Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) Page 19

  “Don’t get your hopes up. The last couple of men I met were perfectly nice guys until we went out.”

  But Friday night, much to her amazement, she found herself having fun. Lots of fun that was leading absolutely nowhere. Blake Dobson was gorgeous. And witty, and charming, and intelligent. And young.

  Allie grabbed her friend and dragged her around the corner, out of earshot. “Jeez, Maddie, when did he graduate from college, last week?”

  “Now don’t get upset, he’s not as young as he looks. Besides, what’re a few years? You two could end up having a great time together.” Maddie gave Blake an exaggerated once over and waggled her eyebrows at Allie. “He’s in his prime. Can you imagine?” Maddie was practically drooling as she drew out the word.

  She peered around the corner for another quick look. “A boy toy’s really not my style, Mad. Why don’t you set him up with one of the new girls at school? Like Ginny Tolover from fourth grade—she’s a lot closer to his age.”

  Saturday morning Allie went for her usual run around the track. She did the laundry, vacuumed, dusted every item on every shelf—all in an effort to keep her mind occupied.

  Why did Maddie think she would be interested in Blake? Did she seem desperate? It had only been a few weeks. She wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet.

  Maddie honked and Allie ran out, hopped into the car, blowing kisses at the girls in the back seat. She caught a flash of color as the girls grinned, and twisted her head around.

  She cocked an eyebrow, shook her head, and grinned. “Orange, very festive.” The girls were a constant source of amusement. “You two ready for Halloween by any chance?”

  “What do you think?” Tory slipped her long dark braid back over her shoulder and leaned forward, running her tongue over new stubbly rubber bands in the rear view mirror. “I think we look like we have Cheetos in our teeth, but Em likes it. Next month it’s my turn to pick the color. What’s a good color for Thanksgiving?” A new conversation erupted between the teenagers, fall colors and the excitement of the approaching holidays. Allie listened with half an ear, loving the sound of their giggles as they chattered.

  “Blake says hi, by the way.”

  Allie could imagine Maddie’s little matchmaking brain scheming away beneath her fall of dark layers. “You can tell him I said hello, but get that look off your face right now.”

  Maddie shot her a different look, this one all innocence. “What look?”

  “The one that says ‘boy, have I got the guy for you.’ This is so not happening, Maddie. I told you, he’s too young.”

  “And I told you… he’s just for fun.” Maddie lowered her voice. “The sweaty, sheet-twisting kind of fun you haven’t had in a good long while.” A giggle erupted at that, then stopped as her eyes darted with Maddie’s to the back seat.

  “I wonder what Jake would say about him.”

  “Really? Why?” Maddie stopped at a red light and twisted in her seat to face her.

  Instead of answering, Allie pointed out the license plate cover on the vintage Mustang idling before them, broadcasting to all that the driver’s other car was a broom. They both chuckled.

  “Well?”

  Allie growled low in her throat. Why was she suddenly defensive? “He’s a friend. We talk.” She shrugged. “Actually, I’ve told him about all my dating disasters.”

  “Allie, honey, I love you like the sister I never had, but you can be so naive. You’ve got to know how he feels about you.”

  Naive. Yeah, history already proved she was that.

  “Jake?” What was with everybody? “We’ve been friends forever. He came over a couple of times to watch movies. We have fun together. He likes my cooking.” She paused. “He is not my next first date.”

  “Okay, if you say so.” But Maddie was clearly a non-believer.

  Maddie pulled into the salon parking lot. Allie shot out a hand to hold Maddie back as the girls climbed out. “It’s relaxing to simply hang out; not feel like I’m sixteen again, hoping the new boy likes me.” The girls shot to the door, then drew to a halt and waited, bouncing with impatience. “Now drop the whole inquisition. Please, Maddie. I want to enjoy our girl time.”

  Maddie nodded like maybe she understood.

  Allie relaxed into the vacant chair between Emily and Maddie, with Victoria on the other side of her mom. The massager worked the stress out of her back. Her feet sighed as they soaked in the warm swirling water of the jetted tub. Something upbeat and twangy played softly through hidden speakers, barely audible over the hum of motors and the melodic voices of the Asian girls sitting before them.

