For a second she let herself consider whether she thought she could entice the man. If Megan’s recipe really worked, could she make Jake fall in love with her?
No, his shell was too hard. His defenses firmly in place. The most she could expect was some indication that her great-grandmother’s advice had some merit. Practice made perfect. Once she was assured of her direction, she’d look for a man she could love, and that would love her in return.
She wanted to share her life with someone. Make a family, set down roots and start traditions. She’d had her fling in the big city, had her shot at a career. No reason she couldn’t scale back a bit to make room in her life for that family.
Jake moved his hand across Kerry’s back, surprised at the physical awareness that flared with the woman in his arms. For a moment he almost forgot this was the pest of his younger years. The unexpected desire that erupted surprised him. Normally immune to women, he wondered why he felt differently about Kerry.
She had spent several minutes telling him she didn’t plan to remain in West Bend forever, didn’t know what she was going to do in the future. She’d probably return to New York and he’d not see her again for another few years. But while she was here, he could spend some time with her. Learn what made her tick these days. Find out just why she fascinated him.
From the first moment he’d seen her pulling into the Porters’ driveway, he’d been interested. It had been a long time, and maybe he had missed her adoration. He could feel her skirt encircle his trousers, fall free as they turned and swayed. He was growing more and more intrigued with this woman. She remained a mystery, refusing to talk much about herself and instead asking him what he was doing. He wanted to know her better—intimately. His head snapped up. It was time to call a halt to thoughts like that. His future was mapped out and it did not include getting involved with anyone—especially Kerry.
When the music ended, Jake dropped his arms and guided her from the dance floor. “Get your purse, we’re leaving.”
“So soon?” Kerry’s tone mocked. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at her. Not for an instant did he believe that innocent expression.
“What game are you playing now, Kerry?”
“No game. If you want to leave, we’ll leave.” She made a big production of taking another sip of her water, of reaching for her purse. He glanced at her long bare legs. Did they go on forever? That sassy skirt played havoc with his senses when she walked. It swished and swayed around her, displaying, concealing. Driving him up the wall. Her skin had been velvet soft beneath his fingers. He liked touching her. Wanted to—
“I’ll get your purse.” He reached around her and snatched it up from the floor, handing it to her. If he didn’t get her out of there soon, he wouldn’t be responsible for his own actions. Or reactions. And he didn’t like the feeling. He’d been in charge of his own hormones for a long time now. What was going on?
Kerry remained silent on the ride home, wondering why Jake had cut the evening short. They had been close tonight, she knew it. Closer than ever in their lives. Talking like two friends, rather than adversaries. Yet he’d slammed that door closed and was now the silent distant man she remembered. Had she done something to make him think she was chasing him? Thinking back, Kerry remembered nothing.
Sighing gently at the vagaries of the male species, she relaxed in her seat. At least there was no heartache attached to this. She’d bid him good-night and that would be the end. Unless Jake changed his attitude, she doubted she’d go out with him again. He was too unpredictable. Maybe she could practice her newfound advice on someone else. Carl had invited her out again. And Peter Jordan.
Jake pulled into his driveway and stopped the engine.
“I’ll walk you over,” he said.
“No need. I can see myself home, it’s just next door.”
“I took you out, I’ll walk you home,” he said grimly.
Kerry looked at him in the dark, wishing he’d left the lights on. Even the dim glow from the dashboard would have helped gauge his expression, his mood. “We are just neighbors who went out for dinner. No big deal. I can dash across the grass and be home in a couple of seconds.”
The overhead light seemed bright when he thrust open his door. “I’ll walk over with you.” It was the kind of voice no one argued with.
Kerry shrugged. A few more minutes and the evening would be finished. She had mixed emotions about the success of her venture. But Jake was not an ordinary man. She shouldn’t dismiss Megan’s advice just because it didn’t work with him.
