by Boone Brux
“Okay.” He pushed back his chair. “I should go, too.”
She gathered her things and without looking at Sonja, strode from the restaurant. As she passed, Dani swore she felt the woman’s gaze burn into her. Once outside, a quiet sigh eased from her. Pretending to not care that Jamie’s ex sat a few yards away, glowering at them, was exhausting. His hand slipped to the small of her back again, guiding her forward. They walked in silence for a block, both seemingly lost in thought.
Having a run-in with Sonja had not been part of the evening plans, but it raised a couple of questions. How many others had there been since he left her a year ago? And had his father actually sent Sonja to Seattle? She accepted that Mr. Kingsland had never approved of her, but she’d always thought it was because he’d never approve of any woman Jamie dated. Sonja’s announcement that his father had sent her was the proverbial slap in the face. It wasn’t that no woman was good enough—just her.
As if sensing her thoughts, Jamie said, “Listen, Dani, I’m sorry about Sonja. My father gets something in his head and…well, you know how he is.”
“When you say something in his head, you mean he’s hot for you and Sonja to get together—like marriage?” What did Sonja have that she didn’t? A tan, long legs, big boobs, so what?
“Exactly like that, but I ended things.” He shoved his hands in his front pocket. “He just hasn’t accepted that yet. That’s all there is to it.” He smiled. “And we need never speak of it again.”
“No, we needn’t.” She smiled, letting him know things were still good between them. “Sooo, I had fun. Thanks for coming…and protecting me…and for the T-shirt…and the drink.”
They stopped next to her car.
“I had fun, too.” He took her keys from her and opened the door. “We should do it again.”
“Yeah.” She tossed her purse on the front seat. “I’d like that.”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Don’t you have to do something with the boys? Or maybe spend quality time with your mother?” she asked, seriously hoping he’d say no.
“Nope, Kyle and Roxy have some family thing. Linc is busy with a new project, and God only knows what Price is up to. So I’m free if you are.”
She contemplated the situation. He’d already admitted he wasn’t doing anything with Kyle, so there really wasn’t a reason she needed to keep him occupied. Still, the idea that he wanted to spend time with her—willingly—muffled the rational voice in her head. “I’ll probably work until after seven. With the wedding I’ve let a lot of things slip through the cracks.”
“Why don’t you come to my house afterward? I’ll make you dinner and we can have a relaxing evening. No pressure.”
“That sounds great.” The last time she’d been at Jamie’s house she’d told him she loved him. The memory wasn’t a good one. Maybe by making new memories the old, unhappy ones would fade into the past. “Can I bring something? Wine? Dessert?”
“Nope, I got it covered.”
“Hmmm, okay. Well…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Can’t wait.”
His lips lingered a second longer than was expected. The urge to turn her head taunted her, but she refrained. When he pulled back, she gave him a tight smile and then climbed into the driver’s seat. “Night.”
“Night.” He shut the door and stepped onto the sidewalk.
The car revved to life. Glancing over her left shoulder, she pulled into the flow of cars. “Okay.” She glanced in the rearview mirror. He still stood on the walk, watching her. “Okay, okay, that went pretty well.”
She’d kept him occupied and away from Kyle, and still managed to have fun. Familiar emotions skittered through her, but she stomped them down. This wasn’t about rekindling a relationship with Jamie. This was about Roxy.
Focus, Dani. This is a mission, not a date.
Strengthening her resolve, she vowed to not fall for him again.
Now if her heart would just listen.
Chapter Five
The day seemed to drag by. Even though she dug a steady path through the pile of neglected emails and manuscripts, she made little progress. “I swear this stuff multiplies at night.”
A sigh slipped from her when she glanced at the clock. Seven fifteen. She’d told Jamie she’d work until after seven. With the size of her to-do list, she could be there all night. Wrapping an arm across her torso, she stretched her tight shoulder muscles, trying to release the tension caused by hunkering over her desk. More than anything she wanted to slip into some comfy clothes and have an ice-cold beverage. Tea, beer, wine, at this point, she didn’t care.
