He clinked his glass to hers. “Congratulations. Looks like I’m not the only brainiac at the table.”
“Thanks. To be honest, I think for me it’s more hard work than. I just don’t ever give up when I want something. I decided halfway through college I wanted to -”
A sudden squawk and high-pitched whine from the corner put an end to their conversation. Max looked over. A screen beside the bar lit up with song lyrics, and a microphone was being rolled into place.
Time to sing, Jen mouthed over the applause in the bar. Max’s stomach turned over.
***
“I got youuuuuu, babe,” Jen finished, crooning into the microphone as the bar erupted with applause. Thankfully, after his third beer, Max hadn’t had too much problem joining her on the karaoke stage, and though he hadn’t done much except whisper the lyrics into his own microphone, they’d done a respectable rendition of the Sonny and Cher song.
Jen slung her arm through Max’s and dragged him into the crowd. “Now we hang out and make the rounds,” she said close to his ear.
He nodded. Perspiration shined on his forehead, and his glasses were slipping down the bridge of his nose, but he didn’t seem to care. Finn clapped him on the back.
“Hey, nice duet,” he said with a wide smile,
“Thanks,” Jen said. Her arm still in Max’s, she threaded her way to the bar. “Two glasses of water,” she said above the din. The music was cuing up for the next karaoke victim, but Jen was more interested in what Mikayla had thought of Max’s performance. She peered through the knot of bodies.
“Think we were a success,” she said. She nodded across the room. “Take a look.”
Max’s head swiveled in time to catch Mikayla looking in their direction. Jen dropped Max’s arm. “I’m going to the little girls’ room.” She gave him a gentle nudge of her elbow. “Go over and talk to them.” He stared at her as if frozen. “She won’t bite,” Jen said. “At least, I’m pretty sure she won’t. Now go.”
“What exactly are you up to?” Finn said into her ear.
Jen rested her arms on the bar. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But she kept her eyes on Max, who had managed to make his way across the room. When he reached Mikayla’s table, she pulled up an extra chair and motioned for him to sit.
C’mon, take her up on the offer, Jen willed.
After a beat, he did. With one glance back at Jen, he slid into the chair. One finger pushed up his glasses. A cowlick fell over one eye, but he didn’t bother to push that away. “He’s charming,” Jen said aloud. She turned to Finn. “Don’t you think?”
Finn laughed. “Only you could find a geek like that charming.”
I hope not, Jen thought as she watched Max and Mikayla talk. I hope at least one other person finds him charming too.
Chapter Six
Max waited until nine o’clock the next morning to text Jen, though he’d been awake since six. He’d lain in bed, eyes on the ceiling, vision fuzzy along with the memories of last night at Shenanigan’s.
Did I really sing a duet with Jen Oakes? He would never have thought it, but karaoke was kind of fun. He’d been more than happy to let Jen take the lead, her face lighting up as she sang mostly on key. Then he’d spent twenty minutes talking to Mikayla. He pinched himself. Things like that did not happen on a Tuesday night in Max’s world. Heck, they didn’t happen at all. One hand snaked beneath the covers, and before long, he was stroking himself to a fast and violent orgasm.
Oh, hell... His eyes drifted shut again. How did he get up and go to work after last night? He wouldn’t be able to keep his mind on anything to do with finance.
Finally he got up, showered, and drove to work. In the parking lot, he pulled out his phone and texted Jen. Thanks for last night. Then he stared at the words. That sounded like they’d slept together or something. He erased the text and tried again. Had a good time last night. Thanks.
That sounded moderately better. He changed a good time to fun and then sent the text. She probably wouldn’t even answer. Most likely, she was either sleeping or having Bloody Marys with her friends or whatever popular women did when they were on vacation.
But his phone dinged less than a minute later with her response.
Hey! Yeah, it was fun. How long did u stay?
Around midnight he typed.
Nice! Did u leave her wanting more?
