Chapter 2
Chapter 2
He shrugged. Beneath his smile, she thought she detected a note of strain. “I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d stop by and see if I could talk you into having dinner with me tomorrow night.”
Her heart leapt and sank in almost the same second. She wanted to have dinner with him. Thankfully, though, she had a good excuse to keep her from doing something self-destructive.
She was weak when it came to this one man.
“I really appreciate it,” she said. “But I can’t this weekend. I’ll be driving to Blossom Branch. I promised my mother I’d take her to pick out a Christmas tree and then set it up at home. I’ll have to get into the attic for the ornaments.”
Jason ran a hand through his sun-kissed hair, pushing it back from his forehead. He was probably overdue for a haircut. “I could help,” he said. “I can haul heavy things, and I’m good with the older generation. Besides, I haven’t been to Blossom Branch in ages. Are you staying over? I’ll get a room at one of the B and Bs.”
One phrase jumped out at her. The older generation? “Jason...” She gnawed her lip. Maybe no one had ever told him her history. Or maybe he’d forgotten.
His gaze narrowed. “What did I say wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing wrong. I thought you knew. My mother had me when she was sixteen. She’s in her forties.”
He blinked. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
It seemed rude to tell him he couldn’t go with her. But the thought of sophisticated and wealthy Jason Brightman peeking into her mother’s life made her squirm. “Why would you want to go to Blossom Branch? Don’t you have things to do this weekend?”
“I’ve been working nonstop on this house I bought. It’s a fixer-upper. I’m enjoying the challenge, but a break sounds appealing. Besides, I...” He trailed off. His cheeks flushed. “I’ve never put up a Christmas tree. Never decorated one. My mother always hired a professional designer to come in and do our whole house. I wasn’t allowed to touch anything.”
His words might be a deliberate manipulation of her feelings, but the poignant image of a sweet little boy wanting to help squeezed her heart. Then she frowned. “You and Cate were together in your apartment one Christmas.”
“True. But we were both crazy busy. The building where we lived didn’t allow anything but artificial trees because of the fire hazard. It seemed like a lot of trouble to buy a fake one we didn’t really want. Besides, we spent time at her family’s house and mine. And we traveled some. So, no tree.”
“I see.”
He cocked his head, studying her face. “Do you think my being there might bother your mother or make her uncomfortable?”
It would have been a good time to dissemble, but Gabby had never been a proficient liar. She shook her head slowly. “No. She loves meeting new people.”
“Then it must be me who’s the problem.” It was his turn to frown. “If you don’t want to spend time with me, it’s okay to say so, Gabby. I don’t want to pressure you. I understand when no means no.”
Gabby stood at the edge of a terrifying precipice. To back away from danger would be terribly anticlimactic. And she would undoubtedly be left with regret for a missed opportunity. One she had thought about for years.
But if she went forward... Her stomach twisted with anxiety.
Jason seemed to be interested. Maybe it was nothing more than friendship he wanted. Either way, he had sought her out. Even in the face of her reticence, he was making an effort to break through her habitual walls.
“I’d like to spend time with you,” she said quietly. “But isn’t this a little sudden?”
“We’ve known each other for years. It’s not like we’re strangers who met in a bar last night.”
“True.” She couldn’t tell him the truth. That she didn’t want to get involved and have her heart broken.
Yet this wouldn’t be anything serious. Could she enjoy his company and let that be it? Was temporary fun worth a long-term cost?
“I guess it would be okay,” she said. “If you’re sure. I’ll give you my mother’s address, and we can meet there.”
He shook his head slowly, grinning. “You’re tough on a man’s ego, Gabby. Why don’t you let me drive us both? There’s lots of room in the back of my SUV for a live tree. Or if the tree is too big, we can even tie it on top.”
She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I think you’re used to getting your own way, aren’t you?”
The smile faded. “Not always. But I like you. And I hope the feeling is mutual.”
Oh, it was mutual. And then some.
“Fine,” she said. “I’m taking off half a day tomorrow so I won’t be rushed. Can you pick me up at three? I don’t want to get tangled up in Friday afternoon traffic.”
He pulled out his smartphone and tapped the navigation icon. “Tell me your address,” he said.
She rattled it off and watched him calculate the distance from his place to hers. His eyebrows shot up. “Good grief.”
“What?” she asked, mildly alarmed.
He smiled. “I live barely a mile from your apartment. I can be there in ten minutes, no problem.”