“Enough for one day.” She straightened and let her arms go limp. “More than enough.” She shut down the computer and stood. An ache radiated through her lower back from sitting for so long. When bending to get her bag, she hung there for a second, trying to lengthen the aching muscles.
“What are you doing?”
She jumped and straightened. Her friend stood in the doorway, her head cocked and her usual sardonic grin smiling back at her. “Joya? What are you doing here?”
“Wanted to see if you were free for dinner.” Joya was Kyle’s sister. They had the same curly copper-colored hair, but where Kyle looked like he was twelve, his sister inherited the height and beauty. Dani always thought she should have pursued modeling, but Joya had bluntly explained that fashion was stupid and if she wanted to get paid for showing her body she’d do porn. Dani was fairly certain she’d been kidding—fairly sure. Her friend plopped down in one of the leather chairs. “I was thinking tacos.”
“I wish I could, but I have plans. Sorry.”
Joya crossed her legs and kicked her foot. “Anybody I know?”
Dani wondered how much she should tell her. Being Kyle’s sister meant there was a small possibility Roxy’s scheme could get back to him. That would cause all sorts of problems. But Joya had been a friend since college. And Dani trusted her. Besides, it would be nice to have another confidant—somebody who didn’t have a vested interest in the plan. She set her bag on the desk and looked at her friend. “Yeah, actually. It’s Jamie.”
Joya’s eyebrows lifted; her expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion.
“It’s not what you think,” she said, holding up a hand. “This is a favor I’m doing for Roxy.”
“Why does Roxy need you to go on a date with Jamie?”
“It’s not a date, it’s more like running interference by keeping Jamie away from your brother as much as possible before the wedding.”
Her friend’s dubious expression softened to confusion. “Why?”
“Roxy is convinced that Jamie will try to change Kyle’s mind about getting married. Personally, I don’t think that would happen, but she’s freaking out. I think it’s premarriage anxiety. And I’m certain Jamie will take any chance to lay in a few well-placed non-marriage comments whenever possible. So Roxy’s concerns are kinda legitimate.”
“No doubt, but Kyle can take care of himself.” Joya shook her head. “I’m surprised Roxy would ask that considering everything that happened with Jamie. I mean, it can’t be easy.”
“Actually, I think it’s been good for us.” She lowered into her chair again and folded her hands on the top of her desk. “We’ve moved beyond the uncomfortable Hey, you were a complete dick to me stage and are actually friends now.”
“Really?” The skepticism thickened Joya’s reply.
“Yes, really. He apologized and is cooking me dinner tonight. And last night we went on the underground Seattle tour.”
“And you guys haven’t…” She made a circling motion with her finger. “You know.”
Dani screwed up her face. “What? Cast a spell?”
“Fooled around.”
“No.” Her expression relaxed to bored. “It’s not like that anymore.”
“Uh-huh.” Her friend folded her hands in her lap, pinning her with a stare.
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“What? We haven’t.”
“Maybe a little?”
“Not even a little. It’s completely platonic.” She eased against the chair back. “I’m not stupid, Joya. Do you think I’d actually go back for more abuse? Jamie’s here for the wedding, not me. I get that.” And she’d be smart to remember that.
“I just don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“Trust me—” She shook her head. “Neither do I. After the wedding he’ll go back to Florida, but this time we’ll be on amicable terms.”
“And you’re sure he’s going back?” Joya lifted her brows in question. “He still has his house from what I hear.”
“Oh, he’s going back.” She shrugged. “He said he kept the house because he knew he probably wouldn’t stay in Florida forever, and he’d done a lot of work on it. I get that. Besides, I don’t think his dad would let him come back so soon, now that he’s got Jamie where he wants him, and no doubt things will get interesting when he finally does decide to leave.” She left out the part about Sonja.
“Well, you’re a better woman than I am. I would have punched him in the nuts the first chance I got.”
