Jill had been feeling pretty proud of how she’d dealt with her matchmakers. Nell and her best friends were volunteering Tuesdays and Thursdays at Mountainview, running a workshop on creating life-story books, a combination of scrapbooking and narrative. Sandy had agreed it was a great activity and a good way to stimulate the residents’ minds. It was also a great way for Jill to preserve her sanity. She’d even been able to arrange for Ty to do hair at the home on the same days. He earned a little extra cash, and it kept him out of her hair. So yes, with her matchmakers occupied for the last couple days, she’d been breathing easier.
Until now.
Standing in Jack and Grace’s kitchen, she discovered she had another matchmaker to contend with. One who was more devious and dangerous than Nell and Ty combined.
Jill crossed her arms and leaned against the counter. “What do you mean Sawyer’s staying here, too?” Two months earlier she’d agreed to stay with her nephew while her brother and Grace attended a wedding in Virginia. They were leaving in an hour, and Grace had conveniently forgotten to tell Jill that she was sharing babysitting duty with Sawyer.
Grace avoided meeting Jill’s eyes, focusing instead on an imaginary spot on the island. “I just thought it would be easier if you both were here. That way it won’t interfere with your work schedules. Sawyer can take the days, and you can take the nights.” She continued rubbing the black granite countertop with the white cloth. “And, um, Sawyer knows how to cook. You don’t.”
“Please, I know you. You probably have the meals all made up with the instructions taped to their lids.”
“I do, but I’ve never been away from little Jack this long. I thought it would be more fun for him to have you both here. If he gets lonely, it’ll be easier for the two of you to distract him.”
Jill pushed off the counter and covered Grace’s hand with her own. Knowing her sister-in-law as she did, Jill should have realized what was going on. Grace wasn’t playing matchmaker after all. “He’ll be fine, Grace. We’ll keep him so busy he won’t even know you’re gone, I promise.”
Grace turned her hand beneath Jill’s and squeezed. “Thanks. I’ve tried to cancel twice, but Jack really wants me to go.”
“Of course he does. You guys haven’t been away together since your honeymoon. Now you can have a babymoon. You two deserve some alone time.”
“That’s what your brother said.” Grace’s cheeks pinked while a small smile played on her lips.
“And from that smile on your face, I can guess what else he said. And I’m just going to bleach those thoughts from my mind because that’s not something I want to think about. Ever.”
Grace laughed. “Best friends share that kind of thing all the time.”
“You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve heard you, Madison, Skye, and Vivi when you get together. I just don’t want to hear that kind of stuff about my brother.”
“What don’t you want to hear about me?” Jack said, coming in from the backyard with her nephew in his arms.
“Details about the babymoon,” Jill said, holding out her arms for little Jack. “Hey buddy, are we going to have fun when Mommy and Daddy are away?”
“I know we are,” Jack said, moving to stand behind Grace. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.
“Ah, baby and baby sister here,” Jill reminded him, though she secretly loved seeing how much her brother adored his wife.
“I’m no baby. I’m a big boy,” little Jack said, struggling to get out of her arms. She put him down and gave him a light pat on his butt. Her nephew didn’t like to stay still for long. “Where’s Uncle Sawyer? I wanna play.”
“Hey, what am I, chopped liver? I can play, too, you know,” Jill said.
“You’re a girl.”
She crossed her arms and looked down at him. “So what does that have to do with anything?” She glanced at her brother and Grace, who were trying not to laugh. “What are you teaching my nephew?”
Before they had a chance to answer, the front door opened. “Hey, little Jack, come see what Uncle Sawyer brought you?”
“What a suck-up,” Jill said as she reluctantly followed the family to the front hall. Sawyer leaned against the doorjamb wearing a black golf shirt, khaki shorts, and a smug smile. He gestured to the bright green John Deere truck complete with dump bed sitting on the wraparound porch.
“No freaking way,” Jack said, looking as delighted with the truck as his son, who raced out the door on his chubby little legs. Sawyer scooped him up, and the three of them admired the John Deere with manly grunts of approval.
She and Grace crossed their arms at practically the same time, but it was Jill who spoke first. “Do not tell me you bought a four-year-old a motorized vehicle.”
Sawyer glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. “Okay.”
“Buddy, this is too much. You guys just bought him the dinosaur for his birthday,” her brother said.
“One of my customers sold it to me cheap. He’s moving. His kid barely rode the thing. It’s in mint condition.”
“Jill’s right, Sawyer. Isn’t he a little young for a motorized car?” Grace asked.
