3. Jack #2
I went to the front windows and looked out at my curved driveway, but I didn’t see the car.
Marcus, my driver and house assistant lived in the mother-in-law quarters over my garage.
In addition to lodging, I paid him a good wage to take care of things while I was gone as well as driving me places when I didn’t feel like getting behind the wheel, which was most of the time.
Growing up in such a small town had left me with no love for traffic.
Marcus was a riot. He’d grown up in England and was extremely old-fashioned about everything, including treating his job like he served the king of England instead of Jack Wilder.
Although he could be slightly stiff, despite the boys and me trying to loosen him up, he was reliable and trustworthy.
He was not one to blab all around town about me.
He’d never shared his own story, but, given the lines in his face and a slightly sad note in his eyes, I had a feeling it was a doozy.
But I paid him well and provided a nice place for him to live, so that gave me comfort.
I glanced at myself in the mirror that hung near the entryway.
Flour on my T-shirt. A smear of broth on my wrist. Hair at the back of my head damp from sweat.
I ran upstairs to change into a new shirt and run a comb through my hair.
Shoot, looking at myself like this, it was obvious I was long due for a haircut.
I liked it a little long, but I needed a trim. Too late now.
After I’d made myself presentable by washing my face and hands, and changing shirts, I went back downstairs.
It was already five past seven. I was right.
She was going to be late. I had a feeling I’d need to tell her to get ready thirty minutes before we actually had to leave or we’d be tardy for everything. I mean, if we had a second date.
Hopefully she was just late and hadn’t changed her mind.
Five minutes later, I heard a car coming down the drive and looked out the window. It was Marcus in the town car. In the back seat I spotted a blonde head.
I practically ran out of the house, reaching her just as Marcus opened the door of the town car for her, offering his hand, which she took.
She wore a yellow sundress the same color as her hair, paired with sandals instead of boots, so I got to see the full glory of her gorgeous legs.
Her hair was down and loose, and she was flushed pink.
Like a rose in full bloom. A straw bag was looped over one arm and a handbag in the other.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said. “Poor Marcus had to wait downstairs on the street for me.”
“It was no problem, Miss James.” Marcus adjusted his tie. He wore a suit when he drove the car, which was not necessary. Especially because I was pretty much always in jeans and T-shirt. But it was important to him, so I kept my mouth shut.
Ivy wrapped her arms around my neck, warm and light in my arms. “Did you think I wasn’t coming?”
“No, it never crossed my mind, actually,” I said.
That made her laugh. “Good, because I couldn’t text you, because my phone was dead. Totally forgot to charge it so I couldn’t call, and I was worried you’d be worried.”
“I guess I should’ve been.”
“No, no. I always do what I say I’m going to do,” Ivy said.
“It’s just that I’m not the most organized person in the world.
My assistant has the week off, and I’ve been completely lost without her.
I already told Marcus this story, but I locked myself out of my condo this afternoon.
When I got home after my appointments, I found a bird flying around my living room.
I’d left a window open, which was not smart, and he got in there.
The little guy was absolutely terrified.
Kept flying all around, knocking things over.
Broke a lamp, I’m afraid. I opened the French doors that lead to my patio—I live on the eighth floor—and coaxed him out there, but then the patio doors slammed shut.
There was this big wind, I guess, and, combined with the other open window, it must have made one of those drafts that slam doors, you know, and scare a person half to death.
Anyway, I’m out there on my balcony. No phone, because of course I’d left that in my bag while I was doing all this bird chasing.
I had no idea what to do. By this time it was nearing half past five, and I had to shower and, oh my goodness, it was hotter than hades on the patio.
While I was thinking about what to do, my next door neighbor came out to her patio.
Thank God. But keep in mind, she’s eighty years old and an absolute peach, but she can’t hear a thing.
I was out there pantomiming that I was locked out, making the mistake of adding the detail about the bird, which confused her.
Anyway, she finally understood and said she’d call the building manager.
He came and rescued me. But then I had trouble getting rid of him.
He told me this sad story about his sister who was hoping for tickets to my show in Chicago but she couldn’t get them because of those awful bots that buy up all the tickets.
We need do something about that, by the way.
The sister has cancer, so of course I had to call my assistant and make arrangements for all that.
Meanwhile, fifteen more minutes had passed, and I still needed to get ready.
” She pulled her shoulders closer to her ears, then let out a long breath.
“So sweet Marcus here had to wait downstairs for twenty minutes for me.” She turned to him. “Marcus, you’re an absolute doll.”
Marcus flushed, dipping his chin. “Ma’am, it was my honor to wait.”
“Thanks, Marcus,” she said. “Doesn’t he talk so cute? I just love an English accent.”
“Thank you, Miss James. I like the way you talk as well,” Marcus said.
“Oh, aren’t you as sweet as iced tea on a hot day?” Ivy asked.
“Will you need me to take Miss James home later?” Marcus’s ears were bright red. He wasn’t used to attention from a gorgeous woman.
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even think of that,” Ivy said. “I’ll just call an Uber. We don’t know how long we’ll be, right, Jack?”
“That’s right. We could talk all night,” I said. Yes, please! “Marcus, consider yourself off-duty for the night. We’ll take care of ourselves.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wilder. Miss James.” Marcus nodded at us in turn, then got back into the car and headed into the garage.
I offered my hand to Ivy. “Shall we? Chicken and dumplings await.”