“I noticed that you didn’t make it back last night. Things are growing serious?”
Andrew colored slightly under his grandmother’s careful scrutiny. Was there nothing that escaped that woman? However, he was not yet sure what was happening between them and had no intentions of telling her that. The reluctance he felt to speak about it must have been clear on his face, for Grandma nodded in understanding.
“You’re not so different from Adam, except that you have the help of a really fine girl behind you. I’m glad to see you making the smart choice and pursuing her. She’s a smart and lovely young woman who has done wonders for you.”
“She’s quite a lady.”
“Don’t think any of us agree with your brother. She’s not a floozy, I can tell.”
He inclined his head in agreement, even as his fists clenched with lingering anger. Coming to blows the evening before with his brother was not the way he had wanted his first dinner with Jamie to go. It had nearly destroyed him when he found that she had left. He was out the door after her before he even considered the repercussions, which thankfully had worked out in his favor. He still tingled where she had touched him, and like an addictive drug he wanted more of her. “Jamie’s many different things; a floozy is not one of them.”
No, that she was not; a vixen, an angel, a magnificent friend and lover, yes, those things she was.
“He’s lashing out because he’s hurting. You did the same thing when you first received your discharge, Andrew.” When he opened his mouth to deny her words, she held up a hand to stop him. “I know it wasn’t quite as bad for you. You still hold a lot inside. He’s not as strong and therefore lashes out.”
Nodding slowly, Andrew conceded. “I understand.”
“Good. I know you can handle him.” She smiled again, her weathered face crinkling. “Will we see you later tonight, or should we just go to bed?”
“Probably.”
Grandma pursed her lips again as though deep in thought. “You’re young and have been alone for too long. If I were you, I’d do everything I could not to come home tonight.”
The conversation was growing far too personal for him. “I’ll feed the horses before I go,” he said abruptly.
“Thank you. Now don’t forget to show up with something nice for her,” Grandma said with a chuckle.
“Huh?”
“A girl always appreciates a token of affection following a first encounter. Don’t you remember these things?”
“Apparently not.” After all, he was overseas and locked away for years of his adult life. “I guess I’m a little rusty.”
“All men have their faults,” she said airily. “Flowers may be a little too predictable at this point and very unimaginative. Jewelry, on the other hand, is too presumptuous.”
His lips twisted dryly. “What else is there?”
“You know her. Go find something that you know she’ll like and save the flowers for a less tempestuous time.”
“That’s not very helpful, but I’ll try.”
“If you want her, you’ll do more than try.”
Feeling more like a fool than a grown man, Andrew turned away hastily. “Good night, Grandma.”
She chuckled. “Have a nice evening.”
He went out the back, his face burning with embarrassment. Though he was a grown man, his grandmother’s sauciness was a bit much for his tender feelings at the moment. Things were happening very fast. After years of doing nothing but think, all this action was new to him. Still, he had to admit that his grandmother made sense. He did want to impress her, and he wanted to show his affection for her as well. Since the words escaped him, his grandmother was right in suggesting that he show her instead.
By the time he was done feeding the horses, he had come up with a tentative idea. Instead of driving straight to Jamie’s, he made a stop at the shopping mall. Warily, he took in the shoppers as he wandered down the corridor feeling uneasy and exposed. Arms laden with bags from various stores, they went about their business as though they had no care in the world except when they would be home for dinner.
It was still a sight that caused Andrew some anxiety. Wondering if any of these people knew who he was, how he had spent the last ten years of his life first in an effort to protect them and then as a labeled criminal, made his mission uncomfortable. At times his anger would return, and he would have to fight the urge to pull someone aside and shout at them that he had devoted a good portion of his adult life to supporting the very same democracy they were enjoying at the moment. But this time he pushed the old resentment aside and headed straight toward his destination. After all, tonight he was going to see Jamie.
Finding the store was the easy part; deciding where to start was another matter altogether. Not a small man, he stood like a bull in a china shop just inside the entry staring at the sights, smells, and options before him with the urge to flee. What he had assumed would be an easy task was suddenly a vast undertaking that he was not sure he had the time for.
Luckily, one of the young salesgirls saw his hesitation and approached him with a broad smile and no glimmer of recognition or fear. In the weeks that had passed since his release, he had allowed his dark hair to grow in more and no longer appeared as he had during his trial. There was no flicker of recognition in the girl’s face when she greeted him, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“May I help you?”
He nodded tersely. “Please. I need a nice gift.”
Her smile never wavered. That made him very happy. “Sure. Is this for your wife?”
“Not my wife, no. My, uh, girlfriend.” Though he had never before considered her as such, speaking the words aloud seemed natural to him…
“Well, what scent is her favorite?”
…Until that moment.
“I’m not sure, actually,” he stammered, feeling foolish again.
She chuckled, remaining as unsurprised and unfazed as before. “I understand completely… Can you describe it? Is it floral, fruity or musky?”
His mouth fell open as the girl spoke. “What’s the difference?”
With continued enthusiasm, she turned on her heel. “Come with me, and I’ll show you a few of our most popular scents. You should be able to tell which type is more her style.”
