Thoughts about the first time they met were still running through his mind, when his cell phone rang. He knew from the ringtone it was his executive assistant, Cindy.
“Hi Cindy.” Jake pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and made himself comfortable.
“How are things up there, Jake?”
Most executives would take exception to their employees calling them by their first name. In fact his father almost had a heart attack the first time he'd heard Cindy call him Jake. When he'd hired the fifty-something assistant he insisted that she call him Jake and not Mr. Sherbrooke. At first she balked at the idea, but after a while she complied. Now it sounded strange to hear her refer to him as anything other than Jake.
“Everything is coming along. A good portion of town has power back and our engineers have started plans for replacing the dam. I should be returning home soon.”
“That's a relief. The place is falling apart without you.”
Jake couldn't help but chuckle. Cindy ran a tight ship especially when he wasn't around so he knew there was no possibility of things falling apart without him. “I doubt that.”
“You're right, no problems here. I called because I wanted to give you a heads up. Marcy Blake from Today magazine called looking for you this morning.”
Every cell in Jake's body tensed up at the reporter’s name. Whenever she called looking for a statement, it wasn't a good sign. The last time had been when news of Callie and Dylan's involvement had been made public.
“What did she want?” Jake leaned his forearms on the table prepared for bad news.
“She didn't say much. Only asked to speak with you. Maybe she's doing a piece on your sister's wedding next week,” Cindy said sounding optimistic.
If it was any other reporter he would have agreed with his assistant's assumption, but not Marcy Blake. She was notorious for getting scandals out to her readers first, regardless of how accurate her facts were. She didn't care how her reporting the facts wrong affected people as long as the stories she wrote sold magazines and made her editors happy.
Unease settled in his gut, killing his appetite. He’d kept a low profile as of late so he couldn't think of any scandal she could link to him. Still if she called looking for him it wasn't a good sign. “Thanks for the heads up, Cindy. I'm sure she'll call my cell. It won't take that woman long to get her hands on my new number.” He didn't know how she did it, but somehow she always managed to get her hands on his number. He'd changed it twice in the past two years for that very reason.
He was ending his conversation when Charlie walked in. “Cindy, I'll call you if I hear from Marcy. Let me know if anything comes up down there.” Pushing the end button on the phone, he shoved it in his pocket and gave Charlie a smile. Though she smiled in return, it wasn't the same open inviting one she'd greeted him with earlier. This one was forced and her eyes reflected suspicion. He could tell she wanted to ask who he'd been talking to. For a moment he considered waiting to see if she would say anything, but in the end he decided to just come right out and tell her.
“That was my executive assistant Cindy. I don't know what I would do without her.” Jake stood and moved toward her as he spoke. “Guess some reporter called looking for me today.” Although it wasn't any of her business he didn't want to keep things from her. In his experience when you did that it often came back to bite you in the ass.
Some of the suspicion faded from her eyes, and she accepted his outstretched hand. “Maybe she heard about your work here and had a few questions.”
Holding her hand, Jake led her toward the kitchen door. “She's not that kind of reporter. If it's not guaranteed to sell papers, she's not writing about it.” Damn. He hated the Marcy Blake's of the world. “I'll find out what she wants soon enough, I'm sure,” he said with resignation.
Jake didn't mention the reporter again though he couldn't shake the feeling that a scandal involving him or his family must be taking shape. Rather he focused his attention on Charlie and the Quinns. Once again when they arrived at the hospital they found Jessica with her grandparents. Much like his previous visits he talked to the family about everyday things and Mr. Quinn grilled him about the town's progress.
While Mr. Quinn shot questions at him, Charlie and Jessica used the time to catch up. He still found it odd that the two of them had been such good friends. They struck him as complete opposites especially considering their reaction the day of the accident. Charlie had remained calm and cool while Jessica had been almost hysterical. Yet he could see the close bond between the women as they talked. As he half-listened to Mr. Quinn explain his upcoming surgery, he listened to the conversation between the two old friends.
“You, Kate and I need to go out together the next time you come home. I don't think we have all hung out together since the summer after graduation,” Jessica said.
“We've gone out since then.” Jake noticed that when Charlie answered she looked everywhere but at her friend. “The summer I came home after freshman year.”
Jessica shook her head. “You and I went out. Kate didn't come. And we have not been out since. The day grandpa fell was the first time I'd seen you in years. I didn't even know you were home. You should visit Kate before you leave. Did you know she has two kids now?”
Once again he wondered how long it'd been since Charlie's last visit home. From the previous conversations he'd overheard and what they were saying now, it seemed as if it'd been awhile. Why was that? True, being a doctor in the Navy wasn't a nine-to-five job with vacation time you could take without advance planning, but that didn't mean she didn't have some leave every year. She seemed to get along with her family so why not come home more often?
Whether or not she sees her family isn't any of my business. He often went long stretches between seeing his parents too.
“Doc says I'll need a chair for a while. Physical therapy too,” Mr. Quinn grumbled interrupting Jake's thoughts. “Who has time for that? Who's going to run the store?”
Jake tried to hide his smile as he watched Mrs. Quinn pat her husband's hand.