When he opened her door, she slid out, and quickly moved toward her aunt’s house. Jake matched her step for step until they reached the porch. She withdrew her keys and he took them from her to unlock the big door. Before handing them back, he closed his fist around the keys, reaching out to cup her face with his other hand.
“A kiss good-night?” he asked softly.
“I hardly think this constitutes a date, Jake. Just neighbors going out for dinner,” she said primly. Her heart raced. Would he really kiss her? Her mind, mouth, entire body remembered the kiss in the yard. She had no lemonade tonight, nothing to stop him if he really wanted to kiss her. Nothing to stop him and every inch of her yearning for that kiss.
“Then a neighborly kiss,” he said, lowering his head and covering her mouth with his.
Kerry knew she was in trouble the moment he touched her. Senses spinning out of control, she responded. It was unlike the kiss she’d attempted so many summers ago. Jake was in charge, deepening the kiss, thrilling her to her toes. She encircled his neck with her arms when his came around her. Vaguely in the back of her mind she registered the dropping of her keys as his hands pressed against her back, holding her tightly against that strong, masculine body.
Then gradually sanity surfaced. Kerry pushed against his shoulders. When he released her, she spun around and entered the dark house. Closing the door, she leaned against it, trying to get her breathing under control. She’d spent the entire day telling herself not to get involved with Jake, to try the different steps Megan had listed, but keep her heart whole. One kiss threatened her entire equilibrium.
The knock sounded impatient.
“What?” she asked, knowing it was Jake. She couldn’t face him. She wanted to fly up to her room, climb into bed and pull the covers over her head. Maybe she should return to New York tomorrow, before she had a chance to see him. Before wild impetuous dreams took root.
“Your keys.”
Flinging open the door, she held out her hand. Jake dropped them in, peering in as if trying to see her in the dark.
“You okay?”
“Of course. Thank you for dinner. Goodbye.” Kerry shut the door carefully, though she longed to slam it. Turning, she almost ran to her room. She snatched up her sleep shirt and headed for the bathroom. In only moments she was ready for bed. Now if she could only sleep. Her heart raced, her mouth still felt the press of Jake’s. And her thoughts spun round and round.
Opening her window wider for any hint of air that stirred, she stared at Jake’s house. There were lights on downstairs. He was still up. Resentfully she wondered if he even gave a second thought to that devastating kiss. He about turned her world topsy-turvy, and probably didn’t even feel a speck of anything. Just another casual date to him. Probably satisfied whatever curiosity he had. No need to invite her out a second time. She’d just be another in a long line of women he took out once and never called again.
She turned away, and tried to forget.
Jake took a sip of the whisky and waited while it burned down to his stomach. Normally not a drinking man, tonight had him wound tighter than a watch spring. It was Kerry’s fault. She’d changed—and he didn’t like the unsettled feelings that her change wrought. He prided himself on his ability to read witnesses, to anticipate the moves of the prosecution, and to gauge the mood of a jury. But with Kerry, he was at a total loss.
Or was it just ego that couldn’t let go of the idea sh
e was playing some kind of game? That she still wanted him and was trying a new tactic to get his attention. For years she’d thrown herself at him. It seemed out of character for her to virtually ignore him since she’d arrived.
Yet that kiss proved she wasn’t indifferent to him. He looked out the window at her place. It was dark except for her bedroom. She was still awake. Remembering their kiss? He took another swallow. She’d tasted as sweet as hot honey. Her body had fit against his perfectly, as if they had been created for each other. Her scent had filled him, feeding the burning desire to a hot flame. He wanted her. And hadn’t a clue what he was going to do about that.
He shook his head and poured another inch of amber liquid into his glass. No one person was created especially for another. And those fool enough to delude themselves that they had some special bond soon discovered the truth in an ugly fight that left both parties bitter and resentful.
His father had made sure both his sons learned that lesson well.
