Page 11 of One Weekend in Boston

"Oh, he'll have questions. How much we tell him is up to you. But keep in mind, he could probably help."

I thought about what he said last night, about what his brother did for a living. It wasn't that I wouldn't appreciate the help, but I didn't want to bring anyone else into my mess of a life. It was bad enough that I was even considering allowing Jack to help me.

But what choice did I have? Yes, I could pull out cash, but Jack wasn't wrong. The only places that accepted cash and wouldn't require me to hand over my license were seedy at best. Some were probably worse. Would I even be able to sleep in a place like that? Probably not, and there was no telling what diseases I would pick up. I could handle pretty much anything life threw at me but even I had my limitations.

"And if I agree to let you and your brother help me, what's in it for you?"

I knew how bad the question sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth. I couldn't take it back though. I was sick of being taken advantage of. Davis did it and left a bad taste in my mouth.

"I don't want anything from you and neither does my brother. I'm doing it because it pisses me off that someone is taking advantage of a woman and doesn't understand the word no. I don't give a flying fuck how much money the guy has or how great everyone thinks he is. No means no. End of story."

I was stunned, and for anyone who knew me, that didn't happen often. Actually, it was pretty damn rare. But that’s what Jack's speech did to me. It left me speechless and with the tiniest hope that maybe there were still some good men left in the world, like my father and his friends.

Maybe that didn't disappear with his generation.

"Okay, I believe you."

And if it turned out I was wrong, then I would have a backup plan in place this time. I would take out enough money and disappear. Seedy motels be damned.

"Did you pack everything?"

I looked around the trashed hotel room. "I think so, but at this point, it's hard to tell with everything tossed around."

"Do you want me to help you look?"

Damn, this man was too good for me, but I was too selfish to give him up. He offered to help and, despite wishing I could do things on my own, maybe it was time I stopped being stubborn and let someone in.

"Thanks, I think this is it. Everything that was important to me was locked in a safe-deposit box before I left home. All I brought with me on this trip was clothes."

Jack snatched the duffel off the ground and placed his palm out. I stared at it for a moment before giving in. I said I believed he could help me, and I wasn't about to back out now.

With our fingers laced together, we walked out of my hotel room and left that part of my life behind.

The elevator ride back down was quiet, much like the ride up had been. The only difference was the silence was comfortable, unlike before. The awkwardness of the walk of shame was gone and replaced with hope.

Hope that this was the start of something better. I didn't meet Jack under the best of conditions but that didn't mean it couldn't end up being something great.

Don't get ahead of yourself.

My father’s voice echoed in my head. He was a bit of a cynic. After my mother walked out of his life, he was convinced love wasn't real. It was something told in fairy tales to make people think anyone could have it. Growing up, I believed him. The opposite sex was nothing more than tools for a good time. It didn't matter if they were male or female.

It wasn't until my father died that I let myself consider something more. I like to blame it on the grief. Temporary insanity, if you will. Either way, I hadn't found love like I thought. I found a man who wanted to control me, who took my feelings and twisted them for his own benefit. I wouldn't be making that mistake again.

So, no. Whatever was happening between Jack and me couldn't be anything serious. I would accept his help because I wasn't an idiot. I could admit when I was in over my head. But it could never be more than a good time.

The door slamming shut in Jack's hotel room startled me. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't realize we’d gotten off the elevator. My body moved of its own accord and I was functioning on autopilot.

"Shannon?"

"What?!" I jumped at the sound of my name.

"What has you thinking so hard? I called your name three times."

Whoops. My jaunt down memory lane was more intense than I realized.

"I was thinking about my father and what he used to say to me," I blurted out. "Maybe if I had listened to him more, I wouldn't be in the situation I am right now."

"Care to share?" Jack quirked his brow at me. It was a damn shame the man was so sexy. I'm sure he would make beautiful babies with someone, someday.

---