The Heart (20 page)

“Where
is
my nephew?”

“He’s with the Harrisons in the other tent.”

“You just pass off our baby to strangers,” I said, desperately looking for my nephew as Dallas lifted a red cup to her lips.

“We’ve known them our whole lives, idiot.”

“Yes, and they are old as shit. They’ll break a hip lifting him!” I said in sheer panic.

“Oh, Jesus, you really are bad off.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“I’ll gladly hand you the high strung trophy tomorrow, but tonight, shut up.” She shoved a cup of what smelled like pure alcohol in my face, but I pushed it away. Finally spotting Grant, who was showing the Harrisons his now signature dance moves, I breathed out a sigh of relief and then turned to my sister. “Thanks for the heads-up on the party, asshole.”

“Jack thought it would be a good way to show the builders we appreciate all they’ve done.”

“Oh,
Jack
thought, huh?”

“Yeah,” she said defensively, shoving the drink back into my face. “He did, and Dad and I agreed. He literally had this whole damned thing done in a matter of hours. We also agreed to give the crew the day off tomorrow, too.”

“Well, that’s just dandy,” I said as I looked up and saw Dean pass Annabelle off to the Harrisons as well and make his way back toward us. Thirsty from the heat, I took a large sip of the cup and nearly gasped at its strength and amazing taste.

“Holy shit!”

“Yep, I strongly suggest you go try some of his cooking. He’s something else in the kitchen.”

“Jack made this?”

“You should’ve seen him ordering Pedro around in an attempt to get it ready.”

Pedro was our favorite of all the crew and one of the first employees my father hired. He was considered family.

“I miss everything,” I said defeated. The last of my anger disappeared with each long sip I took.

“No, you don’t. You’re here, right?” Dallas said as her eyes bulged, Dean suddenly behind her, his body language suggestive. I rolled my eyes, lifted my glass to Dean, and turned to leave in search of a refill.

“Hey, that’s my drink!”

“Not anymore. Our parents are here, you two!” I yelled over the blaring music as I made my way through the crowd. I didn’t see Jack as I headed over to the buffet to fill a bowl full of sumptuous jambalaya. I watched the crew step one by one into the dance circle, taking turns showing off their skills as the rest of them roared in celebration. As far as I could tell, Jack could throw one hell of a party. I caught my parents’ attention and waved a hello as they spoke to some of the crews’ wives as I shoved another heaping mouthful of the spicy but savory food in my mouth. I waved back in greeting as I kept my steady pace, inhaling my fill. Once finished, I refreshed my drink from a two-gallon dispenser filled with the delicious and heavily chilled liquor mix labeled Gata Juice. Stuffed and slightly alcohol soaked, I began to search the crowd for Jack and again came up empty.

A sigh of defeat passed my lips as I began to sway my hips to the music. It really was a sight to behold as I watched people I’d known through the years of my father’s projects celebrate their hard work. The more I saw, the more I knew Jack had made the right call. I’d only wished Dallas and I had come up with idea ourselves.

“Bonjou,” I heard in a whisper in my ear in thick a Cajun drawl. “Ju gettin’ out da car?”

“What?” I said with a chuckle as Jack stayed behind me; we remained slightly hidden in the crowd. Instantly aware of the crisp scent that was now a familiar comfort, I leaned into him.

“Ju hips, beb,” Jack said as he confused the hell out of me. “Ju is gettin’ out da car.”

Realization struck, and though I knew nothing of Cajun, I assumed it was slang for dancing.

“Seriously, getting out of the car?”

“Dat what dis is,” he said in a singsong voice as he placed his hands on my hips and pulled them back hard into him. I gasped as he held me close. “Beb got me tinkin all day, and tinkin got me hard and all needin’.” I closed my eyes and moved my hips back and forth against him. The crowd paid us no mind, aside from one or two wives who shot daggers my way. Apparently, I had robbed them of their eye candy. Not wanting attention drawn our way, I swatted Jack’s hands away but remained desperate for my own look at him.

