Chapter 3

Jack

Ican’t be this close to Paisley Harrison. It’s impossible to think when her body is pressed against mine. Actually, I can think plenty, but every thought leads to one place. And I don’t think she’d like it.

It takes everything I have, but I step back, put some space between us, and instantly I feel the loss. I hate that we’re like this, so awkward, so distanced. We were always meant to be more than this, more than two people who haven’t seen each other for ten years, more than two people who both took off in different directions when things got tough. The only difference being that I only left for a month. Her, she’s been gone a decade.

She doesn’t know what really happened though, doesn’t know everything about the night that sent her running. Or maybe it wasn’t the night, maybe it was me, or a combination of the two. I definitely didn’t help. I should have been stronger, been the man she needed back then. It’s my biggest regret.

“So, you and Gymkhana Jenny?”

I knew she’d ask, knew the moment I made the phone call that I’d end up explaining this. Another thing I’m not proud of. I don’t set out to hurt women, but in the last ten years, it seems it’s all I’ve done. Because not one of the women I’ve dated has been the one. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s no point stringing someone along and wasting their time if it’s not got long-term potential.

“Yeah, we went on a couple of dates.”

We dated for two months.

She cocks her head at me. “I’m guessing you ended things?”

“Mmhmm, yeah. It wasn’t working.”

She wasn’t you.

“Is that how you know Bennett?”

And now I’ve got to explain this as well. “No, I met Izzy because of my connection with Ben. I worked for him, here at the manor.”

“You did? Last I heard, you were still writing for the local newspaper.”

“I am, a little over six years now, but I also work security in the evenings and weekends. I worked all his family events here over a summer.”

There’s a long time where we just stare at each other, and I can see the cogs turning in her head. I know she’s going to ask. Still, I’m not ready for it.

“Because of…?”

It’s not even a full question, but it knocks the air from my lungs. I answer her with just one word. “Flora.”

“You keep people safe,” she says, voice almost a whisper.

“I try.”

Her gaze drifts down to her feet as she digs her toe into the gravel. “They’re lucky here, this town, these people. You care about them.”

I know what she’s thinking, that I didn’t care about her back then, that I should have been there that night, the days and weeks following. Hell, I should have. I should have gone after her when she packed up and left too. But I didn’t.

“So why didn’t it work out with Izzy?” she asks, shaking her head as if to clear the remnants of the past.

“Same reason none of my relationships have worked out in the last ten years.”

She frowns, bites her lip as if she’s trying to stop herself asking. Do it, go on, ask me. It’s the one thing I can tell her the truth about right now.

“Because you’re a jerk?”

Good enough, Pais, good enough. “No, because I’ve always been in love with someone else.

Her eyes find mine in a flash, her chest a rapid rhythm of rise and fall, and she knows. She’s probably always known. I’m still in love with her. What we had doesn’t fizzle out like that. And now’s my one shot at getting her back. Did Elliot really put me forward for this? No. Did Flora think it was a good idea when I offered to help Paisley out? Nope. But when everything went wrong for my best friend, I did want to help. And getting the chance to win back the love of my life, there was nothing they could say to stop me.

And I know exactly what I’ve got to do. It’s time I tell her the truth.

But not right now, now is a time for getting this mess of a wedding fixed and putting a smile back on Flora and Elliot’s faces. It’s gone four anyway, places will be closing soon, and I’ve got a week to win this woman back, a week to tell her the truth, maybe I’ve pushed my luck far enough for today.