He ran his thumb over the screen. He had no idea. He didn’t know how to interpret women’s words or actions. Mikayla hadn’t come right out and said, Hey, do you want to go out sometime? Nor had she put her hand on his thigh or grabbed him and kissed him.
Don’t worry, Jen texted before he could answer. That was only the first night. U around this weekend? Concert down on the beach.
Max climbed from his two-door Honda and crossed the parking lot. No, he typed back once he reached the foyer. Have a job interview out of town. Leaving Sat. morn.
Wow! Where?
Chicago, he answered. He was about to add that the Windy City was awfully far from home, and he was mostly doing it for the experience, but before he could, the elevator doors slid open.
“Can you hold it?” rang out a voice behind him.
Max turned with a grin. He knew that voice. And he would hold the elevator for Mikayla Johnston anytime.
***
That’s far from home, Jen typed, but Max didn’t respond. Well, good for him, she thought. Although if he took a job in Chicago, that might make this whole plan of getting him together with Mikayla kind of moot. Ah, well. Jen dropped the phone onto her carpeted floor and rolled over onto her stomach. For a couple more weeks, she’d enjoy the luxury of sleeping in and eating her mother’s homemade food. All that would change once she returned to Boston. In the meantime, she’d work on her plan of getting Max and Mikayla together. Though Jen was a sucker for romance, she didn’t have the time for any kind of relationship. She never had. Not a brainiac, she mumbled into her pillow, recalling their conversation from last night. Hard work, that’s what made up Jen Oakes. Always had and always would. She slipped back toward dreamland.
***
“You looked like you were having fun last night,” Mikayla said as the elevator moved upward.
“I was.” He pulled at his shirt collar. “I’m not much of a singer, though.”
She cocked her head in that cute way he recalled from high school. “You sounded pretty good from where I was sitting.”
“That was my partner,” he said without thinking.
Mikayla put another inch between them and looked down at her manicure. “Right. Jen Oakes.”
Too late, Max realized he probably shouldn’t have brought up another woman while talking to the one he was interested in. “I just meant, ah…” He stuttered to a stop. He didn’t know what he meant. Damn. He pulled at his collar again.
“This is me,” she said a moment later as the doors opened. “Have a good day.” She strode off the elevator without a look behind her.
Max scowled and spent the rest of the morning in a black mood.
I’m an idiot, he texted Jen at lunch. He ate at his desk, barely tasting the sandwich he’d bought at the cafe downstairs.
Why??? What did u do?
He smiled in spite of himself, at the way she emoted even in texts. It was as if her whole, larger-than-life personality was in the room with him. I brought up you when I was talking to M. this morning.
She sent a line of sad faces, followed by Oh, boy.
I know. Now what?
She didn’t answer for a minute. Finally she wrote, Find out where she goes for happy hour on Fridays.
Max frowned. How do u know she goes anywhere?
This time she sent a line of happy faces with their tongues out and eyes rolling. Just find out. Wherever she goes, you & I have a date. Deal?
He grinned. Suddenly the day had gotten a whole lot better. Deal.
Chapter Seven
“How come you’re leaving early?” Lucas ask
ed as Jen picked up her purse after the second hand of poker.
“I have a date.”
All four men stared. “Where?” Finn asked. “And with who?”
“With Max Wainfield.” She straightened her floral sundress and put her strappy sandals back on her bare feet.
“Thought you were pretty over-dressed for poker,” Rich said as he shuffled the cards.
“What the hell’s up with that?” Finn asked.
“You wouldn’t understand, Mr. Playboy,” Jen said as she ruffled his hair. “Some guys need a little help in getting attention from the opposite sex.”
“That’s what you’re doing? Giving Max a little help?”
“Yes,” Jen said as she put her purse over her shoulder. “I’m trying to get Mikayla Johnston to fall for him.”
“Hmm.” Finn looked her up and down. “Make sure he doesn’t fall for you instead.”