“Jess practically runs the place now and you know it. You just don't want to do the therapy.”
Mr. Quinn snatched his hand away from his wife, his bright red face giving away his embarrassment. The way Jake figured it, the guy had nothing to be embarrassed about. The woman clearly loved him and didn't have any qualms about giving him a hard time. It was just what he wanted someday. The right woman just hadn't come along yet.
Thinking back over the relationships he'd been in, his eyes moved to where Charlie sat. She was explaining the importance of physical therapy to the Quinns, but it wasn't her words that drew Jake's attention. Rather it was her tone. Though she was straightforward and blunt, her voice was compassionate. Her hazel eyes were warm and caring. There didn't seem to be anything fake or contrived about her. With Charlie what you saw was what you got. It was such a change from the women he normally found himself attracted to. And he suspected it was that very quality about her that had him wanting to get to know her better. Something he hoped would happen next weekend, if she agreed to accompany him.
He'd been mulling over the idea since last night. One minute inviting her seemed like a fabulous idea; the next it struck him as a disaster waiting to happen. Most of the time he wasn't so indecisive, he didn't know why he was this time. It wasn't like another guest would be a big deal. After all more than three hundred people were already expected. Still Jake straddled the fence tipping back and forth like a see-saw.
About an hour later he walked with Charlie out to the parking lot. Like they always did when he left, the Quinns had thanked him for everything and had extended an invitation for dinner at their house once Mr. Quinn left the hospital.
“I think you've got some new admirers.” Laughing Charlie reached for the SUV's door handle.
Darting his hand out before she could grip the handle, Jake pulled the door open for her with one hand while he wrapped his other around her fore
arm anchoring her next to him. If she really wanted to she could move, but the slight touch kept her beside the SUV.
“I can see myself being a bit like Mr. Quinn someday.”
The corners of Charlie's mouth curved upward. “You're going to be a hardware store owner with a broken hip when you grow up?” she asked with a gleam in her eye.
Jake tugged on her arm until she was standing close enough for him to see the flecks of green in her hazel eyes. Focusing on her lips he lowered his head toward her, stopping when they were mere inches apart. Finally, he could do what he'd wanted to do since they exited the hospital.
“I meant a stubborn old man who doesn't like sitting around on his ass.” He didn't give her a chance to comment. Instead he took her lips in a slow tender kiss, one that he intended to tease her with. They'd shared several passionate kisses, but he was always the aggressor. This time he wanted her to control things. Well at least as far as this kiss was concerned. He wanted to see how heated their kiss would be if he didn't keep kicking it up a notch.
Charlie didn't keep him waiting long. She ran her tongue along the seam of his lips enticing him to open for her. When he didn't comply she pressed her body against his, crushing her breasts against his chest and tugging on his bottom lip with her mouth.
Unable to help himself, Jake succumbed to her tactics. Like always she tasted like mint. Whether it was her toothpaste or some candy she favored, he didn't know. But he knew that he was never going to be able to taste mint again without thinking of Charlotte O'Brien.
Jake looped his arms around Charlie's waist and lost himself in their kiss. All thoughts of Mr. Quinn and their visit evaporated as did any thoughts of where they were. His first pull back to reality came in the form of a car's horn. It blared as it passed down the side street near the parking lot. A wolf whistle followed the offensive sound and caused Jake to pull back just in time to see a car pass by.
“I think that's our cue to leave.” He pulled back enough to look Charlie in the face and he felt Charlie's hands leave his shoulders.
“We seem to be making a habit out of this. Maybe we should find a better place next time,” she said before climbing into the passenger seat
I couldn't agree more. In that moment he made up his mind about asking her to accompany him that weekend.
Chapter 5
“You want me to what?” Charlie knew she sounded like an idiot, yet she couldn't help it. Maybe she needed to have her hearing checked. Jake couldn't have just asked what she thought he did.
Jake leaned his shoulder against the door frame near the stairs heading up to the attic, his arms crossed over his chest. Everyone at the bed and breakfast was gathered downstairs waiting to eat. Everyone except them. She'd gone upstairs to check her cell phone messages and when she came down Jake stood leaning against the wall waiting for her.
“Come with me to Newport this weekend. I'm the best man. It wouldn't be right for me to show up without a date.”
Okay, maybe she hadn't misunderstood. “Isn't that what the single bridesmaids are for?” Charlie walked down the last few steps stopping in front of him. Sure they'd shared some amazing kisses but going to his sister's wedding was out there. Especially this wedding. The media was calling it the wedding of the year.
Shrugging Jake gave her a lazy smile. “One's my sister, Sara, and the others just don't do it for me.”
She wanted to ask him what he meant by 'do it' but if the way he looked at her was any indication, she didn't have to. A heady combination of desire and curiosity sprang to life. The men she came in contact with on a daily basis never looked at her the way Jake was. Most viewed her as nothing more than a doctor and Naval officer, they seemed to overlook the fact that she was also a woman. Jake's red-hot gaze told her that he not only noticed that she was a woman, but that he wanted her. And the attraction wasn't one-sided. She wanted him with a ferocity that she'd never experienced before.
