Page 31 of Jack

“Mm-hmm.” He sighed. “I was just trying to . . . Never mind. Anyway, yes, I think we’re okay.”

She glanced at him. He appeared actually in pain.

Trying to . . . what?She wanted to follow up, but she still had the memory of the look in his eyes back at the supper club when he’d apologized. The one where he’d looked nearly wrecked, the guilt from the past rising in his eyes.

So maybe the guy had had enough of walking through the shards of yesterday for one night.

She nodded, looked away, let the quiet fall between them.

Slowing, he pulled past the inn and then down the road to Doyle’s place. “What do you write?”

“Culture pieces. Personality articles. I recently did one on Bliss.”

“The actress? She was inMain Street Blues,right?”

“The Broadway show, then the movie. She’s from Minnesota, did you know that?”

He shook his head.

More silence settled between them.

“It’s weird, right? That Penelope left without me?”

“Dunno. Does she do that?”

“Disappear?”Oh.“Actually, yes. She’s done it a couple times, but those were different.”

“Really.” He pulled into Doyle’s drive.

“Yeah. Once in college, for a weekend with her boyfriend. Her father sent a security team to find her.”

He braked in front of Doyle’s house. “A security team.”

“She’s . . . wealthy... But she’s sort of trying to make it on her own. Although, she still has security that checks in on her.”

“And the second time?”

“Publicity stunt to promotePenny for Your Thoughts. She left clues and asked her audience to find her. Whoever won got to join her for a posh weekend in Paris. It worked.”

“I’ll bet.” He turned the car off, held onto the steering wheel. “I saw her talking with Conrad earlier. Maybe he charmed her away from the party.”

“Yeah.” She reached for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride, Jack.”

He didn’t look at her but nodded, then backed the Geo out of the driveway and headed down the road.

Doyle’s stairs creaked as she went up to her bedroom and turned on the light.

No Penelope.

Maybe Jack was right. She’d been standing with Penelope when Conrad came up and complimented her on her dancing. The man, center for the Minnesota Blue Ox hockey team, had charisma—charisma that occasionally appeared on social media.

Oh brother. Why couldn’t it be easy—just let a guy in, enjoy his company without analyzing his every motive?

And then there was Jack’s laughter, playing like a siren to warn off her attempts at relationships.

No, this was her future—pajamas and her article.

She changed, then got into her magnificent plush velvet-covered bed and pulled up her laptop.