Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(70)

“Okay,” she said slowly. “I won’t try to get them together.”

“Good.” Taryn crossed her legs and smiled. “So, you had sex with Jack. How was that?”

The casual question had Larissa nearly choking. “How did you... Did Jack...” She cleared her throat. “It was nice.”

Taryn didn’t smile. “No one told me. No one had to. I figured it out the second I saw you after you got back from San Francisco.” She hesitated.

“You think it’s a bad idea.”

Taryn raised one shoulder. “I’m not sure. I think it’s great that you’re focusing on your own life instead of always distracting yourself with your causes. But I worry about how all this is going to end. You know Jack isn’t looking for the same things you are, right?”

Larissa nodded. “He’s been very clear and it’s not like I haven’t seen him go through hordes of women over the years.”

“But?”

“I want to get over him. What’s that old saying? The only way over is through?”

“You need to go through a relationship with Jack to move on.” Taryn sighed. “I hope you’re right. That you’re going to be able to move on and not just get more involved.”

“I’m open to suggestions,” Larissa told her. “If you can think of another way to deal with this.”

“Sorry, no.”

“Then I’m going to move forward with the plan and hope for the best.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

LARISSA SAT UP and stared at the clock beside her bed. The numbers weren’t very different from the last time she’d looked. Instead of 3:15 it now read 3:18. At this rate, she was in for an extra shot of espresso come morning.

She flopped back on her mattress and tried to clear her brain. Turning the same thoughts over and over wasn’t helping her get sleep. Yet she couldn’t get Taryn’s words out of her head.

Nor could she forget her conversation with Bailey. Sure Larissa made sure the latest tree moth or chiweenie was rescued, but that was all short-term. Bailey was dealing with so much more. She was raising a kid on her own. Talk about having to pull it all together. Larissa wondered if her own personal resources and character would rise to the occasion.

Dyna jumped onto the bed and walked toward her.

“Hey, pretty girl,” Larissa said as she rolled onto her side and stroked the cat. “Am I keeping you awake? Sorry. I have too much on my mind.”

Dyna sank down next to her and purred while Larissa continued to stroke her. She rested her head on her arm and wondered when everything had gotten so complicated.

She’d always had a desire to take care of animals in need. But once she got to know Jack and had access to his resources, the sphere had grown. She liked being able to make a difference. She liked coordinating with families who were waiting for a transplant and helping them find temporary housing. She liked knowing that she’d found homes for cats or chiweenies or even owls. Helping wasn’t bad.

Except when it was something to hide behind, she thought slowly. Except when it offered a way to hide from her real life.

Had she done that? Had she be so busy rescuing everything in her path that she’d forgotten about herself? She wanted to say no but the fact that it took her mother to point out that she was in love with Jack sort of said she very well might have lost her way.

So what was she going to do about it? How was she going to reclaim her life?

“What do you think I should do?” she asked aloud.

Dyna turned to gaze at her. The cat’s blue eyes closed slowly.

“You’re right,” Larissa told her. “It’s my problem and therefore the solution is in me. But maybe you could give me a hint?”

Dyna continued to purr. Larissa closed her own eyes and felt herself start to relax. The answer would be there, she told herself. All she had to do was keep looking for it.

* * *

“I CAN’T TASTE anymore truffles,” Taryn said. “If I do, I won’t fit in my dress. You and Angel can decide. But I do want the larger sprays of flowers for the ceremony.”

She paused, then groaned. “Is that right? Are they too big?”

Dellina took notes as Taryn spoke. “Either size will be beautiful.”

Her voice was calm, almost soothing. Jack figured it was a trick she’d picked up, given her line of business. Psycho brides would go with the territory. He’d heard rumors about them but until recently, he’d thought they were an urban myth. Now he knew better. He would never have guessed he would hear Taryn worrying about flower arrangements for any reason. Or tuxedo truffles or tulle, whatever the hell that was.

Accompanying their very female conversation was the steady beat from Percy’s speakers. Despite the fact that the kid was upstairs, the throbbing of his music’s bass vibrated through the house. The front door opened and the two chiweenies Larissa hadn’t taken with her to walk started barking. Jack looked around his living room and thought longingly of escape.

“We come carrying beer,” Sam said as he walked into the living room. “It’s nearly time.”

Kenny held up two giant bags of takeout. “I don’t know if I got enough.”

“You’re fine,” Taryn said before Jack could speak. “Angel will be by shortly with chips, dip and nuts.” She bent down and scooped up one of the dogs. The other one ran to Jack and began scratching at his knee, trying to get Jack to pick him up.