An Irresistible Bachelor (An Unforgettable Lady #2)(91)

Jack marched over to the desk. “I don’t need this from you right now, okay? Do your job, call those god-damn people, and let’s get this candidacy started.”

He sat down and watched Gray compose himself.

“You mind telling me why the change?” His friend’s voice was even now.

But Jack had no intention of exposing his pain to anyone.

Because how he felt was no one else’s f*cking business, he thought.

“I don’t have anything to lose. Not anymore.”



Jack was still sitting at his desk when the sun came up. As the first rays of dawn fell across the lawn, he shifted in the chair and moved his cast to another position. He felt a sturdy ache in his shoulder, but it was the pain in his chest that held his attention. He figured it was either angina or a broken heart, and it was hard to decide which would be worse.

Although that was probably because he was all alone, watching a beautiful sunrise, and feeling pathetically melodramatic.

“Hey, Governor.”

Jack looked over and saw Nate standing in the doorway. He smiled even though he felt half-dead. “Don’t jump the gun with that title. It’s a long way to the finish line.”

“Yeah, and when have you ever failed at something?”

Jack couldn’t bear to entertain the joke. “I’m surprised you’re up this early considering what you and Thomas pulled off last night. The food was fantastic.” Eyeing the duffel bag hanging off Nate’s shoulder, he asked, “You headed out?”

“Yeah, I want to be up in Canada before nightfall. Spike, Louie, and I have an appointment to see a restaurant that’s for sale.”

“You know, I was serious when I offered you the money. Even if you insist on just borrowing it.”

“Thanks.”

Jack stood up, loosening the stiffness in his back. “When are we going to see you next?”

“Christmas.”

“Good.” They walked out, heading for the kitchen, and Jack made a quick detour to pick the Globe off the front step. As he uncurled it, he saw a picture of himself below the fold on the front page. The article quoted him as still being undecided, but the reporter speculated it was only a matter of time before an official announcement of his candidacy was made.

That guy’s editor was going to be pleased, Jack thought. Because the Walker campaign was probably going to release something by the end of the week.

“So you really are going to do it,” Nate said over his shoulder.

“Yes, I am.”

As they went into the kitchen, he scanned the article. Butch Callahan’s response was as he expected. Barely polite.

Jack threw the paper down on the table.

And so the fight begins, he thought.

“Breakfast?” he asked Nate.

“Naw. I’ll grab something on the road.”

Jack walked his brother out to the old Saab Nate had driven since graduating from Harvard.

“I hope that thing keeps going.”

“Me, too.” Nate tossed his bag in the trunk and got in. With a sputter and a roar, the car’s engine came alive and he leaned out the window. “Take care and remember, my cell phone’s got voice mail, so you can always find me. Let me know if you need to talk.”

“Will do, brother.”

Jack waved as Nate shot down the driveway.

Before he went back in the house, he looked at the garage and wondered if he’d ever be able to see the damn thing and not think of Callie.

Briefly, he entertained a scenario of what-ifs, like what if his mother hadn’t sprung the announcement. Or what if Callie had given him a chance to explain. Or what if she’d trusted him enough in the first place.

But then he reeled in his thoughts, and as he went back to his study, he knew he had some work to do.

Sitting down behind the desk, he called a real estate agent he knew. The message he left authorized a fullprice, cash offer to purchase a condo at the Four Seasons Hotel. He knew one was available because he’d seen one advertised in the paper the week before. His next call was to a moving company. Assuming his lawyers worked quickly, he figured the closing could be in as little as two weeks, and he wanted to make sure he got the movers lined up.

He was hanging up the phone when his mother materialized in the doorway. Dressed in a pale silk robe that fell to the floor, and with her hair loosely coiled on her head, she looked fresh even at her age.

“Speak of the devil,” he said.

His mother’s smile was conciliatory but her eyes held a certain satisfaction. She knew, he thought, exactly what she’d done. But then, why should he be surprised? His mother was a very smart woman.

“Jack, darling, I missed the opportunity to say good night to you after the party.” She came into the room. “I wanted to thank you for everything you did to make last night a success.”

“Tell me, Mother,” he said, idly fingering some papers on his desk, “when are you thinking of going to Palm Beach for the season?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“You might want to delay for a week.”

“Not so eager to get rid of me? That’s a pleasant change,” she chided, her smile becoming more genuine.

“I just think you’ll want the extra time to adjust.”

She shot him an inquisitive glance. “To what?”