Heart Robber (Lifestyle by Design Book 2)

by Miranda P. Charles

"Are you okay, darling?" Victor asked as they walked to the nearby restaurant where they would be meeting Faye.

  "Just tired," she said with a mirthless smile.

  "You coming down with something, Jess?" Clarise asked with concern.

  "No, no. I'm fine."

  Clarise slowed down and peered closely at her face. "Jess, did you and Rob have a fight?"

  She looked up from the ground she had been observing to meet Clarise's scrutinising gaze. She should have known her face couldn't keep a secret.

  "No, we didn't have a fight."

  "Then what's wrong, honey?" Clarise asked softly.

  "Me. I'm what's wrong. I'm stupid," she answered morosely.

  "What?!" her friends cried out together.

  "What do you mean?" Victor asked. "Wait. We're almost at the restaurant. Hold that thought and you can tell us when we get there. That way we can all concentrate on what you're saying."

  Faye was already there saving a table for them when they arrived.

  Jessa put on a bright smile for her friend. "So how many matches Faye?"

  "Five."

  "Woo-hoo! All five of your choices!" Victor clapped in glee.

  "So who are you going out with first? And is anyone getting a Saturday night?"

  Faye laughed. "Kevin's getting a Saturday night. The others I'm cramming in next week. One for each day except for Friday night."

  "Oh, good," Victor responded. "You could update us with the first four next Friday."

  "Would you like to ask your men to join us for dinner then? It's good to have them with us every now and again," Faye asked.

  "I'll ask Will. I'm sure he'd love to join us," Clarise answered.

  "I'll ask Evan, too. By the way, the whole meet-the-family episode last night wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. They were all wonderful. I had a fantastic time."

  "Good for you, Victor," Faye cheered.

  The server came to take their order. When she left, Faye turned to Jessa. "So Jess, do you think Rob could join us next Friday?"

  "I'll ask him although I doubt if he could make it. Friday nights are his business development nights." Jessa kept her face impassive but somehow, it must have been too impassive because Faye started looking at her with concern as well.

  "What's wrong, Jess?"

  She glanced at her friends and sighed. "Just me and my stupidity. I let myself expect something that isn't going to happen and just ended up hurting myself."

  "Rob?"

  "Yes. I thought things were going so well between us that he might have been having thoughts of, you know, having a more serious relationship than one that doesn't go past four months."

  "You've talked to him about it?" Clarise asked.

  "No. It was just something he said this morning. He said no speed dates or other dates for me. Not while he's in this city. It was a sweet thing to say but it was clear I could go on all the dates I want when he leaves." She sniffed as she forced herself to maintain composure.

  "There was always that risk, wasn't there? That you'll get really hurt by your arrangement knowing you've already fallen for him when you went into it," Clarise gently reminded her.

  "Yeah. I started out with no expectations. I just wanted to have my time with him. That was way easier to manage. I need to get back to that state. But how do I do that? It feels like I've opened up a wound that I can't easily close up." Her face pleaded for her friends to give her an answer.

  "Let's think of all your options," Victor suggested.

  "Okay."

  "Well," Faye started, "you could forget he said what he said and you could continue with where you were at before he mentioned those words. You guys looked super hot for each other last night and if you have that for two more months, then at least you still get what you originally wanted."

  She nodded. "That would be great. But how do I stop myself wanting more?"

  There was silence on the table until Faye responded. "I don't know how you can. It'll be hard to stop yourself from wanting something when you're currently enjoying it."

  "I know!" Victor raised his hand. "Ask Rob to stop being so sweet to you. Tell him to just give you hot sex then leave. No cuddling, no staying overnight, not even having dinners together," he proposed with slitted eyes.

  Her face fell. "You can't be serious! I don't think I'd like that. I love it when Rob acts like a real boyfriend who cares for me." She buried her face in her hands. "And that's what I won't have in the future."

  The three looked at each other in consternation.

