“Whoa.” Jake held up his hand. “I don’t want anything to do with a partnership. If I came to work for you, it would be in the plant. I’ll start at the bottom and work my way up. I’ve been able to save a bit of money to tide me over for a while. A career in army intelligence doesn’t go far in Webster.”
“You’re wrong, Jake. You specialized in electronic equipment. That could be valuable—to Hawk Industries and to me.”
Jake wasn’t ready to hear this. The last thing he wanted was a career at the plant.
“Before the accident, Jake, we didn’t have much of a chance to talk. I’m converting part of the plant to design and build electronic components for communications equipment. The electronics market is wide-open. I’ve made a few connections over the years.”
Jake made a snorting sound. “You can’t live without it, can you?”
“Without what?” Cliff asked.
“The plant. There are other things in life besides work.”
“Jake, I know you think I’m a workaholic, but the plant has been losing business for the past few years. I’ve been looking to revitalize things.”
“Why, for more money? Don’t you have enough?”
Anger flashed in Cliff’s eyes. “You really think money is what this is all about? How about the hundred jobs this project will create for this town? What about the other hundred people who have worked at Hawk Industries for years, depending on a paycheck every week? Should I just close the door and say, ‘Sorry, but I’ve made enough money I’m shutting down’?”
Jake had to look away.
“I have a responsibility, Jake. That’s the reason I had to leave early on Thanksgiving. I’d been trying to arrange a deal with this Japanese company for months. It finally went through. I’m closing down the plant during the week between Christmas and New Year’s to remodel.” His father looked hopeful. “I’d love for you to help me with this project.”
Jake had to admit that he was interested, but deep in his heart he hated Hawk Industries. The plant represented the destruction of his family, the reason for his mother’s death. No way would he make the same mistakes his father had and let the plant consume his life.
“Look, Dad, I’m glad for you. And I’m sorry I jumped down your throat, but all I want is a regular job, nine to five, so I can be home with my daughter.”
Later that afternoon, Jake parked his new car in front of the sheriff’s office. The insurance company had paid off the claim on the accident, and Jake had just come from the dealership in town. He was now the proud owner of a new SUV. He wasn’t taking any chances. He wanted something safe and sturdy to transport his precious cargo—his daughter.
Instead of going back to the house, he’d found himself heading downtown. He wanted to show Ali his new car—and also the fact that he could walk now. He climbed down from the vehicle, then reached back inside and pulled out his crutches. Avoiding the snow from the recent storm piled at the curb, he made it to the concrete-block building.
Pushing through the double doors, he glanced around the large room furnished with gray metal desks and file cabinets. There were three deputies on duty, and the secretary, Sara Merlin, was seated behind the main desk.
She glanced up, then grinned in recognition. “Well, as I live and breathe, if it isn’t Jake Hawkins.” The woman in her mid-sixties came around the desk to greet him. “How are you doing?”
“Just fine, Mrs. Merlin. I got a walking cast today and thought I should get a little exercise.”
Ray Benson came out of his office. “Now I know what all the commotion is about.” He shook Jake’s hand. “Good to see you out and around, son.”
“It’s good to be out.” Jake leaned on his crutches and looked around. “Is Ali here?”
Ray nodded and pointed to the glass cubicle at the end of the hall. “She’s due for a break.” He turned back to the secretary. “Sara, will you take the incoming calls for a while?”
“Sure,” she agreed, and returned to the desk.
Jake made his way down the corridor, a little apprehensive about the kind of welcome he’d get from Ali. He hadn’t pushed the issue of marriage after their discussion on Thanksgiving. Ali had managed to remain scarce most evenings. This morning, he hadn’t gotten up early enough to catch her before she left for work.
He was determined not to let her pull away from him again. Somehow he had to convince her that Darcie was in his past, and that he and Ali belonged together now and forever.
He paused at the doorway and saw Ali busy at the computer. She didn’t notice him right away, which gave him time to enjoy watching her. She was wearing a white blouse and a dark straight skirt. When she stood up and reached for a file on the shelf, it caused the material of her skirt to pull taut over her shapely hips. A sudden surge of heat raced through him. Damn. He needed to burn off some excess energy.
“Hello, Ali,” he said.
She swung around, the movement causing her long hair to fall across her face. She quickly pushed it away. “Jake. What are you doing here?”
The past week, there had been only silence between them, or polite conversation at mealtimes. He missed her. He missed the woman who’d come apart in his arms, who responded to his kisses with the same hunger.
“I drove here to see you.” He smiled as he walked inside the small cubicle. They needed to talk. “And to show off my new cast. I can walk on both legs now.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said as her green eyes grew large. “But should you be out?”
“I had a doctor’s appointment this morning.” Jake glanced over his shoulder through the glass partition. To his surprise, the entire office staff seemed to be interested in what was going on. “And I thought I’d stop by to see where you worked.”
“Jake, I’m a little busy now. Maybe another time.”
Her words were a crushing blow to his ego. Jake wanted her to drop everything and be happy to see him. “Okay. Why don’t you tell me when there will be a good time? I’ve tried all week for us to spend time together. You’ve found every excuse to avoid me. We can’t go on like this. We need to talk—about Darcie.”