“Mais now, boo. I seed dem frissons on de skin,” he whispered as I melted. He blew on the goose bumps he’d referred to as my pulse picked up and fire rushed below. He pushed forward with his hips and brushed against me. Hot and willing, I swayed against him, desperate for his hands. “Where put dis?”

A small gasp escaped me when I felt the evident bulge brush against my back. I swallowed hard, a mix of highly amused and completely turned on. “Where exactly did you grow up again?”

“Dem swamps.” He chuckled. “I’ve already given you over half my Cajun lexicon.”

“Ah, so you
are
trying to impress me?” Suddenly jerked away from the crowd and into the night, I felt less suffocated and rejoiced in the cooler air I inhaled. Jack led me to a neighboring large oak tree next to the tent just as a slower Cajun mix burst through the two large speakers that housed the night’s entertainment.

Pinned to a tree, Jack smiled down at me, and I felt my whole body shift in new awareness.

“I want to dance with you,” he said in a whisper. “Please?” Suddenly, I was in his embrace as he moved in time with the music. I fumbled with my footing as he led me easily, taking great patience until I matched him foot for foot.

Comfortable in our pattern, I looked up to Jack, his eyes crinkled in the corners, a sexy gleam and half-grin to match.

“You love to dance?”

“I do.”

“What is this song?”

“It’s old.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

He gripped my hand tighter. “Mais time for dancin’, beb. Jaw close.”

“Well, I understood that,” I said in exasperation as I pushed away, but he pulled us back together chest to chest with a chuckle.

“Just relax, beautiful. Look at me.” And I did. He guided me through our not quite two-step effortlessly as I followed his lead, looking into his eyes. “Better,” he rasped out against my throat before he pulled back to look at me. There was enough light for us to see each other’s faces clearly and I damn near broke our dance when I noticed the look on his. It was full of want, and I wondered if he could see mine. Just as I was about to nervously start spewing words, he leaned in and began to sing in my ear.

“Go roun’, go roun’, lil’ Alice blue gown. We’ll soon be together on the bayou sundown. We’ll jaw jambalaya and sing all night long.

Me and my baby and a Cajun love song.”

His voice was smooth and intoxicating, and I sighed as I placed my forehead on his shoulder, giving in as I let the rest of my day roll off my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I said as the song ended. “This is really—” I looked back at the tent “—something.”

“It’s nothing.”

I looked up to him with a frown. “You could have texted me about this.”

“I wanted to surprise you.” I thought of my initial reaction to the party and decided I had earned the trophy Dallas spoke of.

“You did, it’s wonderful.”

I looked back at the crowd and then to him. The party faded out as he stared on at me, and I felt the ever-present need for him.

“I had a motive,” he announced as he pulled me against him, his back to the tree as his arms snaked around me.

“Care to share?” I said as my heart began to hammer.

“I don’t like to dance alone. I need a new partner.”

“Oh,” I said as I let my body relax in his hold.

“I saw this picture once,” he said, his face covered in a light sheen of sweat. “It was of a little girl on her daddy’s feet. She had bright red hair.”

“Oh shit,” I said, immediately embarrassed. That picture hung in our hall. It was one of my mother’s favorites.

“I feel like I’ve known you for a long time, Rose, just by knowing your family.”

“But you’re a stranger to me,” I said carefully.

“Am I?” he said as he leaned in close, drew my lips into his mouth, and sucked on them gently before he let go. “I think we’ve conquered that.”

“We have,” I agreed.

Jack slid a hand up and gripped my hair in his fist as our mouths crashed together in a kiss. His greedy tongue took as I gave. When I had been thoroughly kissed to the point of needing much more, he took his lips away.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve held back with a woman,” he said, out of breath as I pressed further into him. “I want you wrapped around me... tight.” He dipped his head as he tilted mine, his fist still in control of it. I whimpered as his tongue stroked just below my ear. “I want to know what it feels like to fit inside you.” He pulled away and I drank in his effect. “But I want you to agree to be my dance partner first.”