Gabby was confused. She had been to Jason and Cate’s apartment half a dozen times. It was at least half an hour from where she lived.
When she said as much, Jason shook his head. For a moment, he looked grim. “I moved out of there when the lease was up. That’s why I’ve bought a place of my own.”
“Oh. I thought when you mentioned a remodel you were flipping a property.”
“Nope. Just creating a nest for myself. The house was pretty much a mess when I bought it, but I’m making slow progress.”
“Where are you living in the meantime?” She knew colleagues who had done renovations. Apparently it could be a nightmare.
Jason shrugged. “I’m there for the duration. I’ve got a mattress on the floor and a minifridge. Plenty of restaurants nearby. Hopefully I’ll be done by spring.”
“Good grief, Jason. That sounds dismal.”
“I may crack one day—install cable and internet. But this is my version of a hair shirt. The stripped-down existence is good for me.” He grinned ruefully.
“If you say so.” She was flustered now. Easing past him into her office, she grabbed her coat and purse. “If you change your mind, text me.”
He sat on the corner of her desk, watching her flutter around the small space. “I won’t change my mind.”
When she headed for the door, he touched her arm. Lightly. His big fingers wrapped around her wrist gently. He didn’t move until she looked at him. “I’m looking forward to this weekend, Gabby. I have you to thank for that. I appreciate your hospitality.”
His deep blue eyes mesmerized her. The gratitude in his words bothered her somehow. She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t speak too soon. You may be sorry.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
They were so close she could see the stubble on his jaw. He had probably shaved early that morning. More than anything in the world, she wanted to lean forward and kiss him right on the mouth. The urge was so shocking her knees trembled.
Years ago, she’d had a terrible crush on Jason. Even at the time she had known there was nowhere for it to go. He was a fierce lion, the master of his pride. Gabby was a field mouse.
Then, when Cate and Jason got serious—and later became engaged—Gabby excised that silly crush with all the exactitude of a surgeon’s knife. Jason had been nothing more to her than her best friend’s life partner.
On the day of the wedding, Gabby had struggled, found peace, and ultimately dealt with horrifying guilt. All those emotions had taken a toll. Since that awful day, she’d barely spent any time with Cate. They had seen each other, of course. But usually in the company of Leah, and never for very long.
She knew Cate wondered about her. Heck, Gabby wondered about herself. Everyone thought Gabby was so focused and smart and together . She’d heard it a hundred times. The truth was, she appeared to be making admirable strides in her professional life, but as a woman, she was a babe in the woods—little more than a neophyte when it came to men and love and happy-ever-after.
The silence in her office mounted. The door was pushed to, not quite closed. Out in the hallway, she could hear chatter as people left the building.
Jason still held her arm. She could smell his aftershave. Or maybe it was the scent of his shower gel. Though he was three or four inches taller, with her standing and him perched on the desk, their eyes met.
“I’ll enjoy your company,” she muttered quietly, the words stiff and formal. “Goodbye, Jason.”
The man didn’t pick up on verbal cues. “Let me walk you to your car,” he said.
Outside, dark was fast approaching. The sun set around five thirty, but tall buildings all along the block cast long shadows. She always used the garage across the street from Grimes & Hancock. Its monthly rates were reasonable, and the six-level structure was well-lit.
Truthfully, it was nice to have an escort. Sometimes being a woman and always on guard could be exhausting. With Jason at her side, she felt safe.
When they were standing beside her navy-blue Kia, he watched her unlock the car door. “Are you still a runner?” he asked, seemingly out of nowhere. “I remember you were very dedicated on campus.”
She jingled her keys in her hand, wondering why he was still with her. “Three seasons a year. Right now, not so much.”
“Because?”
“A woman. Jogging alone after dark. You do the math.”
“Well, that sucks,” he said, the words indignant.
“It is what it is.” She didn’t spend a lot of time worrying about whether life was fair or unfair. Growing up the way she did had meant learning to be resilient and resourceful. It was far easier not to rail against things that weren’t likely to change anytime soon.
“What if I ran with you?” he asked.
Gabby’s heart did a funny little bump. “You run?” She stared at him skeptically. Not because he looked out of shape. His body was ripped. But Jason was exactly the kind of man who would have an expensive gym membership somewhere that offered kale smoothies and Egyptian cotton towels in the locker room.
He rocked back on his heels, giving her a challenging gaze. “I don’t not run,” he said. “I think I can keep up with you.”
