The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

Jack’s lips twitched with amusement. “That is the most colorful insult I’ve ever heard. And yes, he is.”

“I’m sorry. You can’t feel guilty for any of it. All you did was try to protect your sister. And now you don’t have to anymore. You must be so proud of her for having the courage to come forward.”

“I am.” His voice was gruff and he lowered his gaze to the floor. “She could face time for this, and she’s at peace with it.”

“And what about you? What will Ian do?”

“He won’t want to sully the family name any more than it has been. He’ll let Stu take the rightful blame for the murder.” Jack looked up now, his expression hardening. “But I’m going to take Ian down, Em. I have evidence.”

My heart stuttered. “The kind of evidence that might implicate you too?”

“I’ll only offer my cooperation in exchange for immunity.”

I relaxed. “Good.”

“Does that mean you still care what happens to me?”

I sucked in a breath. “Jack … I will always care for you.”

He leaned toward me and licked his lips as if nervous. Which seemed strange because Jack was never nervous. “Em … when this is over, I’ll be free. I … there wouldn’t be a reason for us not to give this a shot.”

Suddenly I understood his nervousness.

I wanted to throw my arms around him. The urge stemmed from a piece of me that clung to the hope of something developing between us. But he’d cut me to the quick last summer. I’d opened myself to him in ways I hadn’t been sure I’d ever be able to again … and he’d rejected me. And then continued sleeping with Bailey’s sister. And other women. Like the brunette at Winter Carnival.

His rejection and defection, no matter his reasons, hadn’t just stung.

It had sliced me deeply enough to scar.

I used to trust Jack with my heart.

I couldn’t explain why. I just had.

I … I didn’t trust him like that anymore.

And without trust, what was the point?

“Em?”

“What happened to you not wanting anything permanent?”

“We both know I just said that to push you away. To protect you.”

I lifted my gaze to meet his and something dark flashed in his eyes at whatever he saw in my face. His head jerked back a little, like I’d hit him. “I’m sorry, Jack. I’m happy that you’ll finally get out from under your father’s machinations. But our … this isn’t the relationship you should try to mend. We’re past that. I’m … I understand why you did and said the things you did. But I was left humiliated and rejected. Again. And it was clearly easy for you to forget me, as noted by the plethora of women you’ve been with throughout all this.

“I don’t trust you with my heart. I’m sorry.”

He looked away, the muscle flexing in his jaw as he clenched his teeth.

Seeing him struggle hurt.

“Go to Cooper.” I stood abruptly, needing him gone. “Please go to Cooper and talk to him. Tell him everything.”

Jack stood slowly with an angry storm in his eyes. “You think he’ll forgive me when you can’t?”

“Yes,” I answered honestly. “You and Cooper have a history that goes beyond anything you and I had. Don’t look at it like telling him is a chance for you to get something out of it—look at it for what it is. Cooper deserves the truth, whether or not he forgives you. He deserves to know why you did what you did. As much as losing him hurt you, don’t you think it wrecked him? Don’t you think he wonders every day what the hell made you do that to him?”

Bright emotion gleamed in Jack’s eyes. After contemplating me for what seemed like a painfully lengthy time, he nodded sharply.