“Not a good time,” I clip out. “She has to work.”
Bodie’s silent a moment, but his next words catch me off guard. “Nah. There’s something else. Spill it.”
Observant son of a bitch.
“She doesn’t know what I do for a living,” I admit on a long sigh.
“Explain,” he demands.
And I do. I tell him why I lied, how I hadn’t thought it mattered at first, and now I know it does because I’m in deep. I even admit my fears that my admission of the truth will end the relationship because Jaime has high integrity, and her last boyfriend cheated on her. I admit my selfish desire to ride it out as long as I can.
“You’re planning on this failing,” Bodie concludes when I finally shut up.
“No, I’m not,” I deny way too quickly.
“You are, and you know it.”
“Maybe,” I admit, because I can’t lie to him. He knows me too well. “But it’s not going to happen today or tomorrow. I just want some more time.”
♦
Bodie and I ended up talking for another fifteen minutes. He encouraged me to fess up sooner rather than later, but with me going on extended travel here in a couple of days, I didn’t think it was wise to tell Jaime the truth now. I reasoned to myself it would be better to wait until I came back.
I head down to the second floor. On my way to my desk, I see Malik in Anna’s office, sitting beside her at her desk. He’d been in Montreal for the last few weeks, mostly recovering from his ordeal and spending time with his family. Now he’s back at Jameson, and I’m sure he’s ready to get back in the thick of things, although we both know that’s not going to happen right away.
Popping in, I wink at Anna and stick my hand out to Malik, who shakes it. “What’s up, Mr. Admin Man? Heard you’re riding a desk for a bit.”
“Just watching over Anna to make sure she does her job right,” he retorts with a grin. Anna gives him a quick jab in the ribs, and I laugh as he rubs the area.
“So what are you guys actually doing?” I ask as I plop into one of the guest chairs.
“Putting all past cases into Dozer’s new database,” Malik says.
“That dude is crazy smart,” I reply with a nod. Dozer has an IQ that I don’t even understand. Kynan actually stole him away from NASA. “That database is actually more along the lines of artificial intelligence. It will be able to learn the plans we enacted, where mistakes were made, and come to better solutions.”
Anna nods, and Malik flips through a memo. I think I’ve been dismissed so they can get back to work.
I should leave. Instead, I tell Anna, “So listen. Um… Jaime’s starting to think it’s weird she hasn’t met any of my friends or coworkers yet.”
Anna doesn’t look at me, but merely says, “Uh-huh.”
“And well, I’m taking her out to dinner tonight, but I thought maybe drinks would be nice first, you know?”
“Uh-huh,” she says again, and I get the distinct impression she’s not listening to me. Malik’s interested, though, and his gaze goes back and forth between Anna and me. He has no idea who Jaime is or why I’m even bringing this up. He’s been in captivity for months, and he doesn’t know Anna and I have become good friends.
He doesn’t even know I’m a reformed playboy with serious girl issues now.
“So you’ll come and meet her for drinks then,” I say resolutely as I stand from my chair, conversation over in my mind. “That’s great. Thanks so much.”
Anna’s head finally snaps up, proving she was sort of listening. “Wait! What?”
“You’ll come and meet Jaime for drinks, so she thinks I’m legit.” I turn for the door, giving her my back so she can’t say no.
“Wait a minute.” Anna’s voice is irritated and demanding. I turn to give her what I hope is a charming smile. “Thinks you’re legit? Have you not told her the truth yet?”
Malik frowns. He’s so confused.
I’m a little shamefaced when I admit, “Hasn’t been the right time.”
“Now would be the right time,” Anna says pointedly.
“I can’t. But I figure if she passes muster with you, then I’ll know she could potentially be the one, and then I’ll tell her.”
“Forget it,” Anna grumbles. “I’m not going to pretend to be a… what did you even tell her you do again?”
I sigh. “A used-car salesman.”
