Then her hands covered his where he was pulling up her dress.
“Not here.”
Realizing he was mauling at this angel like she was a quick dirty fuck in a back alley, Jack stumbled, his stomach feeling sick.
What was he even doing touching her?
Selfish bastard that he was.
He was a selfish fucking bastard and no better than his father.
“Jack?” Em push
ed down her dress and fidgeted with her hair as she stared unsurely up at him.
He squeezed his eyes closed, remorse flooding him.
Remorse and anger.
Because she’d never be his, and he was a dick for touching her. Again.
“I’m sorry.” He looked at her now. “I’m so sorry, Em. This won’t happen again.”
Hurt and rejection flashed across her face.
Jack moved to her, but she held up a hand against him.
“You deserve better than me,” he explained. “You deserve a hell of a lot better than me.”
Emery tilted her chin stubbornly. “Isn’t that up to me to decide?”
He smiled at her naivety and couldn’t help but reach out to stroke her cheek. “Not this time.”
“Jack.” She tried to capture his hand, but he withdrew it. “Jack, why won’t you tell me what’s going on with you? What’s been going on for years?”
Just like that, he was ice again.
Because no one he cared about could ever know the truth. It was too dangerous for them. “I’ll walk you home.”
Hearing the chill in his tone, Emery’s expression closed down. “No, thank you. I can see myself home.” She walked out of the lane without a backward glance. Jack followed at a slow pace.
He followed until he saw her disappear along the sand dunes and then watched from a distance as she let herself into her beach house.
Assured she was safely home, Jack retreated.
As he strolled down the boards, he tried to find the numbness that kept him moving through the days.
He struggled.
He struggled because he could still feel Em’s warmth.
And that’s when he knew what he would do.
Jack left the boards in search of Vanessa Hartwell.
He couldn’t let her sell the shares to Bailey’s inn to his father, so he had to control that situation. Had to manipulate her to protect Bailey. If that meant sleeping with Vanessa, then fine. She’d numb him to his bones, just like he needed.
And eventually Em would find out.