So she claimed. What would he do if she stayed longer? Just because her apartment would be ready in a week didn’t mean she would willingly go then.
Holding back a sigh of irritation at his idiocy, Jake pushed a smile onto his face.
“Is she an old girlfriend?” Lacey asked, giving Jake no choice but to be honest.
He wished he didn’t have to admit that she was—it seemed to give so much more weight to her presence in his house. “Uh, yeah.”
Lacey’s face seemed to close down right in front of him, and he knew he was blowing it with her before they’d even had a chance to find out if they liked each other. Well, he knew he liked her, but it seemed doubtful if he’d ever find out how she felt about him.
An old girlfriend. She knew it.
Lacey gazed at Jake. How long would it take before he was back with Robyn, who, based on the conversation she had overheard, was eager to get back with him?
And who could blame her? He was a great guy.
She knew the fact that another woman wanted him made him that much more desirable, but she’d been pretty far down the road of being attracted to him well before Robyn had shown up.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” she asked, kind of desperate to know, “how long ago did you break up?”
Jake scraped a hand through his hair. “Uh, four months ago.”
It had only been four months? That wasn’t very long. Then she considered that it had only been two months since she had broken up with Eric. That was different though. She was through with him. Completely through. There was no chance that she would get back with him. None. She held back a grimace. Besides, she didn’t think it was very likely that he was going to show up at her apartment and ask to move in.
The idea kind of horrified her.
Obviously, the idea didn’t horrify Jake. At least when it came to his ex.
Lacey could see that Jake was waiting for her to reply, so she got right to the point. “Are you going to get back together with her?” Immediately embarrassed by her blunt question, Lacey nearly cringed as her face heated.
Should she really be asking him that? They had only been out a few times. She didn’t exactly have a right to know. Then again, she needed to do what was right for her. She needed to know. No point in hoping for any kind of future with him if he wasn’t going to be single.
Jake shook his head. “No. No way.”
A thrill of hope shot through Lacey at his confident reply, but she immediately tamped it down.
He was saying that now, but what would he say after he had been sharing his house with her for days on end? Especially if she was trying to win him back. She would have the advantage of proximity.
Lacey paused in her thoughts. Was she going to fight for him? Was she sure she could? Against her?
“She left months ago, and I’m over her,” Jake added.
Wait. She was the one who had left? He wasn’t the one who had broken up with her?
Fresh worry coursed through her.
Jake still had to have feelings for her. Even if he wouldn’t admit it. Right? There was no way she could compete with Robyn. She knew it was time to give it up.
Looking at Jake with regret, she said, “Thanks for bringing my purse back.”
Were they done? Disappointed that Lacey wasn’t convinced he wasn’t interested in Robyn, Jake stood.
Was he going to give up so easily?
His gaze settled on Lacey as she sat on her end of the couch and he knew he would regret walking away now. “Don’t you want to get your car?”
Surprise flitted across her face. “I can get it later.”
Putting on his most charming smile, Jake said, “Or, you can get it now.” He glanced around the space. “Then you won’t be stuck here.” His eyes settled on hers. “Let me take you to your car. Please.” A new thought crossed his mind. “Besides, you left the lunch you made for us in my refrigerator.”
With any luck Robyn wouldn’t be there and then they could eat it together. As they were going to do in the first place.
She seemed to think it over, then she finally nodded. “All right.”
Triumph burst inside him. Holding back a grin, Jake waited while she stood and picked up her purse, then he walked with her to his truck.
Twenty-Five
What was she doing?
Glancing sideways at Jake, Lacey had to admit that she wasn’t in a big hurry to never see him again. Was that why she had agreed to let him take her to her car? Why prolong the agony? She needed to end this quickly, like ripping off a band-aid.
Still, she wanted to savor these last minutes with him.
Jake opened the passenger door on his truck, and when he helped Lacey inside by holding her arm, she loved the strength she felt from him.
She had to be careful. She didn’t want to fall for him harder. Not now. Not when things were over. Her lips compressed with despair. Why was it that when she had found a great guy things had to get complicated?
She put on her seatbelt while Jake got behind the wheel.
He put the truck into gear and pulled away from the curb, then he looked at Lacey. “I’m not interested in Robyn. I’m really not.”
A sliver of hope pierced Lacey at the confident tone of his voice.
Could it be true? Could there be a chance for her?
Desperately hoping there was, Lacey had no intention of risking her heart until Robyn was out of the picture.
“What can I do to convince you?” Jake asked, and Lacey saw something like pleading in his eyes.
Seeing how important it was to him that she believe him gave her an unexpected burst of courage.
You can do it, she thought. Put yourself first. Come on now. Take the risk.
“The only way I’ll be convinced,” she began, then her courage faltered. Was she really going to make him choose between Robyn and her? Did she think she would have a chance against her?
“How, Lacey? How?”
At the look of torment in his eyes, Lacey’s courage surged. “Once she’s out of your house—and out of your life—then I’ll be convinced.”
She had done it. She had told him to choose.
Heart pounding harder than ever—with fear as well as triumph—Lacey was almost afraid to look at Jake.
