If I Loved You (Harper Falls Book 1) (30 page)

As good as Rose was at remembering names,
even she lost track after an endless round of introductions. She
liked being anonymous but somehow, in this crowd, she was a
celebrity. No one was rude or pushy. They just wanted to meet the
famous songwriter. And take a few pictures. Rose was more than
willing to oblige. But she was grateful when Jack pulled her away
so that she could get something to eat. She was ready for his
rescue.

“I thought you could use a break.” He handed
her a plate already filled with food. She didn’t bother to look at
what he had gotten her. She’d seen the selection and it had all
looked mouthwateringly good. They found two empty chairs and sat
down to relax for the first time all day.

“Your family certainly knows how to throw a
party.” Rose took a bite of the best potato salad she’d ever eaten.
“How long do these things usually last?”

“Most of the people will have cleared out by
three or four.” Jack offered her a bite of his beef stew.

“In the morning?" Rose asked after
swallowing the tender piece of meat.

Jack chuckled. “This isn’t any everyday
occasion, so people like to make it last as long as possible. The
children get tucked up in the house, sleepover style, and the
grown-ups party until the wee hours.”

In this case, the
wee
hours
turned out to be four thirty. That was when the
last guest was driving away, and everyone agreed to leave the
clean-up for much later in the day. Rose could barely keep her eyes
open long enough to brush her teeth and get undressed. She was
asleep before Jack had finished in the bathroom and didn’t wake
when he joined her. When she stirred a few hours later, she was
tucked in his arms. Smiling, she drifted back to sleep and didn’t
move again until late morning.

It was just before eleven and after a
refreshing shower Rose hastily dressed in jeans and a cherry
colored t-shirt. She glanced out the bedroom window and saw several
people gathering up debris and shoving it into oversized garbage
bags. One of them was Jack. Hoping she wasn’t the last one up, Rose
quickly donned a pair of sneakers and made her way downstairs.

Nan was in the kitchen wiping the counter.
Something smelled amazing and Rose realized that she was hungry.
After all the food she'd consumed the night before, she hadn't
thought she would need to eat for at least week.

“Don’t look so panicked,” Nan smiled. “Half
the gang is still in bed. Nothing keeps Dad down much past dawn,
but Mom is taking it easy this morning and having a lie in.”

“Are those cinnamon rolls?” Rose almost
floated over on the scent like a cartoon character.

“Help yourself. Mom made them up yesterday.
She took them out of the fridge before she went to bed and then I
stuck them in the oven about an hour ago. Your timing is perfect.
Once the smell reaches the guys there won’t be anything left but a
few crumbs.” Nan poured them both a cup of coffee and joined Rose
at the table. They relaxed, enjoying the rolls and a companionable
silence.

“Where are the girls?” Rose asked after
finishing off her second roll. She went to get more coffee,
gesturing with the pot towards Nan’s cup.

“I’m good,” she said. “All of the kids,
except the two babies, are outside somewhere. They're playing with
the dogs and
helping
with the
cleanup. Thank goodness the guys are so patient. I figure between
nine little girls and three dogs, it should only take an hour
longer than it would have without them.”

“There you are.” Jack came up behind Rose
and kissed her neck. “Feel like going for a walk? I thought you
might like to look around the farm.”

“Jack, why don’t you take Dad’s truck? It
looks like rain, the two of you might get soaked if you walk.”

“We’ll be fine, Nan.” Jack smiled
reassuringly. “But you might want to grab a jacket, Rose. It’s a
little chillier today.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Jack grabbed a cinnamon roll and had it
halfway to his mouth when he felt his sister's gaze.

“What, am I not allowed to have one?”

“I always wondered when you finally fell,
what she would be like.”

“And?” Jack didn’t ask his sister what she
was talking about. Every member of his family had to know how he
felt about Rose. This was the first time he’d brought a woman home.
And to do it on his parent’s fortieth wedding anniversary? Jack
would never do that unless his feelings were serious.

“And, I could never get a clear picture in
my mind.” Nan leaned her hip against the counter. It was
unbelievable that her baby brother was a grown man and in love. She
reached over and hugged him close. “What can I say, Jackie. She’s
smart, beautiful and has her own money, so you know she’s not after
anything but your body. She’s perfect for you.”

