"Where do you work?"
"Worked," she corrected. "A developer in Baltimore– but I've recently relocated." Drumming her fingers against the glass, she traced patterns on the window.
"What was your role?"
"I assisted three project managers." Her glance slid back to him. "I had three guys telling me their stuff was my first priority. They managed three or four jobs, but none of them seemed to grasp I was juggling ten projects."
"That's impossible."
"Hence the organization skills. Otherwise I would've gone mad." She laughed when his wary glance morphed into reluctant admiration. With his wavy brown hair and mysterious eyes, she had a hard time thinking of her stranger as being anything other than sexy as hell.
He tapped the steering wheel. "Small projects?"
"A few million. Most were three to five million. One was ten," she explained, mentioning the name of the project.
"That's Inner Harbor, right?" When she confirmed, he nodded. "We've been trying to land work up there. So far, no luck."
"It's a pretty tight community. Developers seem to have their favorites." Another good reason for leaving. Everyone knew Baldwin. As punishment for refusing to sleep with him, he'd assured her of the reference he'd provide. Or worse– innuendo about an entirely different type of performance. Since most companies weren't interested in the specifics of why you'd been fired, Jen figured relocation could only help. Two months later, she hoped to land a job without the need for a reference.
"Where were you interviewing today?" He glanced at her. "Wait– Alexandria?"
Finally managing to yank her gaze from his magnetic smile, Jen remembered her voice. "One of your competitors." Her first interview in weeks– for a job she'd likely had a good shot at. She'd studied the company. Scoped out the address so she wouldn't get lost. Even allowed an extra hour for traffic. But the car gods had conspired against her. First Lulu dying– then her cell phone.
No– first Rick. Her smile dissolved. Though she'd tried to summon sorrow over the loss, she'd only experienced it for her children. For the beautiful, loving daughter and son Rick had ignored for most of their young lives. For herself, Jen only felt relief. Along with reclaiming her maiden name, re-born Jen didn't have a lying husband or a harassing boss. New and improved Jenna didn't suffer sleepless nights dreading the next day.
A tractor-trailer horn blared, startling her back to the present. Glancing at the signs overhead, relief washed over her. Her Good Samaritan stood a chance of making his appointment. "We're making good time."
Jake nodded. "I'll have it to spare if we don't hit traffic."
"How do you like working at Specialty?"
"Love it. I've been there since college."
"Are you a project manager or superintendent?" Always more comfortable steering conversation away from herself, she questioned him.
His mouth twitched into a smile. "I do a little of both."
Dragging her sunglasses down her nose, she peered at him. He certainly wasn't very talkative. Since she too, was leery of sharing personal information, she could appreciate the quality in others. Though conversations could turn awkward, stilted gaps of silence had become her forte.
His gaze slid to hers as he handed her his phone. "You should call your interview," he reminded. "At least tell them you hit a snag so they don't think you blew it off."
"Thank you." Digging through her purse, she unearthed the ad she'd printed out. After leaving a message with the receptionist, she returned his phone as it rang.
"Hello? Yeah– almost there." Winking at her as he spoke, he paused. "I'm running a little late."
Heat swept her face. It was impossible to avoid eavesdropping on his conversation.
"Have Mrs. Reilly call them for me. Bump my three o'clock to three-thirty."
Hearing irritation creep into his voice, the sudden scowl on his face made her wonder who Jake was speaking with.
"Jeff– just handle it. You know how important this one is."
Eager to distance herself from the intensity suddenly radiating from him, she turned her attention back to the window. The trees flashed by, a kaleidoscope of leafy greens blurring into a tapestry of lush, Indian summer color. Her reaction was instinctive, something even Rick's death hadn't cured. A hair-trigger response, her stomach still knotted at the sound of harsh words.
Safety was half the reason Jen had built a wall around her new life. Guarding it from anyone who might invade– or try to steal it away. Keeping Rick alive to protect her new freedom was the ultimate irony. When he'd taken nearly everything from her. The cheap wedding band served dual purposes. Reminding her of the mistakes she'd made– and acting as a barrier to any guy who might try to breech the fortress she'd erected.