  "See?" she continued. "I'm so stupid. How did I get myself in this position?"

  "What do you want to do, Jess?" Faye asked. "Do you want to continue seeing him knowing he doesn't want a long-term relationship or do you want to end it now so you can start healing and move on?"

  "Is there another option?" she begged.

  "You still have two months to change his mind," Clarise said quietly.

  She looked at Clarise eagerly. It was what she really wanted to do. She just didn't have the confidence to pull it off. "You really think I can?"

  Clarise gave her a small smile and shook her head. "No one can guarantee you that, Jess. You do know how much more it would hurt if you tried everything and you still failed to change his mind. It's just a question of whether you think he's worth it to go through all that pain and effort."

  She pondered Clarise's words. Was Rob worth it? The answer came to her swiftly and loudly. Hell, yeah.

  "He is worth it," she said out loud. "Now, I need some ideas."

  ~~~~~~~

  Rob jumped at the sound of his intercom buzzer going off. Who could that be?

  "Who's there?" he said as he lifted the receiver.

  "I have a special delivery for Mr. Rob Granger," a soft female voice answered.

  A big grin spread on his face. This was totally unexpected. "Sure, come on up."

  He opened his door and stationed himself there as he waited patiently for Jessa to arrive. When she rounded the corner, his heart pounded as he took in how attractive she was with a small carry bag in one hand and a beautiful smile on her face. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since he last saw her. Yesterday, he left her place just after lunch like he always did on Sundays. That he was pleased at seeing her again so soon was an understatement. He missed her so much already.

  "Mr. Granger?" she asked as she got to his door.

  "Yes," he responded with a goofy grin.

  "I have a wagyu beef burger and piping hot chips for you, sir."

  His mouth salivated and he realised he was starving. It was almost lunchtime and he hadn't had a break. "Yum. To whom do I owe this special delivery?"

  "I don't know, sir. I'm not privy to that kind of information. I'm just the delivery girl. And I was asked to make sure I put this on a plate for you."

  He moved and indicated for her to go in, the goofy grin still plastered on his face.

  Jessa went to his kitchen and arranged the burger and hot chips attractively on a plate for him. She set it down on the dining table next to his laptop. Then she refilled the glass of water that was already sitting there.

  He inhaled the delicious smell that wafted through the room but frowned when he saw there was only one burger. "You're not having lunch with me?"

  "Lunch with you, sir? Sorry. That's not part of my job description. Although this is," Jessa murmured as she curved her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

  He moaned as he slid his arms around her waist and crushed her to him. They kissed hungrily for long minutes until Jessa pulled away. He tried to re-capture her mouth but she resisted.

  "I have to go back to the office," she giggled as she tried to evade his seeking lips.

  "But your customer is not satisfied yet. I'll complain to your boss and say you've done a poor job of delivering what your customer wanted."

  "No, I really have to go back to work, baby." She cupped his face and put on an apologetic expression. "We're having a sta
ff lunch for our new writer. He started today."

  He stilled. "So you're really going now?"

  "Yes."

  "But you just got here," he complained, feeling like a child who'd been denied his favourite thing.

  "I just sneaked out to bring you lunch so you don't have another one of your microwave food."

  He pouted. "And I thought I was going to have some midday sex, too."

  Jessa chuckled and extricated herself from his embrace. "I'd love to stay but we're both very busy today. I'll see you tomorrow night," she promised. "And you should eat your lunch before it gets cold."

  He pulled her back in his arms and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "Thank you."

  "You're welcome," she answered softly. She looked up at him. "By the way, I know you're usually busy on Friday nights but would you like to have dinner with the gang this Friday?"

  "The gang?"

  "Us three girls and Victor. Will and Evan will be joining us, too, I believe."

  "This Friday?"

  Jessa nodded.

  He surveyed Jessa's upturned face. She looked eager and hopeful. He discovered he didn't have the heart to say no to her. He'd just have to re-arrange his earlier plans for that Friday. "Okay. I guess I can do that."

  She beamed at him. "Great. Well, I really have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow night."

  He walked her to the door, wishing she could stay. He didn't know how he became so needy of her, didn't know what she'd done to him. "Bye, witch," he said, thinking how apt that term was for her.

  "Bye," she responded as she gave him a swift kiss.

  He watched her disappear around the corner. He wanted to run after her and give her a thorough kiss. He wanted to tell her he already missed her and he'd be counting the minutes before he saw her again tomorrow. The urge was so great it scared him that he might actually act it out.

  He hurried back inside and his eyes fell on the lunch Jessa got for him. His stomach growled. He sighed a mixture of contentment and longing and started attacking the food.

  She is just the sweetest thing.

