by King, Sarah
***
Jake stood on Lisa’s doorstep right at six. Smoothing his hair one last time, he rang the doorbell. He heard some scuffling before the door was thrown open.
“Hi, come on in,” she said before turning to rush back down the hall. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” Jake called to her back. Walking into her living room, he wandered around and found a few pictures of Lisa and who, he assumed, was her mother. He smiled when he saw the family resemblance and realized again how beautiful she was. A little further down, he noticed the sunflower he’d given her sitting in a vase. He hoped it was an indication that he’d been on her mind.
“Like what you see?”
Jake turned, a witty remark on the tip of his tongue before he got a good look at Lisa. She was gorgeous. The late evening sun coming through the window cast a golden glow over her. He’d never thought of himself as an overly romantic guy, but he couldn’t help himself. She was simply…”Breathtaking,” he murmured.
Lisa blushed and thrust a wine glass at him. “Would you like some wine?”
“Sure,” he said accepting the glass. He noticed the way her breath caught as their fingers touched. He could feel the electricity course through him as well. Taking a step back, he cleared his throat. “I made us a reservation in the next town over in about an hour.” Jake noticed the way she was chewing her bottom lip and quickly added, “But, we don’t have to go if you’ve changed your mind.” He hoped like hell she hadn’t.
“No,” Lisa said a little too quickly. “It’s just…well, I hope you won’t be mad, but I’ve sort of made us dinner.”
Jake was struck silent for a moment. When he noticed her smile falter, he realized she was mistaking his silence for disapproval. “You made me dinner?” he asked quietly.
“Well, I plan on eating too,” she said and snorted. Jake noticed her eyes widen and a blush steal over her cheeks as she realized what she’d done. “I’m just going to go check on dinner now…”
Jake laughed as she raced down the hallway once again. Well, well. Wasn’t she just full of surprises? Grinning, he followed her down the hall. , He watched from the kitchen doorway as she pulled the makings for a salad from the refrigerator. “Anything I can help with?”
“I think I’ve got it,” she said balancing tomatoes and carrots under her chin. And then as they dropped to the floor, “Okay, maybe not.”
Jake laughed as he came over to help her clean up. “You really do hate to ask for help, don’t you?”
Lisa smirked as she placed the produce next to a cutting board. “Dinner will be another twenty minutes or so,” she said effectively ignoring Jake’s question as she started to chop. “I hope you like lasagna.”
“Actually, I’m lactose intolerant.”
***
Lisa’s knife paused over the tomato. Son of a… “Okay, give me a second to clean up and we can go out.”
Jake’s deep laughter rang out. “Lisa, I’m kidding. You’ve got to loosen up.”
Lisa scowled as she picked up some of the lettuce she’d already chopped and threw it at Jake. “That wasn’t nice.”
He returned the favor. “Neither is throwing produce.”
Picking up another handful, she launched it. “You started it.”
Jake slowly stalked her around the counter. “And now, I’m going to finish it.” He picked up the entire colander full of lettuce and chased Lisa around the kitchen tossing handfuls as he went.
Lisa laughed as she ran and tried to dodge the flying lettuce. Suddenly, she was falling as she stepped on a discarded leaf.
Jake caught her right before she hit the floor.
Her heart pounded as she looked up into his face.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured. His face inched closer before he suddenly shook his head and released her. “Let me help you clean up.”
“Thanks,” she whispered as they both bent to pick up the lettuce from the floor.
When the kitchen was clean once more, they decided that the salad was a lost cause. Slicing some bread, Lisa glanced over at Jake. His white shirt was rolled at the sleeves, and his top button was undone. Is there any time that he doesn’t look perfect? When he suddenly cleared his throat, she realized he’d caught her ogling. A familiar warmth stole over her cheeks as she looked down and smeared butter on the slices. With a smirk, Jake refilled their wine glasses. He took them to the table as Lisa plated their dinner.
