“I don’t know why you didn’t let me drive.” Luanne adjusted her position in the seat so she could look at Jack.

“I’ve told you twenty times that I’m fine. Besides, no one drives this car but me.” He pinned her with a look. “Ever.”

With a quick salute she said, “Aye, aye, Captain.” She infused the statement with enough sarcasm to choke a horse. Like she’d even want to drive his stupidly fantastic car. “So if you’re fine, why are you being such a sourpuss? I said I was sorry, and besides, the salesclerk startled me.” Thank God she had. Her back still tingled where he’d touched her. His fingers…and his tongue…and his love bite. And he’d been so kind to her. Maybe there was more to the arrogant playboy Jack Avery than she’d originally thought.

“No offense, Thumbelina. It takes a lot more than the likes of you to take me down.”

Nope, still an arrogant jerk.

He clicked on his blinker and made a right turn onto a beautiful tree-lined street. “And another thing…I don’t know why you wouldn’t let me pay for your clothes. It wasn’t a big deal.”

Ahhhh, there it was. The real source of his attitude. He wanted her to be even more in debt to him than she already was. “If it wasn’t a big deal, then why are you so pissed off? Besides, if you’re going to be mad at anyone you should be mad at the store manager. She’s the one who said I could use my wedding dress as payment.”

She’d wanted to kiss the saleswoman for making the suggestion. She didn’t want to be beholden to Jack, or to anyone else for that matter. Nothing like learning early that survival was for the ones who could take care of themselves. Bitter lesson to learn for a kid barely out of diapers.

Baby, Mama can’t get out of bed today. I’m too sad.

But I’m hungry, Mama.

There’s some dry cereal on the table, you can eat that.

Without milk?

Yes. You’re not a baby anymore, so you don’t need milk.

She’d been three.

But she’d shown her mother how big she was and gotten the milk all by herself, and cleaned up the spill she’d made too.

She was scrambling eggs by the time she was five. A growing girl couldn’t live on cereal alone.

So, yes, she could take care of herself.

They turned onto another tree-lined street with antebellum mansions on each lot. “You grew up here?” Figured. Jack certainly gave the impression of being born with a silver spoon in his mouth and both fists.

He snorted. “Not hardly.”

“What does that mean? Are these too small for the Avery family?”

He flashed a cocky grin.

“Pretentious ass.”

His shoulders rose and fell. “What can I say?”

“You’re hopeless.”

“Listen, I’m sorry you have to come with me to this thing for my mom, but I don’t have time to get you settled in a hotel before it starts.”

“I told you that you don’t have to settle me anywhere.”

“Yeah. How are you going to pay for a hotel? Exchange another article of clothing?”

Wow, an arrogant ass and nasty to boot. She didn’t know what she’d thought she saw in this guy, but it must’ve been a hallucination.

He glanced into the rearview mirror before he changed lanes and turned into the parking lot of the Alexandria Civic Center, then whipped into a space in front of the building. He sat with both hands still on the wheel and stared at the front door. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”

“Yes, it was.” She wouldn’t let him off the hook so easily.

He didn’t move. She wasn’t sure if he was even breathing. Finally, he turned and a brief streak of raw pain flashed across his face, but was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared. “I’m not myself, but I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

She knew what those words cost him. This man was in pain. He may be an arrogant ass, but there were deep secrets behind that playboy face. She reached and straightened his hair, then quickly pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry about your mother.”

He shook off her concern. “Thanks, but really, I’m okay.”

Instead of aggravating her, his instant denial broke her heart a little. Probably because of that flash of misery a few moments earlier.

Damn it.

This was too much. She didn’t want to think of him this way, as a wounded boy missing his mama. So she changed the subject. “You look pretty good for a guy who’s been in a fight, been coldcocked, and rescued a kick-ass damsel in distress.”

He blew out a breath like he was glad she’d changed the subject, and gave her a wink. “You think I look good, tough girl?”

She shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.” She checked her makeup in the visor mirror.

“Guilty as charged, counselor.” He unhooked his seatbelt. “Ready?”

She flipped the visor back into place. “I’m glad I decided to buy this dress today. It would’ve been awkward to walk in with those shorts I bought with Moneymaker on the ass.”

He gawked at her. “You got those?”

“Oh, yeah, and I found the cutest tube top to go with them.”

“What?” he croaked out. “You did?”

It felt good to laugh. A full-on belly laugh at that. Even when he was busy aggravating the crap out of her, he could always make her laugh. She shoved his shoulder. “No, you idiot.”

He laughed too. “Okay.” His fingers plowed through his hair, and he sucked in a chestful of air then puffed it out. “We should go in now.”

