Loving Jake

by Madeline Baker

  But, again, fate conspired against her.

  “Ginny?” he called. “Hey, Ginny!”

  Heaving a sigh, she stopped beside his table. “Oh, hello, Jake. Lori Beth.”

  Lori Beth smiled at her.

  Jake looked at her, one brow arched. “You here alone?”

  “Yes.” Why hadn’t she just stayed at her table until he left? But it was too late now.

  “Get your business done early?”

  There was nothing Ginny hated more than being caught in a lie, mainly because she was so terrible at it. She glanced around, aware that she was standing in the middle of the aisle, and that the couple across the way was staring at the three of them with obvious interest.

  “Ginny,” Lori Beth said, “come and join us.”

  Ginny took the chair next to Lori Beth because she couldn’t think of any reason not to, couldn’t think at all, not with Jake looking at her like that, his dark eyes filled with silent accusation.

  He leaned across the table. “You could have just told me the truth,” he said, his voice pitched low. “I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”

  Lori Beth glanced from Jake to Ginny and back again. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, rising, “I think you two need to be alone.”

  “If anyone leaves, it should be me,” Ginny said.

  “No, you stay,” Lori Beth said with a sympathetic smile. “I think you two need to talk.”

  “Here.” Reaching into his jacket pocket, Jake withdrew his keys and slid them across the table. “Take the truck.”

  “How will you get back to work?” Lori asked.

  “Don’t worry about it, I’ll figure something out.”

  With a nod, Lori Beth scooped up the keys. “Thanks, Jake. I’ll see you at home later.”

  The ensuing silence at the table was so loud it made Ginny’s ears hurt. She couldn’t meet Jake’s eyes; instead, she toyed with one of the forks, turning it this way and that.

  “Why, Ginny?” Jake asked. “Why’d you lie to me?”

  “Things are just moving too fast.” She risked a quick glance at his face, then lowered her gaze to the table once more. “I’m afraid of what will happen between us if we keep seeing each other, and I feel guilty because I’m practically engaged to Carter, and…”

  “You don’t have to say any more. I get the picture.”

  Ginny was trying to think of a suitable reply when the waitress appeared at their table. “Are you ready to order?”

  “Just coffee for me,” Jake said, handing his menu to the waitress. “Ginny?”

  “Coffee’s fine.”

  “I never figured you for a coward,” Jake said when the waitress moved away from their table.

  Ginny looked up sharply, her eyes narrowed. “I’m not a coward.”

  “Aren’t you? What are you really afraid of?”

  “I’m not afraid of anything except…I’m not afraid of anything.”

  “Admit it, you’re afraid of what you feel for me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!”

  “Am I?”

  She looked at the fork clutched in her hand. Maybe she was afraid. Carter was safe. He was steady and reliable, as dependable as the sunrise. Maybe he didn’t make her heart pound with excitement. Maybe he didn’t possess that air of danger and adventure she sensed in Jake, but she knew marrying Carter was safe. It was a horrible thing to contemplate, but she knew that if she married Carter and it didn’t work out, she wouldn’t be devastated. It was probably terrible to even think about getting a divorce before she was even married, but with so many couples breaking up these days, it was something that had to be faced. And she knew that losing Carter would never hurt her the way losing Jake would.

  He was right, she thought miserably. She was a coward.

  The waitress brought their coffee. Jake picked up his cup and took a drink, his gaze on Ginny. He wondered what she was thinking, feeling. He should have his head examined, he thought. He had sworn off women, had vowed to put Ginny Whelan out of his mind, but the way they kept bumping into each other, it seemed like Fate had other plans.

  Ginny sipped her coffee, still refusing to meet Jake’s gaze.

  “You’ve got another week here,” he said quietly. “Spend it with me.”

  “No, Jake…”

  “It’s just a week, pretty lady. One week out of your life, and then we’ll never see each other again.”

