Loving Jake (Almost Perfect #1)

Chapter 4

FOUR

Kimberly looked into the tiny mirror attached to the passenger side visor and visibly winced. “Your grandfather is going to think that I look like a witch,” she exclaimed as she attempted to smooth the mass of curls that, fifteen minutes ago, had lain in soft waves against her shoulders.

“You should have told me, Kim. We could have rolled up the windows and turned on the air conditioning.” He pulled the Ferrari into a visitor’s parking spot at the rehabilitation center with a swift turn of the steering wheel. He turned the ignition off, released his seatbelt, and then turned to face her. He took a strand of tangled curls between his fingers, rubbing the silky hair between his thumb and forefinger. “I wouldn’t say a witch exactly, Kim. Marge Simpson maybe, but not a witch.” He looked straight into her eyes, his gaze burning her with its intensity.

She managed a tremulous smile in return. “Thanks a lot.” She choked out a laugh while she tried to get a grip on her emotions. She reached out to pull her hair from his grasp and paused. She looked up to find his eyes had gone serious, the previous teasing that caused them to sparkle no longer evident .

He moved his head toward her with the slightest of movements.

“Jake?”

He blinked and released her hair, slipping his hand from underneath hers. He swiftly turned away and grabbed the car keys. “We better go inside. My grandfather is expecting me.”

Kimberly nodded although she didn’t understand what had just happened or, more specifically, what hadn’t happened. He had wanted to kiss her. She knew he had. She saw the desire in his eyes just as she was sure he witnessed the same in her own. Confused and needing some air, she reached for the door handle with shaking hands and bolted from the confinement of the sports car.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she waited for Jake to get out of the Ferrari. Every self-help blog she subscribed to would tell her to confront him, to make the move he was hesitant to make, but she couldn’t, not yet, especially since this was the first time that he had shown any interest in her other than friendship. She didn’t want to make the wrong move or push him before he was ready, when clearly, he wasn’t.

She had decided the morning before he moved in, after a sleepless night, that she wasn’t going to create any grand plan to make him fall in love with her. Instead, she would be herself around him and let the chips fall where they may. Either he fell in love with her, or he didn’t. She never believed in playing emotional head games, and she didn’t plan to start now.

Since he had moved in a week ago, they had spent part of each day together. Her work load was light, and she had time on her hands, as did Jake, leaving them both with plenty of time to spend in each other’s company. They took turns making dinner and then shared it on the back patio, relaxing in the lawn chairs after making small talk. They went for walks with Daisy and stayed up late watching movies. Not once had he made any type of gesture toward her that she could consider anything but strictly platonic, and it killed her. She found herself reluctant to go to bed at night and eager to wake up in the morning, cherishing every moment they spent together, and she had no idea whether he felt the same way or not.

He only had to look at her with those golden eyes of his, and she wanted to fall into his arms. She had to keep reminding herself to be patient, regardless of how it tortured her to do so. She wanted him to fall in love with her, not use her as a convenient bedmate while in town. Jake traveled all over the world, and beautiful women likely threw themselves at him every opportunity they received, and she didn’t want to get placed in the same category. Besides, she undoubtedly paled in comparison to the glamorous and experienced women he was accustomed to, the type of woman she never wanted to be. She loved spending time in her garden or taking photographs in the park. She preferred a quiet dinner at home rather than a meal at some trendy restaurant, and she began to think Jake did too. He didn’t talk much about himself, but he appeared happy in her company and relaxed when they were together. She leaned her back against the car while she waited for him, taking a deep breath in an attempt to get her emotions under control.

Jake remained in the car, his dark brows drawn together. He pressed his eyes shut. He had been holding a strand of her hair between his fingers when the urge to kiss her had overcome him. He hadn’t realized he had moved toward her until he heard her whisper his name. Fortunately, he realized what he had done, or more precisely, shouldn’t be doing, before it was too late. Even though the desire to taste those red, heart- shaped lips had crossed his mind a hundred times over the last week, he couldn’t let it happen.

If tasting her lips was the only thing he thought about when he was with her, he might not be worried. His mind went into a direction of its own every time he so much as glanced at her. Looking out the car window, he shook his head in hopes of clearing the arousing images of Kimberly that kept forming in his mind. They had to remain friends. He genuinely felt comfortable with her, and it had been a long time, if ever, that he had felt that way with a woman. He couldn’t take advantage of the feelings she tried to hide from him, and he couldn’t allow any of his own to gain control of his heart. A relationship that was anything more than friends would end in disaster; there was no other outcome for them. He’d already seen this movie and held a starring role in it, and it hadn’t ended well for anyone. He couldn’t do that to Kimberly, and he most definitely couldn’t live with the guilt that came with hurting her in the process.

Ignoring her questioning look when he finally got out of the car, Jake directed her towards the large brick building in front of them with a nod of his head.

