by Tremay, Joy
Lana’s blonde hair flowed down her back in long, silky waves. Everything about her, from her make-up to her nails, was done to perfection.
Diana smiled and held out her hand. “I remember you, too. It’s nice to meet you again. Please, call me Diana.”
Lana’s green eyes twinkled. “Jake has said so much about you.”
Diana’s eyebrows went up. “He has?”
“Oh, yes. Don’t worry. They’ve all been complimentary,” Lana answered and then smiled down at her son. “I’ve come to take Nathan home.”
“You have?” Diana asked, slightly astonished.
Diana glanced down at Nathan and felt tremendous affection. She had come to care for Nathan in the month that she had gotten to know him.
“My husband and I were very concerned when he became ill. Jake and Liz assured us that he has fully recovered and I can see that he’s healthy and happy, but we realized that we couldn’t spend another day without him.”
Lana bent to give her son a kiss on his head.
“I understand,” said Diana quietly, wondering if Jake had known his sister was coming this afternoon to take Nathan away. “The other children and I will miss him very much.”
They both looked up to see Jake in the hallway walking toward them. At the sight of his tall, muscular figure, her mouth went dry and she smiled at him despite her conflicted feelings. Why hadn’t he told her that Nathan would be leaving today?
She looked at him inquiringly and he looked back at her steadily, his expression inscrutable. He then glanced down at his nephew, a wistful smile on his face. Tousling Nathan’s head, he looked at his sister before turning his gaze back to Diana.
“Joan Mayfield is ready to see you,” Jake said to Lana. “She has some paperwork for you to sign.”
“Thank you for being such a great teacher,” Lana said sincerely. “I know that Nathan will miss being in your classroom. He’s spoken of you often these past few weeks.”
“I’ll miss him, too,” Diana said and bent down to give Nathan a warm hug. She called to the other children.
“Nathan is leaving our school. Why don’t you all say goodbye to him?” Diana said. Tommy ran over and hugged Nathan. The two boys clung to each other for a long time. Then Madison, Shane, and Jacob all took turns saying goodbye.
“I’ll miss you,” said Nathan sadly looking at Diana and Tommy for a long moment before turning back to his mother. Tommy looked teary-eyed, so Diana held his hand as Nathan turned to walk down the hallway with Lana.
“She called me last night and said that she and Jeff wanted to get Nathan back as soon as possible,” Jake said, watching Diana carefully. “They didn’t want to spend any more time away from him. They’ll be going back to San Diego tomorrow afternoon. Liz will be going with them.”
“You didn’t know until last night?” she asked, feeling a little less puzzled about Nathan’s sudden leave-taking.
Jake shook his head and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“I’m going to miss him too, Diana,” he said softly.
Diana glanced down at a tearful Tommy and crouched down to hug the little boy. Tommy had grown attached to Jacob and she knew that the little boy was unhappy to see him go.
“Would you like to draw a picture for Nathan as a goodbye present?”
Tommy nodded eagerly.
“Nathan likes dinosaurs,” Tommy said.
Diana smiled and patted the top of his brown head.
“There are some crayons and paper in that basket over there. When you’re done, I’ll make sure to give Nathan your dinosaur picture.”
Tommy went to the table where Madison sat and began to draw.
“You’re good with the children,” commented Jake.
Standing up from her crouch on the floor, Diana smiled at Jake.
“Thank you,” she paused and looked at him searchingly.
“Are you all right?”
Jake nodded. “I’ll miss the little tyke, but I’m glad he’s back with his parents.”
“Will you be coming over tonight?” she asked softly, careful to keep her conversation quiet, so the children wouldn’t hear.
Jake shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry, but there’s a lot going on at work right now. I can’t go into the details, but I’ll fill you in later.”
He glanced at his watch. “I have a meeting within the hour, so I have to go. I’ll call you later, sweetheart.”
Diana frowned as she watched him turn and walk back down the hallway. He hadn’t come over to her place since the night they had left her parent’s house, three nights ago. Considering that last week he had come over to her apartment every single night, she was starting to think that his interest in her had begun to wane. The thought literally made her heart hurt and she was more confused than ever about his feelings toward her.
~
“You’re tipsy,” Natalie accused Diana later that evening.
Diana sat on her sofa, a glass of wine in her hand. She let out a soft hiccup and smiled woozily.
“Am not,” she answered back before closing her eyes and laying her head back on a sofa cushion.
Natalie snorted and took Diana’s glass of wine away, setting it far from her reach.
“Look, I know Jake hasn’t come over these past few nights, but that’s no excuse to wallow.”
“Who’s wallowing?” asked Diana as she opened her eyes and frowned at her best friend.
“Uh - you are,” Natalie answered, shaking her head. “You never ever get tipsy, young lady, unless you’re depressed about something.”
“I am not depressed,” protested Diana, wincing as she felt a headache coming on. “Jake has been busy at work, that’s all.”
“If ‘that’s all,’ then why are you getting drunk?” asked Natalie, arching her eyebrow.
“Oh, for goodness sake,” said Diana in exasperation. “I’m not even close to getting drunk. You’re exaggerating.”
