Chapter Seventeen #2
Jake glances down at her foot, then back at me. And for a brief moment, we’re on the same page, assessing the situation rather than each other.
“She almost went down.” Jake tilts his head as he continues to survey her. “I figured getting her off of it would be the best option.”
“You did the right thing.” The words come out before I remember we aren’t speaking to each other.
He nods once but doesn’t comment.
I rotate my shoulders again, suddenly feeling the weight of the silence between us.
Damn it. You were the one who keeps accusing him of becoming a police officer to control people or to pick up women, so don’t go wishing he was smiling at you like you were the center of the universe.
Why would he pay attention to you? You’ve been nothing but insulting and dismissive since he came back.
He says something to Rosemarie that I can’t hear. What if I’ve been wrong about him? It’s evident that he enjoys helping people, and people adore his assistance. So what if he likes women and doesn’t want to settle down? It’s not his fault that he never noticed me like that.
None of this is his problem. He has no obligation to be a one-woman man–my man–because I want him to notice me.
I’m a fool. A stupid, immature fool. Just like he said that night in my mother’s kitchen.
I step in front of Rosemarie as the OATS van crosses a nearby intersection and disappears down a side street. “Let me check your ankle.”
“It’s fine.”
“Let Emily be the judge of that.” Jake nods at both of us.
“Of course.”
I squat in front of her, moving her foot from side to side. She only flinches once when I tilt her toes upward.
“I was walking to the park bench to wait for my ride when the wind snatched my bag. I was getting ready to pick up my groceries when Jake showed up and helped me into this chair. Isn’t he the sweetest thing?
” She shakes her head, but luckily, she doesn’t wait for me to answer her question.
“I don’t know when it happened, but somehow, I’ve turned into a little old lady. ”
She laughs, and we smile at her in return as I release her foot, lowing it gently to the ground. Rosemarie isn’t an old lady. Sure, she’s probably in her sixties, but she’s not feeble or unable to keep up with the hectic life of a business owner.
“I don’t believe you broke anything. You should be fine with rest, elevation, and ice.”
“Thank you, dear.” She smiles warmly at me as I return to a standing position.
“Rosemarie, you’re still a spry young girl.” Jake winks at her, causing the older woman to blush, and for once, his teasing personality doesn’t bother me.
How often have I assumed he was flirting with someone when he was trying to ease and reduce someone’s embarrassment? Or their worry about their health? Or just to help someone fit in?
Just this once? Or all the time? The answer is likely somewhere in between.
Jake arches an eyebrow. “What?”
“Nothing.” Heat crawls along my skin. I was drooling over him. As usual. I snatch my cup off the table. “Rosemarie, do you need a ride home?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “My son is on his way. He should be here any second. I was going to try and catch Briggs, but as soon as my bag ripped, I knew I wouldn’t be able to wave him down.
” Briggs drives the OATS van that just disappeared down a side street.
She pats Jake’s hand. “That’s when this sweet boy stopped and gave me a hand. ”
“Just doing my job.”
“And you do it looking so handsome.” She winks at him. “Doesn’t he, Emily?” This time she looks expectantly at me, not giving me the option of ignoring her.
“Yes…. He does look handsome.” Jake’s eyes land on mine and stay there until the hairs on the back of my neck stand. Was that a flicker of awareness? My nipples tighten. Fuck. I hunch my shoulders forward so I’m not broadcasting to the whole sidewalk that I’m desperate for his attention.
When his mouth drops open, Colt, Rosemarie’s son, pulls up, ending the moment before it begins.
Five minutes later, when they’re safely on their way, I place my hand on Jake’s upper arm as he turns toward his cruiser. “Can I have one second?”
“Sure.” His jaw tightens, so I drop my hand and rub my palm on my pants. The only reason he’s not bolting to his car is because we’re in public. And yes, I’m pathetic enough to take advantage of that.
“I need to apologize for the other day. There’s no excuse for how I was acting, so I’m not going to give one.
” I swallow over the dryness in my mouth.
“It was wrong.” The urge to make up an excuse pushes up, but I shove it back down.
“I’ve been a bitch to you since you returned.
I don’t deserve it, but I’d like to ask for a second chance to prove I can be a civil human being. ”
For several long seconds, nothing happens while we stand awkwardly on the sidewalk as cars pass and neighbors glance our way. Fuck, where’s a gust of wind when you need it? I tug the front of my jacket, fanning it.
