LEAP OF FAITH (20 page)

Jenna met them at the gate. After welcoming Abby with a hug, she stood back and gave Jack an appreciative sweep with her eyes. “Tell me you brought this hunk as gift for your only sister.”

Sensing Abby’s irritation, Jack looped his arm around her waist and jumped in before she could tender a snappish reply. “Sorry, I’m afraid Abby has already staked her claim.”

Abby looked up at him in surprise. “Yes, I have,” she said with dazed smile. “Jenna, this is Jack Burton.”

“I’ve always been fond of the name Jack,” Jenna cooed.

Having been forewarned, Jack ignored her sugary comment. In truth, most people would have considered Jenna the more attractive of the two with her glossy red hair and innate feminine sexuality, but he preferred Abby’s subtler dark beauty and serene nature. It was easy to see why any woman would feel a certain degree of inferiority around Jenna, but Jack didn’t think Abby’s uneasiness had anything to do with her sister outshining her in that department. It was her belief that Jenna could have any man she wanted, including him, and right now her sister was putting on quite a show and leaving little doubt that she intended to make a play for him. Which only made Jack that much more determined to prove his indifference.   

“I’ve arranged to have our bags brought to us so there’s no need for all of us to wait here.” He looked pointedly at Jenna. “Why don’t you bring your car around and we’ll meet you outside?”

Jenna blinked as if she couldn’t believe he hadn’t dropped his arm from around Abby and fallen at her feet in an adoring stupor. “I’ll do that,” she said stiffly.

Abby waited until she’d gone before letting the giggle loose that had been bubbling up in her throat. “Jenna isn’t used to men who don’t fall all over themselves for her. I’m afraid you’ve thrown her off center.”

“Good. The sooner she realizes she’s wasting her time, the better.”

A radiant smile lit her face. “Have I told you lately that I love you, Jack Burton?”

“Yes, but you can tell me every hour on the hour and I will never get tired of hearing it.” Spying the attendant pushing a cart loaded with their luggage, Jack waved him over. “I’ll take it from here,” he said, slipping the man a generous tip. Once they reached the curb, he asked Abby what kind of car Jenna drove.

“A white BMW.”

“Is that her behind the Toyota?”

Abby leaned around him to peer down the roadway. “Yes.”

“Do you think she can see us yet?”   

“Probably…” 

The air left Abby’s lungs in whoosh when Jack hauled her into his arms. In total contrast to the fierce passion burning in his eyes, his kiss was slow and sensuous and so incredibly tender that it was impossible to hold onto the anxiety brought on by Jenna’s blatantly provocative behavior toward Jack. Her senses were dominated by the potent effect of his marauding tongue, her body all too aware of how easily his demanding mouth could coax her into complete surrender. Caught up in a dream-like trance, it took Abby a minute to realize he was no longer kissing her. 

“That ought to do it, don’t you think?” Jack asked when her eyelids fluttered open.

“Oh, yeah,” she whispered hoarsely. “That certainly did it for me.”

“Let’s go, honey.”

Jack’s soft laughter made Abby blink in confusion. “Jenna is here already?”

“She’s been here for three or four minutes.”

“Oh,” was all she could think of to say. 

After opening the car door and helping her in, Jack leaned down and asked Jenna to pop the trunk and then left them to load the luggage.

“He’s simply gorgeous,” Jenna said after he closed the door. “Where did you find him?”

“I didn’t
find
him,” Abby replied crisply. “Jack is the caretaker for Grandpa’s cabin.”

“You’re kidding me! You mean if I had gone and played nature girl, I could have had him?”

Abby was usually indulgent towards her sister’s thoughtless remarks but she was feeling extremely predatory about Jack and couldn’t quite keep the waspish tone from her voice. “I didn’t go there to play nature girl, Jenna, I went there to work on my novel. Jack is a writer too. I’m sure you have nothing in common with him.”