“Because I’m a girl?”
“Nope. Because I like a challenge. You’ve always been good at everything. I assume your fitness approach is no different.”
“What about your dinner? Or mine?” She was stalling, trying to decide if she could play Jason’s games and not get hurt.
“Are you starving?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“Then let’s run first. We can grab a burger later.”
There was no legitimate reason to turn him down. She liked Jason. A lot. And she had missed running. A lot.
She exhaled. “Okay. There’s a fountain in front of my building. I’ll meet you there in forty-five minutes.”
Jason experienced a jolt of jubilation that was way out of proportion to what was about to happen. He and a female friend were going to jog around her neighborhood and try to stay warm—hardly a romantic movie script.
Besides, Gabby still didn’t trust him. Would she ever? Hard to say. She claimed he didn’t owe her an apology. Truthfully, though, she might never be able to get past what he had done to her best friend.
At his place, he stripped down and changed into athletic pants and a long-sleeve T. With his favorite toboggan and an insulated jacket, he was good to go.
Gabby’s sprawling apartment complex was easy to find. Peachtree Court dated back to the late 1970s. Unlike some unfortunate spots in the city, this area had been preserved and improved over the decades. The landscaping was up-to-date, the paint fresh, and the parking lots nicely paved.
He’d spared a moment to google the place while he was changing clothes. According to the city’s website, Peachtree Court was home to a wide range of ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Everything from retired couples to young families and single professional adults, as well. The neighborhood wasn’t fancy, but it was solidly middle class.
Gabby certainly had the financial resources to live somewhere more upscale. Clearly, she had her reasons for being here. Maybe she liked not living alone. As far as he could tell—even on a cold winter night—Peachtree Court was a hopping place.
About half of the apartments were decorated. Strands of multicolored lights outlined rooflines. Christmas trees stood in living room windows. Teenagers hung out on the lawn, a few of them smoking. The smell of dinner cooking filled the air.
He found a visitor spot and parked. Gabby waited for him at the fountain.
She waved at him in the gloom. “Over here.”
As he joined her, she propped a foot on the fountain edge and stretched. He tried not to notice the way black spandex showcased her legs. The North Face jacket she wore was a twin of his, though hers was deep red and his dark green.
He chuckled as he joined in the stretching, feeling the pull of tight muscles. “We look like Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”
Gabby raised both eyebrows as she adjusted her ear warmers. “I certainly hope not. We haven’t even gained the holiday fifteen yet.”
“I thought that was a college thing.”
“Holidays, too,” she said.
He changed the subject. “I like your neighborhood, Gabby. It’s strikes me as cozy and fun.”
She switched legs on the fountain. “It is. I’ve tried and tried to get my mother to move up here so I can keep an eye on her. It would make my life a lot easier, but she adores Blossom Branch.”
Something about that statement confused him. “If she’s so young, why do you need to keep an eye on her?”
Gabby finished her warm-up and straightened. She stared at him with a rueful expression. “I can fill you in later. It will make more sense when you’ve had a chance to meet her. C’mon,” she said. “Let’s go.”
She took off, and he followed.
For the first two miles, Gabby ran like she had stolen a priceless painting and the cops were after her. Jason kept up, barely, but he was sure as hell glad he had long legs. Eventually she moderated the pace.
He’d anticipated more of a jog, but Gabby was serious about her running. They weren’t even able to talk. Maybe that was a conscious choice on her part.
He had opened a workout function on his smartwatch before they started. After five miles, he wondered how far his running mate had in mind. Fortunately for him, she rounded a traffic circle and returned toward Peachtree Court.
By the time they made it back, Jason knew he would be sore tomorrow. It had been some time since he pushed himself this hard. But he liked it. His limbs were loose, and his head was clear. Even the cold air felt good in his lungs.
They walked the last half mile, cooling down. When the fountain came in sight, his partner smiled brightly and gave him an odd wave. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for running with me.”
He tugged her stubby ponytail. “What about the burger?”
“You go on without me,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze. “I may throw together a salad since it’s late.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s not even eight, sweet Gabby. Don’t make me eat alone.” Beneath his hands, her bones felt fragile. It was odd. Nothing about her suggested anything but strength. Yet when he touched her like this, he realized how small she was. Tall, but small. It was a conundrum.
“I’m all sweaty.”
“So am I. We’ll hit up a diner I know.”
