A Reason To Breathe (5 page)

“Ok, Bailey, talk to you later, I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom, bye.”

Jack approached with a scowl on his face, looking past me. I turned and remembered Barry was there, still standing behind me. As Jack walked up he looked at me then turned to Barry.

“Barry, you on lunch?”

“No, I was just checking with Jenkins next door about the vandalism he had last week, and saw Jennifer standing here.”

Both men seemed angry, and I wasn’t sure what was going on, and figured I didn’t want to know. Jack looked down at me and smiled, dazzling me again.

“You ready to eat, Jenn?”  I nodded since I wasn’t sure I could find my voice.

“You two are having lunch together?” Barry’s statement came out like an accusation, and it startled me. Jack reached up and put his hand to my neck and gave me a light squeeze.

“You have a problem with Jenn and I having lunch?”

Barry looked at Jack’s hand on my neck and narrowed his eyes. I could then see my mistake with Barry. Having coffee, and being friendly, was coming back to bite me in the ass. My husband used to say men couldn’t just be a friend with women. Men either wanted to have sex with you or they didn’t, and if they didn’t, they wouldn’t spend any real time with you. I didn’t agree with that, I think men and women can be friends without sexual tension, but clearly Barry was not one who fell into that category.

“No, Jack, I guess callbacks can be done on lunch hours,” he replied snidely.

“Not a callback, Barry. There a reason you got a problem with my having lunch with Jenn?” I looked down at my feet; I was too embarrassed by this pissing match and wished I’d waited inside.

“No, by all means, enjoy your lunch. Jennifer, as always, a pleasure to see you.” And with that, he gave me a two-finger salute and walked back the way he came.

“You and Barry got something going on I need to know about?” I looked up at Jack and watched his jaw go tight, as he watched Barry walk away.

“Um, no, we’re just friends. He took me for coffee once when I first moved here, and we bump into each other from time to time.”

“Good, keep it that way; I don’t like to share.”

“Share? I’m not sure I’m ready for any type of relationship, Jack.”

“Babe, you may not be ready, but that’s not going to stop me from changing your mind.” He replied smiling, his rough voice washing over me. Damn. My traitorous heart liked hearing that and started racing. My head told me to run, but I stupidly listened to my heart, and I smiled back at him. (I know, I know, it’s that damn smile.)

“Ok, Jack,” I whispered in reply. Jack’s smile turned to a sexy grin and then his eyes dropped to my lips. I sucked in a breath as his head lowered, his lips gently brushing mine. A warm tingle coursed through my body, as he wrapped both arms around me and crushed me to his chest. We were in public, but I didn’t care. Jack deepened the kiss, his hand coming up my back and into my hair, securing me deeper into him. Slowly the kiss ended, and he lets me go. I took a wobbly step back and looked up at him. Jack’s brow moved together in reflection, like he was working something out in his head. Then he smiled and my knees got weak.

“Now that’s more like it, boy.” I turned my head to see Lorraine grinning from ear to ear. My face flushed in embarrassment, and Jack just grunted, grabbed my hand, pulled me towards the door, and then mumbled. “You’re goddamned, right.”

Chapter Five

You Scare Me

“She looks so much like Jennifer, the way her hair tumbles down her back in curls. She senses me, looking over her shoulder, aware that death is stalking her. I’m sorry I have to do this; I’ll do anything for Jennifer to make her happy, make her mine. My pulse increases, the time is coming; I can feel it. Like a cat, I strike, wrapping the rope around her neck, feeling her life drain away. Shhh, die knowing you’re a gift for an angel.”

       Sitting in a booth at Mike’s burgers, and not having visited this burger joint yet, I told Jack to order for me. Two burgers with rings and two root beers were served; the food piled high and delicious. The décor was old west inspired, with red checked tablecloths, knotty pine walls and pictures of chuck wagons with burgers grilling over an open flame. It was early October and the lunch crowd consisted of locals, winter tourism for the area hadn’t started, making the streets and restaurants of Gunnison easier to navigate. Jack fielded questions from area business owners, and constant flirting from several of the waitresses. Learning long ago that women liked to flirt and not to take offense, even though he was eating with me, it didn’t stop these women from trying to get his attention. I was grinning at Jack, while Trixie, a fake boobed waitress who looked like she’d spent one too many nights drinking, was trying to get him to agree to a movie on Saturday night. Jack caught my smile and rolled his eyes. “Trixie, babe, I’m busy Saturday, I appreciate your asking, but I’ll have to pass. You might give J.D. a call; I know he and Judy broke up, and he might be feeling lonely right about now.”
Diplomatic, cares about her feelings, nice guy and hot…I’m in trouble with a capital T.

“How’s your burger?” Jack inquired once she had left. I jolted out of my thoughts and tried to cover the fact I’d been staring. Jack pointed at my food and smiled, then his smile got bigger as he watched me recover; I’d totally been caught daydreaming.