“Yeah… not doing that,” she replies with a firm shake of her head. I hear a vague snort of amusement from Malik. I think he’s catching on.
“You don’t have to pretend to be anything,” I insist. “Be yourself. You’ll just be coming as a good friend of mine.”
“Ask August,” Anna says, dismissing me by looking back down at her work. “I know you were good friends in Vegas.”
That’s true. August just moved here from Vegas, and he’d be a good wingman tonight. But I don’t really need a wingman. I need Anna and her infinite womanly wisdom.
“No one knows about Jaime except you, Anna. I only told you because I needed a woman’s opinion, and I trust you.”
I move my gaze to Malik, giving a tip of my head. “Guess I’m trusting you with this, too.”
He cocks an eyebrow, smirking. “You mean that you’re dating someone who thinks you’re a used-car salesman? Why the big secret?”
“Because Cage doesn’t do relationships,” Anna supplies, not even trying to hide the disgust in her voice. “Thinks it will ruin his rep or something.”
“That’s not it,” I snap. “This is new for me, Anna. I don’t want to fuck it up, and I want you to meet her. Please come.”
That sets Anna back a bit, her eyes flaring wide with a tiny hint of pity within them. “Fine. But I don’t want to be a third wheel, so Malik can come too.”
“Whoa,” Malik exclaims, looking panicked. “I don’t think—”
“You’re coming,” Anna says firmly, giving him no room to argue. I find it fascinating they’ve become that comfortable with each other in the short time he’s been back.
“Perfect,” I exclaim brightly. I give them the name of the restaurant and tell them what time to be there.
After I reach my desk, I see Jaime replied to my text. Work going good. You?
It’s going, I text back, always keeping it vague with her. I invited some friends for drinks with us tonight before dinner. I’d like you to meet them.
Her reply is immediate and in all caps, telling me that she likes this ides. THAT’S AWESOME. I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET THEM.
A small niggling of guilt hits me over her excitement. It tells me I haven’t been sharing enough of myself with her, which flares to deeper guilt because I’ve been lying about an important part of my life.
I decide that if tonight goes well—if Anna likes Jaime and thinks there’s something there worth fighting for—I’ll tell Jaime the truth and beg her to forgive me.
CHAPTER 11
Jaime
Cage pours us each a beer from the pitcher the waitress just delivered. We arrived a few minutes early to the bar where we’re meeting his friends for drinks before our dinner reservations tonight. Tomorrow, Cage leaves for North Carolina for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I’m missing him before he’s even gone.
“Now, tell me more about these friends of yours,” I say as I pick up my glass.
He holds his up, and we tap them together. “Just two people I met when I first moved here. I haven’t been here long enough to establish close friendships, what with working all the time, but I really like Anna and Malik, and I think you will, too.”
“You can never have enough friends,” I agree with a laugh before taking a sip of my beer. “But who is your closest friend? Someone back in North Carolina you grew up with?”
Cage shakes his head with a fond smile. “Guy back in Vegas. We… um… worked together. His name is Bodie, and he’s who I would consider my best friend. What about you?”
I think about that a moment, taking another sip
of my beer before shrugging. “I actually don’t have one I would consider my best. I have two groups of friends I’m sort of equally tight with.”
“Two groups?” he inquires.
“Some girls I went to high school with who still live in the area.”
Cage waggles his eyebrows. “Would these by any chance be girls you cheered with? Because I could get on board with meeting them.”
I snort, giving him a backhanded slap as we’re sitting on the same side of the table. “Yes… they’re cheerleaders. Those are the girls you met that night we first hooked up at that bar.”
Cage grins, a fond expression on his face at the memory of how we met. “And the other group?”
“The Penn State girls I graduated with. But we’re all scattered now, so we don’t get to see each other very often.”
Cage’s gaze moves out across the bar, keeping an eye out for his friends. We found a table near the back, and he had texted them as much.