“Nope, I checked it out. And see here.” He pointed inside the truck. “There’s a second gear lockout to prevent him from going too fast.”
Little Jack was already climbing in the truck. “Go now.”
“Okay, buddy. Auntie Jill and I will take you for a walk. Mommy and Daddy will probably be gone by the time we get back so you better say good-bye now.”
She caught her nephew’s hesitation, the slight quiver of his chin before he climbed out of his truck to give his mommy and daddy a good-bye hug and kiss. Sawyer may be a suck-up, but he was a smart suck-up, a thoughtful one, too. It’d be easier on both Grace and little Jack if he was tooling around in his impressive new toy when his parents left.
Jill’s good-bye took longer than her nephew’s. Grace had at least forty notes with instructions that she wanted to go over with Jill before they left. At note number twenty, she finally said, “Grace, you do remember that the three of us lived together for over a year, right? You can text me, call me on the hour if you need to, but get your butt in gear before you miss your flight.”
Grace’s eyes went all shimmery and wet. “It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s me. I’m really going to miss him.”
Jill pulled her in for a hug. “I know you are. And he’ll miss you, too. But he’ll be fine and so will you. You’re only gone for four nights. It’ll fly by.”
Her brother, who’d been talking outside with Sawyer, walked into the house. Grace moved out of Jill’s embrace and furtively wiped at her eyes before turning to her husband with a shaky smile. “All ready to go.”
His expression softened. “Princess, if you don’t want to go, say the word and we’ll stay home.”
“No, you can’t disappoint Holden. You’re his best man.” She touched her stomach. “Don’t mind me. I’m more emotional these days.”
Holden was one of the men who’d been held captive with Jack in Afghanistan. Their shared experiences had created an unbreakable bond between the two men, between the rest of the crew as well. They’d all be at the wedding. Jill thought it was important that her brother was, too. It would be good for them to celebrate something happy and life-affirming.
Jack covered Grace’s hand with his and smiled down at her. “We’ll take care of your stress when we get to the hotel room. I ordered chocolate strawberries to be delivered as soon as we arrive. And there’s—”
“Eww, baby sister here,” Jill said and reached up to kiss her brother’s cheek. “I’m going now. And you two better be gone when we get back.”
“Count on it. Thanks again, Jill,” he said as she headed for the door. “Oh, and I read Sawyer the riot act. But just in case he forgets, no sleepovers with his legion of lady friends. I don’t want him scarring my son or baby sister.”
“Jack, don’t be ridiculous. Sawyer would never do something like that. Besides, he’s not dating anyone right now,” Grace said, nibbling on her bottom lip as she cast a concerned glance Jill’s way. So she’d been right after all. Grace was trying her hand at matchmaking.
Her brother laughed. “I think I know my best friend better than you do, princess. He doesn’t date.”
No doubt Jack did know Sawyer better than they did. So Grace could put her matchmaking schemes to rest. Jill didn’t know why she found the thought a little depressing. She should be happy her three matchmakers were now out of the game.
* * *
She hadn’t counted on a fourth matchmaker. Little Jack wrapped his arms around their necks as she and Sawyer tucked him into bed that night. “Kiss,” he said for the third time. They did the cheek thing again. “No, on the yips.”
Sawyer looked down at him. “I’m going to have a talk with your mommy and daddy.”
Jill made a panicked sound in her throat, shooting daggers at Sawyer when little Jack whimpered, “I want my mommy and daddy.”
Sawyer grimaced. “I know you do, buddy.” He rubbed little Jack’s shoulder, looking at a loss as how to comfort the now-crying child. “How about you and Auntie Jill call them on FaceTime?”
She angled her head and gave him a what-the-hell look. The last thing her overanxious sister-in-law needed to see was an upset little Jack.
“I want them come home now,” her nephew said on a hiccoughed sob. His little hands clutched his dinosaur sheets and balled into fists, his face turning red, his expression mutinous. Jill recognized the signs. The Flahertys were known for their tempers, and little Jack was no exception. She sensed a tantrum in the offing.
Jill leaned over and reached for her guitar. When little Jack and Grace were living with her, she used to calm her crying nephew by playing. She’d brought the guitar with her today, thinking she’d start teaching him to play while his parents were away. She didn’t realize she’d be competing with a motorized truck.
Sawyer, who’d changed tactics and was currently trying to distract little Jack with bribes of a visit to the Penalty Box the next day, glanced at her when she started to play. As a slow smile curved his lips, she nudged her head at the door. His smile widened, and he shook his head.