“Why you’re still single is a mystery.”
“I know, right?” Joya stood. “Okay then, I guess I’ll go browbeat somebody else into going to dinner.”
“What about Lincoln?”
“Yeah, that’s still too weird for me.”
Joya had had a major crush on Lincoln when they were in high school, and sometimes Dani wondered if she still carried a torch for him. Usually Joya was calm in any situation. But around Lincoln she sometimes lost her ability to form complete sentences. Sarcasm was usually the end result.
“It’s been six years. Maybe it’s time you clear the air.”
“That’s your thing, not mine.” She slung her blue leather purse over her shoulder. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Has Kinni been acting a little weird?”
Kinni was the third bridesmaid and their obsessively compulsive organized friend. “You mean more than normal?” She shook her head. “I haven’t noticed anything odd. Why?”
Joya shrugged. “I don’t know. I jokingly asked her if she wanted to go jogging with me yesterday and she said yes. The girl was sucking wind after a few blocks. Then I asked her if she wanted to catch that new psycho thriller movie. She said yes.”
“Doesn’t she hate horror movies?”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t really that she said yes. It was the way she said it. Like something was forcing the words out of her.”
“That is weird, even for Kinni.” Dani shook her head. “Nope, she hasn’t said anything to me, but I’ll keep an eye out next time we’re together.”
“Roger that. Well…have fun on your non-date, doing non-romantic type stuff.”
Dani stood. “Thanks. Good luck haranguing somebody into going out tonight.”
“Thanks. Later gator.”
After Joya left, Dani ducked into the bathroom and exchanged her work clothes for comfortable capris and the T-shirt Jamie bought her last night. She pulled her hair back in a messy bun and replaced her heels with flip-flops.
“Ahhh, much better.” She regarded herself in the mirror. “Casual, not desperate.”
Just the look she’d been going for. After shoving her clothes into her bag, she strolled to her car. The sun was shining. It felt warmer than the weatherman had predicted, which was fine with her. Summer was always too short in Seattle. Jamie had a huge back deck, and hopefully that’s where they’d eat.
Thirty minutes later, she pulled into his driveway. The craftsman-style home had always been one of her favorites on the block. It appeared Jamie had hired a property manager in his absence, because the yard and house didn’t look like it had been unoccupied for the last several months. The grass was mowed, flowers were blooming in the beds, and the old maroon shutters had been replaced with bright green ones.
She got out of the car and walked up the inclined driveway. One of the things she also liked about Jamie was his preference for a simpler lifestyle. Though she’d never been to his father’s house, she had been to his mother’s home for dinner a couple times. The woman resided alone in a five-thousand-square-foot apartment overlooking the city. And from what Jamie said about his father, she suspected similar grandeur, only with more blonde bimbos and mirrors.
“You’re early.” Jamie stood on his front porch, beer in hand, smiling down at her. “Good.”
“You got one of those for me?” She flicked her head toward the icy bottle. “’Cuz I could really use one.”
She climbed the steps and stopped in front of him, one stair below. He held out the full beer. “There’s more where that came from.”
“Dang, I like a man who greets me with an adult beverage and then feeds me.” She took a long drink and swallowed. “That hits the spot.”
“Come on in.” He held the screen door open for her.
She entered the house and looked around. For the most part, things hadn’t changed since the last time she’d been there. The maple floors gleamed from the sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows at the back of the house. The aroma of charcoal tickled her nose. “Are you grilling?”
He smiled. “Yep. Brats and beer. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
“Perfect on a day like this.” She walked down the hall, past the stairs, and into a bright kitchen. “I always loved this room.” The comment slipped out, causing her to tense for a second. So what? She mentally shrugged. If they were going to get past their breakup, they couldn’t tiptoe around their history. “I wish I had this much space in mine,” she continued, glossing over any awkwardness.
