After a long pause, Josey shifted in her seat. “Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought, and I respect that. I also apologize for …” She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Look, I am sorry I prejudged you because you live in a very expensive home located on an equally expensive piece of land. There.” She gave him a single nod. “Are you happy now?”
Was he happy? Not yet, but he was working on it. “That cost you, didn’t it?”
“A little.”
Again he caught the hint of a smile playing across her features, and his heart thumped. “Does your apology mean you’re willing to give me a chance?”
“A chance at what?” A tiny wrinkle formed between her eyebrows.
He’d better watch the road, or they might not make it to the theater. “A chance to get to know you, and for you to get to know me. I think we can agree there’s a mutual attraction between us. How about we see where it might lead?”
She turned to stare out her window, and she played with the hem of her tunic. “I promise to keep an open mind. No more prejudging. How’s that?”
“Sounds like progress to me.” No more prejudice, but still reserved, still keeping all of her defenses firmly in place. He could read her so easily, and she presented him with the kind of challenge he needed most. Winning Jo’s trust would be the ultimate prize. He’d have to move slowly with her. The slow part would be difficult. She stirred things within him he could not ignore—primitive, possessive feelings he wanted very badly to act upon.
Prior to a few moments ago, he’d never put into words what kind of woman he wanted, or what he hoped for in a marriage. He hadn’t really given much thought about his own needs, other than to reject the kind of relationship his parents had.
“The land where my townhouse sits used to belong to my maternal great-grandfather. He donated part of the riverfront property for the regional park abutting my townhouse and left the rest to my grandfather. Grandfather Hayward deeded the remaining thirty acres to me the day I was born.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve sold four out of the eight available lots I’m willing to utilize, and I began the townhouse project with a developer I know. The remaining lots come with hefty price tags, which will not drop, no matter how long it takes to find buyers. The rest of the land will remain as is for now.”
“I see.”
More squirming on Jo’s part, with the addition of twisting the strap of her purse between her fingers. He had to bite the inside of cheek to keep from grinning. “I’m telling you this for a reason.”
“I’m all ears.” She shot him a wry look.
How could he explain himself in a way she’d understand? He had more money than he could ever spend, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d always lacked what mattered most. In every way other than net worth, he’d lived an impoverished life. None of his money or property counted; none of what he owned brought him the kind of happiness he craved. “I was born with a silver spoon jammed into my mouth, but …” His voice came out a little too strained. Heat rose up his neck again, and his jaw clenched.
Jo must’ve sensed this was a sensitive topic for him, or at least she’d caught how difficult it was for him to voice his thoughts, because she placed her hand on his forearm. She didn’t say a word, just offered that small gesture. Warmth of a nonsexual nature flooded through him.
“What I own … my net worth doesn’t matter. If I lost everything tomorrow, I’d be fine with starting over. In fact, I’d welcome the challenge.” He glanced at her. Shit. He didn’t want to scare her off by going way too deep on their first official date.
“In case you couldn’t tell, I’m competitive, and I’ll admit to being driven, but I’m not an old geezer. Not yet, anyway,” he teased, desperate to lighten the mood.
“If you started over, I have no doubt you’d succeed.” Jo patted his arm before taking her hand back. “You’ll never be the old geezer type. I have a feeling you’ll evolve into one of those benevolent, distinguished older gentleman everyone admires and respects.”
Well, hell. His chest tightened, along with his throat. His mind reeling from her take on him, Will pulled off the freeway and turned onto the street that would take them to his contract parking space. He concentrated on traffic.
Their date had hardly begun, yet he’d already shared more with Josey than he ever had with anyone. They were becoming friends. Deluged with fresh, shiny optimism, he parked his car. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Where are we going?”
“One of my favorite places, The Local. It’s an Irish pub on the mall.”
“Oh, I’ve eaten there before. The food is great,” Jo said as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
He twisted around to grab her jacket from the back seat. She’d already opened her door and climbed out by the time he reached her. He held up her jacket. “It’s cooling down. You might want this.”
Josey slid her arms into her coat, and her fresh scent inundated his senses again. He gathered her hair and lifted it out from under the collar of her jacket. The silkiness against his skin incited an internal riot, this time having everything to do with lust. He stepped back and held out his hand. “Shall we?” Josey glanced at him through her lashes, another one of her half-smiles wreaking havoc on his equilibrium. Her hand slid into his, and his heart leaped at the skin-to-skin contact.
“Let’s. I am hungry, and I’m excited to see Chicago. How on earth did you get tickets on such short notice? I took my grandmother to see Phantom of the Opera at the Orpheum, and I had to buy our tickets months in advance.”
“I pulled a few strings.” He really didn’t want to go into anything having to do with his parents right now. Holding Jo’s hand, threading their way along the mall on a perfect spring evening … this was the kind of now his life had been lacking, and he didn’t intend to waste a single moment thinking about anything or anyone else.