  She made the mistake of looking into his eyes and knew she was lost. There was no way to resist the hope in his eyes, or the husky yearning in his voice. Or the desire of her own heart.

  “On one condition,” she said. “You won’t ask me to stay longer or try to make me feel guilty when it’s time for me to go home.”

  He nodded.

  “You promise?” she asked skeptically.

  “Yeah, I promise. But I have a condition of my own.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You won’t lie to me again.”

  “All right.”

  “You promise?” he asked, turning the tables on her.

  “Yes,” she said. “I promise.”

  And just like that, the world was right again. Her stomach stopped churning and she was suddenly famished.

  Jake lifted one brow when her stomach growled. “Didn’t you just have lunch?”

  “No.”

  “No? What were you doing in here?”

  “You came in right after I did,” she said with a shrug. “It sort of ruined my appetite.”

  Jake signaled the waitress. “We’ve decided to have lunch after all,” he said. “Could we have a couple of menus?”

  The waitress handed one to each of them.

  “Why were you here with Lori Beth?”

  “The truth? I was trying to soothe my bruised ego.”

  “I don’t know, Jake. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, after all. I mean, the more time we spend together, the harder it’s going to be when I go home.”

  “Then don’t go home.”

  “Jake, you promised.”

  “Yeah.” He dropped his menu on the table. “Are you ready to order?”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Me, either. Let’s go.” He pulled a five dollar bill from his pocket and laid it on the table, then followed Ginny out of the restaurant and across the parking lot to her car.

  “I think you’re right,” he said. “It’s better to end it now.”

  Even though she knew it was for the best, his words brought quick tears to her eyes. She lowered her head and blinked them away.

  “Ginny?” There was a note of vulnerability in his voice. Was he hoping she would disagree?

  She turned away from him to unlock the car. “I think you’re right, Jake.” She hesitated a moment, remembering that Lori Beth had taken his truck. “Do you want a ride to work?”

  “I can walk.”

  She nodded, her back still toward him. “Good bye, Jake.”

  She got into the car and closed the door before she could change her mind.

  She didn’t look back as she drove away.

  Jake stood where Ginny had left him, his hands shoved into his pants pockets. Even before her car was out of sight, he knew letting her go had been a mistake.

  * * * *

  Ginny spent the rest of the day sitting in front of the TV, staring blankly at the screen. It was over. She should be relieved. Jake Running Horse was a complication she didn’t need in her life. She would go home and marry Carter and have two point five children and live happily ever after. She and Carter would spend Thanksgiving with his parents and Christmas with hers. She would join the PTA and get involved in the community and every now and then she would think about Jake and wonder what he was doing…the way she was now.

  She was hardly aware of time passing until the house grew dark. Rising, she turned on the lights, then went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She needed to eat something, but nothing looked good. Maybe she would call for a pizza…maybe s
he would never feel like eating again.

  She had just decided to call Pizza Hut when the phone rang. She let it ring. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone right now. Two more rings and the machine picked up.

  “Ginny? Dammit, girl, answer the phone!”

  She grabbed the receiver. “Jake? Is something wrong?”

  “Everything. Listen, I have to drive up to Fairfield and pick up a car. Why don’t you come along with me?”

  “Jake…”

  “I know, I know. But if all I can have is a week of your time, then I want that week, or at least a few days.”

  “Even if I wanted to go with you, I can’t just leave. I have to water the yard and feed the animals and…”

  “Lori Beth will take of it. Come with me, pretty lady.”

  She hesitated. She could think of a dozen reasons why she shouldn’t go. “Please, Ginny.”

  “How long will we be gone?”

  “I don’t know. Three or four days.”

  “I’ll have to get in touch with my sister and make sure it’s all right for Lori to feed the animals.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you later.”

  Ginny hung up the phone, then quickly called her sister.

