CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.
He received the text not long after dinner was finished. Jack didn’t know whether to be amused or irritated.
“Just got to Perth. Catching a cab. See you soon.”
He knew how independent Maureen was, but surely if she was going to travel around the world at a moment’s notice, she could let him know in time so he could pick her up at the airport? There was independent, and then there was plain old stubborn. And Jack knew which one Maureen was.
He also knew that he had brought her whirlwind visit on himself, with his multiple calls to ask her advice. And especially the last call, he groaned inwardly, where he sounded like a little lost puppy. No wonder Maureen had packed her bags and come rushing over.
Jack smiled in remembrance. She had always been the one to come running to his defense, even when they were kids. Maureen was a few years older than Jack, and had, over the years, saved him from bullies, impossible homework deadlines and errant teenage angst. She had seen him dazzled by Susan, and warned him of the danger of following only his heart, not his head. But she had also been the one clapping the loudest when he and Susan tied the knot eighteen months later.
She had come straight to Perth when Jack had fallen apart after Susan left, helping him to put the pieces back together, sticking around for a few months until she was satisfied he could take care of himself and his family. Then, she had wandered back to Texas.
Maureen didn’t have a family of her own. She had broken off a long engagement years ago, and had not moved on. Or perhaps she preferred it that way. Jack didn’t know. While he told Maureen all kinds of juicy, personal things, his sister was much more of a closed book when it came to her love life.
She also owned a flourishing online gift business, which Jack had helped her start up years ago. He knew she was looking at expanding from online and into brick and mortar storefronts in several cities in the States, some kind of trendy personal concierge service matching giftware to customers. She had a flair for business, and seemed to throw all her energies into it. She was also busier now than she had ever been.
Jack knew that Maureen must have thought he was in real trouble if she had picked up and flown over from Texas. While she had trusted people she could count on to keep things running while she was away, Jack had a notion that she was in the middle of some fairly serious negotiations with her bigger suppliers.
He chuckled wryly. Maybe she should have picked up the phone before screaming over the seas to his rescue. After all, he told himself, things were much better between him and Desiree now. Even though it had taken a tragedy to bring them together.
He vaulted up the stairs to look in on the guest bedroom, which was still made up from when Desiree had first stayed over nearly a week ago. She hadn’t used it, but the sheets could probably use an airing. He pulled the blankets back, feeling very domesticated. Maureen had been a hard taskmaster when he was separated, but the lessons had paid off. He could manage a household if he needed to - right down to the little details needed to make a guest comfortable.
Leaning against the door jamb, his thoughts turned to his other guest. Jack wondered how Desiree was getting on with her reconciliation. She had told him of her argument with her friends, and that they would probably manage to broker some kind of peace accord, as they had done many times before. It sounded like an odd friendship to him, but a little of Desiree’s fire had returned when she told Jack she would be content with nothing less than a huge apology, so Jack happily saw her off that morning, not expecting her home until after dinner.
He smiled to himself. Expecting her home. It felt so comfortable, so normal to have her here in his home. Like she had always been there. Faith and the twins were completely comfortable with Jack having another woman in his life - perhaps having Marissa around had made it easier for them to accept Desiree into the house. He didn’t know, and frankly, didn’t care. So long as they were all happy in each other’s company, he was content to let matters run at their own speed.
Except for the problem of his own desires. Sleeping in the same bed as a beautiful woman for the better part of a week was playing havoc with his libido. Each morning he woke up with her snugly cocooned in his arms, her back against his stomach. And each morning he moved away, just enough so that he wouldn’t spear her in the spine with his raging erection.
He wasn’t going to pressure her into anything - not while grief was her predominant emotion, anyway. She needed time to come to terms with the tragedy, and he didn’t think she would appreciate him pawing at her like some horny teenager when she was trying to overcome something so distressing. He could see the hurt in her eyes sometimes, and other times she would go quiet and disappear behind a polite mask. He knew she was still reeling from the blow, and learning how to live with it.
That didn’t mean he didn’t want her. He did, and so badly, sometimes it hurt. But as a grown man, he could keep it under control. He would let her set the pace. Let her come to him, when she was ready.
And when she was, oh boy, was she going to be loved up to the eyeballs.
