Читать книгу Not Strictly Business!: Prodigal Son / The Boss and Miss Baxter / The Baby Deal - Victoria Pade - Страница 11

Samantha was reasonably confident that driving lessons were a bad idea all around. For one thing, Jack should be really mad at her. For another, the situation had the potential to turn into a disaster.

“Second thoughts?” he asked from the passenger seat of the old import parked in an empty parking lot.

“Oh, I’m way past them. I’m on to deep regret and remorse.”

“You’ll be fine,” he said. “It’s easy. Think of all the crazy people you know who can drive.”

“Telling me I’m likely to encounter the insane isn’t a way to make me feel better,” she told him. “Really. Let’s talk about all the safe drivers instead.”

“There are a lot of them. You’ll be one of them. All you have to do is relax.”

Oh, sure. Because that was going to happen. She peered out the windshield and was dismayed to note there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. Not even a hint of rain or bad weather or impending anything that would give her a good excuse to call off the session.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said. “I could hire someone.”

“I don’t mind. It will be fun.”

Maybe for him. She curled her fingers around the steering wheel and sighed. “I don’t think I’m up to it.”

“Of course you are. You’re afraid, which makes sense, but once you let go of the fear, you’ll be fine. Think of the end goal. You’ll be driving. You can go anywhere you want. You won’t be dependent on bus schedules or trains. You’re free. Close your eyes.”

She looked at him. “I may not know much about driving but even I know that’s a bad way to start.”

He laughed. “You’ll open them before we go anywhere. Close your eyes.”

She did as he asked.

“Now imagine yourself driving on a big highway. The lanes are wide and it’s divided so you don’t have to worry about oncoming traffic. There are only a few cars and none of them are near you. It’s a pretty day. You’re going north, to Wisconsin. Can you imagine it?”

She did her best to see the road and not the flashing telephone poles or trees beckoning her to crash into them. She imagined herself driving easily, changing lanes, even passing someone.

“Now see yourself getting off the highway. At the top of the exit, you stop, then turn into a diner. You’re completely comfortable. You’re driving and it’s easy.”

She drew in a deep breath, then opened her eyes. “Okay. I’m ready.”

“Good. We’ve been over the basics. Tell me what you remember.”

She talked her way through starting the car, putting it in gear and checking her mirrors. Long before she wanted him to, he told her it was time to replace visualization with actual doing.

She started the engine. Of course it sprang to life. She carefully shifted into D and then checked her mirrors. They were blissfully alone in the parking lot.

“Here I go,” she murmured as she took her foot off the brake and lightly pressed on the gas.

The car moved forward. It wasn’t so bad. She’d had a couple of driving lessons back in college and she’d enjoyed those. These weren’t all that different.

“Signal and turn right,” Jack said.

Signal? She flipped on the indicator then turned. Unfortunately, she pulled the wheel too far and they went in a circle. Instantly she slammed on the brakes.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” he told her. “Don’t worry about it. We’re here to practice. If you could get it right the first time, why would you need to practice?”

He was being so logical and nice, she thought. Vance would have been screaming at her the whole time.

“Let’s try that turn again,” Jack said.

“Okay.” She drove straight, put on her signal, then eased the car into a turn. It did as she asked.

“Wow. That was pretty easy.”

“Told you,” he said with a smile. “We’ll make a couple more laps of the parking lot, then go onto the street.”

“The street?” she asked, her voice a screech. From the back seat Charlie raised his head as if asking what was wrong.

“You can’t stay in this parking lot forever,” Jack said.

“Of course I can. It’s a great parking lot. I like it. I could live here.”

“You’ll be fine. Come on. More driving. That way.”

He pointed in front of them. She drove for another five minutes, making turns and coming to a stop when he told her. Despite her protests, he managed to convince her to head out onto the actual street.

“This is an industrial park,” he said. “It’s Saturday. There aren’t going to be a lot of cars. Deep breaths.”

She held in a small scream then took the plunge. Or, in this case, the driveway onto the street. Up ahead was an on-ramp to the highway and all the open road she could want. Like a cat let out of a carrier, she traded freedom for safety and took a side street. The highway would still be there tomorrow.

“And?” he asked as they cruised the produce section of the local market.

“You were great,” she said. “Just terrific. Patient, calm and happy to explain everything fifty times.”

He shook his head. “While I appreciate the compliments, they weren’t the point. Admit it. The driving wasn’t so bad.”

It hadn’t been. After nearly an hour in the industrial park, she’d actually driven back into the city. There had been a single harrowing experience at an intersection when some jerk had jumped the light and nearly hit her, but aside from that it had been … easy.