“I think so, too. Now I just have to
convince, Rose.”

“I take back the perfect part.” Nan shifted
into protective older sister mode. “How could she not want
you?”

“Quiet, here she comes.” Jack gave his
sister a warning look.

“Ready when you are,” Rose said, her eyes
bright with anticipation.

“Great, let’s go.” Jack leaned over to give
his sister a hug and whispered, “Not a word to anyone, Nan.” Then
he grabbed Rose’s hand and headed out the door.

Jack wanted to show Rose all the places he’d
run and played and dreamed as a little boy. He was proud of his
boyhood home, the place his parents had built from hard work and
love. When Jack had made his first real money, he'd wanted nothing
more than to share it with his parents. He wanted to pay off what
they owed on the land, to make things easier for them. But they
wouldn't take a penny from him. At first he'd been hurt by their
refusal, but he quickly realized it wasn't about him. Over the
years, they had reduced their debt to almost nothing, something
they were extremely proud of. They loved Jack for wanting to take
care of them, and they were proud that he was in a position to do
so. But when the day came and they made the last payment to the
bank, they wanted to know that they had done it by themselves. Jack
respected them even more, and he never offered again.

They took their time, strolling through his
mother’s raspberry patch, pausing to admire the two new foals that
frolicked in the pasture. Everything was green and lush as if
showing off for his girl. Jack took Rose by the hand and led her
across a rocky patch of ground. They had come to his favorite
place. It was secluded, hidden by a bank of oak trees and
overlooking a long, shallow stream that, when he was a boy, he
imagined that it ran on forever. He would sit under
his
tree and daydream of getting on a boat and
sailing to far way lands. It didn’t matter that the stream at its
deepest point was only two feet deep or that a mile down the road
the water went into an underground well. This place was magic, the
possibilities are endless.

“Oh, Jack,” Rose breathed. “What a beautiful
spot. It was yours, wasn’t it? I can see you here, all floppy hair
and long, skinny legs.” Seeing Jack’s questioning look, Rose
grinned. “I’ve been looking at photo albums.”

“I guess that’s a pretty accurate
description.” He sat down under the old oak and patted the ground
next to him, an invitation to Rose. He put his arm around her and
settle them back against the sturdy, smooth-barked tree.

“I dreamed of so many fantastical things and
my adventures were huge and far-reaching.” He smiled when he felt
Rose’s chuckle. “I think I was about thirteen the last time I
played here. I mean really
played
. I
was just on the cusp of chasing girls instead of dragons and evil
sorcerers.”

“Did you stop coming?”

“No.” But his dreams started to become more
solid, less fanciful. “My thoughts became more grown up. Was I
going to make the football team? How could I find a way to sneak a
girl here without my mom finding out?”

Now
that
Rose
could easily imagine. “Your dad wouldn’t have cared?”

“Sure he would have. But my mother has
definite ideas about respecting women. From a very early age, she
drilled it into my head that a woman was not just a plaything for
my amusement. I should never do anything to my dates that I
wouldn’t want some guy doing to one of my sisters.”

If Rose hadn’t been crazy about Jack’s
mother before, this would have done it. “So how’d that work out for
you?”

“I didn’t lose my virginity until my first
week of college.” Jack gave her slow smile. “And then I was off and
running.”

“So you never got a girl under this
tree?”

“Nope. I was deprived of one of my biggest
boyhood fantasies.” He turned, slowly lowering them both to the
ground. “Want to help me remedy that?”

“Well,” Rose moaned when Jack lightly bit
the spot right under her ear. “We aren’t in your parent’s
house.”

Jack unsnapped her jeans and lowered the
zipper. “No one will ever know, I promise.”