“Motive,” I said breathlessly.

He nodded with eyes on fire.

“Okay.”

In haste, and to shake off our spell, he let go of my hair and gripped my hand as he twirled me underneath his arm and back again. I shrieked as I tripped over a piece of stump and went flying through the air toward him. He caught me easily as I landed with a thud against his chest.

“No more Gata Juice for you,” he said as I stepped back and checked myself for injury, finding none. I’d been so close to face planting.

“No worries, it’s my cat like reflexes. I’ve had to put them back into action because of you, sloppy surgeon.”

I curled my lip in distaste. “Don’t get cocky, Jack. I may just need a better instructor.”

He crossed his arms as he looked down at me with a cocked brow.

“Okay, I tripped.”

“Gata Juice.”

“I have an early shift. Thank you for the dance and for everything. Goodnight, Jack.” I did a half-assed curtsy then began to walk toward my house. “I’ll text you tomorrow,” I called out as I shivered in the suddenly cool night air.

“I’ll text you first,” I said, making her jump as I slipped her hand in mine. Fingers laced, we walked in silence for a few minutes before she looked up to the blanket of stars above us.

“You’ve been all over, Jack. Tell me the best place for this kind of view.”

“Well, that would be here,” I said with a chuckle.

She cut her beautiful eyes at me as we paused our steps. I thought of all the types of night skies I’d seen in my travels as she waited for me to answer.

“The northern lights, they’re unbeatable.”

“I can only imagine.”

“You don’t have to. You can go see them for yourself,” I said in hopes of encouraging her. Even so young and flawlessly beautiful, she was tired. I knew that tired. I’d lived it. An experience like that could be just what she needed.

“Yeah, I’ll just take a week off, head up to the northern tip of the earth to admire one huge nightlight.”

“If it’s important enough, you’ll make the time.”

Offended by my bluntness, she pulled her hand away, and I shoved mine in my pockets as I rocked on my heels.

“Things like that aren’t possible for me. Not now, probably not ever.”

“That’s complete bullshit.” I could see her longing when I spoke to her about my trips. I wasn’t immune to the envy she clearly conveyed, and a deep need in me wanted her to have the sight of those lights.

“Okay, well, I’ll send you my schedule for the next five years and you work that out for me.” Annoyed, she turned on her heel without looking to see if I followed.

Under her breath, I heard her mutter, “I can’t just leave. I don’t get to do things like that.”

“Because you choose to be here. There’s nothing wrong with that unless you say there is.”

I followed her up her porch steps as she reeled on me. “Look, hippie, just because you decided to throw in your tie and live from tree to tree doesn’t mean the rest of us did. I have people who are depending on me.”

“It’s like I said, if it’s important enough to you, you’ll make time. You have responsibilities. I get that, beb. We all do. But you’re not entirely responsible for saving the world on your own, and I can see it on your shoulders.”

“Well, I can’t just walk away on a whim to take a break.”

“Oh, but you want to, at least right now you do. Admit it, you want to see those stars and you want me to take you to them.”

“You don’t know squat,” she snapped as I fed her the truth.

“You have one nasty temper, Rose Whittaker.”

“I resent that. You can’t expect me to be as agreeable as you are.
No one
is.” Unable to contain my chuckle, I could physically see her anger flare again as I took a step toward her, wanting to do nothing but put that fire out. I was just about to follow through when I caught the movement beneath her and froze.

“Rose, don’t move.”

Still clearly irritated, her flesh flushed from the gator punch, she looked at me for argument. “I mean, sure I’ll just stop all the progress I’ve made in the last year and go buy a map of the stars.”

“Rose,” I said sharply.

“What?!” she said as she moved lightning fast, gripped the large black snake’s tail, and hurled it over her porch.

I stood shocked as she glared back at me with her hands on her hips.