Chapter 3
Three
Jack’s expression was so comical, Kayla burst out laughing. “I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am … happy,” he said.
“You don’t look very happy.”
“I expected you to say no.”
“I was going to until the incident yesterday.” Kayla picked up her Italian sub and took another bite. She wanted to finish eating before her next appointment.
“What happened?” Jack asked.
“Last night, I was doing laundry, and guess what I found in the hamper?”
“I have no idea.”
“Men’s underwear. And not just one pair, but two!”
Jack eyed her with confusion.
“They belonged to Josie’s current boy toy.”
“Ah,” Jack said, and picked up his soda.
“So, I confronted her.”
“I’d expect so.”
“I told her there was no way in hell I was doing her boy of the week’s laundry, especially his dirty underwear. Anyway, it turned into an argument, and I told her I was moving out.” Kayla picked up her sub and took another big bite.
“Did you tell her where you were going?” Jack asked.
She swallowed and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “I said I was staying at a friend’s place, but I didn’t tell her it was yours.”
“Did you mention it was only for six weeks?” He sounded nervous.
“I said indefinitely.”
Jack’s mouth dropped open, and he shifted uncomfortably. “Indefinitely.”
“Well, I couldn’t say six weeks. That’s too specific, and she would have asked all kinds of questions.”
Jack looked incredulous. “But indefinitely didn’t prompt any questions?”
“No. Josie probably thought I was having PMS, and indefinitely could mean anything from a few days to a few months.”
Jack looked pained. “Are you?”
“Am I what?”
He lowered his voice. “Having PMS?”
She scowled. “No! Even if I was, it’s none of your business.”
“It sort of is now that we’ll be living together.”
“How so?”
“If you were my girlfriend, I’d probably know all about your cycle.”
“But I’m not your girlfriend,” she reminded him.
Jack sighed.
“What’s wrong now?” she asked.
“I didn’t think this would be so complicated.”
“What do you mean?”
Jack twisted his cup in his hands. “Someone sort of hit on me this morning.”
Kayla chuckled. “Sort of?”
“She’s a receptionist at one of the offices I called on.”
“Of course,” Kayla said.
He frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Never mind. Just continue.”
“Anyway, she asked if I was single, and I said I had a girlfriend.”
“Aw. How sweet,” Kayla teased.
Jack shook his head. “I felt guilty for lying.”
“Let me ask you this. If you didn’t have a girlfriend, would you have gone out with her?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Kayla took a drink. “You still could, you know.”
“That would be cheating.”
She laughed at his mortified expression. “Not in this case.”
Jack shook his head. “I can only manage one woman at a time, thank you very much.”
Kayla raised her eyebrows. “Manage? Is that what you think this is?”
Jack held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry. Wrong word choice.”
“I’m serious, though. I’m not going to stop you from going out with someone else while we’re cohabitating.”
“Is that what you’re planning to do?” He sounded disappointed.
She shrugged. “I’m off dating, but I suppose that could change if the right guy comes along.”
Jack tugged his bottom lip between his teeth.
“What?” she prompted him.
“How would you explain to this guy that you’re living with me?”
Kayla grinned. “You could be gay.”
“For the last time, I’m not gay!” Jack insisted.
Two guys at the neighboring table snickered. Leaning in, Kayla whispered, “They beg to differ.”
Jack frowned at her. “That’s it. I’m leaving.”
She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Sorry, sweetie. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
He gazed at her hand for a moment, and she quickly pulled it away.
She and Jack rarely touched, unless it was by accident or on a special occasion.
A brief hug or kiss on the cheek was acceptable only at those times.
Today is not a special occasion. Kayla hurriedly finished her sub and decided to save the rest of the chips for later. “I’ll walk out with you,” she said.
As they left, Jack opened the door for her, and she slipped past without touching him. In two years, she’d perfected the move, but now she might have to unlearn it. Jack was right. This was going to be more complicated than she’d thought.
They paused beside their company cars. “So, when are you moving in?” Jack asked.
“I was thinking Saturday,” she replied.
“This Saturday?”
“Won’t your parents be here soon?”
“Oh. Right,” Jack said. “Do you need help to move?”
“I don’t think so. I’m not bringing any furniture, so it shouldn’t be that bad.”
“I’ll gladly help if you need it,” he offered, sounding more formal than usual.
“I’ll be okay,” she assured him.
“What time on Saturday?”
“I’m not sure yet. Do you have plans?”
He shook his head. “Just call me before you come over.”
“Okay.” They eyed each other with uncertainty.
“You can still back out, you know,” Jack finally said.
“Do you want me to?”
“No, but I was just offering it up.”
She smiled. Even under duress, he was unfailingly polite. “Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Remember when you said practice makes perfect?”
“Yeah.”
“We should probably hug goodbye … for practice.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Oh. Right. Good idea.”
They each took a step forward and paused.
Standing this close, Kayla perused him like she was seeing him for the first time.
Jack was tall—six feet one inch according to him—and lean, but not skinny.
He loved sports and played golf, tennis, and basketball for fun.
His body was all lean muscles and long limbs.
Jack had medium brown, wavy hair, and lighter brown eyes with flecks of gold in them.
He was clean cut, and a meticulous dresser, especially at work.
Other male coworkers dressed similarly, but none appeared as neat and tailored as Jack.
And when he smiled, it was like being warmed by the sun.
“Ahem,” Jack said, breaking into her thoughts. “Are we hugging or not?”
“Yes,” she said, bobbing her head. The next thing she knew, his arms went around her, and his hands rested lightly on her back. She returned the gesture, their chests brushing in the process. Kayla was acutely aware of the warmth of his body and his clean, fresh scent before he pulled back.
“Good start,” he joked.
“A little awkward on the approach, but we’ll get there.”
Jack chuckled, and their awkwardness dissipated. “So, I’ll see you on Saturday,” he confirmed.
“Yep. I’ll give you a heads up, so you can kick that receptionist out of your bed,” she teased.
He shook his head. “It’s not happening.”
“At least not for the next six weeks,” she said lightly.
“Right.” Jack’s phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. “It’s my mom.”
“Tell her I can’t wait to meet her,” Kayla said, only partly joking. She expected his parents to be good people since they’d produced Jack. She hadn’t expected to meet them as his fake girlfriend, though.
Jack answered the call. “Hey, Mom.” Then he gave Kayla a brief wave and folded himself into his car.
As she drove away, Kayla wondered what he’d told his mom about her, and if his parents would like her. It doesn’t matter. This isn’t real. It’s only for six weeks. She repeated the mantra in her head until she arrived at her next appointment.
Kayla opened the back of her Explorer to remove her rolling case when a man approached, wheeling a similar case. She often encountered other pharmaceutical reps on the job, but she didn’t recognize him.
The stranger smiled. “Do you need help with that?”
Struck by his handsomeness, she didn’t immediately answer, and he lifted the bag out of the car and set it by her feet. “Thank you,” she said, finally finding her voice.
The dark-haired hottie extended his hand. “I’m Austin.”
Kayla raised her arm, but quickly lowered it back down.
“I have a boyfriend,” she blurted out. Averting her eyes, she grabbed the handle of her case and hurried off, her heels clicking on the pavement.
When she reached the front door of the doctor’s office, she glanced back, and the hot guy grinned at her.
Fighting the urge to run back and introduce herself, she yanked open the door and went inside.
It's only for six weeks, she reminded herself.