His brows now reached his hairline and he put down his knife and fork. “You want to go bowling?”
“Yep.” Why did that surprise him. “You could join me. I mean, if you wanted to. I could go on my own. It’s not the kind of place I’m likely to run into Doug.”
He was quiet for a beat, his eyes narrowing. “Nadine, you don’t have to force yourself to go out. There’s no timetable of milestones or anything.”
“Jack, I’m bored.” She leaned back in her chair. “I’m not sure whether I want to continue modeling. I have a lot to figure out. But it’s been such a long time since I’ve had fun. I want one carefree day.”
He smiled at her, making her stomach do that flippy thing it always did when he looked at her a certain way. “Then bowling it is.”
A few hours later they were dressed in comfy jeans and oversized t-shirts, donning ridiculous rented bowling shoes. Jack had complained because they didn’t have his size and his toes were being pinched.
It was great seeing him outside of his element. He was usually so stoic and serious, his mind always on his work. Watching him punch the air as he bowled another strike was refreshing. His shoulders were relaxed and he flashed that gorgeous smile a lot more. He looked a lot younger when he was having fun. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he knew how to bowl.
As expected, she sucked at it. But she didn’t care. She didn’t have to care. No one was around to insult her or belittle her. She didn’t have to worry that she’d be accused of flirting just because she smiled at a stranger. And worry that anyone would hurt her for it.
Jack handed her one of the black balls. “Your turn.”
His fingers brushed hers as she took it from him. Shivers ran up her arm and she turned away from him. “Thanks.”
The last thing she needed was for him to notice her attraction. It was embarrassing enough to be attracted to someone who was not her husband. To put him in the position to have to reject her would be humiliating. And she’d been through enough humiliation.
She stood at the end of the alley and lined up the ball. She bowled and watched as the ball stayed in the centre as it made its way to the pins. The ball hit the middle pin. Then three more. And then the rest went tumbling over.
“Yes!” She ran toward Jack and jumped straight into his arms without thinking.
He spun around and planted a kiss on her lips. And then her world was spinning for a different reason.
Jack pulled away, loosening his arms a little so she could find her feet without falling. “Sorry.”
She nodded and turned as the waitress brought their food. “Our burgers are here.”
It wasn’t that she needed conversation. There were many times in the last few weeks where she and Jack could sit in silence. Her reading, him working. Yet, as they tucked into their food, the silence felt heavy. Awkward even. That was the one thing she wanted to avoid.
Jack was her safe space. The one place she could cry and talk. Or just be quiet and be. She didn’t want that to change. As she sat there with him she felt as if something had changed between them. He kissed her. It wasn’t even romantic or sexy. He was just reacting to her. Maybe she shouldn’t have jumped into his arms. Or if she didn’t—
“Stop.” He looked at her, his eyes serious. “I can see that brain of yours working. You’re finding a way to blame yourself for me kissing you.”
“I hate it when you do that.” She put her burger on her plate. “Not the kiss. I mean, that was great. The way you can read my mind is really annoying.”
“It wasn’t much of a leap.” He took her hand in his. “You’re used to blaming yourself. But I crossed the line. That kiss is on me.”
“I didn’t exactly pull away.” She didn’t want him to think that it was unwelcome.
“I noticed.” He let go of her hand and she felt the loss immediately. “But we can’t go there. You’re still married. And as long as Doug is contesting the divorce, you’ll stay married.”
“So what?” She pushed away from the table. “So I’m supposed to live like a nun forever?”
“Not forever, sweetheart.” He offered her one of those smiles. “Once he’s found guilty and incarcerated, he won’t be able to contest the divorce.”
She looked at Jack. She knew what he said made sense. But he was expecting her to respect her marriage. A marriage that had brought her nothing but heartache and hurt. There was no respect in her marriage, and she wasn’t about to start now. But she would respect Jack’s wishes.
Chapter Three
Jack
One kiss. One sweet kiss, a little over two months ago, and his brain had been fucked ever since. Part of him regretted that he hadn’t deepened the kiss. Those soft lips on his were etched into his brain and he wanted more. He wanted what he couldn’t have.
Yes, she was married. But if he was honest, at least with himself, it was more than that. A woman like her needed more than a man like him. A man who had seen so much evil, it often gave him nightmares.
More often when he’d heard her crying in her sleep, it was because he had woken from his own bad dreams. She needed more than that. What she needed was a man that could help rebuild her life after the hell she’d been though. Not one who brought his own demons with him.
The start of the processional music playing pulled him from his thoughts. One by one the wedding party walked up the aisle, each wearing a different style dress but in the same shade of red.
Holly had a large wedding party and he waited quite a while for Nadine to walk through the doors of the chapel. When she did, his mind froze. A floor length wrap-around dress with thin straps on the shoulder. She looked like a gift, ready to unwrapped.
As she reached the altar, she shot him a sexy little smirk and winked. His dick twitched at the small gesture. How did she affect him so bad?
Neither Wyatt nor Adam missed the interaction and raised a brow at him. He shook his head, hoping to dismiss them. He needn't have worried, though. The processional music stopped, and Holly stood at the entrance of the chapel. Her brother, Gabe, was at her side. Since they were essentially orphans, he was accompanying her down the aisle.
Jack spared a glance at his friend. Adam’s grin nearly reached his ears; he was completely transfixed by his beautiful bride.
Who wouldn’t be? Holly looked like a real live princess in a lace and chiffon dress with so many layers in the skirt, she appeared to be floating on a cloud. Her dark hair was pinned up and those dark brown eyes shone with moisture as she kept her gaze fixed on her husband-to-be.
As the ceremony got underway, though, Jack had eyes for only one woman. Her bruises had faded, leaving her creamy skin luminous. Her shoulders were more relaxed, and her posture was closer to that of the woman who graced so many magazines. But it was more than the physical.
Nadine had a quiet confidence that could easily go unnoticed. She was fiercely loyal to her family, even when their meddling irritated her. She was kind and nurturing and so much more than he deserved. So much more than any man deserved. The thought of her with another man brought his attention back to the present.
The minister looked between the happy couple. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”