Cooking Up Love

by Gemma Brocato

Jack’s chair screeched harshly as he pushed away from the table. “I’ll be right back.”

  He stalked over to the small, curvy woman, many heads swiveling to follow his progress. The noise level decreased significantly, as if everyone in the room had collectively drawn a breath of anticipation. But why? Jack strode toward the woman, his shoulders tightening visibly when the look on her face turned predatory. He paused in front of the woman and spoke briefly, gesturing to the relative privacy of the hallway. His brow lowered like a thundercloud when the short woman smiled into his eyes.

  “Who’s that?”

  Jem returned her attention to Jack’s parents in time to see the look they exchanged before facing her. Eileen swallowed hard several times before she spoke. When she did, she addressed her words to her husband. “Why is she back? What does she want?”

  Bruce looked over his shoulder at his son, arguing with the woman in hallway. Putting his arm protectively around Eileen he said, “I imagine Jack is asking her.”

  “She has to go! That girl has radar for when Jack is happy. She shows up every time. If she hurts him again…”

  “Shhh, Eileen. Don’t go borrowing trouble. Maybe she’s just home visiting her mom. Her being here might be coincidence.”

  Three sets of eyes and almost every other head in the cafeteria turned, watching Jack walk back, the woman trailing behind him, holding on to one of his belt loops. Jem didn’t look past Jack’s guarded expression. Whatever this was, it bothered him as much as his parents.

  “Eileen! Bruce! I’m so happy to see you both.”

  Bruce slowly stood while the woman who’d followed Jack to the table engulfed Eileen in a tight embrace. While she gave Bruce an equally large hug, Jack sat in his chair, scooting closer to Jem.

  Jem took in his stiff posture and the hands clenched on his strong thighs before turning to find shrewd green eyes appraising her.

  “This is Tessa.” Jack spoke tersely.

  “Oh, Jack, there’s the stoic New Englander coming out in you.” The woman laughed again before cocking her head speculatively at Jem, extending her hand. “I’m his wife. And, you are?”

  “Ex-wife.” Jack reminded her as Jem politely reached out to shake Tessa’s hand. “This is Jemima George. She owns Caro’s Taste, the café on Front Street.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Janie,” Tessa said dropping Jem’s hand like a bit of smelly trash she couldn’t be bothered with.

  Jack’s ex-wife promptly dismissed her to pay attention to her former in-laws. No doubt that slight was intentional. Jem decided to let it pass, along with the tiny woman’s deliberate use of the wrong name when addressing her.

  After a tense moment of uncomfortable silence, Eileen cleared her throat. “What are you doing here, Tessa? Is your mom okay?”

  “Yes, ma’am, she’s fine. She was lonesome for me, so I came for an extended visit. You know, see Mom, the old stompin’ grounds. I’ve been thinking about moving back to help Mom out. She isn’t getting any younger. And, of course, I hope to spend time with BC. I’ll make sure I have time to see him.” Tessa let her eyes rove over Jack’s face and what she could see of his upper body.

  Jack’s jaw popped loudly as he ground his teeth together.

  “So far, everybody’s looking better than fine, especially my husband.”

  “Where’s Randy?” Bruce asked.

  Jack sat, silent and tense, not bothering to join the conversation.

  “Oh, didn’t BC tell you? Randy and I aren’t together any more. We disagreed on too many important things. He’s moved back to Boston, dreaming dreams and living lean. I should have listened to Jack.”

  “You never did know what was best for you.” Bitterness tinged Eileen’s tone.

  Bruce hushed his wife quietly.

  Another pause lengthened uncomfortably as Jack still refused to speak.

  Eileen addressed her former daughter-in-law. “Well, it was nice to see you again, Tessa. Give your mother our best, will you?”

  Tessa looked longingly at Jack, running the tip of her tongue over glossy lips, drawing everyone’s eyes there before she laid her hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Nice to see you again, too. Jack, I’ll give you a call tomorrow. ’Bye for now.”

  Tessa bent and kissed Jack’s cheek, then smudged at the pink stain she’d left there before turning to walk away. The hem of her dress flared as her hips swayed. The woman walked with enough attitude to ensure that more than one pair of eyes followed her progress.