He let out a pent-up sigh of frustration as his body responded to the direction of his thoughts. He admitted to himself, it was difficult, fencing in his reactions. One sniff of her scent, one gliding touch of her fingertips on his bicep could set him off. A deep look into her trusting green eyes might have him biting the inside of his cheek and forcing his thoughts to ugly old grandmas in knitted cardigans with thick ankles and wrinkled mouths. Anything to stop him from snatching her into his arms and into his bed.
Turning away from the guest room, he walked the carpeted stairs back to the family room, and smiled to find his little brood playing together. Faith was laying on her stomach, pulling back on two toy cars at the same time and then letting them go, the boys screeching their support of one car or the other as they raced across the room to rescue the cars and return them to Faith, who would patiently start the whole process over again. He watched the kids play for quite a while, surprised that the one game would keep them all occupied for such a long time.
He wondered if he should tell the kids that Aunt Maureen was on her way.
No, let them be surprised. They’ll enjoy that.
He smiled at the thought of their faces when their favorite aunt turned up at the doorstep. He knew the boys would only see a beloved aunt, and the very real possibility of presents and being spoiled rotten. Jack wondered if Faith was old enough to realise that Aunt Maureen didn’t come over from the States unannounced unless there was a really good reason. He regarded her speculatively.
Seeming to notice his eyes on her, Faith turned to him. “What?” Her big, blue eyes questioned him, a half-smile on her face.
“Nothing.” He shook his head and smiled, and Faith went back to her game with the boys.
Shortly, there was a ring of the doorbell, and pandemonium reigned as Aunt Reen and her three suitcases were ushered inside, and the children realised who had come to visit.
“My dears!” She dropped all her bags right in the doorway and gathered them all into her arms for a big, noisy hug. That was just like Maureen, exuberant and demonstrative. Even twenty-four hours on a plane hadn’t dented her enthusiasm.
Jack was amused to see that her sense of style, which was very much dominated by the thirties and forties, hadn’t changed. She wore a light blue dress with a matching overcoat, even though it was the middle of Summer in Perth. He could see that she was flushed, so he pushed out of the embrace, encouraging the kids to do so as well.
“Okay, kids, maybe we could let Aunt Maureen go take her coat off.”
“Hogwash. The coat can wait. Hugs can’t. And presents certainly can’t either.”
At the mention of presents, the boys became even more noisy. Maureen made a show of trying to work out which one of her cases carried the gifts, putting a puzzled finger up to her lips and hmm-ing loudly. But at the boys’ protests, she laughed, and unzipped the smallest of the cases. Inside were five beautifully wrapped gifts.
“These are for you, boys.” She handed each of the twins a gift the size of a shoebox. Moments later, they were sitting amongst the tattered remains of the wrappings.
“Say thank you,” instructed Jack, and at their murmured, distracted thanks, he threw a little shrug at Maureen, who smiled back at him.
“Boys will be boys. You were the same at that age. Thankfully, you acquired some manners. Now.” She turned her attention to Faith. “My goodness, Faith, you have grown up so much since I last saw you. You’re practically a woman.” Faith smiled and nodded, but Jack could see her eyes darting to the open case.
“This one is for you.” Maureen gave her a beautiful pastel orange and pink parcel with a flourish.
“Thank you.” Faith gave her an impetuous hug, then fled to her room to open her gift in peace.
The boys had decimated the wrappings on their presents, and were now immersed in all of the goodies their boxes contained. From sweets to books to toys, each box was a cornucopia of excitement for a small boy. They compared items, chatting and arguing, all thought of the grown-ups forgotten.
Maureen smiled on them indulgently before turning her attention to Jack. He noticed the circles under her eyes.
“Let’s get you upstairs, and you can have a rest.” He grabbed the other two unopened suitcases and made his way toward the stairs.
“I don’t need a rest. Been restin’ on that darn plane for hours and hours. I just need to get rid of this blasted overcoat.” Maureen walked up the steps behind him, shedding the coat as she did. “I packed for the Perth weather, but I always get what I need to wear on the plane wrong. Or perhaps it was because it was close to freezin’ when we took off. How are you, Jack?”
He sudden change of direction startled him. “Good. Fine. And what about you?”
“A mite anxious about my little brother.” They reached the guest room and Jack deposited the cases at the end of the bed while Maureen sat down with a groan and kicked off her shoes. She wiggled all of her toes and gave a little sigh of satisfaction. “Been waitin’ to do that for hours.” Jack assumed she would want to freshen up, so he turned to go.
“Jack?”
Turning back, he found Maureen had stood up, and was waiting for him with her arms open. She seemed shorter than he remembered as he folded her in a hug. To his embarrassment, he let out a little sob, that he tried to turn into a cough.
