Chapter Seven #2
On Saturday night, Maureen reflected that one of the good things about moving to Whitefish was that she now had an abundance of babysitters.
Not that Holly needed close supervision at the age of twelve; still, it was nice not to have to leave her alone.
Cathleen and Dylan were visiting with friends, and Poppy was going out with Jake’s accountant, Harvey Tomchuk—apparently they’d been seeing one another since Christmas—but Mick and Kelly were happy to take Holly for the evening.
“Let her stay the night,” Kelly urged. “Billy and Mandy will be so tickled.”
Holly was thrilled with the plan, too—so Maureen agreed she could pack an overnight bag.
Kelly, dressed in running pants and a tank top, was waiting in the front yard with the children when they drove up at seven o’clock. All three ran to Holly and engulfed her in a smothering group hug.
“We’re so glad you decided to stay overnight,” Kelly said. “We’re going to have a wiener roast and s’mores in the backyard. Later, once the little guys are in bed, we’ll watch a movie just us adults.”
Holly glowed at being grouped with the grown-ups for once. She bent low to scoop little Amanda into her arms. “You’re so cute! I love your barrettes. Are they kittens?”
Amanda nodded. “Kewwy says we’re going to get a kitten. Right, Kewwy?”
“Either a cat or a dog. We haven’t decided which.”
“I’ll pick you up in the morning,” Maureen said to her daughter. She longed to step forward for a goodbye hug, but Holly was already heading for the house, giving no indication that she’d heard that last remark.
“You look great, Mo,” Kelly said. “I like how you did your hair.”
Maureen snuck a peek in the side mirror of her car. She’d put in some loose curls after blowing it dry. It was nice of Kelly to notice. Hopefully Jake would too.
“Have fun,” Kelly said. “And remember, we’ve got Holly for the whole night.”
*
“Every time I come here I order the same thing,” Jake confessed once the waiter opened their bottle of wine and left. “Black bean chowder and the cedar-planked salmon. Boring, I know, but they’re just so good I can’t resist.”
“That’s what I’ll try, then.” Maureen put down the menu. She was glad they’d decided to drive to Bigfork on the east shore of Flathead Lake. Here she could relax and enjoy herself, without worrying that some busybody would report back to her sisters on her every move.
Not that their matchmaking efforts hadn’t been well intentioned and, she had to admit, a little inspired, as well. But now it was definitely time for them to butt out.
Playing tennis on Wednesday had taught her something important.
She’d ignored an entire aspect of her personality for too long.
As a teenager and young adult she’d thrived on competitive sports.
But it was more than physical activity that she craved.
It was everything that went with it. The competition, the camaraderie, the fun.
In all honesty, she hadn’t had a social life in years. As for Jake, provided they both understood they were just enjoying each other, then where was the harm? Jake likely didn’t have anything more meaningful on his mind, anyway.
Her pleasurable mood dipped a little at that thought. She immediately chastised herself. She’d be a fool to expect anything deep and meaningful with Jake. Never mind those thoughtful, probing looks he was prone to giving her.
She held her glass of wine up to the candlelight. The rich garnet Shiraz seemed a fitting prelude to the pleasures that awaited her this evening. Gourmet food, interesting conversation and a dash of sexual excitement thrown in for good measure.
Jake was devastatingly handsome in his blue shirt and navy jacket. His eyes glowed with a seductive combination of self-assurance and admiration. Every time his gaze dipped to the V-neck of her silk blouse, she felt an anticipatory tingle all over her body.
Not that she intended to take Kelly’s hint and sleep with Jake tonight. But surely their good-night kiss would last a little longer than that first sampling he’d stolen after tennis.
That kiss. Every time she thought about it, she got a sexual rush. Was it just because she hadn’t made love with a man in so long? Or was there truly something exceptional brewing between her and Jake?
He leaned forward to touch her hand briefly. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m wondering if I remembered to shut the latch on the outside garbage container when I emptied the trash this afternoon.”
This time it was her wrist he touched, right at the pulse point, where she’d sprayed perfume an hour ago.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Oh, really? Then why don’t you tell me what I was thinking about.”
He pushed aside the place setting so that he could lean even nearer to her. In a low, sexy voice he said, “You’re hoping that even though this isn’t a date, I’ll still kiss you good night.”
His guess was so close to her actual thoughts she couldn’t dissemble. In the pause while he waited for her answer, the entire restaurant seemed to go silent. “Well.” She took another sip of her wine. “Will you?”
