"EX with a capital E, capital X," kept replaying on a loop in Jack's head as he walked toward the house with the very sophisticated Lisa Stillman by his side. He tried to steal a glance at her, feeling much out of practice at being subtle around a beautiful woman. She certainly was, beautiful that is, something that he found almost taking his breath away. She just had something about her, the way she carried herself, the way she looked at life, the way she was just so kind and just so honest. Of course, he should have realized that Dan Hartfield wasn't being truthful with him at the auction, calling Lisa his wife. Jack felt stupid, so stupid, and as he tried to steal another glance, he found himself caught with some gorgeous eyes glancing his way too. Jack gave her a single nod with a small smile, realizing that he hadn't said a word while they'd been walking. He needed to do more than just collect his thoughts.
"Lisa, I really do need to apologize for yesterday," he told her, a frown on his face.
"Well, I could try to play it off like it wasn't a big deal, but to be honest, it was. Here, I'd thought we had such a nice time, even with your truck breaking down, only to find myself stranded. I've never had someone just up and leave me somewhere, well," she threw him a frown and answered with a smirk, "until now with Dan, but to be honest, I'm glad he left. There's a reason we are only business partners, and often, even that's too much drama for me."
Jack nodded with another small smile, both reaching the fence to the yard. He gestured, "Listen, I'm happy to take you home right now, but I'd like to start to redeem myself, at least starting with a cup of coffee. I mean, it doesn't come close to comparing to the nice picnic you packed yesterday, but can I at least offer you coffee?"
Lisa crossed her arms, considering the offer. She glanced over to Jack's truck, parked there. Jack thought she was about to just ask to be taken home, but she surprised him with her response. Pointing at the truck, she nodded, "Considering my first and only experience with that truck involved us breaking down, I'm going to take you up on that cup of coffee. I don't have another picnic I can whip out of my bag today in case we break down between here and Fairfield."
"Well, it's not that far," Jack said shaking his head from side to side, almost missing her sarcasm, but when he met her gaze and saw her grinning, he paused his motions and rolled his eyes, "Right." He chuckled after that, scratching the back of his head and then nodding to the house, "Why don't you come inside, and I'll put on a pot of coffee, that is, if you have time for that?"
"I have time," she smiled, her arms still crossed as she nodded at him. Jack gestured for her to walk in front of him, and she did until they reached the door, and he tried to quickly step around her to open the door for her. She smiled at him, her smile really hitting him hard, as she seemed to appreciate his chivalrous gesture. Once inside, Jack nodded to the kitchen table.
"Please make yourself comfortable," he said, scooping up the pile of mail that was on the kitchen table and brushing off the table, making it more presentable. In his list of things to happen that afternoon, having Lisa Stillman over for coffee didn't even make the list, not that he was at all complaining now, especially finally learning her situation.
"It should just take a few minutes," he said with a smile as he nodded to her.
"I'm in no rush," she said waving her hand and looking around. Jack glanced her way and noted she was taking in the house. He silently cursed himself for still having his flies out on the table and Amy having some paperwork on the dining room table. He knew Lisa had been in here before, but she hadn't been in the house with just him. Once Jack had the coffee going, he turned back to the table where Lisa now had her chin propped on her closed fist resting on her elbow there on the table just watching, well him.
"Sorry for the house being a mess," he said with a slight gesture. He watched as Lisa's expression changed, and she glanced around, shaking her head at him.
"Sorry," she grinned with a slight chuckle, "I'm not seeing a mess. I'm seeing a very loved home, full of people, and that is always a wonderful sight to see. I'm glad Ben is starting to do a little better, and I have you to thank for that."
"Oh, no," Jack waved his hand, feeling the blush creep up on his face. "Ben is a good kid, sure a little bit of that teenage attitude, but I've seen plenty of that. He's settling in well and seems to be doing much better. He did have some ahh," he paused looking for the right word, "high expectations maybe when he first got here, but he's starting to pull his weight, working with Red and working in the barn. He's a nice young man, Lisa, and that was very kind of you to take him in."
