finishing touches on Sammy’s remote controlled car.
“You’re done? I could have helped you.” When she came into the room, he glanced up and made a face.
“No offense, Rachel, but I still remember how mechanically challenged you are. I’d like for the thing to actually stay in one piece long enough for him to get tired of it.”
“Oh, very funny. For your information, I happen to have gotten pretty good at putting stuff together over the years. I’ve had to.”
They looked at each other and something akin to regret or frustration dawned in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. Jack, I’m so sorry that I didn’t tell you about Sammy. It’s just that—”
“Just what? What were you afraid of, Rachel?”
Their eyes held each other across the room. His filled with hope. Hers doubt. No matter how hard she tried, she
couldn’t seem to bring the words out. Couldn’t let herself trust him yet.
“Nothing. I’m not afraid of anything. I…I’m making some coffee. Would you like some?”
Jack recognized her need to escape and slowly nodded. She turned and hurried away. It took longer than normal to make the coffee because her hands were trembling so much. She was a nervous wreck just being near him. How on earth was she going to survive the rest of their lives together?
She was still hiding out in the kitchen when Jack found her.
“I was beginning to wonder if you’d decided to run away again,” he said quietly from the doorway, and watched her reaction.
She focused on the task of pouring coffee, refusing to take up his challenge.
Jack shoved away from the door and came to her, stopping inches away. He took the cup from her hand.
“Did you get the car put together?”
“Yes. After I threw the instructions out.” Had she imagined the roughness in his voice?
She turned to look at him. “Thank you, Jack. You’re right, I would never have figured out how to put it together on my own.”
“Rachel.” He moved closer. “Sammy is my son as well. Of course, I want to do things for him.”
“I know. I didn’t mean it that way. I only meant...I don’t know what I meant.”
“It’s okay. I know this is hard for you. It’s been the two of you for so long, but sharing him can be a good thing.”
“I know. I know Sammy needs you in his life and I’m trying, Jack, but it’s hard.”
“Maybe if you’d try accepting me as your husband as well, it would help. I know this is all new, and I know you loved Sam, but I know you care about me. You can’t deny it, Rachel. I can feel it in you whenever I’m near you.”
“Jack...”
He touched her face. “You and I have a whole lot more than history between us. We were always g ood together .”
She pushed his hand away and moved to the window. “I don’t want to talk about that. That part of our relationship is over.”
“Is it? Is it really over, Rachel? Then why are you so scared of me?”
“I’m not. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“No? I don’t believe you.” Before she realized what he had planned, Jack pulled her into his arms. And then he kissed her and proved to both of them it would never be over. At least as far as she was concerned.
Suddenly, the years melted away. She couldn’t be close to him and not remember everything. All they’d shared together. Every touch. Every kiss.
No matter what had happened between them, she still loved Jack. She would never stop loving him.
She pushed him aside and ran. Alone in her room, Rachel closed the door and sat down on the bed, trying to deny her reaction to the man who had hurt her so badly. She hated that even now he had the power to make her forget all the pain. She’d married him all too willingly while trying to tell herself that she was doing what was best for Sammy. But the truth was much more disturbing. She didn’t want to live without Jack in her life.
She dressed for bed a nd slipped under the covers. This was their wedding night. The
“You’re done? I could have helped you.” When she came into the room, he glanced up and made a face.
“No offense, Rachel, but I still remember how mechanically challenged you are. I’d like for the thing to actually stay in one piece long enough for him to get tired of it.”
“Oh, very funny. For your information, I happen to have gotten pretty good at putting stuff together over the years. I’ve had to.”
They looked at each other and something akin to regret or frustration dawned in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. Jack, I’m so sorry that I didn’t tell you about Sammy. It’s just that—”
“Just what? What were you afraid of, Rachel?”
Their eyes held each other across the room. His filled with hope. Hers doubt. No matter how hard she tried, she
couldn’t seem to bring the words out. Couldn’t let herself trust him yet.
“Nothing. I’m not afraid of anything. I…I’m making some coffee. Would you like some?”
Jack recognized her need to escape and slowly nodded. She turned and hurried away. It took longer than normal to make the coffee because her hands were trembling so much. She was a nervous wreck just being near him. How on earth was she going to survive the rest of their lives together?
She was still hiding out in the kitchen when Jack found her.
“I was beginning to wonder if you’d decided to run away again,” he said quietly from the doorway, and watched her reaction.
She focused on the task of pouring coffee, refusing to take up his challenge.
Jack shoved away from the door and came to her, stopping inches away. He took the cup from her hand.
“Did you get the car put together?”
“Yes. After I threw the instructions out.” Had she imagined the roughness in his voice?
She turned to look at him. “Thank you, Jack. You’re right, I would never have figured out how to put it together on my own.”
“Rachel.” He moved closer. “Sammy is my son as well. Of course, I want to do things for him.”
“I know. I didn’t mean it that way. I only meant...I don’t know what I meant.”
“It’s okay. I know this is hard for you. It’s been the two of you for so long, but sharing him can be a good thing.”
“I know. I know Sammy needs you in his life and I’m trying, Jack, but it’s hard.”
“Maybe if you’d try accepting me as your husband as well, it would help. I know this is all new, and I know you loved Sam, but I know you care about me. You can’t deny it, Rachel. I can feel it in you whenever I’m near you.”
“Jack...”
He touched her face. “You and I have a whole lot more than history between us. We were always g ood together .”
She pushed his hand away and moved to the window. “I don’t want to talk about that. That part of our relationship is over.”
“Is it? Is it really over, Rachel? Then why are you so scared of me?”
“I’m not. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“No? I don’t believe you.” Before she realized what he had planned, Jack pulled her into his arms. And then he kissed her and proved to both of them it would never be over. At least as far as she was concerned.
Suddenly, the years melted away. She couldn’t be close to him and not remember everything. All they’d shared together. Every touch. Every kiss.
No matter what had happened between them, she still loved Jack. She would never stop loving him.
She pushed him aside and ran. Alone in her room, Rachel closed the door and sat down on the bed, trying to deny her reaction to the man who had hurt her so badly. She hated that even now he had the power to make her forget all the pain. She’d married him all too willingly while trying to tell herself that she was doing what was best for Sammy. But the truth was much more disturbing. She didn’t want to live without Jack in her life.
She dressed for bed a nd slipped under the covers. This was their wedding night. The
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