“You’re a good teacher,” she said.

“You’re a good driver.”

She sighed. “I am, aren’t I? Soon I’ll be really good. Then I’ll have my license.”

“Then you can buy a car.”

“Oh. Wow.” She’d never thought in actual terms of getting a car. “I like it. There are so many kinds. I could get a little convertible.”

“Not a great choice in winter.”

“Hmm. You’re right. But maybe something sporty. Or an SUV. Then I could haul stuff on weekends.”

“Do you have anything to haul?”

“I don’t think so. Is it required?”

“The dealer isn’t going to ask.”

“Okay. Or maybe I could get a hybrid. That’s more environmentally friendly and I always recycle.”

He looked at her as if she’d suddenly grown horns.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing. You about ready?”

She eyed the strawberries, then nodded. “I’m always tempted by out-of-season fruit. It’s a thing with me.”

He pointed to her overflowing basket. “You know, this store delivers.”

“I heard, but I like to buy my own groceries. Check stuff out. What if I change my mind about what I want for dinner?”

“What? You don’t carefully plan a menu for the entire week and then stick with it?” he asked.

She felt her eyes widen a split second before she realized he was teasing her. “No, I don’t. But you rigid types plan everything.”

“I’ve had a few surprises lately.”

She was sure he was talking about the company, but she suddenly wished he were talking about the kiss they’d shared. That had been … nice.

She’d enjoyed knowing that her nerve endings hadn’t died in the divorce and that, yes, eventually she would want to be with another man. Although she had a feeling that her powerful sexual reaction had specifically been about Jack, there was still hope for her future. Eventually she would find someone else to be interested in.

They went through the checkout, then Jack helped her load her bags of groceries into the trunk.

“Let’s go,” he said, opening the passenger door.

She stood on the sidewalk. “Wait. I can’t drive back to our building.”

“Why not? It’s just around the corner.”

“Yes, but once there, I’d have to park. I might even have to back up.” She wasn’t ready for backing up. Not on her first day.

“You can do it,” he said and closed the door.

She glared at him for a full minute, but he didn’t budge. That forced her to get behind the wheel and consider her options.

“I could just walk home,” she said.

“What about your groceries?”

“You could carry some.”

“But I won’t.”

He might not have screamed during their lessons, but he was very stubborn.

“Fine. I’ll drive back, but if anything bad happens, you have to take over. And I’m seriously reconsidering the dinner I promised as a thank you.”

“You don’t have to do that. I was happy to help.”

She looked at him. His eyes were dark and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Maybe he didn’t want to have dinner with her. After the way she’d overreacted to his kiss, who could blame him.

“I’d like to cook you dinner,” she said. “But I’ll understand if you don’t want to come over.”

“We’re friends, right?”

She nodded.

“Then sure. I’ll be there.”

Friends. The way he said the word made her wonder if the statement had been to help him remember their relationship, or if it had been about telling her. Maybe he was making it clear that where she was concerned, he’d made his last move.

Jack arrived at Samantha’s apartment exactly at seven. He’d brought Charlie, even though the dog was tired from his day and would only sleep. Still, if conversation got slow, they could always talk about the dog.

Pathetic, he told himself. He was completely pathetic. Yeah, he wanted to do the right thing where Samantha was concerned. Be a friend, a boss and let the rest of it go. But no matter what he told himself or how many times she rejected him, he couldn’t seem to stop wanting her. Even now, standing outside of her door, he felt his body tighten in anticipation.

He knocked and promised himself that when he got home, he was going to figure out a way to get over her for good. But until then, a man could dream.

“You’re here,” she said as she opened the door and smiled at him.

“Was there any doubt?” he asked.

“I hoped there wasn’t. Come on in.”

He let Charlie lead the way, using the microsecond before he entered to brace himself to withstand the assault of color, gauzy fabric and perfume.

She’d changed out of her jeans and sweatshirt—both covered in sewn-on flowers—and into a loose top and flowing skirt that nearly touched the top of her bare feet. She was a kaleidoscope of color, causing him not to know where to look first.

There was her hair, long and flowing and curly, but pinned up on one side. Her blouse that fell off one shoulder, exposing pale, creamy skin. Her feet with painted toes and at least two toe rings. Her arms, bare except for jingling bracelets.

“So you’re back,” he said.

She closed the door behind him. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been a little conservative since you moved here. Oh sure, you’ve been playing basketball in the halls and wearing bright colors, but not in the way I remember. This is the first time you’re exactly like you were.”

She smiled. “That’s about the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Come on,” she said, grabbing him by the arm and tugging him toward the kitchen. “I have wine and I’m going to let you be all macho and open it.”

