“Not unless you try whisking me off to a sidewalk café in Paris for them,” she said.
Despite the teasing note in her voice, Will studied her somberly. “Is that what you want, Jess? To be whisked away someplace romantic?”
“Isn’t that what every woman secretly yearns for?” she said lightly. “To be totally swept off her feet?”
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “A good lesson. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Sure, Jess thought. No man was less likely to make such an outrageous, extravagant gesture. Though she had no idea how much money he made with his practice or from the newly created Lunch by the Bay, Will had always lived simply in a small apartment decorated with parental hand-me-downs. His car was at least ten years old. His professional wardrobe, while well-made and expensive, probably didn’t take up more than half of a closet. On his days off, she was pretty sure he was still wearing the same faded, comfortable jeans he’d had since his teens.
“I should get back to the inn,” she said, though she was oddly reluctant for the evening to end. She was half-afraid once it did, they would fall back into their old awkward pattern despite the promise of a casual date the next day.
Will nodded. “I’ll drive you.”
“It’s okay. I have my car. It’s parked by your office.”
“Then I’ll walk you back there,” he said, leaving cash on the table with their bill, then standing up to hold her chair.
Outside, he reached for her hand. For an instant, Jess was so startled, she almost pulled away, but then she realized she liked the sensation of his fingers curved around hers. How had she forgotten just how sweet such a gesture could be, how comforting? And maybe just a little sexy, she realized as she trembled with a newly discovered physical awareness of the man beside her.
At her car, he opened the door, waited for her to get behind the wheel, then leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Drive safely.”
She looked up into his eyes, saw the unmistakable desire of a man who wanted much more than a goodnight kiss. “Want to follow me to the inn?” she asked.
“More than you can possibly imagine,” he said candidly. “But not tonight. You’re not ready.”
“I think I am.”
“Not good enough. You have to be sure,” he said, then winked at her. “And you will be.”
“So arrogant,” she murmured, amused despite herself at this unexpected side of him.
“Confident,” he corrected. “I’ve been patient for a long time. It won’t hurt you to gain a little experience with that virtue.”
“Is this one of those life lessons you shrinks like to impart?”
“Pretty much,” he said, then grinned. “Or it could just be payback. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, and we can discuss it further.”
He pulled back, closed the door gently, then waited for her to start the car and drive away. Jess checked her rearview mirror as she pulled away from the curb. Will was still standing there in the middle of the street, staring after her. She liked believing he was regretting that noble stance he’d taken about not coming back to the inn with her. She had a feeling that she surely was going to.
When Jess walked downstairs from her suite at The Inn at Eagle Point on Saturday morning, Abby and Bree were waiting for her in the lobby.
“Breakfast in the dining room now,” Abby said, linking an arm through hers. Bree walked beside them, her eyes glinting with amusement.
“What’s this about?” Jess asked. “I know I haven’t messed up anything around here lately. That accountant you hired is all over me if I even forget to give him a receipt for replacing the pen the guests use to register.”
“Good for him. That’s what he’s paid for,” Abby said.
“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Bree consoled her. “Other than maybe losing your mind.”
Jess scowled at her. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Will,” Abby said. “First there was the widely reported kiss, and then last night I hear the two of you were having dinner in some cozy corner at Brady’s till closing. How come we had to hear about that secondhand? Shouldn’t you have been on the phone confiding in us about your hot date?”
“The date, which came up at the last minute, was none of your business,” Jess said irritably.
“We’re your sisters,” Bree countered. “You’re supposed to tell us these things.”
She frowned at them. “Do you have some objection to my dating Will?”
Abby’s eyes lit up. “Then you are dating? This wasn’t just some spur-of-the-moment night out or something?”
“Last night was spur-of-the-moment, but in general that’s not Will’s style,” Jess said. “It could be a problem.”
“You can’t mean that,” Abby protested. “Will is exactly the kind of man you need. He’s steady and reliable.” She held up a hand before Jess could respond. “Which does not equate to boring, if that’s what you were about to say.”
Jess thought back to their dinner. It had been anything but boring. In fact, there’d been so many sparks flying, it was a wonder she hadn’t gotten singed. Sadly, the evening had ended with that very sedate peck on her forehead. It had been frustrating.
“I’m not sure why I’m just finding out about all this,” Bree said. “Do you really like him? To be honest, when Jake heard about this, he wasn’t happy. He thinks you’ll break Will’s heart.”
“I’m not going to break Will’s heart,” Jess said defensively. “At least not on purpose. We’ve only been on one even semi-official date, for goodness’ sakes. And it doesn’t really count as a date because I sort of turned up in his office around dinnertime and he probably asked me out because it seemed like the polite thing to do.” That was her story and she intended to stick to it. It was a lot less complicated than the truth. She frowned at Bree. “Why does Jake think this is any of his business, anyway? Tell him for me that his opinion doesn’t count.”
“He’ll disagree,” Bree said. “He and Will are best buddies. And he wasn’t saying anything that Connor or Kevin didn’t say when they heard, although apparently Connor has seen this coming for a very long time and Kevin started suspecting something was up when he helped out at the inn last week.”