Oblivious to her sister’s irritation, Jenna strained to catch another glimpse of him in the rearview mirror. “Well, I
read
for Pete’s sake.”

Heat scaled Abby’s cheeks as her normally passive temper instantly spiked. If Jack hadn’t opened the door at precisely that moment she would have threatened Jenna with bodily harm if she even
thought
of making a play for him. She was still seething as they pulled away from the curb, although Jack’s presence lent her the strength not to give her sister a good smack across the back of the head.   

“So, Abby tells me you’re a writer. I’m an
avid
reader,” Jenna gushed. “What type of novels do you write, Jack?”

Abby stared at her sister in total disbelief. Except for studying, Jenna didn’t pick up anything more adventurous in reading than a fashion magazine! Jenna had to have seen the way Jack kissed her, and yet she was still flirting outrageously. He answered her questions politely but Jenna was laying it on pretty thick. Finally, Abby turned her head and stared out the window in frustration. 

In the past, Abby had simply accepted the way Jenna was and never really let it bother her. But Jack was a different game altogether and she intended to let Jenna know about it the first opportunity she had alone with her brazen sibling. By the time they reached her parent’s house, Abby was so furious with Jenna she couldn’t even speak. She shoved the car door open and got out before Jack had a chance to open it for her.

“Calm down, sweetheart,” he whispered when he climbed out to stand beside her.

Abby’s eyes blazed. “I…she…did you hear…” She couldn’t even form a complete thought let alone a complete sentence!

Jack took her hand. “Take a few deep breathes, baby. You don’t want your parents to think you’re mad at me, do you?”

She stopped and inhaled deeply. He was right; she wanted her parents and brothers to see how happy she was. “All better, see?” she said between clenched teeth.

Jack chuckled. “That’s my girl.”

“We’ll send the boys out for the luggage later,” Jenna said as she came around the front of the car to join them. Looping her arm through Jack’s, she peered up at with a seductive smile. “Let’s get inside. I’m just dying to get to know you better.”  

A quick glance at Abby revealed a strained smile and troubled eyes. He could feel her hand balling into a fist inside his palm and wanted so badly to tell her she was worrying for nothing, but with Jenna latched onto one arm, all Jack could do was pull Abby along. Only after Jenna dropped her hold him on as they entered the house did he feel Abby’s hand slowly unclench. 

“They’re all in the kitchen eating one of Maggie’s fabulous cakes,” Jenna informed them.

Their roles instantly reversed as they approached the kitchen; it was Jack whose tension became evident as his step faltered and Abby who offered a reassuring smile. If he hadn’t recognized it before, it was crystal clear to him now why they were so perfect for each other; whatever turmoil spiraled around them, they were the calming force for one another. They grounded each other, two halves of a whole that would never be complete if they weren’t together. With a renewed spirit, Jack followed Abby into the kitchen where eight sets of eyes zeroed in on him. 

“Everybody…this is Jack Burton,” Abby introduced him with obvious pride.

Sam stood up and shook his hand. “It’s good to see you again, Jack.”

Anne stood up too but didn’t offer her hand. Instead, she gave him a hug. “We’re so glad you could make it.”

Gage half rose from his position on the opposite side of the table and stuck out his hand. “Damn glad to meet you, Jack,” he said with a grin and was
immedately
immediately
berated for swearing by the silver-haired woman sitting across from him.

“You must be Maggie.” Jack leaned down and kissed her cheek, instantly endearing himself to her. “I hear you make the best chocolate cake this side of New York.”

Maggie beamed at him. “You bet your life I do. Let me get you a piece,” she said, hurrying off to cut him a huge slice while Abby continued the introductions.

“These are my brothers, Scott, Adam, and Nick.” 

Abby watched as he shook hands with each of her brothers, noting with amusement that it seemed to be a contest as to whose grip was the strongest. She thought Jack held his own. Maggie returned with cake for both of them and ordered them to sit while she bustled off to fetch a piece for Jenna. Abby seated herself next to Nick even though it left the spot on the other side of Jack open, which Jenna quickly took advantage of. 