*
Since Maureen had driven to Jake’s after dropping Holly at Kelly’s, her car was still parked out front when they returned to his town house from the restaurant. Jake sighed when he pulled up behind the black sedan.
“This means I can’t drive you home. I was looking forward to that.” He reached a hand to her shoulder. All night he’d been waiting to touch her there. Cool silk over warm skin.
“Eager to get rid of me?”
“You noticed, huh?” He slid his hand down her arm, captured her hand. Also warm.
Although she was sitting right next to him, the dusky light made it impossible for him to judge her expression. At the restaurant there’d been no mistaking the sparks between them. But he didn’t want to take anything for granted.
He squeezed her fingers; she squeezed back. Surely tonight he wasn’t reading the signals wrong. “Would you like a drink before you go?”
“Yes.”
Which meant they ought to get out of the car. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop touching her. With his free hand he caressed the side of her neck, gently turning her face toward his. Her muscles felt stiff, just a tad resistant.
“Is this okay?” he asked softly.
As soon as she nodded, he brushed back her thick hair so he could graze his lips against the tender skin on the lobe of her ear.
It was awkward in the bucket seats of his vehicle, but when she tilted her face toward him, he did manage to kiss her. A little more intensely, and a little longer, than the first time.
“Oh, Maureen. My mind tells me we should be taking this slow, but…”
“I know.” She wound both of her arms around his neck, and they were kissing again. Now he was flooded with the memory of how tantalizing her body had looked in her silk blouse and long black skirt, with that sexy, midthigh slit up the side.
He dropped his hand to her hip, then down the length of her outer thigh, searching for where the fabric separated. When he found it, he let out a small groan. Her legs were so silky soft…
“Um, Jake?”
Did she know her voice dropped several notes whenever she spoke quietly? The effect was very, very sexy. He took a deep breath and tried to inhale a little sanity along with the air. If she said stop, he wasn’t going to try to change her mind.
“Since we’ve agreed to take this slow,” she said shakily, “why don’t we go inside and take it slow there?”
*
Jake poured Maureen a drink, her favorite brandy, and then put on music. Soft, seductive music. They danced with one hand on their glasses, the other on each other. The need to keep the golden liquid from spilling on the carpet was effective at keeping them from falling into each other.
Maureen had never felt so much desire.
Touch me there…and there…
She thought she might faint when he actually did, his hand skimming over her breast, over the slight swell of her abdomen, down to her thigh.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, raised her glass to her lips and ran her tongue over the sweetened rim. One brandy couldn’t make her drunk, yet she’d definitely lost her sense of balance.
Jake’s finger under her chin brought her mouth back to his for another kiss. It seemed that there were no bones left in her body when he finished.
“Is this slow enough?” he asked.
“Oh, absolutely…”
They savored their drinks, and their dance, making them last until the song was over. The next song on the playlist was strident jazz.
And all of a sudden, the discordant notes reminded Maureen of the reality of everyday life.
“I have to go home now, Jake.”
He gave a disappointed sigh. “That wasn’t what I was hoping you would say.”
She could stay if she wanted. The knowledge was tantalizing. But she wasn’t ready. Not yet, anyway. She tried to remember where she’d placed her purse.
“You’ve decided against the house breakfast special? No extra charge.”
“Oh, I can’t, Jake. Not that I don’t want to…”
“I understand.” He took her arm and walked her to the front door. There, on the bench by the closet, was her purse. She hung the strap from her shoulder, and before she could reach for the knob, he stopped her with a hug.
“Tonight was wonderful, Maureen, every second of it. I want to tell you—”
She covered his mouth with her hand. “Wait. Let me speak first…”
“You mean, for a change?”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. What I need to say is that I don’t know how tonight is going to change things between us. I’m not sure if it even should.”
“How can it not?”
She pressed her hand down more firmly. “My turn, remember? I’m not ready for a serious relationship. My life has been such a turmoil, and Holly is still so upset, and I was married to Rod for so long…”
She paused, not sure what to say about her late husband. They had been far from happy the last few years. Still she felt his presence, their history together, as some sort of barrier to her future.
“So it’ll be just meaningless sex for a while?” Jake said.
She couldn’t help but laugh.
“Don’t worry, Maureen. I understand what you mean. We can be cautious about this. Starting now. See how chastely I’m kissing you good night?”
He laid his lips briefly to her forehead. “Hold on while I grab my jacket. I’m following you home.”
“But that’s—”
This time he put his hand on her mouth. “No buts. You’ve had your say. Now I’m having mine.”