But there was something about Kerry that had Jake intrigued. Trying to reconstruct the day, he realized he’d dominated the conversation. She’d asked questions about his work, about his life in West Bend, and given very little away about herself. Damn, he wanted to know more about what she’d been doing, how she liked her job, the men she had dated. About her plans for the future.
Turning, he dialed the familiar number. The phone rang several times before she answered.
“Kerry, it’s me, Jake.”
“Yes?” Her wary tone made him smile.
“I didn’t get you out of bed, did I?”
“Did you call just to ask dumb questions?” she replied with some asperity. “I have gone to bed, but I wasn’t asleep yet. Do not call back in ten minutes just to ask if I had fallen asleep.”
“Don’t hang up. I wanted to talk.”
“We talked all day.”
“I did. You are a very good listener. But I realize I learned very little about you, what you’ve been doing for the last few years. How you liked New York, what you did in your job, who you’ve been seeing.”
The silence stretched out for several moments. She cleared her throat. A sign of nervousness, Jake thought. Interesting. Why would Kerry be nervous?
“It’s late, Jake. I want to go to bed. Couldn’t we have this conversation another time?”
“You name when.” He’d pin her down before hanging up.
“I don’t know, I’ll call you.”
“Not good enough, Kerry. We make a date now.”
“A date?” The wary tone in her voice startled him. Didn’t she want to see him again?
“A date. Lunch Tuesday,” he said. He was not going to be put off by some vague promise. She could commit and he’d hold her to it.
“Tuesday’s not good. I’m busy,” she said quickly, almost too quickly.
“Thursday, then.” Jake refused to get into a discussion of what constituted busy. If she said she was writing her resumé again, he’d throw the phone against the wall and storm over to talk to her tonight.
“Okay, lunch Thursday.”
“Come to my office and I’ll give you the nickel tour.”
“Fine. Good night.” She hung up.
Slowly Jake replaced the receiver, wondering what was going on in Kerry’s mind. Maybe by Thursday, he’d find out.
Thursday lunch, she thought, climbing back into bed. She should have made an excuse. That kiss showed her more than anything she was in danger of falling under his spell again if she weren’t extremely careful. And she knew nothing lay in that direction but heartache.
Reaching for the old diary, Kerry flipped through to the pages she’d skimmed that morning.
Mama said I should make sure I have plenty of questions to ask about his work, and the other areas of his life. Men enjoy talking about themselves, and by doing so give us a good idea of what it would be like to be paired with them forever. If he bores me on a date, he would certainly bore me throughout a marriage. I can’t imagine Frederick boring me ever. Just the sound of his voice seems to fill me with a exuberant happiness that I have never experienced before.
Kerry closed her eyes, remembering Jake’s voice. It was as smooth as Tennessee whisky and as intoxicating. His inflection carried a touch of Southern accent, but the deep richness was uniquely his own. Megan had loved Frederick’s voice, Kerry thought she loved Jake’s. He could probably read her the Law Review and she’d find it fascinating because he was reading it. What would it be like to hear that voice beside her in the dark? To reach out and touch him in the night and know he was near?
And if today was any indication, Jake filled her with an exuberant happiness.
Breathless, she placed the journal on the table and flicked off the light. The darkness offered a safe haven for dreams. And Kerry knew she’d dream about Jake. What she needed to do was forget the impossible and concentrate on making plans for her future.
But for a few moments, she weakly gave into the daydreams of a shared life with the man next door. Imagining the kisses they’d share, the midnight hours they would fill with love and laughter. Time enough to be practical in the morning!
CHAPTER FIVE
Do the unexpected. Don’t let a man become complacent. Keep him guessing.
—Megan Madacy’s journal, Spring 1923
KERRY AWOKE EARLY the next morning and for the first time in ages began to feel more like her usual self. Her energy level was approaching normal. Coming to North Carolina had been the best thing for what ailed her, she thought whimsically as she lay in bed and listened to the birds chirping and trilling. It would probably be hot again today, but she didn’t care. Her dresses were cool and comfortable. And she’d done all the yard work she needed to do for a few days.
