Page 26 of Steel & Jenna
“He’s not playing me,” Jenna assured her sister. Others would think so. Hell, she was sure half the school thought Jack was duping her out of her family’s money, but she knew differently. She trusted him.
Carolyn raised a pierced eyebrow. “How do you know?”
“Because he refuses to accept anything from me,” Jenna explained. “He cares forme, Carolyn. Not for my wallet.”
“And who pays for your dates?”
Since this was their first one and neither was paying, Jenna didn’tknow how to answer that question. Jack had been upfront and honest about where he’d gotten the movie tickets from, as well as the dinner invitation. As weird as Jenna thought it was that Lilly’s first grade teacher had invited them for dinner before giving them movie tickets for their first date, she was also very grateful. No doubt, there were a lot of people who were going to be disappointed when the movie sold out numerous times this weekend. Yet, she and Jack were getting in because of the generosity of a stranger. Or a stranger toher.
The reversal was not lost on her. For once, she was not the only one with the connection or being asked to use the family name. Not that she did that often, but occasionally she couldn’t ignore the benefits. Like getting Jack out of detention on their first day of school.
Carolyn, though, misunderstood Jenna’s nonanswer as confirmation that her assumption about Jenna’s date was correct. “See? Greed’s a powerful motivator.” She waved her hand up and down her own body as if to give Jenna a prime example.
“You admit you’re greedy?” Her shock over Carolyn’s hand motion made the question spring from her mouth before Jenna could think better of it.
“Of course,” Carolyn answered without hesitation. “But I’m also a grown woman who should be able to do with my money what I want and when I want. That’s beside the point, though,” she added when Jenna made to speak. “I don’t want you turning out like me, Jen. You’rebetterthan me. I don’t want you getting your heart broken by some selfish douche.”
The sincerity in her voice made Jenna’s defenses fall. She rushed towards her sister and threw her arms around her. Carolyn stood there in shock, her arms pinned to her sides by Jenna’s tight grip. Still, Jenna felt an awkward pat on her side, like it was all Carolyn could reach.
Jenna hadn’t realized just how lonely she felt in her own family until this moment. Carolyn and her parents had been at each other’s throats for so long that Jenna had just been…there. A silent observer in the background.
Stepping back, Jenna took Carolyn’s hands. “Come with me?”
Carolyn, who still looked shocked by Jenna’s spontaneous hug, asked, “Where?”
“You got your car?”
“Of course.”
Jenna started to pull her sister after her. “Then come on!”
Jack was startingto get nervous about Jenna’s absence when a sleek blackPorschepulled into the Zarins’ driveway. Unsure what to expect—maybe her father?—Jack watched in surprise as a young woman got out of the driver’s seat. He knew immediately who she was too. Despite the makeup and dyed hair, there was no mistaking the similarities in the sisters.
He didn’t know what to think of Carolyn’s presence. Jenna had told him all about her older sister and the trouble she’d been causing in her family. Dressed in platform boots, black pants, and a heavy black coat, Carolyn was following Jenna up the path to the front door. Uncaring why her sister was there, Jack opened the front door to greet Jenna.
As soon as she was on the top step, he reached for her. Her eyes brightened at the sight of him. He’d stepped outside without a coat on, but didn’t even notice the cold. Cupping her face, he drew her to him until their foreheads were touching. They both clung to the other, simply taking in the moment of being together once more. It was an action Jack found himself craving more and more around her.
More powerful than a kiss, it was a reassurance that she was there, that she washis.
“Wow,” came from below them. Jack lifted his head to see Carolyn leaning against the banister. “I get what you mean, Jen.”
Jenna turned to look over her shoulder at her sister. “You won’t tell Mom and Dad?”
Carolyn’s eyes flew to Jack, as if she was assessing him, and then back to Jenna. “You won’t be able to keep it from them forever, but your secret’s safe with me.”
Jack felt Jenna’s grip on his shirt tighten as she smiled. “Thank you.”
Carolyn nodded once before turning that dark stare onto Jack. “You hurt my sister and I will cut your balls off, shove them down your throat, and laugh while you shit them out.”
Though surprised by the sudden hostility, but also appreciative of it on Jenna’s behalf, Jack told her in complete honesty, “Hurting Jenna would be more painful than hurting myself.” He pulled Jenna against his chest protectively. She laid her cheek on his shoulder like it was her favorite pillow. “I can’t guarantee there will be no hard times in our future, Carolyn, but I vow to you—both of you,” he added with a kiss to Jenna’s forehead, “that I willneverdeliberately hurt her.”
Carolyn lifted her chin slightly. “Big words coming from someone so young. Teens are stupid, teen boys even more so. What happens when another girl throws herself at you or is willing to give you something my sister isn’t ready to?”
“Carolyn!” Jenna made to lift her head up, presumably to scold her sister, but Jack laid a gentle hand on her head to keep her where she was.
He didn’t hesitate or back down. “I won’t deny my attraction to your sister. That would be disrespectful to her. I have urges. What man, or woman,” he said pointedly at Carolyn, “doesn’t? But I am not controlled by them. Your sister means everything to me. I realize we only just met and that we’re young. You think that’s news to me? At the end of the day, Jenna’s health and happiness are my priorities.”
“And what makes you think you can make her happy?” Carolyn challenged. She looked at the house behind her. “You can’t even afford to take her on a proper date.”
