“Could I please get photocopies of the bookmarked pages,” Jake said trying to use his best manners.
“I’m sorry, Jake, but the copy machine is down right at the moment. The repair tech is here, but it could be a while before its back up and running,” Mrs. Baxter said. “If you want to pay in advance, I can have someone run the copies over to you later.”
“That would be just fine,” Jake said, quietly placing the change on the counter. If he had any luck at all, she’d send Anna over with the copies. He turned to leave and then made a dramatic show of looking thoughtful, “Say, Mrs. Baxter, do you have a new employee?”
“Why, no, Jake,” she said, with a smile. “Just us same ol’ girls. Why?”
“No reason, just curious. Is Anna working today?” he tried not to sound interested, like he was making casual conversation.
“As a matter of fact she is. She’s working on a project in the basement right now. Did you need to speak with her about something?” Mrs. Baxter asked, eyeing him intently.
“No ma’am,” Jake said, replacing his hat and tipping his head toward the head librarian. “Thank you for sending the copies over. I appreciate it.”
Mrs. Baxter waited until Jake had gone out the door before she burst into a huge smile. “Betty, I do believe that young man is quite smitten with our Anna. I think she should run those copies over as soon as they are ready, don’t you think?”
“I think that is a fine idea,” Betty answered with a conspiratorial smile. “A fine idea, indeed.”
<><><>
“But Mrs. Baxter, are you sure I need to take these over to Jake?” Anna asked, as Mrs. Baxter handed her an envelope with Jake’s name written across the front.
“Yes, Anna. Please run them over to him. It looked like important information and I’m sure he’d appreciate having it sooner rather than later,” Mrs. Baxter said to Anna, trying hard not to smile. “Go on, now. A quick walk in the fresh air will do you a world of good.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Anna said, resigned to making the delivery across the street. Although the thought of seeing Jake and gauging his reaction to her change in appearance was exciting, she was terrified at the same time. What if he made fun of her? Anna didn’t think she could take his teasing right now. She wasn’t sure what to think after watching Jake and Dave when she arrived this morning. When they both stood staring at her, looking dumbstruck, she didn’t know if their reaction was a good or bad thing. Anna could have talked to them then, but just wasn’t ready to hear their opinions on her car or her outfit if they turned out to be negative.
Mrs. Baxter and Betty had been smiling non-stop since she arrived, complimenting both her appearance and her car. She even took them for a quick ride before they opened up the doors this morning. If she didn’t know better, it could possibly have been a highlight in quiet Betty’s life.
Anna wasn’t at all convinced that the papers needed to go to Jake quite so quickly, but who was she to argue with her boss. Sensing that Mrs. Baxter and Betty had read one too many of the bodice-ripper books hidden in the back section of the library, she was pretty sure there were some matchmaking ideas floating through those two gray heads. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the library door. Here goes nothing.
<><><>
Deciding they earned a break, Jake went and got two cold sodas out of the vending machine and handed one to Dave. Popping the top, Dave took a deep swallow then spewed pop all over his desk, choking and pointing, as he looked out their window.
"What are you doing, Davey?" Jake questioned, following Dave's startled glare out their window.
There, crossing the street coming right toward their office was the gorgeous creature who drove up that morning in the Camaro. The breeze was lightly blowing her hair and her long stride, moving one hip at a time, set the ruffles down her neckline to bouncing. It was almost like watching a commercial in slow motion, only better. Jake and Dave both stood unmoving, pop running down Dave's chin and soaking his shirt.
As she walked past their window, Jake was grateful more than words could say that the outside glass was mirrored and she couldn't see him standing there like a drooling fool.
They heard the door whoosh open and a soft voice said Jake's name. He bolted out of their office so fast, papers flew off Dave's desk and scattered to the floor.
Pulling up short behind Millie's desk, he watched the woman start to hand over an envelope with his name written on the front. She turned to smile at him and removed her sunglasses.
