The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(46)

"I had no idea," Charlotte said. Her hand had been over her mouth the whole time, she realized.

"Jack doesn't like to talk about it. He was born a little over a year later, but things were different for him. Caroline and I had always been free to do our own thing. My mother hovered over Jack for every minute of his childhood. He never had a chance to just be a kid. It's just I think anyone entering the family deserves to know the truth about why we're so dysfunctional. When my father died a few years back, it dredged up a lot of emotions we had buried long ago. Whatever happens at dinner, I thought you should at least know the truth." As Whit looked over to her, the water started to boil, and the pot rumbled to life on the range.

"You didn't hear this from me," Whit continued, "but my sister thinks it's strange that our brother ended up with someone who isn't from the same country club circuit. Jack had a string of girlfriends over the years who were beautiful, high-maintenance and more interested in his potential as a Coburn than in his personality. It makes complete sense to me. The rest of us ask so much of him. I'm mentioning this now because I don't think I'll have a chance later. There's a blowout brewing between the two of them, and everyone here knows it. So before everything goes to hell, I thought you should know that he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I think you help lighten that load."

"Thank you," Charlotte said. She wasn't sure what to say.

"That's enough of my ramblings for tonight," Whit said. "Here's to you and Jack and new beginnings." He picked up a lobster like he was making a toast and tipped it into the pot. He slipped the others into the boiling water one by one.





***

By the time dinner was ready, tensions between Jack and Caroline had reached a critical mass. Charlotte peeked in through the doorway.

"Can I steal Jack for just one minute?" she asked.

"You might want to take him for a few more than that," Angela said.

As soon as they were out of the room, Charlotte turned to Jack. The familiar warmth in his eyes was gone, and the anger across his face was a look she wasn't used to. The way he gritted his teeth to bulge out the muscles at the side of his jaw and the way his face set in determination made him seem tough and hard. There was something undeniably attractive about it.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, it's just Caroline. She's so frustrating sometimes."

"You realize that this is what she wants, right? The best way to win whatever argument you're having is to stop having it."

"You don't understand," he said. "You don't even know what we're fighting about."

"I have a sister," Charlotte said. She watched him pace back and forth down the hallway, and she hated to see him this upset, even if he was surprisingly attractive all worked up. "Trust me when I say I understand. Half of it is whatever you think you're fighting about, and the other half is every unresolved issue you've had since each of you were born."

Jack snorted a laugh and shook his head. "Yeah? So what am I supposed to do?"

Charlotte motioned for him with one finger. "Step one. Forget about the fight for a minute."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Jack asked. He either missed her signal or had chosen to ignore it. He stood with his fists balled at his sides.

"I'm trying to show you, but you have to come over here first," Charlotte said.

Jack stepped in front of her. "There, are you happy?"

"Not yet," Charlotte said.

"Why not?" Jack asked.

"Because you're still thinking about how annoyed you are."

"I thought you were going to tell me how to fix that."

"There's a trick to it. How about I fix it for you instead?"

Charlotte smiled as Jack's scowl quickly changed into a look of confusion. She stepped up on the tips of her toes and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him quickly.

The moment her lips met his, she pressed all her weight into him. It was the first time she had taken the initiative to kiss Jack, she realized, and it felt great. His face was still frozen in surprise as she moved her hands to his face and smoothed her fingers through his hair.

Jack took a half step back before he realized what was happening. As soon as he had his arms around her too, he held her tight and returned her kiss. He ran his hands up and down her back as he deepened the kiss, and Charlotte felt that wonderful pull that made her wish he'd scoop her up and carry her upstairs. If she went much longer before stopping things, dinner would be unbearable.

Charlotte kissed Jack's cheek and his ear.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Yes," Jack said. He turned and tried to kiss her again, but Charlotte pressed her finger to her lips.

"Good. Maybe if you can get through dinner without getting in a fight, I'll be inclined to keep kissing you later." She slipped out of Jack's arms and turned down the hall.

"That was your plan for getting me to behave?" Jack asked.

"Seems to be working so far," Charlotte said.

Jack laughed again. "Next moment we're alone, I'm finishing what you just started."

Charlotte gave him a wink. "Just remember you have to get through dinner first."