Not that he would tell her. He kept that sort of thing to himself. But if he ever did decide to trust someone, it would be forever, she thought idly. Or maybe that was another of her fantasies.
“You need to help me with Betina and Colin,” she told him. “We’re going to get them together.”
One dark eyebrow rose. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a guy. This could be fun. Just think of it—we could be part of a great love match.”
“Colin and Betina?” He sounded doubtful.
“Sure. Betina has a serious thing for Colin. I was skeptical at first because Betina changes her men with the rhythm of the tide. A long-term relationship for her is a week. But that’s because she’s afraid to really care about someone. She had a bad early marriage years ago. Anyway, she’s liked Colin for a long time, and that liking has grown into something more. Something significant.”
She paused, waiting for him to grasp the importance of the information. Obviously he missed it, because he said, “I’m not getting involved.”
“You have to. It’s not like you’re doing anything else with your time.”
“We’re going to ignore my work and the effort I put into avoiding you?”
“Oh, yeah. There’s hard duty. A beautiful single woman desperately wants you in her bed. Poor Jack. Your life is pain.”
She could think of a thousand ways he could have reacted, but she never expected him to smile.
“You think of yourself as beautiful?” he asked quietly, sounding almost pleased.
Meri shifted on the bed. “It was a figure of speech.”
“The last time we talked about your appearance, you said you were a freak.”
She didn’t want to think about that, but if he insisted… “The last time we talked about my appearance, you emotionally slapped me, trampled my heart and left me for dead.”
His smile faded. “I’m sorry. I should have handled that differently.”
“But you didn’t. I wasn’t asking for sex right that moment.” She didn’t want to be talking about this. It was too humiliating. “My point is, Betina is crazy about Colin and I’m pretty sure he likes her. Which is where you come in. I want you to find out for sure.”
“What? No.”
“Why not? You’re a guy, he’s a guy. You can ask him if he likes Betina.”
“Should I pass you a note in homeroom?”
“I don’t care how I get the information, I just need confirmation.”
“You’re not getting it from me.”
She remembered his being stubborn but never this bad. “Have I mentioned you’re annoying? Because you are.”
“I live to serve.”
“If only that were true. Look, they’re both great people. They deserve to be happy. I’m just giving them a little push.”
“Did you need a push with Andrew?”
She sighed. “I wondered when you’d bring him up.”
“You’re nearly engaged. Why wouldn’t I be curious?”
She tried to figure out what he was thinking from his tone of voice, but as usual, Jack gave nothing away. It was one of his more annoying characteristics.
“We met at a charity auction,” she said. “There was a pet fashion show to start things off. Somehow I got tangled up in the leashes and nearly fell. Andrew rescued me. It was very romantic.”
“I can only imagine.”
She ignored any hint of sarcasm in his voice. Maybe knowing there was another man in her life would make him a little less arrogant.
“He was funny and charming and I liked him right away. We have so much in common. What movies we like, where we go on vacation. It’s been really fun.”
It had been fun, sh e good times with Andrew. But she’d been on this coast for nearly six months. They’d had a chance to get together only a few times, although they talked regularly. Their relationship seemed to be on hold and she obviously didn’t mind. Something she was going to have to think about.
“Is he a genius, too?” Jack asked.
“No, he’s delightfully normal. Smart but not too smart. I like that in a guy.”
“What do you know about him? Did you check him out?”
“Of course. He’s just a regular guy. Not in it for money.” Her good mood faded. “Is that your point? That no one could possibly want me if it wasn’t for the money?”
“Not at all. I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. Blissfully so. Andrew’s the one. We’ll be engaged as soon as I get back to D.C.” Which wasn’t actually true but it sounded good.
“Congratulations.”
Jack had ruined everything, she thought bitterly as she stood. Her buzz, her great evening.
“Just because you don’t believe in letting yourself care about people doesn’t mean the feelings aren’t real,” she told him. “Some of us want to connect.”
“I hope you do. I hope this is everything you want.”
“Why don’t I believe you? What aren’t you saying?”
“That if Andrew was so important to you, you wouldn’t stay away from him for six months.”
She walked to the door. “Who says I have?”
With that, she walked out and closed the door behind her.
It was only a few steps to her room, and she was grateful for the solitary quiet when she entered. After flicking on a few lights, she crossed to the window and stared out at the night sky.
It was a perfect night for viewing the stars, but she wasn’t in the mood. Not even on her brand-new telescope. She hurt too much and it was hard to say why.
Maybe because Jack was right. If Andrew was that important to her, she wouldn’t stay away from him for six months. But she had, and it had been relatively easy. Too easy. If she were really in love with him, wouldn’t she be desperate to be with him?
Finding the engagement ring had shocked her. She hadn’t known what to think about his proposing. She’d been happy, but a part of her had known that it was time to put off the inevitable. That closure with Jack was required.
She’d known about Hunter’s friends coming to stay at the house. She’d taken the consulting job in California, hired on as the caretaker of the house and had waited to confront the man who was holding her back. Once she got her revenge on Jack, she would be fine.
“That’s what’s wrong,” she whispered to herself. “I’m still waiting to punish him. Once Jack is reduced to dust, I’ll be able to give my whole heart to Andrew. It’s just going to be another week or so. Then I’ll be happy.”
Jack spent a restless night. He told himself it was because he’d had coffee too late in the day, but part of the problem was Meri’s words. Her claim that he didn’t connect.
Late the next morning, he saved the files on his computer and opened the top desk drawer in his temporary office. There was an envelope inside, along with a letter.
The letter had been waiting for him the first day he’d arrived. He’d recognized the distinctive handwriting and had known it was from Matt. The battered appliances in the kitchen had been another clue. His friend