Chapter 22
“Lucy!”
I hear my name the moment I slip my headphones off and step through the door at Jitters. Scanning the café, I spot Taylor at a round table in the corner. She’s waving to me with an overabundance of effort, as if we’re in a significantly larger crowd. I can’t help but smile at her.
If I’m honest, I somewhat envy the way she is so unapologetically herself.
She smiles back at me, pushing out a chair as I approach. “I’m so glad I ran into you. Jake is busy, and I couldn’t stay in that apartment and listen to his dull business meetings any longer.”
I check my watch as I sit. It’s only 8:00 a.m. What does she mean by meetings—plural?
“How early does he start his day?” I wonder aloud.
“Working for our father, Jake isn’t afforded the luxury of having set hours.” She takes a sip from her mug as her expression darkens. “He claims it was an accident, but I think he left his mobile phone and laptop back in the city on purpose. He was trying to avoid this as long as possible.”
She takes another sip then flits her hand in the air. “But, Dad shipped him new ones, so I guess the vacation is over.”
My body slumps further down in the chair, and my thoughts immediately jump to the worry that he won’t have time to spend with me any longer.
“That sounds like a lot.”
She shrugs and takes a sip of coffee. “He masks it well, that’s Jake.”
Has he been masking it all along? Or will he try to see me less now? It’s a ridiculous concern, because I have no stake in his time management. Not even following his declaration in the cornfield about wanting to know me.
This is what he’s in town for, after all.
Not that I haven’t been plenty busy at the shelter and painting over the last few days. The painting in particular has really taken off again as of late, filling the evening hours when I think of him the most.
My wallowing is interrupted by Jenny’s hand on my shoulder and then a to-go cup appearing before me. “I saw you come in, figured your usual was a safe bet,” she explains.
“You’re the best.” I sigh, scooping up the paper cup and holding it to my face. With a slow inhale, I savor the coffee’s aroma and allow it to start perking me up before I even take a drink.
Taylor gawks at the rest of our interaction with intense curiosity. And when Jenny goes back to her counter, she doesn’t waste any time asking, “Do things like that actually happen around here? Baristas knowing you and your order?”
I look down at my cup. “Well. Yeah.”
“Wild.” She shakes her head. “Jake told me this place was different, but…”
“He said Jitters is different?”
“He said Ellicottville is different.”
I lean forward. “What did he mean by that?”
“I think he was trying to prepare me for the pace of things around here. I’m not like him, I’m not good at being still.”
It takes all my willpower to resist asking more about him and his stance on my town. Taylor would undoubtedly see right through that line of questioning.
Instead, I wait for her to continue.
“I’m only here because our parents are awful, and Jake is my fixer.”
“Fixer?”
“Ever since we were kids, he’s always been there to make things better.
There are eight years between us, and for as long as I can remember, he’s the person that has always taken care of me.
So, when I came home from a trip to find my condo rented out, Jake was the first place I turned.
He’s going to help me stand on my own two feet.
Get my own place without our dad’s name on the deed. ”
The more I learn about Jake, the harder it is for me to see him as the man here to hurt my town. My heart swells as I think of his nervousness asking to bring her along the other day.
And that’s when I get an idea.
“What are your plans for today?”
“I have none, really. Hide out here until I reach my caffeine limit and then I guess go back to his makeshift office. I can’t really shop right now; he told me I have to start saving money. And that I have to find a job. But I can’t do that until I head back to the city.”
I smile. “If you want the opposite of still, how do you feel about helping out at my family’s animal shelter?”
Her eyes widen, as if I’ve just offered the best thing imaginable. “I would love to do that.”
Gathering our things, we head out for the rescue, the same walk I first took with her brother only weeks earlier. It’s hard to believe how quickly he’s become such a part of my life in that amount of time.
I smile to myself as we go, thinking Jake would make a comment about that being because the universe felt it was meant to be.
“This barn is an animal shelter?” Taylor asks, stopping on the gravel drive outside of Pine + Paw.
“It is.” I move ahead and hold the front door open for her. “My family converted it years ago.”
“It’s adorable.”