Risking a glance, she found Jake smiling again, the impatience she'd sensed all but vanished. She realized he'd asked a question. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"You should check whether Specialty is hiring. That wouldn't be a bad commute from Stafford."
"They're on my list." Damn. Wouldn't that be perfect? Specialty would be half the distance of the job she'd tried for today. A big company meant decent benefits and hopefully– steady employment. If there were there any jobs open.
"What part of Stafford? Are you in an apartment?"
"No, we rented a house." she said, still amazed at the strides her little family had made. A shiny, new school year had just begun. Megan was settled and happy in second grade while Alex was thriving in kindergarten. Who would've believed she could do it all on her own? "On Fox Terrace? Do you know the area?"
Jake nodded. "That's not far from my place. Maybe fifteen minutes." He plugged her address into his GPS. "I'll have you home in twelve minutes."
"How about you? House or apartment?"
"I'm still in a townhouse. I work so much, the last thing I need is maintenance on a house I never get to spend time in."
"Specialty requires a lot of hours?"
"With my job, it goes with the territory."
"A house is a lot of work," she agreed. "But I wanted a yard for my kids."
"So, you're married?"
Startled, Jen reminded herself that normal people carried on conversations about their families. Not everyone had secrets to hide. "Married– two kids. My son Alex is five and Megan is nearly seven."
"What's your husband do? He in construction too?"
Her hesitation was brief. "Rick's in sales. He travels frequently." As usual, she second-guessed herself. Was lying the right thing to do? Because it was a whopper. One that would require maintenance. Vigilance. She fingered the plain, gold band. Technically, she was a widow– but that was only because Rick hadn't bothered responding to the divorce papers. Should she just kill him off for good? The memory of Baldwin's smirking face floated before her eyes, providing the answer. No more bosses who assumed alone meant available. Or in Steve's case– desperate. Repressing a shudder, she muzzled her honesty. Bound and gagged, it could sit in a dark corner of her brain for a while. Pretend husband equaled necessary evil.
"That must be tough on your kids," Jake acknowledged.
"It's always been that way," she confessed. Travel or not, Rick had been the definition of an absentee father. At the time he died, he hadn't seen them in nearly a year. "They're pretty adaptable." They'd all adapted. A new city. New job. New life.
She recognized their neighborhood once Jake left the highway. Soon, she'd be able to find her way without relying on GPS- Damn, she'd left her unit in Lulu. Hopefully it wouldn't be gone by the time she retrieved her car.
"I like your neighborhood."
Jen smiled, pleased by his acknowledgment. She loved her cul-de-sac with little traffic. Lots of kids to play with. Alex was learning to ride his bike– a gift from her favorite brother Dan. "Me, too. We were lucky it was available." And affordable. Sort of. Though not for much longer. Rick's tiny life insurance policy had assured their rent for the first few months. But that money was dwindling. She needed a j
ob. Soon.
She directed him down the block. "It's the yellow one." When he pulled into her driveway, Jen experienced a surprising letdown. The interlude with the kind, sexy stranger had been a surprising gift on a bad luck day. He'd been generous and polite. Funny. Her road map to men had been blazed a decade earlier, meeting Rick her junior year in college. A handsome face coupled with a thoughtless, selfish demeanor. Her first mistake– assuming he would outgrow those qualities. Aside from her brothers, she'd had little experience with nice guys. But if she were laying money down, she'd be willing to place a bet on Jake.
Somewhere along the way, she'd lapsed into a pleasantly sparking comfort level– with a man she'd known less than an hour. It smacked of an 'old Jenny' mistake. Of overlooking some blatant character flaw that to everyone else was obvious. His addictive cologne was the probable culprit, she decided. Infiltrating her nose, it had traveled through her system, awakening long slumbering hormones she'd assumed had withered up and died.