Like a frightened child, he fell in step behind her and obediently sniffed each sample she held out to him. Having only been close enough to catch Jamie’s scent on a few occasions, he finally settled on the one that he preferred the most. She beamed with pleasure.
“That’s my favorite, too. I love this particular scent because it has a touch of wildflowers and lemon. So you have the best of both.”
“Great,” he said. Suddenly he was not so dumb after all.
“Now are you looking for daily shower use or something more relaxing?”
Stumped again, he stared down at her wordlessly.
“Is this a special occasion?”
“Sort of,” he said. Another reminder of the previous night advised him loud and clear that it was definitely a special occasion for him.
“Romantic gift?”
He cleared his throat. “Uh, ya, that would be good.”
“Okay, how about this basket? It’s a spa gift set, with bubble bath, lotion, a candle and a nice body mist.”
He stared at her offering, wondering if Jamie would like it. Hell, he had no idea. Turning to his helpful salesgirl, he pinned her with a steady stare. “If you were her, would you like that?”
A high-pitched laugh rang throughout the store, and Andrew shifted uncomfortably. “You’re so cute,” she giggled. “Yes, I would like that very much. It’s a thoughtful gift.”
“Then I’ll take it,” he said.
“Follow me… I think we may even have some tissue back there so we can wrap it all up nice for you.”
He followed her to the back of the store and waited while she pulled free some tissue and arranged it around the basket in the paper bag. She then rang him up,
all the while telling him what a nice gift he was buying. Andrew nodded distractedly, more cognizant of the passing time than of the wrapping job the helpful salesgirl completed for him. The last of the small talk complete, Andrew gathered up his package and thanked her for her help. As he strode back out the way he came, weaving through flower and fruit scents wrapped in colorful packaging, he realized that he was feeling almost like a full human again.
***
Jamie pulled open the door with a brow raised in question. “You’re late,” she accused lightly.
Reaching forward to unlock her security door, she took in the tall sight of her guest. He was standing on the other side of the screen dressed in tan slacks and a black shirt. His dark hair appeared hand combed, and his light, deep set eyes gleamed in the growing darkness. His cheeks were smooth from a recent shave, and the woodsy smell of fragrant cologne brought a smile to her lips as she swung the heavy screen door open to allow him entry.
Closing and locking the door behind him, Jamie placed her hands on her hips and spun around with a playful scowl. “Well..?”
He held out his hand in answer. It was the first time she noticed the bright, multi-colored bag with pink and white tissue peeking from the top. “I made a quick stop.”
“You bought me a present?”
He inclined his head. “I did. Here.”
Grasping at the urgently thrust package, she reached out and caught the bag before he dropped it on the floor in his haste to be rid of it. Laughing, she grabbed it with both hands. “You’re forgiven for almost ruining my nicely planned out meal. I hope you’re hungry because it’s ready.”
“Famished.”
“Good. Come on in.”
She moved away from the doorway and led him through the great room to the small dining room. She had lit candles, and they flickered as they passed. When he took his seat, she noticed that his nostrils flared.
“Something smells good.”
She beamed. “Do you like Italian food?”
“Love it.”
“Good. Then you’ll like my meal. It’s one of Isabel’s recipes.” She smiled at him over her shoulder and set the bag on the counter so that she could take a peek inside. “I think this smells pretty good, too.”
Reaching in, she pulled the basket out and read the labels with pure pleasure. With her penchant for taking long hot baths in her whirlpool tub, he could not have picked a better gift.
“Oh, Andrew,” she breathed.
Glancing over her shoulder at him again, she realized that he appeared very nervous. Her smile grew in response. Placing the basket down on the counter, she bent and threw her arms around his neck to hug him tight.
“I can’t believe you bought me a present, let alone such a perfect gift. Thank you very much.”
His arms came around her slowly, lightly touching her waist. “I… you’re welcome.”
Laughing at his obvious discomfort, Jamie released him and carried her gift with her, setting it on the table as she took her seat. “I want to open this and smell it. Would you open the wine?”
Without a word, he came to his feet and reached for the bottle, deftly popping the cork. He filled her glass but sat back down without pouring any for himself.
“You’re not having any?”
“May I just have some water?”
Darn, Jamie thought. She had made a specific trip to the wine store to locate her favorite pinot grigio to go with dinner. The fruity wine went very well with the heavy chicken saltimbocca, and she felt it was a great addition to the meal itself. In fact, it was a part of the meal.
Hiding her disappointment, she went back to the kitchen and reached into the cabinet for a glass. As she went she chided herself for not remembering that he did not drink. “Ice?”
“No ice, thanks.”
As she handed the glass to him, she smiled apologetically. “I forgot that you never drink.”
“I might just have a sip or two with your meal. It looks fantastic.”
“Then let’s eat.”
“Finish opening your present first.”
He stared pointedly at the basket until she reached for it. Pulling the bubble bath free first, she lifted it to her nose and inhaled deeply. “Wow, Andrew, this is very nice.”