Helium-filled balloons had nothing on Jo, and Will’s warm grip on her hand was the only thing keeping her tethered to earth. Everything he’d said about what he wanted in a marriage resonated perfectly with her own beliefs about the institution. His thoughts echoed hers exactly—being best friends, loving her partner as fiercely as he loved her, putting their commitment first and foremost.
She bit her lip and snuck a peek at the gorgeous man keeping her from floating off into space. He couldn’t seem to keep a smile off his face either. Just looking at him was a form of foreplay. She wanted him so badly the intensity frightened her.
Right. So all the old fears and now all her defense mechanisms were flaring. Since talking to her younger brother, she was now more aware at least. This time she paid attention. This time she’d do things differently. When she caught herself attempting to sabotage their growing closeness, or pushing Will away, she’d take a moment to regroup.
Will reached for the door of The Local just as it swung open. An attractive black couple emerged. “Will?” the man said, a pleased look of surprise lighting his features. “I can’t believe this. How long has it been, and we literally run into each other?” He laughed and reached out his hand.
“Greg!” Will shook the man’s hand, drawing him in for a backslap. “Sondra, it’s good to see you both.” Will turned to her. “Josey, this is Greg Fletcher and his wife Sondra. He and I were roomies all through law school. Greg, I’d like you to meet Josey Haney.”
Will put his arm around her shoulders, and her stomach flipped. “Nice to meet you,” she said, glancing from Greg to the woman beside him.
“Glad to meet you, Josey.” Greg beamed. “How long has it been now, Will? Four years since we bumped into each other?”
“Too long. I’d love to catch up. Are you still working for the ACLU?”
“He is,” Sondra said. “But I’m trying to lure him away.”
“Oh?” Will canted his head. “To what?”
“Besides being a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota, my wife is an environmental scientist and
an activist,” Greg told Josey, his pride obvious. Then he turned to Will. “She wants me to open up my own practice, and to broaden my scope to include environmental issues and other nonprofit areas.”
“We do need to talk,” Will told him. “I’ve been thinking about making changes myself.”
As the two chatted, Sondra turned to her. “So, what do you do, Josey?”
Her heart sank. “I’m—”
“Jo is a journeyman plumber and part owner in her family’s construction company.” Will put his arm around her shoulders. “You need any plumbing work done, she’s the one to call.”
There was no mistaking the pride in his tone. She peered at him, searching for evidence of insincerity or even a touch of mockery. Instead, he smiled easily, and his eyes held nothing but open admiration. A heady rush of pleasure spiraled through her.
“I so admire women who make inroads into male-dominated fields,” Sondra said. “I have a friend who teaches human relations at Hamline University. Would you be interested in talking to one of her women’s studies classes? She’s always looking for individuals who break through stereotypes, and I know she’d love to have you.”
“Sure.” Probably nothing would come of it, but she kind of liked the idea of encouraging a classroom full of women to break through barriers. Her whole life she’d been about trying to prove she was as capable as her brothers, and to her way of thinking, she done that, hands down. Perhaps she could inspire others to consider career paths that might break a few molds.
“Hey, do you have a card, Greg? I really do want to get together.” Will reached for his wallet and pulled out a business card. He gave it to Greg, who passed it to his wife.
“Honey, I don’t suppose—”
“Yes, Greg. I have a few of your cards in my purse.” Sondra shook her head and grinned. “Honestly, the man would be lost without me.” She fished one from her handbag. “His cell number is the best way to reach him,” she said, handing the card to Will.
“Both are true. I would be lost without her, and my cell is the best way to reach me.” Greg beamed at his wife.
“Got it. Thanks.” Will tucked the card into his wallet. “I’ll call you on Monday, and we’ll set something up.”
“Looking forward to it. It was nice meeting you, Josey. I hope we’ll see you again. We’ve got to get going,” Greg said. “I’ll talk to you on Monday.”
“Absolutely.” Will watched the couple walk away, and then he opened the door for her. “We’d better go in before they give our reservation away.” He placed his hand on her lower back. “That was certainly serendipitous.”
“Running into an old friend that way?”
He ushered her toward the hostess stand. “Yes, and the fact that his wife is trying to pry him away from his current job.”
“How is that serendipitous?”
Will gave the hostess his name and accepted a pager. They moved to the bar just as a couple of barstools freed up. “Shall we?” He gestured toward the seats, and they settled at the bar. He pushed the empty glasses and debris aside and held up a hand to catch the bartender’s attention. The man, pouring a couple of beers, nodded to let him know he’d seen them.
“Seeing Greg and hearing him say his wife is trying to persuade him to open his own firm got me thinking.”
“About your career.” Jo glanced over the wine list.
The bartender showed up, took the dirty glasses away and wiped down the bar in front of them. “What can I get for you?”
“I’d love a glass of Cabernet,” Jo said.
“Sounds good,” Will told the bartender. “Make it two.”