“It’s what I live for.”

They settled in the dining room with a bottle of wine and some appetizers. Charlie retreated to an ottoman where he curled up on the cushy surface and quickly went to sleep.

“I can get him down if you want,” Jack said, jerking his head toward the dog. “He’s great, but he sheds.”

“No problem. A few dog hairs will make the condo seem more lived in. Right now it’s still too perfect.”

“And we wouldn’t want that.”

She dipped a chicken wing into spicy sauce. “Life’s beauty is found in the irregular and unexpected. Ever see a perfect waterfall? A symmetrical sunset?”

“Technically the sun goes down in the same way every—” He broke off and grinned when she swatted him with the back of her hand.

“You know what I mean,” she said. “I’m talking about the clouds, the colors and you know it.”

“Maybe.”

“My point is, dog hair is fine.”

“Great. Maybe you’d like to take over grooming him, too.”

“I wouldn’t mind it. He’s a great dog.”

“I agree.”

She sipped her wine. “I’ve noticed a bit more positive press in the past couple of days,” she said. “There were at least two mentions of the upcoming advertisers’ party. How Hanson Media Group is getting some things right.”

“I saw them, too. David is doing a hell of a job trying to counteract the negative stories.”

“You really like him.”

“In some ways he’s more like my father than George ever was. Or maybe a big brother. He’s not that much older than me. He was always there, making time in ways my father wouldn’t. Even though he traveled a lot, he kept in touch. He took the time. Sometimes that’s all that’s required.”

“I know.” She grabbed for a piece of celery. “After my father walked out, I missed him terribly. Sure there was the whole trauma of going from the rich princess to the kid in castoffs, but it was more than that. Given the choice between getting the money back and getting my father back, I would have gladly picked him. But either he didn’t get that or he didn’t care.”

“I know he walked out on your mom, but didn’t he see you at all?”

She shook her head. “One day he was just gone. That played with my head. How was I supposed to believe my father had ever loved me when he walked away and never looked back?”

She sipped her wine. “Mom was great. She really fought him. Some of it was about the child support. It’s crazy that a guy that wealthy paid almost nothing. But he could afford excellent lawyers and they knew all the tricks. As for seeing me, he would make promises and then not show up. There was always a good reason. Eventually my mom stopped pushing. She saw that it was hurting me more to hope.”

Jack couldn’t imagine what kind of man simply walked away from a child. His own father—no poster child for perfect parenting—had at least gone through the motions. He’d shown up to graduations and big events.

“It was his loss,” he said.

“Thanks. I used to tell myself that, too. Most of the time I even believed it. I grew up determined not to repeat my mother’s mistakes. I didn’t care if the guy had money, as long as I was important to him and we wanted the same things.”

Her words hit him hard. Ten years ago, he’d been that guy, but she hadn’t been willing to see that, or maybe she’d just never thought of him as more than a friend.

“Vance?” he asked.

“I thought so. He’d been married before, so he was cautious. I liked that wariness. It made sense to me. I could tell he liked me a lot, but he wanted to take things slowly and I respected that, too. In hindsight, I was an idiot.”

“In hindsight, we all are.”

“Maybe. But I was a bigger idiot. He talked about how his first wife had been obsessed with how much money he made. She wanted the best, the biggest, the newest. I decided not to be like her, so I didn’t ask for anything. It took me a while to figure out that had been his plan all along.”

Jack didn’t like the sound of that. “He set you up?”

“I think so.” She sighed. “Yes, he did. It’s hard for me to say that because it makes my choice even more crazy. He’s a cardiologist in a big, successful practice. When we talked about getting married, he was concerned about losing that. I wanted to reassure him.”

Jack grimaced. “Prenuptial?”

“Oh, yeah. I was sensible. I read the whole thing. But I didn’t bother to get a lawyer. Why spend the money? Later, I realized he’d played me. He’d made a joke that his first wife was so stupid that she wouldn’t have been able to get past the first page. But that I was really smart and would understand it all.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know if it was ego or my need to prove I wasn’t her. Either way, I did read it, but I didn’t get a lawyer to and I missed all the subtleties.”

Jack practiced criminal law, but he’d heard enough horror stories from co-workers practicing family law that he could guess the outcome.

“It wasn’t what you thought.”

“Not even close. Not only couldn’t I touch his practice or any income from it, but everything of mine was community property. I got nothing of his and he got half of mine. The only bright spot is I didn’t have a whole lot to take half of.”

He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I learned an important lesson. My mother used to tell me the trick was to marry a rich man and keep him. I think the real trick is to not need a man at all.”