“Great, the rings are in a food group all their own and will end up on my hips, but that’s not gonna stop me from eating them,” I laughed while stuffing my mouth with the heavenly rings. I was grabbing my root beer to wash down the rings when Jack floored me.

“I won’t complain if they do, women
should
be curvy.” Trying to hold the root beer in my mouth, I swallowed, and gave him a disbelieving look and catching his own smirk at my reaction
. Nope, not going near that comment.
I shook my head to avoid answering, when Gerry walked up to the table, saving me from embarrassment.

“Jennifer, don’t be late for our meeting at three.” Gerry ordered.

“I won’t miss it, Gerry. What are you doing off the mountain?  Are you meeting clients for rafting?”

“Just needed to order some more life vests from Jenkins’s, and I picked up a dry erase board so we can keep track of our suspect and victim’s list.”

“That’s a great idea, thanks.” Smiling, I turned back to Jack and caught the scowl on his face.

“What?”

“What the hell are you two up to?”

“Just research, Jack, since Ben and Gerry know everyone, we’re gonna put together a suspect list for you.” Jack leaned back and chewed on that information, looking between Gerry and me, then threw his napkin on the table and began his lecture.

“Jenn, what’d I say about getting involved with this investigation? Say the killer is one of our own, he hears about you and the boys making a suspect list, you think he isn’t gonna take aim on any of the three of you for doing it?”  I looked back at Gerry, thinking that made a lot of sense.

“I, uh, Gerry, maybe we shouldn’t advertise what we’re doing? Should we meet at my cabin instead?” Gerry looked like he was pondering this when Jack broke in again.

“Jenn, research on serial killers doesn’t mean making a suspect list; that shit will get out. You and the boys back off and let me do the investigating, you hear me?”

I narrowed my eyes at Jack, and my best “excuse me” look, but of course he didn’t even flinch. I appreciated his concern, but he couldn’t dictate what I could and couldn’t do. Jack watched my reaction, and his face got hard, as well. In a staring match, Gerry chuckled and broke my concentration, saving Jack from the daggers I was spearing him with. I looked at Gerry and bugged my eyes at him; he patted me on the shoulder then turned to Jack.

“Sheriff, we’re helping her with the research
to
keep an eye on her, you don’t need to worry, we’ve got her back.”

“Jesus, I’ve got Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys on my hands.”
Seriously?

Ignoring his obviously funny comment, but not about to react to it, I wiped my mouth, pulled out my wallet and threw money on the table and then stood. Jack’s face turned hard again, looking at the money.

“I ask a woman out, I pay, end of discussion. Put your money away, Jenn.”

“I’d feel better paying, Jack. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I’ve spent the last thirty-nine years doing what everyone else needed me to do, and now I’m gonna do what I want, and I want to pay for my own damn lunch,” I hissed, then nodded at Gerry, “See you at three,” then turned on my heels and left.

Insufferable man thinks he can order me around? Who does he think he is? Ok, maybe he’s the Sheriff, but still, I don’t need him barking orders at me. No wonder he’s still single, who’d put up with
that
? I’ll just give him a wide berth and do my own investigation, and he can kiss my curvy; onion ring padded ass.

*
                            *                            *

Jack

       “She’s got attitude, you’ve got your hands full there, Jack.” Gerry was not wrong. Jenn hurried her cute ass out of Mike’s before I could even stand. Christ, if that little display didn’t turn me on even more than I was. I decided to let her go instead of following her. Something told me I wouldn’t get anywhere if I tried. “Gerry, what in Christ’s name are you thinking helping her look for this guy?”

“Jack, it was clear she wasn’t gonna stop, she’s got a fire in her belly, better she does it with Ben and me looking out for her than her running around half-cocked on her own.”              I sighed, threw money on the table, and then put out my hand to shake Gerry’s.

“Keep her out of this as much as you can. I don’t want her to pique this guy’s interest.”

“I’d say she’s already got enough interest between you and Barry Todd sniffing around her.”

“Noticed that did you?”

“Hard to miss Todd, he’s got these damn puppy dog eyes whenever she’s around…She’s not exactly your type though, Jack? I don’t want you to break her heart; she’s been through enough,” Gerry warned me, and my hackles rose.

“Old man, I’m not setting out to hurt anyone, so back off.”

“Jack, you’re not known for longevity, not sure you have it in you.”

“Jesus, first off, we’ve only had lunch, and secondly, did it ever occur to you that maybe the reason no one has ever lasted was because they tried to change me? Tried to tame me? I’m not opposed to settling down, what I
am
opposed to is having to change who I am, in order to do it. I’m a lawman who does whatever it takes to get the job done, and that means working all hours and missing shit or being late. Haven’t met a woman yet who didn’t want me home by five.”

