Page 136 of Jack

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It was his fault,really. He’d broken every single personal rule, starting with one of the most basic . . .I work alone.

Followed only by:I don’t make promises.

He’d forgotten, however:Don’t give away your heart.

“You’re wanted for pictures in the parlor,” Conrad said, coming up behind Jack where he stood in the dining room, staring out at the lake.

No, staring out at memories. Or maybe not memories but the pictures he’d drawn of Harper and himself, building an imaginary life inside his head.

“Right.” He drew in a breath.

Conrad stepped in front of him. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“Whatever. I don’t know what game she might be playing, but fool me once, on her. Twice, that’s on me.”

“She didn’t know about the blog.”

Jack frowned at him.

“I showed her in the limo. She looked pretty freaked out.”

“I don’t care how it got posted?—”

“You just care that . . . what? I’m not seeing the sin here.”

“I’m the hero in a freakin’ romance novel!” Jack hadn’t meant to raise his voice. He lowered it. “Listen. Private stuff shouldn’t be . . . public.”

“You’re embarrassed.”

Jack caught a glimpse now of the bridal party gathering in the parlor. “Of course I’m embarrassed.”

“Get over yourself. So what it’s true? So what you lost your heart to Harper?—”

“Except, all that time, she was writing a torrid romance about me.”

“It’s hardly torrid. It’s sweet and maybe a little sappy, but hardly even PG-rated.” Conrad leaned in. “The real issue is that you’re scared.”

Jack’s eyes flinched.

“Dad was right. You’re scared you’re going to screw it up. That you’re going to fail her?—”

“I’m not?—”

“Just like you did Sabrina.”

Jack’s mouth pinched.

“I was there. I don’t care what you say—you had a little thing for her. And she had a thing for you. And you never acted on it. Why?”

He swallowed.