Trying to tempt Jake McKoy had been the worst mistake of her life.
******
So he’d screwed up. Big time. In shielding his heart he’d gone and hurt a woman who didn’t deserve that. And this time…well, he wouldn’t blame her if she refused to even do business with him after this.
He couldn’t take back his words. He couldn’t reverse his actions. Nothing he said or did could erase the look of utter dejection that crossed her face at his words. The sight had been like a knife to his gut and he’d wanted to take it back, to hold her and kiss the pain away. But she’d moved too fast, running blindly across the garden and round the house. And she hadn’t stopped running even then. He heard the engine of her truck start up and then she was gone. He hadn’t heard from her since. One day. Not a long time under normal circumstances but to him it felt like a year. And it wasn’t just his pain that was tearing him apart. It was hers.
He picked up the phone and dialed. She answered on the fifth ring.
“Hello?” Her voice was tentative and faint.
“Sam,” he said gently, “I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You…didn’t,” she said, her voice cool and tight.
She was lying, of course, but what was the use in arguing that point? Right now all he wanted was to make things right. “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?”
“Excuse me?” Her voice was sharp with disbelief.
“I’d like you to have dinner with me,” he repeated, his voice deliberately calm. This was an emotional situation and he didn’t want to make things worse. “That is, if you’re available.”
“Why?” The question was abrupt, her tone suspicious.
“We need to talk.”
“About what?”
Jake stifled a sigh. She was not making this easy. “I’d like to explain my…behavior.”
Silence. Not exactly the response he’d expected. Where were the questions? Where was the angry rejoinder? Instead, nothing but silence.
“Sam, you have every right to be mad at me but all I’m asking is for a chance to talk to you. Please.”
Finally, after more seconds of silence, her answer came. “Fine. Just this once.”
Not a particularly enthusiastic response but Jake was grateful. She could have said no.
They made the arrangements for the date, with Jake offering to pick her up. She refused. “I’ll meet you there,” she told him. She probably wanted to hold on to the chance to make a quick escape. And how could he blame her? He’d been like a pendulum, swinging from ‘thrilled’ to ‘gloomy’ all in the same afternoon. She probably thought he was nuts.
He smiled ruefully to himself then shook his head. Tomorrow night he’d have to be on his best behavior.
******
Sam pulled into the parking lot of The Italian Garden and shut off the engine. So here she was, all dressed up for her date with Jake McKoy, and she was miserable.
We need to talk, he’d said. And she could just guess what he wanted to talk about. She’d crossed the line when she’d revealed her attraction for him. Obviously, he’d been offended.
She was a plumber, for heaven’s sake, and he was a billionaire author. What business did she have dreaming of winning his heart? She'd attracted his attention, she knew, but so what? When it came to taking a woman seriously men like Jake were only interested in their own kind.
So tonight’s talk could only be one of two things. He was either going to warn her to back off and focus on her job…or he was going to fire her.
She drew in a deep breath, grabbed her purse and slid out of the truck. “Well, here goes nothing,” she murmured under her breath then straightened her shoulders and held her head high. She refused to be defeated. If he didn’t want her, well so be it. She’d had a life before she’d met Jake McKoy and she’d still have one after he was gone.
But when she breezed into the lobby of The Italian Garden she wasn’t so sure. He was standing there, his back to the entrance, seeming totally absorbed in reading the lighted menu on its freestanding pedestal. In dark jacket and black slacks, the subdued light illuminating the profile of his jaw, he looked both serious and sophisticated at the same time.
Sam felt her breath tighten in her chest. It was hard, having to accept that after tonight she’d probably never see him again. She lingered a few seconds longer, drinking him in with her eyes, imprinting the image on her mind, then clutching her purse close she stepped forward. “Hello, Jake,” she said, her voice low and husky even to her own ears. She almost sounded sexy. Well, none of that would be any use to her right now. She was about to get her ‘walking papers’.
He looked up and when he saw her his pensive look dissipated and he gave her a smile that looked genuine. Dared she hope that he was happy to see her?
“Hello, Sam,” he said as he turned toward her. “You look very beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She dropped her eyes, felling the warmth of a blush rising to her cheeks. Get a hold of yourself, woman. He’s just saying that to be polite.
The maitre d’ came forward and Jake cupped her elbow with a firm hand and guided her toward the table for two. He pulled out her chair and waited until she was seated before taking up his position across from her. They placed their order then waited for their wine glasses to be filled. Then, finally alone, their eyes met across the candlelit table.
“Thank you for coming, Sam. I know you didn’t have to.”
She bit her lower lip then nodded. What could she say? I know you’re going to give me the boot but I came anyway because that’s the kind of girl I am? As sad as the thought was she almost smiled. She’d always prided herself on being strong but this evening she was feeling anything thing but.
“I wanted to tell you, I’m sorry.”
Sam blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I know I acted like a brute yesterday and I wanted to apologize. And explain.” Jake frowned as he stroked the stem of his wine glass with his thumb then he gave an almost bitter laugh. “You must think I’m the strangest man you’ve ever met.”