She briefly closed her eyes, then pushed her self-consciousness aside when little Jack sniffed, “Sunshine.”
Her nephew liked him some John Denver. She obliged, strumming her guitar, holding back a sigh when he ordered her to sing. She hesitated and glanced at Sawyer, wondering what to say to get him to leave. But in the end she didn’t have to ask because his cell phone rang. He mouthed “Jack,” tousled their godson’s dark curly hair, and left the room, closing the door behind him.
The tension left Jill’s shoulders and she sang while she played “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” Then “Rocky Mountain High” and “Annie’s Song.” As her nephew’s eyes began to close, she finished off with one of her favorites by Fleetwood Mac, “Landslide.” She had a faint memory of her mom singing the song while playing the guitar in Jill’s childhood bedroom.
She’d been young when her mother died and thought maybe she’d imagined it. But when Jack first heard Jill play the song, he’d told her she sounded like their mom. So it hadn’t been a dream after all. She supposed that’s why she’d kept playing even when her grandmother told her to stop. It was as though it kept some part of her mother alive, a good part, a good memory. The thought caused her voice to get a little husky as she sang the chorus one last time.
Jill smiled as her nephew released a shuddered sigh. She eased off the bed and rested her guitar against the dinosaur-decorated wall. Tucking his covers around him, she bent down and kissed his forehead, then tiptoed across the room. She turned on the monitor and opened the door. Sawyer sat on the hardwood floor, his back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his head lolling on his shoulder. She supposed she couldn’t blame him for falling asleep. She’d been surprised little Jack wasn’t comatose before his head hit the pillow. The kid never stopped.
She was considering whether or not to wake up Sawyer when he opened one eye, stretched, and smiled. “You don’t need your badge or gun for crowd control, Shortstop. Just whip out your guitar and sing. Guaranteed to put anyone to sleep.”
“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Of course it was,” he said, rising to his feet. “You should play at the bar. I’ll pay you. You can put it toward your dream-house fund.”
She shuddered at the thought of playing for an audience. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. “No time, but thanks.” She glanced at him as they headed for the stairs. “Everything okay with Jack and Grace?”
“Yeah, he just wanted to check to see how bedtime went before they headed out.”
“Did you tell him it was going well until you mentioned his mommy and daddy?”
“Are you kidding? He pretends he’s calling because Grace is missing little Jack, but he’s just as bad.”
“Yeah, he’s a marshmallow.” Just like the man following her into the kitchen. Sawyer would make a great father one day. She stopped short and stared at the island. “Tell me again why we didn’t just heat up one of Grace’s casseroles for dinner?”
“Because it wouldn’t have been as much fun for little Jack. He loved making his own pizza. So did you.”
“Yeah, but I forgot we’d eventually have to clean up the mess.” They’d gone out for ice cream right after dinner and for a walk along the boardwalk to feed the ducks. She ran a fingernail under the pizza dough stuck to the countertop. “Does granite scratch?” she asked, thinking they might have to use a chisel.
“I’ll clean up later.” He opened the fridge, taking out a beer and a can of cola. He tossed her the soda. “Let’s go sit on the front porch and watch the sun set.”
“Don’t you have to go to work?” Now that they were without their pint-size chaperone, she wasn’t sure being alone with Sawyer was a good idea. Not that she had to worry about him making a move on her, and of course, she wasn’t about to make one on him. She had that T-shirt, too. But they’d had fun today. He was easy to be with and great with little Jack, so it was possible her mind might start playing the what-if game. A game she’d told herself she wasn’t allowed to play anymore.
“Nope, took the night off. Brandi can handle it.” Twisting the cap off his beer, he headed for the front hall. “Are you coming or not?”
She hesitated, then looked around the kitchen again and decided sitting watching the sun set sounded better than cleaning. “Coming.” She grabbed the monitor off the top of the refrigerator, then checked the locks on the back door before making her way to the front porch.
Sawyer glanced at her when she closed the screen door. He was sitting on the swing at the end of the porch, taking up most of it with his big, athletic body. He patted the seat cushion covered in sunflowers. The warm summer night air was filled with the scent of the wildflowers filling the front yard.
Jill pretended she didn’t notice his invitation, leaning instead against the white porch rail. She set the monitor down and took a sip of her cola.
“I don’t bite, you know,” he said, once again patting the cushion.
Afraid he’d read more into her refusal, and he’d be right, she picked up the monitor and sat down. He leaned into her. “You have little Jack under surveillance?”
“Houdini, remember?”