Jake saw no problem with Lacey’s challenge. He would be at the firehouse for two days, and when he got back Robyn would only be around for a few more days before she moved out.
“She moves out on Saturday,” he said as he looked at Lacey, who seemed less than happy about the whole thing. And who could blame her?
Why did he feel obligated to help Robyn? Then again, why had that been a bad thing? He knew he wasn’t interested in her any longer. What was wrong with wanting to help out a friend?
But he could see the dilemma, and he had no trouble understanding Lacey’s reluctance to believe he wasn’t going to get back with Robyn.
At least he’d gotten her to come on this short trip.
Crossing his fingers that Robyn would be gone, when they pulled up to his house, Jake saw Robyn’s car parked across the street, just where she’d left it.
Holding back a sigh, he smiled at Lacey. “I’ll go grab your lunch basket.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I’ll just…” She gestured toward her car. “I’ll be in my car.”
Frustrated that this day hadn’t gone anything like he’d hoped it would, Jake helped her from his truck, then as she got in her car, he went into the house.
“You’re back,” Robyn said from the kitchen, her voice cheerful. She went to the refrigerator and pulled out the sandwiches Lacey had brought over earlier. “Now that you’re home, we can have lunch. These sandwiches look delicious, and I’m starved.”
Irritation roared through Jake as he nearly snatched the sandwiches from her hands.
He had to calm down. She hadn’t known those were Lacey’s. “Those aren’t for us.” Well, they would have been for him. Lacey and him.
H
urt filled Robyn’s eyes. “Sorry.”
Feeling like a complete jerk, Jake set the sandwiches in the basket Lacey had left on the counter and added the fruit she’d brought, then frowned at Robyn. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He carried the basket outside and toward Lacey’s car, certain that Robyn was watching from the window.
“Here you go,” he said with an apologetic smile as he handed the basket to her through the window. “I hope I can get a raincheck on these.”
Her lips lifted in a small smile. “Me too.”
Dang it. He was blowing it big time.
“Again,” he said, “I’m so sorry about what happened. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
She nodded. “I’ll see you later, Jake.”
When she pulled away from the curb, Jake felt like a piece of him was leaving with her. Trudging back inside the house, when he stepped inside, Robyn was right there.
“Who was that?” she asked, her eyebrows sharply drawn together.
Did he really want to get into this with her? Mentally shaking his head, he said, “Just a friend.” She didn’t look like she believed him, and he felt like he was between a rock and a hard place. Desperate to escape, he said, “I need to finish grouting the bathroom.”
“Do you need any help?” She made a face that said I don’t really want to help, but I thought I should offer.
“I’ve got it, but thanks.”
Hurrying away from her and up the stairs, when he walked into the bathroom and saw Lacey’s water bottle sitting on the floor, he did something he would never admit to. He picked it up and placed his lips where hers had been, then took a drink, wishing he’d kissed her the night before.
Would things have turned out any differently if he had? Would he have turned Robyn down? Would Lacey have believed him when he’d said he was more interested in her than in Robyn?
His eyes widened as a realization hit him.
He had never told Lacey that he was more interested in her than he was in Robyn. Wondering if he should go to her right then and tell her, he knew that wouldn’t work. Not as long as Robyn was staying at his house. Lacey had made it clear that she wouldn’t believe he wasn’t interested in Robyn until Robyn was gone.
Torn about what to do—kick Robyn out then and there (but where would she go?), or wait it out (but what if she tried to extend her stay?)—Jake set the water bottle back on the floor and turned his attention to the tile work that didn’t require any difficult decisions.
The moment Lacey left Jake’s house she drove straight to Caty’s Cuisine to see if she could start working. Knowing she would drive herself crazy with wondering what was happening at Jake’s house as long as Robyn was there, she knew the best cure was to keep herself busy.
“What a surprise,” Caty said with a smile when Lacey walked into the back and found her working at her desk.
“I never thought I’d say this,” Lacey said with a laugh, “but I’m dying to come back to work.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” She held her hands out, palms up. “I’m so much better. Although to be honest, I’m not sure I can wait tables. But there must be something I can do around here.”
Caty stood and faced Lacey. “Since I’m paying you regardless, I’d be happy to find something for you to do.”
Closing her eyes in relief, Lacey smiled, then looked at Caty. “I can start right away.” Please.
“Of course. You can be the hostess.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you so much, Caty.” That was totally doable with her hands not yet ready. She would just take the customers to their tables, give them their menus, tell them the specials, and then Ellen or another server could take their order.
“I’m just glad you’re feeling better, hon.”
“Me too.” But Lacey knew there was more to it than that, and her mind automatically went to Jake and Robyn. What tricks did Robyn have up her sleeve to win Jake back?
Twenty-Six
“I brought you something to drink,” Jake heard Robyn say as she walked into the bathroom where he was wiping the grout off of the tiles. “Oh, it looks so good in here, Jake. You’re a master at this stuff.”
He didn’t mind the ego stroke, but he would have preferred hearing it from Lacey. “Thanks.” He took the water bottle from her, unscrewed the cap, and took a large swallow.