“Has he told you why he’s so suddenly busy at work?”
“No, just that he’d fill me in on the details later.”
Both women were silent for a while before Natalie asked softly, “Do you love him, Diana?”
Taking a sharp intake of breath at Natalie’s unexpected question, Diana blinked before answering slowly. “I’ve tried to fight my feelings for him. I told myself to take it slowly and not get too far ahead of myself, but I’m losing the battle.”
“It’s not a war, dear,” Natalie said wryly.
Sweeping her hair back, Diana breathed heavily.
“I know that, Nat, but he’s only here for the summer and then he leaves. He hasn’t spoken to me about the future and I’m too afraid to bring it up. I don’t want him to feel pressured about anything.”
“You do love him,” Natalie said quietly.
“What?” Diana said, frowning at her.
“If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be so afraid of losing him.”
Diana gulped and bit her lip.
“I’ve never been in love before, Natalie.”
“I know. You kept Richard at arm’s length for a year and didn’t care if he got tired of waiting for you to commit. Now here’s Jake and just the thought of him leaving has you all tied up in knots.”
Diana’s eyes widened as the realization dawned. “You’re right. I do love Jake.” She paused and stared at Natalie in mortification.
Natalie laughed and shook her head.
“Well, congratulations.”
“No, no, no,” Diana said, shaking her head. “I can’t be. Jake is beyond gorgeous. Lots of women would gladly trade places with me. Everywhere we go, women are drawn to him. I’m certainly not a femme fatale type. He won’t stay with me forever. Crap, what am I going to do?”
Diana groaned and placed her head in her hands.
Natalie hugged her best friend.
“It’s okay,” soothed Natalie. “You’re beautiful, Diana. Don’t feel so insecure.”
“I’m quite ordinary
and unremarkable,” mumbled Diana. “You should see the women who try to make a play for him. They’re practically models. I’m just a dowdy preschool teacher.”
“Diana Heather Mulroney, what is wrong with you?” scolded Natalie in an exasperated voice. “How dare you put yourself down?”
Diana sighed sadly. “I never wanted to fall in love with Jake. I knew from the beginning that he would eventually go back to New York.”
“Unfortunately you can’t pick and choose who you’re going to fall in love with.”
Diana looked at Natalie and asked, “What am I going to do?”
Before Natalie could answer, the doorbell rang.
“I’m not expecting anyone tonight,” Diana frowned as Natalie stood and walked over to the front door and peeked through the peephole.
“Speak of the devil,” she said.
“Who is it?” asked Diana.
Natalie turned and smiled at Diana.
“Jake.”
Diana’s eyes widened and she looked down at what she was wearing. Not expecting anyone to come over tonight, she had changed into her favorite pajamas, the flannel ones with the large gnomes printed on them.
“Great,” she groaned. “Don’t answer the door.”
Natalie grabbed her purse from the dining table and waved goodbye.
“Wait, where are you going?” Diana asked, as she walked over to her.
“I think you guys need to talk things through tonight,” Natalie answered and reached for the doorknob.
“Natalie, don’t open -”
Natalie opened the door and Diana felt nervous excitement as she looked into Jake’s green eyes.
“Hi, Jake. Bye, Jake,” said Natalie before she left, glancing only once at Diana before walking out.
Jake said something to Natalie that Diana didn’t catch since she was too busy staring at him. Even though she had only seen him a few hours before, she was hungry for the sight of him. Wearing a grey T-shirt that hugged his six-pack and faded denims, he looked mouth-wateringly good and she hugged her loose, gnome pajama top close to her as he stared back at her.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening with Natalie,” Jake said apologetically.
“It’s okay. She just stopped by to talk,” said Diana as she opened her door wider to welcome him in.
Jake stepped through into her apartment and suddenly, her place seemed much smaller. He had such presence and it seemed that every cell in her body came alive when he stepped through her door.
Sweeping a hand through his blond hair, he looked tired as he said, “I apologize for coming at this late hour, but I just wanted to see you.”
“Oh?” asked Diana calmly even though she was churning inside.
“I’ve...missed you, Diana.”
“You have?” she asked, feeling herself melt at his words.
Jake sighed, drew her to him, and gave her a kiss that made her forget the past three miserable days without him. There was nothing gentle in his kiss as he held her tightly and delved in, his tongue tangling with hers. It felt so good that Diana moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“So good,” Jake mumbled against her lips after he finally released her. Diana opened her eyes reluctantly and stared into his passion-glazed eyes.
“I like your cute pajamas,” he said as he locked his arms around his waist.
“You do?” she asked, wishing she had sexy lingerie on instead.
Jake nodded his head and grinned.
“It’ll be fun taking them off.”
Diana couldn’t help smiling at his boyish grin as he lifted her up in his arms and carried her to her bedroom. She had missed him so much and all she wanted to do now was spend the rest of the night showing him how much she had ached for him the last three nights.
~
The sunlight streamed into Diana’s bedroom and she stretched languorously. She opened her eyes slowly and found Jake looking down at her with a tenderness that took her breath away.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” he said softly.
