Jack asked suddenly, “So why haven’t you taken us there?”
Rand laughed. “There’s only so much I can show you in a week.”
When Nick looked at Rand, he shrugged, so Nick turned to Emma. “I think that Jack and Rand agree, we’re not in much need of sleep. What do you say – would you girls mind if we joined you?”
Jack couldn’t believe Nick suggested it, since Nick had been the one who’d wanted to lay low the entire week. But it would be good for him to quit thinking about Marissa.
Rand appeared to be studying Emma and Nick but seemed to think it was a good idea.
Jack turned to the lovely woman seated beside him. “How about it, Janelle? Do you mind if we come along? We wouldn’t want to butt in on your plans, but Rand has an SUV and he can drive.”
“It’s fine with me,” Janelle answered. “We’re going to be here for a couple of weeks. Ciara – is it alright with you?”
Ciara shrugged, looking slightly puzzled. “Of course, I don’t mind. You know you don’t have to ask me.” She turned to Rand. “We have a cab picking us up.”
“Cancel it,” Rand said, smiling. “Plus, I have a feeling that Jack and Nick will be happy to stay there as long as you ladies would like, so we can drop you back off at your hotel.”
At that moment, the food arrived. As they began taste testing the different foods, the conversation flowed, and their laughter echoed through the air.
It was strange, Jack thought, while he was eating. It was almost like they’d been friends for years.
Jack grinned as Nick watched Rand in fascination as he held out his fork for Ciara. He was trying to pick up some pointers, Jack decided. Nick had always been a little too up front and unromantic with women.
She turned, her tongue sampling the flavor of the octopus before wrapping her mouth around the entire piece, removing it from the fork.
Jack stared as Rand swallowed, looking completely under Ciara’s spell.
Janelle had been watching too, and her eyes met Jack’s as she rolled them upwards.
Jack muffled a laugh, sticking more food into his mouth. Apparently, Janelle wasn’t the flirty type either. Women had a tendency to come onto Jack, not the other way around, so everything about Janelle seemed refreshing.
Jack watched as Nick grinned, kicking Rand’s leg under the table.
Grunting, Rand began coughing.
Chapter Six
Giving Jack a side glance, Janelle allowed her eyes to linger on the man sitting beside her. The white-washed jeans he wore fit snuggly over narrow hips and long muscular legs.
He was wearing a button-down shirt in a powder blue that clung to his broad muscular shoulders, and he’d brought along a faded denim jacket, which was draped over the back of his chair. The complete package was too much of a turn on, and she was already distracted enough being around him.
His face had perfectly chiseled features and his dark gray eyes had a strange intensity about them.
Jack had to be the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
Speaking of which…
“Why do I recognize you from somewhere?” Janelle asked suddenly.
As he shrugged, his eyes met hers, and she suddenly remembered exactly where she’d seen him.
“You were in commercials on TV,” she said softly.
He grimaced. “How in the world would you remember me? I was only a kid.”
“I have five brothers and sisters,” she answered. “We ate a lot of cereal.”
Jack snorted.
Suddenly, she laughed, watching Rand and Ciara while they ate. They looked like they’d forgotten that anyone else was there at the table.
Ciara said, “You’ve laughed more today than you have in the last five years, Janelle, What’s so funny?”
“I have been enjoying myself,” Janelle admitted. “But I was just wondering if the two of you remembered that the rest of us were sitting here with you?”
“Yeah, geez,” Nick muttered, with pretended disgust. “Get a room already. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready to let loose a little tonight.” Nick looked at Emma strangely. “My fiancé just broke up with me.”
“I can’t say I blame her,” Emma murmured.
Surprisingly, Nick laughed at Emma. “I’ll bet you’re a great dancer?”
“I am,” she answered, raising her chin.
“I can’t wait.”
Emma huffed out a breath but didn’t respond.
Nick continued smiling as he went back to his dinner.
“Anyone for coffee, drinks or dessert?” Rand asked.
“I’ll take some coffee with a little bit of rum,” Jack murmured.
“Sounds good. I’ll have that too,” Ciara replied.
Rand answered, “I’ll send someone out for your drink orders while I go and fetch the car. I need to speak with the manager for a moment and then I’ll wait for all of you at the entrance. Give me a few minutes.”
Excusing himself, Rand left everyone at the table.
While Ciara spoke with Emma and Nick, Jack said quietly, “Tell me about yourself, Janelle.”
“I’m an Air Force Pilot,” she answered, giving him a rueful grin.
Jack blinked. “I’ve got to say I’m impressed. How long have you been in the Air Force?”
“About ten years. I enlisted directly after high school, and ended up in the academy, since my grades were good.”
They all talked for a few more minutes, waiting for their drinks, finishing them quickly and heading back through the restaurant to the exit, where Rand would soon arrive.
Fifteen minutes later, Rand was pulling up to the restaurant entrance.
“You guys must have slugged down your drinks,” Rand said as Nick slid open the back door for Janelle and Emma and stepped inside behind them.
Jack opened the front door for Ciara and then sat in the seat behind her with Janelle, facing Nick and
