The Truest Thing - Hart's Boardwalk

“Okay, okay, clearly Emery is a woman of many mysteries,” Dahlia said. “But let’s allow Jess to finish.”

Jess shook herself out of whatever thoughts she was having as she gaped at me. “Anyway … Before Jack could tell Coop about Dana, this all happened with Rebecca. Cooper was on Jack’s case all the time about it, so Jack decided he needed to push Cooper away.”

“Oh my God!” Bailey gasped loudly. “He set it up. He deliberately set it up so Cooper would walk in on him with Dana. Oh my God!”

“Yes, exactly.”

“That is fucked up.” Ivy shook her head, eyes wide with shock, even as she reached for another canapé.

“He thought he was protecting Cooper,” I defended him.

Bailey’s jaw dropped. “Okay, Jess, hurry up with your story because I am beginning to suspect that Emery Saunders is in love with Jack Devlin and I can barely contain myself.”

I opened my mouth to deny the claim but Jess continued. “Well, Bails, you might not like the next part.”

“Why?”

“Jack did warn me about Cooper’s liquor license. He also did beat the shit out of Stu for hitting you.”

Bailey’s expression softened. “I knew it.”

“But …” Jess exhaled slowly. “He also slept with Vanessa to keep tabs on her. She was going to sell her shares to Devlin. Jack sweet-talked her into accepting Tremaine’s offer instead.”

Bailey’s flushed cheeks paled. “What?”

“I’m sorry.” Jess gave her a sympathetic look. “I thought you should know … you should know that Vanessa can’t be trusted.”

Everyone was silent for a moment as Bailey glared at her lap.

My heart hurt for her.

When Vanessa approached Ian Devlin with the proposal that he buy her shares in Hart’s Inn, we all thought, by the fact that she ended up selling to Tremaine instead, that it had been her master plan all along to get Tremaine to step up for her sister. That she would never jeopardize Bailey’s inn by actually selling to Devlin.

My heart also ached for Jack. I’d been so angry at him about Vanessa. I still was. But knowing he’d used her to protect Bailey shed new light over the situation.

“Right. Well.” Bailey shrugged sadly. “I guess that shouldn’t surprise me … so … what happened between Jack and Cooper?”

“Bailey—”

Bailey cut Dahlia off. “I want to digest this news later, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.”

Jessica cleared her throat. “Right, well … Cooper.” She smiled softly. “Cooper told Jack that if he ever needed to talk, he should stop by the bar.”

That was wonderful news! “Really?”

Jessica smiled at me. “Cooper is a little confused by it all, but I talked it through with him … he’s forgiven Jack and I think he wants to see if their friendship can be salvaged. He missed Jack. He grieved him. I think they both grieved each other. They have a bond, a connection. They might never get back the easiness of before, but I think Cooper would like to try. He doesn’t want what happened with Dana to have power over his life. And as screwed up as Jack’s thinking was, I think Cooper’s trying to understand.”

“That’s wonderful,” I said. I was so happy for Jack.

“It is,” Bailey agreed, her expression sharpening. “So, Miss Saunders … why don’t you tell us about you and Jack and why all the longing looks I’ve witnessed over the last few years suddenly seem to be part of a deeper story?”

I glanced around at my friends’ inquisitive faces. Ivy looked curious. Dahlia was frowning. Jess appeared concerned. And Bailey looked ready to pounce out of her seat with excitement.

This was my own damn fault.

No matter what my heart told me, I couldn’t seem to stop caring about Jack or wanting to protect him. What was wrong with me?

I exhaled slowly. “Well … I think it began the moment Jack and I met …”

19

Jack

“Jack, this is Agent Chen and Agent Underwood.” Sullivan introduced Jack as he stepped into his office.

He’d called Jack to let him know that Ian’s racketeering charges were federal crimes, which meant the feds were taking over the case from Michael and they wanted to interview Jack.

Agent Chen stepped forward. “Let’s take this to an interview room.”

The guy’s demeanor was worryingly expressionless.

Jack threw Sullivan look.

The detective gave him a nod of reassurance.

Minutes later, Jack sat across from the two agents, his reflection glowering at him from the two-way mirror behind the feds. They went through the formalities of starting the formal recording.

Agent Underwood, a pretty, older woman with umber skin, leaned forward. “Mr. Devlin, we understand that you were promised immunity for your cooperation. Let me reassure you that the promise of immunity in exchange for your witness testimony still stands with the Bureau.”

He relaxed ever so slightly. “Good to know.”

From there he spent the next hour going over everything he’d already told Michael Sullivan. The experience wasn’t any less draining. When they released him, Jack wanted nothing more than to go to Cooper’s Bar and throw back a scotch. But he wasn’t sure if Cooper’s offer stood so soon after his confession.