The next morning at breakfast, Jack is cold again. He makes a gesture and Eve sees a burn on his palm. That poker was still hot when he grabbed it out of her hand. Eve is sorry she burned him and Jack tells her to put the whole thing out of her mind. Eve can't forget, though. She didn't realize how heavily the attack was weighing on her and Jack was the reason she's all better now. It seems to matter more to Eve than to Jack.
Then Jack makes the excuse that Lucie made him come check on Eve. He didn't want her pissed at him, and that's the whole reason he came. Damn it, Jack. Will you just tell her how you feel already? Anyway, Jack's got to go, but he'll be back for Thanksgiving. He leaves the dining room and Eve reflects on how Jack had been too kind and understanding the previous night. That bastard! Eve tells herself, yet again, to stop liking this guy.
Then it's Thanksgiving. Jack was late getting back and Eve was waiting for him the whole day. Aw. Eve asks if she wants her to fix him some food, since it's after dinner. Jack says that'd be fine. He doesn't want to bother anyone else at this hour, but that he “seem[s] to spend an inordinate amount of time bothering [Eve].” I think that's his way of apologizing. I did a lot of reading into his actions this chapter that made me like him better, but if I'm wrong, he could just be a jerk like he's been the whole time. See what you think.
Jack is faintly surprised that Eve knows where everything is. Eve helped put stuff away. Jack replies that Mrs. H doesn't let strangers in her kitchen. Her letting Eve help means she sees Eve as one of the family. Eve says she isn't, she totally is because of Ted, but that doesn't count. Jack takes his food into the library and Eve follows. While he was gone before Thanksgiving, Eve was thinking. She decided that she had to make a clean break before she got really hurt. So, she tells Jack that she wants to go back to New York tomorrow. Jack was happy and teasing and stuff, but now he gets pissed. He says there's no need for her to leave, but Eve replies there's no need for her to stay 'cause she's all better. Jack still refuses and Eve says he can't make her stay. Jack can make sure there's no way for her to leave, though. He doesn't want her alone in the city this soon. I read this as Jack trying to protect this person he suddenly found he cares very much about. He could be realizing just how vulnerable he is. He's scared by all these feelings. Or, he could just be an ass. You're free to make your own decisions and I'll try to not give biased information.
Anyway, Jack says Eve can't go back until they can be sure she won't get attacked again. Eve points out that there's no way to make sure that happens and that he can't make this decision for her. He says he has. Eve accuses him of being “a cold one” and Jack replies, “That's right...It's the habit of a lifetime-bred into me, you might say. First my grandfather, then my father, then me. All of us cold and hard and determined to have our own way-which is why you're not going back to New York until I say you can.” He's making himself a villain so he doesn't have to explain his feelings to Eve. Jack, just man up and do it already. It'd be much simpler in the long run. Eve is pissed, tells him he has no right to run her life, and slams the door behind her.
Eve paces in her room for a good long time. She's got to explain it to him. Of course, she won't tell him the truth either (damn it, woman!) but she'll give him logical arguments for why she should go home. Eve decides that now would be a good time for this, so Jack doesn't get too stuck in his mindset. Eve leaves her room and walks toward his office. That wing is dark, so maybe he's in the library. Eve sees the door to the library is closed and she opens it. Jack yells to turn the light off. Eve didn't realize she'd turned the light on, but she turns it off again. Jack's on the couch and he doesn't sound well. He's got a migraine, although he doesn't admit it at first. Then he asks Eve to get his pills. Woah. He's asking for help.
Eve goes into his bedroom and notices that there's no personality in here either. It's probably been the same since his grandfather's time. That might explain the leather on the walls and the really dark colors. Really, you guys? Leather? Anyway, Eve gets the pills and brings Jack a cup of coffee. She tells him to drink the coffee too because it'll help. Jack doesn't believe her, but he does it anyway.
Eve thinks about how in novels, the heroine will offer to massage the hero's shoulders and back in situations like this. Well, she's not falling into that trap! Eve, you already did. Eve tells Jack that him not changing the room and shutting people out of his life leads him to take it out on himself and causes these headaches. Um. Okay? Eve points out that he's readable to her and he counters that it's because she's similar. Eve declares that she lets people into her life. Yeah, your two friends and your brother. Jack says she only lets people in on her own terms, and that they're both prideful, stubborn, and not willing to let people help them. Most people would try to lump the object of their affection with them using complementary characteristics, but not Jack Sinclair!
Then Jack admits that he didn't let himself get out of control until Eve, “insinuated [her]self into [his] life.” They sit in silence until Jack says his headache's better. His words are slurred and he realizes he's not thinking clearly. Eve tells him to go to bed. “But you don't approve of my bedroom.” He's kind of amused by this. He gave Eve an opening to take him to her room, but that wouldn't work very well if he were all drugged up. So, Eve says they're not going to redecorate his bedroom tonight. Jack stands and sways a lot. He asks to lean on Eve. Only after he promises that he doesn't have any intentions will Eve put her arm around his waist and let him grab her shoulder. He holds onto the banister to go upstairs. They stop at his door and Jack wonders why she went back downstairs. Eve says she was going to discuss her leaving more logically. Jack tells her he won't understand any of it, so she shouldn't try now. Eve offers to help him further, but he says it's better if she doesn't.
Jack's at breakfast the next morning and he looks fine. He doesn't remember much of last night after his headache left, but he knows he didn't do anything improper or Eve would be watching him the way a mongoose watches a cobra. He started with a rabbit, but changed his mind. Then he admits he has no right to decide her life for her and she can go back to New York today if she wants. Eve asks why he had a change of heart and Jack says, “It's not a change of heart, Eve-surely you know that...” Don't call me Shirley. Hah! The point is that he totally loves her but he's too scared to tell her. I mean, c'mon. He starts talking about how she's different than everyone else. Then he gets all mad when he says they'll leave as soon as she's ready and that he hopes that pleases her.
Eve contemplates Jack while she packs. He started softening and there may be something there that wasn't there before. (What's there, Momma? I'll tell you when you're older, Chip.) However, on the drive to the airport, Jack is cold and impersonal again. He's working, but he's not getting much done. He seems to be thinking about something. Damn it, Jack. Just tell her! Right now! Instead, he asks why she's anxious to get back. Eve says she's got to start saving money so she can go back to school and get a useful degree. Eve's tired of being a piece of meat to hang clothes on. She was a liberal arts major before. Really? You could major in that? Granted, my major isn't much more useful, but really? Anyway, Eve is worried about the money, but Jack tells her that she can totally do it. I wonder if Sinclair Enterprises, or whatever his company's called, needs a model. Nah. That'd be a little too demeaning.
Anyway, this chapter would have been less frustrating if Eve and Jack would actually talk to each other.
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