Donning one of the new sundresses, Kerry lightly applied makeup and brushed her hair. She made her bed, darting a quick glance at the house next door. All was silent. Jake’s car was gone. He had to work today and had obviously already left for Charlotte.
The memory of his kiss jumped into her mind and Kerry took a deep breath, trying to calm her instantly-ragged nerves. It was too late for regrets and might-have-beens. She knew that. This was simply an interlude in her life. Once she decided what to do next, she could throw all her energies into that and forget the sexy neighbor who had one time filled her dreams.
Today, however, she had nothing pressing and planned to take one step at a time.
Fixing a light breakfast, she read the local paper, jotted notes of things she wanted to be sure to include in her resumé, and savored the delicious hazelnut coffee her aunt loved so much. If she had still been in New York, by this hour she would have already attended two meetings, placed a dozen phone calls and be scrambling to get everything accomplished in a hectic day. For a moment she remembered. It had been exhilarating, exciting. But there was no urgency to her days now.
Kerry took her second cup of coffee, and the old journal, and went to sit on one of the wicker rockers on the front porch. Across the street the Bandeleys were leaving together. She waved. They had lived there since long before she started making her annual summer visits. Friends of her aunt and uncle’s, they had had no children. Idly Kerry wondered if she was destined to remain single, or would she one day find a man to whom she’d be able to apply Great-grandma Megan’s ingredients. Would they be blessed with children? The lack hadn’t been detrimental to the Bandeley’s marriage. They still appeared very much in love.
Another example she could hold up for Jake. She smiled wickedly. He didn’t seem to like her models of marital bliss.
In fact, when she thought about it, his parents were the only ones in the neighborhood who had split. In this case, his family was the anomaly, not the rule. Had he ever thought of that, she wondered.
Sipping the delicious coffee, she turned to Megan’s journal.
Aunt Dottie came to tea today. She asked me how I was faring and I told her about Frederick. She laughed and exchanged glances with Mama, then told
me to always remember to keep a man guessing. To keep a mystical aura that will have him wondering what I’m thinking. Do the unexpected, she told me. Don’t let a man become complacent. Keep him guessing. Try something outrageous and see how he takes it. Life is long: if your husband can’t be open to new ideas, you’ll be unhappy.
Mama laughed and nodded. Sage advice, she said. I use it with your father.
Turning eighteen is a wondrous time, at last the other women consider me an adult and are sharing their worldly wisdom. Tonight, I’ll try that with Frederick. He is coming to escort me to the church social. What can I do that he would find unexpected?
A few minutes later Kerry gazed across the lawn, a smile on her face. Megan was a gem. She wished she could have known her. For an idle moment she wondered what she could do that Jake would find unexpected. Maybe ignoring him was enough. That was certainly unexpected given her past infatuation. Though she thought Megan would consider that remained as a hard-to-get ingredient. Was there truly any correlation between her behavior and the fact Jake seemed more interested this visit than ever before? Or was it just coincidence?
Time would prove it, one way or the other. And time was something she had in abundance. The few days she’d spent in West Bend had already begun to heal. She didn’t miss her job as much as she thought she would. She did miss some of her fellow workers, but most of them had been let go as well and were either already working for another firm, or still searching for a new position.
Which was what she should be doing. First, however, she had to decide where to look. New York was exciting, energizing, dynamic. But a bit lonely—even with good friends. Here she had family and longtime friends. Charlotte was a fast-growing metropolitan area with jobs that would offer the same kind of challenge as the one she’d loved so much. And if she were closer to home, wouldn’t that be an added fillip?
Her decision made, Kerry spent the rest of the morning working on her resumé. In the afternoon she went to the country club to swim and lie in the sun. Time enough to be ambitious when she was fully recovered from burnout. This was a well-earned vacation and she planned to take full advantage of every moment.
The Husband Campaign Page 7