  She did enjoy spending time with Jake, probably too much. Was that why he didn’t call? A memory—her cuddled into him on the sofa, sporting soggy tissues, no less—misted through her mind and she cringed. Of course he was uncomfortable. She kneaded her temples with two fingers.

  She needed a stern mental sit-down and trapped in this chair was as good a time as any. Starting now she would step back, wait for Jake to feel comfortable enough to call her again. To trust that she wouldn’t violate their friendship. She would miss him, sure, but she missed him now. The music changed to a slow ballad. She began to hum along.

  Maddie opened one eye and gave her a peek. “Tory and Em have tickets to see this group next month.” Allie shot a smile to Emily, who joined the conversation.

  “It will be our first live concert.” Emily’s smile lit up her face even as she rolled her eyes. “Mom said she’d rather let us go by ourselves than have to sit through two hours of rednecks in cowboy boots wailing about pickup trucks and two-timing women.”

  “Ha! She doesn’t know what she’s missing. My first concert was my junior year of high school—Aerosmith.” She faced the girl with a grin. “You’ll have to tell me all about the hot guys in those cowboy boots.”

  Her house was spotless; her windows washed. She reorganized the kitchen pantry. And the linen closet. She purchased two flats of petunias which even now marched a path along the driveway to the front door. A pot of stew simmered on the stove, its aroma beginning to flavor the house. Allie paced her house, wearing a path on the shiny clean tile, but all the tasks, all the distractions, could not keep her mind from replaying last night’s dream. She who never remembered her nighttime imaginings could not get this one to stop. The Technicolor reel played on a continuous loop, over and over again.

  She was dressed, brushing on mascara, nearly ready for her date to arrive. New shoes adorned her feet—silver metallic peep toes. There was a feeling of anticipation. Of excitement. She checked her purse, made sure it held her house key and lipstick. Anxiously listened for the doorbell. And then it rang. She gathered her purse and wrap from the bed where she tossed them and, heart thundering, ran. Standing before the front door, she took a deep breath. Eagerly she turned the knob, opened the portal and said hello… to broad shoulders, jet-black hair with a touch of silver, and bright sable eyes behind steel-rimmed glasses.

  What did this mean?

  The question screamed in her head all day. Jake was her friend, her pal, her second brother. He treated her like a sister. With respect and humor and care.

  Oh, God, what could this mean?

  She made a promise to Ben. She had an obligation to Jake. She couldn’t let him suspect that she cared for him more than she should. She would never hurt him that way. He was due any minute. She had to get a hold of herself.

  The bell rang and she rushed to the door, sandals tapping across the tile. She sucked in a deep breath and turned the knob. Jake—with thick, broad shoulders snugged into a baby blue polo shirt, short dark hair with a hint of gray at the temples and deep set eyes gleaming through metal-framed glasses—leaned against the doorjamb, waving a DVD, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  “Guy movie night!” he crowed, pushing the case into her hand and entering her house. “Have you ever seen this one?”

  She examined the cover, raised her eyebrows so high that wrinkles creased her forehea
d. “I can’t believe it! You’ve picked the perfect movie. Cool weapons, battles, blood, all wrapped up in a romantic adventure.”

  Had she lost her mind?

  Jake grabbed the case, thinking maybe he picked up the wrong movie. Yep, this was the one he wanted. Revolutionary War battles, Indian attacks, seriously wicked weapons. Not a speck of romance.

  “Are you crazy?” He waved the box right in her face. “This here is a serious guy movie. And after last week, you owe me.”

  “Whatever, Jake, but think about it. They’re trapped in a cave and the Huron are almost there. Hawkeye knows he has to escape, but he’s torn; he wants to be with Cora, to protect her. He’s yelling to be heard over the thundering sound of rushing water. And right before he jumps off the ledge into the waterfall he shouts to her to be strong, to survive, no matter what. No matter how long it takes, he will find her. Oh Jake, it’s one of the most romantic scenes ever.”