“Speaking on behalf of my gender, we’re not all jerks.”

“I know.” She squeezed his fingers. “I blame myself as much as Vance. There were warning signs. I didn’t pay much attention to them.”

While he knew intellectually that she was right—that she did have to take some responsibility—his gut reaction was to hunt down Vance and beat the crap out of him. Talk about a low-life bastard.

“Want me to have someone look over the settlement and see if anything was missed?” he asked, suspecting she wouldn’t appreciate the offer of physical violence.

“Thanks, but I’m okay. I’m doing my best to put my past behind me. It’s been hard. Not because I’m so crazy about Vance, but because I tried to be so careful and he made a fool out of me in so many ways.”

“Which makes you naturally wary,” he said.

“Oh, yeah. Between him and my father, I’m now convinced any man I meet is out to screw me, and not in a sexual way.” She grabbed another chicken wing.

“Ah, isn’t this where you say present company excluded?” he asked.

She looked at him. “I want to. You’re a great guy, Jack. I know that.”

“But?”

“You’re still a rich, powerful man. I’m having a little trouble letting go of that fact.”

“I see your point. Here we sit, you thinking if you trust a guy he’ll take off and dump on you in the process. I’m convinced anyone I care about will leave. We’re not exactly a normal couple.”

She grinned. “I like to think there is no normal.”

“Do you believe that?”

“Sometimes. I know that I can’t be afraid forever. I’m trying to get myself back.” She tugged on the front of her blouse. “Dressing like this, for example. Vance hated my bohemian ways. He kept telling me I had to grow up.”

Jack frowned. “Your free spirit is one of your best qualities. I’m sorry he didn’t see that.”

“Me, too. But there it is. He liked me to dress a certain way, that sort of thing.”

“Controlling?”

She shrugged. “He was a cardiologist. He had an image.”

“I know lawyers like that. It gets bad for their wives after they make partner. Suddenly what was great before isn’t good enough anymore. I don’t get it.”

“That’s because you’re reasonable. Not everyone is.” She released his hand and leaned back in her chair. “Now that you know the basic story of my pathetic divorce, I hope you’ll understand why I’m becoming the queen of mixed messages where you’re concerned. I know my past doesn’t excuse my actions. I don’t expect it to. I just hope you’ll understand and accept my apology.”

He stared at her. Until that second he’d never considered there was a reason for her behavior that had nothing to do with him.

“What?” she asked. “You have the strangest look on your face.”

He shook his head. “I was just thinking that you being cautious around me was about you, not me. On the heels of that I realized I can’t separate myself from who I am. I come from a wealthy family, I have a challenging, professional career. I am, on the surface, a walking, breathing manifestation of everything you’re not looking for.”

“Exactly.”

At least she was being honest, he thought grimly. “A lot for us to overcome,” he said, going for a light tone of voice. “I guess I should stop trying so hard.”

She winced. “I feel really horrible. You’ve been nothing but nice to me. And before, in grad school, I loved us being close. You were terrific. I know in my head that you’d never hurt me.”

“It’s the rest of you that can’t be convinced,” he said.

“Yeah. But I’ve also decided it would be a good thing for me to face my fears.”

While he liked the sound of that, he wasn’t sure why she should bother. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s the mature thing to do and I like to think of myself as mature. I want us to be friends.”

Great. So much for making progress. “We are friends.”

“I’m glad. I really love my job and I don’t want to blow this opportunity.”

“You won’t,” he told her.

“I hope not. It’s just that …” She pressed her lips together and looked at him.

In any other woman, he would swear he was being given an invitation. But with Samantha? He wasn’t sure. Better to stay on the safe side of the road.

“Remember that time we were studying in the park and that woman’s dog got away from her?” he asked. “She was running around calling for him and you said we had to help.”

She grinned. “Yes. And you told me that a dog would never come to strangers so I said we had to tempt it with food. So we went to that butcher and bought bones.”

He’d felt like an idiot, he thought, but he’d been with Samantha so he hadn’t cared.

“There we were, running around, calling for a dog and throwing bones around. Every stray in a three-mile radius started following us.”

“It was sad,” she said. “I felt so badly for those dogs.”

“You felt badly? You’re the one who insisted we find a rescue place for them. Then it was my car we crammed them into. Of course you hadn’t realized that dogs like to mark what they think of as new territory.”

She winced. “I felt really horrible about the smell, but the dogs got adopted. So that’s something.”

“Unfortunately none of the new owners was willing to buy my smelly car.”

He’d been forced to get rid of it for practically nothing. Still, it had been worth it, he thought, remembering how happy she’d been about the dogs.