“We'll only be gone a few days.” As he spoke, Jake straightened and closed the gap between them. “You can meet my family. I think you'll like them.”
Afraid he'd see the uncertainty she felt, Charlie looked at everything but Jake. She wasn't worried about how long they'd be gone. Nobody really needed her here. Every day the town recovered a little more and, as always, her mom had her brother Sean; she didn't need anyone else. That was part of the reason she came home so infrequently. Rather she worried Jake might get the wrong idea if she accepted the invitation. He may begin to think she wanted a long-term relationship, and she didn't. Relationships that had the possibility of a future were not in the cards for her. She decided that a long time ago.
Get over yourself Charlie; this is Jake Sherbrooke world-renowned playboy. He's not interested in a relationship. Charlie's inner thoughts helped bring her back to reality. Although he'd shown that he wasn't just another rich son living off the family's money, he did still have a reputation for leaving behind many broken hearts.
This is the wedding of the year, she reminded herself. The media had been talking about it for months. Attending it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She could picture the expressions on her friends' faces if she told them she went. Not to mention Newport was beautiful this time of year. Somehow the hurricane that devastated North Salem by destroying the Stonefield Dam had left the town of Newport and most of Rhode Island unscathed.
“You're tempted,” Jake said. “I promise no one there will bite.” Dropping his head he nibbled on her ear lobe. “It'll give us some time alone together.”
Before she could stop herself, Charlie sighed in pleasure. His teasing only increased the throbbing sensation in her body. Much more of it and she might ask him upstairs for a bit to pick up where they'd left off the previous weekend.
“Okay. But only because this is the wedding of the year. It has nothing to do with you.” Somehow she managed to tease him while maintaining a straight face.
Jake broke off his assault and straightened to his full height. For a minute he studied her and Charlie was positive she saw a flash of insecurity flicker across his face. Just as quickly, however, his lips curved into a smile and she wondered if she'd imagined it.
“That so, Doc? Then I'll just have to work extra hard to change that.”
***
Jake almost wanted to whistle as he got dressed, his mood was that good. Everything was going well. Progress in town was coming along and Charlie had agreed to go to Newport with him for the weekend. Now that he'd asked, he wondered why he'd struggled with the decision at all. As soon as he said the words, he'd known it was the right choice.
He hadn't come to North Salem looking for a date, yet he couldn't deny the attraction he felt toward her. He knew it wasn't one-sided either. Being together this weekend would give them time to explore that attraction. At the same time, having her as a date would keep at least some of the single socialites at the wedding away from him.
Before heading down for coffee Jake grabbed his cell off the nightstand. A quick glance at the screen told him he'd missed two calls, one from his half-sister Callie and another from Marcy Blake, aka the reporter from hell. Both callers left messages. Jake didn't bother to listen to the message from Marcy, but he did check Callie's. He'd only met Callie the year before, but in that short time they'd developed a strong bond. In fact he often forgot that she was only his half-sister. In truth he got along as well with her as he did with his full sister Sara, and they'd grown up together. So when he heard Callie's message and she said it was important that he call her back, he didn't hesitate.
Jake listened as the phone rang several times.
“Jake, hold on a sec,” an out of breath Callie said after the fifth ring.
“Sure thing,” he replied although he didn't know if she'd heard him. While he waited he decided to get comfortable on the padded window seat.
“Sorry about that. Problems with the florist,” Callie said coming back on the phone a minute later.
“No worries. What's up? Your mess
age said it was important.” Whatever it was it had to be big. Final preparations for the wedding kept her busy so she wouldn't just call him on a whim.
On the other end of the line it sounded as if Callie sighed. “I got a call from Marcy Blake this morning. Have you talked to her?”
At the sound of the reporter's name the dread he'd felt the day before returned. Something was up; there was no doubt about it. Not only had the reporter called him, but she contacted his family too. Not a good sign.
“No but she's called the office and my cell.” Jake paused, afraid to ask what the reporter wanted. Mentally he did an inventory of all his recent activities and relationships. Not a single thing stood out as being of any interest to this reporter. “What did she want?”
“Are you sitting down?” Callie asked her voice laced with concern.
Half a dozen curses went through Jake's head. He wasn't going to like whatever his sister had to say. “Spit it out Callie.”
Another sigh came through the phone, this one louder than before. “She wanted to know how the family felt about you becoming a father. And whether or not you and Blair were discussing wedding plans now that you’re expecting.”
Jake laughed aloud. His sister's statement was absurd. Anyone else and he'd think they were joking, but he knew Callie wouldn't joke about something like this.
“Is it true? Are you guys having a baby? I thought you broke things off with her.” Callie sounded confused.
“Hell no! I ended things with Blair more than two months ago. I broke up with her when I got back from London. Besides we always used protection.” When the reporter started calling he knew it meant trouble, but he'd never expected this. Sure Blair was upset when he ended things, and she had tried to convince him to give her another chance, but he hadn't pegged her as a vengeful woman. A little shallow and conceited perhaps but not someone capable of being malicious.
The Billionaire Playboy Page 7
