“Hey, you.” She moved to sit beside him, but Jake caught her hand and pulled her into his lap instead. She responded by kissing him.
“Wow. Must be love.” Alex stuck out his hand. “Alex Harrington.” Jake growled in warning, but Alex ignored him, capturing Ava’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Ava smiled at him. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Alex ignored Jake’s glare. “Tell me what a pretty girl like you is doing with this guy.”
“Alex is going to hit on Jilly,” Jake said and flashed his teeth when Alex gave an annoyed “hey.”
But to his surprise, Ava didn’t appear to be concerned. “Jilly can take care of herself.”
“Now, that’s a challenge I can’t pass up.” Alex didn’t waste any time beating it out of the booth and heading straight for Jilly. They both watched as she turned to look at him, a cool been-there-done-that expression on her face. Then Alex said something that made her throw back her head and laugh.
Jake locked his arm around Ava’s waist just in case she had any ideas about climbing off his lap. “He’s a bit of a lady-killer,” he whispered into her ear.
She leaned back into him, the silky strands of her hair tickling his skin. “He’s never met anyone like Jilly.”
“So if things blow up it isn’t my fault.”
“Yes, it is.” She swiveled to face him, her expression one of complete seriousness. “I plan to hold you responsible for all your friends’ behavior. Maybe even your acquaintances’.” She pondered that. “To be on the safe side, maybe we should just say everyone you’ve ever met.”
“Ha-ha.”
She snickered and kissed him again. Jake was content to let her. Once the travel show was settled, he foresaw a lot more nights like this one, where he and his team would film during the week, leaving his weekend free for Ava to visit. He hoped that she’d be willing to fly in to whichever city he was working in. If she came as soon as she got off work on Friday, they could have the entire weekend before she’d have to return to the station.
And he wouldn’t be traveling all the time. Those weeks when he wasn’t on location somewhere, he pictured being very similar to the past few weeks they’d spent together. Maybe a few more dates because, while they hadn’t exactly hidden away, tonight had been the first time she’d been so overt in public.
“Want to go home and leave our friends to handle themselves?” he asked.
“No, but only because my butt is still frozen from last night on the tile.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining at the time.” No, there had only been kissing and touching and asking for more. “And you did steal my shirt to use as a barrier.”
“A gentleman would have offered it.”
“I took the tile the second time.” It had been cold. Fortunately, he hadn’t cared.
“I know. I think my knees are bruised, too.”
“Do you need me to kiss them better?”
“Not here, but yes.” She smiled.
“Then let’s go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
JAKE’S GOOD MOOD lasted until Wednesday when everything started to suck.
He’d held interviews on Monday and Tuesday, looking for Lena’s replacement, which had resulted in three mediocre and one outstanding candidate. The outstanding candidate had sent an email Wednesday morning thanking him for his time, but saying that he’d accepted an offer at another company. Jake wasn’t sure if he should bring back the other candidates for a second round of interviews—were they really mediocre or did they just not interview well?—or repost the position and see if he got any new bites.
While he mulled over this new snag, he’d managed to spill coffee on his pant leg. And when he took a sip from his cup, the coffee was cold. Now there was a splotch over his right knee and he still hadn’t had his caffeine fix.
Hanna Compton, a friend and the person he’d convinced Harvey to hire to fill the executive producer role, had called around noon to let him know that she was still taking the job, but had been unable to dissolve her current contract early, which meant she couldn’t get to Vancouver for another month. Jake’s contract was scheduled to end in two weeks, but he didn’t want to leave Harvey high and dry. He was debating whether one of the senior segment producers could fill in for the interim or if he should stick around until Hanna arrived. Neither option was good.
Finance had asked him to cut his budget by ten percent, one of his segment producers had arrived to the morning meeting, wiping away tears because her boyfriend had just dumped her, and Ava was out of the office on an all-day shoot, so he couldn’t even pop in to see her smiling face for a quick pick-me-up.
But nothing really hit the fan until late that afternoon when the phone rang and everything he’d been planning and working on came crashing down.
He wasn’t able to get to Ava’s apartment until the show wrapped, and by that time he was tired, hungry and angry.
“It’s over,” he said as soon as she opened the front door.
She frowned at him, that cute little line appearing between her eyebrows. “What? What are you talking about?”
“My show. The travel show. It’s over.” He stepped in, closing the door behind him and pulling Ava in tight against him. If he could just hold her, maybe he would feel better.
“What do you mean ‘over’?”
He let his eyes slide shut, closing out everything but her for one blissful moment. The she poked him in the ribs.
“Jake? What do you mean ‘over’?”