The banquet room was full. People milled about, and round tables held centerpieces of books with candles stacked on them. At the front of the room was a long table for the VIPs, and behind it was a huge picture of a pretty woman with her gray hair pulled away from her face. Her whiskey eyes sparkled like her son’s and it made Luanne’s heart hurt. She couldn’t have been more than fifty-five.

“Jack Avery, you good-lookin’ devil.” A woman old enough to be his grandmother sidled up to them and planted her cane directly in front of him. Luanne almost died when the geriatric gave him a lascivious once-over.

Instead of being embarrassed, Jack widened his stance and put his hands out to the side for her inspection.

“Heavens, boy, if I were forty years younger…”

“You’d still be too beautiful for me.” He winked. “How are you Mrs. Parker? Woo-wee, woman. You’re lookin’ hot as fire. You know polyester and loafers get me every time.”

The older woman leaned on her cane and laughed so loud people all over the room stared. She wiped a tear from her wrinkled cheek. “Boy, you’re as bad as ever. Now give me a kiss and help me to my seat before I fall down.”

He bent and placed a lingering kiss on Mrs. Parker’s cheek, then offered her his arm. “Mrs. Parker, this is my friend Luanne Price. Luanne, this completely inappropriate woman is my fifth-grade teacher, Amelia Parker.”

She poked Jack in the ribs. “You know it, buddy boy. Nice to meet you, Luanne.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Parker.”

Jack placed Mrs. Parker’s free hand in the crook of his arm. “Come on beautiful, make me look good.”

Luanne walked behind them, shaking her head. He was slick as a snake, just like her father. The open wounds on her heart burned and bled. She’d lost track of the times her father had charmed her into believing every word he said was true, only to find out it was all a lie.

She watched Jack’s teacher snuggle into him and his black head bend to her curly gray locks and whisper something. Mrs. Parker giggled like a teenager. To be fair, he wasn’t exactly like her father. No way would Marcus Price have put himself out for her like Jack had today. Nor would he have broken his neck to get to an award ceremony for his dead mother. Hell, the man couldn’t be bothered to make it to holidays for his mother who was alive and well.

Once they had Mrs. Parker situated, and Luanne had been introduced to the woman’s friends, they made their way to the front of the room.

They stopped in front of the head table. “Your mother was lovely,” Luanne said.

“Yes, she was.” He gazed at the photo like if he wished hard enough she would speak to him. After a moment, he peered down at Luanne with a sheepish grin on his face as if he’d been caught unawares, but was willing to give her that tiny sliver of himself. “Lovely inside and out.” It tugged at a feeling she didn’t want to acknowledge.

“Jack!” A very pregnant woman with a clipboard waddled up to them. “Thank God you’re here. We thought y’all weren’t coming.”

He flashed his signature you’re-not-really-mad-at-me expression. “Sorry, Rosemary.”

“Well, that’s alright, cher,” she said, obviously flustered by his complete attention. She looked around. “Where’s your father?”

“He’s not here?”

“No. I thought he’d be with you.”

“I just pulled into town and haven’t been by the house. I called earlier and left a message that I’d meet him here.” Jack pulled out his phone and scrolled through the messages. “He didn’t text me back. Let me call him.” He stepped away, leaving Luanne and Rosemary standing there.

“Hello, I’m Luanne.” She extended her hand.

Rosemary juggled the clipboard and took her hand. “Rosemary. You’re with Jack?”

“Yes, but not—”

“Well, that officially makes you the most envied woman in Beauchamp, Louisiana. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jack with a woman, other than prom and homecoming dates.”

“You’ve known him a long time?” She should set the woman straight and tell her they weren’t dating, but the chance to learn more about Jack was too tempting.

Rosemary laughed. “Does since birth count? Our mothers were best friends.” She glanced at Jack’s mom’s picture, and her eyes glistened with tears. “Robin was the absolute best person to ever live. We all miss her. How’s Jack doin’? I know he and his dad have had a real bad time dealing with her death.”

Thankfully she was saved from answering when Jack returned. “We can go ahead and get started.”

The ice-cold anger rolling off of him was so uncharacteristic that Luanne did a double take.

Rosemary hugged her clipboard to her chest. “Oh, no, what’s wrong?”

“Nothin’.”

Had she ever heard Jack drop a letter from a word? No, she hadn’t, and it freaked her out.

“Jack, you know you can tell me.” Rosemary placed her hand on his arm.

He looked around and lowered his voice. “He’s drunk, Rose.” His hands went to his hips and he hung his head. “Of all the nights.”

