The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

I’d heard horror stories about bridesmaid dresses, but Jess had great taste. We’d all worn the same color but in a style that suited our individual figures.

“Em.”

The deep voice drew my attention. Jack. He leaned against the hotel, a bottle of beer in his hand. His hair was a sexy mess. Instead of the stylish suit he usually wore, he was in a T-shirt and jeans.

Images of him with Vanessa at this very hotel filled my head and chilled my bones.

Vaughn had caught them. He’d seen Jack and Vanessa disappear into a hotel room, all over each other, just minutes after the morning he’d come into buy two coffees when Bailey was there to witness our interaction. Had he been sleeping with Vanessa when he kissed me?

How could I have been so wrong about him?

For years, I’d held on to the belief that Jack Devlin was a good person beneath his mysterious transformation.

What a blind fool I’d been.

Jack pushed off the building, taking a swig of beer. He walked closer, and it took everything within me not to run.

Then the light from the hotel hit his eyes, and my breath caught.

Grief. His eyes were dark with grief.

“Jack?”

“Coop and Jess tied the knot, then?” His eyes flew to the hotel doors.

And that’s when I understood.

“Yes.”

Jack’s gaze came back to mine. All tortured, making my heart ache for him despite him having hurt me. Damn him. “He’s happy?”

I nodded. “I’ve never seen a man happier.”

“Good.” His eyes brightened, and he took another long drink of his beer. It seemed like an attempt to get a hold on his emotion.

There was a long silence between us and then his eyes drifted down my body and back up. “You look beautiful. But then, you always do.”

I didn’t blush. Not this time. “You should go home, Jack.”

His lips quirked in derision. “You heard.”

“About Vanessa. Yes.”

The muscle in his jaw ticked and he stared out at the ocean.

“Were you sleeping with her when you kissed me?” I had to ask. I had to know.

He didn’t look at me. “Does it matter?”

Pain flared across my chest, a hurt so deep, a little gasp escaped me.

Something like remorse flickered over his face.

Or maybe that’s just what I wanted to believe.

Angry, I took a step toward him. He watched me warily. “I won’t let you hurt Bailey.”

He huffed. “So now you’re finally starting to believe I’m not a good guy?”