Chocolate for Two (5 page)

“Caller? Are you there? Waverly Bryson, you’re on the air.”

I laughed. It was definitely Davey.

“Are you back in San Francisco?”

“Not quite. Take another guess.”

“Are you in jail? Is this your one phone call?”

“Ah, still so witty. Try again.”

“Are you in the United States?”

“Affirmative.”

“LA?” Davey had gone to both undergrad and business school at UCLA.

“Hardly. Wrong coast.”

I raised my eyebrows. “No way. Are you saying…”

“You know what I’m saying.”

“You’re in New York?”

“The Big Apple, baby. Can you believe it?”

“You know I live here now, right?”

“Of course. Why do you think I’m calling? I know quite a
lot
about you, Bryson. See, there’s this thing called Google…”

“What are you doing here?”

“Let’s just say we have a lot to catch up on.”

I bit my lip. “Uh-oh. Please tell me things are still good with Lindsay?”

“Oh yes, everything is great. Actually, she decided to go back to school for a master’s in social work, which is what brought us here. She’s starting at NYU in the fall.”

“That’s so great! I can’t believe you’re in town. It’s been ages.”

“Tell me about it. I’m an old man now. I’m going to have hair growing out of my ears soon.”

I made a face. “Nice visual. So Lindsay’s at NYU, but what about you? Have you found a job here yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m looking. A few interesting leads have come my way.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“I’ll tell you over a drink. When are you free?”

“Come on, Davey, don’t leave me hanging.” I stopped walking and looked up from the sidewalk. I was about ten feet away from Armando’s. “Actually, I think I’m going to have to leave
you
hanging. I’m really sorry, but I’ve got to run. When can we get together?”

“Are you free tomorrow? How about a drink after work?”

“I’m sorry, Davey, I can’t tomorrow.”

“How about Friday?”

I shook my head, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “I’d love to, but I just found out I’m spending the weekend in Florida. Long story.”

“Okay, how about next Thursday?”

I mentally scanned my calendar for the following Thursday. I knew I’d be booked up all day with work stuff but figured I could squeeze him in after that.

“I could meet you around seven. Would that work?”

“Seven is perfect. Just name the place, and I’ll be there.”

“What neighborhood are you in?”

“West Village.”

I closed my eyes and thought for moment. “How about Bayard’s Ale House on Hudson and Tenth? It’s a cute pub, and they have food there too. Have you been there yet?”

“Negative, but I’m sure it’s great. So I’ll see you next Thursday at seven?”

“Definitely. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been way too long.”

“I’ve missed you too, Bryson.”

Jake was sitting at the bar when I walked inside the restaurant. He smiled and stood up when he saw me.

“Hi, beautiful.” He leaned down and gave me a quick, soft kiss. I felt a spark shoot down my spine.
Mmm.

I took off my purse and hung it on a hook underneath the bar, then opened my palms wide in front of me “You’re never going to believe who just called me.”

“Not that collection agency again. I thought you’d worked out an arrangement with them.” He handed me a glass of red wine.

I pushed his shoulder. “Such a comedian.”

He caught my hand and kissed it. “Who?”

“Remember my old client at KA Marketing, Davey Mason from JAG?” JAG was short for Jammin’ Athletic Gear.

“The name sounds familiar. Have I met him?”

I sipped my wine and set it on the bar. “I think you did at the trade show where you and I first met, but only for a second. Anyhow, he was the VP of marketing at JAG for years, but then he quit and basically dropped off the face of the Earth to go traveling around it with his wife.”

“And he just called you out of the blue today?”

I nodded. “When I was walking here to meet you.”

“What did he have to say?”

“He said he just moved to the West Village because his wife is going to school here and that he wants to talk to me about something. Then we ran out of time because I was meeting a hot date, so we made plans to have a drink next week.”

Jake scratched his eyebrow. “A hot date? Is that what this is?”

I leaned toward him and grinned. “I’m hoping it is. What do you think?”

“I think I like it.” He gently touched my cheek, which made me feel all wobbly even though I was sitting on a barstool. “But first, we need to talk about this weekend.”

I made a sour face. “Do we have to?”

He laughed. “Listen, I’m well aware that my mom isn’t the warmest person in the world…”

I picked up my glass. “Ya think?” I’d only met her once, and
ice queen
was more like it.

He put his hand on my shoulder. “No matter how she might act, she’s excited that we’re getting married. I promise.”

“Given the fancy packages I’ve been receiving, I figured as much.” I wondered what she’d think of our no-bling approach to the whole thing. Jake was on board with my desire to keep the planning super low-key, not to mention the wedding itself.

“She can be a little overbearing sometimes, especially in social situations, so I just want you to try not to take her behavior personally.” He picked up his beer and raised an eyebrow at me. “I realize that might be a pretty tall order, but I have no doubt you’ll be your adorable self and everyone will love you. Just don’t overanalyze it.”

“I can try.” I leaned forward and kissed his nose. “Now can we
please
change the subject?”

“Deal. So, Andie’s getting in tomorrow?”

I could feel my eyes brighten at the thought of seeing her. “Yes! I’m so excited that I get to run around this fun city with her for the next few months.”

He shook his head. “I can only imagine what sort of trouble you two are going to get into together.”

“You mean like going to male strip clubs and that sort of thing?”