  He was speechless. Leave it to Allie to take a perfectly good war movie and turn it into a love story. Shit. He put the disc into the player, fully prepared to hate the flick he liked so much the last three times he saw it.

  But again he found himself enjoying the love story. More importantly, he enjoyed Allie enjoying the love story. She started out sitting stiffly on the other side of the sofa, but here she was, tucked into the niche of his shoulder, using his hand to cover her eyes during the bloody battles. Oh good Lord, he could get used to this. The smell of her hair, her soft sighs during tender moments on the screen. He tugged her closer. Before he could stop himself he kissed her softly on the top of her head, then rested his chin there. She was a perfect fit. He closed his eyes, sighed deeply, and let the rightness of it wash over him.

  The movie ended, the powerful soundtrack playing through the sweeping panoramic landscape of the final scene. Jake reached out and trapped the tear that travelled down Allie’s cheek, smoothing it away.

  “Maybe we should pick a comedy next time; I don’t like to see you cry.”

  She wiped her eyes with a tissue and lifted a negligent shoulder, a rueful smile lifting her lips. “It’s a character flaw.”

  “You don’t have any flaws that I know of. Oh, maybe one.” He flashed her a lopsided smile and answered the question shimmering in her eyes. “You haven’t fed me yet.”

  She gave a soggy laugh and led the way into the kitchen. “The evenings are finally cooler, why don’t we eat outside tonight?” She ladled stew into chunky stoneware bowls, handed him one along with a lined wicker basket heavy with warm crusty rolls and motioned him to lead the way.

  Jake dipped into his bowl; spoke with his spoon hovering before his mouth. “Have you heard from the kid?”

  “No, not this week.” She let a smile tilt her lips, it amused her when he referred to Trey this way. “Tell me about your trip to Oregon.”

  He dug into the basket, came out with a warm roll and tore off a bite. “You would have liked the wedding. It was held in my cousin’s backyard and the weather was perfect. They have a huge garden on a hill—colorful flowers, big shady trees all around—you would have loved it.” The bread dipped into broth, he popped it in his mouth, spoke around it. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen them last. Probably since my mom died, four years ago.”

  He may not even realize it, but the wistfulness in his voice was telling. He was a warm, loving man. Would he ever have a family of his own? “You should see your family more often. It’s important, you know. One day you’ll look back and regret not knowing them better.”

  “I thought the same thing on the flight home. Then he smiled at her. “You know what else I thought?” At her raised eyebrows he kept talking. “I thought about Trey. My cousin’s son and his fiancé graduated from college last May. In only a few years that could be the kid. Kind of scary, huh?”

  “Hard to imagine. I don’t think he’s ever had a serious girlfriend. But it is amazing how fast he’s grown up.”

  As the shadows lengthened in her back yard she told him about school and about the child whose parents were divorcing.

  “It’s heartbreaking to watch the turmoil this little boy goes through. We both have friends who are divorced with children, but it’s different, stuck in the drama day after day.” The familiar ache in her chest returned as compassion swelled. “As a teacher it’s certainly not the first time this has occurred, but as a mom… my heart hurts for the kids caught in the middle.”

  His hands captured hers, halting them as they wrung together atop the glass patio table, his gaze far steadier than the sudden surge of his pulse. He was caught in the moment, caught in the web of emotion in her eyes. In self-preservation he turned away before he drew her to him, maybe rubbed his hand across her back and soothed them both.

  Because that was a really bad idea.

  Instead he dredged up a convincing grin to lighten the mood. “So have you been hanging out with any new guys lately?”

  Her wry smile told him he succeeded. “I had dinner at Maddie’s last Friday, she wanted to fix me up with her daughters’ orthodontist.” With a burst she chuckled, dropped his hands with a quick squeeze. “You should see the surprise on your face. It probably matches mine when I first saw Blake. This guy’s drop dead gorgeous, charming, funny, obviously intelligent, and has a killer body.”

  Jake scowled and shoved down the lick of jealousy.

  “And he has big hands.”

