So that was his type.
That wasn’t crushing.
Okay, I lied. It was unbelievably crushing.
As Cooper, Cat, and Joey strolled away, Jack turned to the brunette and murmured something in her ear as he held her by the hips.
And then he kissed her.
Not just a mere brush across the lips.
But a kiss.
Devastation that was way out of proportion to the moment crashed over me. Iris had told me about Jack and his tourist conquests.
However, this was the first time I was seeing one live in front of me.
I felt betrayed.
Which made no sense at all.
“Lucky lady,” Bailey said at my side.
I was transfixed by the scene that hurt so much to look at.
When Jack broke the kiss, smiling as he tucked the woman into his side and turned, our eyes locked as he lifted his head. He seemed to pause, the smile abruptly leaving his face as we stared at each other.
Yanking my gaze away from his, the first one I met was Bailey Hartwell’s.
And she was examining me like she could see into my head.
Like she knew I had a massive crush on Jack Devlin and the news delighted her.
This … this was why I avoided Bailey Hartwell. She was nosy.
“I have to go,” I muttered. “Sorry, Iris.” I brushed past her and hurried through the crowds.
My heart beat triple time as I marched down the boardwalk toward my beach house.
I wanted to cry.
It was foolish and childish and made no sense.
But the image of Jack kissing that woman how he did … yeah. It made me want to cry.
With significant effort, I sucked back the tears and let myself into my house. Hidden inside, I made myself a cup of peppermint tea and opened all the jewelry boxes to appreciate Dahlia’s work.
In another life, she and I would be friends. She’d maybe even let me watch her work because I’d love to see that.
In another life, I wouldn’t blush like an idiot every time Cooper Lawson spoke to me.
In another life, I’d be sophisticated and witty and Jack Devlin wouldn’t be able to resist me, local woman or not.
“In another life,” I whispered to myself.
5
Jack