She was the real deal, and damn, but Jack’s heart swelled as he watched her. When she glanced up, her fingers froze and silence fell between them. Her hair was a tumbled mess. Her eyes fresh and bright. That mouth of hers was bruised from their night of loving, and that body was barely covered by an old T-shirt of his.
“That’s a good look on you,” he said slowly, eyes sweeping over her in appreciation. “I like you in my clothes.”
She set the guitar aside. “It’s all I could find.”
“I have no problem with that.”
“Good,” she said softly.
For a moment, silence slid between them. But it wasn’t an awkward sort of thing. It was an easy silence
. And like an old friend, it was one he welcomed.
“I fed him,” Donovan said.
“Fed?” Jack started forward.
“The dog.”
“Ah.” He let Coco down and watched the little thing run over to Donovan. Coco was trembling and he licked her toes before hopping up beside her.
Somewhere in the house, a cellphone rang out.
“You gonna answer that?” she asked, eyes on him.
“No.” Jack walked toward her. “I’m not going to answer that.”
“Any particular reason?” A smile played around the corner of her mouth.
“I’ve got a few.” He slid onto the sofa beside her and didn’t blink when Coco barked in disgust. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her good and hard.
“Wanna share?” she asked breathlessly.
Jack pulled them back into the soft cushions. “I’m not inclined to let the real world in yet. I just got you back, and call me a greedy bastard, but I sure as hell don’t want to share you with anyone.”
She had nothing for him but that was fine. Jack was content to hold her, to listen to her breathe. To feel the warmth of her and inhale the scent of her. He was content to let things be for now, because he had a feeling they were in for a bumpy ride.
Things weren’t going to be easy. Aside from the media circus that would descend, there were still issues between them that had to be worked out. But there was time for all of that.
“I called my mom today.”
Jack’s eyes opened. “And?”
She sighed. “She gave me an earful for running off to Canada without telling her, and then she hung up.”
Jack’s mouth tightened. He could never pretend to understand their relationship, because from what he’d seen, it wasn’t exactly healthy. Jayleigh loved her daughter, but loving and knowing how to show love were two entirely different things. Jayleigh wasn’t going to win any mother of the year awards, and it was probably a smart thing for Donovan to distance her mother from Donovan’s business dealings.
“I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“I’m not.” But she was. He could feel it. Her shoulders were tense.
“Hey,” he whispered near her ear. “How do you feel about French toast?”
“I think that might hit the spot.”
Jack got to his feet and pulled her up, but when she winced, he froze.
“My foot,” she mumbled.