Henry and Jack had thought nothing could ever drive them apart. They were wrong. Three months have passed since Jack walked out of the home they shared, and Henry had been too stupid to take back the hurtful things he'd said.
Both assured by their respective parents the other would not be present at Henry's mother's annual Christmas gathering, they attend. Finding they have been duped into seeing each other, Henry realizes that this may be his only chance to try and make things right. But will he be able to convince Jack to come home?
Chapter 1 HERE, Chapter 2 HERE and Chapter 3 HERE
Chapter 4
Jack
forced himself not to watch Henry leave and kept his gaze firmly trained on the
contents of the drink Tim had shoved into his hand. The unseen thread that had
always seemed to join him to Henry had been tugged longingly by the sweet smile the
other man had given him from across the room. Aren't you forgetting what he
said? How he made you feel? Thankfully, Jack wasn't able to give much rein to
the mumblings of his inner voice as he suddenly found himself face to face with
Emily Lewis.
"Timothy,
darling you don't mind if I steal Jack from you for a moment," Emily
trilled, pulling Jack away before the man could respond with a look that
brooked no argument. Emily guided Jack towards the fireplace and patted his
arm. "Jack, sweetheart," Emily leaned in and Jack pressed his lips to
her cool cheek in a perfunctory kiss. "How are you? Those delightful
students of yours not running you ragged, I hope?"
"They
try," Jack replied, hoping he sounded a lot more casual than he felt.
"But I've threatened to bring back the blackboard so I can throw the
duster at them if they step out of line. You're looking as beautiful as ever,
Emily."
"You
always were a charmer, Jack Hughes," Emily teased as she simpered at the
compliment, and then gripped his hand between both of hers. Jack swallowed in
anticipation of what she was about to say, desperately hoping it didn't involve
anything to do with him and Henry. "Speaking of which," she said.
"Henry's disappeared for a sulk and his father is in his shed with Father
Clarkson to look at the seed catalogue, apparently. I don't know why they just
don't confess they're testing the elderberry wine, but we must let them think
they have their little secrets."
Jack's
gaze widened as the woman he'd known practically all his life didn't even pause
for breath as she rambled on. He had always been fascinated by her ability to
take him on a magical mystery tour around the houses, and describing the ins
and outs of a duck's arse before she ever got to the bloody point. Of course,
unknown to Emily he had long ago managed to tune her out until she got to the
vital information he needed—just as he was doing now.
"So
will you?"
Jack
blinked owlishly, she'd obviously finished. "Will I what?" In the
three months since he'd seen her last, his technique had obviously got a little
flabby as he'd missed the vital information.
"Fetch
me some more wine, silly boy," Emily crooned. "Careful, Jack. You'll
have me thinking you don't listen to a word I say."
Oh
shit, she knows. Jack shook his head and smiled to cover his embarrassment.
"You cut me to the quick, Emily. As if that would ever be possible."
He knocked back the remaining scotch in his glass and put it on the mantelpiece
beside him, ignoring the raised eyebrow he received at the placement. "How
many bottles do you want?"
***
Henry
stared at the rows of bottles before him in the wine cellar’s wall to ceiling
racks, without seeing a single one of them. With the taste of Jack still on his
lips, he couldn't concentrate on anything but his own idiocy. What the hell
were they doing? Fighting off the likes of Cruella de Ville and Porks Elliott,
when they should be gazing into each other's eyes as his mother made her annual
toast about love, life and all that bollocks, as they had last year.
Have
you forgotten what you said? Or the look on his face when you said it?
He
sighed heavily. No, of course he hadn't. He'd remember the hurt in Jack's eyes
and the cold determination as he'd packed his bag for the rest of his life. How
the hell was he supposed to make things right? He couldn't take back what he'd
said. Couldn't repair the damage his throwaway comment had caused. Hell, he
couldn't even get Jack to stay in the same room with him for more than five
minutes before chaos descended. After what happened… why would Jack even want
him back?
"Score
one to Emily."
Henry
span on his heel and his gaze widened at the sight of Jack standing at the bottom of the cellar
steps, his arms folded across his chest. "What are you doing down
here?"
"Your
mother sent me down for some more wine," Jack sneered. "Another ruse
to get us alone in the same place. She and my mother are probably up there
congratulating each other over the vol au vents." He ran a hand through
his hair and a wry smile lifted his lips.
"I can't believe I fell for it."
When
Jack turned to leave, Henry knew this was his only chance. Their mothers could
turn meddling into an Olympic event and any other time he'd have been pissed...
but maybe they weren't so far off the
mark. "Don't go." The words came out on a rush of breath and the
wings of hope fluttered in his gut as
Jack stilled. Staring at the stiff line of Jack's shoulders and taking in the
clenched fists by his side, Henry finally said what he should have said three
months ago. "I'm sorry."
"For
what?" Jack said, his tone defeated. "For climbing so far up Donald
Parry's bigoted arse that you turned into him? For leaving me at home—alone—night
after night while you wined and dined your way around town with Georgina Parry
on your arm instead of me? For saying your job affects lives and how I couldn't
possibly understand because I'm only a ten-a-penny teacher? Or for being so
blinded by your own ambition you made me feel like a second rate citizen in my
own life?" Jack still didn't turn
around. "So… which one is it that you're sorry for, Henry?"
Henry's
heart ached at the pain in Jack's voice. He'd thought he couldn't possibly feel
any worse… until now. What was he sorry for?
"All of them. I'm sorry for all of them." Henry's breath
caught in his throat and his voice broke as he whispered, "Please come
home."
Jack
turned around.
The entire story will be available as a free download from All Romance EBooks and LoveLane Books after the 23 December. Merry Christmas!
And don't forget you can get your copy of The Perfect Gift, book 2 in the Mr Popsalos series, from Silver Publishing from the 29 December.
BLURB:
Jamie knows what he wants to give Luke for their first anniversary. The wedding rings have been burning a hole in the suitcase in the attic for months.
But before he can ask that life-changing question, an accident throws their lives into disarray.
Chapter 5 can be found HERE at Sue Brown's place on 22 December.
The entire story will be available as a free download from All Romance EBooks and LoveLane Books after the 23 December. Merry Christmas!
And don't forget you can get your copy of The Perfect Gift, book 2 in the Mr Popsalos series, from Silver Publishing from the 29 December.
BLURB:
Jamie knows what he wants to give Luke for their first anniversary. The wedding rings have been burning a hole in the suitcase in the attic for months.
But before he can ask that life-changing question, an accident throws their lives into disarray.
Love the story so far and I really like the excerpt. =)
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