"Ahh," she eyed him, hiding a smile, "I am the one who should be telling you that, taking him in here. You're the one setting him straight. I think having that male influence is helping him a lot, and I appreciate that more than you know. In my opinion," she said leaning forward slightly, her eyes sparkling, "he couldn't have a better male influence."
Jack dropped his head, noting Lisa had her eyes fixed on him. Her directness with him was different, he wasn't sure if refreshing was the right word, but he certainly wasn't used to it. He glanced over and saw the remains of a tray of brownies Lou had made the day before and instead of discussing more about Ben, he moved to the tray, uncovered it, and he put it on the table, his eyes meeting Lisa's again.
"Lou has been working on a lot of things in the kitchen, but one thing she's definitely mastered is making brownies. If you'd like one, they are delicious."
She grinned, nodding at him, as Jack grabbed some napkins and then turned back to finish with the coffee. He pulled out two of their nicest mugs, poured the coffee, and he turned back to the table, gesturing to the fridge.
"Cream or sugar?"
"Cream would be great," she nodded and gestured with her head to the brownies. "Those brownies look divine, and no sugar is necessary if I'm having a brownie. Wow, thank you. This is very kind, Jack." Lisa accepted the coffee and took a brownie. Jack realizing he hadn't grabbed plates, stood to do so, handing one to Lisa, and the momentary graze of their hands had him look up at her and find a soft smile greeting him.
"Well," he said, shaking his head slightly, as he took a seat across from her, "I have a lot of apologizing to do, so I'm not sure kind is how you should be describing me right now. I cannot apologize enough for my behavior yesterday." He shook his head, sighing, as he dropped his head in defeat, "There is no excuse for driving off and stranding you there, no matter what I might have thought."
Lisa nodded, pursing her lips. She chewed the bite of brownie she had, licking her finger before she pointed at him, "I'm curious, though," she said, her eyes sparkling at him, "why did it bother you so much, thinking I was married to Dan, I mean, aside from the fact he's a smug and arrogant, which I wouldn't say is a reason to drive off."
"I just, ahh," he paused, shifting in his seat, clearly feeling awkward. He looked to his coffee but knew he owed her a straight on look, his eyes locked on hers. Jack Bartlett did not treat women that way, period. She needed to know that. "I felt uncomfortable being some man in the middle of your marriage, even the look of it. That's not who I am, and I didn't want anyone talking, presuming anything that wasn't true. I mean," he gestured, "you didn't need anyone suggesting anything inappropriate."
"Uh huh," she nodded, biting her lip as she eyed him, tilting her head. "See, I thought we'd had a really nice time, at least I did. Who knew a flooded truck could turn into such a lovely afternoon?"
"I did have a nice time," Jack agreed with her, nodding as he spoke. He gestured with his hand, feeling awkward, "I suppose that is part of why I felt guilty being there with a married woman. I'd had a very nice afternoon, and well," he let out his breath and shook his head, knowing his face had to be turning red, and he didn't want that. "Well, I don't get out a lot, at least with women, the exceptions being Lou and Amy," he lightly chuckled, and Lisa grinned at him. "At first, when you asked me to go, I assumed it was a professional trip, a friend helping a friend, but as the afternoon progressed with your lovely picnic," he said dropping his head, but then looking up to meet her gaze, "I started to feel like it was more of a date." He let that word sit with a heaviness, and as he tried to read Lisa's eyes, she didn't give anything away. She sat there, her chin still resting on her fist propped up on the table. She was really beautiful, especially in this close proximity. She had a youthfulness to her he didn't see in a lot of women, at least women he was ever around-Maggie, Val, and well, not too many to be honest, but those were a couple from town he spoke to often. "I don't date; I haven't dated."
Lisa nodded finally, sitting up now. She used her index finger to gesture at him, "I see. So," she let out her own breath before giving him a small smile, "which one is it? You don't date or you haven't dated? Those can be mutually exclusive. I believe there is a big difference there in the verbiage."