  Chapter 11

  Jack was uncharacteristically quiet, answering only when spoken to directly for the balance of the evening. Which was thankfully short. Jem’s anxiety level spiked when Jack failed to relax back into his original good humor, her stomach twisting uncomfortably. The encounter with his ex-wife had clearly unsettled him, but he didn’t say a word about it. She’d bet he wouldn’t discuss it with her even if she brought it up.

  Jem thought about Tessa as Jack drove her home. His ex-wife was exactly the type of woman Phil preferred over her. She was petite, curvaceous, perky—and maybe dumber than a box of rocks. In other words, Jem’s polar opposite. Judging a woman she didn’t know was uncharitable, but she couldn’t help making the comparison between them. Jack had told her how much Tessa had hurt him when they split up, and the thought of him fighting for their marriage made her sad.

  His past preference was for women who looked like Tessa, like Stacey. Uncertainty settled around Jem’s neck, and she drew her shoulders up, subconsciously protecting herself. Even though Jack insisted he was attracted to Jem, was it only a matter of time before he patched things up with Tessa? How involved would her heart get and how hurt would she be when the inevitable happened?

  She sighed wearily and faced the side window, staring at the streets of Granite Pointe as they drove back to the café. Jem sensed Jack glancing her direction and heard an equally deep sigh escaping his lips. At his indrawn breath she thought he might say something, but he remained mute.

  Uncomfortable with the silence between them, she wracked her brain for a topic of conversation safe for both of them. As much as she wanted to ask about Tessa, she preferred the relative safety of any other discussion, including religion and politics.

  She turned slightly in her seat, resting a hand on the knee she had drawn up to face him as she desperately seized on the subject of Jack’s newest employee. “So, what’s the story with Avery Childers?”

  Jack glanced at her. He kept both his hands resolutely on the steering wheel as he answered. “He’s a good kid with exceptionally bad luck. He and Marissa, his girlfriend, have been together since their sophomore year. His parents objected on the grounds he was too young to be in a long-term relationship with the first girl he dated.” He trailed off and scrubbed his hand over his chin, the rasp of his stubble loud in the cab of the truck. “According to Sam, Marissa wasn’t high class enough for Avery’s parents, who moved out here from the Back Bay about four years ago. You can’t help who you fall in love with at seventeen any more than you can at thirty.”

  From the look on his face, Jem was certain he was thinking of his ex-wife. She almost wished she’d stuck to the silence. She sighed again.

  “Anyway, when Avery went to his parents about the pregnancy and said he was going to marry Marissa and raise their baby, they kicked him out. Can you imagine doing that to your kid?” Jack lifted a hand from the wheel to punctuate his question. “Here’s a smart, polite young man who could go places, desperate to do the right thing and stand by his girlfriend when they made a mistake. His parents could have found a way to make it work for them if they hadn’t been so intent on presenting the perfect family image. Most parents would be proud of their kid accepting responsibility for his mistake. Not Avery’s.”

  Jack parked in front of the café and turned the motor off. He shifted in his seat a bit to face Jem as she settled herself more comfortably across the darkened cab.

  He shook his head and continued. “Marissa’s folks weren’t any
happier about it. They didn’t kick her out, but they weren’t eager to welcome their daughter’s baby daddy to their home. Avery crashed on Sam’s couch until his folks caught wind of it. They went to the high school principal to complain that Sam had no business interfering in their affairs, even though they told Avery he was dead to them. Their complaint made Sam more determined to help Avery and Marissa. He found a room for Avery, paid the first month’s rent and helped him get a job at the Stop N Shop.”

  “Sam always was a soft touch for the underdog, wasn’t he?” Jem asked.

  “Ever since he was a little kid,” Jack agreed, smiling.

  Tension built in her neck and shoulders, claustrophobia rearing its not-so-pretty head in the enclosed truck cab. She fought it, fidgeting and twisting her hands together. The nervous motion drew Jack’s gaze to her lap. “Damn! I’m sorry, I didn’t think. You’re uncomfortable just sitting in the cab of my truck. Trapped in another small space. Are you okay? Do you want me to open a window? Or we can go inside if you prefer.”

