When Sparks Fly (47 page)

Jean felt Brock’s eyes on her as well and for the first time in a long time, felt as though she had run a race. Just his gaze piercing into hers had her heartbeat quickening. Blinking, she tried to squelch her attraction. She had everyone’s attention now and decided to make sure everyone focused on the woman sleeping in the other room instead of on their individual points of view.

“Rob, I understand why you searched for Brock. You love her and you’re afraid for her. When those two things combine, love and fear, we often act in ways that we might not act otherwise. I truly believe that Laurie will forgive you, but it may take time to earn her trust back. Tom, Jake – all I have to say to you two is how lucky Rob is to have friends that will support him no matter what. And once Laurie forgives Rob, she’ll value that friendship as well.”

Brock looked around the room, realizing that he was in the presence of people that loved Laurie and was awed that there was so much support. “I have to say, I have no intentions of going anywhere,” he said to the group. “I will fit my life into whatever place Laurie wants to give me.” He got up and walked over to Rob, whose head was resting in his hands. “And son, while you may have messed up on the secret keeping, what you did for my daughter, well… you have my eternal thanks.” At this Rob stood up, weary himself, and embraced Brock.

Brock looked over at Jean, feeling a desire to stay in her presence for a while. She was not only beautiful, but she knew how to read people, read situations, calm anger, soothe wounded souls. She looked up at him as well, a smile playing on her lips. The friends all left, leaving just Brock with Jean. Having checked on Laurie, only to find her still sleeping, Jean rejoined him in the kitchen.

“I hope you don’t mind if I stay for just a bit,” Brock asked nervously.

“Not at all,” she answered honestly. “I…I’d like your company.” Relaxing when she saw his smile, she suggested they move back to the living room.

Brock allowed her to lead the way and he could not help but notice the soft sway of her hips as she moved. His dick jumped to life, but he quickly willed it to behave.
Jesus, I haven’t had a reaction like that in…well a really long time.

Jean sat down on one end of the sofa and he turned his back on her for a moment to both look at the pictures on the mantle to learn more about her and to give his cock a chance to settle down before facing her again.

His eyes moved along the pictures until they landed on one that stopped him cold. It was a much younger Jean in a wedding dress standing next to a handsome young man. Both smiling. Both happy.
Fuck. I didn’t realize she was married. Jesus, it seems like she knows everything about me and I know abso-fuckin’-lutely nothing about her at all.

Jean watched as he stilled in front of her wedding photograph and knew the instant that he assumed she was married. She often did not correct men’s assumptions that she was married. It made it easier to not have to pretend interest in someone when she felt nothing. But suddenly it was very important to her to have him know the truth.

“I’m widowed,” she blurted out.
Well that could have been smoother,
but she could not pull the words back in.

He turned and looked at her, a sincere sadness on his face. “I’m sorry, Jean. I’m…well, I’m sorry.”

She stood and walked over to the fireplace next to him. “It was a long time ago. I’ve…I can’t say I’ve moved on from our memories but they no longer hurt as deeply as they did.”

He nodded, saying, “It was twenty-five years ago when I lost Sarah and we never had what you had. A marriage, you know? In fact, what we had really was a one-night stand but I wanted it to be so much more.” He ducked his head in embarrassment. “Here I am rambling on and you actually loved and lost your husband.”

Jean placed her hand on his arm, feeling the steely cords of muscle underneath her fingertips. “Don’t disparage your grief and sense of loss. Different circumstances, same feelings.” Turning she walked back to the sofa, sat, and watched as he glanced around the room before deciding to join her on the couch.

“Have you decided what you want to do?” she asked, surprised that she was hoping he would stay in Fairfield.
At least for a while.

He shook his head, saying, “Honestly, Jean, I haven’t got a goddamn clue.” Throwing his head back, he heaved a huge sigh. “Two weeks ago I was sitting in my apartment, doing what I’ve been doing for the past twenty-five years…taking care of myself. I had the soldiers beside me and then under me for years. In the three years that I’ve been retired, I still teach some classes over at the base. Just me…kind of boring, but it was all I knew. Then with a knock on the door from Rob and BAM—my life has changed.” He looked quickly over at the understanding eyes gazing back at him and added, “Not changed in a bad way, you understand? But changed nonetheless. A week later I open the same door and see my past staring me in the face.”

Jean looked at the man sitting with her and felt the desire to hold him close.
Where did that come from? He would think I was crazy!
But she saw the anguish on his face, deepening the lines that years of being in the sun had carved by the sides of his eyes.
What must that have been like to open the door to the daughter you never knew, seeing her mother’s face staring back at you?

He gave an unassuming laugh as he looked over at her again. “This must all sound like a bad soap-opera to you.”

She smiled, saying, “Not really. In my job as a school social worker, I see and hear all kinds of different things about families. I just know how difficult this must be for everyone. You and Laurie trying to find a way around the past. Rob trying to be everything that she needs. Even Jake, Tom, and Carol are wanting to help as well.”

Brock turned to face her, hearing the concern in her voice. “I had the same feeling earlier. I was amazed at the people that seem to want her to be happy and healthy.”

She leaned over and placed her hand on his, finding herself drawn to him in a way that she had not felt in many years. “Fairfield is the kind of town that will draw you in and take care of you. Even if you live away, I hope you will come often to visit.”