“Was that the line you planned on using back
in high school?” He didn’t need a line, not with those magic hands.
He knew just where to touch, how to make her forget everything but
how he was teasing between her legs, drawing the slick moisture
from her body and using it to ease his way in. Two fingers and then
three. Her hips shifted to meet him. She reached for more and
sensing her needs, he gave it to her. Jack’s thumb grazed her
engorged tissue teasingly. “
Jack
,”
she protested his light touch. His deep laughed sent shivers
through her. Then he stroked her again, harder, with purpose.
Sparks flew before her eyes as she spiraled towards the peak of her
desire, hovered for one agonizing instant, then careened over in a
glorious explosion. For a moment she couldn’t breathe. For a moment
she didn’t care. Jack had taken her to a place that was becoming
wonderfully familiar but always new.

Jack watched as Rose’s breathing settled.
Bringing her pleasure was becoming his addiction. He kissed her
lightly. Her eyes slowly opened, slightly unfocused. She smiled and
pulled him down for a longer kiss.

“Why is it I always want to thank you after
you do that?”

“Modesty prevents me from stating all the
endless reasons.” Jack smoothed her hair back then reached his hand
under her shirt, his hand enveloping her lace covered breast. He
pulled the cup of her bra down and teased the already hard nipple.
“But I am willing to let you show your appreciation in a less
verbal manner.”

Rose reached between his legs, humming with
appreciation. She caressed him through his jeans; his pulsing heat
almost bursting through the material. Making quick work of the snap
and zipper she released him, her warm hand shielding him from the
cool air.

“How about I show you my
oral
appreciation?” Rose nipped at his earlobe. Her
mouth trailed across his jaw and down the exposed area of his neck.
She hovered briefly, just long enough to meet his gaze. His blazing
blue eyes were all the answer she needed. Licking her lips she
engulfed his erection with her warm, moist mouth. Minutes later
he
was the one shouting his
thanks.

THE NEXT MORNING Rose was packed and ready
to leave. Well, she was packed. The last few days had been
wonderful, and she hated to see them end. The Winston’s had
welcomed her without reservation, and she was going to miss them
all.

She was sitting on the porch with Jack’s
mom, enjoying the sunny morning. Jack was out helping his dad
repair some downed fence. They had no timetable, so they weren’t
rushing to get back to Harper Falls. Rose had said goodbye to
everyone else when they left for their nearby homes. Jack was the
only one of the Winston children that didn’t live within fifty
miles of their parents. Rose thought it was lovely that Lorna’s
daughters were close enough to visit any time they wanted.

“Stella wants to take piano lessons.”

“Really?” Rose felt a burst of warmth. “It
looks as though your piano is going to be getting a lot of use in
the near future.”

Lorna smiled at the thought. “I think she’ll
be the one to stick with it, to learn how to play.”

“She’s a determined little girl.”

“She wants to be like you,” Lorna patted her
hand. “You’re her hero.”

“I—.” Rose didn’t know what to say. It was a
new experience, one that held a host of responsibilities. She
wasn’t sure she was the right one for the job. “You’ve heard my
songs, right?”

“You mean the ones about strong, empowered
women?” Lorna asked. “Your women aren’t victims, Rose. They stand
up for themselves. As a mother and grandmother, that’s exactly the
message I want my girls to hear. You aren’t just Stella’s hero,
you’re mine, too.”

This time she
was
speechless. Lorna Winston, earth mother
extraordinaire, had just given Rose the greatest compliment of her
life and she had nothing to say in return.

Taking pity on her, Lorna changed the
subject. “I used to worry about Jack. Oh, I didn’t worry that
anything bad would happen to him though I was never a fan of him
playing football.” She shuddered when she thought of all those
oversized bodies jumping on her beautiful baby. “I worried about
his unrelenting drive.”

Rose frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Perhaps worried is the wrong word.” Lorna
thought about it for a moment. “Confused is better. When he was a
young boy, he used to run around with his sisters getting into
mischief. I always thought he would be a farmer like his
father.”

“He loves it here.”

“Yes,” Lorna agreed. “But there came a time
when it wasn’t enough. He wanted something different, something
more. Don’t get me wrong. As much as I would have loved to have him
near me like his sisters, the most important thing was for him to
be happy. But all that focus on being the best and making money. I
don’t know where it came from. You can go back hundreds of years,
on both sides of the family, and you’ll never find anyone like
Jack.”