every evening. Or I can be.” He wanted it understood that he wasn’t involved with anyone else. In fact, he hadn’t been in a serious relationship in years.
His primary goal for the past decade had been to learn the retail business from the ground up, and as a result his social life had suffered. He worked long hours and that had taken a toll on his relationships. After his last breakup, which was in. Jake had to stop and think. June, he remembered. Had it really been that long? At any rate, Judith had told him it was over before they’d really begun.
At the time he’d felt bad, but agreed it was probably for the best. Funny how easily he could let go of a woman with hardly a pause after just four weeks. Judith had been attractive, successful, intelligent, but there’d been no real connection between them. The thought of letting Holly walk out of his life was a completely different scenario, one that filled him with dread.
All he could think about on Sunday was when he’d see her again. His pride had influenced his decision not to call her; he didn’t want her to know how important she’d become to him in such a short time. Despite that, he’d gone to Starbucks first thing this morning.
“Tonight?” she repeated, referring to his dinner invitation. “You mean this evening?” “Sure,” he said with a shrug. “I’m available Tuesday night if that’s better for you.”
She hesitated, as if considering his offer. “Thanks, but I don’t have anyone to look after Gabe.”
“I could bring us dinner.” He wasn’t willing to give up that quickly.
Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you trying so hard?”
“Why are you inventing excuses not to see me?”
He didn’t understand her reluctance. Saturday, when he’d dropped her off at her Brooklyn apartment and kissed her good-night, she’d practically melted in his arms. Now she couldn’t get away from him fast enough.
Holly stared down at the sidewalk. People hurried past them and around them. They stood like boulders in the middle of a fast-moving stream, neither of them moving, neither talking.
“I … I didn’t know who you were,” she eventually admitted. “Not until later.”
“I told you my name’s Jake Finley.” He didn’t pretend not to understand what she meant. This wasn’t the first time his family name had intimidated someone. He just hadn’t expected that sort of reaction from Holly. He’d assumed she knew, and that was part of her charm because it hadn’t mattered to her.
“I know you did,” she countered swiftly. “And I feel stupid for not connecting the dots.”
He stiffened. “And my name bothers you?”
“Not really,” she said, and her gaze locked with his before she slowly lowered her lashes. “I guess it does, but not for the reasons you’re assuming.”
“What exactly am I assuming?” he asked.
“That I’d use you.”
“For what?” he demanded.
“Well, for one thing, that robot toy. We both know how badly Gabe wants it for Christmas and it’s expensive and you might think I …”
“What would I think?” he asked forcefully when she didn’t complete her sentence.
“That I’d want you to get me the toy.”
“Would you ask me to do that?” If she did, he’d gladly purchase it—retail price—on her behalf.
“No. Never.” Her eyes flared with the intensity of her response. She started to leave and Jake followed.
“Then it’s a moot point.” He began to walk, carefully matching his longer stride to her shorter one. “Under no circumstances will I purchase that toy for you. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” she said.
“Anything else?”
Holly looked at him and then away. “I don’t come from a powerful family or know famous people or—”
“Do you think I care?”
“No, but if you did, you’d be plain out of luck.”
He smiled. “That’s fine with me.”
“Okay,” she said, stopping abruptly. “Can you explain why you want to see me?”
Jake wished he had a logical response. He felt drawn to her in ways he hadn’t with other women. “I can’t say for sure, but deep down I feel that if we were to walk away from each other right now, I’d regret it.”
“You do?” she asked softly, and pressed her hand to her heart. “Jake, I feel the same way. What’s happening to us?”
He didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know.” But he definitely felt it, and that feeling intensified with each meeting.
They started walking again. “So, can I see you tonight?” he asked. That was important, necessary.
Her face fell. “I wasn’t making it up, about not having anyone to take care of Gabe. If you were serious about bringing us dinner …”
“I was.”
Her face brightened. “Then that would work out perfectly.”
“Do you like take-out Chinese?” he asked, thinking Gabe would enjoy it, as well.
“Love it.”
“Me, too, but you’ll have to use chopsticks.”
“Okay, I’ll give it a try.”
“Great.” Jake breathed easier. Everything was falling into place, just the way he’d hoped it would. He glanced at his watch and grimaced. He was late for work. He hoped Karen or Mrs. Miracle had covered for him.
Retreating now, taking two steps backward, he called out to Holly, “Six-thirty? At your place?”
She nodded eagerly. “Yes. And thank you, Jake, thank you so much.”
He raised his hand. “See you tonight.” “Tonight,” she echoed, and they both turned and hurried off to their respective jobs.
Jake’s step was noticeably lighter as he rushed toward the department store. By the time he arrived, ten minutes later than usual, he was breathless. He’d just clocked in and headed for the elevator when his father stopped him, wearing a frown that told him J. R. wasn’t happy.
“Are you keeping bankers’ hours these days?”
“No,” Jake told him. “I had an appointment.” A slight stretch of the truth.
“I was looking for you.”
“Any particular reason?” Jake asked. He’d bet his lunch break this sudden interest in the toy department had to do with those robots.
