Not Quite Dating

by Catherine Bybee

  “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

  “It was one in the afternoon on a Wednesday.”

  “Oh. I take it that was out of character for your father.”

  Jack saw true concern lace Jessie’s features when he glanced over at her. “My dad works hard,” he said in a low voice.

  “It sounds like you admire your father a lot.”

  “I do. He worked hard and managed two kids without the help of a mom. When my mom was around, he worked harder than anyone I knew. We didn’t see him very much, which might be why she left him. I don’t know. I don’t remember her complaining. Once she left, he was around more. He took taking care of my sister and me to another level. A better level. Anyway, Mom filed for a divorce, and now we exchange Christmas cards. Sometimes not even that.” Last year she was living in Italy with a guy named Pierre or some other god-awful name.

  “Your dad took it hard, didn’t he?” Jessie set her glass aside and sat farther back in the seat.

  “I think he always wanted her back. Even after leaving him for all those years, he would have taken her back without even an ounce of explanation as to why she left.” Which was sad beyond words. Why anyone would worship his mother was beyond any reason that Jack could see.

  “Did your dad ever try to explain what happened with them? Why she left?”

  “No. He’s never talked about it. The only thing I came up with is that she didn’t love him. He took care of her financially; she didn’t really want for anything. They didn’t fight. But what did I know…I was a kid.”

  “Has your father remarried?”

  Jack shook his head. “No.”

  “He must still love your mom.”

  He thought so, too. He knew now it had been a one-way love from the beginning.

  “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t even get a card from my dad at Christmas.” Jessie shifted in her seat, kicked her shoes off, and tucked her legs under her.

  “Really?”

  “Not a word since he walked out on us.”

  “Why did he leave?”

  Jessie’s eyes gazed beyond the moonroof as she spoke, her thoughts deep in the past. “He wanted nothing to do with parenthood or monogamy. My mom said he cheated on her from the beginning, but she was willing to look beyond it.”

  “Why would any woman look beyond that?”

  “Having two kids to feed makes women do all kinds of things. But I’m sure she would have buckled eventually. Anyway, Mom filed for divorce and pinned him down long enough to get the papers signed. After that, he was gone.”

  When Jessie shivered, Jack pressed the button and closed the moonroof. He found a switch and clicked on the seat heaters. “Was that hard on her?”

  Jessie shrugged. “I’m sure it was. But she quickly replaced him with husband number two, then three. Lately she just shacks up with them long enough until the new wears off, then finds another.”

  “That’s cold,” he said.

  “It’s the truth. She lives just outside of Fontana, but my sister would rather live with me and Danny than deal with her drama all the time.”

  Jack stretched his arm out along the back of the seat. “That’s just smart. No one needs that kind of instability in their life.”

  “True.”

  “You and your sister are close, then?”

  Jessie brushed away a lock of hair that had fallen in her eyes. “Very. What about you and your sister…close?”

  “We get along, but I wouldn’t say we’re close. She’s wild, doesn’t want to grow up.”

  Jessie laughed. “This from the guy I met coming back from a weekend in Vegas with his buddies, ‘borrowed’ this evening gown and shoes for a near stranger, and sneaked the hotel’s limo to give a girl a ride home. If you’re calling her wild, I think it runs in the family.”

  Jack tossed his head back, laughing. He guessed he didn’t exactly look like a choirboy in Jessie’s eyes. “Since you put it that way…”

  “Do you see your family during the holidays? I’m guessing you didn’t for Thanksgiving since you’re still here.”

  “I try and get home, but it doesn’t always work out. What about you? Did you see your mom on Thanksgiving?”

  “Couldn’t avoid it. When Renee Effinger—that’s my mom’s name—invites you, you better go. If you don’t, be prepared for some serious guilt the next time you see her. It didn’t matter that I’d worked the morning before, didn’t matter that none of us like her cooking, you’d better come.”

  “I guess that means you’ll be with her over Christmas.”

  “Probably. Danny thinks she’s funny. It’s my sister and me that she rubs wrong. Everyone else loves her. Heck, you’d adore her.” Jessie leaned her head forward onto her bent elbow resting on the back of the seat.

  “Has she done anything awful?”

  “No, not really. She tried her best raising us. Which isn’t easy when there’s only one income. I know that more than anybody does. I think maybe I’m ticked at her for not finding one guy and sticking with him. How hard can that be? Thousands of people manage to stay in a marriage for years and years. Why can’t she?”

  Jack felt her sadness and wanted to wipe it clean off her plate. “Thousands of people get divorced, too.”

  “I know. I guess I just want to see her settled. Safe.”

  “Stability is important to you.” Now he understood her desire for a rich husband. Jessie thought that with money came stability. Hell, his parents’ relationship proved her wrong. There were no guarantees, even when one of the parties was hopelessly in love with the other.

  “It is.”

  “I understand. I remember waking on Christmas every year, dreaming that my mom was there. She’d tell us about some horrible thing that kept her away and how she wished she had been with us.”

  “But she never came.”

  Jack shook his head and cleared his throat. “Never.”