Jen wrinkled her brow. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m outta Lindsey Point in two weeks. I’m just setting the stage for love to blossom once I’m gone.”
“Famous last words,” Neil called after her as she walked out of the garage. Jen smiled and shook her head. Like a bunch of single guys knew the first thing about love.
***
“She left,” Max said as Jen slipped onto a bar stool next to him. They sat in The Cove, a waterfront restaurant in Bluffet Edge. The sun was just beginning to set over the water, and people had packed the outside deck to watch the view.
“When?” Jen put one hand on Max’s arm. “I’m sorry. It’s early. I thought she’d stick around for a while.”
“I know. We did talk a little, though.”
“Well, that’s positive.”
“I guess.” But he looked so glum that Jen wondered what exactly they’d talked about. “Well, I have my party dress on, so let’s order some dinner and enjoy ourselves while we’re here.” She set her purse on the bar and scanned a menu. “What are you drinking? Water?”
He nodded. “I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here.”
“Long enough for at least one drink,” she said and ordered them both a beer. “So tell me about this interview in Chicago.”
As he turned on his stool, his knees brushed her bare legs, and she noticed for the first time that Max still wore his work clothes. Dark blue pants and a pinstriped blue and white shirt hugged his frame well. At least the guy knew how to dress. He had loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves, and the whole effect was very casual-white-collar.
“...for a really big firm right downtown,” Max was saying. Jen forced herself to pay attention. Why was she looking at Max’s clothes, anyway? And why on earth was she suddenly flushed and her palms tingling?
Max waved a hand in front of her face. “Jen? You okay?”
She blinked, and the feelings went away. “Yes. Sorry. Just having some kind of weird hot flash.” She turned toward the open bar doors and fanned her face. “Would you really move to Chicago if you got the job?”
He shrugged and pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I don’t know. Maybe. If they paid me enough.” He colored and reached for his beer. “I mean, it’s not just about the money.”
“But money’s nice.”
He nodded.
“You wouldn’t see Mikayla every day,” she teased.
“Actually, that’s the funny thing. She asked me if I was going to that concert you mentioned, and when I told her I was going to Chicago for an interview instead, she told me she had relatives there.”
“Really?”
He smiled broadly. “Small world, right?”
Very.
“She gave me a couple of recommendations for places to eat. I guess she goes out there a couple times a year to visit.”
“That’s convenient.” Jen’s cheeks flushed again. “I mean, if you two end up together.”
“I know.”
Their food arrived, and Jen dug into her burger and fries with gusto. Mikayla Johnston with relatives in Chicago. Who would have thought it?
***
Max finished his first beer and ordered a second. He hadn’t thought they’d stay for dinner, especially with Mikayla gone, but he sure didn’t have anything else to do on a Friday night. He was surprised Jen didn’t have plans, but maybe she did. It was only nine-thirty, after all. She was probably the type who started partying at midnight.
“This is a nice place,” Jen said. They looked out across the water, now sprinkled with starlight. A band was setting up in the corner, and soon soft jazz began to play.
“Yes, it is.” He shifted on his stool.
“What does Mikayla do, anyway?” Jen asked. “I mean, for a job?”
“I’m not sure,” he said, embarrassed he didn’t know. “I think she’s a secretary. Blakely College has a distance-learning site in that building. I think she might work for them.”
Jen leaned against the bar. She wasn’t touching him, but he could still feel the heat from her skin. His groin stirred, and he shifted on his stool. Jen opened her mouth as if to say something and then closed it again. “Well, that will give you something to talk about the next time you’re together.”
Together. He still couldn’t imagine that would ever happen with Mikayla, but the way she’d talked to him tonight, and the way she’d touched his arm when saying goodbye...well, maybe it would. Funny, but he hadn’t thought much about Mikayla since she’d walked out the door an hour ago.
A slow, bluesy tune started up, and Jen swayed on her stool. “You want to dance?” she asked suddenly.
Max froze.