He raised an eyebrow at her and held back a smile as he tried to answer. He chuckled, shaking his head, "I, ahh, suppose I haven't dated; it's not that I'm opposed to it. My wife was the last person I dated, and that was a very, very long time ago. Just to clarify, seeming as how some clarification might have prevented me from making a fool of myself," he said with a nod, his mustache upturned in a small smile, "late wife." As soon as he said that, his smile disappeared, and he glanced to the table, "My wife passed away a very long time ago now."
"Okay," she said with a sympathetic smile. "So, hypothetically speaking," she gestured to him, "say you were thinking of dating someone, that might be a possibility?"
"I suppose," he nodded, sitting forward with his elbows now on the table. He offered a small smile and locked eyes with her, "I am not opposed to the right person."
Lisa held back a smile, now sitting forward at the table as well, both seeming to have forgotten their coffees there. She leaned forward on her elbows, both doing the same, but still with a respectable distance between them, "Again, just hypothetically speaking, what sort of criteria would this person have to meet? I mean," she gestured at him, "you pointed out it would have to be the right person, but what does that person look like?" Jack looked at her as she asked this, noticing that she didn't seem to flinch or bat an eye asking him. Again, he noted she was bold and forward, but there was something he liked about her bluntness, her honestly, just the way she didn't beat around the bush.
"Well, ahh," he chuckled lightly at being put on the spot. He picked up his coffee cup, sipping at it in an attempt to buy some time to answer her. She deserved an answer, especially after he'd returned home last night thinking about how lovely that picnic had been and how off his judgement had been to be hanging around a married woman. Now, though, in the last hour, he'd been told otherwise and had been allowed to possibly reflect again on what a nice time he'd had on that picnic, something he'd not allowed himself to consider the moment he believed Lisa to be married.
Jack put down his coffee and looked her in the eye as he answered, "Female." Lisa burst out laughing at that, giving him a grin with her nod.
"That's good to hear." She gestured at him, and he sighed, nodding at her prodding for more information.
She'd have to catch my eye, in more ways than one. I like strength, independence, and brains."
Lisa's eyes rose, as she nodded at him, pursing her lips, "Interesting list, but I'm almost surprised you didn't mention an attraction."
"That's part of the 'catch my eye' part,' so to speak," he nodded at her, looking to his coffee cup again.
"Age?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Not really thought about it. I mean," he chuckled, "I don't go around asking women their age, but someone older than I am wouldn't be ideal, not at my age." He gave her a nod again, and she chuckled lightly. "I've always believed age is a number to some extent."
"So, say, someone younger, that wouldn't prevent you from say, catching our eye?
Jack studied her before answering, "If someone catches my eye, it's because they do, not because of any age. Maturity is more important."
She tensed her lips, holding back a smile, "So, more of just the right connection?" Lisa prodded, taking another bite of her brownie, nodding in appreciation of it as she chewed it.
"Suppose so," he smiled. "We'd have to have some common interests, at least enjoy talking to each other."
"Like over coffee or even a picnic?" Lisa inquired, sipping her coffee with her eyes locked on his.
"Both are great places to talk and find common ground," he nodded with a hidden smile.
"Hey, Grandpa," Amy called out before she'd even stepped into the house. Both Jack and Lisa sat back in their chairs, losing that closeness, and the air seemed to change, at least Jack felt it. That flirtatious moment, if that's what it could be called, was over.
"Yes, Amy," he said with his eyes meeting Lisa's with a friendly nod.
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Stillman," Amy nodded to her. "I didn't realize you were still here."
"Just talking horses and Ben," she grinned at Amy. "Please, it's Lisa. I insist."
"Okay," Amy nodded to her with a warm smile. "I'm glad you and Mr. Hartfield came by today, even if he didn't like seeing Ryan here. Ryan is making a lot of headway out there."