  Okay, now that was just mean. Her eyes twinkled in the glow from the fixtures flanking the slider, telling him she was teasing. But still. He pushed away from the table to collect their empty bowls. “Are you going out with him soon?”

  Allie scrunched up her face in distaste. “Absolutely not. He’s about fourteen years old. I don’t know what Maddie was thinking. Really, do I seem desperate?”

  She may not be, but he was beginning to feel that way. He answered Allie’s question with the same answer she gave him.

  “Absolutely not. The right person will come along, probably when you least expect it.” One day he’d tell her that right person was sitting across the table, but it wasn’t tonight.

  The frustration was killing him.

  He carried their bowls into the kitchen and wiped counters while she loaded the dishwasher. When they were done, she gave a last look around. “Everything’s all right here, I’ll walk you out.”

  “I’ll call you in a few days.” He kissed her cheek at the door. “I’ve got a busy week, problems on a job, but we should do this again.”

  “We should, it was fun.” Smiling, she gave him a quick hug of farewell. “You’re a good guy to have around.”

  The shower brewing on his way to her house had him soaked by the time he dashed past the freshly planted border and scrambled into his Corvette. Damn the rain! He slammed the car door, dragged in a lungful of intoxicating new-car chemicals and settled into what Nick laughingly referred to as his mid-life crisis. Said all he needed now was a sexy young babe in the passenger seat and he could be the poster child.

  He scowled into the privacy of the darkened interior. Screw Nick. He could drive any car he wanted, even if his head did damn near hit the roof. And it wasn’t a sexy young babe he wanted to drive it with. With a shudder he dragged his palms down the thighs of wet jeans and allowed his gaze scan Allie’s house. Overhead lights went out in the living room, momentarily a rosy glow filtered through the drapes of her bedroom. He gripped the steering wheel, studied his knuckles as his palms soaked the leather wrapping before starting the engine. Big hands.

  Yeah he knew what that meant.

  He unwrapped his hands, turned them over to examine their palms and his eyes glazed over. His breathing became shallow, labored. His imagination took over—his fantasies—as he envisioned running his fingers through Allie’s soft curls, then along her jaw to the sensitive spot at the base of her throat. Over the curve of her shoulders and on to the valley of her waist, exploring the curve of her…

  Stop already! He dragged in a deep, ragged bre
ath, pressed the back of his dripping head against the leather headrest and allowed the agonized groan to seep out. He couldn’t think. Could only feel in great sweeping pulses that addled his brain. With effort he sucked in steady streams of air, blew them out between gritted teeth. Okay, it was a start. His breath, his breathing, that was easier now. He stretched out his left leg, shook out his leg and adjusted his jeans. Jesus. When was the last time he sat outside a girl’s house with a fucking hard-on?

  This had to stop. Sitting here, hesitant to leave, hoping for a glimpse, he was no better than a stalker. He had to back off. Back away. Put her needs before his. This, this—what exactly was it? Infatuation? Attraction?—had gone too far. He needed to keep Allie safe, and he couldn’t do that if it was him she needed protection from. With a grunt of frustration he turned the key until the engine roared to life.

  Allie’s plan to plant flowers in the back yard was discarded with the wet Sunday paper. It was still raining. She spent her morning indoors—ironing clothes for the new week and checking school papers. Late in the afternoon, after the pregnant steel clouds dried out and thinned to silver ribbons, she headed to the grocery store for her weekly supplies. Her eyes wandered through the meat case, searching for inspiration. She missed the days of cooking for a family. She missed cooking for Trey. And for Jake. The packages were all too large for a family of one. Maybe Trey would come home soon. He hadn’t been home since he left for school. Hardly ever called. Was this normal? She’d have to ask someone. Morosely, she headed for the freezer section.

  Allie was curled into one side of the sofa, her painted toes tucked beneath a blanket. Her microwave dinner on her lap, she picked up the remote and flipped through channels until she found a classic movie—the opening credits were still rolling. Two people, each already in a relationship, meet on an ocean liner and fall in love. At the end of their voyage they agree to separate and meet again at the top of the Empire State Building in six months. The original version, not the remake—one of her favorites.