“I can’t say that’s exactly what came to mind, but sure, whatever floats your boat.”

I took a sip of wine. “I’m sure she’ll drag me into a few shady situations, which I’m fully looking forward to, by the way.”

“Just don’t get arrested, okay? I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail again.”

“Very funny. Actually, I don’t think it will be anything like it would have been had she come a couple years ago. She’s mellowed out a lot since she moved in with Nick. It’s like he finally tamed the lion.” I set my glass down and cracked an imaginary whip.

“Did you just pretend to crack a whip?”

I laughed. “I guess I did. Apparently I’m fired up to see her.”

“Nick has tamed the lion, huh?”

I cracked the imaginary whip again. “Yep. I never thought I’d see the day.”

He scratched his eyebrow. “I never thought I’d see anyone over the age of twelve pretend to crack a whip twice in the same conversation.”

I grinned at him. “Aren’t you
so
glad you’re marrying me?”

“Don’t push your luck. So, where’s she going to live?”

“Some luxury building downtown, I think she said it was on Exchange Place. Corporate housing, completely furnished, probably costs a fortune. I can’t wait to see it.”

“I can’t wait to see
you
dolled up for our engagement party. Are you going to wear a tiara?”

I pointed at him. “Watch it, or I just might.”

After dinner, we left Armando’s and strolled down Montague Street toward my place. When I’d first agreed to take the
Love, Wendy
job, I’d pretty much assumed I’d never find a New York neighborhood as quaint as Pacific Heights in San Francisco. But
I was thrilled to be dead wrong. Lined with picturesque brownstones and just enough coffeehouses, restaurants, and mom-and-pop stores to keep it interesting, Brooklyn Heights looked like a stage set. And on a warm night like tonight, it was downright magical.

“Want to check out the promenade?” Jake reached toward me with an open palm.

I took his hand and smiled up at him. “Sure.”

We walked hand in hand toward the water, and soon we entered a stretch that faces the bright lights of Wall Street, the regal skyscrapers perched directly across the East River on the southernmost tip of Manhattan. They must have been at least a mile away, but they looked much closer, almost as though you could reach out and touch them.

I pointed toward the skyscrapers. “Have you ever noticed how this view is just like Vegas?”

Jake gave me a strange look. “What?”

“The view from here to lower Manhattan. Have you ever noticed looking at them from here is like looking at the casinos in Las Vegas?”

He put a hand on the back of his head. “Could you be a little more specific?”

I pumped my arms and started walking in place. “You know how when you walk outside of one of those enormous casinos, you look at the casino next door and think
That’s like a two-minute walk away?
But then you start walking and walking and walking, and like an hour later, you’re still not there?”

“I guess so…”

I stopped fake walking and pointed across the river. “Well that’s how I feel about those buildings. It
looks
like you could just
jump from here right in the East River and gently paddle over in a few minutes, but most likely you’d end up drowning long before you made it.”

He pressed his palm against my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”

I shrugged. “I’m fine. I’m just making an observation. Have you ever noticed that I like to make observations?”

“Believe me, I have. Have you also noticed there’s an expressway below the promenade, not the river? The river’s like a quarter mile away from here.”

I peered over the railing at the cars flying by below, then patted his arm. “Another excellent point. That makes the journey from here to lower Manhattan even
longer
.”

“Okay, then.”

“So, do you think you and I will go to Vegas when we’re old and gray? You know, wearing matching sweatsuits and all that? Play the slots? Maybe some keno?”

He put an arm around me and gently steered me away. “I think it’s time to put you to bed, young lady.”

“But I’m not tired!”

“Who said anything about sleeping? This is a hot date, remember?”

I smiled. “Race you there?”

“You’ll never catch me.”

“We’ll see about that.” I pushed him away and took off running. I caught him off guard, and he nearly fell over, but he quickly regained his balance and began to give chase. I managed to beat him there by a few feet, but only because my building was so close.

When we reached the front door, we were both cracking up, and I was completely out of breath.

“Good lord, I’m totally out of shape.” I put my hands on my hips and gulped for air. “Look at you. You aren’t even breathing hard!”

He smiled and shook his head. “That’s because I work out almost every day. Sort of comes with my job.”

“Are you trying to make me hate you right now?”

He smiled. “I liked watching you run.”

I poked his iron stomach. “Be nice.”

He reached behind me and gently squeezed my backside, which sent a spark all the way down my legs. “Believe me, it was nice,” he whispered.

I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “
You’re
nice.”

I unlocked the front door to my building, and as we climbed the four flights of stairs to my apartment, I turned to face him. “Hey, you know what we haven’t talked about since we got engaged?”

“What?”

“Where to live. Are you going to move in here?”

“Is that an invitation?”

I laughed. “I mean, since we’re getting
married
and all, I guess we should probably live together.”

“Yes, we probably should.”

I unlocked my front door and gestured to the living room. “My place is bigger than yours, right?”

“Yep.”

“And you’re pretty much here all the time, right?”

“Agreed.” The truth was, Jake had barely unpacked since moving to New York. I loved that.

I held my palms up and smiled. “So…it would make sense for you to move in here, don’t you think? Although I do wonder where your clothes will fit. I mean it’s not like my closet is all
that—” He shut the door behind us and interrupted me. “I don’t want to talk about your closet right now.”