  Holy cow! He scored major points by being considerate, remembering her reaction to small spaces. She was very tempted to invite him in, but the second the thought occurred an image of perky, curvy Tessa materialized in her mind, the woman’s hand possessively claiming territory on Jack’s shoulder, her familiar kiss and the act of wiping smudged lipstick off his cheek, as if it was her right alone. Jem knew she’d only be a pale substitute for the woman Jack had married. Chickening out, she opted to stay put in his truck.

  “It’s silly. You’d think being surrounded by see-through glass would solve this problem. I know it’s cold, but maybe you could lower a window a bit. If you don’t mind,” she said apologetically.

  Jack turned the key in the ignition, lowered the big windows on both sides of the truck to half-mast, and reached over to turn up the heater, offsetting the fresh, but chilly, breeze blowing through the cab. He turned back to Jem, grabbing the hand resting on her knee and massaging it gently to further ease her concern.

  “Better?”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  He resumed his story. “Unfortunately, Avery got sideways with the local police not too long ago. He went out one night two months ago, got drunk and got behind the wheel of a car. That was his first mistake. Then, he compounded the mistake by going over to his parents’ house and driving his car into their garage door.” He laughed a bit. “God, I wish I could have been there. I’d probably cheer Avery’s actions. Anyway, the police chief tried to talk the senior Childers out of pressing charges, without success. Avery pled guilty and got diversion for a first offense and was ordered to pay restitution. His legal trouble got him kicked out of school, though. Then he lost his job with the Stop N Shop a couple of weeks ago. Sam’s been tutoring him evenings to help him get a GED, but job opportunities kind of dried up, thanks in part to his old man throwing some weight around. He needs money to support himself and his kid.”

  “So you offered him a job.” Jem squeezed the hand softly kneading hers.

  “Kid needs a break. I’ve seen him at the grocery store and he’s a hard worker. I can’t say I blame him for his occasionally bad attitude. And, I’m not afraid of his dad.”

  “Have I made you up? I didn’t think there were any men as nice as you left,” Jem wondered out loud, her gaze caressing his face.

  “Nice? Sugar, nice kind of makes me sound like a wimp, or a big brother.” Jack laughed, meeting her eyes. “How about something more manly? Powerful or, a wicked-good kisser.” He shuddered a little. “Or even decent. But, nice?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Jem said breathlessly. “All that, but you left out amazingly built and sinfully attractive.”

  The Earth shifted slightly as he held her gaze. The spark in his eyes ignited a slow burn that rambled down her spine, pooling low in her stomach. Giddy anticipation swept through her as she waited for an answer to her original question. He never spoke, but the message in his eyes was clear. He wanted to kiss her. Her breath sped up with the realization it was exactly what she wanted, too.

  As much as she longed to have him pull her close and kiss and kiss and kiss her, he held back. He was waiting for her signal.

  He continued to hold her gaze, waiting, just waiting—holding her hand loosely in his. She heard Resa’s voice, as if the woman was sitting on Jem’s shoulder, speaking directly into her ear. Go for it. This will be worth it. Remember for every dickhead like Phil there is an anti-Phil. Someone who makes love worth it. Jack could be that guy. Besides, he’s gorgeous, and you already know he’s a good kisser. What are you waiting for?

  With Jack holding her gaze, she ruthlessly shoved away the doubt left by her clueless, small-minded ex-lover’s harsh words and a chance encounter with Jack’s former wife, giving in to her need to feel the man’s lips on hers.

  She smiled as she mentally shushed Resa’s voice in her head. Tilting her head up and leaning in, she offered her lips in a way she was sure Jack wouldn’t resist. She watched his darkly fringed eyes as they traveled to her lips and back. Did she truly want this? Her almost imperceptible nod was the only encouragement he needed.

  His fingers were tender as he moved them through her curly hair until he cradled her neck and tugged her forward. Jem’s eyes fluttered close as he lightly pressed his mouth against hers. Softly, just a whisper of pressure. He released and then reclaimed her mouth, lingering longer each time his head dipped to hers. Each tender caress left her aching—craving more when he pulled away, then pressed his lips forward again. She lost her breath as he nibbled on her as if she was a delicacy he loved, but had forgotten the taste of.

