An Irresistible Bachelor(93)

"You call that dough? " Thomas was saying to Nate while gesturing with a wooden spoon. "It looks like something you'd put wallpaper up with."

Nate cracked a smile as he kept kneading on the counter. "Why don't you give those onions a stir, old man. Before they have to be taken out of the pan with a jackhammer."



"Hey, Callie!" Thomas grinned. "Welcome to my nightmare. Two cooks, one kitchen."

As gratitude for some uncomplicated friendship washed her eyes with tears, she knew she was in a vulnerable place. If she was smart, she'd go up to her room and stay there. Now was not a real good time for her to be around other people. Particularly nice ones.

When the front doorknocker sounded, she volunteered to answer it and nearly let out a cry of joy when Grace and her bodyguard were on the other side.

She embraced her half sister. "I am so glad to see you."

The hug she got back was just as strong as the one she gave.

When they pulled apart, Grace motioned to the imposing man behind her. "You remember Ross?"

Callie smiled as she felt her hand taken in a firm grip.

"It's good to see you again," she said, looking up into his stark face. The smile he gave her made him look almost approachable, in spite of his black leather jacket and his hooded eyes.

She motioned the pair inside. "Come on in, it's cold out here."

Ross bent down and picked up a couple of leather bags like they were weightless.

"Where's Jack?" Grace asked, taking off her coat.

"He's still out, I think. But Nate's here."

"You're kidding me."

As Callie shook her head, the man in question came around the corner while wiping his hands on a dish towel. "Gracie!"



Grace let out a laugh and went to him. As they embraced, she said, "It's good to see you, stranger."

"You, too. Who's this?" Nate looked over at the other man.

"This is my fiancé, Ross Smith."

Callie gasped. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you. It just happened last night. We couldn't be more thrilled."

When Grace and Ross were seated in the kitchen, having a drink while Thomas and Nate cooked, Callie found the shouts of laughter and private jokes a little hard to bear.

Making a quick excuse, she slipped upstairs to her room, promising to return when the meal was on the table.

Jack parked his mother's Jaguar in its bay, turned off the ignition, and stared at the back wall of the garage. He was suddenly exhausted, but didn't want to close his eyes because he'd only replay scenes from the synagogue and the graveyard. He couldn't get the image of that small coffin out of his mind, no matter what practicalities he tried to distract himself with.

When he finally walked over to the house, he saw Grace and his brother through the windows, laughing while one poured dressing on a salad and the other tossed. Standing in the pitch dark, looking at two of the people he loved most in the world, he was grateful to be home. Grateful that his loved ones had not suffered as the family of that little girl had. As she herself had.




He opened the door and frowned when he didn't see Callie.

"There he is!" Grace exclaimed, rushing to him. She pulled up short when she got a load of the cast. "I heard all about your accident. I'm glad you're okay."

"And all the better for seeing you."

He gave her a quick hug and a kiss, but when he pulled back, she held onto his good arm.

"Hey, how are you really doing?" she whispered as she gave him a shrewd stare. "I also heard about you and Blair. I'm sorry."

"Thanks." Jack smiled and nodded across to the big, silent man in the corner. "John Smith, right?"

"My fiancé's name is Ross," Grace interjected.

Jack cocked an eyebrow at the name change and the announcement.

"Well, congratulations," he said, meaning it. As he shook hands with his friend's fiancé, he approved of the way Smith put his arm around Grace and brought her close to him.

"Hey, brother, go get Callie will you?" Nate said from the stove. "We're ten minutes out. She went upstairs."

Jack put down his briefcase and went up to her bedroom. When he knocked on the door, she answered softly.

When he walked in, he saw her sitting on the big bed, a pillow in her lap. She smiled. "I was hoping it was you."