She leaned close. “Doesn’t taking the moral high ground ease some of the financial sting?”

“Not as much as you’d think,” he said, finding his gaze riveted on her mouth.

Dumb idea, he told himself. On a scale of one to ten, ten being somewhere between stupid and idiotic, this was a twelve.

But there was something about the way she smiled and the light in her eyes. Something that spoke of promise and desire.

Hadn’t he always been an idiot where she was concerned?

He shifted toward her and lightly touched her cheek with his fingers. He thought that if he gave her plenty of warning, she would have time to bolt before he kissed her.

But she didn’t. Instead she parted her lips slightly and drew in a quick breath.

He took that as a yes and kissed her.

He moved slowly, only touching her mouth with the lightest of brushes. He kept his hands to himself, or at least didn’t do more than rest one on her shoulder and the other on her arm. He waited for her to kiss back.

And waited. One heartbeat. Two. Then slowly, almost tentatively, her lips moved on his. She pressed a little harder, then touched his bottom lip with the very tip of her tongue.

It was as if she’d just taken a blowtorch to his bloodstream. Heat and need exploded and he was instantly hard. He’d heard that it took longer for a man to get aroused as he got older. Apparently he hadn’t crossed that threshold yet.

But as much as he wanted to pull her close, to rub his hands all over her until she was wet and weak and begging him to take her, as much as he wanted to take off her clothes and run his tongue over every inch of her, he did nothing. He sat there letting her take control of their kiss. Let her set the pace.

When she touched the tip of her tongue to his lip again, he tilted his head and parted for her. She slipped into his mouth and traced the inside of his lower lip.

Everything got hotter, harder and more intense. The need to take control, to claim her, threatened to overwhelm him, but he was determined not to screw up again. She’d made it clear that he pushed all her buttons, so it made sense to go slowly.

But when she circled his tongue with hers and sighed, it took every bit of self-control he had not to reach for her. Instead he mentally ground his teeth in frustration. He kissed her back, but slowly, without letting her know how deep the passion flowed. And when she withdrew slightly, he straightened, as if he were unaffected by what they’d just done.

She ducked her head and smiled. “That was nice.”

“Yes, it was.”

She glanced at him from under her lashes. “I’m a complete adult and I accept responsibility for what just happened.”

Was that her way of saying she wasn’t going to back off and run this time?

“And?” he asked, knowing there had to be a punch line.

“No and. Just that. And me saying thanks for being patient.”

“My pleasure.” Although pleasure didn’t exactly describe his painful state of arousal. He reached for another chicken wing and bit into it. In time, the need would fade to a manageable level. His erection would cease to throb with each beat of his heart and the temperature in his body would slowly cool. But until then, life was hell.

“You’re going to have to go to a few Cubs games when the season starts,” he said.

She laughed. “You’re deliberately changing the subject.”

“You noticed.”

She smiled. “This is in an effort to erase the tension here and keep me from feeling awkward.”

“Something like that.” Some of his motivation was selfish. Thinking about baseball was a time-honored way to keep from thinking about sex.

Her smiled widened. “Okay. Then tell me everything you know about the Cubs.”

“At least the news isn’t getting worse,” David said.

“Not exactly the sign of forward progress I would like,” Jack said. “But it beats the hell out of our string of bad news. You’ve been working hard to get us favorable play in the press.”

“It’s my job.”

Jack leaned back on the sofa in his uncle’s office. “Helen came to see me last week. She wanted to talk about how I was doing. It was almost as if …”

David raised his eyebrows but didn’t speak.

Jack shook his head. “It was almost as if she was worried about me.”

“Is that impossible to believe?”

“Yes. Why would she care?”

“Why wouldn’t she? You don’t know anything about Helen.”

“Do you?”

“Not really. George and I haven’t been exactly tight these past few years. But I’ve spoken with her, spent a few dinners with her. She seems reasonable and intelligent. You might want to take the time to get to know her.”

“That’s what Samantha says. She’s a serious advocate.”

David smiled.

Jack narrowed his gaze. “What?”

His uncle’s smile turned into a grin. “There’s something about the way you say her name. So things are progressing.”

“No and no. We’re getting along. She works for me. That’s it.”

“Like I believe that.”

“It’s true. She is just getting over a divorce. I’m not interested in getting involved in that process.”

“Have you considered the fact that you already are?”

Was he? Jack thought about the weekend, when he and Samantha had spent so much time together. Hearing about her past and her marriage made a lot of things more clear to him. But that didn’t mean he was interested in her. Not in any way but sexually.

“I’m not involved,” he told David.

His uncle nodded. “Keep telling yourself that. Eventually it will be true.”