Page 10 of Jack of All Trades (The Morrison Brothers #4)

I pace the length of Rex's small living room, unable to sit still, unable to focus on the work notes I'd claimed to be organizing. My mind keeps circling back to Jack Morrison and our conversation in his backyard…

The way he looked with sunlight filtering through the oak tree, casting dappled shadows across his face as he admitted to having a less-than-stellar relationship history.

"This is ridiculous," I mutter to myself, running a hand through my hair. "I’ve known him for less than a week!"

It shouldn't be enough to develop this level of... whatever this is. Attraction? Interest? Obsession? Whatever label fits, it's annoying as hell.

I drop onto Rex's worn leather couch with a frustrated sigh. This isn't me. I don't get swept away by charming smiles and muscled chests. I'm practical, cautious, the girl who makes pro and con lists before deciding where to order takeout.

But every time I close my eyes, I see Jack. Shirtless in his backyard, muscles gleaming with sweat as he moved that heavy table. The memory alone is enough to send heat coursing through my body.

I scold myself, standing up to resume pacing. "He's just a man. A very attractive, surprisingly thoughtful man who makes everything feel easier somehow... but still just a man."

A man who probably flirts with every woman who crosses his path. A man with a reputation for brief, intense relationships that inevitably end. A man whose best friend—my brother—explicitly warned me against.

I'm not special. I'm just new in town, a novelty, something different from the women he usually dates. Once he gets to know me… My stubbornness, my insecurities, my sharp edges, the interest will fade. It always does.

A knock at the door interrupts my spiral of self-doubt. Three sharp raps, urgent and decisive.

I freeze, somehow knowing exactly who it is before I even reach the door. My heart hammers against my ribs as I check through the peephole, confirming my suspicion.

Jack Morrison stands on the other side. His hair is windswept, like he's been driving with the windows down, and there's a darkening bruise forming along his jawline that definitely wasn't there this morning.

I open the door, raising an eyebrow at his disheveled appearance. "What happened to your face?"

He's slightly out of breath, like he's rushed to get here. "I need to talk to you."

"About what? Did something happen with the party plans?" A jolt of panic runs through me. "Did Rex find out?"

"No, it's not about the party." Jack runs a hand through his hair, making it stand up even more. "Can I come in? This isn't really a hallway conversation."

I step back, gesturing him inside. "Take a deep breath before you pass out on my brother's floor. I'm not explaining that to him when he gets home."

Jack enters, flashing that infuriatingly perfect smile despite his obvious agitation. He follows my instruction, inhaling deeply before letting it out slowly. The simple act seems to center him somewhat.

"Better?" I ask, closing the door behind him.

"Getting there."

I cross my arms, trying to ignore how good Jack looks in the simple white t-shirt that clings just right to his broad shoulders. "What's going on? Why do you look like someone punched you?"

"Because someone did." He touches his jaw gingerly. "Your brother, to be specific."

My eyes widen. "Rex hit you? Why? What happened?"

Jack takes another deep breath. "I went to see him at the Outlaw Order clubhouse."

"You went to the clubhouse?" I'm genuinely shocked. Rex has always kept his club life separate from his regular life. He barely even mentions the Outlaw Order to me, let alone invites people there. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I couldn't wait until tomorrow." Jack steps closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Because I needed to be honest with him, and with you, about what's happening here."

My throat suddenly feels dry. "And what exactly is happening here?"

"Something I've never experienced before." His voice drops lower, more intense. "Maya, I know this sounds crazy. I know we just met, I know you're only here temporarily, I know Rex would rather I stay far away from you. But I can't stop thinking about you."

I stare at him, heart pounding so loudly I'm sure he can hear it. "That's... that's the concussion from Rex's punch talking."

"It's not." Jack moves closer still, close enough that I can smell his woodsy cologne. "I've never been more clear-headed. I went to Rex today and told him the truth, that I'm interested in you, really interested, in a way I've never felt before about anyone."

"And he punched you," I say flatly.

"Yes." Jack's lips quirk into a half-smile. "Can't say I blame him."

"So what happened after the punch?"

"We talked. Really talked." Jack runs a hand through his hair again. "I made him a promise, Maya. A serious one."

I swallow hard. "What kind of promise?"

"I promised that if I hurt you, I'll give up rodeo. Permanently."