“I’m not going anywhere right now,” he confided, loving the feel of her fingers touching his. Resisting the urge to lace his fingers with hers, he added, “I’m staying at the Fairfield Hotel for now. Will you call me later to let me know how she is?”

“The Fairfield Hotel? That place is a treasure all to itself,” she laughed. “You will find the owners Helen and Roger to be delightful. Their daughter, Wendy, and her husband run the best bar in town. You’ll have to make a visit to Smokey’s sometime while you are here.”

Smiling his first genuine smile since the day had begun, Brock agreed. “I’ll do that if you’ll do me the honor of accompanying me.”

Looking into his handsome face, she could not help but agree. “I’d love to.”

The two stood, awkwardly looking at each other, until Jean moved in to give him a hug. “I’m glad you came today,” she said honestly. “I’ll let Laurie know you were here when she wakes up.”

Returning her hug, he agreed. “Coming here was the only thing I wanted to do. Being here for Laurie is the most important thing to me.”

As he walked back to his truck, his heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.
Coming here for my daughter is my main concern. Meeting Jean is icing on the cake!
Hopping in his truck, he pulled out of her drive to head back to the hotel.

Jean watched him drive off and wondered about her reaction to him. She turned and walked back to the fireplace, staring at the picture of her and Rick.
So young and idealistic.
Every time she had gone on the rare date since his death, she always returned to the picture and felt the pang of his loss. That always quelled whatever interest she may have had in someone new. This time, those feelings did not rise. Instead, all she saw was his smiling face, as though he was agreeing that Brock was special.

‡
Chapter Three

Brock settled into the hotel to stay for an indefinite period of time and decided to meet the couple that Jean had told him about. Helen and Roger had run the Fairfield Hotel for as long as anyone could remember. The next day, he was walking by the office on his way to find breakfast when they called him in.

“Roger checked you in the other day and I didn’t get a chance to meet you,” Helen greeted warmly, taking him by the hand. Her smile left as she seemed to be lost in thought. Gently pulling his hand away from hers, he wondered about the faraway look on her face.

Suddenly, as though coming out of a trance, Helen smiled brightly at him, patted his arm and said, “You’ll find everything you’re looking for right here in Fairfield.”

Roger beamed from behind the counter proclaiming, “You listen to my Helen. She sees things, you know. And I’ve never known her to be wrong!”

Brock felt a little leery, but the smiles on their faces seemed genuine so he relaxed.
Actually, if she was right about Laurie, I would find everything in Fairfield.
His mind then wandered to the lovely Jean.
And if I was really lucky, I could count Jean as one of the things I’m looking for.

After sharing coffee and pastries with the odd, but loveable pair, Brock headed to the fire station wanting to meet with Rob. Arriving there, he parked and walked into the main area. Several firefighters greeted him and told him that Rob had just left to run an errand but would be back soon.

“Can I help you?” boomed a voice behind him. Turning around, he looked into the sparkling eyes of the fire chief.

“My name’s Brock Sinclair. I was just looking for Rob but I can come back later,” he explained.

“I’m Mac. No need to leave; he’ll be back soon. Come on up and have a cup of coffee while you wait.”

Brock followed the big man up the stairs and into the kitchen. Pouring them both a cup of coffee he handed one to Brock and then invited him into his office. Brock looked at the black hair sprinkled with gray and the bright blue eyes. Even without seeing the
MACDONALD
name on his shirt, he would have known him to be Rob’s father.

“So you’re Laurie’s father. Gotta tell you that she’s the best thing to ever happen to my son. My wife, Bernie, and I couldn’t be happier that she came along.”

Smiling at the compliment to his daughter, Brock acknowledged, “Thank you. But it’s all on her and her aunt Emma. I’m…well that is to say, I—”

Waving his hand, Mac said, “Don’t worry about trying to explain. Rob’s told us all about you and Laurie’s mother. Damn shame, how life kicks us sometimes. But, you’ve got a second chance here now.”

The men sat comfortably for a few minutes drinking their coffee and chatting about the military. Mac had served in the Air Force before his civilian career with the Fairfield Fire Department.

“You gonna be staying in town for a while?” Mac asked.

Brock slowly nodded, saying, “Yeah, I think so. All I have near the base is a small, one-bedroom apartment with no maintenance and I just do some volunteering at the base.”

“Well, I’m always in the need for some volunteers here at the firehouse. Wouldn’t have to have the training, but as a volunteer you could help with our dispatcher. You can think about it and let me know once your plans are more settled.”

Just then Rob came into the room, a worried look on his face. “Is she okay? Is there something wrong?”

Brock could not help but notice that Rob assumed that he would know. Shaking his head, he replied, “I don’t know anything specific. I got a text from Jean yesterday that said that she was better when she woke and will go to the doc again tomorrow.”

Rob nodded, obviously upset that Laurie had not contacted him herself He knew she was still angry for going behind her back. Brock recalled his excitement when he had looked at his phone and saw her name.
Funny, how long has it been since I felt that?
Then he realized the answer was never. Standing he thanked Mac for the coffee and volunteer position. Turning to Rob, he said, “Look. I’m kind of stumbling here in the dark, not knowing what to do or say. But I’m going to be at the doctor’s office tomorrow when she comes out. She may not want to see me, but what the hell? I’ve got to give it a shot. And…I thought I’d ask if you wanted to come along.”