Page 53 of Deception and New Direction

Well,Iguess when life hands you lemons…you have an incredibly hot guy give you an orgasm in your friend’s bathroom.

I chuckled at that thought and made my way back out to the kitchen.AsIwalked in, everyone was cheering and clapping, andVinceandCatwere making out.

I turned to look atJackto try to figure out whatIhad missed.

“Vince just proposed toCat,” he told me while sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me in close to him.

“Holy forking shirtballs,”Iwhispered.

“Did you just…was that a curse word?”Ellieasked beside me.

“No,”Igrumbled.

Jack snorted next to me andElliegiggled.

“Thursday.Dinnerand drinks,”Elliecommanded. “Wadesaid we could have our own section at theWateringHoleif you want, or we can also go someplace new and different to celebrate for your birthday if you’d rather do that.”

I wasn’t used to people making a big deal of my birthday, and honestly, with all the stress of the trust fund stuff,Ireally just wanted to keep it low key.

“TheWateringHoleis perfect,”Itold her.

“Do you think your grandfather would come?”Ellieasked. “Wecan definitely invite him.”

I laughed because my granddad was ornery and stubborn about crowded places, but it also would be a good thing for him to get out more. “Idon’t know, but we can definitely ask him.”

* * *

We got back toJack’shouse, andIletDashout myself, enjoying the semi-freedomInow had with the boot as opposed to the cast.

Technically,Icould go back to my own place now thatIdidn’t have my cast on anymore, butIfoundIwasn’t in any particular hurry after my place had been broken into.Plus, as hard as it was to admit,Iactually enjoyed the feeling of contentment thatJack’shouse gave me.

I could be myself around him.Ididn’t need to try to be someoneIwasn’t just to appease him—likeIdid with people whenIwas younger.Heoddly loved the attitudeIthrew back at him, though onlyGodknew why.Mydad had reminded me constantly that agreeable women were more fun to be around.Iknow my father was a jerk, so his comments meant nothing, but even my brother—who had loved me in his own way—also mentioned to me several times that you could catch more flies with honey than vinegar.Itried to take that advice, but it didn’t always feel right.Jack, on the other hand, never minded my vinegar.Infact,Isensed that, oddly, it turned him on.

I walked back into the kitchen withDashto seeJackmaking popcorn and putting together a few other snacks.

“How are you even hungry after all the food we just ate at the party?”Ichuckled, having realized over the two monthsIhad lived with him that he was a bottomless pit.

“Movie snacks,” he responded. “Let’stake these to the bed and pick out something to watch.”

We had just settled in to watch a movie whenJack’sphone buzzed.Heanswered it and talked toDiegofor a bit.Icould tell, though, that this was not a friendly call.

“SorryRuthie,Igotta go out and provide backup for this jobDiego’son,”Jacksaid after he’d hung up the phone.

I knew which job he was talking about sinceIhad logged it into the system.Seemedlike a routine stakeout job, but there was definitely the possibility something could go wrong, and it sounded like that’s what had happened.

“No worries.Iget it.”

“Stay in my bed, please,” he said to me as he changed out of his plainT-shirt and shorts and into his tactical gear. “Iwant you here whenIget back.”

He asked so nicely, and admittedlyIwas too busy staring at him changing thatIrealizedIagreed to it.Butit was fine.Jack’sbed was comfy, and if it was one less thing for him to worry about while he was out on his operation,Iwould do it.

21

RUTHIE

Jack had come home very late the night before, soIdecided to let him sleep in this morning since neither of us had to work.ItwasSaturday, soItookDashout for a long stroll—since it was easier now thatIdidn’t have crutches—and sat on the bench by the little pond in the backyard.Iwould throw the tennis ball toDashand wait for him to bring it back to me.Itwas the end ofFebruarynow, but we were getting a sneak peak of spring since the afternoons were getting warmer.Itwas still morning, so we weren’t that warm yet, but it felt nice outside andIwas enjoying sitting out here in the sun, watchingDashchase the ball.

About an hour later,Jackcame out and sat next to me on the bench, bringing two coffees with him.

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