Nick suddenly gave her a strange glance.
“I’m thinking about it too. I’ve even started putting together a list of properties to look at. We could do it together?”
“I’d like that.” she murmured, giving Nick another one of those sizzling looks that Jack was beginning to recognize.
“Eh, hem,” Jack murmured, clearing his throat.
Emma wrinkled her nose.
When Nick pulled out his wallet to pay for the tree, Emma tried to stop him.
“Let him pay for it, Em,” Jack said, with definite humor in his voice. “He can afford it.”
“I…alright,” she answered, grinning.
* * *
Jack knew that Nick was in for life. He and Emma were definitely perfect together, and what he liked about their relationship was that he never felt like he was in their way.
Jack tried not to laugh when Emma introduced Nick to some of her ex boyfriends. He’d never seen his friend so jealous.
It was funny how Jack had never realized how great Nick was with kids. Many of Em’s friends were married couples, so they brought their kids along to the cabin. Em had craft supplies and plastic ornaments laid on a table covered with plastic, and everyone who stopped by was expected to come up with some kind of ornament for the tree and sign their name for Em. It kept the kids who were visiting busy, while Emma introduced Nick and Jack to her friends.
Nick had handed over the car keys to Jack at the end of the night, and Emma would be driving Nick home in the morning.
After arriving back at the apartment, Jack thought about having a few beers at the bar across the street where he and Matt had been last night. But he really wasn’t in the mood. There was a movie he wanted to see, and just because Nick wasn’t there to see it with him, didn’t mean he couldn’t stream it in and watch it himself.
He wasn’t sure why he was feeling lonelier than usual this Christmas. Their family hadn’t spent a Christmas together in years, so it was nothing unusual for him. Sam and Sean were both overseas, and Mom and her husband, John, were staying with John’s family for the holidays. Tomorrow, he would give everyone a call, and then email them if they couldn’t be reached.
Even in the past when Nick had invited him over to celebrate Christmas with his family, Jack had avoided celebrating Christmas.
But today had been different, going to the tree farm and meeting Emma’s friends, which Jack was sure would eventually be his and Nick’s as well. In fact, he’d met a few of them last night at the bar.
Maybe he needed a pet, he decided suddenly, smiling. In fact, that would be his Christmas gift to himself.
It was strange, but he felt a lot better after making that decision.
Chapter Fifteen
After the new year, Northwest Property Management surprisingly became busy right away. Jack wasn’t sure if it was Rand’s influence, or maybe Jake Loughlin’s, whom they’d finally met, but now they were handling some impressive properties for sale in the area along with the numerous land acquisitions that Rand had already acquired.
They both had their licenses, after taking their realtor’s tests in January, and Nick was already doing some traveling for the company.
Jack had been excited to see the truck with a topper that Rand had provided for him to drive. It was the kind of vehicle that Jack had always dreamed of driving, and he realized he’d probably mentioned it a time or two to Rand.
Jack still hadn’t gotten around to visiting the local shelter yet and adopting a pet but planned on doing it fairly soon.
Nick was getting a little grumpy because Emma was living at home, so they had to make their time together short but sweet, but they were going to be looking at available real estate in the area soon.
Jack constantly teased Nick. “I really like that woman. You’re changing Nick. You used to always be so serious. Now, you’re smiling even when you’re working on something to do with Hanover Industries.”
Nick stared at Jack in amazement. “You know?”
“I do,” Jack answered. “You’ve been so preoccupied with thoughts of Emma, I’ve managed to glance over your shoulder a time or two. You’ve been the driving force of the company all along. Haven’t you?”
Nick became sheepish.
“I’ve had to keep it quiet, because of the risk of anyone else finding out. It appears on the surface that I’ve made a clean cut from the company, and Dad’s no longer associated in the paperwork, except as an employee. Dad signed everything over to me at eighteen, but no one knows that. Every bit of paperwork shows Hanover’s was purchased by another company. Some suspicious things have been happening with Dad, and he wanted to make sure that I was ready to take over someday. We’ve never been able to figure who’s behind the trouble, although I do have my suspicions, I’ve never been able to understand why.”
“That sounds like a smart decision. But if it’s serious between you and Emma, you’re probably going to have to tell her. It’s not good starting a life together with secrets.”
Nick grimaced. “You’re right. You can tell how serious it’s getting already?”
“I can,” Jack answered. “It will be difficult, but another thing you should do is introduce her to your family.”
Nick sighed. “You’re right. But not yet. I’m afraid of how they’ll react.”
Jack became thoughtful. “You think it was someone from your family responsible for kidnapping you when you were young, and making the recent attempts on your dad’s life?”
“How do you do that, Jack?” Nick stood and began pacing through the office.
The decorator had