“Did you all have some kind of family meeting in the middle of the night and forget to tell me about it?” Jess inquired irritably. She’d been the target of more than one family intervention in her life. She didn’t like them.
“We’re talking about the O’Briens,” Abby reminded her. “You know how news travels along the family grapevine. The vine’s been buzzing for weeks. It’s now reached a fever pitch.”
“This dinner was just last night, and it’s not even nine o’clock in the morning,” Jess said with exasperation. She scowled at her older sister. “And why are you bugging me about this, anyway? I thought you were all for it.”
“I am, as long as you proceed with caution,” Abby said. “The word I got last night suggested things might be moving at a more rapid pace. Then again, that could have been the source.”
“What source?” Jess demanded. “How did the word spread, for goodness’ sakes?”
“Pictures were included with text messages,” Abby explained, grinning.
Jess regarded her incredulously. “Who the devil spotted us, the FBI?”
Abby chuckled. “Dad, as a matter of fact. He and Mom were having dinner at Brady’s when you two arrived. They hung around to keep an eye on things, then sent out an alert to the rest of us. You know Dad. Now that he’s reformed, he takes great pride in being up-to-date on the latest family gossip. If he finds out anything first, he considers it a major fatherly triumph. And he definitely loves to share.”
“Oh, God,” Jess moaned. “That means they should be turning up here—”
“About now,” Bree said cheerfully as Mick and Megan crossed the dining room and pulled up chairs to join them.
“Anything new?” Mick asked.
/>
Jess stood up and scowled at the entire lot of them. “Not one single thing,” she announced firmly. “Except that I am officially resigning as an O’Brien.”
Her mother laughed. “I don’t think you can do that, sweetie. Heaven knows, I tried, and look at me now.” She slipped her hand into her husband’s. “Back in the fold.”
“Everyone should be lucky enough to be an O’Brien,” Mick scolded Jess. “We care about each other.”
“We annoy each other,” Jess contradicted. “I’m going to work. I’ll tell the waitress to put your breakfasts on my tab. Have fun dissecting my life. Let me know how it turns out.”
She walked out of the dining room, went straight to her office and called Will.
“Prepare yourself. Apparently we’re hotter news than anything on Entertainment Tonight.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said with a resigned sigh. “I’ve just been joined at Sally’s by Jake and Mack. I’m pretty sure they’ve forgotten that I’m the one accredited to give advice.”
“Want to consider moving to Hawaii?”
“Nah. I like it here. In fact, it’s just started to get interesting.”
Jess laughed, relaxing at the sound of the humor in his voice. “Yes, it definitely has.”
And to think that it was Will who’d made it that way.
“Jess, I assume,” Jake said as Will disconnected the call on his cell phone.
Will merely held his gaze and said nothing. He’d been surprised when they’d called and insisted he meet them for breakfast, but once he’d arrived at Sally’s, he’d quickly discerned their agenda. His friends might be well-meaning, but he was determined not to encourage them.
“Of course it was Jess,” Mack said confidently. “She’s probably getting the same kind of interrogation over at the inn, but her family’s a whole lot more experienced at it than we are. They’re probably getting answers.”
Will laughed. “Which should be a pretty good indication that it’s time for you to give up.”
Jake shook his head. “Come on, man. You and Jess? You can’t be serious. I know you’ve had the hots for her for eons, but I thought you were just going to pine from a distance and then move on to someone more appropriate.”
“There is nothing inappropriate about Jess,” Will said indignantly.
“She hasn’t had a steady boyfriend in all the years I’ve known her,” Jake reminded him. “You’re Mister Dependability.”
Will’s expression immediately sobered. “She pointed out the same thing,” he told his friend. “Apparently it didn’t occur to her, either, that she’d been choosing the wrong men.”
“And you’re going to rush right in and succeed where others have failed?” Jake scoffed.
“I believe I am,” Will retorted. “Now, maybe we should drop this before I get annoyed. You’re part of the O’Brien family, Jake, and, Mack, you’re probably going to be one of these days if you and Susie ever start being honest with each other. You should be on Jess’s side, not tearing her down.”
Jake looked offended. “I am not tearing Jess down. I’m just being realistic. The woman has a few problems.”
Will stiffened. “If you’re referring to her ADD, it’s not a communicable disease, Jake. Let’s show a little sensitivity here.”
Jake winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I like Jess. I’m just worried about you. You’re a steady, stable, one-woman guy. Jess…well, she’s always tended to play the field.”
“Sort of like Mack?” Will said wryly. “If he can change, and we both know he has, then why not Jess?”
Jake shook his head, his expression worried. “I just don’t see it.”
“Well, fortunately, you’re not the one who has to,” Will assured him. “Nobody understands the situation more clearly than I do.”
Mack sighed. “He’s telling us to butt out, buddy,” he said to Jake. “We should probably listen.”
Will smiled at him. “Exactly. Thank you. Now I need to get some work done before I pick Jess up for our date this afternoon.”
