| Chapter Eleven �Rod�s a nice fellow.� Jack cast a sideways glance at Nora. �Doesn�t always catch the full import of what�s going on around him though, does he?� Nora kept her eyes on the twists and turns of the lengthy, narrow driveway. It was only an observation, she knew, and not intended as unkind. �He�s an accountant, not a psychologist,� she shrugged, a smile on her lips. �He�s the finest man I�ve ever known; I think he�s probably incapable of artifice and because of that I doubt that he sees it in anybody else.� �Just drop me off here, Nora. We�re out of sight of the house now. There�s no need to feel that you have to take me with you.� �Rod was right though, Jack; the beach IS a better place to run.� �I feel that I�ve put you out enough...� �Jack, it�s just a lift to the beach...� There was more than a hint of frustration in her voice. �...You can go off and run to your heart�s content once we get there. You won�t be obligated to keep me company. � Her speech was louder, clipped. �I walk to be alone, to have the down time...� Stopping at the end of the drive, gripping the wheel and looking straight ahead, she moderated her tone. �I�m sorry, Jack.� A deep breath. �I�m finding this very awkward. We�re both trying so very hard to be civil.� �And not to offend each other,� he finished for her. Turning to look at him for the first time since they�d gotten into the Jeep, she nodded. �It�s awkward for both of us,� he admitted. �Yes, it is. Rather surrealistic, actually.� When he spoke again, it was seemingly from out of nowhere, � You think that I�m a real son of a bitch, don�t you, Nora?� When her grey eyes widened in surprise, Jack laughed. �Ah hah! Yes, you do!� He gesticulated broadly, using shoulders and hands. �I hooked up with some stranger who I thought would be interesting and a great lay but who turned out to be a nasty piece of business, instead. I didn�t screw HER, she screwed ME! And YOU are left picking up the pieces... Again, Nora.� Caught off-guard, she felt compelled to ask him what he meant. �I beg your pardon?� �I said �again�. � He spoke softly, gently. �You�re left to pick up the pieces again.� R e v i e w H o m e Nothing could have prepared Nora for what awaited her. Nothing. Completely dry, yet with a bath sheet wrapped around him, a wide-eyed Jack stepped back to let he |