by Cindi Madsen
He gave me a quick peck on the lips. “I’m going to go browse the history section.”
“How boring does your book have to be before you call me up and tell me to come over?”
“Not very. I don’t mind admitting I need someone else.” Jake tugged me closer and pressed his lips to mine again, lingering for long enough to make me lightheaded, then walked away.
Grinning like an idiot, I turned my attention back to the shelf. After a few minutes, I selected a Lehane novel and headed to the front to purchase it.
“Darby?”
I turned toward the voice. My heart dropped when I saw Allen. Of all the bookstores in all the world, he had to come walking into mine. He leaned in like he was going to hug me, and I stepped back.
Allen dropped his hands, hurt etched across his face. The lines in his forehead were more pronounced than they used to be, but he still looked handsome. For a no-good, cheating liar. “After all these years, you’re still mad?”
“Am I still mad?” Heat wound through my veins and my breaths came quicker and quicker. “You made me the other woman without my knowing it. So yeah, I’m still mad.”
“Alicia and I ended up getting divorced about a year after we had our daughter. We just couldn’t work it out.”
“Even if I could believe anything you’re saying, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about you and your wife or ex-wife, or whatever your situation is.”
“Look, I’m trying to apologize here. I didn’t mean to involve you in my messy marriage. I really did care about you, and I’m sorry that you got hurt.” Allen took a step toward me. “I just wish that things had gone—”
“Don’t even start with your wishes,” I said, throwing up a hand. “You don’t get any more wishes.”
An arm wrapped around my waist. “Is everything okay here?” Jake asked.
“I’m ready to go.” Being here suddenly felt suffocating. I set my novel down on a random display and charged out of the store, into the cool night air.
A moment later, Jake stepped next to me. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing.”
He grabbed my hand. “For nothing, you sure seem upset.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I pulled on his hand and headed toward his car.
Seeing Allen had put a damper on the whole night. I’d managed to avoid him for eight years. Why did he have to pop up on the one night I was starting to rethink my stance on relationships? If I would’ve just let Jake take me to Boulder for dinner, I wouldn’t have run into Allen.
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
Jake drove the couple blocks to our building, the ride passing in silence. When we got into the elevator, I was half expecting him to push my floor and drop me off. Instead, he chose the button for the twentieth floor. With no others lit, we buzzed up fast enough that my stomach lurched when we stopped.
Jake led me past several doors to the end of the hall. As we stepped inside, he flipped on the lights. He wasn’t kidding about his lack of decorating. A black couch sat in the middle of the living room, and a giant flat-screen TV—on a tiny side table—was opposite it. Typical guy. Huge TV and nothing else.
The far wall had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
“It’s kind of plain right now,” Jake said.
“Lack of decorating is better than bad decorating, in my opinion.”
He walked into the kitchen and took a couple bowls out of his cupboard. “I did a little homework, and according to the people I talked to, when you order dessert, you go for chocolate.” He grabbed a pan off the top of his oven. “So I made brownies.”
“You made them?”
“I’m a pretty good cook, actually. When you have a chef roommate, you pick up a few things.” Jake grabbed a carton of ice cream from the freezer and took some chocolate syrup out of the fridge.
I leaned against the cool granite countertop of his island, which was about twice the size of mine. “And what else did everyone at Blue say?”
“That you come in a lot—or used to before you met me, apparently. You have client meetings there, you’re always friendly, a good tipper, and that you would never go out with me. They said you’d stopped dating since your last boyfriend…” Jake stopped, looking like he wanted to take back the last sentence. He scooted one of the bowls toward me and handed me the syrup.
The staff at Blue could’ve only been talking about one guy. “That’s the problem with sticking to one place. People start to know too much about you.”
“Everyone likes you. They actually told me they’d be mad if you stopped coming in because of me—or Mindy did, anyway. She’s the only one bold enough to tell me something like that.”
We covered our ice cream in syrup, then headed over to the couch to eat dessert.
What a night. I run into Allen, plus get a reminder of what happened the last time I let myself fall.
I knew Jake and I would have an awkward pause eventually. At least I had the brownie to keep me busy during it. Jake didn’t have a coffee table, so when I finished my dessert, I glanced around for a place to set my empty bowl.
“Here,” he said, taking it from me and sticking it in his. He headed to the kitchen, and I walked across the room to the giant windows. The moon peeked out between thin gray clouds. Down below, tiny headlights and taillights moved up and down the streets. I wondered where all those people were going, what their stories were.
Jake came up behind me and put his arms around me. He was warm and solid, and I was starting to like the way he always enveloped me in his arms. His breath stirred my hair. “So, what was up with that guy in the bookstore?”
I ran my fingers across Jake’s forearm, over the coarse hair and the raised veins on the back of his hand. “He’s a mistake from a long time ago. Also known as why I don’t date liars.”
Jake’s lips brushed my temple. “I remember you mentioning that. After you thought I might be one.”
“I’m still not sure you’re not a liar. The problem with liars is, you never really know they’re liars until you catch them.”
“What did he lie about? Something big, I’m guessing.”
