Love Like You've Never Been Hurt Read Free

this place. To me, for now, it’s enough. I
know I'll add a special someone into the mix when the time is right,
and that won't be for a few years yet. In the meantime, I'm content
with my lot, I'm engaged in it, I love every minute. I'm not the one
who is burned out and looking for more meaning, am I?”
    Jack had to admit, if only to himself since he wouldn't give his
friend the satisfaction, that Pete was right. He had worked himself
into the ground the last few years. His demons had driven him to the
point of exhaustion, mental and physical. He'd been working projects
in Houston, Miami and New York. Pete had probably saved him from a
breakdown when he'd insisted Jack come back to LA last year. He gave
Pete a rueful grin.
    “OK, Peter the Great. No need to point out, yet again, that
you've got it all figured out and I'm just a crazy mixed-up kid.”
    “Ah, come on. All I'm saying is that if you really want to
find some joy in life you might have to lift your nose from the
grindstone to see what else is around.”
    “OK. Point taken. Now back to business, can we? Before
giving me this little life lesson, you were about to run a new
project by me, right?”
    “I did run it by you,” laughed Pete, “but you
didn't hear a word ‘cos you were too busy reminiscing about
rolling on the floor with Em!”
    Jack had to laugh. “OK, so a pretty lady caught my eye. What
can I say? But that's an end to it; your friend is very attractive,
end of story.”
    “If you say so, we'll leave it there, for now. Although it
may come up again since she'll be at the lake this weekend too.”
    “The lake?”
    “You really weren't listening at all, were you? The new
project I was talking about?”
    Jack shook his head and grinned sheepishly. “Didn't catch a
word.”
    “I want you to build me a house up there. Since there's
nothing new starting here ‘til the fall, I thought we could
kill two birds with one stone. Get you a summer by the lake to get
you back to full strength and, to keep you out of mischief, you can
build me a house while you're there.”
    “Wow, so you're banishing me to the boonies?”
    “Yep. Of course, it’s all in my best interests really.
I get you fully recovered, I get the house I've been after and I get
the excuse to spend more time up there myself this summer. I win all
round.”
    “I don't know,” mused Jack “there are a few
things I wanted to do here while we're quieter.”
    “I know,” said Pete quickly “and joking aside,
I'm not really steam-rolling you into this. I just thought it might
work out. All I'm saying is, come up with me this weekend. There's
the party, but there will still be time to look around, see what you
think. There's something special about that place, I think it might
do you some good.”
    “OK, why not. I didn't have any real plans for this weekend
anyway. I'm not promising anything though.” He hesitated a
moment. “And you say Emma will be there?”
    “She sure will. So, I take it that seals the deal?”
    Jack smiled and nodded.

Chapter-Two
    Emma opened the door to her apartment and greeted her friend
Holly with a hug.
    “Do I smell cookies baking?” asked Holly with a look
of mock horror.
    “You certainly do,” beamed Emma. She loved to cook, to
bake especially. She always made cookies or muffins or delicious
cupcakes for her friends when they came over.
    “I’ve warned you about this,” laughed Holly.
“You must not make me eat gazillions of calories every time I
come over or I will have to stop visiting you.”
    “Well, we both know that’s not true. So, come in,”
said Emma pulling her friend into the den, “and sit down.”
She pushed her down on the huge sofa, “And have a cookie!”
She thrust a plate into Holly’s lap.
    “Mmm,” Holly munched on her cookie. “So what’s
new with our movie writer lady? Anything interesting on the horizon?”
    “Not much. Carla is gearing up to something, not sure what
yet, but she’s arranged a meeting with