“Red meat is bad for you,” she said, the words prim.
He brushed a stray hair from her forehead. “Let’s live a little.”
When she looked up at him, she didn’t have to look far. Beneath the artificial glare of the nearest streetlights, her smoky eyes looked dark and mysterious. “I think you’re a dangerous man,” she said slowly, the words almost contemplative. “And I don’t know what to do with you.”
“I’m harmless,” he swore. “Eat a burger with me. I’ll bring you home before nine thirty. Easy-peasy.”
When her stomach growled audibly, he chuckled.
Gabby rested her forehead against his chest, though she didn’t touch him anywhere else. Her arms hung at her sides. “Fine,” she grumbled. “But this isn’t a date. I’m paying for my own meal.”
Her stubborn resistance irritated him enough that he stepped back, releasing her. “Never mind,” he said curtly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned on his heel to walk away. He’d never had to pressure a woman for a social evening. He wouldn’t start now.
A combination of anger and embarrassment made his mood surly. He strode toward his car, regretting that he’d ever come here tonight.
“Wait, wait.”
Behind him, an urgent female voice carried on the chilled, misty air.
He stopped, took a deep breath, and faced her. “What?”
She gnawed her bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t sound sorry.”
“Well, I am,” she insisted. “I was being bitchy.”
“Because?”
Gabby’s body language was tense, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. She was either cold or unsure of herself, or both.
He saw her swallow. “Jason...”
Hearing her say his name softly made him itchy with something . “What?”
“I’m not very good with men,” she said.
He stared at her, confused by her words. That statement could be interpreted a dozen ways. “Have there been many?” he asked. Perhaps it was too personal a question, but she’d brought it up.
She pursed her lips. Her eyes might have flashed with annoyance, but it was hard to tell in this light. “A few,” she said. “Nothing serious.”
“Um...”
She read his mind. “No. I’m not a twenty-seven-year-old virgin.”
His neck got hot. “I didn’t think you were.” He groaned inwardly. “Why are we having this incredibly awkward conversation?”
“Because men like you expect things.”
“Men like me?” He knew he should probably be insulted, but he was caught in a morass of weeds and trying to find his way out.
Gabby paced in a small circle. “You’re handsome and charming and rich. I doubt I could list the women you’ve been with on two hands. You’re asking me to be social with you, but I worry that it’s code for something else.”
His temper flared again, but he didn’t move. “It’s a hamburger, Gabby. Not a hookup.”
“And the trip to Blossom Branch?”
“I need a distraction. It’s my home, too. Or it was in the past. I like spending time with you because I don’t have to pretend. You’ve seen me at my worst. And to be perfectly clear, I could list my sexual partners on one hand with one extra finger. I played a lot of sports in high school and college. My parents expected good grades. If you think I was the stereotypical frat boy banging everything that moved, you’re dead wrong.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Sorry I offended you.”
He rolled his shoulders and shoved his icy hands into his pockets. “I don’t need sex from you. Not to say it wouldn’t be great, but right now, I need a friend. I was hoping that could be you.”
Gabby sucked in a sharp breath. He heard it and wondered again what she was thinking. “I’m nothing at all like Cate,” she said bluntly. “Not in charm and personality, and certainly not in looks.”
For a moment, he was tempted to walk away. To bail on something that had barely begun. He’d never expected the rekindling of a low-key relationship to be so difficult. But despite her prickly reactions, he found himself oddly drawn to Gabby Nolan.
“Cate and I broke up,” he said. “In case you forgot.”
“Why?” she asked. The single word was barely audible.
Ah. So that was it. She didn’t understand. Maybe Cate hadn’t explained. Maybe Cate had found it too uncomfortable to talk about.
“Cate and I were the best of friends,” he said. “And yes, we were friends with benefits. But during our engagement, I began to realize we weren’t caught up in a grand love affair, a grand romantic passion. We were playing the part of a bride and groom, but beneath the cake tastings and the venue tours, there was something missing.”
“Did Cate have that same feeling?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. It wasn’t fun to relive this topic. “I think so. At some level. But she was the bride. Even more than me, she couldn’t imagine calling a halt. The fact that she and Harry fell head over heels so quickly after the almost-wedding would seem to indicate that she knew what I knew. We weren’t right for each other. If either of us had been brave enough to talk about it, we could have avoided a lot of heartache.”
Gabby nodded slowly, coming to stand at his side. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Jason. Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”