“There they are,” Cage murmurs, and I can’t see much with the crowd of people standing around. Then I see a man a good head taller than most. Dark hair and lighter color eyes. His face is a bit gaunt—more like sharply angled features, but there’s no doubt he’s incredibly good looking. When they make their way through the crowd, the girl comes into view. She’s lovely—petite with curves and gorgeous long blonde hair. When she gets closer, I see her pretty blue eyes that add to the package.
While they don’t walk close to each other, I have to admit they look striking together.
Cage stands as they approach the table, smiling. I do the same, and introductions are made.
Nodding first at the woman and next at the man, Cage says, “Jaime… meet Malik and Anna.”
We shake hands across the table, exchanging slightly awkward smiles, and I can’t believe how nervous I am. “I’m Jaime. Of course, Cage already said that, didn’t he?”
Anna chuckles as she pulls a chair out. “Well, you’re every bit as beautiful as Cage said you were.”
My face heats up, and I imagine it’s tinged a nice pink color right now. I duck my head, and we all take our seats.
Cage does the honors, pouring beer into the two extra pint glasses the waitress had brought. He passes them out, then holds his own up for a toast. “To new friends.”
“To new friends,” we chorus back.
Before I can even take a sip of my beer, Anna is leaning in toward me a bit. I’m sitting opposite her, and Malik sits opposite Cage. “Cage hasn’t told us much about you, though, so I’m dying to hear everything.”
I glance at Cage, who shrugs as if to say, “What can I say… Anna is nosy.”
Grinning, I give her my attention. “Well, what do you want to know?”
“I can tell by your accent you’re from Pittsburgh,” Anna says with a gleam in her eye.
“And I can tell the same about you,” I reply with a wink. “I’m from Hazelwood.”
“East Liberty,” Anna proclaims. “My mom and stepdad still live there.”
“My parents are still in Hazelwood, too. Along with my brother. My sister is a senior at Pitt.”
“I’ve got a cousin who lives over near Hazelwood,” Anna says, and I shoot a quick, side glance at Cage. He and Malik seem content to let us two Pittsburgh girls talk.
The conversation is light but a little one-sided. Anna keeps peppering me with questions, and I begin to wonder if she’s doing it because she’s genuinely interested in me, or if she’s checking me out to give Cage her opinion about me.
The latter, if true, doesn’t bother me. It’s what friends do. It’s what my friends did when Cage and I met in the bar. They asked him a million questions, trying to gauge if he was worthy of me.
Anna asks me about my time at Penn State. She has a few family members who graduated from there, so there’s plenty in common on that end. Then she gets into my job, and it’s here I can tell she’s truly interested. It doesn’t take me long to realize I like her a lot. She’s a genuine woman with a kind heart. While she doesn’t have direct experience, she is sympathetic to victims of domestic violence, and she even asked if there were any way she could volunteer—be it time or clothing or whatever.
Cage and Malik chime in periodically, but it’s definitely the Anna and Jaime show.
And then Anna asks me a question that has nothing to do with me at all. “So, what could you possibly see in this guy?”
Immediately, Cage’s head swivels my way with an eyebrow cocked in curiosity, a slight smirk playing at his lips.
I stare back at him, gaze roaming his face as if I’m appraising him. “Hmm… let’s see. First, he’s not hard on the eyes, know what I mean?”
Anna nods in agreement.
“Also… he’s funny. He makes me laugh a lot.”
Cage grins, chest puffing out.
“And when he kisses me,” I say in conclusion. “He makes my toes tingle.”
This may have been somewhat of a challenge to Cage, because his hand goes behind my neck and he pulls me close to him so he can, in fact, give me a kiss that makes my toes tingle.
Anna sighs from across the table, hand fluttering at the base of her throat. “That’s so romantic.”
I sneak a peek at Malik, who I haven’t been able to talk to yet. He’s staring at Anna in a way that seems to be equal parts confusion and hunger.
Interesting.
It’s my turn to be nosy now.