  Jessie reached over and covered his hand with hers. “Life sucks that way.”

  He watched her hand playing with his, liked the feel of it. “Enough of memory lane. What about your future, Jessie…what is your last name?”

  “Mann, Jessie Mann.”

  “What do you see yourself doing in five years?”

  Her face lit up and Jack was glad he changed the subject. “I don’t know. I want to go back to school, like I said, maybe get into some type of event coordinating job.”

  “You said something about being a wedding planner.”

  “Not that I know anything about weddings. My mom’s marriages at the county clerk’s office don’t count. But yeah, I’d love to help brides with what is supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.” Jessie still rubbed her fingers over his. He wondered if she realized what she was doing.

  “You do appreciate how weird that sounds after learning about all your mom’s failed marriages.”

  “That doesn’t mean I don’t believe in marriage. I mean a real marriage, not the temporary state my mom plays in. I can plan more than weddings. There are anniversary parties, birthdays, corporate events. There’s all kinds of things an event planner puts together.”

  “I’ll have to find out what the lady at the hotel did to get her job.”

  “I’d love to know.”

  “I’ll ask her for you.”

  She smiled. “Thanks. What about you, Jack, where do you see yourself in five years?”

  Jack turned her palm over and rubbed the inside with his thumb. “I like the hotel business.”

  “You want to manage a hotel?”

  “Kinda. I want to start a new concept in hotels. One geared for the typical family, with the typical family budget. Nothing over-the-top or high-end.”

  Jessie glanced around the inside of the limousine. “Nothing with limos and caviar?”

  “That wouldn’t be cost-effective, but minivans and car seats would work. I want to cater to the middle class, but give them some of the same perks The Morrison does.”

/>   “What kind of perks?” She leaned in a little while she listened.

  “Room service with food geared for the family. Babysitting, dog sitting, even a spa priced right.” That was his concept for the hotel he was in Ontario to build. “I’d place every hotel around airports, major family vacation destinations.”

  “So you want to start a chain of them, not just one? Those are some serious goals, Jack.”

  Jack cautioned himself about opening up to Jessie. “I’d start with one, see what works, what doesn’t, then revise and go forward with the profits from the first hotel and build the next.”

  “You’re talking massive capital, investors.”

  “I’ve been saving.” Which was true.

  “What will you name your hotel?” She was smiling, and not in a mocking, Yeah, sure you’ll do that…one day kind of way, but in a sincere, Here’s hoping you do make it kind of way.

  “More for Less.”

  Jessie held back a laugh.

  “What? You don’t like it?”

  “Well, ‘More’ is a rip from Morrison, isn’t it?”

  “My friends do call me Jack Moore.”

  She really didn’t like the name. “Still, ‘More for Less.’ It sounds…I don’t know, cheap. Like Pick ’n Save.”

  “It will be priced cheap, compared to The Morrison anyway.”

  She sat taller. “The name needs to be something people will brag about. Think of Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. Both sell Nordstrom clothing, but one is the cast-off store. If you had an in with The Morrison, I’d suggest you call your place ‘Morrison West’ or something like that. Or name it something completely ambiguous like ‘Jack’s Place.’”

  Jack scratched his head and purposely didn’t say anything about her comment concerning an in with The Morrison. “Jack’s Place sounds like a bar to me.”

  Jessie waved her free hand at him while she spoke. “Or a friend’s place. Think about it: We’re going to Disneyland and we’re staying at Jack’s Place. Then again, We’re going to Sea World and we’re staying at More for Less. Do you see what I mean? The one sounds like a great time, the other sounds like a budget vacation with hard beds and leaky roofs.”

  Jack scratched his jaw. “I never thought of it like that.” He wondered if anyone on his planning team thought the same thing but didn’t want to reveal their concerns because More for Less was his brainchild. He definitely needed to talk to the marketing department on Monday.

  Jack watched her lips as she spoke. “You have time to think about the name. It will take years and lots of connections before anyone like us can open up such a place.”

  Guilt sucker punched him hard in the gut. Jessie really had no earthly idea who he was or his net worth. If she did know who he really was, would she have been so open and honest with him? Probably not.

  Jessie hid a yawn behind her hand and smiled when he caught her eyes. She glanced at their hands, both of which were rolling tiny circles with the other. Her hand skidded away when she realized it was engaged in a little mindless flirting.

  Jack missed her touch instantly, but didn’t say a word about it. “I better get you home.”

  Nodding, Jessie said, “Yeah. It’s late.”

  Only he didn’t want to take her home. He wanted to keep her up late, talking, and then a little kissing, then maybe some more touching. Her pink lips would melt against his, he thought. Head out of the gutter, Jack. You’ll blow it if you come on too strong.

  Ignoring his urges, he opened the door and stepped out.

  “I’ll ride in front with you, if that’s OK,” she said after slipping her shoes back on and following him through the door.

  “Are you sure? It’s much nicer back here.”

  “It’s not as much fun when you’re by yourself.”

  Conceding, Jack helped her into the passenger’s seat and walked around the car to take the driver’s.

  Jessie pointed out which road to take to her apartment.