His childhood friend wrapped him in a hug. “It’ll be alright. I’m sure it’s all too much for him. He’ll be better tomorrow.”

He drew a huge breath in and let it out slowly. “You’re probably right.”

She smiled up at him. “Better?”

Jack nodded and a weird expression played on his lips. “Your baby kicked me. Not gonna lie, Rose, that’s kind of freaky.”

She patted her stomach. “Well done, baby. Uncle Jack can always use a good kick in the pants.”

Luanne’s mind raced for a way to escape this intimate conversation that she had no business being a part of. “I’ll stand at the back and watch from there.”

“Nonsense,” Rosemary said. “There’s plenty of room for you at the head table. I’ll move some folks around so you can sit next to Jack.”

The uncomfortable look on Jack’s face probably mirrored her own. But neither of them said anything.

“You have your speech?” Rosemary asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay. I’ll go tell them we can start.” She kissed his cheek. “Remember why we’re here.”

Luanne and Jack found their seats and made small talk with the people around them. Then dinner was served. It looked amazing, but Jack hardly ate. She, on the other hand, scarfed down her food like a lumberjack.

As dessert was being passed out, Rosemary went to the podium. “Thank you all for coming. I think we can agree the Civic Center staff has outdone themselves.” She stepped back from the mic and led the room in applause. “This banquet is to honor all the folks who volunteer at all of our schools here in Beauchamp. As the principal of Joanna Colquitt Elementary, I’d like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You all make the wheels turn—without you, the whole system would grind to a halt.” The teachers and other educators applauded.

“Tonight is also about honoring one of our own, Robin Avery. Robin worked for the Beauchamp school system for twenty-five years and volunteered as a literacy pal for many years. Everyone loved Robin. Her sunny smile and positive attitude kept morale up around Joanna Colquitt for many years. As you know, we lost Robin this year to cancer.” Her voice caught and she took a minute before continuing. “I’ll never understand why God takes the good ones so early, and Robin was the best. Her son Jack is here tonight to honor his mother in a very special way.”

The crowd stood and clapped as Jack made his way to the podium. The thunderous appreciation for his mother reverberated off the walls.

“Thank you, Rosemary, for the lovely words about Mom.” He took a breath and surveyed the crowd. “You know she would have hated all of this.” Everyone laughed. “But she would’ve also been touched, as I am. Mom was gifted, talented, and extremely smart. She also had a ninth-grade education. Did you know that?”

He leaned toward the microphone. Luanne knew without looking at the audience that they were hanging on Jack’s every word. Hell, she was hanging on his every word.

“Her family was very poor, so after her freshman year in high school she had to drop out of high school to work. When she was twenty-eight she got her GED. I remember she and I would do homework together, me learning my letters and addition, while she studied for the exam.”

He paused and his Adam’s apple moved up and down several times.

“Education was incredibly important to her. Trust me, you did not want to bring home a B when you were capable of making an A, and pack your bags if you brought home a C. I can still hear her saying, ‘Jack Henry Avery, do you know how lucky you are to be able to go to school and learn? Education is a blessing. Now get to your room and do your homework so you don’t grow up to be an idiot.’”

Laughter floated through the room, and Luanne caught a stray tear before it fell from her lashes.

“She gave me a love of learning and so much more. Things I will forever be grateful for, things I don’t know if I ever thanked her for…” He stopped, lowered his head, and squeezed his eyes shut. For several long seconds, the emotions of the room balanced on the tip of a needle.

When Jack looked back at his audience, the familiar devil-may-care grin was back in place. “She was one of kind. The best mom, wife, and friend anyone could ask for. So, in honor of my mother and to further the education of the bright minds of the Beauchamp school system, I’ve set up the Robin Marie Avery Scholarship Fund. I’d like to introduce the first two recipients, Josey Weber and Nick Nguyen.”

Before the last words were out of his mouth, the crowd erupted into applause and everyone got to their feet as the two kids made their way to the stage. Shrill whistles and shouts of celebration filled the room. The kids both shook Jack’s hand and he gave them each a check. The girl’s family snapped pictures, while recording the whole thing on their phone. Nick’s family was crying with joy. Once the hand-shaking was done, Jack excused himself and made his way back to his seat.

When he sat down she reached over and lightly brushed his hand under the table. It was all she could afford to give him. He was too dangerous, too complicated. Over the past few hours she’d realized something awful. Jack may have the schmooze factor like her father, but there was one hugely fundamental difference. And no matter how hard he tried to hide it, or she tried to ignore it, the truth stared her in the face.

Jack Avery had a good heart.

Damn it.