Title: Just Between Us
Author: Tori Carrington
Published in 2003 by Harlequin Blaze
Genre: Contemporary
IBSN: 0-373-79117-8
Related Books: (1) Night Fever (2) Flavor Of The Month
They had made a pact when they met almost five years ago, the three friends. Jack, the only male in their quartet was off limits to all three of them. It was one way of assuring that he would not come between them and ruin their friendship. Although she seldom had time for real feelings, Mallory Woodruff did on the odd occasion feel ashamed that she had totally ignored her part of the promise. It didn’t take her long to break her word either, and then once done, it was easy to repeat it again and then yet again. The fact that she and Jack are sleeping on the sly hasn’t really bothered her until recently. Layla, and Reilly are both relatively happy in new and serious relationships. In Layla’s case, the wedding is being planned. Why Jack would pick now to push his ultimatum, Mallory didn’t know, but she is determined to ignore what she doesn’t agree with, and in this case its Jack. She’s not about to tell Layla and Reilly about sleeping with Jack, that is only on a need to know basis, and they don’t need to know.
That he is hot was not in dispute, but Mallory found herself in miserable straights especially when Jack makes it plain that he is serious. If she doesn’t come clean with her other friends, she is going to be cut off, and that is not a pleasing prospect. She’s fairly certain that Jack will cave, and come back to her bed, but the night he walks out, she isn’t so sure any more that she is doing the right thing. A bad childhood, and a mother that went flitting from man to man gave Mall some pretty heavy baggage, and she is not willing to face the repercussions of a relationship yet. She is involved in the hunt for the murder of the Red Gardenia, a fresh-faced kid, who was murdered years ago. The case has gone cold, and Mallory hopes to garner interest in the documentary built around the unsolved case. Little does she know that her inquisitive nature, and probing questions will lead her into more trouble than she really wants, and maybe more than she can handle on her own.
He has an itch that he just can’t scratch, and that he can gladly blame on one Mallory Woodruff. He has carted her pretty little self for too long, and been too close for comfort. Things have definitely spiraled out of control, and with Layla and Reilly in a constant state of bliss, his nerves are wearing thin. Jack Daniels has the patience of Job usually, but when it comes to Mallory, that streak is wearing mighty thin. Never has anyone attracted him like Mallory, and the casual relationship just isn’t working for him any more. He must face the fact that he cares deeply for Mallory, might even be love, but he is not about to go on this way any longer. Mallory has to make up her mind, because Jack wants his life back. He is no fool, he can feel the women watch as he goes by, but sadly they don’t interest him in the least. There is only one that has ever drawn him, only one with whom she suspects he would be very willing to share his life.
The problem as Jack sees it is to get Mallory to admit her feelings, of lack of them so he can continue. He has a hunch if Mallory truly walks out the door, life as he knows it will cease, and the darkness that he has so carefully pushed away will come crashing down again. It has been a long time, but the bottle still calls to him. The odd and precious friendship that he shares with Layla Hollister, Reilly Chudowski and Mallory Woodruff has been a staple in his otherwise drab life. It has kept the loneliness at bay, and gave him strength to pull himself together. The girls didn’t care what he used to be, they never poked or pried into his business. They were just there when he needed them, always there for each other. Just a phone call away, and to Jack, they are priceless. He never had real friends before, and he did not want to lose the ones he had in Layla and Reilly. If only Mallory could see what she was missing. If only she would come out from behind her cynical wall and join the rest of the world. Well, he wasn’t ready to give up on her quite yet. He just hoped that things would soon change. Jack just didn’t know how much more he could take before he reached the breaking point, and he hoped he had the strength to see this through to the end. He wondered if he could hope for a happy ending.
Just Between Us is the third and final tale in this Kiss & Tell Trilogy by Tori Carrington. The story centers on the relationship between Mallory and Jack. It is not one he is really proud of, because he knows that the girls made a pact. That fact is now posing a real problem for Jack, a problem he wants to solve quickly. He feels bad about keeping his secret rendezvous with Mallory from Layla and Reilly. He wants to tell them, but Mallory refuses, and wants to keep it just between them. Jack has really had enough trouble in his life, and he senses that something is not quite right with Mallory. She is more than rude lately, and she is also a lot more cynical than is normal for her. In a blizzard of suddenly failing relationships, Layla’s cancelled wedding, and Ben and Reilly’s fight, the truth about the miscreants comes out.
Just Between Us is filled with danger, suspense, and just plain havoc caused by Mallory’s snooping into the death of the Hollywood Starlet known as the Red Gardenia. The excitement builds, and you still don’t know whether Mallory is going to face up to her feelings, or run away yet again. Jack can only hope that Mallory will see the light, and what started out as a secret Just Between Us will become more than just sex for her as well. He knows where he stands, the questions boil down to these…where is Mallory’s heart, and can Jack have it forever? Just Between Us is a delightful wrap up and a bundle of surprises. Just Between Usis available now from Harlequin Blaze, so saddle up and head out for the local bookstore. Don’t let this delightfully steamy offering get away, for Tori has given us yet another must buy for our keeper shelves.
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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