Page 13 of Snowflakes Over Starr's Fall
“I took down that review because you were trash-talking me all around town,” he cut her off, and then added, an edge enteringhisvoice, “And for no other reason.”
She let out a huff of hard laughter, her eyes sparking with what Jack suspected was genuine hurt. “Noted,” she bit out. “Thanks for the clarification.”
“You’re welcome.” He sounded as sarcastic as he felt. They glared at each other for a full five seconds, while the whole room seemed to melt away, and there was nothing but Jenna Miller and her fury-filled eyes, that stupid sweaterstillsliding off one shoulder.
Then, with a choking sound as she suppressed whatever she’d been tempted to throw at him, she stormed off, back to the sofa, where Liz What’s-Her-Name had been, Jack feared, watching their whole exchange with an unbecoming avidity.
Okay, he really did hate small-town life, if this is what it was. He turned back to the counter to find Maggie giving him a commiserating smile.
“Jenna’s… passionate,” she remarked diplomatically, and Jack’s mind immediately filled with the kind of images Maggie was definitelynottalking about. What waswrongwith him? “Here’s your tea,” she added, proffering a mug.
“Thanks,” Jack bit out, and then, realizing how ungracious he sounded, he gave her a shamefaced smile. “Sorry.”
Maggie gave a small, wry laugh. “Don’t apologize to me, Jack,” she told him. “I’m on your side. Everyone here is lovely, whether you believe it or not, but small-town life definitely takes some getting used to.”
It certainly did, Jack thought grimly. The question was, did he even want to get used to it?
6
Jenna flung herself on the sofa next to Liz, her heart thundering, her hands clenched into fists. Okay, Jack Wexler was just as much of a jerk as she’d first thought he was. No,more. How dare he tell her that her store was on its last gasp, even if it was? And that stupid barb about2005?
“Well, well, well,” Liz remarked. “What was all that about?”
Jenna had to take several deep breaths before she could make herself reply. “I was trying to offer an olive branch to that man but next time I won’t even bother,” she said tersely. Not that there would even be a next time. She’d make sure there wasn’t.
“Oh, really?” Liz took a sip of her second margarita, looking amused. “From over here it looked like you two were flirting.”
“What?” Jenna felt a full-body flush sweep over her in a tide of heat as she shook her head so violently her ears almost rang. “Absolutely not.”
Liz’s smile was teasing as she lowered her glass. “Are you sure about that?”
“Of course I’m sure!” Jenna replied indignantly. “He insulted me and Miller’s Mercantile again. The guy is a completeass.” Her voice rang out a little too loudly and with a pang of unease, Jenna wondered if Jack could overhear her. Well, who cared? He deserved to be called every insult she could think of.
“So the lady doth not protest too much?” Liz quipped. “Good, because then I might have a chance.”
“You want to date Jack Wexler after what you’ve seen of him?” Jenna demanded. Not to mention that Liz had to be ten years older than Jack, although Jenna supposed that didn’t matter too much. Maggie was ten years older than Zach, and they were certainly making it work. But the thought of Liz and Jack dating… well, she didn’t like it, for some reason.
“I certainly want to get to know him better,” Liz replied equably. “He’s uber rich, good-looking, dresses well, and doesn’t seem to me to be as rude as you think he is. He came over here to introduce himself, after all, and I thought he seemed pretty friendly, in a reserved kind of way.”
“Hmph.” Jenna reached for her empty margarita glass and thrust it at Liz for a refill. She was not going to say anything more about Jack Wexler. She wasn’t even going to think about him.
Liz laughed as she poured Jenna some more margarita. “The look on your face!” she exclaimed. “What can I tell you, the sparks were definitely flying over there when you two were chatting. But as long as you’re sure you’re not interested…”
“Trust me,” Jenna interjected darkly, “I amnotinterested.” She glanced back at Jack, intending to give him a full-on glare, but he was talking to Maggie and not looking at her, which was, perversely, aggravating. Never mind. She really wasn’t going to think about him.
“Aren’t we meant to be playing Scrabble?” she asked Liz, a little peevishly. “And having nachos?”
“Suit yourself,” Liz replied. “I’m just enjoying watching the world go around.”
Jenna suppressed a groan as Liz trained her gaze on Jack, who was leaning against the counter, smiling at something Maggie had just said. When he smiled, Jenna couldn’t help but notice, he looked different. Lighter, the lines of care drawn from nose to mouth and fanning out from his eyes had softened. How old was he, she wondered. Forty? Forty-five? Not any older than that, surely. He certainly looked fit enough, even if he’d been ill. She could see the bulge of the bicep of the arm he had braced against the counter, the sleeves of his button-down shirt rolled up over strong forearms. Not that she was looking, of course. He’d just caught her eye.
“Well, I’m going to play Scrabble,” she declared, and got up to find a board.
Most of the people there, she realized as she took a Scrabble box from the shelves lining one wall, didnotseem to be there to play Scrabble, or any other game. They were happily chatting and laughing as the first platter of cheesy, jalapeno-scattered nachos came out, ignoring the boxes of Scrabble lying about.
Resolutely, Jenna took herself off to a table for two in the far corner and started setting up the board. She’d play by herself if she had to, but she had no intention of fanning the flames of speculation when it came to Jack Wexler, by chatting about him or to him. Definitely not to him.
“Ah, are you playing?”
