Soul Mates (10 page)

“I work at a manufacturing plant—assembly line stuff, not very exciting.”

Port Hayden had three manufacturing plants. She knew the families that owned them. It would be easy enough to check up on him and see what his work record was like. “I guess it depends what you assemble,” she shrugged, trying to act indifferent but hoping for more details. “Some things would be more interesting than others.”

“It’s a job,” he replied. “It’s not what I’d like to be doing, but it’s okay for now.”

“What would you rather be doing?” Although the information was irrelevant to her quest, Cassandra was curious. Jace was different from what she’d expected, and she was beginning to wonder whether she’d misjudged him. What she saw before her was an average guy who worked for a living, someone trying to find his way in life like everyone else. He seemed open and honest, and though that should have been good news for her aunt’s sake, it left Cassandra feeling odd.

JACE WAS ACTUALLY enjoying himself. It was easy to forget his previous encounters with the haughty bitch and simply see her as a good-looking woman he’d met less than an hour ago. However, he couldn’t stop thinking of his dream. It had left him with a longing to meet the kind of woman that could make him feel complete. It was preposterous to think she could be that person, yet here she was listening, talking, laughing—appearing to be truly interested in him. He didn’t know what to make of it.

“I used to want to be an airline pilot,” he responded to her query. “Now I’m not sure. I’d like to stay in Port Hayden, probably keep working where I am. I’m thinking about taking night classes. Maybe get my business degree.” It was a notion he’d been considering. He’d had a taste of the program during the partial semester he’d attended college. At the time, he’d found the assignments easy and the subject matter interesting.

The conversation was becoming one-sided. Jace wanted to learn more about Tanisha, so he asked what she did for a living. As soon as he’d said it, he wished he had worded it differently. If she came from a wealthy family, she wouldn’t have to work for a living. Her answer surprised him.

“I’m an editorial assistant for a fashion magazine,” she replied easily. “I liaison with freelance writers, do proofing and copy editing, and review the magazine’s layout.”

She smiled and Jace could hear enthusiasm in her voice. The woman was becoming more intriguing by the minute, and he felt an attraction.

“I love to write,” she added. “I studied journalism at Berkeley and got hired by one of the most prestigious magazines in the country, but I’m starting to think I could be doing more with my life. I’m just not sure what it is yet.”

CASSANDRA heard herself telling Jace what she’d only told her closest confidants, and suddenly she was annoyed that she’d lost focus.
He’s smooth; I’ll give him that. He knows how to act charming and innocent at the same time. That’s probably how he wormed his way into Aunt Sophia’s good graces.

“So you live in the city?”

“Yes, I…,” Cassandra paused. She didn’t want to chance revealing too much.
I have plenty of information. I need to find a way to wrap this up.
She glanced at her watch. “Wow, I didn’t realize we’d been here this long. I really should go; I have some more errands this afternoon before I go back to the city.”

“Well, thanks for the latte,” he smiled politely.

Jace stood up as she did, and they walked outside together. As much as Cassandra was eager to be done with the pretense, part of her didn’t want their time together to end yet. She hesitated, pretending to check something on her phone.

“You’re not driving the same car?” he asked when she didn’t leave right away.

“Oh…the Martin? No, I borrowed a friend’s car last weekend. I had to pledge my soul before he’d let me drive it,” she laughed, hoping to sound convincing. “Some guys are so obsessive about their vehicles.”

The moment that followed was awkward. He seemed to be waiting for her to head to whatever car she was driving. Thinking quickly, she came up with a way to get more information. “I was going to call a cab.” She offered an entreating smile. “But maybe I could bother you for a ride…unless you need to be somewhere.”

“Yeah…sure, no problem. I’m parked right here.”

“Nice car,” Cassandra remarked as she clicked her seatbelt in place. “It looks new.” Inhaling, she added, “It even smells new.” Then she held her breath, waiting to catch him in a lie, sure he wouldn’t admit it belonged to an old woman.

“Yeah, it is,” he said simply.

She tried again. “You must make decent money where you work. That’s great.”

He looked as though he was about to respond, but instead put the car in reverse and started backing up. “So,” he asked. “Where to?”

“Macmillan Tower on Emerald Street.” The high-rise where her brother had once lived was about fifteen blocks away. It was the only place she could think of in short notice.

The trip was short, and the conversation centered on their taste in music, which was surprisingly similar. He pulled up in front of the building, put the car in neutral, and pulled the hand brake. Then he turned to her. There was nothing suggestive in his behavior, yet she found herself wondering what it would be like to kiss him. She fought the impulse for a moment and then decided, given the character she was playing, it wouldn’t be inappropriate or even unexpected to give him a quick kiss. She opted for the cheek and thanked him for the ride.

“That’s all I get?” he responded with a smile and a suggestive tone.

“I didn’t realize this ride was going to cost me,” she teased. “Maybe I should have taken a cab after all.”

“Sorry, I should have my fares posted,” he joked. “Anything over ten blocks is a kiss on the mouth. You still owe me.”