Her gaze danced around, never making contact with his eyes. “We’ll talk when we get home.”
“Will that leave you enough time to think up excuses not to spend time with me?”
She sighed. “Jake, that’s not fair. I’m at work now. I can’t just stop everything to talk to you.”
That hurt, but damn it, she wasn’t going to know it. “Fine. I just came by to show you my new car, but if you’re too busy…I’ll leave. See you at dinner.”
She stopped his departure. “Thanks for coming by.”
He nodded and walked out. Once outside the building, he heard his name being called. He turned to find Ray approaching him.
“You ran off pretty fast.”
He glanced over Ray’s shoulder to the office building. “It wasn’t a good time.”
Ray nodded, but didn’t comment. “I was hoping you’d come by so we could arrange a time that’s convenient for you to talk to the high-school students. If you’ve got a minute, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”
“Sure,” Jake said.
Ray squinted up at the winter sun. “Can you handle a short walk to the diner?”
Jake nodded and they started off toward the town circle, and Charleen’s Diner. They sat in a booth, and Ray held up two fingers. Quickly Charleen brought over two mugs of coffee.
Ray leaned his elbows on the table. “Do you think you can make it to the high school on Friday? They’re having a career day. I’ll be there, but maybe the great Hawk might have some effect on them.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“I’ll pick you up about 1:00 p.m.”
“Sounds good.”
Ray leaned back. “I bet it’s nice to be up and around.”
Jake smiled. “I can’t tell you how nice.”
“Have you remembered anything more about the day of the accident?”
Jake shook his head. “Not a thing. Can’t remember any part of that day.”
“It’s probably the trauma of the accident. It’ll come back to you, son.”
Jake realized that he might never know what happened that day. It made him crazy. What in the hell had caused him to go out and drive in a blizzard?
“Since we couldn’t find any evidence of any other car involved,” Ray continued, “we’re stating the cause of the accident as weather-related. The insurance company agreed and closed the case.”
“I know. They’ve already settled the claim. I bought a new car today.”
Ray let out a low whistle. “I saw it parked out front. Pretty impressive.”
Jake hadn’t gotten the opportunity to show Ali. “I’ll be driving around some pretty special people.”
Ray smiled, then it slowly disappeared. “Look, Jake. I’m going to overstep my bounds here and ask you to give Ali a little time.”
Jake tensed at the sheriff’s suggestion, but he waited to hear the other man out.
“Since returning to Webster with the baby, she’s been pretty private about her personal life. She never told anyone about Joanie’s father. Then you return home, and it doesn’t take long for people to figure things out, especially since Ali’s been glued to your bedside and Cliff has been playing the proud grandfather. I know she was a little cold with you today, but she’s feeling overwhelmed with all the attention people are paying to her. Ali’s been stopped at the grocery store by people asking about you.”
“I care about Ali, Ray. The second I found out about Joanie, I wanted to make things right. I asked Ali to marry me. I know a quick wedding won’t stop the talk, but it will be a buffer for Ali so she’ll no longer have to stand alone. I want to take care of her and Joanie. I should have been here all along.”
The sheriff blew out a long breath. “It’s not always easy, son, I know. But be a little patient with Ali. Give her time. I’m sure she’ll come around.”
“I want us to be a family. I want my daughter to know she can depend on her father.” Something Jake had never known, remembering how alone he’d felt growing up. He didn’t want that for his child. “Soon she’ll be wondering why her parents aren’t married. Damn this town. No wonder I tried to escape.”
“This isn’t the town’s fault, Jake. You’re the one who took off without a backward glance. Ali was the one who was left to face everyone alone.”
Jake’s heart lodged in his throat. Everything the sheriff said was true. He had been the one who took off. Well, no more. “I am going to stay now. I’ve even taken a job at the plant.”
Ray held up his hands and grinned. “Slow down, son. I’m not the one you have to convince.”
The man was right. Ali was the one he needed to win over.
That night, despite his cast, Jake spent nearly an hour pacing the floor, but it wasn’t because he was waiting for Ali. He was comforting his daughter. With his new cast, he was able to maneuver the stairs to reached the nursery. Joanie had been crying since she woke from her nap. June and he had both tried rocking the child, but nothing seemed to calm the baby.
When Ali arrived home, she took charge of Joanie, but that didn’t help much, either. She finally called the doctor and was told to bring Joanie into the clinic. Jake insisted on driving while Ali comforted the baby.
At the office, the doctor diagnosed an ear infection, and before they’d left the office, Joanie had been given antibiotics along with some Tylenol. And by the time they reached the house, the baby was asleep.
Ali carried her daughter upstairs with Jake following close behind. They both stayed in the nursery to watch Joanie until she settled down for the night.
“Ali, I need to talk to you,” Jake said.
“I can’t now. Joanie needs me.”
“Joanie’s asleep,” he countered. “Besides, she has a good set of lungs and can make herself heard.” He took Ali’s hand and led her across the hall into her bedroom.
“Jake, I don’t want to leave Joanie.”
“You can go back in a few minutes, but right now we need to talk.”
