Page 88 of Steel Beauty

Understanding crosses her expression. “This all takes me back to when Jack Henry and I first met. I’m sure you’ve heard we had our own little arrangement when we started seeing each other.”

I grin, feeling an easy camaraderie settle between us. “JC told me all about it. Your arrangement has definitely been an inspiration for us.”

“Well, I hope you’re enjoying your time together as much as we did. Those early days were something special. Unforgettable, really.”

Laurelyn laughs, nostalgia lighting her eyes. “I found out Jack Henry’s real name completely by accident. There was a medical emergency with his father, and I was unexpectedly thrown into the middle of the McLachlan family. When we arrived at the hospital, his mother called him Jack Henry, and to cover the fact that I didn’t know his real name, I called him that too.” She grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “His mother nearly lost it because she was the only one who ever called him that. She took it as a sign he must love me if he let me get away with it. And, well, he’s been my Jack Henry ever since.”

I smile, charmed by the tale. “Such a great start to your love story.”

She nods, her laugh soft and warm. “Like you, we had aliases when we first met. His was Lachlan, after McLachlan, and mine was Paige—my middle name. It was supposed to keep things uncomplicated, at least in the beginning.” She shrugs, her smile softening. “But it didn’t stay that way for long. Complicated snuck in pretty quickly—but it was the best kind of complicated.”

“Has he told you how we came up with our aliases?”

“He did, but I have to tell you––Julius Caesar doesn’t suit him at all to me.”

I laugh with her, shaking my head. “I’ve started calling him JC. It fits better.”

Her eyes warm with amusement. “It’s funny how those things take on a life of their own. Makes it all the more special.”

“Exactly! Our aliases are tied to this little bubble we’ve created. It’s silly, I know, but it’s meaningful in its own way.”

“It’s not silly.” Laurelyn takes a sip of her wine, her gaze thoughtful. “So, how far along are you two in this three-month arrangement?”

“About a month in.” I’m surprised by the unexpected pang I feel at how quickly the first four weeks have flown by.

“That’s when the real fun starts—the awkward newness has worn off, and you finally get comfortable with each other.”

“So true.”

It’s so nice to have someone to talk to who understands where I am. This isn’t exactly the kind of situation you can explain to just anyone.

“The next two months are going to fly by, trust me. Before you know it, your time together will be up. So, make the most of it. Enjoy every moment.”

Her words strike a quiet chord, settling into the part of me that’s been avoiding thoughts about how fleeting this arrangement is. But before the reality of it can fully settle, Jack and JC emerge from the wine cellar, each carrying a bottle and wearing easy smiles, their presence shifting the mood to something lighter.

Jack grins, a teasing glint in his eyes. “So, the emperor tells me you’re into some…unusualmusic?”

I place my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes at JC with dramatic disapproval. “Eclectic, not unusual. My playlist is highly curated, thank you very much.”

JC raises his hands in surrender. “Fair enough—I stand corrected.”

“I like a woman who’s passionate about her music,” Laurelyn says, raising her glass.

Jack leans back, a proud glint in his eye. “Speaking of music, did Caesar mention that my beautiful wife is a musician?”

“He might’ve mentioned it.”

Jack’s grin widens. “But I bet he left out the part where she was the original lead singer for Southern Ophelia.”

My jaw drops, my gaze snapping to Laurelyn. “Southern Ophelia? Are you kidding me?”

Jack chuckles, clearly enjoying my reaction. “Not kidding. She’s the real deal.”

I turn back to Laurelyn, a mix of awe and surprise on my face. “That’s incredible.”

Laurelyn waves it off with a modest smile, though there’s a sparkle in her eyes. “That was a lifetime ago, but it was definitely a wild ride.”

I tilt my head, studying her closely, and suddenly it clicks—the voice, the face. My mouth falls open. “Wait. I remember you.”

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