“This looks great,” he remarked as he dug in. He made appreciative noises as he ate, but for the most part, they ate in silence.
So much for it being easier to talk in private.
Jake ate two portions before declaring he was stuffed, and Lisa cleared their dishes away.
Jake offered to help her clean up, but she’d needed a few moments to clear her head. While she rinsed the dishes and put the leftovers away, he walked around her kitchen whistling softly. The tune sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it…
“So, what’s this?”
Looking up from wiping the counter, Lisa almost choked. Jake was sitting at the table thumbing through her notebook. Nobody looked at her notebook. It was too private—too personal… It was exactly the type of thing she needed to be open and honest about if this thing with Jake had any chance of going anywhere. Steeling her nerve, she cleared her throat and said “It’s my notebook. I write songs.”
The sip of wine Jake took suddenly sprayed everywhere in a violent cough as he choked.
Lisa stared at him with wide eyes before she picked up a towel to clean up the second mess of the evening.
“Here, let me,” he said as he grabbed the towel from her hand and sopped up the wine. Taking it to the sink, he rinsed it out while Lisa looked on in disbelief.
It wasn’t that strange of a hobby—was it? It wasn’t like she collected toenails or anything gross. Was she really such a freak because she wrote? She didn’t think so, and her attitude toward Jake cooled almost immediately. “Well, it’s getting late…”
Hanging his head, Jake squeezed the towel. “Wait. Just wait.” He stalked to her and tilted her face so that she’d look at him. “I’m sorry. You just caught me off guard, is all. How long have you been writing?”
Lisa pulled her chin out of his hand and looked down. She’d probably be more comfortable standing here naked than talking about this. Groaning, she realized too late that was not the image she wanted in her head right now. Just thinking about this gorgeous man naked in front of her…
Jake cleared his throat and quickly brought her back to the present.
“It feels like forever, but probably thirteen years or so,” she finally murmured.
Walking back to the table, he pulled out a chair and sat down. He grabbed her notebook again and made a motion to open it. “May I?”
After a brief pause, she finally mumbled her permission and sank into the chair across from him. She blew a few tendrils of hair that had escaped the braid out of her face. Looking up, she noticed Jake’s grin. “What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.” Jake continued reading for a few minutes. “These are actually quite good. Have you ever submitted any of them?”
Lisa bit her lip as she answered honestly. “I tried a few years ago, but never heard back.”
Jake grunted in response and continued to flip through her book.
Fidgeting in her seat, she tried desperately to take the attention off of herself. “So, you never told me how your meeting went today.”
“Really well, actually,” he murmured while he concentrated on her words. He seemed to be drumming a beat on the table as he mouthed the words silently.
“So, what is it you do, exactly?” Lisa was reaching near panic levels as he continued to read. When he reached the page for Blue Twilight, she thought she might pass out.
***
“I think you’re very talented,” Jake said, sidestepping her question. “Whoever turned your songs down was an idiot.”
&nbs
p; Lisa flushed. “Yeah, well, you might be a bit biased.”
“No, really.” He set the book aside. “I know someone who might be able to help you. You’ve got a gift, Lisa.” He waited on her response while he silently cheered in his head. Finally! Finally something he could connect with her on. Something that, he hoped, could bring them closer together. He waited for the smile from Lisa to come. It didn’t.
“I think you need to go,” she said grabbing her notebook and clutching it to her chest. She stood and walked down the hall to the door.
Jake stared after her, confused. Was she serious? He was offering her an opportunity, and she was mad at him? He stood and stormed after her. “Hold on,” he said grabbing the door before she could slam it on his head. “Why are you upset?”
Making a disgruntled noise, she said, “Upset? I’m not upset. I don’t get upset.”
Jake snorted. “Clearly. Okay, then, why are you so pissed off?”