I take a sip of my beer, gazing back and forth between Anna and Malik over the rim before I point a finger at them. “So how long have you two been dating?”
Anna’s body physically jolts in her seat, snapping left to look at Malik, then me. Shaking her head in denial, she says, “Oh… we’re not dating.”
I slide my eyes over to Malik, my expression questioning. He also shakes his head. “Nope. Not dating.”
“Really?” My voice gives away that I’m a bit surprised. “I could have sworn you were because when you talk, Anna, he’s totally absorbed in what you’re saying, and vice versa. It’s a shame—you two would make a really beautiful couple.”
Anna’s face goes beet red, and her voice is a little shrill. “Nope, not dating at all. Just friends.”
That denial was a little too quick and dramatic. Laughing, I give Cage a knowing look. “Oh, someone protests just a little too much.”
Anna flushes again, and her lips press flat.
Putting his arm around me, Cage gives me a squeeze. “No, seriously, babe… they’re just friends.”
“Oh, but why?” I say, looking between Anna and Malik. “You two are clearly good friends, and you do look beautiful together—”
Anna’s eyes go flat, and Malik looks uncomfortable. I realize I’m totally being nosy and rude. “Oh God… I’m sorry. I totally overstepped my bounds. Said something awfully rude, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m just such a romantic. Sometimes I think I see things that aren’t there.”
Malik and Anna don’t say anything, but Cage sort of shrugs, his expression not seeming to indicate I said something wrong.
But I feel like I did, and I’m really getting that vibe from Anna more than Malik.
“Shit,” I exclaim, eyes pinned on Anna. “I said something really, really bad, didn’t I? Totally stuck my foot in my mouth and I’m not sure why, but I know I did.”
Almost immediately, Anna’s eyes go warm and friendly, a smile playing at her lips. She opens her mouth, and I know she’s going to say the words to make me feel better, but it’s Malik who blurts out, “I’m gay.”
Ah. That explains it.
I duck my head, giving Malik a sheepish smile. “Well, totally missed that. My bad.”
Malik waves me off. “It’s all good.”
“And look at the time,” Cage announces, glancing down at his watch. “We’ve got to get going if we’re going to make our reservations.”
Our beers are almost empty, so Cage and I down the remainder in our glasses. Cage points
at the pitcher, giving Malik a pointed look. “Finish that off.”
Malik gives him a mock salute.
We say our goodbyes, Anna telling me she hopes we can hang out again. I’m relieved I didn’t make a total ass of myself by painting her and Malik together the way I did. Truthfully, I tell her I would love that.
Cage made reservations at an Italian restaurant on Market Square, and it’s only a three-block walk. It’s freezing outside, so we walk briskly, arms hooked together.
“They’re great,” I say. “Wish we had more time so I could get to know them a bit better. All they wanted to talk about was me.”
“Well, you are the most singularly interesting woman I’ve ever been with. Can you blame them?”
Laughing, I give him a tiny bump with my body. “Flatterer.”
“Truthteller,” he replies.
We reach the restaurant, check our coats, and settle into a small table near the window. Cage orders us a bottle of red, and we take a few minutes to peruse the menu. I decide to hell with sensibility, deciding I’m going for the fettuccine alfredo. Cage promises to share his seafood linguine with me if I give him a bite of mine.
With all that settled and a lovely wine in our hands, we can finally concentrate on each other.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“Busy but boring,” he replies. That seems to be the standard answer when I ask. I feel bad because he clearly doesn’t like what he’s doing since he never seems to want to talk about it. I respect that boundary, though.
“What about you?” he asks. “How many women did you save today?”
I laugh because he often asks that exact question. He makes me out to be a superhero. Truth is, I can never do enough for the victims I serve.
But I did have something good happen today. “I placed a mother and two small kids in a shelter. It was a bad situation. Dad’s an alcoholic. While he doesn’t abuse the kids, he doesn’t hide his nasty side from them. In fact, he forces them to watch when he hits their mom.”
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