Will leaned close to help her out of her coat, and then he shrugged out of his, a thin glove-leather jacket in a soft, rich black. Lord he smelled good. Aftershave or cologne, whatever it was, the woodsy scent drifting her way blended enticingly with Will’s own unique maleness. It was all Jo could do to keep from drooling. He wore charcoal-gray slacks and a button-down shirt with horizontal threads of dark gray forming a hint of pattern through the fabric. With his dark hair and gray eyes, he definitely made an impression.
Thank God she’d had Haley along to help her pick out a few new outfits. For once, she knew she looked good. “So, back to Greg.”
“Right. I’ve been trying to decide if I’d be better off working for someone else or opening my own practice. I’m absolutely certain I need to do something different. Defending the environment, victims of discrimination and people who have been wronged in some way appeals to me. What do you think? I could look for a job with a law firm focusing on the kind of issues I want to represent. I could strike out on my own, or I might start something with a like-minded partner or two.”
“I don’t see you working at someone else’s already established law firm, not after already being a junior partner where you are now. From what you’ve told me, it’s clear you want more control.” Plus, Haley had told her about how Will had been pigeonholed into an area of law he didn’t care for. That could happen all over again if he chose to join an already established law firm. “Are you thinking about talking to Greg about forming a partnership?”
He nodded slowly. “We could at least explore the idea.”
“If it were me, I’d want to have a partner or two. If for no other reason than to have others to brainstorm with, and to carry some of the risk involved in a new startup.”
“Mmm.” He turned pensive.
“Just think,” she said, warming to the subject. “You could reach out to nonprofits throughout the state, help new organizations get started. Opening a new firm means you can pick and choose who and what you want to represent.”
“Yes, but one of my priorities is to cut back on the hours I work. If I have partners, my unwillingness to put in all-nighters and weekends might cause friction. Having partners means meeting their expectations, and honestly, I’m through working around the clock.”
“See, here’s where you can take advantage of all that money you don’t care about.”
“Oh?” He chuckled. “How do you figure?
The bartender returned with their wine, and Jo waited until they’d both taken a sip before continuing. “Do you know where the renovated train depot is in Saint Paul?”
“Vaguely. It’s near the river, isn’t it?”
She nodded. “That entire area along the Mississippi consists of older warehouses and railroad tracks. A year ago, we did some work on one of the warehouses. That old warehouse was amazing. The building still has the original timber frame, and the owners kept the exposed brick walls on the interior. The entire place has been restored to its former rustic glory. The developers kept the integrity of the original historic space, while adding modern office suites, updated restrooms and an elevator. They even put in a coffee shop and a small convenience store on the first floor.”
“And?” Will’s gaze roamed over her face, pausing on her lips.
First dates led to first kisses. A thrill shot through her. He’d better kiss her goodnight at the end of this date, or she might embarrass herself by kissing him first. “Don’t do that.” She waved her hand in front of him. “I’m trying to make a point here, and—”
“Don’t do what?” His expression took on a hooded sexiness. He slid his palm down her arm and took hold of her hand. “Did I mention how lovely you look tonight?”
“That.” She rolled her eyes. “Stop.”
“Why are you dismissing my compliment?”
“Because I don’t think you mean it.” She turned away, and her face flamed.
“Look at me, Jo.”
It took a monumental effort, but she did. Will held both her hands in his, and the way he ran his thumbs over her skin transmitted electric currents along her nerves.
“I haven’t dated for …” He grunted. “Well, let’s just say it would be embarrassing to tell you how long it’s been, and I hadn’t really intended to start anytime soon. Then I met you, and all that changed.” He flashed her a lopsided grin, a
nd once again his gaze did that roaming over her face thing. “I do mean what I say. You are a striking woman, an absolutely breathtaking, heart-stopping stunner.” His Adam’s apple bobbed.
The slight rasp in his tone sent pleasurable prickles through her. “Thanks.” What a lame response to the nicest thing any man had ever said to her. “I mean—” Their pager went off, buzzing, vibrating, and red lights flashing, the perfect representation of what was going on inside her. A nervous giggle burst forth.
Will studied her. “Saved by the bell?”
“You could say that,” she muttered. “What you said was wonderful, and you’re right. I do have trouble accepting compliments.” She slid off the stool, gathered her things and her glass of wine.
Will once again placed his hand at the small of her back as they walked back to the hostess stand. “Did your brothers tease you a lot when you were a child?”
“When I was a child?” She snorted. “They still do. They are merciless.”
“I sense you too have a competitive streak. I’m sure growing up with brothers who made you feel like you always had to be better and try harder to measure up has affected your ability to accept a compliment.” He reached out and tugged at a strand of her hair. “Get used to it because I plan to give them to you on a regular basis.”
Unsure how to respond, Josey concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other without spilling her wine as the hostess led them to a booth tucked into the side of one of the many rooms. Will might be onto something, but her pesky heart-guardedness surged.
She was beginning to see the pattern Wyatt had pointed out. Dammit, she really, really liked Will, and she really, really wanted him. “I’m willing to give accepting compliments a shot,” she said, trying to infuse lightness into her tone, but damn if it didn’t come out a little stilted.
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