  Deb wanted to hear everything that had happened from the moment Ginny met Jake. Ginny made light of it, saying only that she had been lonely and that she and Jake had hit it off and Jake had asked her to keep him company when he drove up to Fairfield to pick up a car.

  Deb only had one thing to say. “What about Carter?”

  “What about him?”

  “Come on, Ginny, you know he won’t like it.”

  “Well, he doesn’t have to know,” Ginny retorted. “Anyway, it’s not like I’m running off to have an affair or anything. Jake’s just a friend.”

  “You made friends awfully fast, didn’t you? I mean, good grief, Ginny, he’s a mechanic. What would mom and dad say?”

  “I’m not going to marry him, Deb.”

  “I should hope not!” There was a pause, then Deb said, “Go have a good time. I know Jake, and he seems like a nice guy. He used to play softball with Steve.”

  “Don’t worry about anything here. A friend of Jake’s will feed the animals. How are things in Hawaii?”

  “Beautiful. You’ve got to come here someday, maybe on your honeymoon. We’re having a wonderful time with the kids, but I’d like to come back here without them next time, just me and Steve.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re having a good time. I’ll call you when I get back.”

  “All right. Talk to you soon.”

  Ginny had no sooner finished talking to her sister than Jake called.

  “Any verdict yet?”

  “Yes,” Ginny said, laughing. “Deb said it would be all right.”

  “That’s great. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning around nine-thirty.”

  She hesitated only a moment, then swept her doubts aside. For once, she was going to listen to her heart instead of her head. “I’ll be ready.”

  “You won’t be sorry.”

  “I'll hold you to that.”

  “Night, sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart. The endearment, the tone of his voice when he said it, wrapped around her like loving arms. “Goodnight, Jake.”

  Smiling, she replaced the receiver. She was going away with Jake. Humming softly, she went into the bedroom to pack a bag.

  She tucked the extra house key into an envelope and put it under the back door mat for Lori Beth.

  She was still smiling when she fell asleep later that night.

  * * * *

  Ginny was ready to go when Jake knocked on the door the next morning at nine-thirty sharp. He wore faded jeans, a green tee shirt and a jean jacket. And boots, of course. As always, he looked good enough to eat.

  “All set?” he asked.

  Picking up her suitcase, she stepped outside and locked the door.

  “Are we going in that?” she asked, looking past Jake to where an ancient flatbed truck idled in the driveway. The hood was a dull blue. The passenger door was red. One fender was green. A pair of fuzzy black-and-white dice hung from the rear-view mirror.

  “Yeah, the car I’m picking up is in pretty bad shape.” He grinned at her. “You’re not gonna change your mind, are you?”

  “No, of course not, but, well, are you sure that thing will get us where we’re going?”

  “And back,” Jake said with a laugh. “Don’t worry. She runs a lot better than she looks.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  Grinning, Jake took her suitcase and stowed it behind the seat, then helped Ginny into the cab and closed the door.

  She was glad to see that the inside of the truck looked a whole lot better than the outside. The interior had been re-done recently. The headliner and the rugs were dark gray, the seat was black leather. The dashboard was also black and housed a radio and a CD player.

  Jake swung in beside her, released the brake, and pulled out of the driveway.

  “Have you had breakfast?”

  “No, just coffee.” She had been too excited by the prospect of going away with Jake to eat.

  “I thought we’d drive for an hour or so and then pull over and get something to eat. How’s that sound?”

  “Fine.”

  “You ever been up north before?”

  “No.”

  “Pretty country. Lots of farmland.”

  “Okay if I turn on the radio?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  She wasn’t surprised to hear a country tune warble through the speakers. She

  settled back in her seat, content to listen to Tim McGraw sing about being a real good man while she watched Jake drive. He was a real good man, too, she thought, smiling inwardly.

  The freeway was crowded, of course, but Jake maneuvered the big old truck through traffic, changing from one freeway to another until they were on the 101 headed north.

  “So, who does this car you’re picking up belong to?” Ginny asked curiously.

