I shrug my coat on and say my goodbyes before heading out into the cold to walk back to the motel.
Just as the door closes behind me, I find Jack leaning against the wall next to it outside.
“Can I walk you back to your motel?” he asks.
I swallow, unsure what I should feel right now. Excitement? Nervousness? Dread? Cautious seems to win out.
“Um, sure,” is all I can muster up.
We set out towards the motel, walking in silence at first. It seems neither of us know how to break the ice. His legs are much longer than mine, and I catch myself struggling to keep up.
“Long Leg Larry, you want to slow it down a notch? I have short legs.” I laugh.
He spins toward me and laughs heartily. “Long Leg Larry. Cute.” He looks down as he tilts his head, making it obvious he’s looking at my legs. “Yeah, you definitely have shorty legs. Walking with you is like a chihuahua trying to keep up with a Great Dane. Noted.”
I gasp in fake outrage, my smile threatening to come through as I playfully shove him in the shoulder. “Rude!”
His smile never fades as he looks back up at me, and I notice just how nice that smile is. It’s almost as nice as his blue eyes.
He turns and takes the first step, starting us toward the motel again. This time, he falls in step beside me, the mighty Great Dane taking slower strides.Jerk, I think as I smile to myself.
“How do you like it here so far?” he asks, attempting to break the ice.
I inhale the cool, fresh air deeply before releasing it in a content sigh. “I love it. I’ve never felt so at home and at peace. It’s not just the location. It’s the air, the mountains, the buildings, the people. It’s everything. I love it.”
He straightens a little, and I thought it almost looks like pride. Then again, this was kind of his town. It would make sense he felt pride in it since he helps protect it.
“I’m glad you think so,” he says simply. “I’ve traveled here and there for various reasons. A little work, a little pleasure. Those bigger cities seem like they’d be fun to visit, but after living here, the air would absolutely choke you.”
I huff a laugh. I can only imagine how awful Sacramento would smell after being here in the fresh air.
“I bet.” Another content sigh escapes me. This is nice. “The landscape is to die for. The trees, the mountains, and the sky, especially during dusk and dawn. Ugh, so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
We continue to make small talk, mostly about the scenery and about Fraser in general. I still can’t figure out exactly what this is all about. Initially, I assumed it was about the morning conversation with Irene, but he hasn’t even mentioned it.
Arriving in front of my motel room door, I turn to him and smile. “This is me.”
He glances at the door and back at me. His poker face isn’t on right now, so his expression doesn’t hide what he’s thinking.
“It’s not bad, Jack, really. I’m okay here. and I meant what I said earlier. No hard feelings no matter what you decide. Honestly, I didn’t even know Irene was going to ambush you like that. I’m sorry.”
When he only nods, his eyes still wandering down the motel and across the parking lot, surveying an area I know he must be familiar with, I turn to unlock the door. The sound pulls his attention, and I motion for him to come inside.
“It’s far too cold to stand out here and talk,” I say before heading inside.
He follows me in, and I close the door. We take our coats off, laying them on the bed. Jack sits opposite me at the little table in the corner, and I wait for him to speak. I’ve said enough. The ball is in his court so to speak.
He rubs his hands together, like he’s milling over what he plans to say. I study his face. His strong jaw is covered in dark stubble, his eyes are a little more muted in the darker motel room.
His gaze meets mine, and I’m caught red handed staring at him. I feel the heat of a blush spread across my cheeks. I should stop denying I find this man attractive. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it causes me more trouble than it solves.
“Andi,” he starts, and the way he says my name sends chills over me. “It’s not that I don’t want you to come live with me… Uh… In the apartment, I mean,” he stammers. “Well, I don’t know what it is really. Maybe I’m just a little nervous thinking about a woman moving in with me.”
He starts to correct himself again, but I chime in instead. “Right. In the apartment.” We both laugh nervously.
“It’s just a studio apartment. You’ll have a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a walk-in closet. It’s already furnished, but you’re welcome to change things if you like. I want it to feel like home to you. Not like a bachelor pad.” He looks at me as he finishes, his face softer than before. Not quite lined with as much stress.
I smile because it sounds like a yes, but he hasn’t actually said it. “So, is that a yes, then?” I ask.
