lottery and pulled her in for another sweet kiss.

“That was…” She had trouble choosing the right words for what they’d just done.

“Something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.” His triumphant expression did something to her heart.

“Do you have a condom?”

“Yes, but we don’t need it. This was for you, Luanne.”

“But—”

“I’m good. Promise.”

She searched his face and realized he was completely sincere. For some unknown reason that made tears sting the corners of her eyes. He’d given her something amazing without asking for anything in return. Her forehead rested on his. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?” She was truly baffled.

“Being here today. Talking me down from the edge.”

Her fingers roamed over his shoulders, his chest. She couldn’t stop touching him. “That was nothing. But this was…wow.”

He chuckled. “Anytime, Lulu, anytime. Now hold your breath.”

“What?”

Faster than she could blink, he tossed her into the air. She screamed, then closed her mouth right before she hit the water. When she surfaced he was laughing, and it was so unguarded and genuine she didn’t have the heart to be mad at him.

She used both hands to splash him in the face. When he sputtered and choked she laughed too.

They spent the next hour, playing, kissing, and having fun. Their problems were a million miles away. At some point, she knew they’d have to talk about what had happened. But, for now, it was only the two of them in this beautiful, secluded place, making each other happy.