Lisa blew a wayward hair out of her face. “What do you want from me, Jake? I showed you something personal. You don’t have to patronize me. I don’t need the fantasies of you swooping in to make my dreams come true. I thought…I thought maybe we could be…friends, but I don’t think that’s going to work. I’d like you to leave.” She swung the door open again.
“You think I said those things just to make a play at you?” Jake was getting angrier by the minute and his accent was growing more pronounced. “Lady, are you delusional?”
“Excuse me?”
“Who in their right mind takes a compliment and twists it around so completely that they read something into it that was never even there? So, I ask you again, are you delusional?”
Lisa’s chest was heaving. “I think you need to leave.” She gestured to the door, “Now.”
“Fine,” said Jake “I’ll go, but I’ll have you know I meant every damn word I said.” He watched as Lisa’s eyes filled with tears before she slammed the door closed behind him.
The woman is so exasperating, he thought as he kicked a rock out of his way. This was why he’d avoided relationships. Women were crazy, plain and simple. Couldn’t take a simple compliment… He reached his truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. Slapping his hands against the wheel, he wondered, who needs this aggravation? He sure as hell didn’t.
So, why was leaving making him feel so much worse? Shouting, he got out and slammed the truck door shut. “Dammit!”
Chapter 12
At least she got the door shut before the tears fell. Letting her head fall back against the hard wood, she struggled to get control of herself. Way to be a psycho, Lisa. The door behind her shook violently as someone beat on it.
Realizing it could only be Jake, she stood. Lisa wiped her eyes with a sniffle as she squared her shoulders and pulled the door open. She knew she should apologize, but damned if her pride would let her. “What? Did you forget something?”
Jake grabbed her around the waist. “Yeah, I forgot this,” he said just before he brought his mouth down on hers.
Lisa didn’t think for a few seconds, she just relished the feeling of being kissed by this gorgeous man. Boy can he kiss! And then, just as quickly, common sense came rushing back and she shoved him…hard. Jake went sailing backward and fell off the front step with a thud. “Oh shit! Oh God, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed as she hurried forward to help him up. “Are you hurt?”
“Just my pride,” said Jake, rubbing a sore spot.
Lisa giggled despite herself, but tried to cover it with her hand.
Glaring at her, he asked, “Can I expect that every time I try to kiss you?”
She pretended to debate it as she stuck a finger to her chin. “That depends.”
“On what?” Jake asked cautiously.
Lisa stuck her hands on her hips. “On if you’re going to be a jerk right before you kiss me every time.”
Jake started to argue, but seemed to think better of it. Resting his forehead against hers, he said, “You drive me crazy.”
“Ditto,” Lisa whispered right before he kissed her again.
They eventually moved to the living room and were finishing the bottle of wine they’d opened with dinner. Jake was telling her more about his family. Lisa learned that he had an older sister with two girls and a boy who lived in Florida near his parents.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love my nieces and nephew, but I don’t mind only seeing them once or twice a year. They think of me as ‘Uncle Jake, the jungle gym’ and I swear, my back doesn’t go back to normal for weeks after one of their visits.”
Giggling, she took another sip from her glass. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.” At Jake’s look, she wisely changed the subject. Maybe it was the wine, but somehow, the walls she had so carefully constructed around herself were starting to crumble brick by brick. “My father was an asshole.” Jake paused mid-sip, and she saw his eyes widen, but he didn’t push her to continue. Silently thanking him for that, she did anyway. “He left my mom and me when I was six. He never paid child support on time, and when he could be bothered to spend time with me, it was usually to go to some strange relative’s house so he could pawn me off on them for the weekend.” Cringing, she realized how insensitive she sounded. “Don’t get me wrong, Layla was amazing, but she wasn’t my dad. I wanted to spend time with him, but clearly the feeling wasn’t mutual. When I turned twelve, I told my mom I refused to see him anymore. I was old enough to realize when I wasn’t wanted. Mom told him, and he said he was glad to be rid of me.” Taking another sip, she traced patterns on the couch cushion as she waited for Jake’s response.