He exhaled, but it didn’t help. “The airline called me today just as I was heading down to the studio.” He’d been ready for the day to end and had already promised himself a cold beer once the show had finished filming. But when he’d seen the Toronto area code on his phone, his exhaustion had ebbed, replaced by a pulse as a fast as a cheetah. “They’ve passed on the show.”
“Oh.” Ava exhaled softly, sympathy shimmering in the sound.
Jake sighed and let his face fall into her hair. It curled over his cheek, tickling his nose, but he didn’t move. He didn’t have the energy. He’d put everything he had into the show and he was left with nothing. No investors, no buyers, nothing but a DVD of his pilot episode, which wasn’t enough to make a career out of.
“Now what?”
He tightened his hold around her waist. At least he had her. It wasn’t what he’d come to Vancouver for, but he was happy he’d found it. “Now it’s time for me to face the fact that this show isn’t a go and never will be.”
“Oh, Jake.” She rubbed his back. “Don’t say that. I know you’re disappointed. I’m disappointed for you. But it’s not over.”
Actually, it was. He’d crunched some numbers after the phone call from the airline. He could qualify for a bank loan that would give him enough funds to film a few more shows, and liquidate some assets to make a couple more. But at the end of that, he’d be tapped out. And what was the point if he didn’t have a buyer?
“There are other airlines,” Ava said. “Other investors. You just haven’t found the right one yet.”
“I don’t think time is going to change anything.” His business plan hadn’t counted on zero interest from anyone. He thought he’d be splitting shares or in a bidding war. He ran a hand through his hair. “I think it’s time for me to recognize that this show isn’t happening.” Christ, he couldn’t even stay at the station, since he’d forced Harvey to
hire Hanna. He was going to have to start job hunting.
“But the show is so good.”
He shrugged. “If no one buys it, it doesn’t matter if it’s the best show in the world. No distribution, no viewers, no money.”
The quality of the show didn’t appear to be the problem. That airline certainly seemed to like it, but they were nervous about the timing. Worried that the travel market was going to slow down and they’d be forced to make cutbacks to keep planes in the air. His show was a nice-to-have but not a necessity.
And there was no way to convince them that the previous drop in travel had been a knee-jerk reaction and the current stronger forecast was the correct one. In a depressed market, no one wanted to get caught out with their funds tied up.
She leaned her head against his chest for a moment. “Can I do anything?”
Really, he just wanted to forget about it all for the night. Soon enough he’d have to tell everyone, figure out what he was going to do with his life, but right now he wasn’t up to it.
They moved into the living room and sat on the couch, less than a millimeter of space between them. “I can’t believe they passed on it. There’s nothing like it out there. Don’t people have any imagination? Can’t they see that you’re at the forefront of a new type of show?”
“Guess the airline didn’t see it that way. I’ll have to start looking for another job. Know anyone who’s hiring?”
“Only my mother, but I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Anyway, what do you mean you need to find a job? What’s wrong with the one you have?”
“Harvey’s already hired my replacement. She starts in a month.”
“Couldn’t she unstart?” She swiveled so she could look at him. “Couldn’t you explain to Harvey? I’m sure he’d want you to stay.”
Jake let his head droop against the back of the couch. “I wouldn’t do that to Hanna. She’s a friend. You’ll like working with her.”
“I like working with you.” She crawled into his lap.
“You’ve got a couple more weeks of it.” He settled her more comfortably on his legs.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll figure something out.” He knew he’d be able to find a job somewhere. His father’s contacts, who would once again be hiring him as a favor. Maybe Alex knew someone.
“Will you stay here? In Vancouver?” She watched him with those big, blue eyes. “Maybe you could try starting the show again in a few months, when the market improves.”
It was sweet that she thought so, but Jake knew better. “I don’t think there’s any point. If no one’s willing to invest now, a few months won’t change that.” He touched a finger to the side of her mouth. “Don’t frown. It’ll be fine.”
“But it’s your dream.”
“I have other dreams.” One of which was sitting in his lap right now. He wrapped both his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder. “Once I tie off the loose ends, it’ll be just like leaving any job.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing. There’s not much. I only need to close down the business account and cancel the audition space.”
She raised her head to look at him. “Audition space for what?”
“The host.” He smiled at her. “Not that any of them would have compared to you.”
But she wasn’t smiling back. “I thought I was the host.”
“You were.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “For the pilot. But I needed someone permanent.” And now he didn’t. His stomach clenched. It was just so damn disappointing.
“But I thought I was the permanent host.” She was frowning now.
“No.” He was confused. “We talked about that when I asked. You were just filling in so I could shoot the pilot.” He ignored the icy feeling trickling through his veins. It was a simple misunderstanding. Nothing more.
“Then what have I been doing for the last month?” She pulled out of his arms, lines bracketing her mouth. “I thought I was your choice to host.” Her voice broke on the last word.