  “An old friend of mine. Doug Harrington.”

  “Don’t they have mechanics in Fairfield?”

  Jake laughed. “Sure, but Harrington wants his car to look cherry and he doesn’t trust anyone else.”

  “Must be nice, to be considered the best,” Ginny remarked.

  “Well, I don’t know if I’m the best,” Jake drawled, “but I’m damn good at what I do.”

  “Yes,” she murmured, not thinking about cars at all. “You are.”

  Jake slid a glance at her. “We still talking about auto repair?”

  Feeling her cheeks grow hot, Ginny looked out the window. She had been thinking of Jake’s kisses, of course, and not what a good mechanic he was. But she didn’t want him to know that. “Cars, of course,” she said, still gazing out the passenger window.

  Laughing softly, Jake reached over and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “All right, sweetheart, have it your way.”

  The sound of his laughter, the way he caressed the word ‘sweetheart’ made her insides go all soft and squishy.

  They stopped at eleven to have breakfast and then they were on the road again.

  Once they left the big cities behind, the land stretched out on both sides of the freeway. They passed orange and apple orchards and hayfields and grape vineyards. She saw cows and horses, sheep and goats, men riding tractors, workers picking strawberries.

  “It always surprises me, how big the land seems once you get out of the city,” she remarked.

  Jake nodded in agreement. “Yeah, seeing this makes me want to sell my shop and head for the wide open spaces. Build a house on a river somewhere, maybe up in Wyoming or Montana, raise some cattle and some horses and maybe a couple of kids.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  Jake grunted softly, surprised by the turn of his thoughts. “Think it’s something you might like?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve always been a city girl.”

  “Maybe it’s time fo
r a change.”

  Something in his tone made her stomach do a quick somersault. Was he suggesting what she thought he was suggesting, or was he just making conversation? She looked over at him, but his attention was focused on the road.

  Time for a change…living on a ranch with Jake…wearing jeans instead of dresses…taking long rides in the moonlight…gathering eggs…growing vegetables… being a country wife. What would it be like to be Jake’s wife, to share his days and his nights, to fall asleep in his arms? Just the thought sent shivers of delight racing up and down her spine, filling her with an excitement that she had never experienced when she thought of spending her life with Carter.

  She shook her head. She was letting her imagination run wild. Jake hadn’t proposed. He was just making small talk.

  They stopped for lunch at a hamburger place off the freeway. Jake ordered a cheeseburger and coffee, Ginny ordered a turkey sandwich and a chocolate malt.

  They ate at a table outside.

  “How much further is it?” she asked.

  “Another two hundred miles or so. We could probably be there by dark if we keep going, but I thought we’d stop around five or six and find a place to spend the night, if it’s all right with you. We can get cleaned up and go out to dinner.”

  “Sure, whatever you want.”

  “That’s what we’ll do, then. How’s your sandwich.”

  “It’s good. Want a bite?”

  “Depends on what you’re offering.”

  Slow heat burned her cheeks. “Jake…”

  “I know, I know. Come on, we can finish this on the road.”

  He was incorrigible, she thought, incorrigible and irresistible and she had probably made a big mistake in agreeing to go with him, but she didn’t care. She felt alive when she was with Jake. She smiled more, laughed more, wanted more…more of his attention, more of his kisses…more…oh, Lord, what was she thinking?

  Lulled by the radio and the motion of the truck, she drifted to sleep, only to wake hours later when Jake pulled off the highway. A glance at the clock on the dashboard showed it was a quarter to five.

  “Hey, sleepyhead.”

  “Sorry.”

  He shrugged. “Stay here. I’ll go get us a couple of rooms.”

  “All right.”

  Smothering a yawn, she watched him get out of the truck and walk to the motel office. She could watch the way he moved all day long, she thought idly. Never before had she been so fascinated by a man’s physique. Every time she looked at Jake she found something new to admire.