I actually take a step back, trying to process what he's saying.

"You... what? That's ridiculous, Jack. Rodeo is your life. It's who you are. You wouldn't risk that for—" I cut myself off, unable to finish the thought.

"For you?" He completes it anyway, his eyes never leaving mine. "I already have."

I shake my head, trying to make sense of this. "Why would you do that? You barely know me."

"I know enough." His voice is quiet but firm.

"I know you're smart and sharp-witted and fiercely loyal to your brother.

I know you pretend to be tougher than you are because you're afraid of getting hurt.

I know you have a beautiful laugh that you try to hide.

I know when you're really listening to someone, you tilt your head slightly to the right and your eyes get this incredible focus. "

"This doesn't make sense," I whisper, my defenses crumbling despite my best efforts. "You're Jack Morrison. You date rodeo groupies and pretty blondes who giggle at your jokes. You don't put your career on the line for curvy, argumentative girls who call you on your bullshit."

"Maybe that's exactly why I'm doing it." Jack steps forward again, close enough now that I have to tilt my head to maintain eye contact. "Maybe I'm tired of easy and predictable. Maybe I want someone who challenges me, who sees past the charm to the man underneath."

I search his face for any sign of insincerity, any hint that this is just another line from the Jack Morrison playbook. But all I see is raw honesty, vulnerability even, in those brown eyes.

"What if this is just... novelty?" I ask, voicing my deepest fear. "What if you think you want this now, but once you really know me—"

"Then I'll want it even more." He reaches out slowly, giving me time to pull away, and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Maya, I don't know what this is between us.

I don't know where it's going. I just know I've never felt this way before, and I'm willing to risk everything to find out if it's real. "

"And Rex is okay with this?" I ask.

"I wouldn't say 'okay,'" Jack admits with a wry smile. "More like 'reluctantly accepting under specific conditions that involve potential career suicide.'"

Despite everything, I laugh. "That sounds more like my brother."

"So," Jack says, his eyes searching mine. "Now what?"

There's so much contained in that simple question. Now what, indeed. I'm supposed to be leaving in less than two weeks. I have a life in Seattle, a job, an apartment. But I also have plans. Unspoken plans to potentially move to Pine Haven, to start fresh, to be closer to Rex.

And now there's Jack. Jack with his steady hands and warm eyes. Jack who apparently went toe-to-toe with my overprotective brother for the chance to pursue... whatever this is.

"Now," I say slowly, "it's up to me."

"Completely." He takes a half-step back, giving me space. "No pressure, Maya. If you're not feeling this, if you don't want to explore it, just say the word. I'll respect that."

But I do want to explore it. God help me, I want it more than I've wanted anything in a long time. For once in my life, I want to stop overthinking, stop protecting myself from potential hurt, stop imagining all the ways things could go wrong.

I want to take a chance. On Jack. On us. On the possibility that sometimes, against all odds, things might actually go right.

"I want this too," I say, the words barely above a whisper. "I want to see where this goes, even though it terrifies me."

The smile that breaks across Jack's face is like sunrise—slow, radiant, illuminating everything. Before I can say another word, he closes the distance between us, one hand coming up to cradle my face as his lips find mine.

The kiss is everything I didn't know I needed. His lips are softer than I expected, and when we finally break apart, both breathing heavily, I press my forehead against his. "Wait. What if Rex comes back?"

Jack chuckles, "He won't. He knows I'm here. Said something about his neighbor being on surveillance duty, but I think that was just his way of giving us space while still sounding threatening."

"You're telling me my brother is actively allowing this?" I pull back slightly, skeptical.

"More like acknowledging he can't stop it." Jack's hands settle on my waist, warm and steady. "I think the jaw punch was his way of getting his objections on record before stepping back."

"That's... surprisingly mature of him." I consider this new information, then my body acts before my brain can overthink it. I press myself against him, feeling the solid warmth of his chest, the strength in his arms as they tighten around me. "I want you, Jack. All of you."

With a motion that takes me by surprise, Jack scoops me up, his hands gripping my ass as my legs wrap around his waist. "Which way to your room?"

"Down the hall, first door on the right," I manage to say, my heart racing at his display of strength. I'm not a small woman—curves and all—but he lifts me like I weigh nothing.