confrontation, and she wasn’t about to start now.
“I’m sorry for hitting you. I truly don’t believe violence answers anything. But I won’t let you tell me what to do, or treat me like a moron. I’m a grown woman, and I’ve been taking care of myself for the last three years without help from anyone, thank you very much!”
He didn’t respond but merely looked at her. His stare was curiously unnerving. She felt as though he were stripping her naked and seeing the uncertainty inside, the fear, the total sense of loss that was ravaging her― and the lust that she was ruthlessly subduing. She needed to refocus his attention away from her.
“When will the final ceremony be held?” she asked.
“Two days from now. Sorry,” he held up his hands, “that was the earliest I could get. I’ve told the guys in his old club, and a few of them will be there, the ones who live on this coast. They want to say their goodbyes. He was a good man and a great friend.”
“Okay. I’ll have to get things sorted at my job. Where is it to be held? And may I see him before...before it’s over?” What a wuss! I can’t even say the word “cremation” without gagging.
Jack didn’t seem to notice, thankfully. She suspected it was more likely that he was being kind to her and not mentioning that he knew she was a bit weirded out by the concept.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” He looked around him and said, “Well, let’s get cracking on cleaning things up. No sense in leaving a mess, especially if you’re going to be coming back here when this is all over.”
Although she was pretty sure she was never going to live here again and had already decided to break her lease, Faith said nothing. She set about tidying up the place. Jack did not speak, except to ask where things went. He left her bedroom and bathroom to her and worked in the kitchen and living room.
It was late by the time they were done. Although he wanted to invite her to crash with him, he knew the suggestion would not be welcome. Instead, he asked where she was going to spend the night. She told him she’d stay with the Clancys. She had called them on her way back to the apartment from the hospital earlier.
“I’ll take you to your car and follow you there.” Faith noticed that it was a statement and not a question. Although she longed to tell him where he could shove his bossiness, she bit her tongue because she knew he was restraining himself as much as an alpha male like him could.
She packed the things she would need for a cross-country trip with her. The thought that her father would not be with her made her chest ache. She wondered how she had managed to hide from herself how much she had missed him all these years.
Sitting beside him in his truck, Faith looked back at Jack’s monster bike in the truck’s bed. The thought of getting on the pillion behind him sent a thrill through her, despite her breaking heart. She had loved riding with her dad. The freedom she felt was immense. The wind in her hair, ruffling her cheeks had made her want to shout with the joy of being alive.
She remembered those times fondly, as she sat beside the man from whom she was struggling to remain aloof. Having to ride in the cab of his truck with him was difficult enough, but she would be damned if she would get any more up-close-and-personal with him. Bad enough he was doing a number on her anyway, and she didn’t want to add to her troubles. So, she was grateful when they turned off into the parking lot, and she got into her little car.
At the Clancy’s home, he waited until she was indoors before driving off. The sound of his truck’s engine breached the stillness of the night and echoed inside her, leaving her feeling hollow. No, this isn’t sadness that he’s gone that I’m feeling. It’s all about my
“I’m sorry for hitting you. I truly don’t believe violence answers anything. But I won’t let you tell me what to do, or treat me like a moron. I’m a grown woman, and I’ve been taking care of myself for the last three years without help from anyone, thank you very much!”
He didn’t respond but merely looked at her. His stare was curiously unnerving. She felt as though he were stripping her naked and seeing the uncertainty inside, the fear, the total sense of loss that was ravaging her― and the lust that she was ruthlessly subduing. She needed to refocus his attention away from her.
“When will the final ceremony be held?” she asked.
“Two days from now. Sorry,” he held up his hands, “that was the earliest I could get. I’ve told the guys in his old club, and a few of them will be there, the ones who live on this coast. They want to say their goodbyes. He was a good man and a great friend.”
“Okay. I’ll have to get things sorted at my job. Where is it to be held? And may I see him before...before it’s over?” What a wuss! I can’t even say the word “cremation” without gagging.
Jack didn’t seem to notice, thankfully. She suspected it was more likely that he was being kind to her and not mentioning that he knew she was a bit weirded out by the concept.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” He looked around him and said, “Well, let’s get cracking on cleaning things up. No sense in leaving a mess, especially if you’re going to be coming back here when this is all over.”
Although she was pretty sure she was never going to live here again and had already decided to break her lease, Faith said nothing. She set about tidying up the place. Jack did not speak, except to ask where things went. He left her bedroom and bathroom to her and worked in the kitchen and living room.
It was late by the time they were done. Although he wanted to invite her to crash with him, he knew the suggestion would not be welcome. Instead, he asked where she was going to spend the night. She told him she’d stay with the Clancys. She had called them on her way back to the apartment from the hospital earlier.
“I’ll take you to your car and follow you there.” Faith noticed that it was a statement and not a question. Although she longed to tell him where he could shove his bossiness, she bit her tongue because she knew he was restraining himself as much as an alpha male like him could.
She packed the things she would need for a cross-country trip with her. The thought that her father would not be with her made her chest ache. She wondered how she had managed to hide from herself how much she had missed him all these years.
Sitting beside him in his truck, Faith looked back at Jack’s monster bike in the truck’s bed. The thought of getting on the pillion behind him sent a thrill through her, despite her breaking heart. She had loved riding with her dad. The freedom she felt was immense. The wind in her hair, ruffling her cheeks had made her want to shout with the joy of being alive.
She remembered those times fondly, as she sat beside the man from whom she was struggling to remain aloof. Having to ride in the cab of his truck with him was difficult enough, but she would be damned if she would get any more up-close-and-personal with him. Bad enough he was doing a number on her anyway, and she didn’t want to add to her troubles. So, she was grateful when they turned off into the parking lot, and she got into her little car.
At the Clancy’s home, he waited until she was indoors before driving off. The sound of his truck’s engine breached the stillness of the night and echoed inside her, leaving her feeling hollow. No, this isn’t sadness that he’s gone that I’m feeling. It’s all about my
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