“You can’t fool me.” Maureen pushed him out to arm’s length. “You look terrible.”
“So do you.”
“But I been on a plane all day. What’s your excuse?”
“Sexual frustration?” He blurted it out before he could stop himself, and then flushed beetroot red as Maureen raised an eyebrow and chuckled. After a moment, he joined in. “Lord, Reen, it’s good to see you.”
“Oh, no, brother. You don’t say somethin’ like that and then not give me an explanation.” She sat back down on the bed and patted it, an invitation for him to sit beside her. He hesitated for a moment, then joined her.
“Not sure I really want to discuss this with you, Maureen. It’s a bit personal and private, you know?”
“Then you shouldn’t have said it. But since you did, well, it’s easier to let the cat outta the bag than it is to put it back in. Out with it. Is your schoolteacher still keeping you at arm’s length?”
“Not at all. She’s sleepin’ in my bed. Just sleepin’.” Maureen frowned, and Jack rushed to explain. “She had a student commit suicide, so she’s been stayin’ here rather than on her own.”
“She’s here?” Maureen’s eyes widened along with her smile. “Let me meet her.”
“You will, Maureen, but later. She’s out with friends. But she should be back real soon.” Jack chose his words carefully. Maureen would be reading them for clues. He purposely didn’t say she would be home soon. Maureen would pounce on that like a barn cat on a field mouse.
He could see Maureen wanted to say more, only there was a knock on the door and Jack stood up quickly. Faith flew in to show off her gifts.
“Look, Dad.” She brought a hand up to her throat, and Jack saw she was wearing a new gold chain with some kind of shiny bauble hanging from it. She also indicated her wrist and ears. “And it comes with this, and these.” She preened a little, and pretended to walk the runway, making them both laugh.
“They look great, chickadee.” Jack had little understanding of jewelery, except to know that women seemed to like it, and it was usually expensive. Maureen was a little more expansive with her praise.
“I knew them aquamarines would look amazin’ on you. They’re just right.” She seemed satisfied, and so did Faith, who smiled expansively at her. “Thank you, Aunt Maureen. They’re beautiful.” She gave her aunt an impetuous hug, and Jack took the opportunity to escape the room.
He loved his sister, and he was happy to see her. But he really didn’t want to discuss his sex life with her. He wandered to the family room, to find the twins on the floor, their new toys scattered all the way from where they had opened their presents in the hallway. It was getting on towards their bedtime, but Jack thought that perhaps tonight, they could stay up a little longer. Maybe it would put the brakes on Maureen’s dissection of his life.
“How’s school, young lady? Still top of the class?” Jack heard Maureen ask as she and Faith joined him and the boys in the family room.
“It’s all good. I’m gettin’ all A’s.” Jack was proud of Faith, justifiably, he thought. And he could hear in her voice that she was proud of herself as well, which was more important.
“And boys? Did you get yourself a boyfriend yet?”
Faith flushed, her glance flicking toward her dad before she gave a small smile. “Well, there are a few boys…”
“A few?” Jack pretended to be shocked, and Faith half-heartedly slapped him on the arm.
“Stop it Dad.”
“Where’s my shotgun?”
“Dad!”
“What do you need a shotgun for?” Desiree came strolling into the room, stepping daintily over the strewn toys, and Jack was pleased to note that she seemed almost back to her old self. Jack couldn’t exactly put his finger on it, but he was glad to see it.
“Faith’s gaggle of boyfriends.” He jumped up and gave her a peck on the cheek as Faith once again let out a scandalized “Dad!”
Jack felt the exact moment Desiree realised someone other than his kids and himself were in the room. She stilled, the smile freezing on her face. “Hello.” Her voice was pleasant, and she stretched out a hand to shake Maureen’s, but all the warmth in her manner disappeared, to be replaced by the slightly cynical shell she previously wore.
Jack’s heart jumped to his mouth. It was important to him that Desiree and Maureen liked each other. If Desiree put Maureen off with her coldness, Jack knew he would have a hard time bringing her back around.
But Maureen, in her usual ebullient way, jumped up and hugged her. “I’m Maureen, Jack’s sister. I heard about your loss. Awfully sorry to hear it.” The warmth in Maureen’s voice returned Jack’s heart to its proper place.
