An Irresistible Bachelor (An Unforgettable Lady #2)(66)

Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. He certainly hadn’t mentioned marriage to her.

She groaned. Marriage? They’d made love three times and already she was thinking about altars? She had to be out of her mind. Weekend escapes were one thing. And even then, she might have been pushing it a little.

She forced herself to consider how long they’d known each other and didn’t like the answer. It was a matter of weeks, not months. They had a long, long way to go before she should be thinking more than a couple days ahead.



Jack went into his study and tried to pretend that settling in with the bourbon was not becoming a routine. After a couple of swallows, he pushed the glass and the decanter away, feeling too much like his father. What he wanted was a little peace, not a coping mechanism with nasty consequences.

But when his mother appeared in the doorway, he reached for the glass again. She was wearing a formal dress and a lot of pearls and he took the outfit as a good sign she was leaving.

Which couldn’t happen fast enough for him considering the displeasure on her face.

“Where did Blair run off to? And why was this”—she held up the diamond—“in the kitchen?”

Damn it, he should have pocketed the ring when he’d had the chance.

“The engagement is off.”

“Whatever for?” she demanded.

“That’s none of your business.”

Mercedes began shaking her head. “Jack, no. Don’t do this. Don’t fall for some marginal girl, especially when you could be with someone like Blair. The sacrifices just aren’t necessary.”

He refilled his glass. “I can assure you, being with Callie is no sacrifice for me. At all.”

His mother’s face tightened. “Maybe in the privacy of your own home. But what about in the outside world? You need someone who understands the kind of life you lead. Blair can support you—”

“And you think Callie can’t? My lifestyle isn’t rocket science. I see the same five hundred people, at the same parties, year after year. I could do it with my eyes closed and so could anyone with half a brain.”

“That’s a considerable simplification and you know it. Listen to me, Jack, I know how hard it was for your father and me—”

Jack didn’t bother to keep the boredom out of his voice. “My father worshipped you and you’ve had a great time playing grande dame for the past forty years. So don’t try and pretend it was all a chore, okay?”

She took a deep breath. “There’s no reason to talk to me like that.”

“Was there anything else you had to say, Mother?” As soon as the words came out, he regretted the invitation. Of course there was going to be more.

“Jack, you simply cannot do this. Especially if you are going to run for governor.” As his eyebrows lifted, she explained, “Gray Bennett’s mother called and told me that he’s been here in Boston, meeting with you. It’s obvious what you’re planning.”

“Ah, the Smith College alumni network at its best.”

Mercedes came up to the desk with her particular brand of urgency, clearly prepared to force her will on him. Even though she’d never swayed him, she was always willing to try.

Man, his father hadn’t stood a chance once she’d picked him out of the crowd, Jack thought.

“You know I’ve always hoped you’d run,” she said, “and not just at the state level. Can’t you see what elected office would do for you? The power it would give you? The respect? Don’t you want all that?”

“I already have power, so a lot of people respect me,” he said drily. “And I have a feeling that you’re quite interested in being the mother of the governor, aren’t you? But you’re not impressing me with your logic. I fail to see how marrying Blair when I don’t love her would land me in the governor’s seat any more than being with Callie would prevent it.”

The tone of his mother’s voice hardened. “Don’t think your love life isn’t going to play a role in the election. God knows, your past is going to be hard enough to live down. You shouldn’t compound the problem by losing someone like Blair just because you want to sleep with a member of the lower classes.”

“That’s enough,” he said sharply, bringing the glass down hard on the desk.

His mother was not deterred.

“Jackson, I cannot let you make a mistake like this. There are ways of fixing these things.”

He narrowed his eyes on her. “It’s rather noble of you to try and save me from myself, but bear this in mind. If you want to keep living here, you will back the hell off and stay out of my life. Do we have an understanding?”

Her thin brows shot up into her forehead.

“But you must see that it can never work between you and that . . . Callie,” she said, gesturing aimlessly with a jeweled hand.

“I’m sorry. Didn’t we just agree you wouldn’t interfere? Or are you moving?”

Mercedes stared at him, looking almost helpless. He could imagine her frustration, to be so close to her dreams, and yet unable to control his actions.

“Jack, I’m your mother—”

“That doesn’t mean you’re running the show around here. Shut the door on your way out, will you?” As she continued to stare at him, he cocked an eyebrow. “Now.”