Chapter Three
Jake checked himself over in the mirror. He looked all right; it was obvious that he’d made an effort. He was wearing his best jeans and a smart but comfortable polo shirt.
He frowned when it hit him that, back in San Diego, he would never have gone on a date dressed like this. Did that mean …? No, it didn’t mean that those girls had warranted more effort than Savannah did. That just wasn’t true – even the thought made him mad.
He was still thinking about it when he went to the kitchen for a glass of water – for some reason, his throat was dry.
The clothes he was wearing right now were the kind of thing he would have worn on a date back home in Tennessee, or even in North Carolina when he was stationed at Camp Lejeune.
So it definitely wasn’t that he was dressing down for Savannah, even on some subconscious level.
“Damn, what’s your problem?”
He turned when Josh spoke from the kitchen doorway.
“Problem?” he asked, trying to look relaxed. “What makes you think I have a problem?”
Josh laughed. “Oh, you have a problem. You look good, you smell good, but if looks could kill … What’s going on? Are you being forced to dress up to go somewhere you don’t want to? Oh wait – is your mom in town?”
Jake shuddered. “Hell no – thank God.”
“So, what’s going on?”
He grinned. “I have a date.”
Josh narrowed his eyes. “Two questions.”
“Okay, give me the straightforward one first.” This was a routine they’d established since Josh had moved in. He usually had at least one straightforward question followed by a more probing one. Jake had learned to get the easy ones out of the way first.
“I’m not sure either of them is straightforward.”
“Then ask away, I guess.”
Josh leaned in the doorway and folded his arms across his chest. “I think I already answered the first one for myself.”
“Want to share your conclusion?”
Josh was a great guy – smart and insightful. Jake figured he might as well wait and see what he had to say. Sure, he valued his opinion as a friend, but he was acutely aware that Josh and Savannah had been friends since they were little kids. Josh saw her as a kind of little sister.
“You’re seeing Savannah, aren’t you? She’s your date.”
“I am. How did you figure it out?”
“It was obvious – as soon as I got over the shock that you’re finally going out on a date.
You haven’t gone out with anyone since I’ve known you.
You always claim that you’re too busy with work, and you’re enjoying spending time with your dad and Dom, and your life’s full enough – and I know that’s all true.
But we both know the real reason you haven’t been dating is that you’re holding out because you want to go out with Savannah.
I can’t see anything that might have changed that recently, so the only obvious answer is that she finally agreed. ”
Jake nodded happily. “I always knew you were a smart guy.”
Josh deflected as usual. “It didn’t take much figuring out. But it’s only one side of the equation.”
“What’s the other side? What was question number two?”
“Why did you look so mad? Your expression when I came in looked like someone had pissed you off in a big way – which didn’t gel with the outfit.”
Jake had to laugh. “You’re right, but … See, I was thinking about what I’m wearing –”
“Looking sharp,” said Josh.
“Thanks, but what I meant was that in San Diego this would have been too casual for a date, and I was trying to figure out why …” He might as well say it. “Even when Savannah’s so important to me, why I didn’t feel the need to make more effort with my appearance”
“That’s easy.”
“It is?”
“Yep, it really is. It’s not that you didn’t make more effort. It’s that, one, you feel comfortable with her – enough that you want to be yourself. Two, just in practical terms, this is Summer Lake – you’d look like a dick if you turned up in a suit or something.”
Jake laughed – he had a point.
“And three,” Josh continued, “you’re at home here.
And you’re around your kind of people. You’re not dressing up to fit in or to impress, like you felt you had to for dates in San Diego.
You’re comfortable being yourself and … I may be wrong about this, but I’d guess you have a better handle on who you actually are, now that you’re a civilian again. ”
“And once again, you nailed it. Thanks.”
Josh looked more serious as he held Jake’s gaze.
“Go on,” Jake said. “You might as well say it.”
“It feels stupid,” said Josh. “It’s not my place, and I doubt with you that it’s even a concern. But I can’t help it. I couldn’t respect myself if I didn’t spell it out.”
“And I’d respect you less if you didn’t.”
“Thanks. Just … be good to her, okay? I know you won’t jerk her around intentionally, but when …
when it’s done, let her down easy. People sometimes think she’s tougher than she is because she’s so capable.
