The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

It occurred to me it wasn’t the first time Jack gazed at me as if he loved me. In fact, there were times these past few weeks that he’d looked at me this way as he made love to me.

I just hadn’t wanted to admit I knew what his expression revealed.

“As beautiful as Emery is, darling, the food is waiting to be consumed,” his mother teased from her place at the dining table.

Jack tore his eyes from mine and led me to my seat. I blushed at the knowing smiles on his mom’s and aunt’s and uncle’s faces. But when my eyes moved to Rebecca, I only saw her frown.

Dinner went well.

Jack must have prepped his family because no one asked me about mine. They had questions about my store, and Rosalie asked about my favorite books and for recommendations. We talked about the baby and the scans. She and Heath and Amelia regaled me with stories of parenthood that made me laugh and put me at ease and distracted me from my feelings for Jack.

The only person who didn’t was Rebecca, who spoke sometimes, but mostly seemed to observe for the evening.

Observing me.

And I got the feeling she didn’t like what she saw.

After we’d moved back to the sitting room for drinks (decaf tea for me), I excused myself to use the restroom. It was down the hall behind the staircase, near the enormous kitchen at the rear of the house. I had to walk past a wall of photos, and I’d noticed pictures of Jack and his siblings on the wall. Considering Heath had no part in their lives until recently, this surprised me.

I used the restroom and returned to the photographs. There was one of Jack and Rosalie on their own together. Jack was in his football gear, so he must’ve been in his late teens and already a few inches taller than his mom. They were standing outside the Devlin house. He had his arm around his mom’s shoulders, and she was tucked into his side, happy to be there. Pride shone from her eyes. Jack grinned at the camera, unabashed to be taking a photo with his mom.

Knowing their history, I could see why Heath would frame this photo. It was evidence that his sister had a child in her life who obviously adored her.

“Mom sent them photos.”

I jerked my head around to find Rebecca standing in the hall. I hadn’t even heard her approach I’d been so lost in my thoughts.

She gestured to the wall with the photographs. “All that time, Uncle Heath and Aunt Amelia had us, but we never had them.” Rebecca approached me. “It might have helped to have them in our lives back then. They’re wonderful people.”

I nodded. “I can tell.”

Her eyes narrowed and I tensed. “I don’t know you, Emery, so don’t take this personally—”

Oh hell.

“But I don’t like the way you’re stringing my brother along. I’d like it to stop. Especially since there’s a child involved.” She nodded to my belly.

Had Jack and I been that obvious? “I don’t know how to take that if not personally?”

“Okay, so it is personal. Jack told me everything. How long this thing between you has been going on. That he got you pregnant and that you don’t want to be in a relationship with him because you don’t trust him.” She scoffed at that. “My brother. The guy who sacrificed his whole goddamn life for others. He’s, like, the noblest guy in the world, and you don’t trust him.”

Guilt shimmered through me. But also defensiveness. “You have no idea what’s between me and Jack.”

“What I know is, is that I’d do anything for Jack.” She took a final step toward me. “I want my brother to have everything he wants. And he wants you. And frankly, it pisses me off that you don’t think he’s good enough for you. Who is to say that it’s not you who isn’t good enough for him?”

Indignation roared through me and I straightened my shoulders. “How dare you,” I whispered. “How dare you presume things about me or my feelings for Jack?”

Whatever she heard in my tone made her flinch. Rebecca sighed heavily. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just …” Her expression turned pleading. “Don’t break his heart, okay? He’s been through enough.”

Understanding flooded me.

Rebecca felt guilty. She felt like Jack had given up a part of his life for her. And as she said, she wanted Jack to have everything he wanted.

Remembering the look on his face when we’d walked into the dining room, I realized I couldn’t keep willfully ignoring reality. Our sexual relationship was tying the bond between us tighter and tighter, and if I didn’t stop it soon, there was no way I could end it without hurting Jack.

Or myself.

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