where the middle Valentini brother was concerned. He wasn’t happy about my being here to begin with—he certainly wouldn’t want to take time out of his work day to show me around.
Georgia shook her head. “It’s not. I’m sorry he was rude today. He’s such a sweet guy underneath, but he hides it. The last few years have been so rough on him.”
Since it was just us women and I was curious, I decided to ask more about him. “I noticed he wore an Army shirt. Is he in the military?”
“He was,” she said, tucking her blond bob behind her ears. “He’s been out about six years. But he served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and when he got back, he—” She grappled for words. “Well, it was hard for him to adjust.”
“Hard how?”
“He had a lot of anxiety. My dad was in the Army too, served in Vietnam when he was really young. It affected him his whole life. Sometimes Jack reminds me of my dad.” Her voice was wistful. “Moody, sullen, defensive. It’s hard for them to connect with people. And they keep their feelings locked up inside. My dad had my mom, at least, but Jack has no one, and his brothers can be hard on him. They don’t understand. So I try really hard to be someone he can turn to.”
Something squeezed my heart. “How sad that he lost his wife.”
“Devastating. They were so in love. But anyway.” She waved a hand in the air. “That doesn’t give him the right to be mean to you.”
“No, but at least I can better understand where he’s coming from. Thanks for telling me. I’ll keep it confidential.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
We said goodbye, and I told her I’d be in touch tomorrow.
As I drove the short distance back to the cottage, I thought about what she’d said. They were so in love. What was that like? Tripp and I had been together for three years, but never once had I felt “so in love” with him, nor could I imagine him thinking that way about me. “So in love” sounded so passionate. And it must have been visible to other people. Maybe they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
For a moment, I let myself wonder what Jack was like in bed. Rough or sweet? Selfish or generous? Fast or slow? That hard, muscular body…what would it look like naked? What would it be like to feel his weight on me? Was he a good kisser? Did he use his hands? Did he have a big dick?
My stomach whooshed, and suddenly I realized I’d gone from imagining Jack with his wife to picturing him with me. What the hell was wrong with me? The man hadn’t even offered me a smile today! In fact, he’d been downright rude! Muscles were nice, but manners were better, and Jack’s were sorely lacking.
Still, what Georgia had told me about him made me think there was more to him than boorish bluster.
Someone who’d loved like that had to have a big heart, even if it was buried beneath prickly layers of grief and bitterness.
I’d give him another chance.
Jack
I stayed away from the house all afternoon, even though it drove me crazy to think that they were in there talking about my farm, making plans that would affect its well-being. Plans that would affect me. Sure, I technically owned only one third of it, but neither of my brothers had invested their heart and soul here like I had. Pete just cared about his restaurant idea, and Brad would be happy to chop the land into bits and sell it.
So go in there and stand up for yourself. Put your boot down. Say no.
But I couldn’t do that. It was two against one, and I wouldn’t win.
And now they had that fucking Barbie on their side too. How the hell could they think that woman knew anything about farming? She looked like she wouldn’t know the difference between a cock and a hen. Maybe I’d ask her.
The thought actually made me crack a smile as I left the barn after checking on one of the older horses who seemed to be struggling with the heat more than the others. You ever seen a cock before, Barbie?
I chuckled as I imagined the expression on her face. Her cheeks going pink. Her eyes going wide. She had pretty eyes, I’d give her that. Huge and bright blue. A pretty smile, too.
But she wasn’t my type. I liked natural.