And I’m not saying she’s fragile or anything – far from it – but she’s had enough hurt in her life. Don’t cause her any more.”
“I don’t plan to. You know this isn’t just some passing fling for me.” Jake swallowed. Was he really going to say it out loud? Yes, he was. “If I believed in love at first sight, I’d say that’s how it was for me with Savannah.”
Josh let out a low whistle.
“Yeah, I know. I never said it before because I didn’t know if she’d even let me take her out. And now, if I crash and burn after one date, you can hold that over my head forever.” He gave his friend a rueful shrug. “And I’ll never once deny it.”
“Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. And for what it’s worth, it makes me feel better – knowing that she’s not the only one who might get hurt.”
Jake nodded solemnly. “You got that right.”
~ ~ ~
“He’s here!”
Tiffany leaned even closer to the window as she watched the small parking area in front of the apartment.
Savannah’s nerves were already on edge, and Tiff’s shriek made all the little hairs on her arms stand up. “Come back in here! He’ll see you.”
Tiff grinned at her over her shoulder. “That’s the point. I want him to see me. I want him to know that I’m keeping an eye out for you. The guys in this town are mostly scared shitless of me.”
“You’re right; most of them are, but I don’t think you’ll scare Jake.”
Tiff waved down at Jake, and Savannah had to laugh.
“You definitely won’t scare him like that!”
“What can I tell you? I know he’s a good guy – all decent and upstanding, with that whole military thing going on but without the stick up his ass.
Oh! You know what, you should tell him that I’m on my way out, too.
You don’t want him to think that he can’t come back with you later.
Just text if you want me gone for the night. I can—”
“No way! For one thing, I’d never ask you to stay away like that – I mean, where would you even go? And for another, I have no intention whatsoever of asking him back here later – or going back to his place with him. This is our first date.”
She didn’t want to admit it to Tiff yet, but she was already thinking that it might have to be their only date.
After hanging out with Jake at The Boathouse this afternoon, she could see herself getting addicted to his company all too easily.
She’d love to go out with him, spend time with him – be his girlfriend!
But she needed to make sure she was in the clear before she even considered it.
She didn’t want to drag him into her mess if it came back to haunt her.
She shouldn’t have agreed to go out with him, but she just hadn’t been able to resist.
The sound of the doorbell ringing cut through her thoughts.
Tiff grinned at her. “We can discuss all of that later – and we will. But don’t keep the man waiting. Go! You look gorgeous – because you are gorgeous. And you were so right. Your jeans are perfect – not only because you’re comfortable in them but … girl, that ass!”
Her laughter followed Savannah down the stairs. But as soon as she opened the front door, she forgot all about Tiff. Jake stood there smiling at her, and all she could do was smile back.
He was a handsome guy; he had a square jaw, full lips, and those big brown eyes that made her melt. He was tall – she would have said too tall for her, but when he’d stood close to her this afternoon, it’d felt right. He was such a big, solid presence that he made her feel … safe.
“Hey.”
“Oh!” She’d forgotten to say anything yet. “Hi.”
“You ready to go?”
She nodded.
“And you’re still good with Giuseppe’s?”
“I am.”
She closed the door behind her, and they both looked up at the window above it when Tiff banged on it and waved madly at them. Jake waved back, and Savannah rolled her eyes at her friend.
“Sorry about her.”
Jake cocked an eyebrow. “Why? I thought the two of you were close. I know some people find her a bit much, but …”
“Oh no, we are close. I wasn’t apologizing for her – well, I was, but not in general. I just meant …” She blew out a sigh. “I guess she’s embarrassing me, so I hope she’s not embarrassing you.”
“No, it’s all good. She’s looking out for you.” He walked her to the passenger door of his truck and opened it for her. Once he was in the driver’s seat, he turned to her with a smile. “You should probably know that Josh is looking out for you, too.”
She covered her face with her hand. “Oh no. What did he say?”
“Don’t look like that. I said it to reassure you.”
“Then I appreciate it, but there’s no need for any of it.” She was hardly going to tell him that he wouldn’t get the chance to do anything to hurt her. She smiled and told him honestly, “You’re not that kind of guy. I already know that.”
His smile felt like a reward for her words as he said, “Thanks.”
When he pulled up in the parking lot outside Giuseppe’s, he cut the engine but made no move to get out.
“Is everything okay?”