“You have a job,” he reminded her. “I wasn’t going to ask you to give that up.”
Her eyes got that wet look that meant tears were on their way. “You didn’t think I was good enough.” Her voice was bitter, and the table shook when she slapped her glass on it. “Just like the cohost position.”
“That’s not fair, Ava. These are two totally different things.”
“I don’t think they are.” She glared at him. “So what, you were using me?”
“Using you?” The icy feeling went from a trickle to a gush. He hadn’t used anyone. “I needed your help. I paid you fair market value.”
“And what about everything else? Editing the show, trying to help you find investors? What was that for if I wasn’t going to be the host?”
Anger melted the ice and made his heart pound. “I thought you were helping because you cared about me.”
“And what about all that stuff about taking me to Toronto when you filmed there? Why would I be going if I wasn’t the host?” Her eyes could have pierced steel. “Exactly what was I supposed to think, Jake?”
He couldn’t believe this was happening. Couldn’t believe he’d fallen for this again. He supposed he should be grateful that he was finding out now before he fell any deeper, but he didn’t. And he wasn’t sure there was any farther to fall.
“You said you didn’t want to be involved with someone that you work with,” he reminded her. “How could you do the show and date me? Or was that part of the plan?” He heard the resentment in his tone, was helpless to stop it. “To sleep with me and ensure that this time you wouldn’t get passed over?”
“What?” Her blue eyes looked shocked for a second, and then filled with a white fury. “You think I... You’re insane. God, I should have trusted my instincts with you. You’re cruel.”
That hurt. He wanted to hurt back. “As I recall, your first instinct was to shove your tongue down my throat at that anti–Valentine’s Day party.”
“I was drunk and lonely. I didn’t even like you, so don’t get a swollen head.” She flipped her hair. “You know what? I wouldn’t want to host your show anymore anyway.”
“Don’t worry. That won’t be a problem.” He pushed himself up from the couch, which had been so soft and welcoming only moments earlier. “I’m leaving.”
“Of course you are.” Her voice followed him as he strode to the door. “Just like you ran away from Toronto, you’re running away here.”
He whirled. “That was a low blow and this isn’t the same thing.”
She tilted her head in a challenging glare. “Isn’t it?”
No, it wasn’t. He ignored the questions that rattled through his head. “It’s different.” He shut the questions down before he had to answer them. It was better this way. “And let’s not forget, you were using me to further your career.”
“I would never do that.”
Right, because no woman on the face of the planet had ever been known to do such a thing. “I thought you were different.” But she wasn’t and apparently neither was he. Still stupidly getting conned by game players. He was disgusted with her, with himself, with the world in general. “I’ll show myself out.”
He let the door slam shut behind him and wished he could take a little more comfort in getting the last word.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JAKE STOMPED HOME, sure that steam was coming out h
is ears the whole way. He’d left his car parked near Ava’s building, but he didn’t care. He could get it later and in this state of mind, he shouldn’t be driving.
Where had he gone so wrong? What was wrong with him?
“Nothing,” Rachel said when he called her. “You’re fine, perfect.”
“Okay, now I know you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying. Look, you’re overwhelmed. Understandably. Just don’t do anything rash tonight.”
“What would I do?” His entire life had crumbled. No job, no relationship. There was nothing left for him to damage.
“I don’t know. But don’t do it anyway. Why don’t you go to bed?”
“It’s barely eight o’clock here.”
“Well, it’s eleven here and I have an early class in the morning. I’ll call you as soon as I can tomorrow and we’ll figure something out. Okay?”
Jake doubted it, but he let her go. And when his phone rang ten minutes later, he couldn’t help the small sick part of him that hoped it was Ava calling to tell him that he’d misinterpreted everything. That she hadn’t been acting the girlfriend to guarantee herself the hosting job. That she cared about him.
It wasn’t. He cursed when he recognized his parents’ number. He should have known Rachel would call to tip them off—they were both night owls—and now he was going to have to spend the next few minutes reassuring his mother that he wasn’t having a mental breakdown and he didn’t need her to fly out and take care of him.
“Yes?” He knew he sounded highly irritated, but it was better than ignoring the call. If he let it go to voice mail, she would worry. And then she’d call Rachel, who would start worrying, too, and then he’d be tag-teamed by the two of them for the rest of the night.
“Jake?” Not his mother’s voice. “It’s Dad.”
Surprise had Jake sinking into one of the kitchen chairs Ava had helped him pick out last week. His father never called him. That was his mom’s job. Occasionally during his weekly Mom Calls, his dad would pipe in from the background. Once they’d spoken for two minutes about the use of freelance versus salaried employees. But in general all parental contact went through and came from his mom.
That Weekend... Page 22
