Chapter Seven
CASEY STEPPED OUT of the office to check in with the staff to the sound of Jack’s voice carrying across the lot. It had been like this every morning for the past week when he showed up, greeted the employees on duty, then headed in to greet her. He had always been friendly with others, had made friends easily, especially in high school. That was when she’d fallen in love with him, seeing him across the room at homecoming their senior year. She’d gone to the dance with a group of girls and he with his friends. He’d asked her to dance that night and they started dating soon after. They weathered his years away at college and grad school while she took some classes at the community college and worked various jobs. But they hadn’t been able to weather the one loss that drove him away from town and away from her.
The more time Jack spent in town, the harder it was to stay away from him. His happiness was infectious and just being around him calmed her. Why couldn’t he have gotten grumpy and unhappy while off seeking his fortune?
Each day, he asked her out to dinner and she turned him down. She wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to resist his charm and relentless pursuit. But Riley was her focus and had been since the day he was born. Jack wouldn’t understand. She’d just as soon he head back to Boston and never meet her son.
“Today’s the day, huh?”
Casey stepped back. She’d been daydreaming and hadn’t seen Jack approach. “What day?”
“The day we cut the tree. The one for the town green. Did you forget?”
Well, kinda. She’d been so focused on avoiding Jack that the date slipped her mind. “No, I didn’t forget.”
She tilted her head and studied him for a moment. Something looked different. In the week he’d been home, his hair had grown a bit long on his collar. Even the lines around his eyes were softer, gentler, like life wasn’t weighing down on him as much.
Sid had come home from the hospital last night. No doubt it was relief she was seeing in Jack.
Her eyes raked down his body.
That was it—he was wearing jeans. He’d worn inappropriate slacks every day since he’d been home. Like he was afraid to let go of a reminder of his real life. Damn, he filled out those jeans nicely. They hugged his legs perfectly, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. She trailed her eyes back up his sculpted chest and found his arms crossed and a grin on his face.
Busted.
“Are you ready? Ross has the truck fired up. He says the tree is too big for the tractor this year.”
Casey snatched her fleece-lined jacket off the coat rack and tugged her hat onto her head. Of course Jack had caught her ogling him. She wouldn’t be so lucky as to go unnoticed. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Jack reached out his hand. What was he doing? Was he going to try and kiss her again? But instead of curling his fingers around her neck, he pulled something out of her hat and held it out.
“Here, you might need this.” One of her gloves dangled between his fingers.
Heat rose on her cheeks. So much for being a calm, cool, and collected adult around Jack. He chuckled while she pulled on her gloves. “Let’s get going.”
She didn’t wait for him to follow as she trudged up the hill toward the tree Sid had picked out before his heart attack. Jack didn’t say anything during the almost ten minutes it took to climb the hill. Her heart raced as she approached the spot where she’d found him. She hadn’t been back since that day. She stopped when she reached the broken branches and the boot prints in the snow that served as a stark reminder.
“What?” Jack studied her, a concerned look on his face. His hands landed on her shoulders. “Casey, you’re white as a sheet. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, uh, it’s just…” She motioned to the ground behind him. “That’s where he was.”
“Aw, Casey.” Jack pulled her into his arms and she sank into his embrace. The soft fabric of his flannel shirt brushed against her cheek as she settled onto his chest. His heart beat a rapid pace and she rested her hand over it.
Jack settled his head on top of hers, and the gesture threw her back to the time when he’d comforted her after their other shared tragic event. Jack had held her in his arms while she’d mourned the loss of their son—and their relationship.
“I can never thank you for what you did to save my father. That’s all anyone is talking about. If you hadn’t gotten here in time…” His voice choked off.
They stood together for a minute, Casey reveling in the feel of his arms around her. All of the sounds of the lot faded away, and it was just the two of them. The heat of his breath warmed her, and she knew if she tilted her head up, she could brush her lips across his. She buried her face in his chest again. What was she doing thinking about kissing Jack?