“Oh.” Desiree seemed stunned for a moment, then returned the hug. “Thank you.” Jack was even more relieved to hear the coolness seep out of Desiree’s tone. He breathed a silent sigh of relief as the two women stood back and held each other at arm’s length, looking each other over as women did.
Maureen was the first to speak. “My goodness but you’re not what I expected.”
Desiree let loose a short bark of laughter, and Jack’s heart flew. He heard her laugh so seldom in the past week. It was good to hear it.
“I have to say, you’re not exactly what I pictured either.” They sat down together on the couch, forgetting Jack for the moment. He wasn’t perturbed. He was happy just to watch two of the three most important ladies in his life get to know each other.
Desiree continued. “What brings you to Perth? Did Jack know you were coming?” She shot a look of - was it reproach? - in Jack’s direction. He shrugged.
“No, it was a surprise visit. I missed the kids, and I have a meetin’ in Sydney with a supplier, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to drop by.” Jack wondered if the meeting was a fabrication, and mused that you couldn’t really just ‘drop by’ from Sydney to Perth. It was two thousand miles away. But he held his tongue.
“And look what she brought me.” Faith interrupted the conversation to show off her jewelery, and then the boys joined in, showing Desiree all the things Maureen had brought them. Desiree was suitably impressed, and then she caught Jack’s eye again. “Shouldn’t the boys be in bed?”
They howled in protest, and Jack shouted over the din, “I figured it was a special evenin’, they could stay up a little.” Desiree nodded, and then smiled at the boys, giving a little hooray gesture with her hands. “Yay! Staying up late!”
“Yay!” Their interest quickly returned to their toys, and Maureen took up the conversation where it had left off.
“I don’t get to see them all anywhere near often enough, and after the last call I had with Jackie, I reckon it was time to come on over and see everyone.”
Desiree sent a cheeky smile and a raised eyebrow at Jack at the sound of his nickname. He knew she would be bringing it up later.
“And, of course, I had to meet you.”
Again, Desiree laughed. “Do I meet with your approval?” She sounded amused by the exchange, but Jack noticed a little undercurrent of friction in her tone. That was the old Desiree. Not requiring anyone’s approval, and not really caring whether she received it or not. Inwardly he applauded.
“Unequivocally.” Maureen gave her a smile and a nod, and while Jack thought Desiree wasn’t terribly interested in Maureen’s approval, she seemed to relax even more when the older woman gave it.
Later, when everyone had gone to bed, Desiree asked Jack if he really had no idea at all that Maureen was traveling all the way there from Texas.
“None at all. But I’ve come to expect things like that from her.” He slipped between the sheets, feeling Desiree’s warmth against his side as he did. “When she gets an idea into her head, she’s like a bulldog with a brand new bone.”
“But why did she come? What made her so anxious to get here so quickly?”
Jack tried an innocent shrug.
“Jack Duncan, I can read you like a book. What did you say to her?”
He flushed. “Nothing much. Just told her I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Why did you tell her that?” Desiree turned on her side with a puzzled expression on her face. “She couldn’t exactly do anything from the other side of the world.”
“She’s my sister, Des. I tell her all kinds of things.” Now Desiree looked worried. He laughed gently, and took her in his arms. “I didn’t say anything bad about you.”
“You better not have.”
“It’s just that I’ve always turned to her when things have gone wrong. She’s family.” He shrugged, helpless to explain further.
Desiree smiled at him. “I guess I just don’t understand how normal families work.” Her face turned to a concerned frown, and she sighed deeply. “And on that note, I’m trying to talk myself into going to see my mother over the weekend.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’d better go alone. It’s going to be awkward enough as it is.”
Desiree kissed him, then turned her back on him. He felt a vague sense of disappointment, before he heard a muffled, “Jack?”
“Yes?”
“I’m getting close.”
“Close?”
“To needing to fuck you again.” Desiree’s voice sounded thick, sleepy, and incredibly sexy.
“Oh. Good.” He didn’t really know what else to say, but his body instantly responded to what it thought was an invitation. It was even more of a sign that the old Desiree was returning that she would slip into curse words. He smiled to himself, admitting that it had been odd for her not to be swearing. He had missed it.
He wondered if now was the time to make his move.
“It feels nice to know I can when I want to, but that I don’t have to until I’m ready.” Desiree’s words slurred, and Jack realised she was mostly asleep. No, now was definitely not the time to make his move.
“Just give me the word, darlin’. I’ll be waiting.”
The only response he got was a quiet snore, and a raging hard on.