  “When do you work again?” Jack asked.

  “I’m off tomorrow, then on for three. If my car needs something big, my sister can take me back and forth. Do you have any idea what’s wrong with it?”

  “Might be your starter. I’ll check it out in the morning.” Jack glanced over at her as she opened her purse and took out a pen and a piece of paper.

  “Here’s my number. Call me and let me know what it’s going to cost me.”

  “Friends don’t charge friends for favors,” he told her.

  “You’ve done enough already.”

  She hadn’t seen anything…yet.

  Jessie placed the paper with her phone number in the cubby that divided the seats. “I’ll have the dress dry cleaned and have it ready to go back to the store.”

  “You can keep it.” He switched lanes as he spoke.

  “Right, that would be stealing, not borrowing.”

  Jessie was too good for that. Jack had no choice but to hide the fact that he’d paid for the dress.

  “I don’t think anyone would notice.”

  “I would.”

  Pushing her to keep the dress was out of the question. He glanced her way and noticed the sparkle dangling from her ears. “I bought the earrings. So don’t put those back in the box. Those you can keep.”

  Her slender fingers touched the elegant diamonds, and a smile touched her lips. “You bought them?”

  “I thought they would look great on you.” He thought of the knockoff pair in his room at the hotel. Nordstrom versus Nordstrom Rack. There simply wasn’t a substitution.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I wanted to. Consider it an early Christmas gift.” One of many, he hoped.

  “I trust it didn’t cost you a lot.”

  He shot her a frown. “It’s impolite to ask what someone spent on a gift.”

  Jessie laid her hand on his arm. “Thanks, Jack. You shouldn’t have, but thanks.”

  They drove the rest of the way in comfortable silence. It was nearly two in the morning when they pulled up to her apartment building.

  “I can make it from here,” she told him.

  Jack ignored her and opened his door. “In Texas, a man never lets a lady walk to her door alone. Especially at night.” Besides, how would he kiss her if he didn’t walk her home?

  She laughed, a warm, inviting sound that pulled on Jack’s heartstrings.

  “I don’t want to tick off all the men in Texas.”

  “Good.”

  After opening her door and helping her out of the car, Jack let her lead the way to her apartment door. The floral scent of her perfume followed her down the hall. He noted the number on her door for future use.

  Tresses of her hair draped over her slender neck as she glanced at her door.

  “This is me,” she said as she turned toward him.

  Jack stood close, close enough to see surprise in her eyes at his being there. She didn’t back away. When she caught her lip between her teeth, Jack’s pulse shot high. Jessie’s gaze slid from his eyes to his lips, inadvertently inviting his kiss.

  He didn’t give her a chance to protest.

  Jack weaved his hand behind her head and lowered his mouth to hers. The simmering flame that had been on all night with her nearness grew into an inferno within seconds.

  Jessie didn’t pull away.

  He captured her around her slim waist and held her closer.

  She moaned and tilted her head a little more. He slipped his tongue between her lips and melted into her. Jack committed every sensation he felt, from how she smelled and how she smiled to how her lips slid over his, into his memory. Her hand moved to his arm; her fingers kneaded his flesh. Timid strokes of her tongue against his proved her attraction, her feelings toward him, more than any of her words could.

  This was more than friendship, he thought.

  This is what poets write about.

  Jack wanted more, so much more than a stolen kiss at her apartment door.

  The d
oor behind her suddenly flew open, causing Jessie to fall back. Had Jack not been holding her, she probably would have ended up on her butt.

  Jack’s eyes snapped open and saw the shocked expression from both Jessie and the woman who had to be her sister, Monica.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. So sorry.” Monica’s eyes were wide. Her hands covered her reddening cheeks.

  Jessie stepped away from him. Her fingertips ran along her swollen lower lip. The glow of her cheeks was this side of delectable.

  “It’s OK. Jack was just leaving,” Jessie finally spoke.

  He’d better do so quickly, before Jessie started to regret their shared kiss. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Blowing out a sigh, Jessie chewed on her lower lip. “Right. My car. OK, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Good night, Jessica,” he said as he turned and left both stunned women at the door.

  Before he rounded the corner of the hall, he heard Monica giggle and say, “Oh my God. Is that Jack?”

  Jack stood a little taller, his grin a little bigger.

  Chapter Six

  “That was Jack, right? Holy shit, is he cute or what?” Monica practically squealed when she spoke.

  “That was Jack.” Lethal lips and all. Oh man, his kiss had been to die for. Knock-her-on-her-butt delicious. And completely wrong. “Dammit. That shouldn’t have happened.”

  “What shouldn’t have happened?” Monica pulled Jessie down on the bed that doubled as a couch.

  “That kiss. I shouldn’t have…he shouldn’t have.” I should have pulled away, reminded him that he’s bad for me.

  “Is he a bad kisser?” Monica tucked her feet under herself Indian style and rubbed her hands together.

  “He’s an amazing kisser, but I shouldn’t have let him.”

  “Why on earth not? He’s gorgeous, and that accent…geez, makes me a big pile of goo just thinking about it.”