The amusement in his eyes faded. “Yeah, I wish I didn’t.”
“Me too,” she murmured, though she hadn’t actually been referring to the day that little Jack nearly drowned. Another memory she’d locked in the vault. But there it was again, as clear as though it was yesterday and not two years earlier. She could hear the fear and devastation in her brother’s voice telling her they didn’t know if little Jack would make it. Jack’s and Grace’s shell-shocked faces at the thought they might lose their two-year-old son. She’d experienced the same terror, but stayed strong for them. He was their child, not hers. But Sawyer saw through her act. He was the only one who did. He’d held her until she couldn’t cry anymore.
With his arm resting across the back of the swing, Sawyer stroked her hair. “I’m good,” she said.
“You said the same thing at the hospital that day.”
He had a good memory. There were things she wished he’d forget, like the night at his apartment. She wished she could forget, too. His fingers in her hair and his big body crowding hers were making that difficult to do. She needed to change the subject. “So where were Jack and Grace off to?” she asked, shifting as though to look at him when what she was really trying to do was put some distance between them.
He moved his hand from her hair to rest it on the back of the swing. It didn’t help. Now she felt the heat and weight of it against her back.
“Out for dinner at some fancy Italian place with the wedding party. Maria’s going, too.”
“I didn’t know she was invited to the wedding,” Jill said, unable to keep the nervous hitch from her voice. Maria was the journalist Jack and his crew had been sent in to rescue when the RPG brought down their Black Hawk. The woman had tried to break up Grace and Jack when she’d come to Christmas. Jill was partially to blame.
“Yeah, Jack and Grace were a little surprised, too.” He gently tugged on her hair. “Don’t worry, she’s not there to cause problems for them. She’s engaged and doing well from what Jack said. She and Grace are going shopping tomorrow.”
“Wow, that’s great…I guess.”
He smiled. “Feel better?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Don’t try and pretend you didn’t feel bad for encouraging her, Jill. Everyone knew who gave her—”
“Whoa, really? You’ve got a lot of nerve bringing that up when you were the one in love with your best friend’s wife.” She bit out the words, anger reverberating through her as the feelings from two years ago swamped her. The betrayal she’d felt when she saw Sawyer and Grace together and sensed their growing attraction.
“You’ve been keeping that bottled up for a long time, haven’t you?” He rested his elbows on his knees, then glanced at her. “We didn’t think he was coming back, Jill. And never, not once, did I act on those feelings.”
“So you did love her.” She hated how saying those words made her feel. It felt like he’d betrayed her as much as he’d betrayed his best friend. Even if he hadn’t acted on those feelings. Even though she had no right to hers.
“I thought I did. But I’m not sure anymore. I wasn’t jealous that Grace was with Jack and not me. If I had loved her, like a man loves a woman, I don’t think I could have been around them like I was without feeling something. And the only thing I felt was happy for them.” He lifted a shoulder, then took a swallow of his beer. “Maybe what it came down to was I felt closer to Jack when I was with Grace and little Jack.” He glanced at her again, the pain of his memories etched on his handsome face. “He may be your brother, but I’ve always thought of him as one, too. I was hurting as much as you were, Jill. I needed to do something for him. So right or wrong, I stood in for him with his family.”
And he’d stepped aside as soon as Jack came home. Not once had she seen any sign that Sawyer’s feelings for Grace were anything more than platonic since then. As much as she’d needed to be there for Grace and little Jack, so had he. And he had been. “I’m sorry.”
He sat back. Stretching out his long sun-bronzed legs, he rested his head on the back of the swing and looked at her. “It’s probably something we should have talked about back then, but I was afraid you’d shoot me. You still believed with all your heart Jack was coming home. I couldn’t be the one to tell you he wasn’t.” He smiled. “I’ve never been so damn glad to be proven wrong. And once he was home, I figured, if Jack could forgive me, so could you. I actually thought you had. Guess I was wrong.”
“I did. I have.” And it was true. At least now it was. “It’s just that I got a little defensive when you made that crack about Maria. I’m sorry for being such a bitch. Now and back then. Forgive me?”
He smiled and covered her hand with his, giving it a light squeeze. “Always.”
She forced a smile. She hadn’t realized until that moment that, while she may have had romantic feelings for Sawyer for what felt like forever, his interest in Grace had allowed her to build a protective barrier. And after hearing his confession, there was no barrier left to protect her foolish heart.
She got up from the swing before she told him that the real reason she’d been such a bitch back then was because he’d fallen in love with Grace and not her.