“You think so?”
Though for the most part he was an inscrutable man, she detected a hopeful tone to his words. She smiled again, touched by his thoughtfulness and eagerness to please. “It’s wonderful. Not too strong, nice and smooth… I don’t like the lotions that you put on and people can smell you from twenty feet away.”
He nodded. “I don’t either.”
“This smells great. Thank you. I’ll try it with my next bath.”
Setting the lotion aside, she returned her attention to the meal before them and began to serve. As she worked, she wondered how long it had been since she had prepared a cozy meal for two. In the final days of her marriage to Clay, she had been home alone in the evenings most of the time. On the rare occasions when he did come home, more often than not she was already in bed. It had been almost too long to remember, she thought with a touch of nostalgia. However things were changing now. She placed the plate in front of him, meeting his appreciative stare.
“Wow Jamie, this looks amazing.”
Smiling, she served herself and then placed her napkin on her lap. “It’s chicken saltimbocca with steamed broccoli and angel hair. I hope you like it.”
Mimicking her actions, he spread his burgundy napkin on his lap and eagerly picked up his knife and fork. She laughed when he took his first bite and let out an appreciative groan. It was heartening to see him dig into her preparations with such gusto. Silently focusing on the meal before him, he ate enthusiastically for a moment before finally raising his head to meet her amused gaze. “This is delicious. I’m impressed.”
Though beaming with pleasure, she ducked her head modestly. “With Linda’s cooking every night, how can I compare?”
His eyes were completely serious when he met her gaze. “After the food I’ve been forced to eat over the years, I relish every good meal.”
The somber reminder of his past caused her to shift slightly in her chair. Reaching for her wine glass, she lifted it in his direction. “May you have many more delicious meals in the future to make up for the past.”
He raised his glass of water in response. “I’ll drink to that.”
Taking the opportunity that presented itself, Jamie lowered her wine glass and leaned forward. “Is that why you never drink alcohol?”
His head tipped to the side as he contemplated her question. For a moment she feared he would not answer her, but he surprised her. “I used to drink,” he said. “After my accident, I actually drank a lot. After a while I figured it wasn’t worth it. I’d wake up hungover and even more miserable than I was before.”
“So you quit altogether?”
Andrew shrugged. “Alcohol isn’t a good way to deal with problems.”
Though she understood his meaning and fully agreed, she could not help but press him a little. “Neither is holding it all in instead of talking about it.”
“True enough…” Leaning forward, he refilled his plate much to Jamie’s pleasure. Then he pinned her with his steady stare. “So tell me what happened to your Mr. Right.”
Caught completely off guard, it took Jamie a few seconds to realize what he was talking about. Suddenly his subtle change of topic hit her, and she chuckled. “Touché.”
The corners of his mouth deepened in his now familiar semblance of a smile. “You said it first.”
Having fully sated herself, Jamie topped off her glass of wine and then sat back in her chair. Tossing her napkin over her plate, she pursed her lips and stared at him. “All right then. You asked; I’ll answer.”
While he finished his second helping, she sipped at her wine and filled him in on her last five years. “Clay and I left the day after you followed me home. Do you remember that night?”
&
nbsp; His lips twisted. “How could I ever forget?”
“We settled up in Vegas. He was chasing his career as a corporate lawyer, and I had a good job with clients of over a hundred grand in assets. Within the first six months, we were married and bought a house just outside the city. Things were good.”
“But?”
Swirling the wine in her glass thoughtfully, Jamie pondered what had happened. It seemed to have changed overnight, but in hindsight she could see that there had been warnings long before the drugs became involved. “I think we were both too caught up in getting our careers up and running in a new city. We were young and ambitious, and we lost our relationship after the initial rush… Then he got in with a fast crowd.”
The candles cast his face in the shadows, but she could see his eyes widen and narrow as necessary during her story. When she paused a second time, his brow rose in question.
“He started partying in the evenings. It started with a late night here or there for a client dinner, but it wasn’t long before he was out all night. When he got home, he’d be crashing hard. He’d be sad and mopey. It took me a few months to realize why that was.”
“Drugs?”
She nodded. “Ecstasy and cocaine.”
A low whistle escaped his lips. “He wasn’t messing around.”
“No, he wasn’t,” she agreed.
“How long did you stay?”
“Too long,” she said softly. “I thought it would stop. He made promises at times, but in reality he just got worse. I finally realized that we’d grown too far apart, and after everything he did I knew I could never love him the way I once did.”
“So you left?”
She nodded. “I spoke to him first. He wasn’t happy and went into a deep depression. I got scared and stayed a little longer, but I had already filed for divorce. Once that process started things got really bad. He was acting so crazy that I moved into a hotel room. I stayed there for a few days, going to work like normal, not thinking that Clay was following me. He showed up there high and freaked out a little. I had to call Ian.”
Andrew’s face had grown dark with repressed anger. “Did he hurt you?”
Jamie shrugged. “Physically, no… emotionally? I’d be lying if I said no, but I’m over it now.”
If We Dare to Dream Page 23