“I have to warn you.” He paused to open the large glass door for her. “My grandfather’s state of mind is unpredictable these days. Sometimes he is as ornery as ever, and other days, it’s like he’s depressed. One day last week, he didn’t even wake up while I was here. I don’t know if it’s the medication, or his broken hip and the therapy it has required him to do, but he definitely has good days and bad days. I’m telling you this, so you won’t be disappointed if he is not in the best of moods or even sleeps through our visit.” He started to place his hand on the small of her back and realized that touching her would be a mistake, particularly since the yellow sundress she wore glided over her like a glove and had him itching to touch her. Instead, he directed her down the white hallway of the rehabilitation center with a swift motion of his hand.

“I understand, Jake, I do.”

He had asked her over breakfast this morning if she wanted to go with him, and she had been thrilled with the invitation. She told him that the large, boisterous Texan that used to join her parents for drinks or dinner had awed her as an adolescent. The stories she shared with him brought back memories of his own, and he was reminded of how fortunate he was to have the old man in his life… and how alone he would be when that was no longer the case.

He mentally braced himself as he opened the door to his grandfather’s room.

“Gramps, you awake?”

“Perfect timing, Mr. Taylor. Your grandfather just finished taking his medicine. Haven’t you, Zachary?” The nurse practically yelled in order to be heard over the booming voices coming from the television. Waiting for a reply that never came, the nurse finally shook her head. “He’s all yours.” She sent Jake a knowing smile. “Good luck, he’s in full temper today.”

“Thanks,” Jake mouthed to the nurse before she left the room. He gave Kimberly a tentative smile before walking over to his grandfather’s bedside. His grandfather lay propped up with several pillows behind his head and back, his gaze trained on the corner of the room.

“Gramps, it’s me. Jake. Your grandson.”

“For cryin’ out loud, boy. I know who you are. I raised you from a boy, didn’t I? And don’t be talkin’ slow as if I’ve lost my senses, either,” grumbled the old man.

“Gramps, why didn’t you say anything when I walked in?”

“Because it’s two o’clock, and between you and that confounded nurse, I haven’t been able to hear one word of my television program. Only doggone show worth watching, and ain’t no one here who lets me watch it in peace. That one there,” he pointed to the television with a wrinkled hand as a rugged, handsome soap opera star appeared on the screen. “Reminds me of myself years ago, that one does. He’s from Houston, you know, his brother too. Damn fools they are, always have some woman distracting them from taking over the state’s largest oil company. Wife has a split personality too, a damn shame.”

Jake glanced at Kimberly, not surprised to see her puzzled expression. A smirk crept up on his lips. “He overheard one of the nurses talking about how surprised they were to see some TV drama that took place in Texas back on television. That was all Gramps needed to hear. He’s been hooked ever since,” He shifted his gaze to find his grandfather ignoring him again, as the old man’s attention returned to the television blaring from the corner of the room.

He glanced at Kimberly, and she smiled back at him. Her gaze returned to his grandfather, and it went soft. He assumed she was trying to adjust to the sight of his thick crop of hair, once a rich black, now predominately white, and his large frame now withered to a shadow of himself.

“Should we come back later?” she whispered with a soft giggle.

“No way.” Jake shook his head determinedly. “It’s John Wayne marathon week, starting at three-thirty. He won’t even talk to us then, will you, Gramps?”

“I give up, Jake. Turn the blasted contraption off. And who is us?” he asked, finally moving his attention from the television to look at his grandson.

Kimberly reached out and placed her hand on the side of the bed rail. “It’s Kimberly. Kimberly Urbane, Mr. Taylor. I grew up down the street from you in Los Altos Hills.” A wide smile creased her lips. Her eyes sparkled with merriment when she glanced at Jake, and he responded with a grateful wink. “ Thought you had straw-colored hair?” the rough, old Texan rasped with narrowed eyes.

“That’s Carly, my younger sister.”

“Ah, yes. She was a rascal, that one,” he responded with a chuckle. His eyes widened with recollection. “Now I remember you. You’re the little mouse who would hide on the stairs when I would visit your parents. Thought you would probably run away and join a convent when you got the chance,” he stated with another deep chuckle.

Kimberly pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “Nope, no convent for me. Actually, I’m a photographer.” Kimberly shot a glance in Jake’s direction.

“Another one who can’t keep a steady job either, I reckon,” he replied with a meaningful glance at his grandson.

Jake was unable to hold back the sudden cough that erupted from deep inside him. He glanced at Kimberly and found her lips twitching, glad that she had a hard time keeping a straight face also.

“Gramps doesn’t consider my job as a reporter honest work. You don’t work with the soil or get your hands dirty working in television. He obviously feels the same way about photographers.”

His grandfather raised his hand and pointed a wrinkled finger at him. “And you don’t go wearin’ your hair in no ponytail, either. You weren’t brought up that way. It must be that dang job of yours, allowing you to keep that hair of yours long like you do. At least you finally have a woman who believes in looking like one,” he grumbled with a glance of appreciation toward Kimberly. “If my grandson here gives you a rough time, you holler. I’ll take care of him.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Jake glanced up and found her cheeks tinged with pink. He longed to run his fingers along the smooth skin, to trace each curve of her face.