“It’s okay, Casey. Dad’s going to be fine…thanks to you.”
She let Jack think she was upset about his dad and not about how good it felt to be in his arms, to let him help carry the burden for just a minute. She eased away from him, but he didn’t release her. Instead, his heated gaze pulled her to him.
She couldn’t resist him any longer. No, that wasn’t right. She didn’t want to resist him anymore. He lowered his head and she stretched onto her toes. Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips brushed over hers.
God, she’d missed him. His lips were soft but firm against hers, gentle as he nibbled along her lower lip before taking her in a more insistent kiss. His tongue traced her lips, and she gasped as he swept inside her mouth. Jack could always kiss, but this was a whole new experience for her. He’d probably had plenty of time to practice. Who knows how many women he’d been with in his time away—hundreds, thousands?
What was she doing? She shouldn’t be kissing Jack. She broke it off and stepped out of his embrace. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
Jack grinned. “Oh, yes, it should have. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the first day I saw you again.”
“We can’t do this, Jack. People are waiting for us.”
“That’s not why you think we shouldn’t be kissing. But I think it’s a good idea, and I’m not sorry.”
“Well, you should be. We can’t do that again. You’re not staying, and I have a home and a life in Oak Grove. It wouldn’t work and you know it.”
The smile dropped from his face. Finally, she was getting through to him. She was smart to keep some distance between them while he was home. “I guess you’re right. So, where’s this tree my dad picked out?”
She pointed up the hill. “Up there. See the spruce with the pink tag? That’s the one.”
Jack didn’t look at her again as he trekked up the hill, but the heat and frustration rolled off him in waves.
That kiss had left her reeling. She didn’t have time to think about what could have been, what could never be.
Sid had picked a beauty for this year’s tree—one he had been pruning and training for years. When he’d left the office that day, he’d remarked about the special tree he was tagging for this year. It was like he’d known Jack was coming home after all this time. Sid had planted this tree the year Jack was born, and it held a special place of honor in the Murphy family.
Jack stopped short and clapped his hand over his mouth. Yep, he knew. She stood back for a moment and allowed him to soak in the significance of the tree Sid had chosen.
After a few minutes, she stepped up beside Jack.
“Is this…?”
“Yep. Do you think he knew? That you’d be coming home?”
“How could he? I mean, sure, Mom’s been telling me that he’s been dragging the past few months, but he couldn’t have known this would happen…could he?”
Casey laid her hand on Jack’s arm. “Of course not. But it does make his choice that much more special, doesn’t it?”
He snaked his arm around her waist, and the two of them stared at the majestic blue spruce. It stood close to twenty-five feet tall. It would be perfect for the town green—the biggest tree they’d ever had.
“How long are you staying? I mean, now that your dad’s home from the hospital.” Her real question was how much longer would she have to resist him?
Jack nestled her against his side. “Trying to get rid of me? I’m not leaving just yet. Dad may be out of the woods but Mom still needs help, and the lot’s busier than ever. I can’t leave now.”
“What about your work? Don’t you have a job in Boston waiting for you?” Of course he did. He ran a successful investment firm. “We’ll be fine if your job needs you.” If only he would head back to Boston and leave her with her peace of mind intact.
“I know you will, but I’m staying anyway. My partner is picking up the slack, and we hired a new executive vice president. Besides, I’m putting in a couple hours every morning and after I get home at night. I’ll be fine.” He turned her so she faced him and wrapped his arms around her. “But thanks for being worried about me. I didn’t know you cared.”
Of course she cared. Sometimes too much. Jack didn’t need to know that when she was feeling especially lonely, she’d click over to his firm’s web site to see his face smiling back at her. “My caring was never the problem. You left, remember?”
He grimaced and backed away. That shut him down for sure. “So, you ready to chop down a tree?”
Thirty minutes later, using a series of ropes, chain saws, and brute strength, the tree was on the truck bed on its way down the hill. Jack and Casey followed behind, neither of them speaking. Enough had been said—and done—already.