It was everything I could do not to shout in excitement. Mimi’s Boutique was directly between Sweet Stuff and Brewhaha…exactly where Amelia had dreamed of opening her store. Never in a million years had I thought the Tarringtons would be interested in closing down their shop. It’d been a Wildrose staple for years.
Maybe she was onto something with all her spirit guides and higher self nonsense. She’d said a place would present itself when the time was right and here we were. Summer was coming to a close. I wouldn’t need to be so greedy with her time because the kids would be in school and the fucking Mimi’s Boutique storefront just landed in her lap.
Isaac cleared his throat. “We’re looking for the plan that makes the most financial sense. Gwen and I are ready to travel and as much as we love that store, we’re tired of living our lives around it.”
We talked numbers and hypotheticals while I took notes. “Do you think your landlord would let you break the lease if you had someone ready to take immediate occupancy?”
Gwen looked intrigued. “I didn’t know there were any would-be entrepreneurs in Wildrose. I couldn’t imagine Mr. Bales is so upset that he’d force us to maintain occupancy with an interested third party in the picture.”
She glanced at her husband who hit me with a shrewd look. “Why do I think your new girl is the one interested in opening a store on Main Street?”
“Because you’re an insightful man. Amelia moved here with the intent of starting a business and fell in love with Main Street the second she made it to town. I can’t speak for her, but I’d be happy to talk to her about taking over your lease whenever you give me the go ahead.”
The Tarringtons exchanged a wary look that seemed out of place considering I’d just offered them a solution to their problem. What was it about Amelia that had everyone in an uproar? I’d been actively avoiding Greta’s posts because all they did was make me mad. Maybe I needed to check in, see what she was saying, and put out some fires.
“Just a little friendly advice between men, Jackie Boy.” Isaac’s chair squeaked as he shifted, a frown pulling at his jowls. “I wouldn’t mix business with pleasure, if I were you. There’s a reason that saying’s so famous.”
I bristled. Me talking to Amelia about the lease opening up had nothing to do with mixing business and pleasure. I’d done the same thing for Izzy and no one batted an eye. I wanted to tell the man what he could do with his advice. That I was tired of everyone in town judging Amelia for no good reason. That I was happy for the first time in a long time and I’d do anything I could to help her open her store.
Instead, I put on a professional smile and promised I wouldn’t say anything until I’d gotten the okay from them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Amelia
Jack walked into his house, crossed the living room, and kissed me like I was oxygen and he’d been holding his breath for days. I stiffened, then returned the kiss, seemingly more aware of our audience than he was. Charlie giggled when he pulled away.
“What was that for?” I asked.
“I couldn’t wait another damn minute.”
“Daddy! That’s a bad word!”
Jack spun to greet his kids, throwing Garrett and Connor over his shoulders and stomping around the living room, while begging Charlie to help him find the boys. When the game ended, he put them down. “You guys find something to do. I need to talk to Amelia alone.”
“He doesn’t mean talk,” whispered Charlie as they walked out of the room. “He’s gonna kiss her some more.”
“She’s got that right,” said Jack, then pressed his lips to mine, his hands traveling up my hips and around my waist. “Izzy offered to watch the kids tonight. Feel like ordering dinner and showing me the plans for your store, then making out at your house?”
“I am so on board with that idea. Do you want me to call her and set things up?”
“Don’t you worry about that.” He strode to the door and threw it open, gesturing like a magician as Izzy stepped inside. “Things are already set up, baby. I had a feeling you’d approve.”
Izzy wiggled her fingers in greeting. “Me too.”
The kids galloped down the hallway as if summoned by her voice and wrapped her in hugs. After some discussion about dinner, bedtimes, and movie choices, Jack and I said our goodbyes. He followed me to my house, then whistled as we came to a stop in the driveway and climbed out of our cars. The white columns on the porch stood tall and proud against the enormous front door. The scrollwork in the sidelights glinted along with the rest of the windows in the setting sun as the row of maples lining the drive shivered in the breeze.
“I always forget you’re living here,” Jack said with a shake of his head. “This place puts my little ranch to shame.”
“You be nice to that house. The…”
I was about to say, ‘The man of my dreams lives in that house,’ but I chickened out at the last second.
“One hell of a great guy lives there.”
Jack offered me his elbow. We climbed the porch steps and I let us inside.
“When Evie lived here, she joked she needed to learn the difference between a living room, a study, and a drawing room.” I shrugged. “I don’t care what they’re called. I won’t let a silly old house intimidate me.”
“I might let it intimidate me.” He eyed the sweeping staircase and towering bookshelves as I led him into the living room and plopped on the couch. My plans for the store were strewn across the coffee table and I bent to gather them into a neat pile.
Jack sat beside me and tugged me into his arms, his lips finding mine. “It’s been too long since I had you alone.” He nuzzled my neck, kissing along my jawline as he cupped a breast. “I can’t help myself.”
“Then don’t.”
He gripped the back of my neck and drew me in for a kiss so hungry I felt like I was being devoured. I lifted my skirt and straddled him, lowering myself so my core ground against his erection. He moaned. I rolled my hips. Our eyes locked and I hauled my shirt over my head—a tee that said “Watch me”—and dropped it to the floor. As Jack tweaked a nipple, I lifted his shirt and lightly drew my nails across his skin.
He shivered, thrusting his hips into mine. “Fuck. I want you. You’re all I can think about.”
His hands were on my back, drawing me close as he unhooked my bra. His mouth worshipped the skin at my throat, my breasts, his fingers threading into my hair as he wrapped it in his fist and gave it a tug.
I gasped. My mouth open to the ceiling. My body wound tight. Eager for him to fill me.
“Jack…”
“That’s right, baby. Say my name.” He claimed my lips and I pulled on the hem of his shirt. He broke the kiss long enough to yank it over his head and drop it to the floor with mine. I lifted my hips and tugged on his button. The hiss of the zipper filled the room and I shifted to reach into his pants.
Jack’s gaze burned as I slipped my fingers around his velvety length, massaging his crown with my thumb. His need crackled along my skin. I stood to slip out of my skirt while he shimmied his pants off his hips, grabbing a condom from his wallet and rolling it in place.