Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(35)

“Nothing,” Jack said¸ still embarrassed by his behavior.

Kenny pushed off the door frame and walked over to the desk. He claimed one of the visitor chairs and sat down.

Kenny’s blond hair was still damp from his shower and Jack would guess he’d come here directly from the locker room.

“Larissa was fooled,” Kenny told him. “But I wasn’t. What did you expect to find, bursting in like that? Us doing it on the massage table?”

That was exactly what Jack had been imagining, but hearing Kenny say it made him sound stupid. Or worse—needy.

“No. Why would you even ask?”

Kenny shook his head. “Like I said before, what’s wrong with you, man?”

Jack surrendered to the inevitable. “It’s Larissa’s mother.”

“What?”

“When she was here a few weeks ago, she came to see me.”

Kenny still looked confused. “If she said I’m sleeping with Larissa, she’s wrong. Larissa is gorgeous, but jeez, she’s like my sister.” He shuddered. “There’s no way.”

Despite everything, Jack smiled. “No, that wasn’t her point. She said...” He swore, not wanting to repeat the words. “She said I should fire Larissa so she would move back to L.A., find some guy and get married.”

“Why can’t she do that here?”

“Her mother thinks she’s in love with me.”

Kenny gave one long whistle. “Hell.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Is it true?”

“What? No. Of course not. We work together.” When his friend didn’t look convinced, Jack added, “She knows me.”

Kenny grinned. “You got a point there. And knowing you, she should know better.” He chuckled at his joke. “So what’s the problem?”

“There isn’t one.”

“Try again, because I’m not buying that.”

Jack considered his options. “Having her mom say that made things strange between us,” he said, hedging with facts while avoiding the whole I-kissed-her reality. “We’re still settling in.”

Kenny’s grin widened. “So that’s why you got a boner. You’re seeing her in a whole new light.”

“Shut up.”

Kenny chuckled. “Yeah, poor Jack. Falling for the woman right under his nose.”

“I’m not falling for her. We’re friends. I care about her. That’s different.”

“Be sure you keep it to friendship,” Kenny said, his humor fading. “She’s part of our family. You don’t get to mess that up.”

“I won’t. And thanks for taking my side.”

“Screw your side. This is for the greater good. So nothing’s happened, right?”

Jack hesitated a nanosecond too long.

Kenny slapped his large hands on the desk. “What?” he demanded. “What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

“Like hell it was nothing. Tell me.”

Jack groaned. “We kissed.”

“You kissed her?”

Kenny’s voice echoed off the walls.

Jack glared at him. “Keep it down. You want everyone to know?”

“They’re going to find out when they ask why I pulverized you.”

“You’re not going to hurt me,” Jack told him. “And it was just one kiss. Twice.”

“You kissed her twice?”

“Yes, but I can’t say how it happened. One second we were talking and then—”

Kenny stood up. He swore loudly as he walked to the door and slammed it shut, then he stalked back to the desk and leaned over it menacingly.

“You kissed her?” he demanded.

Jack nodded.

“Twice.”

Another nod.

“Two kisses as in two different times and places?”

“Want me to draw a diagram?”

Kenny glared at him. “Don’t you try any attitude on me, McGarry. I’m protecting my own here, even from you. What were you thinking? Oh, wait. Let me guess. You weren’t. Jesus, Mary and Joseph. You’re an idiot. Worse.”

Jack almost felt relieved to be yelled at. Maybe now he wouldn’t have to feel so guilty.

“We only kissed,” he said quickly. “There was nothing else.”

“Like that makes it okay?” Kenny straightened. “I have to think.”

“There’s nothing to think about. It won’t happen again.”

“Where have I heard that before? Besides, there’s something going on, even if it’s just in your pointed head. Look at how you burst in on me before. You thought I was making a move on your girl.”

Jack started to protest, only to stop. No, he told himself. It couldn’t be that. He wasn’t interested in Larissa that way. He couldn’t be. He needed her in his life. If they took things any further, it would all go to hell and she would walk. Because his relationships always ended. Usually sooner rather than later.

Kenny nodded slowly. “I see the wheels turning. I’m glad you’re coming to your senses. You’re right—you can’t screw around with her. Literally or figuratively. She’s part of us. Now tell me you’re going to back off and never go there again.”