Playing at Love

by Ophelia London

  After clearing his throat, he slid on his ball cap and strode to the door without looking back. Before he’d gotten safely outside, he could’ve sworn he heard one of the students snicker.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tess didn’t tell Mac that she was going on a non-date with Jack. She didn’t need to know about it anyway, did she? When Mac had asked if Tess wanted to meet after work on Friday night, Tess begged off with some lame excuse about laundry and her quarterly dusting of her ceiling fan blades. She’d never been a very good liar, and she knew Mac suspected something. But Mac had only smiled and told her they would catch up on Sunday night.

  While stopped at a red light, Tess pulled down the visor mirror and examined her reflection. From her purse, she extracted a tube of raspberry lipstick and applied a layer, carefully blotting afterward. An instant later, she grabbed a tissue and scrubbed off every last trace. She flipped up the visor and banged her head against the headrest.

  “Stop it, Tess,” she said aloud. “Calm the freak down.” When the light turned green, she grabbed a tube of strong, disgusting-tasting mentholated lip balm, smeared it over her mouth, then tossed the tube in her bag. That should keep away thoughts of allowing her mouth to get anywhere near Jack’s.

  She didn’t have to consult the slip of paper with Jack’s address written on it; she had already memorized it. Only a few more blocks and she would be there. It was a pretty nice neighborhood, only a couple of miles from the school. About a year before, when Tess was thinking of giving up her apartment and buying a house of her own, she’d actually checked out this subdivision. But then everything started going wrong with her parents’ house and Tess’s plans had to be put on hold.

  She consulted the numbers on the curb: 1805, his house would be on the right. She slowed to a stop in front of a brick ranch-style with a big porch and white front door. The porch light was on, glowing yellow through the glass shade, and Tess saw a black Jeep in the driveway—the same car she’d seen in the coach’s parking spot that night she’d met Jack at the pool.

  She swallowed, trying to erase that memory from her mind, and walked up the path. She couldn’t seem to find the doorbell, so she tentatively knocked a couple of times. It wasn’t more than five seconds before the door swung open.

  “Hi,” Jack said, standing at the open door. He was wearing dark trousers and a light-blue button-up shirt. It was tucked in, but the sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, and the first two buttons were open at his throat. Tess did her best not to sneak a peek at some chest hair.

  She was relieved to see that he didn’t seem too dressed up—that he obviously didn’t see this as a date, either. And Tess felt better about the dark-wash jeans, simple red top, and black boots she’d decided to wear. She wanted to feel comfortable but without looking like a slob.

  “I’m glad you could make it,” he said, opening the door wider. “Come on in.”

  “Thanks,” Tess said, stepping inside. The foyer was small but well lit and bright. Jack took her jacket and motioned to a side table for her to set down her purse and keys.

  “Well,” he said, sliding his hands in his pockets.

  “Well,” Tess echoed after a little exhale.

  He gestured behind him at something. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Yeah, sure,” she replied as she followed him through a living room and into the kitchen. It was a nice, open room with an island and lots of counter space. Tess felt a little envious as she pictured the galley kitchen of her apartment that never seemed to have enough room for her cookbooks and fun kitchen gadgets. Jack didn’t seem to have much of either, which was maybe what made the room look so huge and appealing. Tess would have no problem filling up a space like this.

  She was already halfway moved in when she came to her senses. “So, um, what are you making? Do you need help?”

  “It’s just pasta,” Jack replied, moving to the island to stir something on the stove. “Well, linguini with wine sauce. Are you okay with shrimp?”

  “Yeah,” Tess said.

  “Good, I was hoping I remembered that right.” She felt a little flutter in her tummy when she noticed his grin. “I was going to make it with chicken but Jenna requested shrimp at the last minute.”

  “Jenna?” Tess blinked. “Is here?”

  Jack wiped his hands on a towel. “I hope that’s okay.”

  “Yes, of course that’s fine.” She laughed nervously, tucking some hair behind her ears. “You’re her father, right?” Well, that was intelligent insight, Tess.