"I can definitely see that. I'm very impressed with your work, Amy, and as far as Dan," she waved her hand and rolled her eyes. "I'll take care of dealing with him. He's ultimately going to be happy the horse has made progress. Don't you worry about his bad mood."
"What did you need, Amy?" Jack asked her.
"Oh, ahh," she gestured toward the barn, "Ryan's wife, she's so happy to see Ryan working again, out of the house and all. She wants to take him for a pizza, his favorite food, and they invited me to go. Can I go?"
"Ahh," he glanced at Lisa who was watching the interaction, "sure, Amy, just make sure they don't mind bringing you back home. I'm going to take Lisa home."
"Yes, my ride took off," she glanced at Amy and shrugged her shoulders, leaning toward Amy and acting like she was whispering. "To be honest, I'm glad he left me here. He'd been in a bad mood since we'd had a meeting earlier over another horse we jointly own. He's not happy with me, but that's nothing new." Amy grinned at that.
"I just hope he knows I'm trying to do what is best for the horse," Amy explained.
"As I said, Amy, give it no thought. I'like deal with him."
"I appreciate it," Amy smiled at her and looked to Jack. "I'll be back after we get some pizza."
"Sounds fine, Amy," Jack nodded with a slight smile. "We're going to finish our coffee, and I'll take Lisa home. I'll see you back here later."
Once Amy bounced out the door, Lisa turned back to Jack with a grin, "It's nice to see her doing so well with all of these horses. I'm incredibly impressed with her skill, especially at her age. She's a remarkable young lady."
"Thank you," Jack nodded in appreciation. "She's had such a rough time since her mom, my daughter," he clarified, "was ahh," he dropped his head, "killed in that car accident. We all have, but I believe we are all starting to find our way. I'm proud of her." He looked up at Lisa then, a sad smile on his face.
"Oh, Jack," Lisa bit her lip and made a face, "I have been incredibly insensitive these last few weeks, having Ben stay here. I am so sorry and should have considered all your family has been through. I can have him come back to Fairfield. Honestly," she shook her head, "I didn't realize the impact this might have."
"Absolutely not," Jack shook his head. "I knew what I was getting into having Ben here. He's been a blessing to us, truthfully. Having someone new around has given us something to focus on, and I, for one, am glad for another male around in the house. Ben is just fine here."
"Are you sure?" Lisa asked, very hesitant to believe him.
"I always speak the truth," he told her. "You have my word."
"Okay then," she nodded to him over her cup of coffee. Jack was nearing the bottom of his cup and knew she had to be as well. He'd enjoyed talking to her, or well, being somewhat interrogated by her, as she seemed to, no, did show interest in him. He had to decide if he was interested in her, and if he was, was he open and ready to this idea of dating?
He found himself lost in his thoughts, unsure of how long he'd been doing that. Quickly, he put down his cup and looked to see Lisa studying him again. Finding herself caught, she flashed a grin at him and put down her own cup. It seemed both were using coffee cups to hide their possible interest.
"I know you need to be getting home," he gestured.
"Hmm, I guess I do," she said, glancing at her watch. "Oh, wow, I had no idea how late it is."
"I am sorry if I kept you from getting home and back to work," Jack told her as he stood and gathered their empty plates and mugs. She waved him off.
"Work is just one thing that interests me, and I have found that I need to balance my interest better."
He raised an eyebrow again at her, very aware of her layered messages.
With the dishes in the sink, something Jack could do later, he turned to Lisa, who was now standing and had her hands on the back of the chair, nodding at her. He smiled, somewhat bashfully at her, "You know, I haven't allowed myself to have many interests outside of taking care of the ranch and of the girls."
"Maybe that is something we share in common," she nodded at him, "needing to work on outside interests."
He chuckled quietly, dropping his head, "Maybe we do. Maybe," he met her gaze, "we can continue that discussion as I drive you home. I still need to work on redeeming myself after yesterday."
She grinned widely, "I'd like that."