He was propped up above her with one elbow on a pillow while with his other hand, his fingers sifted through several strands of her chestnut hair, which covered one breast. She smiled as she turned toward him.
“Morning,” she said, looking into his slumberous gaze.
It had been another night to remember as she had released all her inhibitions in his arms. She had screamed in ecstasy more than once during the night and now her body felt sore in sensitive places, but she was well satisfied. Tracing a finger down his hard chest, she mulled over why he had stayed away for three days, but didn’t know if she should bring it up.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come over the past few nights, Diana,” Jake said quietly.
Diana looked into his eyes and bit her lower lip.
“It’s okay. I figured you were really busy at work.”
Jake stayed silent for a few seconds and she could sense that he was struggling to tell her something serious. She held her breath as she waited in anticipation for whatever he was going to say.
“Busy is an understatement. I’ve been spending every waking moment handling very complicated and delicate negotiations.”
Jake paused before proceeding and the look in his eyes made Diana brace herself for what she sensed was coming.
“My company was offered a buyout and we accepted.”
“What do you mean?” Diana asked, confused.
“My investors have been nervous about continuing our project for a while now. Las Vegas’ economy hasn’t exactly been robust lately and despite reassurances, their confidence in the local economy has ebbed. A Middle Eastern company has unexpectedly offered to buy us out and complete the building of the luxury hotel. I’ve decided to take the offer.”
Diana stared into Jake’s eyes and the implication was clear. He wasn’t going to spend the rest of the summer building the hotel. He was leaving sooner rather than later. Her heart plummeted and she looked away, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes.
“I see,” she said quietly. She felt his hand take hers and lightly stroke her palm.
“I don’t think you do,” Jake said, but Diana shook her head.
“When do you leave?” she asked bluntly.
“Diana -”
“Jake, when do you leave?” she asked abruptly.
“I should be done with the contract revisions in a few weeks. My COO will take over any other negotiations. I have to fly back to Manhattan to begin proceedings on another project as soon as possible.”
It was like a death knell and Diana struggled to sit up. Jake watched her closely as she looked at anything but him.
“I don’t want to go back to Manhattan without you, Diana.”
She looked back at him, her eyes widening at his statement.
“What?” Hope rose in her chest as he held out his arms and she went into them, breathing his scent and realizing that she was only half alive when he wasn’t around.
Jake kissed her forehead and stroked her silky hair.
“Do you honestly think that I could leave you?”
“Oh, Jake...” Diana said as she looked up at him and kissed him with a voraciousness that took even him by surprise.
“You’ll have to tell your parents and your work that you’ll be leaving soon,” he said, after their long kiss ended.
“Wait...what?” she asked, confusion again settling in.
He wrinkled his brow as he stared down at her.
“It would only be fair to give them as much notice as possible, Diana,” he chided gently.
“I don’t understand,” said Diana as she drew away from his arms. “I want to see you again, of course, but I wasn’t planning on leaving my home and my job.”
“I’m not just asking you to visit me in Manhattan. I want you to come with me and be part of my life.”
Diana looked at him, perplexed. This wasn’t exactly a marriage proposal, so what was it?
“Are you askin
g me to live with you?” she asked uncertainly.
Jake nodded, his eyes becoming cautious as she frowned at him.
“I can’t just suddenly leave everything I know,” she said, shaking her head.
“Why not?” he asked, dumbfounded.
Diana let out a grunt of exasperation, sweeping an agitated hand through her mussed hair.
“Well, I have a great job and I have my family and friends here.”
“What about me?” Jake asked softly. She could see a glimmer of hurt in his green eyes.
“I - I care about you,” she answered, unwilling to let him know about her love for him until he confessed his true feelings to her. “How do you feel about me?”
Looking slightly uncomfortable, Jake answered, “I care about you too, which is why I want you to join me in New York.”
It wasn’t enough. Diana wanted to hear the words that would make her heart sing. If Jake didn’t love her, she wasn’t about to give up everything and leave with him.
She shook her head and looked at him sadly, her heart squeezing painfully in her chest.
“I can’t leave Vegas,” she said adamantly. Her mind was made up. Only love and commitment would make her leave her family, her friends, and her beloved job.
Jake stared at her in disbelief.
“Diana, it’s not as if you can’t get a job like yours in Manhattan and your family and friends can visit us any time. I’ll even pay for their plane tickets.”
“Excuse me?” Diana asked sharply as indignation coursed through her. “I happen to love my job and the children I teach. Furthermore, my family and friends would be thousands of miles away and even if they had the time to visit me, it still wouldn’t be the same.”
She couldn’t believe his insensitivity. It was unlike him to be so callous about her feelings. Placing her legs out of the bed, she swept up a sheet to cover herself and stood over him.
“I may not be a hotshot company president like you, but I know my worth and I’m not just going to pack up and leave everything I know and love because you’re telling me to,” she said heatedly.
“Diana, I didn’t mean -”
Putting a hand out to interrupt him, Diana continued, “I had no idea that you thought my job was so unimportant and interchangeable.”
