Authors: Susan Mallery
Until We Touch (25 page)
“Are you for real?” Percy asked hesitantly.
“Yeah. Just as long as you know I’m going to screw up. But no matter what, I’ll never stop trying to be better. I don’t want to be the problem anymore, Percy. I want to be the solution.”
Percy gave Jack a manly hug, more chest bump than embrace. But then Percy stepped back and wiped away tears.
“I want to come home,” he admitted. “But I’m not going back to work at Score. I have a new job and I like it.”
“That’s fine.”
“And we’re getting a dog. You need a dog in that big house of yours.”
“You’re negotiating your return?”
Percy grinned. “I am. And I want to learn how to drive.”
“A man should know how to drive.”
“You have a nice car.”
Jack laughed. “No, you can’t borrow the Mercedes.”
Percy grinned. “Good, because I need boundaries.” His smile faded. “I have a shift in an hour. I’ll move back after that.”
Jack handed him the house key he’d brought. “I look forward to it.”
“You gonna get Larissa back? Because without her, you’re just sad.”
“I know. I’m going to do my best.”
* * *
J
ACK
WALKED
INTO
the offices of Score, not sure what to expect. His pictures were still up, which surprised him. He’d thought they would be ripped down or at the very least, defaced. But nothing looked different.
He made his way back to Kenny’s office first. His friend saw him and frowned.
“What?” he demanded.
“I was wrong. Sorry.”
Kenny looked startled, then nodded. “Don’t do it again.”
“I won’t.”
He went by Sam’s office. The other man was hanging up the phone. “Kenny just told me,” Sam said. “We’re good.”
That made Jack chuckle. “You don’t want to hug to seal the deal?”
“Get out of here.”
Jack moved down the hall. He had a feeling things wouldn’t go so smoothly with his third partner.
He made it to Taryn’s office without being seen by anyone else. He stepped into the empty conference room across from hers and shrugged out of his jacket.
For a second Jack hesitated. He’d never done anything like this before, but then he’d never screwed up so bad. If he won Taryn over and things went bad with Larissa, Taryn would be a formidable ally.
He took the dress off the hanger and unzipped it. Then he stepped into the god-awful ruffled pink dress and stuck his arms through the small sleeves.
It barely fit. There was no way he could have zipped it, but that wasn’t the point. This wasn’t a fashion show, this was a statement of intent. He opened the conference door, walked across the hall and entered Taryn’s office without knocking.
She was standing by the window, looking out. Her suit was fitted and she was barefoot. He saw her ridiculously high heels by her chair.
“Taryn?”
She didn’t turn, but he saw her stiffen.
“Go away.”
“No. I won’t do that. Not now and not ever. I’m sorry about what I said before. I’m sorry about what happened. Resigning wasn’t wrong, but there were a lot better ways to handle it.” He paused to draw in a breath. “I hurt you. I apologize for that. I want to promise it will never happen again, but it might. What I can promise is that I’m in this for the long haul. That you can depend on me. And if Angel ever acts this stupid, I’ll hire a platoon to take him out.”
Her shoulders shook, but he didn’t know if she was laughing or crying.
“I brought you something.”
She turned. He saw tears on her cheeks. Her gaze settled on the dress. Something brightened her eyes and her mouth twitched. “You look ridiculous.”
“That’s okay.”
“You’d be a hideous cross-dresser. The dress doesn’t suit you at all.”
“I’m okay with not being the prettiest bridesmaid. As long as I can be in your wedding. If you’ll still have me.”
She moved with more speed than he would have thought her capable of. One second she was by the window, the next she was throwing herself at him. He wrapped his arms around her and hung on tight.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Please, please forgive me.”
“You were a total jackass.”
“I know.
She sighed. “Where did you get that dress?”
“I borrowed it from Isabel. By the way, if you destroy it, I have to pay for it.”
“You can afford it.” She looked up at him. “What happened?”
“The world closed in. I had Larissa and Percy, the job offer. Everywhere I turned, I was being forced to give more than I thought I was capable of. I’m only used to caring about you.”
“So you lashed out?”
“With style.”
She stepped back and sniffed. “You really shouldn’t be here. At Score, I mean. The coaching job is a better fit. You need that, Jack.”