"Hi Jake. Mrs. Baxter asked me to run over those copies you needed," Anna said, with a professional smile. Although she was trembling with fear inside, desperate to know that Jake liked the change in her appearance, she somehow managed to maintain a friendly and collected façade.
Jake couldn't speak. Couldn't move. All he could do was stare into those violet eyes he was coming to know all too well. He saw them at night in his dreams and at all the most inopportune moments.
"Anna?" he finally managed to croak.
"Yes?" she laughed, the deep throaty laugh that, if he was willing to admit it, he loved hearing.
"I... um... I... appreciate you bringing this over," he finally managed to say. His thoughts were racing in a hundred directions and none of them would embrace the notion that the girl standing in front of him was his quiet, timid friend.
"Anytime," Anna said, turning to leave. Lisa had advised her to play it cool, uninterested, and see if that got Jake’s attention. Although she wasn’t sure about the wisdom of game playing, she decided to stick with the advice. "See you around."
Jake sprang to life and hurried around the desk to the door, holding it open for her. "Let me walk you back to the library," he said, starting down the sidewalk with her.
"It isn't necessary, Jake," she said, sunglasses back in place and a smile riding her lips. "I think I can cross the street by myself."
"I know you can, but I'll walk over with you just the same."
Had her lips always been so rosy and ready to be kissed? Had she gotten taller? She seemed to be ten-feet tall today and absolutely, positively ravishing. He had no idea with the right clothes and hair style that Anna would morph from attractive into a drop dead knockout.
He escorted her back to the door, his hands shoved deep in his pockets to keep from touching her. Jake didn't know what had come over him but he was beginning to fear it was something fatal. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, his stomach hurt and his head was beginning to pound. The same thing that happened every time he found himself this close to Anna.
"Thanks, Jake," Anna said. "I'll see you later."
As she turned to walk up the ramp into the door, Jake caught her hand and felt electricity shoot up his arm with a jolt. "Anna, will you have dinner with me tonight? Please? I'd love to hear about your weekend. It was obviously very... interesting."
"I don't think so," Anna said, starting to blush and beginning to feel her fears overwhelm her resolve to be more outgoing.
"How about tomorrow?" Jake asked. Desperation was going to drive him to beg if she turned him down. "I really want to hear all about your new car and your transformation from bookworm to beautiful butterfly. You look amazing."
Anna blushed at his compliment and nodded her head. "Tomorrow, then."
Jake squeezed her hand and gave her a warm smile. "Thanks, Anna."
She turned and walked back into the building, in that long-legged stride that gave Jake a growing sense of appreciation with every step, especially in a skirt that hugged her curves.
Running back across the street, he snatched the envelope from Millie’s desk with a wild grin, which was met by her shaking head, and returned to find Dave trying to clean up his shirt and desk.
Plopping down and putting his feet up on his desk, Jake leaned back and let out a deep sigh.
"I've got a date."
"Of course you do," Dave said with irritation coloring his voice. "When have you ever missed an opportunity to date a pretty girl,
especially one new to the neighborhood?"
"Oh, this one isn't new," Jake said with a big grin. "In fact, you could have asked her out yourself on any number of occasions."
Dave glared at him. "And just who is this mystery woman. I think I'd remember meeting her before."
"It's no mystery woman. It's Anna," Jake said, looking smug.
"Anna!" Dave's head shot up as he looked at Jake. His friend had pulled plenty of pranks on him, but this one was too unbelievable for even him to believe. "Right, Jake. And I'm Brad Pitt. Even I'm not dumb enough to fall for a joke like that. Anna? Now that's funny."
"You don't believe me, go ask for yourself," Jake said, enjoying teasing his buddy.
"Like this?" Dave said, pointing to his pop splattered shirt. "No way, man."
"Suit yourself," Jake said. "But let's just make it perfectly clear and understood that I asked Anna first."
