Want You Back

by Karen Whiddon

  A light tap sounded on the door. “Hey, y’all.” Monica poked her carefully coiffed head in the door. “I’m going home now.”

  Surprised, Jake glanced at his own watch, a serviceable Timex, and realized it was after five o’clock.

  “Fine.” Jenny stood and stretched, the movement pulling the linen dress tight around her breasts. Then, as she saw him looking, she folded her arms like a shield. “I think we’re about finished here, aren’t we?” About to nod in agreement, he noted Monica’s barely hidden curiosity. “Actually, I have a bit more to explain. Would you like to finish this discussion over dinner?”

  Having dinner with an important client couldn’t be that unusual. Yet Monica’s perfectly painted mouth formed into a silent o and Jenny flushed red.

  “I’m having dinner with Howard,’’ Jenny told him, not quite able to look him in the eye.

  Monica, on the other hand, looked truly disappointed.

  “Howard.” Jake said the name slowly, as if he couldn’t quite place the man. In fact, he remembered the stocky banker quite well. Howard was one of his biggest supporters.

  “Her boyfriend,” Monica put in helpfully.

  He glanced at Jenny quickly enough to catch her rolling her eyes at her secretary. She flashed him an insincere smile. “Maybe you’d like to come with us.” There was enough sarcasm in her tone to tell Jake she didn’t believe even he would be quite that rude. Grinning, he decided to prove her wrong.

  “I’d love to. Just tell me where and what time.”

  Jenny’s mouth fell open before she collected herself and closed it. He intended to go just to spite her, she could see that now. What she couldn’t believe was that she’d been stupid enough to issue that challenge. From his smug grin, no doubt he found the whole thing amusing. Now she was stuck with not only calling Howard and insisting he take her out to eat, but with spending the evening with Jake as well.

  She didn’t know which was worse. With the way her luck seemed to be running, Howard would refuse to go. He didn’t like to eat out during the week, reserving that only for weekends. Even then he tried to find the least expensive restaurant and ordered the least expensive thing on the menu. Privately, she considered Howard a bit, well, cheap. He saw it as being frugal.

  No, Howard was not going to like this at all. She rubbed her aching temples.

  After she’d mumbled something to Jake, Jenny watched as Monica escorted him out. They both listened for the sound of his vehicle starting, then Monica raced back to her office.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Jenny shook her head at her own stupidity. “Call Howard, of course.”

  Monica patted her shoulder in sympathy. “It won’t be that bad. Remember, this is a business thing, not personal.”

  Right. Like she could look at Jake, with his chiseled features and azure eyes and not help comparing him to Howard.

  For the first time since she’d thought of it, she could see her plan backfiring on her. When she’d envisioned a professional, working relationship, it hadn’t including socializing with Jake.

  Fine. This would be a business dinner. She’d make sure of Howard’s compliance by paying for the entire thing. Then, for good measure, she’d write it off on her taxes. She would select a local restaurant with bright lights—no flickering candles or soft, romantic music. They would talk about business and only business and she would not let herself notice how impossibly broad Jake’s shoulders were, nor the corded muscles of his arms.

  Hand under her chin, she plotted further. She would sit close to Howard. Really close. She would make certain to bestow several looks of ardent longing—she nearly snorted out loud then—on him. If anyone, namely Jake, tried to turn the conversation to personal matters, she would gush on and on about how wonderful Howard was. How steady and good. “Jenny?”

  Becoming aware that Monica was repeating her name, Jenny blinked. “I’m sorry. I was thinking.”

  “I could tell,” Monica drawled. “Do you want me to put through a call to Howard for you before I go?” Startled, Jenny glanced at the clock. Though it was nearly five-thirty, she knew Howard would still be at the bank. And, though he preferred her to have Monica call his secretary rather than Jenny dialing direct, she doubted his secretary was still at work.

  “No, that’s all right.” She waved the younger woman away. “Go on home. I’ll get this worked out.” “Promise you’ll tell me all about it first thing in the morning?”

