An Irresistible Bachelor(45)

Thank God Jack heard the front door open. She sure hadn't.

"Well," Mercedes said. "Isn't this cozy."

Callie was grateful for the dim light as she picked up her fork and pushed the cold food in her bowl around. She had no doubt that her face was showing what her body was still feeling and no mother needed to see that.

Especially not Mercedes Walker.

"You're home early, Mother." Jack's voice was dry and Callie risked a look at him. His face was utterly composed, as if nothing had happened at all. Considering the hoarse rasp of his voice just moments before, his recovery was downright astounding.

"I wasn't feeling well."

Callie glanced over at the woman. She looked perfectly fine.



For someone who was thoroughly pissed off but hiding it well.

Mercedes's eyes were shooting messages at Jack and it was pretty clear what the gist of them were. The woman obviously didn't like the intimate atmosphere in the kitchen, didn't approve of her son having quiet dinners with someone other than his fiancée. She no doubt would have fallen over in a dead faint if she'd walked in on them while they were actually kissing.

Then again, Callie would probably have passed out, too.

An awkward silence ensued while Mercedes glared at her son and Jack leaned back casually on the granite counter.

So this was how the upper classes fought, Callie thought. No yelling, no cursing. Just a lot of chilly glances and the rank odor of disapproval filling the room.

"Did you want something?" Jack said smoothly.

Mercedes took off her gloves with sharp movements and pushed them into the pocket of her fur coat. "No."

"Goodnight, then."

"Good night, indeed," Mercedes snapped before turning on her heel and leaving.

Callie took a deep breath and stared at the remnants of their dinner. The half-eaten food in Jack's bowl. The candles dripping wax. The napkins that were laying on the table.

Such a fine meal, she thought. Or at least it had started out that way.

"You okay?" Jack asked.



She nodded even though she was far from fine. Now that she was thinking more clearly, she had to wonder what would have happened if Mercedes hadn't come home. Would they have ended up in a bedroom somewhere? Was she really that reckless? To lose her virginity to a man with no relationship, no declarations of love. No chance of a future because he was engaged to someone else?

Unfortunately, when she remembered what it felt like to be in Jack's arms, Callie thought, yes, maybe she was that rash. And maybe she should thank his mother for being an intrusive pain in the ass.

Jack cleared his throat. "Brace yourself. I'm about to apologize again."

Callie looked up at him. "This time, you have nothing to be sorry for. I was the—ah..."

Aggressor was probably the right word. God, she wanted to cringe.

Jack shook his head and came over to the table. She thought for a moment he would take her in his arms again, but he only cleared his place setting.

As he went over to the sink, he flipped the lights on and she blinked from the glare. He paused and then slammed his bowl down with force, making her jerk in surprise as pasta jumped out and landed on the counter.

"Damn it, I don't want to ... want you like I do. What's happening between us... it isn't right."

"I agree," she said quietly. "We should, ah, let's just forget about it."

His face was harsh as he stared at her over his shoulder. "You think that's even possible?"



"Do we really have a choice?"

In the awful silence that followed, she helped him clean off the table. As soon as the job was done, she dropped the napkins on the counter and headed to the door.


"Goodnight."

He didn't stop her. "Good night, Callie."





Chapter 11





Jack wadded up the napkins, threw them into the hamper and shut off the light. Instead of heading for the stairs, he went out a side door. The last thing he wanted was to get into a bed that was only the width of a hallway away from her.

The cold wind cut through his clothes and he liked the sting of the night as he walked aimlessly across the lawn. Distantly, he heard cars go by, the sound of Route 9 a soft, unceasing hum.

She wanted him to forget? He'd have more luck turning back time.

When a light came on in Callie's bedroom, he stopped and watched the shape of her body as she moved around. When she paused by the window, he stepped deeper into the shadows. She seemed to be scanning the night.