Page 18 of Jack

Tamping down the yearning, he turned to getthe drinks and handed them to her. Best to keep his mind on the taskand off her.

Chapter5

All through the journey to hisneighborhood, Zuri was aware that he was as tensed as a coiledspring. When she offered to take him home, he had resisted at firstand then reluctantly assented. And had commented on how angry herbrother had been.

"It's fine," she told him."Zach's bark is worse than his bite and he does have a point.You should not be here."

She glanced over at him, biting off a sighat the tenseness of his profile. He looked so sad and alone that shecould not help but feel the tugging at her heartstrings. What he hadsaid to her about his mother was still having an effect on her. Sheand Zach had lost theirs when they were born and even though theynever knew her, it still affected them. Their dad had tried his best,but the hole was still there. A piece of them missing.

"It's almost time to be back atschool. The spring break is almost at an end."

He nodded and continued to stare out thewindow at the passing scenery. They had left the urban area and wereheading into the exclusive neighborhood where the houses were severalmiles apart and the buildings made of stone and glass.

"What's your favorite subject?"

He turned his head to stare at her. "Youdon't have to do that."

"Do what?"

"Try to make conversation to make mefeel better. It's not going to work."

"What if I told you that I amgenuinely interested?"

He merely lifted one thick brow and struckher as being mature beyond his age. She supposed he had to be,considering what he has been through.

"Look kid--"

"I wish you were my girlfriend,"he said wistfully, nearly causing her to swerve off the road.

"I am old enough to be your mother,"she pointed out.

"I don't need a mother."

"You certainly don't need agirlfriend. How old are you really? Nuh uh. I want the truth thistime."

He closed his mouth and stared out thewindow again. "Fourteen," he mumbled. "So what?"The belligerence was back, but she knew what it was. A defensemechanism.

"So, you're still a kid and should notbe traipsing off on your own. You might get hurt."

"I like your bar."

"But it's not a place for theunderaged. Wow!" Despite herself, she could not help but beimpressed as she turned into the smoothly paved private road that ledup to the mansion. And it was that. She recalled traveling to Romeright after college and exploring several of their ruins. This placestruck her as having some similarities.

The building speared towards the sky, thestones weathered, giving it a kind of character that could only befound in buildings that had been around for several hundred years. Atthis time of night, the place was shrouded in darkness, the discreetlights dotting the massive grounds illuminating the lush green grassand the swaying palm trees.

"It's quite a place. How many rooms?"

He shrugged carelessly. "Eighteensuites. A library, ballroom, family room, a gym and a greenhouse. Mygrandmother loves her plants."

"You might have to give me the tourone of these days."

"How about now?" he askedhopefully as she swung through the driveway. There was a fountain inthe middle and flowers blooming on either side.

"It's close to one in the morning anda girl has to get her sleep. So does a fourteen-year-old. Do youthink your grandmother is home?"

He lifted his shoulder in a careless shrug,but she could see the tension on his face.

Stopping at the foot of the steps that ledto a wide wraparound porch, she opened her door and inhaled the scentof many flowers blooming. To her left, there was a winding path thatled to an arbor, covered with trailing vines.

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