  Jenny chuckled. “Bless you, Monica. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  With a laugh and a flip of her hand, Monica left.

  Because it was growing late and she’d told Jake they’d pick him up at seven, Jenny made herself dial Howard’s direct number.

  He answered on the third ring.

  She outlined the scenario, telling him that it would be great for business. After he’d learned she was footing the bill, Howard was delighted.

  “Good move, Jennifer,” he enthused. “This will be excellent for business. Will you be driving?”

  Glancing once more at the clock, Jenny bit back a snide comment about how much more roomy his Mercedes was than her Honda and answered in the affirmative. Replacing the receiver, she rushed around collecting her things and shutting down the office. She now had less than an hour to get ready for dinner.

  At home, she washed her face, reapplied her makeup, and brushed her hair. About to twist it back up in the neat coil she normally wore, Jenny hesitated. She never used to wear it up. Back when Jake .. . No. Jenny closed her eyes. She wouldn’t think of that Couldn’t think of that.

  If she wore it down, it would be for herself only.

  The linen sheath she’d worn to work on impulse that morning was fine for a business dinner. So were any of her tailored suits. But for some reason, a reason that she refused to acknowledge or admit even to herself, Jenny wanted to wear something different Something fun.

  She didn’t stop to examine this whim, just began rummaging through her closet. There, in the back, hidden behind the well-made skirts and severe blouses, were the dresses she hadn’t worn in two years. Several she had bought for her honeymoon and never worn. She hadn’t had the heart to return them so they’d stayed, the tags still on them, relegated to the back of the closet

  Tonight she would wear one.

  The one Jenny chose was her favorite, a dress of midnight blue, the exact color of Jake’s eyes. Made of silk, it clung lovingly to her figure. It was the dress she’d planned to wear immediately after the reception, after she’d changed out of the wedding gown.

  Pushing away unhappy thoughts, Jenny spritzed on a light perfume, changed her diamond ear studs for a pair of shiny silver hoops, and grabbed her car keys. She took a deep breath and headed out. Though Malvoran House—what Jake was now calling the place, according to Howard—was closer. It would be more sensible to pick up Jake first, but she didn’t want to be alone with him. Not tonight not in this dress.

  Howard talked expansively, his mood animated. He, not Jenny, went to Jake’s door to collect him. She waited in the car, putting the radio on a bland classical station, though she usually listened to country music. She couldn’t bear hearing any songs about long-lost love right now.

  Jake appeared, walking with Howard out to her car. Jenny couldn’t help comparing his easy, confident stride with Howard’s hurried pace. She prayed Howard would have enough sense to ride in the front; her car was small and she didn’t want Jake sitting so close to her.

  Both Howard and Jake went for the front seat passenger door. Wide-eyed, heart thudding in her chest, Jenny tried to silently signal Howard. Whether he got the message or Jake did, Jake conceded and moved to the back.

  Once they were all in the car, Jenny forced herself to keep her eyes on the road, allowing herself an occasional glance at Howard but refusing to even peek in the rearview mirror at Jake in the backseat.

  She could smell cologne—Howard’s musky-sweet brand. He must have splashed it on l
iberally, because the smell was close to overpowering. Trying not to gag, she wished she could open her window, but the heat and humidity were such that it made sense to turn up the air conditioner instead. So she did, catching a glimpse of Jake’s grin.

  He knew. She felt herself blushing, powerless to stop it

  Luckily, Ater was a small town. The downtown area near the loop was only six blocks long. All of the newer chain restaurants had been built in a cluster. Jenny had decided to take them to Applebriar’s—a brightly lit, festive sort of place with a wide variety of food. At seven, the parking lot was three quarters full.

  Howard turned in his seat and peered at her over his glasses. “Applebriar’s?”

  In her hurry, she’d managed to forget how Howard hated loud, convivial places. When he did dine out, he preferred steakhouses or quiet Italian restaurants. In the year they’d been dating, she hadn’t even been able to get him to set foot inside a Mexican restaurant

  “That’s right,” she answered quietly, refusing to defend her choice. After all, she was paying. Even Howard wouldn’t be rude enough to refuse to eat here in front of her guest.