Cassandra couldn’t suppress her laughter. She didn’t think he was serious, yet she was tempted to kiss him anyway. “That’s a very interesting fee schedule. May I assume, then, that you only give rides to desirable young women?”

He looked slightly embarrassed by her question, and she realized he was probably thinking of her aunt. She instantly regretted asking. “Jace…” She turned her body to face him and moved slightly closer. “I
am
truly sorry for my behavior last weekend, and I
do
appreciate your kindness.” She leaned in and smiled. He met her lips with his own, and they shared an extraordinary kiss. Then she moved away to open her door. “Thanks again, Jace. Take care.”

SHE WAS GONE before he could think of an appropriate response. He was completely taken aback by the kiss. It wasn’t simply that he had dared her, and she’d taken him up on it. It was the kiss itself—he felt that soul connection again, like in his dream. He’d never felt that with a woman before, and he’d been with quite a few. He’d dated a girl for three years and even considered marrying her, yet her kiss had never made him feel that way.

What’s going on here?
he asked as he pulled away from the building Tanisha had disappeared into.
What kind of weird spell does she have on me?
He decided to go to Chad’s place. He needed to hang out with a friend, drink some beers, and put a stop to thoughts that were beginning to mess with his head.

ENTERING THE high-rise, Cassandra breathed easier as the smoked glass door closed behind her. She didn’t think Jace could see her, but just in case, she walked to the reception desk and pretended to inquire about a resident. Within minutes, the full implication of her actions hit her. Never in her life had she done anything that outrageously impulsive. Never in her life had she told as many lies as she had in the past hour. She had convinced herself it was for a good cause, but now she felt wretched and deceitful.

Her opinion of Jace had changed dramatically, too. He was no longer a would-be con artist trying to take advantage of a trusting old woman. Far from it. She began to wonder how she could have been so convinced that he was.

She shouldn’t have kissed him—Cassandra was acutely aware of that. Unfortunately, that was only one item in a long list of things she shouldn’t have done.

CHAPTER 7

AS EXPECTED, his friend was at home on a Sunday afternoon. Jace walked in, helped himself to a beer from Chad’s refrigerator, and slumped back on the sofa. The sports channel was blaring on the mammoth flat screen TV, and Jace relaxed a little as he integrated into the familiar surroundings.

The room didn’t have much furniture. The sofa was one that Jace had helped Chad and his brother pull from a dumpster. Chad’s favorite chair was a piece of patio furniture, also reclaimed from the trash during a midnight raid in a more affluent neighborhood. The large television was the focal point in the small room and was Chad’s true love. He’d borrowed the money when he found the entertainment system of his dreams at a pawnshop. He and his brother lived on macaroni and cheese for the next year to pay it off.

Jace had to admit he was comfortable in that environment. His place wasn’t any different—secondhand furniture and the best TV and stereo he could afford from the pawnshop. It certainly wasn’t the kind of place he could bring a woman like Tanisha to. She lived in the city, worked at a fancy job, and had friends who lived in high-rise condos and drove ultra-expensive sports cars.

So why did she come on to me?
The question had been burning in his mind since he’d left her.
She knows where I live. She accused me of trying to steal her car last weekend. And today she flirts with me as if I’m actually in her league.
He longed to understand.

She did seem impressed by the car,
he maintained, grasping for answers, …
which belongs to an eighty-year-old woman!
He groaned inwardly as reality slapped him in the face.

But that kiss…
Jace couldn’t erase it from his memory. He could still feel her full, soft lips and taste the deliciousness of her mouth. The scent of her perfume was in his nostrils, and the warmth of her hand remained where she’d touched his face.

“Jace!” Chad yelled.

He turned to his friend, startled. “What?”

“I asked if you wanted another beer. Are you deaf?”

“Uh…yeah, sure,” Jace responded, embarrassed that his friend had caught him daydreaming.

“What’s the matter with you, anyway?” Chad inquired roughly. “You haven’t said a word since you walked in.”

It wasn’t unusual for them to watch TV without saying much. However, that was usually preceded by some type of communication—acknowledging recent sports scores or talking about parties they’d been to. Jace was eager to talk about his date with Tanisha, but he didn’t think it would provide him with more clarity than he had now. “I went out with the rich bitch,” he stated bluntly, referring to her as he had for the past week, although he no longer thought of her in that way.

“Out…seriously? Like on a date?”

“Sort of,” Jace replied. “We went out for coffee.”

“Howd’ya manage that?”

“She asked me.”

“Okay, shit head,” Chad scowled. “Is this like the brand new Accord you supposedly own?”

“No, that was…” Jace tried to explain. “That was a joke. This really happened; I swear.”

Chad scrutinized him, obviously trying to decide whether he was telling the truth. Finally he frowned. “She asked
you
out?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“I’m gonna need details, buddy.” Chad opened another beer and sat back on his patio lounger. “How’d it happen?”

“I ran into her in the grocery store this morning,” Jace began. “She didn’t recognize me at first.” He recounted all the details except the last, the most important.