Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(42)

He held her for a second, then released her. “Did you get the extra-meat lasagna? Because if I have to eat pasta, it better have some protein on it.”

She grinned. “Seriously? After all this time you’re questioning my ordering skills?”

Thirty minutes later the five of them were sitting down to dinner. Angelo’s had delivered football-player-size portions of double-meat lasagna for the guys, along with two normal servings for Taryn and Larissa. There was salad, garlic bread and tiramisu for dessert. As they would all be walking home—except for Taryn, who would be picked up later by an adoring Angel—wine flowed freely.

“Where’s Percy?” Taryn asked as she lightly sprinkled dressing on her salad. “Didn’t he want to join us?”

“Have dinner with a bunch of old people?” Jack asked. “No way. I offered, but he said he’d rather eat by himself. And here I thought we were an interesting bunch.”

“We are,” Taryn assured him. “He’s just too young to appreciate us.”

Sam raised his glass of wine. “To old friends. The best kind.”

Taryn winced. “I’m not fond of the old part of that statement, but I’ll drink to the rest of it.”

They clinked glasses, then drank.

Taryn sat at the head of the table. Larissa was to her right, next to Jack. Kenny and Sam were on the other side. She glanced at Kenny and he winked at her. A simple act that made her able to relax enough to enjoy the meal. Because she wanted things normal between them.

She didn’t know what was happening with Jack. None of it made sense. Not the attraction, not the kissing. She only knew that he was a constant in her world and she never wanted that to change.

“The last thing we need is another alcohol-based client,” Taryn was saying. “Isn’t what we have enough?”

“There’s a Polish vodka producer looking for a presence in America,” Jack told her. “That would be good for us.”

Taryn glared at him. “You’re just saying that because you’re hoping to plan a business meeting in mid-January. I know how you all love to torment me.”

“Poland is relatively close to France,” Sam said. “We could meet in Paris.”

“Uh-huh. You’re all in on this.” She turned to Larissa. “You’re the only one I can depend on.”

“I wouldn’t mind going to Poland,” Larissa admitted. “In any month.”

Kenny chuckled. “Imagine what you could rescue there.”

As if listening to the conversation, Larissa’s cell phone chirped. Everyone burst out laughing. Kenny pointed at Jack.

“Five bucks says you’re screwed.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “I’m not taking that bet.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Larissa said primly as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and glanced at the text message on the screen.

It was from a wildlife organization. They needed a place to keep an injured wild Northern Spotted Owl. She turned to Jack.

“Can I keep a bird at your place?”

The table went silent as everyone waited.

Jack looked at her. “In a cage?”

“Yes.”

“Just one bird?”

She nodded.

“For how long?”

“Less than a week.”

“Okay, sure.” He looked at Kenny. “It’s a bird. I’m fine. You owe me five bucks.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Larissa quickly texted back agreement to take the bird, then excused herself to get the rest of the information. When she was done with the call, she texted Percy to let him know what was going on, then returned to the conference room.

Jack and Kenny were arguing about a play from a game from who knew how many years ago. As she walked back in, Jack stood and walked to the microwave. He hit a couple of buttons while explaining to Kenny why he was wrong.

Because in the few minutes she’d been gone, he’d put her dinner in the microwave for her. So it wouldn’t be cold. Taryn grabbed the open bottle of wine and topped off Larissa’s glass while Sam put another slice of garlic bread on her side plate.

She smiled and took her place at the family table.

* * *

TWO DAYS LATER, Jack walked through Fool’s Gold on his way to the library to pick up Percy. It was nearly seven on a weeknight, but people were still out. Families strolled together. Neighbors visited over fences. It was a good town, he thought. A place that welcomed strangers and made longtime residents not want to leave.

Taryn had hated the idea of moving here, but even she had come around. Sam was engaged to a local girl. It was just a matter of time until Kenny overcame his past and fell hard for some sweet young thing. Then they’d have roots here and Score would become a part of the Fool’s Gold story.

He wanted that. A sense of belonging was nice—as long as he could keep his distance as it washed over him.

He turned the corner and headed for the library. As he got closer, he saw a tall skinny teen sitting on the front steps. Percy put his laptop away as Jack approached, then stood and walked toward him.

“When did the library close?” he asked.

“It’s open a few more minutes, but I came out here to wait. I wanted to keep working on my reading.” Percy grinned. “It’s going good. Some of the stuff I know and I’m learning the rest of it.”