  Her guest. Without even looking at him, Jenny knew that Jake would love Applebriar’s. Though it hadn’t been built two years ago when they were together, it was the kind of place that they used to love to frequent Monica had dragged her here for lunch a few times. It had good food, reasonable prices, and was clean. Even Howard couldn’t disapprove of that.

  As he always did, Howard came around and opened her door for her, helping her out of her car. He kept his hand possessively on her arm as Jake joined them. He went to Jenny’s other side, linking his arm with hers.

  Jenny couldn’t help it—she stiffened. Though she tried subtly to free herself, she couldn’t yank her arm away without making a scene. Jake chuckled, a low sound meant only for her to hear. Howard, appearing oblivious, released her to hold open the door.

  So Jenny walked in to Applebriar’s with Jake on her arm and a fake smile plastered on her lips. It seemed to her as if everyone in the place turned and stared.

  The hostess, a woman Jenny had gone to high school with, turned to greet them and froze. "Jenny Reder and Jake Durham, together again. Well, I’ll be. I never would have imagined it.”

  Then, catching sight of Howard as he came up on Jenny’s other side, she frowned. “And Howard Ater.”

  Hearing, even more people turned to watch them. Jenny could have sworn more heads swiveled than at a tennis match. Inwardly, she groaned. Maybe she should have picked some out-of-the-way hole in the wall, preferably in the next town over.

  Howard, finally noticing, leaned over to whisper in her ear, “Don’t worry, they’ll understand this is for business. Most of them saw your ad in the paper and if they didn’t, someone will point it out to them.” He clapped his arm over her shoulders, a telling move for him since he despised public displays of affection.

  “Thank you,” she whispered back, intimately conscious of Jake still holding her other arm.

  “Am I missing something?” Jake whispered, leaning across her shoulder to whisper in her other ear.

  Jenny couldn’t help it, she shivered. His breath was warm—she supposed Howard’s was too, but really hadn’t noticed. Why couldn’t Howard have the same effect on her that Jake apparently still did?

  This time Howard became flustered. “I apologize,” he said stiffly. “That was an incredible lapse in manners.”

  About to protest, Jenny noticed the hostess watching the little exchange with an avid gleam in her eye. “Do you have a table ready?” she asked, hoping her desperation wasn’t evident

  They were shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant, where every move they made could be watched by the other patrons and commented on. While Howard glowered, Jake nonchalantly pulled out a chair for Jenny.

  She had no choice but to allow him to seat her. At least then he had to release her arm. Unobtrusively scooting her chair as far away from Jake as possible, she smiled brightly at the two men, then turned her gaze to the menu. Though she pretended to study it intently, she already knew what she wanted. Something light that would not make her choke as she went through the unimaginable torture of pretending that Jake had no effect on her. In fact merely hearing the bass rumble of his voice made her ache inside. How this could be possible, after what he’d done, after so much time had gone by, she couldn’t say.

  When the waitress came to take their drink orders, Jenny ordered a beer, causing Howard to frown. She ignored him. One of the small pleasures she allowed herself was an icy cold mug of beer now and then. Howard, who pretended to dislike any drink as plebian as beer, ordered his usual glass of zinfandel. Jake, watching her with a wicked glint in his dark blue eyes, ordered beer also.

  To her shock, Jenny caught herself about to smile back at Jake. Confused and filled with a sudden impulse to cry, she buried herself in the menu again, reading the selections over and over.

  Howard, having made his selection—steak and baked potato, no doubt—set down his menu and took a careful sip of his wine.

  The silence seemed to stretch on. Closing her own menu with a snap, Jenny glanced up to find both men watching her, Howard still wearing his puzzled from, Jake with an intensity that lit a fire in her belly.

  Damn him. Summoning up her best, lighthearted laugh, Jenny leaned closer to Howard and squeezed his arm, looking over her shoulder at Jake. “I never did ask you, but is Howard providing the financing for your venture?”