  Jack chuckled, easing Tess’s awkwardness. “It was kind of a last-minute thing,” he explained. “Her mother has some meeting she couldn’t get out of tonight. And I would much rather have her here with me for a few hours than with a sitter.”

  “Right,” Tess said, nodding. “Makes perfect sense.” Then she couldn’t help glancing around, like she was afraid she would suddenly see a little girl who had been sitting there all along like some creepy life-size doll.

  “She ran back to her room after setting the table,” Jack said, probably noticing Tess’s puzzled expression. “I think she’s trying to get out of making the salad.”

  “Oh. Well, I can make the salad if you want.”

  “Thanks,” Jack said. “I’m sure Jenna would appreciate that. Everything’s in the fridge.” He smiled a little self-deprecatingly. “At least, I hope so. I’m not a very stellar grocery shopper.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine.” She began pulling out lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red bell peppers. “So, how long have you lived in this house?” she asked. “I mean, if I understand right, you moved to Franklin to take the coaching job.”

  “That’s right,” Jack said, turning down the flame on the stove. “It’s only been a couple of months. I lived in a suburb of Chicago before that.”

  “And Jenna?” she asked cautiously, not sure if she was being too nosy. “She lives here in town with her mother?”

  “No. They live about an hour away. But this is the closest we’ve been geographically since Susan and I split.”

  “Susan. Is that your ex-wife?”

  “Yes,” Jack confirmed. “Our split was pretty amicable, as far as things like that go. Even the custody arrangements for Jenna were pretty cut-and-dried: Susan was moving away and I was staying in Chicago. I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter and I didn’t want to drag my three-year-old into a messy battle.” He stopped and sighed. “But now that I’m here and we live so close, I’ve appealed to the court for a change of custody. I want to have equal share, fifty-fifty.”

  Tess set down her knife and watched him stir something in a pot. Behind him, taped to the fridge, was a series of drawings starring a brown dog and a yellow cat. A pile of chapter books and Disney DVDs sat on the counter next to a stack of Sports Illustrated magazines, and a small pink backpack hung from a hook behind the table. Tess couldn’t help smiling. Jack would probably make a very happy home for his daughter, if only for every other week.

  “I’m feeling pretty positive about it,” Jack went on as Tess returned to her chopping. “Susan won’t be able to put up much of a fight. I can drive Jenna to and from her own school every day, my personal record is above reproach, and if my job remains stable…”

  Jack suddenly broke off and shot an apologetic glance toward Tess. “Well, anyway,” he said, busying himself with something else on the stove. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get into that.”

  “No, it’s okay,” Tess replied, not sure what was appropriate to say. “It’s pretty exciting, like you said, to live so close to her now.”

  “Yeah,” Jack said, his voice dropping a notch. “Jenna and I are going through an adjustment phase. She hasn’t lived with me for more than one month a year since she was a toddler.” He leaned against the counter, one hand at the back of his neck, massaging, as though he was stressed out. “We’re still getting to know each other thanks to extra visits like tonight.”

  “I’m sure it’s a big adjustm
ent,” Tess offered. “For both of you.”

  And probably the last thing you need is me hanging around, Tess couldn’t help thinking. Busting in on your daddy/daughter time like this. Even without Jenna in the room, Tess felt like a third wheel. She kept her eyes down, rearranging the vegetables on the cutting board.

  “Sorry,” Jack repeated. “I hadn’t meant to tell you any of that. It wasn’t fair. You have your problems and I have mine.”

  Tess nodded and robotically began chopping strips of bell pepper for the salad. She couldn’t stand the wave of discomfort that suddenly swept over her. First of all, what if Jenna didn’t like her? She didn’t have much experience with little kids—hadn’t she read once that they could smell fear? Like dogs? Second, what if Jenna did like her? And what if Tess liked her back? That was almost more terrifying. Third, and most important, if Jack lost his job, that also meant he might lose the chance of winning joint custody of his daughter. But if Tess lost her job, her parents might lose their house.

  When she stopped chopping to push back a lock of hair, she noticed that her hand was shaking. Jack was right: it wasn’t fair that she knew about his custody situation. Then again, nothing about this was fair.