“All right, Jack, all right, you’ve made your point. I just hope you figure out if Jennifer is one or the other before she gets her heart broken. She’s special to Ben and me. We’d take it personally if you hurt her; I know she’s a grown woman, but she’s alone and vulnerable right now.”

“Point made, I’ll bear that in mind. Now are you done warning me off Jenn? Cause honest to god Gerry, you don’t know me, how I think or what I feel, so I’d appreciate you backing the fuck off.”

We stared each other down for a moment and then that sonofabitch smiled at me, and then he fucking laughed, slapped his leg and blurted out, “I’ll be goddamned, never thought I’d see the day. Jack Gunnison is hung up on a woman, and not just any woman, no, he’s hung up on a woman who has no problem telling him off and doing whatever the hell she wants to do.”

“Gerry—”

“You can deny it all you want, Jack, but you’ve never cared what someone thought of you or how you handled women. No, this is different, even if you haven’t figured it out yet. Yup, gonna enjoy watching Jenn turn you inside out.”

I stared at Gerry as he walked out of Mike’s laughing his ass off, and damn if I wasn’t a little scared he was right. There was something about Jenn that was different from the other women I’d dated. She was driven like me; I’d always gone for women who needed a man to complete them, and it got me in trouble more than once. I can’t count how many times I’ve been hung up on or cussed out for missing dinner because I was called out on an emergency. Thinking about what Gerry said, and not giving a fuck if Jenn had cooled her heels, I pulled out my phone and called her.

“I’m not speaking to you right now.” She shouted in the phone.

“Jesus you’re stubborn.”

“I’d respond to that, except I’m not speaking to you right now.”

“Babe, cut the crap, I’m not going to apologize for worrying about you.”

“Jack, if it were just that I could understand, but you’re telling me what to do. I promised not to interfere, and I’m not. I don’t need
or
want someone telling me what to do. I got married out of high school, delayed college for my daughter, married Doug before I was ready, and spent all those years taking care of them. I’m devastated he’s dead, but at the same time I’m finally living my life on my terms. I’m sorry Jack, but this can’t go anywhere—”

“Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

“I call bullshit, Jenn.”

“About what?”

“I wasn’t telling you what to do; I’m the Sheriff of this county. I was telling you to back off so I could do my job, which incidentally, is keeping the residents, meaning you, safe. I’d tell anyone who was acting recklessly and putting his or her safety at risk to stop. You’re using that as an excuse to end things that haven’t even begun. I’m telling you right now; I’m not backing off; you intrigue the hell out of me with your smart mouth and sweetness, all at the same time. I haven’t met a woman in twenty years that’s piqued my interest like you have, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you run from me because you’re stubborn.” That shut her up, and I heard her breathing hard on the other end of the phone, so I waited for her to reply, but got dead air.

“Jenn? –Swear to Christ you’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever—”

“You scare me,” she whispered.

“Yeah? Well join the club, ‘cause you sure as shit scare the fuck out of me.”

“Sorry.”

“For what?”

“For yelling at you.”

“Jesus you’re somethin’ else.”

“I said I was sorry, jeez.”

“Jenn, swear to god it’s a good thing you’re on the phone or I’d spank your ass, then kiss you till you couldn’t see straight. I’m heading back to the station to try and find this sonofabitch or I’d drive to you right now.” Jenn gasped, then she fucking giggled. Is this woman real? She giggled like a schoolgirl, and that went right through me too. Christ.

“Ok, Jack, I’ll talk to you later.”

“You still planning on meeting Ben and Gerry?”

“Yes.”
              Reigning in my temper, I decided I’d fight that battle later.

“Ok, Sweetness, be careful and don’t talk about this with anyone but them.”

“Wasn’t planning on it, Jack, but thanks for worrying.”

“Talk to you soon, Babe.”

“Bye, Jack.”

Fighting my need to go find her and make her listen, I headed to my truck. While I was walking, I got the feeling of being watched. Looking around, not seeing anyone, I climbed into my truck and pointed it in the direction of the station. Thinking about Jenn and her sass, I smiled when I thought about sparring with her again. That woman had no problem going head to head with me, not a feat most would try, but hell if that didn’t turn me on even more. She was a spitfire, tied up in a sweet little package. Now all I had to do was get her to follow a fuckin’ order. I was almost back to the station, when I saw Barry sitting in his patrol car just off main. Deciding that a conversation needed to be had, and not wanting to do it at the office; I pulled over and got out of my truck, walked across the street, pulled open the passenger door and then bent my body into the unit. Barry looked at me and said nothing for a moment, then laid it out for me.

“You fuck her over; I’ll be waiting in the wings.”

“Christ, twice in one day I get shit about breaking hearts.”

“You’re not known for sticking it out.”

“I’m not known for putting up with bullshit either, but it happens.”

“So you're saying it’s different this time?”