Dave laughed, picturing the timid librarian, still not convinced she and the glamour girl were one and the same. "No worries. She's all yours."
Jake didn’t see Anna the rest of the day and her car was gone when he and Dave walked into the parking lot. He could hardly wait to see her tomorrow. Maybe she’d take him for a ride in the Camaro. He was just about ready to admit that he was more than a little infatuated with Miss Anna Zimmerman. And if he wanted to be completely honest with himself, it had happened before she showed up today with her new look and cool car.
<><><>
Anna pulled the Camaro into their driveway and parked next to Sam’s car. She made it through the first day of her transformation without any major trauma. And Jake said she looked amazing. All her anxiety and suffering was worth it just to see the way he looked at her today.
Walking in the house, she found her mom at the stove and Sam setting the table. Sam turned to look at her and smiled.
“Well, baby sister, how did day one of operation makeover go?” Sam teased.
“Just fine,” Anna said, blushing.
“You look fantastic,” Sam said, using his walker to shuffle over to her and give her a peck on the cheek. “What did Jake have to say?”
“Not much,” Anna said, looking intently through her purse, pretending a nonchalant attitude she was far from feeling. Truth be known, she was about to burst with happiness.
“Not much,” Sam said. “Is he blind? Maybe I better have a talk with him. I could give him a piece of…”
“Now, Sam,” Anna said, putting a hand on his arm and smiling. “You didn’t let me finish. He didn’t say much, but what he did say made me very happy. He said I looked amazing right before he asked me out to dinner tonight.”
“Oh, Anna, that is fantastic!” Sue said, giving her daughter a big hug. “So what time are you eating?”
“I told him no,” Anna said, dropping onto a stool at the counter.
“What?” Sue and Sam said in unison, looking confused.
“I didn’t want him to think I was overly anxious,” Anna explained, then beamed a huge smile. “So he asked me to please have dinner with him tomorrow. I’m going to meet him right after work.”
“Perfect, sweetie,” Sue said, giving Anna a warm smile.
“I hope so,” Anna said, “I hope it will be perfect.”
CHAPTER SIX
Anna made sure she arrived at work early the next morning and spent most of the day working down in the basement, out of sight of Jake, should he happen to wander in.
At ten minutes before quitting time, Mrs. Baxter told her she better not waste any more time, encouraging her to get “freshened up and out the door.” Anna hurried to touch up her mascara, put on a fresh blouse, add a spritz of perfume and comb her hair.
“You are going to knock his socks off, Anna,” Mrs. Baxter encouraged as she walked out the back door, giving her a thumbs up.
Anna just smiled and waved a quick goodbye.
Coming out the door into the bright summer sunshine, Anna slipped on her sunglasses and walked toward her date. Jake was leaning against his shiny truck, hat tipped up, watching her approach. A broad smile spread across his face and his eyes twinkled.
“Hi,” Anna said, a bit breathlessly. Although this wasn’t her first date ever, it may have well been for all the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She kept trying to remind herself that she and Jake were friends. They’d even been out to dinner before. No big deal. But one look in Jake’s blue eyes and she had a very hard time convincing herself that there wasn’t a lot more involved than just a simple dinner between friends.
“Hey, yourself,” Jake said, smiling at Anna until he realized he must be grinning like an idiot. He hadn’t been able to stop grinning since she said she would have dinner with him. Stepping away from the pickup, he started to touch her hand, and decided better of it, shoving his hands in his pockets instead.
“So, you want to take me for a spin in this new car of yours or take my truck?” he asked, looking over the car with much admiration.
“Do you really want a ride?” Anna asked, surprised he’d want to ride with her. “I’d be happy to drive.”
“You bet!” Jake said. “I’ve always wanted to ride around in a cool car with a hot babe and now I’ve got a chance.”
It was probably a good thing, Anna didn’t hear all he said, or she would have dropped her keys and turned five shades of red.