  “Really,” Jack said, moving to stand right behind her. Tess could feel the warmth of his body on her back. It was suddenly hard to take a steady breath. “I’m sorry, Tess.”

  “I know,” she said, trying her best to talk around the thickness in her throat.

  She felt his hand on her elbow, and she wondered what would happen if she twirled around and threw her arms around him. But of course, she didn’t. Now, more than ever, she knew she couldn’t.

  “I’ve ruined tonight, haven’t I?” he asked quietly.

  “No,” Tess replied, staring down at the cutting board. “It’s fine. I’m glad I…I’m glad I know.”

  Tess closed her eyes as she felt Jack’s hand slide around the inside of her elbow. She didn’t put up a fight when he turned her to face him. “I don’t want this to change anything,” he said, his deep brown eyes looking down at her.

  “It won’t.” Tess smiled and leaned back against the counter. “Because my choir is gonna kick your ass.”

  Jack threw his head back and laughed. “You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to that.” He stepped closer. “Care to give me a preview?”

  “Daddy, your pot’s bubbling.”

  Tess spun around.

  A little girl was standing on the other side of the island. She had a heart-shaped face, a charming gap between her front teeth, and the biggest brown eyes Tess had ever seen. Her hair hit just past her shoulders and was dark brown with natural streaks of auburn. Jack’s ex must be a stunning redhead, Tess thought with a bit of jealousy.

  “Thanks, sweetie,” Jack said, reaching over to slide the pot in question off the burner. “Jenna, this is my friend Tess. She’s one of the teachers at my new school.”

  Tess swallowed. Show no fear, she chanted inside her head.

  “Hi, Jenna.” She squatted down so Jenna was a little bit taller than her. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  “You’re pretty,” Jenna blurted. Jack chuckled.

  “Oh, well, thank you,” Tess said, trying to sound natural. “So are you. You have very pretty hair.”

  The little girl touched the top of her head. “Thank you.”

  “I heard you do ballet,” Tess said.

  “Not anymore.”

  “What?!” Jack exclaimed, folding a dish towel. “Since when?”

  “Since last week, Dad.” Jenna sighed, doing a very good impression of the tween she would soon become. “It’s so boring.” She rolled her big brown eyes. “And we never get to wear the costumes.”

  It was then that Tess noticed what Jenna was wearing. It was a pint-sized version of the exact same blue Grizzlies Football T-shirt that she’d seen Jack wear. It was a bit too long for her, hitting just above her knees. But it was cinched around her waist with a sparkly pink belt and she had on pink and blue camo leggings.

  She was an absolute dream.

  “I don’t blame you,” Tess stage-whispered to Jenna. “I love dressing up in costumes, too. I have a princess dress with a real diamond.”

  Jenna’s brown eyes grew wide. “A diamond?”

  “Mm-hmm.” Tess nodded sagely. “It used to belong to my grandmother. When I would go to her house, she would show it to me hanging in her closet and tell me how special it was. And then, on my ninth birthday, she gave it to me.”

  “Cool!” Jenna grinned, displaying that adorable space between her teeth. “Do you still have it?”

  “I do. I took very good care of it and now it’s hanging in my closet. If you ever come over for a visit, I’ll show it to you. Maybe you can try it on. I bet it will fit.”

  Right as the words were coming out of Tess’s mouth, she nearly choked. She had no business inviting Jack’s daughter over to her house. Was she insane? As a reflex, she leaned away from Jenna just an inch, hoping no one would notice her reaction.

  “Jenna, sweetie,” Jack said. “Tess started the salad for you. Why don’t you finish? You can use the knife with the red handle.”

  “Okay, Daddy,” Jenna said, sliding across the tile in her stockinged feet.

  When Tess looked over at Jack, he was watching her with an inscrutable expression on his face. She had no idea if he was pleased or bothered. Then again, Tess didn’t know that about herself, either.