“I love this song,” she went on. “Every time I hear it, no matter where I am, I grab someone and dance to it.”
Oh. Okay. She wasn’t interested in dancing with him, just dancing in general. Max nodded. “Sure.”
They made their way to the center of the dance floor where a few other couples had already fused together and started to move. Jen looped her arms around Max’s neck, and before he knew it, his hands were on her hips. She closed her eyes and smiled.
Max kept his eyes on her forehead and tried to ignore the fact that only inches separated them. Holy crow. First she’d kissed him down on the beach, and now he was dancing with her. Touching her. He could smell her perfume, or maybe her shampoo. The scent made him a little lightheaded. He made sure their hips didn’t touch, so she wouldn’t feel how incredibly turned on he was. Jen Oakes. In my arms. He started naming prime numbers in his head to distract himself. He’d gotten up to sixty-one when she opened her eyes again.
“You’re a good dancer,” she said. Her hair swung against her cheeks, and for an instant he thought about kissing her again, just leaning down and taking her mouth with his. How would she react? Would she kiss him back? Slap him? Give him a look that said What the hell are you thinking? He cleared his throat instead. Jen had made it pretty clear that they were friends and that she was helping him win over Mikayla. She’d be going back to Boston in a couple weeks, anyway.
I wonder if things would be different if we were both staying in the same place...
The music ended, and she withdrew her hands from around his neck. She patted him on both arms and stepped back. “Mikayla is going to be one lucky lady when she realizes what a catch you are. As soon as you get back from Chicago, we’ll talk about our next plan, okay?”
“Okay.”
“In fact, I’m going to give you some homework to do,” Jen said a few minutes later as they walked to the parking lot.
He could handle homework. At the very least, it might keep his mind off picturing Jen naked. He cleared his throat again. “I was always a pretty good student.”
“Good. Because between now and next week, I want you to find out Mikayla’s favorite song, or at least her favorite band.” She held up one palm before he could protest or ask how the heck he was supposed to do that. “That’s the song you’re going to sing the next time we’re at Shenanigan’s.”
Chapter Eight
Jen dug he
r bare toes into the warm sand and lay back on her elbows. A local band, Nuts & Bolts, was warming up down by the lighthouse. They played in Lindsey Point a couple times each summer and always drew a huge crowd. The sun was just kissing the water, but most people had been here for hours, barbecuing and claiming space as afternoon turned into evening.
Jen pulled out her phone and read Max’s last few texts.
Interview at noon. Wish me luck!
Went pretty well. Hard to tell for sure. Going to check out one of those restaurants M. mentioned.
How’s the concert? he’d written about an hour ago.
Starts at dark, she’d answered. Now she aimed her phone at the sunset and snapped a picture of the band silhouetted against the sky. She sent it to Max and then tucked her phone away again.
“Hey, sis.” Lucas materialized and folded his six-foot-seven inch frame onto the blanket beside her.
“Hey, yourself. Didn’t think I’d see you tonight.” She’d headed to the beach earlier with a few high school friends, but they’d since drifted off. No matter. Jen was more than content to listen to music and watch the night roll in alone.
Not like anyone was really alone in Lindsey Point, especially not on a night like this one. The remaining spaces of empty beach looked few and far between.
“They didn’t need me at the call center.” Lucas adjusted his long legs. “Figured I’d stop down. Finn’s here somewhere, I think.”
Jen pointed in the direction of the keeper’s house. Though it remained locked during the day, its position near the water gave it a perfect vantage point for events like this one. People often camped out on its front stoop just for the view. “I saw him down there earlier.”
Lucas nodded, and for a few minutes, they sat in silence. The last streaks of sun lit the sky, then the water, and then vanished as the moon began to rise. Jen closed her eyes and savored the sounds, the smells, and the undulating rhythm of the sea against the sand. Once she went back to school, she’d be hard-pressed to find peace like this.
Summer on Main Street Page 79