If she hadn't sworn off men for the remainder of her life . . . Jake would be someone she might have taken a chance on. Maybe. Probably not. The sensation of desire was foreign. Confusing . . . yet dangerously intoxicating. An unexpected ego boost after so many years of being found lacking-
Shoving her alarming thoughts aside, she smiled. "Thank you so much. I'm grateful you stopped."
His smile was open, relaxed."It was really no trouble."
Gathering her purse and the pile of folders, she opened the door.
"Wait– take this."
His business card. It turned out Jake was short for Jackson. Jackson Traynor– an owner of one of the largest construction companies in the state. "You– you're the managing partner?" Heat crept into her face. Way to look stupid, Jen. "I guess I should've already known that." If she'd done her research-
"It wasn't a test, Jenna. You just moved here." Behind his shades, Jake's eyes registered amusement. "You said we were on your list."
It would be near the top of anyone's list. "Specialty would be an incredible place to work." Damn– a blown opportunity. She'd had the undivided attention of a decision maker who could've-
"Can I have your resume?" Sifting through the folders, she offered him the one meant for the interview. "Give me a few days to talk with my partners." Jake's teasing grin returned, making her stomach flutter, despite knowing better.
"And charge your phone."
Her heart soaring, Jen smiled. "I'll keep it plugged in."
Chapter 3
"Who're you?"
Expecting someone nearer his height, Jake quickly adjusted his sights to the sturdy, little boy answering Jenna's door. The little guy had the same piercing eyes as his mother. Before he could respond, he heard a commotion upstairs.
"Alex! How many times have I told you not-"
Racing down the stairs, lecture at the ready, her coppery hair cascaded past her shoulders. Dismayed to discover it was long and wild when it wasn't pinned up tight, Jake's heartbeat accelerated. His reaction had him reconsidering. Was it really such a good idea– hiring a gorgeous assistant? Her resume was impressive. Maybe he'd get used to the beautiful part?
"I thought it was the pizza." Alex hastened to explain his violation of what was probably a strict rule. Jake was pleased to note it was her mouth dropping open this time.
"Hello." Her confusion suggested he was the last person she'd expected to find on her doorstep. "Why are you-"
"Mommy, is he the jerky boss you were talkin' about?"
"Hush, Al."
Glancing from one to the other, he acknowledged Jenna's mortified expression before extending his hand to the little boy. "I'm Jake. And you must be Alex."
"Jake. . . hey Mom, that's the guy you-"
Though her grip tightened on his shoulders, Alex ignored the warning. Breaking free of her grasp, he bolted for the stairs. "Meggie, come quick! The guy who fired Mommy is here to see us."
"Fired?" His gaze shot swiftly back to her. "I thought you didn't have a job?" Though her face flushed an enticing shade of pink, her eyes had widened in confusion.
"I can explain-" Taking a step toward the stairs, she discovered the little girl who'd been peering around the corner. An adorable miniature version of her mother.
As Jenna tried to regain order, Jake questioned his spur of the moment stop at her house. The jacket she'd forgotten on the backseat could've waited. But he'd been unable to stop thinking about her. About her perfect qualifications, he amended. Jenna Stone was exactly what Specialty needed. Except for the beautiful, distracting part.
"Alex– up to your room."
"Can I see him?" Without waiting for permission, her daughter's auburn head poked around the corner. Her eyes widened when he smiled at her.
"Alright, Meg. You've seen him. Now go." The little girl hesitated, worry clouding her gaze. Jake picked up on the protective vibe surrounding them. Maybe with their dad gone all the time . . .
"Mom. . . will you be okay down here with him?" she whispered.
There was no way he could pretend not to have heard her. Jen's kids were fearful. But, over what? Had something happened to them?
Jenna's gaze was apologetic as she returned with Megan. "Jake, this is my daughter, Megan. Meg, this is Mr. Traynor. And you've already met Alex."
Megan dutifully shook his hand, finally offering a solemn smile before turning for the stairs again. Pausing at the bottom, her expression was determined as she stared at him.
