Читать книгу Totally Tempting - Mary Lynn Baxter - Страница 16

There was another bouquet of flowers on her desk when Jodie arrived at work on Monday. This time she didn’t bother to thank him since the flowers were for the office. However, she did comment on how beautiful they were.

He looked up from his work. “Did you enjoy the musical?” he asked.

“Very much. I haven’t seen a stage production in much too long a time. How about you?”

He shrugged. “It was okay, I guess. If you like that sort of thing. I’ve never been able to figure out why, when they become romantic, they sing to each other instead of kissing.”

She smiled. “So why did you go?”

“Susan mentioned wanting to see it.”

“She seems very nice.”

He leaned back in his chair and studied her. “I spoke to Frank earlier. He said he could put you to work in three weeks if that’s okay with you.”

She nodded. “That’s fine with me. I’ll call the employment agency and find someone to replace me.”

He cleared his throat. “Jodie, there’s no one who can replace you. I’d like to keep you here, but I know I’m being selfish. You deserve a chance to put your education to good use and I don’t want to hold you back.”

She blinked back the tears that suddenly appeared. “Thank you for giving me the chance. I promise I’ll find someone who is every bit as good as I am. Within a week you won’t notice there’s been a change.”

He shook his head. “That will never happen.” He picked up a letter lying on his desk, a clear dismissal of her, which was just as well.

Jodie returned to her desk. She was going to miss seeing him every day, but it was better this way. The infatuation she seemed to have acquired while on Maui would die a natural death once she wasn’t around him so often.

The days went by and Jodie slowly settled into a routine of doing her work and interviewing prospective employees.

Rachel seemed to be back in Dean’s life. She called him every day or so, and Jodie happened to hear him making plans with her for a weekend next month.

Jodie spent her evenings working on school projects and studying for finals. She’d be glad when she moved to her new position. Being around the old Dean who never laughed and rarely smiled made her heart ache for him. He’d returned to his hard-crusted shell, and it was as though the man she’d gotten to know in Hawaii no longer existed.

She had hoped that, for his sake, he would look around him and enjoy his life more fully. It was his choice, of course, to revert back to the all-business-all-the-time man he’d been.

Why should she care?

She didn’t want to think about the answer.

Sunday turned out to be almost springlike, which wasn’t surprising considering that spring would be there in another few weeks. Jodie decided to go jogging. She hadn’t been out much these past several weeks. She drove to one of the nearby parks, parked, stretched and started out in a slow jog.

She recognized some of the other joggers because they’d been coming there for years. The sunshine and blue sky must have encouraged them to get out, just as it had her.

Afterward, she stopped into a deli and bought a large sandwich and headed home.

She decided to shower before eating. She’d barely gotten wet when she heard the doorbell. Since Lynette always called first, she didn’t have a clue who could be there.

Jodie hurriedly stepped out of the shower and grabbed a bath towel, then hurried to the door.

“Who is it?”

“Dean.”

“Dean?” She panicked. “Hold on a sec.” She rushed into the bedroom and found a robe to put on and hurried back to open the door. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I was in the shower when I heard the bell. Please. Come in.”

He walked in and said, “I hope you don’t mind my stopping by without calling first.”

“I’ll forgive you this once,” she replied with a smile, “especially since I just got home and you wouldn’t have reached me anyway. Would you like some coffee while I get dressed?”

He shook his head. “Had too much already, but thanks.”

She waved at the grouping of sofa and chairs and said, “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

Jodie hurried into her bedroom and closed the door. What was he doing there? And why was she letting his presence rattle her so? She didn’t have any answers. She dug out an old pair of jeans and a faded sweatshirt, stuck her feet in house slippers and went back to the living room.

He stood as soon as he saw her. “You look comfortably casual,” he said with a lopsided grin.

“I am.” She stood there for a moment, waiting, and when he didn’t say anything, she said, “Let’s sit down. I’m sure you have a reason for coming by.”

