An Irresistible Bachelor (An Unforgettable Lady #2)(77)

Jack opened his mouth and prodded the tooth, feeling it answer the inquiry with a shot of pain into his jaw.

Christ. The last thing he needed was a trip to the dentist.

“Hey, brother,” Nate said, ducking to get under the low clearance of the door. “How’re you doing?”

Jack wiped his face off with the bottom of his shirt, shrugged, and lied.

“Well enough. And yourself?” he asked. “To what do we owe this visit? Did Thomas call you in as reinforcement for the party?”

“Thomas called me, all right.” Nate sat down next to him on the bench. “But it was about you.”

Jack frowned. “Oh, really.”

“He’s a little worried.”

“About?” Jack took a long slug of water, feeling a strong urge to walk out of the room.

“He says you’ve been working yourself to the bone.”

Jack lowered the bottle. “Like that’s a big news flash?”

Nate shrugged casually, but was obviously choosing his words. “He said you ended your engagement. Got into a car accident. Haven’t slept in your room in nights because you’re at your desk until dawn. What’s going on?”

Jack stared over at the treadmill, wondering if he could squeeze another couple of miles out of his legs.

“Talk to me, Jack. Or I’m going to have to go big brother all over your ass and get it out of you myself.”

Jack finally looked across the bench. “I’m in love.”

Nate smiled slowly. “Really. With the redhead?”

He nodded.

“Very nice, brother.”

Jack stretched and tossed the empty water bottle across the room. It bounced on the rim of the trash bin and for a moment he thought it was going to go in. When it rolled off and hit the floor, he watched the drops shimmer inside the plastic.

“I don’t know if things are going to work out. We’ve hit an impasse.” He cleared his throat. “I want her. But I might have to change the entire course of my life to keep her.”

“That’s a bitch.”

“It sure is.”

Jack got off the bench and went over to the bottle. He flipped it into the trash and faced his brother.

“I want to run for governor.”

“So I’ve heard. I think you’d be damned good at it, by the way.”

“Me, too.” He dragged a hand through his hair, feeling the sweat. “When I first thought about it, years ago, it was mostly to get in a good dig at Dad. I figured that would really piss him off. My ambitions running out of control and all that. When I told him, though, he was actually delighted.”

“And you didn’t lose interest?”

“Not at all. That’s how I knew I really wanted it. I’ve planned to run for years. Built up a base of support. Pressed a lot of palms. I want this.”

“But she doesn’t want to be the wife of a public servant?”

“We haven’t gotten that far. She doesn’t want to go through the election. Which is going to get rough.” Jack went over to the bench and picked up the sling, which he had to take off before he could run. He put the thing back around his neck. As he slid the cast inside, he said, “You ever been with someone that makes you feel—hell, makes you believe there might be a God up there after all?”

“No.”

“Yeah, well, neither had I. Before her. Letting her go feels all wrong.”

“So it sounds like you’ve made up your mind.”

Good God, had he?

He thought about it for a minute and realized, yes, he had.

For Callie, he would give up everything. Even the goddamn governor’s mansion. To have true love with her, he would give up his dream.

So he could live another.

Jack’s breath left him in a rush as the solution became clear, at least on his side.

He would absolutely give up his political aspirations for her. No question. But that was only half of it. If he was going to make that kind of compromise, she was going to have to be completely truthful with him. He would need to know everything.

He focused on his brother. “Thanks, Nate. This has been really helpful.”

Nate looked a little confused, but then slapped his hands on his knees and got up. “Always glad to help. Even when it’s just listening.”

They started for the door.

“So how long are you here for?” Jack asked.

“Thought I’d hang around for the party and then go up to Montreal to see Spike and Louie.”

Jack killed the lights and they headed upstairs. “How are those two nut jobs?”

“Still out of control. So naturally I’m thinking of going into business with them. We might buy a restaurant together.”

“The rolling stone is thinking of settling down?”

“Not at all. I’m just buying a joint, brother.” Nate shrugged. “Anyway, I’ve saved some money.”

“You have?”

“Don’t sound so surprised. It’s not your kind of money, but it’s enough to get us started.”

Jack stopped as they emerged into the hall. “Look, if you find something, just let me know. I’ll be happy to give you—”

“Don’t even go there. You have enough dependents and I don’t want to be a charity case.”