"I know how to call 9-1-1, you know."
Though laughter tightened his chest, he forced a neutral expression. He couldn't wait to hear Jenna's explanation for the last five minutes. "That's good to know, Megan. I'll keep that in mind."
***
Reading the confusion in Jake's eyes, Jen deferred an explanation until the kids were safely upstairs. He had to be wondering what the hell was going on. If she hadn't been venting to her brother on the phone the previous night about Baldwin, the kids wouldn't be so worried now. She'd have to be more cautious now that she'd caught them eavesdropping.
With the kids gone, Jake's presence seemed to fill the small foyer. Without heels, she was at a serious disadvantage. "Sorry for the confusion. The kids overheard me on the phone last night and they've combined about six stories into one." Her face heating, she wondered what he was thinking. If she lost another job opportunity this week due to circumstances beyond her control, she was going to stomp her feet and cry.
"I figured it might be something like that."
"Would you like to sit down?" Relief trickled through her. "Can I offer you a drink?" Her heart thumping, she wondered at his visit. It had been two days since he'd rescued her at the side of the road. To avoid disappointment, she'd applied like a madwoman for any job that came close to her qualifications. But hope was a dangerous thing– like a weed, it kept springing up through the cracks.
"I found your jacket in my truck," he explained. "I figured I could drop it off on my way home."
The brief flare of hope sputtered out. What had she expected? Company executives didn't drop by to discuss employment. They requested your presence on their turf. Jen hoped her disappointment wasn't showing. It was a short hop from a vibe of eager-for-the-job to one of desperation. "I'm sorry you had to go out of your way to return it."
"I can run out and get it-"
A rap on the door interrupted him mid-sentence.
"Oops– that's the pizza." When Jake would've risen from the couch, she held up a finger. Please don't leave yet. "I'll be right back."
Jake was waiting in the foyer when she returned with the pizza. Damn, she'd wanted another chance to convince him how great she'd be for Specialty. That desire– not his fathomless, green eyes– made her throw caution to the wind. "Would you like to stay for pizza and salad?"
Caution visible in his expression, he hesitated. Clearly, he was remembering the earlier chaos. "If you're sure it's no trouble-"
She smiled. "Full disclosure– I feel I should warn
you, it will be loud. Alex will likely spill something. And . . . you'll probably be subjected to lots of nosy, personal questions."
"Would I be fielding those from you or the kids?"
Despite her nerves, she laughed. "For tonight only, I'll restrain myself."
His eyes heated with amusement. "You've presented such a tempting invitation, how could I refuse?"
He took the pizza from her, carrying it into the kitchen. Taking him up on his offer to assist, she showed him where to find plates and silverware while she called the kids down.
As she poured milk, Jake nudged her. "Listen." They paused, overhearing Alex boast about how many slices he would eat. Then Megan's bossy voice ordering him to remove his elbows from the table before she would serve him a piece.
"This is your last chance," she whispered, surprising herself by leaning closer. Everything tonight was a surprise. The novelty of a man in her house. Who wasn't a brother. A man who seemed to enjoy engaging in conversation. Jen experienced a moment of uncertainty. Rick had never been a guy who enjoyed talking. Issuing orders, yes. Complaints. Criticism– no problem. But fun, light-hearted banter . . .
His eyes gleaming, Jake played along. "For what?"
For a brief hour, Jen planned to lower her shields and simply enjoy the gorgeous man loitering in her kitchen. "Escape."
Jackson Traynor's laugh was one she could become used to. It was a low, pleasant rumble that set her nerve endings tingling.
"I'm braver than I look."
"Why don't you give these to Alex and Meg." She handed him two glasses of milk.
Without thinking, Jake obeyed. As he entered the dining room, Jen winced. Surrounded by the high-pitched argument at the table, she suspected he'd soon regret accepting her invitation.
Trusting Jake (Blueprint To Love Book 1) Page 2