“Jack is a writer too,” Abby told them, and was relieved when her family jumped at the chance to make him feel welcome.

Questions were fired at Jack at a rapid pace. By the time he finished his cake and Abby had pawned hers off on Nick, they knew where he was born, that his parents had passed away, where he went to college, how long he’d lived in the cabin, how he became a writer, and a couple dozen other pieces of information. No sooner had she sent up a silent thanks to God for sparing her the embarrassment of having one of them ask how much money he made when her dad cleared his throat.

“So, Jack, you’re pretty financially set then?”

Abby groaned out loud at the same time her mother kicked Sam under the table, drawing an exaggerated yelp from her father and laughter from her siblings. Certain Jack would be appalled by her family’s behavior, she was surprised to see him smile as though it was a perfectly normal question to ask.

“Actually, I brought my financial portfolio with me,” he replied. “Abby was pretty confident you and Adam could guide me into doubling my investment earnings.” 

Abby could have kissed him. He’d just breezed past the biggest obstacle, her dad, and managed to sweep up Adam’s approval as well. 

Sam gave his wife a look that told her she had been totally unjustified for kicking him. “We’d be glad to talk to you about it. Maybe some time tomorrow while the girls are fluffing themselves up for the ball?”

“That would be great, sir.”

“Call me Sam,” he said and then turned toward Scott to
finished
finish
the conversation they’d started before she and Jack had arrived.

Abby was elated. If her dad was satisfied with the information they had gleaned by drilling Jack about his past and moved on to another conversation, it meant he approved of their relationship. She looked at Jack and almost laughed at his confused expression; obviously, he didn’t understand that being ignored was a good thing. When Nick leaned around her to ask him who was handling his legal needs, Abby took that as her cue to help clear the dishes. Jenna, of course, remained seated, interjecting herself into the conversation whenever possible. Abby sighed in resignation and joined her mother and Maggie at the sink.

“He seems like a real nice boy,” Maggie told her.

She glanced back at Jack who was laughing at something Nick said. “Isn’t he magnificent?”

Maggie stopped what she was doing and planted her hands on her hips. “Well good lord, Anne, you didn’t tell me by baby was in
love
with the boy.”

Anne smiled at her daughter. “I didn’t know myself until I saw them together.”

“Am I that obvious?” Abby asked.

“You’re both pretty obvious.” Anne’s smile broadened. “I’m so happy for you, honey. Everyone seems to like him.”

“I see Jenna is playing her usual games,” Maggie grumbled.

“And Jack can see right through it,” Anne replied. “He’s barely paying any attention to her.”

“Which will only serve to make her try harder,” Maggie muttered disapprovingly.

“It’s okay, Maggie,” Abby assured her. “I trust Jack. Jenna can try all she wants. This is one man she isn’t sinking her teeth into.”

Maggie’s laughter was so unexpected it set all three of them to giggling like school girls. Abby saw Jack glance over at her and wink. 

“I do love him, Mom,” she said without taking her eyes off of him.

“I know, sweetie. And by the looks of it, he loves you too.” Anne smiled slyly at her daughter. “I put him in the guest bedroom across the hall from yours. That way you can wake him up in the morning and show him the way back to the kitchen.”

She hugged her mother gratefully. “It’s getting late, maybe we should grab the luggage and get some rest.”

Anne touched Abby’s face. “You’re still not quite well, are you?”

“I had a little set back, but Jack took care of me. I’m just feeling a bit tired, that’s all.”

They said good-night to everyone and had Gage follow them out to the car to help with the luggage. Jack was feeling good about the way things were going with the Travis family as he handed Abby the two smaller pieces and unloaded the rest of the luggage to divide with her twin. A sentiment that shifted uneasily after she disappeared through the front door and Gage informed him there were a few things he needed to say.