An Irresistible Bachelor(39)

"Nathaniel's back in Boston and in one piece."

"And did the conservationist come?"

"Yes, she did."

"I can't wait to meet her. I saw Grace yesterday and she told me Callie's quite lovely. Hey, did you know that Grace is seeing someone? She didn't have time to give me a lot of details, but she looks very happy. We met him. At Newport."

Jack frowned. "The bodyguard? Jesus. He was a tough character."

"Well, Grace is certainly in love with him. She just couldn't stop smiling and I was so happy for her." The phone, was muffled as Blair yelled out another set of commands. "Listen, I've got to go. Why don't we talk later on tonight?"

"That'd be great."

"I love you," she said before she hung up.

Jack put the phone down and stared at it. The conversation was typical of the ones they shared. Easygoing, warm.

Placid.

He turned back to the window, watching Callie and Arthur play.

Nothing was easy with Callie. He felt as though he had to work to earn her smiles, her laughs, her respect. But when she'd send one of those rare, wide grins his way, he felt like he'd been blessed.



As soon as he finished his drink, he headed back to the bar.

This was wrong, he thought. This was all wrong. He wasn't supposed to be thinking about another woman and having Blair look unexciting by comparison.

With his glass full again, he went to the window and watched Callie pick up the stick and throw it toward the house. As Arthur sprinted across the grass, she caught Jack's eyes through the window and froze. He lifted his hand.

She waved back and then moved out of sight.

With studied effort, Jack tried to think of all of the things he liked about Blair: the shape of her eyes; the way she dressed; her sense of style. He heard the rhythmic inflection of her voice and the slight lisp that marked her th's.

He couldn't remember either of them raising their voices at each other, and considering all of the tension in his household and all the conflict in his business life, that calmness had been a welcomed change. With Blair, it had always been smooth sailing. Smooth as glass.

And maybe a little flat.

"Jackson," his mother said crisply from the doorway. He looked around. She was wearing her mink and pulling on slim leather gloves. "I'm going out for the evening. Thomas has prepared a buffet for you."

"I'm sure Callie and I will enjoy it," he said, swirling the bourbon in his hand.

His mother's lips tightened. "I had Elsie mail the invitations to the holiday party today. I used the standard list."



He nodded even though he didn't care and she knew it.

"You know, I really wish you'd take more of an interest," she said, easing one of the gloves down the back of her hand. "Your father was so very helpful. With the guests, the choice of food. He was such a master at these things."

Jack shot her a dry smile. "So paying for it isn't enough?"

Her eyes lifted from the glove. "Really, Jackson, that's uncalled for."

"Sorry." He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat down in his chair. "Long day."

He heard her come farther into the room, her high heels clipping across the marble floor until they were silenced by the rug behind his desk. When he felt her hand on his shoulder, he looked up.

"You know, Jack, I do appreciate all your hard work." Her eyes were as soft as they ever got. "Your father may have been blind to everything you have done for this family, but he never knew what it was like not to have money. I, on the other hand, have never forgotten."

So she remembered after all, he thought. His mother, the well-composed illusionist, had kept a little of her past with her.

Jack reached up and put his hand over hers. The bond of work, of industry, of pressing the limits because they were there to push against, was something they would always share. His drive and ambition had been his inheritance from her and they sure as hell had proven more lucrative than what had been left to him in his father's will.

From the doorway, Elsie cleared her throat. "I'm sorry to bother you both, but I'm going home now. Unless you need anything else."

Mercedes snatched her hand back, and before she turned around, her face settled into the elegant mask she showed the world. "No, we're fine. Have a good evening."

Elsie bowed a little and then left.