As Anna unlocked the car, Jake ran around and opened the driver’s side door for her, waiting for her to slide in. She looked amazing in a black skirt, black wedge sandals with straps that wound around her ankles and a deep purple blouse that made her eyes even more violet. As soon as she was settled, he shut the door, ran back to his pickup and grabbed a surprise, then climbed in beside her.
When she turned to look at him, he was holding one single violet-colored rose.
“For you,” he said, handing her the flower. “It reminded me of your eyes.”
Anna looked from the rose to him and back to the rose as her eyes got bigger and looked teary. For someone who was just a friend, Jake seemed to be quite attentive. She didn’t want to read more into his looks and actions than she should, but this was very encouraging.
“Thank you,” she whispered, burying her nose in the bloom. “It’s lovely.”
She turned around and laid it in the back seat, along with her purse, took a deep breath and started the ignition.
“Are you buckled in, cowboy?” Anna asked with a teasing smile, before backing out of the parking lot.
“Yes,” Jake said with a chuckle. “I see you went with the manual transmission. Impressive. But you aren’t going to be breaking any laws or speed limits are you?”
“Of course not,” Anna said, pulling cautiously out onto the street.
Jake was a bit disappointed she was driving exactly like he had expected. Cautious and careful. Why in the world would she buy a muscle car? They were meant to be fast and fun. Looking over at Anna, Jake suddenly realized she could drive fifteen miles an hour all the way to dinner and back, and he wouldn’t mind.
“So, where are we heading for dinner?” Anna asked.
“Well, I was thinking it might be nice to go to Giovanni’s,” Jake said as he turned his gaze out the window, half-afraid of what her reaction would be.
Everyone in town knew Giovanni’s was where you went when you were on a serious date. Where you went for a romantic evening. Where you went with someone special.
Anna decided she misheard him. “I’m sorry, Jake, I didn’t hear you,” Anna said, looking his direction. If he wanted to change his mind, this was the perfect opportunity.
“Oh, I forgot and talked looking the other direction again,” Jake looked at her and smiled. “I said I’d like to take you to Giovanni’s, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind,” Anna said quietly, trying to absorb what his interest in taking her there could mean. She decided not to jump to any conclusions and just enjoy the evening. Goodness only knew if she’d ever have another one like it.
When t
hey reached the parking lot, Jake jumped out and came around to open her door. He enjoyed watching her long legs unfold from the car and was amazed at how tall and graceful she looked in her new clothes. With the added height from her sandals, she had to be at least six feet tall. As they walked in the restaurant, Jake took note that Anna was receiving many interested glances from the guys looking out from the bar. Of course, Anna had no clue she was the object of anyone’s attention.
Placing his hand at the small of her back, he had a primitive urge to make sure everyone understood Anna was his. The territory was officially marked and he wouldn’t tolerate any interlopers. Besides, the fiery currents sent racing from his fingertips to his heart at the slightest contact with her made him a bit edgy. He wondered if Anna felt it too. He somehow doubted it since she looked completely calm and collected.
Guiding her to the hostess station, he smiled and provided his name and reservation time. Anna looked at him a bit surprised.
“Right this way, Mr. Chandler, your table is ready,” the hostess said, as she led them toward a private booth in a corner.
Waiting for Anna to be seated, Jake took off his hat and hung it on the hook at the end of the booth, then slid in across from Anna.
Anna was having a hard time feeling like anything was real. She had dreamed about going out on a real date with Jake so many times, she was almost having a sense of déjà vu. But this was even better than her dreams. The minute his hand touched her back she felt like she’d been struck by lightning as every nerve ending snapped to attention. It was all she could do to keep herself together.
“Jake, this is wonderful,” she said, looking around. She’d been here a few times with her family, but sitting in a corner booth with one of the best looking and fun men anyone would ever have the pleasure of meeting gave the experience a whole different perspective.
Not His Type Page 7