“So….” He arches an eyebrow with a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “You think I’m handsome?”
Not an acceptance of my apology, but I’ll take it.
“You know you’re handsome. That not news. You’ve had girls drooling over you since you were in the eighth grade.”
“Sixth, but I didn’t think you’d noticed.” The breeze sends a whiff of his cologne drifting my way, making my knees weak. He smells so damned good.
“You didn’t think I’d noticed what? That girls flocked to you?”
He frowns and glances down the street at the traffic stopped at the red light. “It wasn’t that many.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You had a different girl every week.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it was.”
His jaw flexes with tightness. “I didn’t want them to get the wrong idea.”
“And what idea was that?” What’s wrong with you? Why did you ask that? You’re not going to like the answer.
“That I wanted a girlfriend.”
“Right.” I step back, putting some much-needed space between us. Of course, he doesn’t want a girlfriend. I already knew that before he said it.
When my phone rings, I snatch it from my back pocket. Kaleb. Thank God. “Hello?”
“What’s taking you so long?
“Sorry. I lost track of time. I was talking to Jake.”
“Why?”
I stiffen at the accusatory tone of his voice. “Because he was helping Rosemarie, and I stopped to make sure everything was okay.”
“He couldn’t help Rosemarie without your expert interference? Was she bleeding?”
“No.”
“Did she have a broken bone?”
“No,” I growl as the cup in my hand dents inwardly at the pressure from my grip. Condescending asshole.
“You know Jake is a player, right?”
“Yes.” My jaw aches almost as much as my heart does. “I’m aware of that.”
“Not to mention, I heard you acted like a jealous bitch at his place on Saturday. It’s embarrassing. Now everyone knows that you still have a thing for him.”
I’m going to throw up. “No, I don’t.”
“Then stay away from him.”
“I’ve got to go.” I stab the end-call button.
“Who was that?” Jake grasps my upper arm to stop me. “Is someone bothering you?” His fingers tighten on my arm. His look of concern sends my belly flipping. “Tell me who it is, and I’ll take care of it.”
“What’re you going to do? Beat them up?” My heart skips a beat.
“If I need to, I will.” This time, the sincerity in his eyes nearly buckles my knees.
“Your amazing best friend is the person bothering me.”
“Oh….” His shoulders relax as he steps back. “I thought it was someone harassing you.”
“He was.” My voice drips with sarcasm.
“You know what I meant.” He takes off his hat and rakes a hand through his hair, leaving the strands tousled. Damn him and his good looks. “I thought it was an ex-boyfriend or some stalker bothering you.”
“I appreciate your concern.” I arch an eyebrow. Does he actually care about me? Like, really care about me. What if all his attempts to reconnect with me are legitimate? “Would you really offer to beat up someone who was giving me a hard time?”
“Sure. If someone was trying to hurt you, I would.” He shrugs a shoulder without meeting my gaze.
“Thank you. But as a police officer, you might want to arrest them instead of getting into a fight. I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.” Are his cheeks pink? Surely, he isn’t embarrassed.
“You have a point.” He finally meets my gaze.
Flop. It feels like there’s fish flipping and flopping in my chest. And I thought envisioning Jake punching my brother’s face was an adrenaline rush. But it’s nothing compared to having him look at me like…. Like what? Like he might actually be interested?
“But if you want to fight Kaleb for me, I have no objections.” I can’t stop the smile from curving up my cheeks as the vision of Jake and Kaleb rolling in the dirt takes root in my head and won’t let go.
Oh my God, I’m flirting with Jake Thompson, and I have no idea what I’m doing.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” His voice is low and rough.
Shit. I suck at flirting. I straighten my spine. “Forget I said anything.”
“I can’t forget it.” He winks, sending goosebumps racing along my skin as his eyes dip to my lips and then back to mine. “The idea is too appealing.”
My phone beeps again. Kaleb–again. Son of a bitch. Remember, Kaleb is right. This is his best friend. He knows Jake better than anyone. Even if he was somehow interested, it would only be for a night or two. “I’ve got to go.”
“Right.” He nods and steps out of my way, letting me pass.
And like that, the moment is gone.