An Irresistible Bachelor(76)

Probably because she was remembering their brief passing, too.

Callie awkwardly returned the gesture, shooting a glance at Jack. He met her eyes and shook his head as if he regretted the situation she'd been put in.

"I wish I could say I was pleased to meet you," Blair Said, with more honesty than hostility. "This has been a disappointment, as you can imagine."

Callie didn't know how to respond, and as she looked away, her eyes flickered down to the diamond. It had a diameter the size of a nickel.

"I think I'll just go upstairs," she murmured.

"That's not necessary," Blair said. "Jack and I were just making our good-bye official."

She picked up a Vuitton handbag and nodded stiffly at Callie. Then she looked at Jack and said, "Take care of yourself. I know you always do."

"I'll walk you to the door"

"That's not necessary. Actually, I'd prefer you didn't." She paused on her way out of the room, glancing at Callie. "Be careful, darling. He's a wonderful man on many fronts, so there's a big hole to fill when he leaves."

Callie looked away, thinking the woman was undoubtedly right.

The sound of the front door being opened and closed was followed by a long silence.

She shifted her eyes to Jack. His head was down and he was gripping the edge of the countertop.

"Are you okay? " she asked.

His chest rose and fell. "Yeah."

She waited for him to say something more. When he didn't, she murmured, "You want to hold off on dinner?"

He looked up. "Maybe. I don't know that I'd be good company right now."

Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered whether he was having second thoughts. But maybe it was just the awkwardness of Blair showing up. "I understand."

He came over and kissed her briefly. "Thank you."

After he left, she glanced over at the ring and tried to imagine wearing the thing. She couldn't picture it on her finger.

Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He certainly hadn't mentioned marriage to her.

She groaned. Marriage? They'd made love three times and already she was thinking about altars? She had to be out of her mind. Weekend escapes were one thing. And even then, she might have been pushing it a little.

She forced herself to consider how long they'd known each other and didn't like the answer. It was a matter of weeks, not months. They had a long, long way to go before she should be thinking more than a couple days ahead.



Jack went into his study and tried to pretend that settling in with the bourbon was not becoming a routine. After a couple of swallows, he pushed the glass and the decanter away, feeling too much like his father. What he wanted was a little peace, not a coping mechanism with nasty consequences.


But when his mother appeared in the doorway, he reached for the glass again. She was wearing a formal dress and a lot of pearls and he took the outfit as a good sign she was leaving.

Which couldn't happen fast enough for him considering the displeasure on her face.

"Where did Blair run off to? And why was this," she held up the diamond, "in the kitchen?"

Damn it, he should have pocketed the ring when he'd had the chance.

"The engagement is off."

"Whatever for?" she demanded.

"That's none of your business."

Mercedes began shaking her

He refilled his glass. "I can assure you, being with Callie is no sacrifice for me. At all."

His mother's face tightened. "Maybe in the privacy of your own home. But what about in the outside world? You need someone who understands the kind of life you lead. Blair can support you—"

"And you think Callie can't? My lifestyle isn't rocket science. I see the same five hundred people, at the same parties, year after year. I could do it with my eyes closed and so could anyone with half a brain."

"That's a considerable simplification and you know it. Listen to me, Jack, I know how hard it was for your father and me—"

Jack didn't bother to keep the boredom out of his voice. "My father worshipped you and you've had a great time playing grande dame for the past forty years. So don't try and pretend it was all a chore, okay?"

She took a deep breath. "There's no reason to talk to me like that."

"Was there anything else you had to say, Mother?" As soon as the words came out, he regretted the invitation. Of course there was going to be more.