Ali pulled her hand from Jake’s and folded her arms across her chest defensively. “We have nothing to talk about.”
“We have several things, but right now I’d like to know why you treated me like a stranger when I came to see you today.”
Ali didn’t want to hash this out now. She was tired and hungry, and she knew her daughter probably wouldn’t let anyone get any sleep tonight. “I was just surprised. And busy.”
“You’re not a very good liar,” he accused. “Ray told me you were due for a break.”
“Okay. Is it so bad not wanting to broadcast my private business?”
“You mean, you don’t want anyone to know that I’m Joanie’s father?” There was a pained expression on his face.
“I never got a chance to decide. Your dad has told the world about his granddaughter.”
“Are you begrudging my father his bragging rights?”
Now she felt like a heel. “Of course not.” She brushed her hair away from her face and let out a tired breath. “You don’t understand, Jake. You always belonged to Darcie. You never gave me a second look while she was around. Then Darcie leaves town and suddenly you want me. Then you leave town and I have a baby, and never once did you call me over eighteen long months.” She fought hard not to cry. “Nothing like being second best. Darcie will come back sometime. What will happen then?”
Jake dropped his crutches, and Ali gasped as he reached for her. Without warning, he pulled her against his body and his mouth covered hers in a devouring kiss. A warm tingle started from the base of her spine and worked its way up, making her forget everything except this man and what he was doing to her.
He broke off the kiss. “How many times and how many ways do I have to convince you that you are the only one I want? You’re the mother of my child, not Darcie.”
He took her mouth again. Then he pulled away once more, breathing raggedly. He gripped her arms tighter. “I can do this all night, Ali. You belong to me. I’m not about to let you go. How can I convince you?”
Ali, too, was having trouble breathing, praying he meant what he said. Her hands moved up his chest and circled his neck. “I think what you were doing is a good start.” She drew his head down to hers, and their mouths met in a searing kiss. “Convince me, Jake. Take the doubts away.”
The next day at work, Ali was distracted. All she had managed to do all morning was think about Jake. She felt herself blush when she remembered last night, and how they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. A few kisses led to still others, until Ali couldn’t think clearly. It had been Jake who’d stopped things from going too far. Then he took her downstairs and made them both a sandwich for a late dinner. They continued to talk, promising each other to try to work things out. A few more kisses, then Jake sent her off to bed. It hadn’t done any good. Ali lay awake for hours, fighting the urge to make the trip down to Jake’s room.
Even this morning, she’d wanted to stay home with Joanie, who seemed much better, but Jake insisted that he could handle things. After giving her a long passionate kiss, he’d sent her out the door to work. She hadn’t come down to earth since. She needed advice and called her best friend and asked her to lunch.
“Tell me what to do,” Ali begged Margo, who was seated across the table at the restaurant.
Margo looked shocked. “You want my advice?”
“Of course. Why do you think I asked you to lunch?”
Margo smiled. “To be your maid of honor?”
Ali gasped and glanced around the busy café to see if anyone had heard. “I never said anything about getting married.”
“Why don’t you just put the man out of his misery?” she suggested. “You’ve been in love with the guy forever.”
“That doesn’t mean marrying Jake is the right answer. If I make the wrong choice here, it could hurt Joanie.”
&
nbsp; “If I thought this was a bad idea, I’d never suggest you do it. Besides, I didn’t say get married right away. But at least give the man a chance.”
A chance to break her heart, Ali thought. The fact remained that Jake hadn’t seen Darcie yet, hadn’t tested to see if the old feelings still remained. “I’m not sure….”
“What can a few dates hurt?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been out on a date with Jake.”
Margo laughed. “Yeah, you have done things a little backward.”
Ali crossed her arms over her chest. She’d had the man’s baby, but never gone out on a date with him. “Not anymore,” Ali insisted. “Starting tonight, I’m going to be courted by Jake Hawkins. When Darcie comes back, I need to be sure and so does he.”
On Saturday night, after their date, Jake walked Ali up the steps to the house. They’d just spent hours together, in a dark theater, watching a romantic movie.
“Don’t tell me I lost my chance with you to George Clooney?”
Ali released an exaggerated sigh. “Could be.”
“Damn, I knew I should’ve dragged you out of there when the guy started running around without a shirt,” Jake teased as he used his crutch to make it up the ramp.
“And miss all that good popcorn,” she said, and moved closer. “Besides, you don’t look so bad without your shirt, either. And the best part was, I got to hold your hand.”
Jake made it to the front door and turned toward Ali. “That was the best part for me, too.”
“But we could have stayed home and rented a movie.”
Jake shook his head. “No. We’ve never been out on a date. Not to say this evening was that great.” He looked down at his injured foot. “Damn, what I really wanted to do was take you dancing—but as you can see, I’m not exactly light on my feet.”
Ali’s mouth opened in surprise. “The only place to dance around here is Rudy’s Roadhouse. Not the best reputation.”
Jake leaned a hip against the railing and looked out at the snow-covered lawn. It had snowed last night, just enough to leave a blanket of white everywhere. He drew in a deep breath of clean, cold air. “It’s smoky, and a little sleazy, but at least I’d get to hold you in my arms.”
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