  …

  After dinner, Jack wiped off the table while Jenna stood on a stool, rinsing off the dishes and loading them in the dishwasher. Jack had only had to ask her twice—not bad. She’d never been a whiner when it came to chores, and Jack was always grateful that he had such an easygoing kid. Sure, she could throw a pretty decent tantrum with the best of them, but all in all, he considered her to be pretty nearly perfect.

  When he’d picked her up from Susan’s house earlier that day, he’d explained to Jenna that they were having company for dinner. At first, she’d had a string of questions about who Tess was and how he knew her. He kept it pretty simple: she was a teacher at his school and they were having a meeting. After that, Jenna seemed to lose interest.

  But quitting ballet? That was news to Jack. He’d have to talk to Jenna about it later, maybe after Tess left and before Susan picked her up, if it wasn’t past her bedtime.

  “Everything okay?” Jack asked Tess when she returned from making a phone call in the other room.

  “Yeah,” Tess said, setting her cell on the table. “Sorry about that; it was just some school stuff.”

  “Got it,” Jack said with a nod.

  “Need some help, there?” Tess asked, sidling up next to Jenna. “Are you doing the hand-washing now?”

  “Yeah,” Jenna replied. “I hate it.”

  “Jenna,” Jack said, trying not to sound too much like a scolding father.

  “Sorry, Daddy,” she said, a bit sulkily.

  “How about you wash and I dry?” Tess suggested. “Okay?”

  “Okay, thanks!” Jenna said.

  Jack watched them for a while as they chatted about something he couldn’t hear. Tutus? The Disney Channel? Justin Bieber? He had no idea. When Susan had asked if Jack could take Jenna for the evening, of course he’d jumped at the chance. Only later did he realize that meant Jenna would meet Tess. He still wasn’t sure it was the best idea. He wanted to protect his daughter as well as himself. But the more he thought, the more he realized he was glad they had met. Of course he had hoped the two would get along, but seeing them so friendly only made him feel friendlier toward Tess, which certainly didn’t help the current dilemma in his brain.

  What also didn’t help was when Tess fingered her hair into a ponytail then draped it across the front of her right shoulder, exposing the back of her neck. Jack couldn’t help zeroing in on that spot of bare skin, his eyes dropping, following a line down her spine. She turned around to slide a skillet into a drawer. When she bent over, her red
shirt slid down one shoulder, revealing just a flash of white lace. She quickly adjusted it and turned back to the sink.

  Jack was beginning to feel just a bit overheated and a little like a Peeping Tom…spying on someone in his own kitchen. He knew it was totally inappropriate to be looking at Tess like that, but he couldn’t help himself. Just as he was about to make himself useful by stowing away the place mats, Tess lifted onto her toes to put something away above her head. When Jack got a glimpse of the back of her jeans, at how the fabric was stretching taut across her—

  “Let me help you with that!” Jack blurted, rushing over to them. He knew that if he remained there any longer, ogling Tess’s perfect rear end, he would be in real trouble.

  “Thanks,” Tess said, handing him the glass baking dish. “Are you feeling okay?” she asked, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

  “Sure. Why?”

  “Daddy, your face is all blotchy.”

  “No, it’s not, honey,” Jack said, blocking his face from them with his shoulder as he turned to put the baking dish in some random cabinet.

  “That doesn’t go there, Dad,” Jenna pointed out.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Jack said breezily as he pulled open the freezer. He’d meant it as a strategy to give him a minute to cool down, but then he had another idea. “Enough cleaning up.” He shut the freezer, clapped his hands, then rubbed them together. “How about dessert? Who’s ready to make another mess?”

  Jenna squealed and hopped off the stool. Jack looked at Tess hopefully.

  “Why not?” She shrugged with a smile. “I ate so much at dinner that my pants are about to spring a button anyway.”

  Jack opened his mouth to say something, but luckily stopped himself just in time.

  An hour later, the kitchen counter was covered in flour and random measuring utensils. Jack had no idea he’d happened to have the raw ingredients to whip up something as delicious-smelling as whatever Tess had just slid into the oven.

  “Jen,” Jack said, “why don’t you show Tess your room while I clean up.”

  “Really?”