“So, you have no intention of backing off?” Jake asked.
“None.”
“Okay, then, I have a landscaping job I should get to,” Jake said. “Mack, what are you up to today?”
“Susie wants to go for a drive and poke around in some of the shops. She says it’s never too early to start Christmas shopping.”
Will laughed. “Not that there has ever been any doubt about this, but taking Susie shopping is a sure sign that you are down for the count, my man. Just give it up and ask her to marry you.”
Mack frowned at the suggestion. “We’ve never even been on a date. You don’t ask a woman you’ve never dated to get married. She’d laugh her fool head off.”
Will regarded him with pity. “How long are you going to keep trying to sell yourself on that story? None of the rest of us are buying it. I’m pretty sure Susie isn’t, either. If you don’t make a move, one of these days she’s going to find herself a man who will officially date her and marry her and have babies with her. Is that what you want?”
Mack looked sickened by Will’s words. “Of course not, but—”
“No more excuses,” Will said sternly. “Don’t lose her. It’ll hurt if you try and lose, but if you never try and lose, you’ll regret it the rest of your life.”
Mack met his gaze. “Is that why you’re finally making a move on Jess? So you won’t have regrets?”
“Something like that,” Will acknowledged. “To be honest, I came darn close to giving up myself without trying, but circumstances changed.”
“He’s talking about the infamous kiss in the bar at Brady’s a while back,” Jake said.
Will smiled at the memory. “I am. That and a few other things since then. I’ve been encouraged.”
Mack looked disconsolate. “If only Susie would give me some kind of sign that she’s ready for things to change.”
Will rolled his eyes. “Unlike Jess and me, Susie spends every spare second she has with you. Do you need her to issue an engraved invitation to her bed?”
Jake chuckled. “Like that’ll ever happen. She’s an O’Brien woman. They like their men to court them.”
“All women do,” Will said. “I have it on recent authority, they like to be swept off their feet. I’m pretty sure it takes more than flowers and candy. If I figure it out, I’ll pass along the tips.”
“Hurry up,” Mack pleaded. “This whole celibacy thing…” He shook his head. “I’m not cut out for it. The only thing that’s kept me from taking some other woman up on an offer of uncomplicated sex is knowing that I’ll be playing right into Susie’s hands. She’s just waiting for me to mess up and revert to that niche she’s stuck me in. I doubt she’ll ever believe I’m no longer some irresponsible player who’ll trample all over her heart. Sadly, that reputation has been carved in stone, or into her heart or something.”
Will gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I think you’d be surprised about that, if you’d just get up the gumption to move forward.”
Mack still didn’t look convinced. Will had no idea what it was going to take to bring those two together. He just hoped they didn’t take so long that one of them got their heart broken before it happened.
14
Connie glanced out the window of her office at her brother’s nursery and saw Thomas’s hybrid car turn into the parking lot. Her heart picked up its pace, and she couldn’t seem to look away as he emerged and headed her way, carrying what looked to be two containers of coffee and a bag from Sally’s.
She cast a frantic glance toward Jake’s office, deeply regretting that he hadn’t yet left for his job site. Having Thomas show up here once had been awkward enough. Having him back again so soon was really going to stir up Jake’s suspicions. She wasn’t quite ready to deal with all the brotherly concern that was likely to ensue once Jake figured out why Thomas was turning up so frequently.
Maybe she could manage to keep the t
wo men from crossing paths, she thought, getting to her feet and hurrying outside. She caught Thomas just a few feet from the office door.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, then added loudly enough to be overheard if her brother happened to be paying attention, “I wasn’t expecting you today.”
“Though I’m a bit out of practice, it occurred to me that women like the occasional surprise,” Thomas said. “I brought coffee and croissants. I thought we could have breakfast together, if you have the time to spare.”
“I had breakfast hours ago,” she told him. “I’m usually here at the crack of dawn.” Seeing the flare of disappointment in his eyes, she quickly added, “But I am definitely ready to take a break. Shall we take a walk and try to find someplace we can talk?”
Thomas regarded her with amusement. “You wouldn’t be trying to get me away from Jake, would you?”
“I am,” she admitted candidly. “Your last visit didn’t go unnoticed.”
“Do I need to have a talk with him? Explain my intentions?” Though there was a twinkle in his eye, he sounded willing to do exactly that if she thought it necessary.
Connie regarded him with dismay. “Absolutely not. He’s my brother, not my father, and my younger brother at that. I’m a grown woman, perfectly capable of making my own decisions.”
“Well, of course you are,” Thomas said, eyes sparkling at her indignation. “But Jake is obviously very protective of you. I can understand why he’d be concerned about the two of us seeing each other. I have no problem trying to put his mind at ease.”
“Really? Because I do,” she responded. “It may have been a long time since I’ve dated, but I think we’re long past the era when some man in the family either gets to pick out my dates or put a stamp of approval on them.”
Thomas grinned. “I wasn’t going to give him veto power, Connie. I thought it might be nice, though, to have him on our side, before all the fuss starts with my family.”
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