“It was pretty big.” I sighed. “Allen was married while we were dating. I should’ve seen the signs. I just…didn’t.”
Things were getting too deep. This was more than I wanted to tell him, and I couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t simply sidestepped the question. I moved away from the window, pulling free of Jake’s arms. “I should get going.”
“Oh, that’s right,” he said. “We’ve got to keep everything light.” There was a hint of frustration in his words.
I leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I’ve already broken enough rules for one night.”
Chapter Thirteen
I sat down at my desk Monday morning, logged onto my computer, and opened up the Internet. Pictures flashed in one corner, advertising a diet plan; the weather report was in the other corner. One of the stories of the day was titled, “Tips on dating from NFL stars.”
“Yeah, the first tip is to be an NFL star,” I muttered. Since I wasn’t really interested in what a bunch of jocks said about dating, I opened my e-mail. Most of the messages declared there was some amazing sale I couldn’t miss—that’s what happens when you indulge in online shopping.
Nadine walked into my office, cup of coffee in hand. “Hey, I’m meeting with a new prospective client at Blue today. I was hoping you’d come with me and help convince Ms. Covington to work with us. I already called in a reservation for noon.”
For so long, I’d fought running into Jake, but right now, going to Blue and running into him seemed like the perfect way to break up my day. Avoiding him had made things seem more complicated, anyway. I was perfectly capable of seeing him and not making a big deal about it. Plus, I missed the food. “I’m in.”
“Great.” Nadine stepped out of my office, then backtracked. “Do you have the stuff on the counters we did for Virgi
nia? I think that’s the feel she’s going for.”
“I’ll bring what I have.”
Most designers had very specific ideas and hated working with other people. There were power struggles and it was a mess. I’d been part of a few teams that had so many divas I thought I was on a VH1 reality show.
Nadine and I, on the other hand, worked really well together. We bounced ideas off each other and made each other’s work stronger. Together we’d made beautiful transformations, one of which was featured in Modern Homes magazine. That had brought in enough local clients to keep Patricia happy with our collaborating on projects. For a little while, anyway. With her, that was all you could ask for.
I glanced at my clock, mentally counting down the minutes till lunch.
Hmm. Maybe I’ll tell Nadine to meet me there, so I can go early and steal a few minutes with Jake.
…
Blue was getting busy, and I decided coming early had been a bad idea.
Mindy spotted me and waved. “Hey, Darby.” She glanced down at the list. “Are you going to be meeting with Nadine?”
“Yeah. I’m a little early.” I stepped forward so we wouldn’t be talking over the rest of the people in the lobby, wondering if I should ask for Jake.
“You want me to tell Jake you’re here?” Mindy asked with a smile. Apparently the girl could read minds.
“I’m sure he’s busy.”
“I’m sure he’ll make time for you.” Mindy scanned her list of names. “Let me seat this couple and I’ll find Jake on my way back.”
A few minutes later, Jake walked up front, a big grin on his face. “Finally, she comes to see me.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed me. A little deeper than I was expecting.
My rapid pulse pounded through my head, and it took me a moment to catch my breath and compose myself. “I’m actually meeting a client here in about fifteen minutes—not that I didn’t come to see you, I did. I just don’t think it would be very professional to be seen kissing in the lobby when she and Nadine get here.”
“I guess we better go kiss in private instead, then.” Jake took my hand and led me to the back of the restaurant. He opened the office door and walked into the tiny room. Stacks of paperwork lined the top of the desk. “So, how’s work going?” he asked.
“Kind of hectic. Nadine and I are trying to land a new client. I’m lining up the painters for Mrs. Crabtree, and…” I looked up at him. “You don’t really care.”
“I care.”
“Well, I don’t. Not right now, anyway.” I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his. I’d left too fast last night, and I’d regretted it ever since. Jake took no time responding, pulling me close and parting my lips with his. With every stroke of his tongue, the temperature rose. Thoughts got fuzzy. I couldn’t catch my breath, but right now breathing seemed totally overrated.
My fingers traveled over the buttons of his shirt, and I was seriously tempted to start undoing them and get a better view of the body underneath. Only I knew that would move things faster than I wanted to go. Plus, we were in an office where someone might interrupt any second, and I had a prospective client to impress.
My chest heaving against his, I reluctantly broke the kiss and groaned at the time. “I should probably get out there,” I said. “I don’t want to be late.”
Jake buried his face in my neck and kissed a burning trail up it and along my jaw. “Should I ride the elevator of our building up and down all night, hoping you’ll show?” he asked, his voice husky. “Or should we just plan to meet?”
I ran my hand along his side, surprised at how disappointed I was that I had other plans. Usually I lived for the nights I got to go out. “I actually have a get-together with Stephanie, her fiancé, and his friends tonight. It’s probably going to be a long night with a bunch of guys telling boring stories. It’ll be extra-awkward because Karl the marriage counselor will be there.”
“If you happen to get home early…” Jake nipped at my bottom lip, and a spike of desire shot through my core. “You know where I live.”