  ~~~~~~~

  "There they all are," Jessa burst out as she saw Rob, Will and Evan standing outside the restaurant entrance from across the road. They were busy chatting as they waited for them.

  "Don't they all look handsome," Victor commented as they waited for the green 'walk' sign. "But, of course, Evan is the most attractive of them all. Even if he's got those dorky glasses and he's shorter and he doesn't have the face and the body those other two have, he's still the one for me."

  The women laughed.

  "Yes, the love bug's bitten another one." Faye sighed theatrically. "Next time we all meet with your men, I better get myself a date for the night or I'll feel left out all the time."

  Jessa put an arm around her friend and gave her a squeeze. "Oh, Faye. In less than two months, I could be the one who's dateless." She tried to sound teasing but her heart contracted at the thought.

  "Well, Jess, you still have that time to make him fall for you. Use it wisely."

  "I will. But I'm not exactly sure how apart from showing him how much I care without saying the words. What else can I do apart from that?"

  "Hey, I saw this book in the bookstore the other day. Something about how to create a potion to bewitch any man," Clarise teased.

  She smiled shyly. "He calls me his little witch sometimes."

  "That's a great sign. Maybe he feels bewitched by you already."

  "Even if he does it hasn't changed his mind about having a termination date for our relationship."

  "Maybe what you need to do is to make him feel what it would be like without you," Clarise said in a thoughtful voice.

  "How do I do that?" she asked nervously.