Stepping inside, I find my father reading a book at the front desk. He’s probably the only one here on a weekday morning. “Morning, kiddo,” he says, looking up with a smile. “Brought another new friend?”
“Yes, this is Taylor. She’s, um, the sister of the travel writer in town.” Apparently, I’m bringing Mathew Hart into the trust circle too.
“Travel writer, huh? I didn’t know we were getting a write up.” He closes his book. “How cool. Well, welcome Taylor. Here for anything in particular today?”
“To lend a hand, if that’s okay?” she asks softly, more timid than I thought she was capable of.
“Always. Lucy will get you squared away.”
Taking my cue, I lead her down the hall toward the animals’ side of the building. Today, I figured I’d start her with something light and fun, get her interested in working here. Socialization.
“Cats or dogs?” I ask, stopping between the doors that lead to each.
“I should probably start with cats, they seem safer.”
“Have you ever been around a cat?” I laugh.
Her eyes widen with fear. “Then I guess dogs?”
“No, sorry. Our cats are great, come on in.” Pushing open the door, I keep my head on a swivel for any Houdinis. One of the kittens tries to slip out around our feet, but it’s actually Taylor that notices first, bending down to scoop her up.
Securing the door behind us, I say, “See, you’re a natural.”
“I have always loved animals—even if I mostly just interact with Charlie.”
“Do you see Jake and Charlie a lot in the city?”
She scratches behind the kitten, Luna’s, ear. “If I’m there, I’m with them constantly. Well, as constant as possible with how much he works.”
“Vice presidents are probably pretty busy,” I agree, walking over and pulling the basket of toys off a shelf.
Taylor doesn’t need any prompting, she immediately sets Luna down and plucks out a toy, turning to where a cluster of calicos are watching us with curiosity.
“He doesn’t act like a VP,” she snorts. “I honestly forget that’s his title.
Mostly, he tries to stay out of the office, interacting with the community partners and all of that. ”
“That’s very down to earth of him.”
She smirks at me. “Be careful with my brother, he’s softer than he lets on.”
As if I’m the one that’s going to be doing the heart breaking.
It’s become routine for Bear to man the reception desk with me. To do, well, nearly everything with me. And it’s Bear that first notices Jake as he silently slips through the front door at Pine + Paw.
He springs up, hurrying towards our visitor, and bumping my chair in the process. The sudden, jarring movement sends the paint brush in my hand skittering across the page of my sketch pad, leaving a trail of blue watercolor in its wake.
I drop the art materials and rise from the seat, prepared to collect my dog from the unsuspecting guest and freezing when I realize it’s Jake.
His hair seems to have a little more golden sprinkled through the brown in this light, and his perpetual five o’clock shadow has managed to come in early today.
He’s wearing a solid green flannel with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his fingers are buried in Bear’s fur as he looks up from the dog.
It happens in slow time, the way he notices me. The way he makes me feel noticed. I experience the heated sensation everywhere. As if I come alive under his gaze.
He smiles slowly at me, his mouth curving in that slightly crooked way I missed over these last few days.
“Hi, Lucy.”
“Hi.”
“You’re painting.” His voice is layered with warmth, and maybe some curiosity as he tips his chin to get a look at the art.
“Just playing with some techniques.” I come around the desk and lean back against the front edge of it. “What brings you in?”
“I got a call from Taylor that she was volunteering here. And frankly, it felt a little unfair that she was getting to see you, but I wasn’t.”
He steps forward, closing the distance between us—save for the space Bear slips in between our shins. We reach down to pet him at the same time, Jake’s hand closing over mine.
“She says you’ve been busy,” I murmur.
“More than I expected,” he confirms solemnly. His attention lifts from the dog to catch me in charged, knee-weakening eye contact. But he doesn’t remove his hand from mine. “And I’ve been regretting how vague we left things last time we spoke.”
My heart swells. “Regretting how?”
“Have dinner with me Saturday?”
I glance towards my parents’ office door, thinking of my mom sitting on the other side at her desk. The same desk I was just standing in front of as I confirmed our plans for Saturday.
“I can’t,” I admit. “But if you’re around after dinner, maybe I can bring dessert.”
The disappointment in his eyes dissipates, leaving them warm and glowing once more. “I love dessert.”