“I made us lunch too,” she said. “When you’re ready, that is.”
His stomach rumbled in reply.
She laughed. “Sounds like you’re ready right now.”
He couldn’t deny it. “I’m almost done here, then I’ll come down.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.” She turned and walked away.
Jake followed her with his eyes, memories of the good times they’d had filling his mind. Nope. He wasn’t going to go there. He finished his work, washed up, then headed down the stairs. He wasn’t sure why he was going to eat lunch with her. Then again, she was probably just trying to be nice since he was letting her stay there.
The dining room table was laid out beautifully—placemats he didn’t even know he had, matching plates, glasses, and utensils.
“What do you think?” she asked as she looked at him expectantly.
He knew he needed to focus his thoughts on Lacey and how he wished she was there instead of Robyn. “It looks fine. Thanks for doing it.”
Knowing he needed to dissuade her from thinking there could be a future between them, he gathered his thoughts. But as he opened his mouth to speak, she launched into a long drawn-out story about how her last job had ended abruptly and how she’d managed to get her old job in Park City back.
By the time she’d wrapped up her tale, he’d finished eating, and all he wanted to do was be with Lacey.
“Can I get you anything else, Jake?” Robyn asked, smiling warmly.
He shook his head. “You’re leaving in seven days, right?”
Looking offended, she nodded. “I said I would.”
“Okay.” He could tell her to leave now, but he didn’t want to be responsible for her sleeping on the streets. Just seven days and she would be gone. Then everything would be fine. “Thanks for lunch.” He stood, and without another word, he walked out to his truck.
Without even thinking about it, he drove straight to Lacey’s apartment, but when she didn’t answer his knock, he decided either she really was out, or she was trying to avoid him.
Probably didn’t want to see him. Not until Robyn was gone. She had said as much.
Sighing heavily, he drove to the home improvement store and wandered the aisles as he turned his attention to what he needed to do next to finish the bathroom.
By the time Lacey had finished her shift, she was tired. But it was a good tired. The kind where she could sit in front of the TV and fall asleep. But first she wanted to talk to Amber.
Eager to get her friend’s opinion on the latest with Jake, she went home and was glad to see Amber’s car out front.
“Caty made me bring dinner home,” Lacey called out as she walked into the apartment and set a platter on the kitchen counter.
“Hey,” Amber said as she came out of her room. “Did I hear you say something about dinner?”
Lacey laughed. “Yep. It’s right here.”
“We’ve gotten so spoiled, I don’t know what we’re going to do once Caty decides you’re well enough to take care of yourself again.”
“Hmm. That might happen sooner than you think.”
Amber lifted the cover from the platter and inhaled the lovely scent of roast beef, then she turned to Lacey. “Why’s that?”
“I started back to work today.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Yeah. I did. I couldn’t take the boredom any longer, so I asked if I could start back and Caty was too happy to let me.”
Amber leaned against the counter. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but I’m bummed that we’ll have to start cooking for ourselves again.”
“I know.” Lacey lift
ed her shoulders in a shrug, then she took out two plates and set them on the table. Was Jake having dinner with Robyn? Had he made one of his delicious meals? The thought of them enjoying dinner together while she sat in her apartment irked her.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asked, and Lacey realized she was starting off into space. “Is it Jake? What happened after I dropped you off? Did he call you?”
Lacey sank into a chair and told Amber everything that had happened.
“Wow,” Amber said as she dished up the food Lacey had brought home. “That’s kind of crazy. So this woman is his ex?”
“Yes.”
“From what you said, it sounds like he’s really not interested in her.”
Lacey took a bite of the roast beef. “That’s what he claims, but until she’s gone I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Did I do the right thing? Basically cutting him off until she moves out?”
“Yes, you totally did. No one’s going to look out for you but you.”
Proud of herself for not letting Jake walk all over her the way she’d let Eric, she hoped it wouldn’t backfire on her. Instead, she focused on the delicious meal and tried not to think about what was happening at Jake’s house.
“You didn’t have to make dinner,” Jake said to Robyn as she set the casserole dish on the table.
“I know. But I wanted to. I mean, you didn’t have to let me stay here, but you did. I really appreciate that. Not many ex-boyfriends would do something like that.” She slid into the seat across from him, her jeans and t-shirt hugging her curves. “But you’re not like everyone, Jake. You’re special.” She glanced at her lap before meeting his gaze. “Which is why I so regret leaving. It was stupid of me. I should have seen what was right in front of me, but I let that job opportunity pull me away from the best thing I ever had.”
Jake couldn’t help comparing Robyn to Lacey. Where Robyn was sophisticated, Lacey was sweet. Where Robyn thought of herself first, Lacey thought of others. Where Robyn was jealous of the time Jake spent on remodeling his house, Lacey wanted to jump in and try it—and had. Where Robyn got bored with the things Jake loved, Lacey wanted to learn more. Not that Robyn was all bad—at one time Jake had really liked her and they’d had a lot of fun together. But there was something special about Lacey that had grabbed hold of Jake and wouldn’t let go. A connection he felt with her. And he wanted more.
Rescue My Heart: Park City Firefighter Romance Page 12
