The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

Cat threw Sebastian a startled look, her eyes growing round as she took him in. She seemed struck mute for a second before she said, “And who are you, handsome?”

Sebastian grinned and opened his mouth to respond, but Jack cut him off. “Cat.” He took hold of her arm. “What’s wrong?”

Cat jerked her blue gaze from the chef to Jack. “I was hurrying to my car and I saw you guys in here. Quick, we gotta go. Jess’s water broke!”

Jesus Christ.

Jack immediately moved the three of them into action. They created a bit of hubbub getting out of the restaurant, Jack wanting to hurry but not wanting to hurry Em. As they strode quickly down the boards to Main Street, Em asked Cat where Joey was.

“Piano lessons. I was at Antonio’s when Coop called. I’ll pick up Joey first and meet you at the hospital.” She hurried to the opposite side of the street where Jack’s truck was parked. Stopping at her Ford, she yelled across, “Hey, Em!”

“Yeah?” Em called back as Jack yanked open the passenger side door for her.

“Who was the tall drink of sexy back there?”

Emery grinned. “Sebastian Mercier!”

“The chef?”

“Ladies,” Jack growled impatiently.

“Yeah!” Em ignored him. “You like?”

“I’d have to be dead not to!” Cat called before she hopped into her car.

Jack rolled his eyes, even though he enjoyed hearing Em’s laughter. Once he’d helped her up into the truck, he rounded it and slammed into the vehicle.

“You’re jealous,” Em observed as he pulled out onto the street.

“How do you know him?” Did they have a past Jack didn’t know about?

“Iris invited him over for dinner a few months ago. She was trying to set him up with either Ivy or me. Clearly that didn’t go well.”

His hands tightened around the wheel. “Didn’t it? He was flirting with you.”

“No. He smiled at me.”

“You blushed.”

“I always blush when a good-looking man smiles at me. You know that.”

“Guess I thought that was just for me,” he muttered, feeling weirdly hurt.

She didn’t reply.

That was beginning to sting like a motherfucker when she whispered, “Your smile does more than make me blush, Jack.”

He liked that. A lot. He would’ve liked it a lot more if Emery hadn’t sounded heartbroken when she said it.

Cooper called him on the way to the hospital and seemed relieved to hear Jack was already on route. It soothed his agitation, knowing he and Coop were in such a good place again that he wanted Jack by his side for this big moment.

When they arrived, they discovered Bailey, Vaughn, and Dahlia already there.

“Cat?

?s picking up Joey first,” Emery explained to Bailey. “Where are Michael and Ivy?”

“Michael’s working,” Dahlia replied.