“Yeah, I made him do the setup. It’s his job.” Jack shrugged carelessly. “And I told him if he said one more word about her I was going to slap him. Damn ass was harping on some poor woman’s lack of style.”
For some reason he didn’t feel the need to brag or point out he’d seen Gillian, but he couldn’t explain it or shake the nervousness he felt at the admission. Lenny wouldn’t understand, there were few who would—maybe Luke, but he was out of town for the day, and he wasn’t going to reveal this just yet.
“Seems you were pretty familiar with her.”
“Wow, he really sank, didn’t he?” Jack stood to pour himself a coffee. “To answer your question, yes, I threatened him. Yes, I meant it, and if he says it again, I’ll follow through.” Tiny prickles of anger flared at the thought of anyone calling Gillian down. She wasn’t some random fuck—and it irked him the young punk would call her down.
“Do I know this woman?”
“Why?” Jack settled back at his desk. Rolling the pen between his fingers, he eyed his boss. “My personal life’s open for discussion around here?”
“Jack, you have to admit your personal life has kept more than one dull shift alive. Hell, everyone here knows you love the ladies, it’s just who you are.” Lenny grinned. “However, when it creates tension it becomes an issue. Brad’s complaining to everyone, damn annoying if you ask me. Now, I’d hate to have to send him over to Coulee or something because he’s being an ass.”
“There is no tension. Brad can stay on his side of the house and I’ll stay on mine. The little punk had no right to insinuate Gilli is anything but a lady.” Jack stared at the door behind Lenny. He wondered if he’d get fired if he confronted Brad. Jarred back to the conversation by Lenny’s snort, he focused on his friend.
“Jilly? Who in the hell would name their daughter Jilly?” Lenny shook his head. He walked across the room and sank into a leather chair. “As long as you can stand to work with him it’ll be fine. Just don’t do something stupid, okay?”
“I won’t.” Jack forced the anger back, focusing on a safer topic. “How was the honeymoon?”
“Great. We went to Tofino and puttered around. Great place to go surfing.”
Jack nodded as Lenny leaned back and really got into his story. Tuning him out, Jack glanced at his watch and sighed. Another day before he could pick Gillian up, and he still hadn’t figured out where they were going.
“So we came home and Barbara phoned her daughter. Couldn’t believe how upsetting it was for her.” Lenny leaned back in the chair, his booted feet stretched out before him.
The abrupt change in topic pulled his attention back to Lenny. “Who?”
“Barbara, she phoned her daughter to chat. By the time she hung up the phone and came into the kitchen she was in tears. Gillian’s apparently quite the bitch.”
“Not hardly,” Jack ground out. “She’s shy and reserved, hardly the kinda person to make someone cry.”
“That’s right, you met her at the wedding. I hear you took her home?”
“She stayed at the hotel. I just made sure she got where she needed to be.” Jack bit back a sharper, less friendly retort at the tone of Lenny’s voice. “Polite, sweet, she was everything my momma raised me to believe a good girl should be. Kept offering to pay me for dry cleaning my shirt, which I refused. She was nice.”
“Careful there, Jack, best remember those good girls are the forever type, not likely to be interested in having fun in the moment.” Lenny frowned. “Though, if you were to ask Barbara, she’d have a different story. Never really got to know Gillian. She always avoided me when Barbara and I had to be around her. Kinda standoffish if you know what I mean.”
Jack frowned, inhaling slowly. “Do you really think that’s unusual? I mean, Barbara’s been married several times before, hasn’t she? What do you know about Gilli? Seriously, Lenny, no bullshit, nothing from Barbara, just what you know about her.”
“Gillian’s not your typical airhead. She’s some sort of genius, already has two degrees under her belt, has majored in history, and is currently working on her paleontology degree. Shy, quiet, always seems terrified of her shadow.” Lenny rested his ankle on his other knee, a frown tugging his brows together. “Hardly the type to be like her mom says she is, but then you never know. Some people are just that way.”
“Yeah, that’s Gilli.”
“Her momma on the other hand has nothing good to say about her.”
“What do you think?”
“I think Gillian is someone you should avoid.” Lenny leaned forward, fingers interlocked between his thighs. “She’s not the fly-by-night type, and something tells me when you’re in, you’re in. Don’t go messing with her, Jack. You break her heart and you’ll suffer for it.”
“Breaking her heart is the last thing I intend to do.” Jack glanced up at movement from the door. “Barbara, how are you?” He stared at the older woman standing, palm pressed against her chest, an appraising look in her eyes.
“Jack, darling, I’m quite well. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. You surely can’t be talking about Gillian Rebecca.”
“Yes, we were.” Lenny rose to press a kiss to her powdered cheek. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d be done a lot faster.”
“It’s quite all right, worse places to be stuck.” Barbara’s tinkling laughter filled the room. “Sit, sit, dear. Jack, you’re Lenny’s friend and as such I consider you my friend. Please don’t fall for Gillian’s fake persona.” She sighed, her eyes widening. “That girl has never done a thing to help anyone but herself. Why, she cast a good man aside all for the sake of a little fun. Accused him of some horrid things before moving on to greener pastures. Even now, she’s living off
