This woman was a trip! I gestured toward Evie’s place. “Why don’t you come with—”
“I wouldn’t dare show up uninvited.” She recoiled like I’d suggested she livestream a pole dance. “You take the tetrazzini with you and tell everyone I wish them well.”
Something in her tone said she wished everyone something…but health and wellness wasn’t high on the list.
“I’ll be sure to tell them you said—”
“Would you look at that. Jack Cooper and his kids will be there?” I followed her gaze in time to see the man from the candy store helping his children out of the car in Evie’s driveway. “I didn’t think he left the house since his wife died. They used to be so happy and those kids used to be so good. Well, let me tell you…they’re not anymore and if you ask me, that poor man is barely holding it together.”
I hadn’t asked her, but I was glad for the information on the handsome stranger from earlier. His wife died? That explained the sadness surrounding him, and his unwillingness to flirt a little, despite his lack of a wedding ring.
When I turned back to Greta, her shrewd eyes were locked on mine. “He is very handsome, isn’t he?” she asked, then slipped the casserole dish underneath the box of candy and soda, before pulling out her phone and tapping out a message—probably a Facebook post if I knew anything about the woman. “I’ll let you get going. I’m sure I’ve taken up enough of your time.” She turned and walked away, her face in her phone.
With a shake of my head, I crossed the yards and climbed the porch to the Prescott place, shuffling my armful of goodies to knock on the door.
Evie pulled it open and grinned. “There you are!” She grabbed the box out of my hands, exclaiming over the contents, then eyed the casserole suspiciously. “Since when do you cook?”
“Since never. This is compliments of Greta Macmillan, who ambushed me on the way over. She told me to tell you she wishes everyone well.”
“I’m sure that’s what she said but not at all convinced that’s what she meant.”
“You know,” I said with a laugh, “I had the same thought. That woman is something else! How does she manage to make a sweet gesture seem like a threat?”
Evie led me to the living room where Alex greeted me and introduced me to their friends. Jude Malone, a cocky blond who owned their favorite bar and Austin O’Connor, a tattooed mechanic with a warm smile and intelligent eyes. I shook hands with each of them as Alex threw an arm around the shoulders of the man from the candy store.
“And this here is Jack Cooper—a rare treat as he never leaves the house anymore.”
Jack had changed out of one pair of khaki pants into another and traded the button down for a polo shirt. The shorter sleeves only furthered my obsession with his arms, highlighting sculpted biceps that demanded I give them a squeeze. I managed to withstand the compulsion, but only by forcing myself not to look. I’d never been a fan of business casual. I mean, why blend in when you could stand out? But this guy managed to make the middle-class uniform look sinful.
He extended a hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier. There was a lot going on.”
Evie’s eyes lit up. “You guys met?”
“At Sweet Stuff.” Laughing, I explained what happened.
“The best part is that somehow, some way, Amelia got all three kids to settle down long enough to clean the mess without creating another one.” Jack grinned and it transformed his face. There was no doubt he was handsome, but he was magnetic when he smiled. “She might be the kid whisperer or something.”
I brushed off the compliment, risking a glance at Evie whose wide eyes told me she intended to flex her matchmaker muscles sooner rather than later. Biting my lip, I turned back to Jack. “You should consider buying some vetiver oil. It does smell like dirt, but it also does wonders for stress and anxiety.”
“I’m not an essential oil kinda guy.” He folded his arms over his chest and shrugged.
Do not get swept into the arm porn, Amelia! Yes, they’re beautiful. That doesn’t give you permission to stare!
Judgement danced across Jack’s face, and for a brief second, he reminded me of my brother Darian—which wasn’t a good look—but he chased it away with a smile. “But who am I to dictate what works for others?”
The Cooper kids zoomed into the room, the boys with their arms out to their side like airplanes, rat-a-tat-tat-ing imaginary machine guns while Charlie tried to hop on Morgan’s back and ride him around the room.
Jack’s features tightened and he barked their names. “No running in the house. Come on, guys! You know better.” While he excused himself to whisper-yell at his children in the corner, Izzy arrived. She swept into the room with smiles and hugs for everyone, though her eyes lingered a little longer on Jude than anyone else and the hug she gave him barely counted as a hug.
Conversation flowed. The sodas were a hit—and elderflower and rose was absolutely my new favorite flavor. With each tick of the clock, I grew more certain I was right to move here. Between Jude, Austin, Alex, and Jack, the banter was hilarious. Izzy was smart and sweet, the perfect balance between me with my head in the clouds and Evie with her feet glued to the ground.
Throughout the evening, my eyes found Jack’s. Not on purpose. (Well, not always.) I just couldn’t not look at him. Half the time I’d glance up to find him already watching me. He’d grin before going back to whatever conversation he was part of. Finally, after half a dozen connections like that, I held his gaze and lifted a questioning eyebrow. A secret smile spread across his lips and he started my way—
A crash came from the kitchen, followed by a shriek, then shouting and crying.
Jack’s face fell. His shoulders slumped as he closed his eyes, then went to investigate. Excusing myself from Evie and Izzy, I followed and found Jack with his hands in his hair and his kids surrounded by jellybeans and turkey tetrazzini.
“What in the world did you guys do?” Jack’s voice was quiet, sad, and so broken my heart clenched.
Charlie jabbed a finger at her brother. “Garrett said I couldn’t have any jellybeans but he’s not the boss of me.”
“I am the boss of you.” He huffed and folded his arms over his chest. “I’m the oldest.”
Connor looked at his dad with wide eyes. “Charlie tried to get some anyway and he yanked them out of her hands. It all fell to the ground.”
“We’re sorry, Daddy.” Tears wobbled in Charlie’s eyes as her brothers echoed her sentiment.
“I know you’re sorry. You’re always sorry. You’re not bad kids, but we can’t keep doing this.” Jack’s eyes hit mine and desperation swam through them. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
The mess cleaned up easily and the Cooper’s left early. The sadness in Jack’s eyes circled my mind the rest of the night.
By the time my head hit my pillow, I knew exactly what to do. The man needed help connecting with his spiritual side, and his kids? They were in crisis mode, no doubt about that. I could run their astrological charts, Jack’s as well for that matter. He might resist a little at first, especially since I didn’t get the feeling he vibed with this stuff, but after he saw the benefits of working with vibration and the power of positivity, he’d never go back.