“My kitchen in Florida is big, but it’s too modern.” He hauled a bowl of dip out of the refrigerator and set it next to the bag of wavy chips. “That’s one of the reasons why I didn’t sell the house. Hopefully, I’ll get back here one day.”
She dragged a chip from the bag and dunked it in the thick, creamy goodness. “You seem pretty entrenched in Florida. You know, with your dad entrusting you with the operations.”
“‘Entrusting’ is a strong word. My dad and I have never seen eye to eye on a lot of things, as you well know.”
She’d had her own issues with Harold Kingsland and didn’t envy Jamie if he did decide to cut ties. “What are you going to do?”
“Not sure yet.” He sliced a wedge of onion and laid the circles on a plate. “I’ve got a few business prospects.”
She picked up a red tomato and moved to the sink to wash it. “No offense, but I’ve always thought you’d be way happier not working for your dad.”
He dropped the rest of the onion in a Baggie and sealed it, then joined her at the sink. “I know. A lot of people feel the same way, including my mom. But I think her opinion is driven out of spite and has nothing to do with what I want.”
“Hey, at least you have contact with your parents.” She grabbed a dish towel and dried the tomato. “Mine left on a cruise three weeks ago and I haven’t heard from then since.”
“They’re not coming back for Roxy’s wedding?”
She offered him the towel, and he took it. “I have no idea. Roxy knows not to expect them. Personally, I think they forgot about the wedding.” She picked up the paring knife and sliced the tomato. “They’re a little…self-absorbed.”
“We always did have that in common.” He moved to stand beside her. “I’m doing the cooking.” With a little bump of his hip, he moved her out of the way and took the knife from her. “Sit down and drink your beer.”
She saluted him and perched on the stool opposite his cutting board. “So, what did you do all day while I was slaving over unread emails?”
“A lot.” He set the knife down and wiped his hands again. “Wanna see?”
“Sure.” She followed him onto the back deck. Half the patio was shaded and half in sunshine. The perfect place to relax. When he jogged down the back steps to the yard, she stopped. “Where are we going?�
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“You’ll see.” Facing her, he walked backward. “It’s still pretty raw, but it’s going to be great when I’m finished.”
With her interest piqued, she descended the steps and trotted after him. Jamie stopped at the old garage and grasped the iron handle of the sliding door. He pulled. The door slid along the track, revealing a decked-out garage. Metal glimmered under the rays of the sun, and the shell of a motorcycle sat center stage.
“I thought you said you were going to outfit a shop.” She stepped inside, trying to take it all in. “Not that you already had.”
“This is nowhere near what I’d like to do in here.” He walked to the bike and ran a hand over the deep curve of the handlebars while his gaze caressed the skeletal metal body. The action was sensual. He actually seemed excited about the bike. She’d never seen him act that way when talking about the construction business. He glanced up and smiled. “The day after I got here I outfitted this place with a lot of the same tools I have in Florida. I found this bike in the classifieds this morning.”
“Wow, that was fast.” She moved forward. Though it was tough to envision the bike’s potential, Jamie’s reaction was not hard to see. “I think it’s great. Will you be able to finish it before you go back?”
His smile faded. “Probably not.” His gaze caressed the bike, and he sighed. “I really miss this place.”
His statement tugged at her heart. “Maybe you should move, think about…” She hesitated, knowing she was venturing into territory she’d deemed off-limits. “Doing your own thing. You know, despite your dad’s protests.”
“Don’t think it hasn’t crossed my mind about a thousand times.” He leaned against a long table covered with tools, paint, an air compressor, and large swaths of leather. “But me taking over the family business has always been a given.”
“Even if it’s not what you want to do?” Her question sounded like a bit of a challenge. She crossed her arms over her chest and forced herself to hold his stare. “I mean, it’s your life, not his.”
Jamie shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Not according to my dad. I don’t know how many times I’ve been lectured on how my great-grandfather started the business and how my grandfather took over after him. Then my dad. I’m next in line.” He shrugged. “It’s a good job. I mean, we make decent money, even during the recession.”