  Her lips parted, and still Jack didn’t deepen the kiss. He slowly caressed her mouth and she tingled when he smiled against her lips. She responded, returning his kiss. Relinquishing his hold on the steering wheel, he ran his other hand up her arm and shoulder. He stroked his thumb sensuously across the soft skin on her cheek and eased his tongue along her lips.

  This was what weightlessness felt like. The gravity surrounding her magically disappeared and she floated, tethered only by Jack’s hands in her hair and his lips upon hers. Her heart beat a fast tattoo against her ribs, and when his fingers brushed over the sensitive pulse point in her neck, sparks shot low in her body. He had to know what he was doing to her, because his breath hitched in a soft grunt as his fingertips found the steadily pounding pulse in her throat. Still, he kept his hands and lips gentle.

  Jem responded to the delicious sensation of his tongue gliding feather-light across her mouth by opening more, inviting him to take possession. He dipped his tongue in and she tasted the sweet, sugary frosting from the cupcake they’d shared. Her hands rested on his forearms and she felt solid muscles shifting under her fingers. He moved his hands through her hair, then dropped them to her neck and shoulders. A delicate shiver ran through her; her hands trembled. She was sure she could stay here all night, just kissing him this way, only sampling the sweet taste of him.

  He tugged her lips, pulled away, then leaned back into her mouth. His sigh sounded contented as he finally released her lips, still holding her face between his strong hands.

  Jem reluctantly opened her eyes and looked deeply into his. She read desire on his face as easily as she could read a cookbook. Reflected in those ocean blue depths, she saw more than passion. Respect—and regret? She understood in an instant the spectacularly sweet, tender kiss was the extent of what they’d share tonight.

  “I should say good night,” Jem whispered, unable to tear her gaze away from fathomless eyes holding hers.

  Jack said nothing, but leaned in for one last, sweet kiss, one more lingering touch of his lips to hers, before releasing her from the cradle his hands made around her face. He smiled and traced her cheekbone with the back of his hand ever so softly.

  “I’ll walk you to the door,” he whispered back, like there wasn’t enough air in to his lungs to speak in a normal voice.

  He held her hand as he escorted her up the stairs to t
he door of her apartment. She resisted the temptation to throw herself in to his arms. He lightly touched her lips with his index finger when he finally said good night.

  Jem watched him speed down the stairs, wishing the evening wasn’t ending. And looking forward to the next time she could see him, touch him and kiss him.

  Chapter 12

  “Oh my God, I wish you could have been there.”

  Resa had caught a redeye from New York and rented a car, arriving in time for breakfast. Jem had prepared one of Caro’s favorite coffee-cake recipes and specially blended coffee.

  Lingering over coffee, Resa delighted in retelling the moment when Stacey received her new assignment. “Margo graciously invited me to join them for the lunch meeting, where she dropped the bomb on Stacey. She told me I was a witness and should accurately repeat the tale to you.”

  Jem rolled her eyes a bit, secretly pleased with her former employer’s sneaky thoughtfulness. “Margo’s personal theory is that payback is a bitchy mistress.”

  Resa nodded. “So Margo indulged her evil inner diva and waited until Stacey took a swig of her drink to make her announcement. The result was messy, and in Margo’s words, well deserved. God, the girl snorted Diet Coke through her nose.”

  “I’m glad I wasn’t sitting across the table from her.” Jem laughed as she topped off her coffee and emptied the rest into Resa’s cup.

  “I know, right? I’ve heard Stacey is miserable with her new position and her new boyfriend. According to another producer, Stacey is boo-hoo-ing about Phil cheating on her already.”

  Jem took only the smallest pleasure in the fact that Phil had at least waited eight months to cheat on her.

  Resa’s eyes got wider and mouth got rounder as Jem filled her friend in on her activities, including the time she’d spent with Jack and Sam.

  “It’s nothing serious. We’re just friends, the three of us. Plus, they kind of work for me now.”

  “Um, sweetie? You might be ‘just friends’ with Sam, but you’ve kissed big brother. More than once. Your face transforms when you talk about Jack. He’s the gorgeous hard body you call ‘sexy contractor man,’ right? The guy in the pantry?”