“I think I remember,” I muttered against his lips. I pressed another hard kiss on his mouth, then pulled away before I lost all reason. I straightened my shirt and skirt, making sure they were all in place, and exited the office.
Nadine and a well-dressed woman with short, highlighted hair walked into the restaurant, and I quickened my pace to go meet them. Nadine introduced me to Ms. Barbara Covington and Mindy seated us immediately.
I waited for Ms. Covington to put down her menu to start talking business. “If you don’t mind catching me up a bit, what exactly do you want done?” I asked.
“I just got a fat settlement in my divorce and I want to redo everything.” Barbara swung her hand through the air. “Kick that guy to the curb and use his money to start over again. Men always have expiration dates. I say get rid of them before things go sour.”
“That’s how Darby feels, too,” Nadine said.
Jake chose that moment to arrive at our table. His raised eyebrows made me think he’d overheard the previous comments.
I set my glass off to the side of my plate. “I wouldn’t say that. I simply think that people get too wrapped up in this unrealistic view of happy relationships that last forever.”
“They don’t last forever,” Barbara said. “That’s why you choose someone with money. That lasts longer.”
A knot formed in my gut. I looked at Jake, pleading with my eyes for him to not take this conversation the wrong way. I’d be mortified if he thought I cared about a guy’s money. Rich or poor didn’t have any sway on if I thought a relationship would work out.
“Sorry to interrupt.” He held up my keys. “Look familiar? They were on the floor of the office.”
The keys jangled together as I took them from him. “Yeah, I probably need those.”
Nadine looked at me, her eyes wide and questioning.
“You ladies let me know if you need anything.” Jake smiled at me, and the heat still filling his eyes sent a swirl of warmth through me.
“Sorry about that,” I said after he walked away, working to turn my thoughts back to the job at hand instead of when I could kiss Jake next. “Where were we?”
We talked color scheme and style, and by the end of the meal, Nadine and I had landed a new client.
A client who made me worry about how people saw me and my anti-relationship stance.
Chapter Fourteen
I got into Stephanie’s car and relaxed on the cushy passenger seat. It seemed like Steph and I hardly got to talk anymore, and I was excited to spend time with her.
Stephanie turned down her radio. “Dish before my phone rings.”
“Maybe you should just silence your phone,” I said as she pulled out of the parking garage and onto the street. At least Steph had e-mail capability on her phone. It was turning into our main form of communication. “If we were sinking and you could save me or your phone, which would you pick?”
“If I had my phone to call for help, I could save you, my phone, and myself.”
I shook my head. “Too bad I went under and you can’t find me now. Hope you and your phone have a lovely life together.”
Steph reached out and took my hand. “I’ll never let you go,” she said, doing her best Kate Winslet in Titanic impression.
I laughed. “Can you believe we watched that movie in the theater over and over?”
“What was it, like, three times?”
“I think it was four. And we cried every time.” I shot her a mock-stern look. “Tell anyone that, though, and I’ll have to disown you.”
Steph laughed, and then her phone’s ring broke through. She glanced at the display and sent it to voice mail. “I feel like I’m on the phone all day long, lately, and rarely talking to the people I want to. It’ll get better after the wedding, though.”
“But then you’ll be a busy wife. It’s okay. I’ve only got twenty years before I retire and move in with Drew.”
I injected my words with sarcasm. “I’m sure it’ll fly right by.”
“Stop changing the subject. Tell me about seeing Jake today.”
“He took me back to his office and we kissed for a few minutes.” My lips tingled at the memory of those minutes. Damn, that guy could kiss. I told Steph about my new client and how Nadine had told her she and I had the same values, then threw my hand up to my chest. “I’m not a gold digger. I have no desire to marry men and take their money. She even said to never marry poor, because when the relationship fails, you need to get something out of it.”
“She’s even more cynical than you,” Steph said. “And she’s found a way to make money off it.”
The air vent was blowing right in my eyes, so I turned it away from me. “As my recently shitty luck would have it, Jake came to bring me my keys at the same time Nadine said I felt the same way, so that was nice and uncomfortable.”
Stephanie took a sharp turn, and I gripped the handle over the door. “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize we were so close to the turn.” Her GPS spoke in the background, giving the next set of directions. “You like Jake, though, right? So far so good?”
“Yeah, I like him. I have fun when I’m with him, and he’s funny, and he does have the smokin’-hot thing going for him. Plus, he’s well aware of all my rules. He said something about hanging out tonight, but since I had this thing, I told him I couldn’t.”
“Hello? Why didn’t you invite him to come along?”
I looked at her, mouth hanging open like the idiot I was. “I didn’t even think of it.” All I would’ve had to do was ask, and I could’ve had Jake by my side all night, making everything better…or further complicating it. “It’s probably a good thing I didn’t invite him. If we start hanging out all the time, someone’s going to get clingy. I’m not even saying it won’t be me. Then there will be the ‘where are you right now’ phone calls, and ‘why didn’t you call me.’ I don’t want to get into all that.”
“But serial monogamy is what you say you want, right? Wasn’t that your decision?”