  He gave a slow nod, his intent gaze never leaving her face. “His bank is.”

  “Jennifer.” Howard’s tone sounded mildly reproving. “I told you that Jake is one of our biggest clients.” Absurdly, Jenny wanted to kick Howard under the table. Couldn’t he relax for once, just once, and help her out here? How is it that he claimed to love her and yet couldn’t see how uncomfortable this made her?

  Love. Thinking back, she realized that even though they had discussed marriage, she had never heard Howard use the word. Not like Jake, who had told her he loved her over and over—Stop. Trying to control her wayward thoughts, Jenny seized on the one topic guaranteed to kill amorous feelings in anyone. “Right now I’m helping Jake get set up to pay the IRS his quarterly taxes.”

  The mention of the IRS had the desired result of causing both men to look away.

  Relieved, Jenny hid her smile. Sitting back in her chair, she tilted her beer and took a swallow straight from the bottle, ignoring Howard’s disapproving glare. Savoring the cold, slightly yeasty taste of it, she closed her eyes. Ah, if only she were somewhere else, like the back porch of Malvoran House, someplace where she could kick off her shoes and tilt her chair back.

  Malvoran House? What on earth was she thinking? Opening her eyes, she grabbed her frosty mug and carefully poured the rest of the beer in it. She wasn’t acting like herself. She needed to, as much as she needed to remember that Malvoran House belonged to Jake now.

  The waitress came to take their order. Howard ordered his steak, well done, with a baked potato on the side. Jenny, as she usually did, ordered a grilled chicken salad. And Jake, expression perfectly bland, ordered shrimp and prime rib, with a dozen raw oysters as an appetizer.

  Even Howard appeared startled at that one. “Oysters?” He raised a brow. “I have never been able to stomach the idea of eating those things.”

  Jake grinned at Howard, though Jenny knew his words were meant for her. “You ought to try them. Some people believe they’re a potent aphrodisiac.”

  She fought it, but the blush came anyway, suffusing her entire body this time. Once she and Jake had taken turns feeding each other oysters. He had brought them, packed in ice, on a picnic he had taken her in the woods. There, in the meadow by a gurgling stream, he’d spread a blanket and lit some candles. His arm around her shoulders, he’d kissed her deeply and thoroughly, telling her without words how special she was to him.

  They’d laughed and feasted and eventually spent a sunny May after
noon wrapped in each other’s arms. He’d proposed to her there, getting on his knees before her, holding out the ring as if he thought the brilliance of the diamond alone would convince her.

  She hadn’t cared about the ring. It was Jake, only Jake, that she wanted. She’d cried as she told him yes.

  Jake had to have known she would remember. No woman could ever forget something like that.

  Howard, bless his conservative soul, would recoil in horror were she ever to even suggest such a thing as a picnic in the woods. Howard’s proposals, and there had been two of them, had been presented as more of a business merger between two mutually compatible people.

  She’d had no difficulty turning Howard down, though she supposed she’d marry him someday.

  Just not now. She really wasn’t ready for a life that regimented, that devoid of spontaneity.

  Jake laughed, drawing her attention. With Jake, everything had been spur of the moment, impulsive, exciting. And in the end, painful.

  Howard’s answering chuckle was more restrained, yet no less engaging. It was his way to think before speaking, to weigh every answer, every reaction.

  That, Jenny reminded herself fiercely, is what made Howard so perfect for her. He was steady and reliable. If his soul seemed a bit unimaginative, that was fine. At least Howard did what he said he would do. Unlike

  Jake, who’d spun his pretty lies, made her believe, then vanished.

  She held on to the anger this thought brought her, knowing she would have to use it to fight the foolish attraction that still lingered, an attraction to a man who should never have come back.

  Chapter Four

  Outside the shadows grew longer as the sun sank behind the trees. Over near the bar, a group of college students watched a baseball game, cheering loudly at the television. She felt removed from it all somehow, detached.