He smiled. “Already done. I start on Monday.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Which means my letter of resignation still stands, but without the drama.”
She touched the front of the dress. “I wonder if they make this in a size you could wear.”
“Pink isn’t my color.”
“Or mine,” she told him. “I’d prefer you wear a tux.”
He stared into her eyes. “When I attend your wedding?” he asked cautiously.
“Oh, no. You’re still my man of honor. You’re going to help me adjust my veil and hold my flowers and glower at Angel. You’ll be busy.”
He kissed her cheek. “I can’t wait.”
* * *
L
ARISSA
CLIMBED
THE
stairs to her apartment. Her first day at her new job had gone great. She’d been booked solid with massages. The good news was after dealing with athletes all these years, taking care of regular people with ordinary muscles was a breeze.
She opened her front door only to stop when she saw Jack sitting on the sofa, Dyna draped across his lap.
He looked good, she thought wistfully. Handsome and strong. What was it about a good-looking guy with a fluffy cat on his lap? He didn’t seem to mind the cat hair flying everywhere and attaching itself to his pants.
When he saw her, he picked up Dyna and moved her to the side, then stood.
“You’re home,” he said.
She nodded.
She hadn’t seen him in twenty-three days. She’d felt the pain of every passing hour, had missed him, ached for him, cried for him and had tried to make peace with what was happening. What she hadn’t done was fall out of love with him. Now as she looked at him, she felt her heart reaching toward him, straining to be closer. Nearer. Next to.
He crossed to her, then took both her hands in his. His dark eyes locked with hers.
“I’m sorry,” he told her. “Sorry for what I said and how I acted. Sorry for being selfish, immature and stupid. I hurt you. I lashed out and there’s no excuse for my behavior, so I won’t make one. What I will say instead is I was wrong. Completely and totally wrong. I hurt everyone I care about. Worst of all, I hurt you.”
He brought her hands to his chest and placed her palms flat on his shirt.
“My heart beats only because of you,” he said quietly. “I breathe for you. I exist because I love you, Larissa. You are who matters and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
He seemed to melt away. It took her a second to realize she was crying. But happy tears, she thought, trying to take it all in. Joyful tears.
“I love you,” he repeated, then he pulled a small box out of his pants pocket. “I know it’s a lot to ask right now, but will you marry me? I want it all, but only with you. I want Percy down the hall and cats and chiweenies running around. Move in a couple of owls and snakes. Whatever makes you happy.”
“I wants kids,” she said, not sure where the words had come from.
“Yeah?” He grinned. “Good. Like twenty?”
She shook her head. “Three. Maybe four.”
“I can do that. I can do whatever you want. Larissa, it was always you. I’m sorry I didn’t see that for so long. I’m sorry I had to hurt you before I understood how lucky I am to have you in my life.”
She searched his face and what she saw there healed her broken heart. “You sure?”
“Yes. Until you I didn’t truly understand what love could be. I get it now.”
“Then you get me,” she said simply.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from WHEN WE MET by Susan Mallery.
“There’s a little fun, a little sizzle, and a whole lot of homespun charm.”
—
Publishers Weekly
on
Summer Nights
If you loved
Until We Touch
by
New York Times
bestselling author Susan Mallery, be sure to read
When We Met
and
Before We Kiss
from the Fool’s Gold series. Order your copies
HERE
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www.amazon.com/SusanMallery
.
Available in ebook format!
Don’t miss a single book in the Fool’s Gold series. Experience how small-town charm works its magic on residents and visitors alike!
Chasing Perfect
Almost Perfect
Sister of the Bride
(ebook novella)
Summer Brides
(anthology)
Finding Perfect
Only Mine
Only Yours
Only His
Only Us
Almost Summer
(ebook novella)
Summer Days
Summer Nights
All Summer Long
A Fool’s Gold Christmas
Halfway There
(ebook novella)
Just One Kiss
Two of a Kind
Three Little Words
Available in ebook format. Order your copies today!
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“Mallery has again created an engrossing tale of emotional growth and the healing power of friendship.”
—
Library Journal
on
Three Sisters
If you loved
Until We Touch
by
New York Times
bestselling author Susan Mallery, don’t miss her Blackberry Island novels, featuring
Barefoot Season, Three Sisters
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Evening Stars.
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