“He can be a wild one, that’s for sure, just like his brother, Zane,” his grandfather said, breaking into his wandering thoughts. “I’m glad to see Jake’s finally got the common sense to settle down and give me some great-grandchildren?—"

“Gramps,” Jake hastily interrupted. His focus returned to his grandfather where he should have left it, if he had any common sense at all, which, apparently, he didn’t. “I forgot to bring you some chocolate. Kim, do you mind running down to the cafeteria and getting a candy bar for him? Gramps has a terrible sweet tooth, which I try to appease with some cookies or a candy bar.” He reached into his wallet and grabbed several dollar bills from it.

“I don’t want no choc?—"

“Here.” Jake reached over and thrust the money into Kimberly’s hand. “The cafeteria is on the second floor. Thanks, Kim.”

“Ah, sure, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Kimberly gave him a confused look in response to his silent plea. Even so, to his relief, she reached out and closed her hand around the money.

Jake watched her close the door behind her before he returned his attention to his grandfather. “Gramps, I need you to understand that Kimberly came with me today to visit you, not because she plans to have your great-grandchildren with me. That is not only ridiculous, but it’s also impossible.”

A loud growl emitted from the old man’s lips. “Now, don’t go talkin’ no hogwash with me, boy. My old body may be confined in this bed here, but that doesn’t mean I lost control of my senses. How many times have I told you that those over-paid city doctors don’t know what they’re talking about? All that mumbo jumbo about you having the mumps and not being able to have kids. If we had been living in Texas, we would have seen a specialist who knew what they were talking about. Biggest mistake I ever made was when I listened to that quack doctor in California. That, and trusting your mother to have an ounce of sense in her head,” he grumbled with a sigh of resignation.

“Gramps, we’ve been over this a million times. I had a severe case of mumps as a teenager. I can’t have children because of it, and I’ve learned to accept it... No, let me finish—" he softly demanded when his grandfather tried to interrupt. “I can’t have kids Gramps, and I spent three hellish years with Brenda proving it. I won’t go through that again, ever,” he vowed more harshly than he intended. Reigning in his sea of emotions, he finished in a softer tone, “Kimberly is a wonderful person, and I’m sure she wants to have a family of her own someday. I can’t give that to her, and she deserves nothing less. Please Gramps, don’t bring it up again.”

He ran his fingers through his hair. A tremble in his hand that wasn’t there minutes ago was now visible. “For whatever reason, Kimberly likes you, and I know she will want to visit again. She’s a sensitive person, Gramps, and I don’t want to see her get hurt by your senseless rattling.”

His grandfather let out a large, exaggerated breath. “Dag-blast it, Jake...all right, but that doesn’t mean I agree with you,” he muttered obstinately as a yawn escaped from his thin lips.

“Thanks, Gramps.”

“Those blasted pills the nurse forced down my throat have done tuckered me out, boy. Otherwise, I’d wear your ear out arguing.” The old man’s voice was groggy with sleep.

Jake reached out and took the older man’s weathered hand in his own and gently squeezed it. He watched his grandfather’s eyes flutter shut. He was worn out. He tired so easily these days, which Jake acknowledged with a heavy heart. When Kimberly returned, they would leave Gramps to rest. Jake reached out and brushed away a stray piece of hair from the old man’s forehead, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Jake wondered how he could be expected to go on without his grandfather always being there for him. No matter where he was in the world, he knew he had his grandfather to go home to, and soon that would no longer be the case. Jake swallowed back the anguished lump welling up in his throat when the door opened.

“I hope he likes Hershey bars?” Kimberly held up a bar in each hand.

“Thanks.” Jake nodded his head toward his grandfather’s still form. “He’s asleep. He dozes off rather quickly now. You can leave the candy bars on the table for him.”

Kimberly placed the chocolate on the bedtable and then followed Jake out of the room. They walked down the empty hallway in silence.

“Thank you for bringing me,” she murmured once they settled in the car and she secured her seatbelt.

“He enjoyed seeing you, Kim.” Jake started the engine but hesitated before shifting the car into reverse. He stared out the front windshield for several seconds before turning to look at her.

“Look.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I hope you’ll ignore anything my grandfather said today. He, well, took my divorce rather hard. Maybe harder than I did,” he noted with a brief grunt. “Not that he cared much for Brenda, because he didn’t. He thought she was a high class, uppity bit...never mind. Anyway, he’s convinced that I’m unhappy being alone. And, ah, when I brought you here today, he got the wrong impression.”

She turned her head and provided him a smile that did not reach her eyes. “Jake, it was an easy thing to misconstrue. I understand perfectly.” She turned her gaze to the outside of the car.

“Good.” He straightened his shoulders and placed the car in reverse. “And you don’t have to worry about it happening again, because I set my grandfather straight. I told him there was nothing between us and that we’re strictly friends.”

“Great,” she responded softly. She rolled down the window, tilted her head toward the outside of the car, and allowed the cool breeze to whip across her face.

From the corner of his eye, Jake spied her eyes squeezed shut and her shoulders slumped. “Yeah...great,” he repeated without enthusiasm. Damn, Gramps, he thought, and a surge of pain rushed through him. It can’t work between Kimberly and me. It can’t.