Jake took her hand. “I’m sorry. No child should have to go through that, Lisa.”
She could tell he had more to say, but the alcohol buzzing through her veins was giving her loose lips. “And then there was Eric. We dated for over two years, and I stupidly thought we were happy. I thought he was ‘the one’. It was almost our anniversary, and he told me he needed to talk to me. I convinced myself that he was going to ask me to marry him. But instead, he told me that I was no longer what he wanted, and that he’d found someone else.” Jake continued to stroke her hand while she drained her glass. She was feeling pleasantly numb now.
“Why are you telling me all of this now, Lisa?”
“Don’t you get it? I’m damaged goods. Officially unlovable; that’s who I am.” She was beginning to slur her words a bit. God, she was so going to feel this in the morning. She’d never been able to hold alcohol worth a damn. “So, there you go. That’s who I am, Jake,” Lisa finished with a hiccup.
“I don’t think that’s who you are,” he said. At Lisa’s snort, “I don’t. I think you are incredible. You picked up and moved your entire life without a thought. You’ve overcome some tough blows, but you keep going. That’s commendable, and it doesn’t make you damaged. We all have our…baggage.”
She felt her eyelids growing heavy. “Even you?” Lisa asked sleepily.
***
“Especially me.”
Jake realized the conversation was getting into dangerous territory. He needed to steer it toward a safer subject. “So, who did you submit your songs to before?” When Lisa didn’t answer right away, he looked over and noticed her starting to nod off. Smiling, he slipped off her shoes before gently lifting her. She snuggled into his chest as he made his way upstairs. After a quick check of all the rooms, he figured out which was hers. Reluctant to let her go, he held her tighter for a moment before finally pulling back her covers and laying her down. He made sure to check that her alarm was set—although he was sure she would not be happy when that went off—and kissed her forehead before turning to leave.
“I really like you, Jake,” she said quietly, snuggling deeper into her bed.
Jake smiled. “You know something, angel, I really like you, too.”
“Don’t hurt me,” she whispered before sleep finally claimed her.
He didn’t answer as he crept out of her room and let himself out of her house.
Chapter 13
Sweet Lord, what is that noise? Gripping her head, Lisa blindly felt for the hellish device that was causing her suffering. She slapped at it until it stopped and fell back asleep until it started all over again. When she finally pried her eyes open, she saw through blurry vision that it was 3:45 am. Why in the world would I ever want to wake up at 3:45 in the morning? And then it dawned on her. Work. Throwing back the covers, she jumped out of bed, and quickly realized that was not a good idea. The room spun in front of her, and she came this close to face planting. Whimpering, she slowly inched along the wall until she reached the bathroom. She tried the light, but decided showering when you could see was overrated. Lisa took the fastest (and darkest) shower of her life before trying to scrub the dried cotton taste out of her mouth. After brushing most of her hair, she pulled it back into a sloppy pony tail.
The shower helped somewhat, but she knew she’d have a headache from hell. Grabbing some aspirin, she shoved it in her purse and hurried out the door. She stopped short when she saw Jake waiting for her. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought you could use a ride this morning,” he said with a grin as he walked toward her. “And I come bearing gifts.” Lisa almost cried when she spotted the coffee cup he held. “How are you feeling?” he asked with a kiss to her forehead.
Sipping the coffee, she tried to chase some of the residual cobwebs away. “Better than I deserve,” she said before giving his hand a squeeze. “Thank you for this.”
“It’s my pleasure, angel. We’d better get going.”
Lisa stared at his monstrosity of a pickup truck and wondered how she’d manage to pull herself into it. Jake took pity on her and easily lifted her into the passenger seat before getting in. As the scenery passed by her window, she tried to piece together what had happened after dinner. Some things she remembered, but others… “So, what exactly happened last night?” she asked as they made the short drive to the bakery.