He settled back on the sofa while she sat on the edge of one of her chairs.

“I’ve been thinking.”

That sounded a little ominous. “About what?”

“Us.”

She frowned. “There isn’t an us.”

“Actually there is, whether we do anything about it or not. We became friends while we were in Maui. I’d like to give the relationship a chance and see where it takes us.”

Oh, dear. His reason for being there was worse than she’d thought.

After a moment she replied, “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, let me count the ways. One, I work for you, which we’ve already discussed. Nothing has changed in that regard. Two, I’m not into flings. Besides, you’re still involved with Rachel and I don’t want to get in the middle of that.”

He looked uncomfortable. “We’ve agreed that the relationship isn’t working for either of us. I won’t be seeing her anymore.”

“I can’t imagine her breaking up with you unless she found out you’re seeing someone else, and I don’t believe that’s the case. I always know when you’re seeing someone. You send them flowers, you get them tickets…” Her voice trailed off and she stared at him in dismay. “You sent me flowers.”

“So I did.”

She stared at him, feeling confused. “Well…but…you didn’t mean them in that way,” she said.

“I meant them exactly that way,” he murmured.

“Oh, my gosh.”

“You didn’t guess?”

“Are you kidding? Of course I didn’t think that’s what they meant.” She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation with Dean.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The thing is, Jodie, I’d like to start seeing you socially. I discovered that I enjoy your company. When I’m with you, I see everything through your eyes and I like the new perspective.” He kept his gaze focused on her. “Teach me how to relax and enjoy life a little more, like we did in Hawaii.”

“You’re asking me to tutor you?” she asked, frowning slightly.

“If you want to call it that.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“Well, let me put it this way. How long do you generally date one person before moving on?”

“What kind of question is that? I have no idea.”

“Well, I do. It averages about two to two and a half months. How long do you expect to see me?”

He threw up his hands. “This isn’t the conversation I thought I’d be having.”

She crossed her arms. “Really? Did you think I’d rush into your arms when you decided you want to spend time with me away from the office?”

“If I did, that idea got blown out of the water.”

“Dean?”

“What?”

“What’s this all about?”

He leaned back on the sofa, rested his head against the back and sighed.

“I miss you more than I could have dreamed I would. We were good together. We had fun together. Or I did, at least. What’s wrong with extending that?”

“We could try it, I suppose,” she said thoughtfully.

“Your enthusiasm is underwhelming.”

“I could be your transition person until you find someone else.”

He closed his eyes. “Transition person,” he repeated without inflection.

“Maybe we could do that. Still nothing serious.”

He straightened. “So you’ll do it?”

“Within reason. I’m busy with school, as you know, but maybe once a week or so we could spend some time together.” She brightened. “We could meet for coffee after my classes. Have dinner on weekends. Is that what you want?”

“Never mind what I want. I’ll take what I can get.”

“All right then.” She stood up. “I brought home a sandwich from the deli. I’m willing to share it if you’re hungry.”

“As a matter of fact, my appetite is definitely returning.” He stood, putting him a step or two away from her. “Shall we seal our agreement with a kiss?”

She looked wary. “We were talking about food.”

“Of course. Why don’t I take you out for lunch? It’s a beautiful day for this early in the year. We might take a drive after we eat.” He lifted her chin with his forefinger. “Just know that food isn’t the only cause of my hunger,” he said and kissed her.

Not fair, not fair at all. He knew how his kisses affected her. There had been too many occasions when he’d felt her reaction.

This kiss was no exception, even though she stiffened at first, determined not to be swayed. It was his gentleness that destroyed her resolve, because she’d never considered him a gentle person until they’d spent the week together.

Now all the emotions he evoked within her poured out and she knew they were more powerful than her determination not to succumb.

The problem was that all her valid reasons still stood.

The problem was that she found him too compelling to resist spending a little more time with him.

The problem was that she was going to be hurt badly when the relationship ended. All she could do at this point was deal with the pain at that time.