  "Well, Kevin —" Faye didn't have the chance to finish what she was going to say. They were already crossing the road and the men had seen them.

  ~~~~~~~

  "So the guy you saw yesterday was the only one you'd consider going out with again?" Evan asked Faye.

  "Yes. He was really interesting to talk to apart from being hot. The guy from Tuesday was the worst. Honestly, he didn't even want to have dinner! He wanted me to go straight to his place. What a waste of my time," Faye rolled her eyes as she relayed her dating experiences in the last four days.

  Rob placed an arm on the back of Jessa's chair and toyed with her hair. She smiled at him and he smiled back at her.

  "Tomorrow night I have Kevin, one of the triplets," Faye continued. "By the way, girls, I haven't told you this but Kevin emailed me today. He said Keith and Julian wanted to know if the relationships you're in are serious." She had a twinkle in her eye as she talked to Jessa and Clarise.

  "Who are Keith and Julian?" Will asked suspiciously.

  "They're Kevin's friends whom we met before the speed date started. Keith likes Clarise and Julian likes Jess."

  "What did you say?" Will asked, almost growling.

  "I haven't responded to him yet. Of course I'll let him know Clarise is definitely taken. I'll tell him tomorrow."

  "Jessa's taken, too. Tell that dimpled idiot that," Rob said.

  "Sure." Faye replied in a slightly hesitant fashion. "I'll tell him Julian would have to try his luck in a few months time," she added with a wink to Jessa.

  It took a few seconds before Faye's meaning sunk in and when it did, Rob found it hard to breath. Jessa already had a potential date lined up when their short relationship ended. He looked at Jessa who was staring down at her food. She wouldn't be his in a few weeks.

  "What does Julian look like?" Victor asked.

  "Very cute," Faye responded. "The triplets all have dimples and copper hair that's why they're called the triplets. But Julian has the deepest dimples."

  "Dimples! Hmm. I know someone who thinks dimples are hot," Victor grinned.

  "Who?" Evan asked.

  "I'm not saying," Victor replied but his eyes were on Jessa.

  "I gather you'd go on a speed date again when Rob goes back to Melbourne, wouldn't you, Jess?" Will asked.

  All eyes went to Will then to Jessa. Rob held his breath as he waited for her to answer.

  "Depends," Jessa answered as she squirmed on her seat.

  "On what?" Rob asked with narrowed eyes.

  "A few things," Jessa answered vaguely, not looking at him.

  "Such as?" he persisted.

  "Whether I feel like it or not at the time. Would you?" she asked him.

  "Would I what?"

  "Go on a speed date in Melbourne." Jessa glanced at him.

  He shook his head. "Never interested me."

  "Why not?" Faye asked. "It's fun if you don't take it too seriously."

  "I just never had the need to go on one, I guess."

  "I suppose it's easy for you to pick up women from anywhere, anyway."

  "You girls wouldn't have any problems picking up men either. Why did you go?" Rob's eyes were on Jessa as he asked the question.

  Jessa blushed and her eyes went to Faye.

  "Jessa went because we encouraged her to go," Faye answered for her. "She wouldn't believe us when we tell her how easily men get attracted to her so we thought she should go to one and see for herself. I went because I thought it would be fun."

  Rob frowned, still looking at Jessa. "What? You don't see how attractive you are?"

  Jessa's blush deepened. She looked highly embarrassed.

  "It's true, she doesn't." Clarise pounced. "There are all these men who would love to go out with her and she doesn't even notice."

  "Yeah," Victor added. "Like James Bradley, one of our clients. Everyone notices how he couldn't take his eyes off Jess when he visits the office."

  "Well, it looks like you wouldn't miss me when I'm gone," Rob remarked dryly, his eyes not leaving her face.

  "I would," she replied quietly. "But I don't have a choice but to move on."

  Rob stared at Jessa for a long moment as she nervously played with her food. He saw it
- her sadness, her pain … her hopes.

  He thought everything was crystal clear. He thought everything would be simple. Not easy, but simple. In that moment, it hit him that everything had become so complicated.

  The silence around the table didn't register to him. He also didn't notice how, as if in one accord, their well-meaning friends burst into chatter again about other things. They excluded him and Jessa who were in a space of their own where the tension was thick and could not be evaded.

  He couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't breath. He had to get his bearings back and put himself on less perilous ground.

  Something had crept up on him when he was unaware. And whatever it was, it scared the living daylights out of him so he ignored it as best as he could. But now, he had no choice but to face it.

  "Jess," he called softly so only she could hear.

  Jessa turned to look at him, her face was calm but her eyes betrayed the depths of her rioting emotions.

  "I think we need to talk. Do you think we could go for a walk and do that?"

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Jessa kept her arms folded across her chest as she walked beside Rob. He hadn't made an effort to hold her hand like he always did whenever they went out. A part of her was relieved. She needed that space to calm her nerves. But she was also lonely. On a cold, still night, he was right beside her but he had never felt so far away.

  "Do you want to sit there?" Rob asked as he waved a hand towards a surprisingly empty bench facing the Sydney Opera House from across the water. She headed for it and sat down.

  Rob sat next to her and was quiet for a long while as they both watched people walk past. She waited for him to speak. If he was waiting for her, well, she didn't know where to start or even what to say.

  "I don't know what's going on, Jess. I mean, I do but I don't know what to do with it." Rob's voice was almost a whisper.

  "What is going on, Rob?" She wanted to hear him say what was on his mind.

  Rob turned to face her. "I know we've started to care for each other. I'm not really surprised by that. What I'm surprised by is how hard it would be when this ends."

  There it was again. When it ends. Not if it ends.