Strictly Business (26 page)

“No. She won’t be here.”

“It makes sense. Austin’s a bit far just for her to spend
the day avoiding me.”

“Austin?” Mike looked confused. With a shake of his head he
said, “Evanston, Jake. She’s in Evanston.”

“What? She came anyway?” She was here. She was here and he
hadn’t even known.

Mike nodded.

“Cody mentioned she was looking, you guys were looking. But
I figured, after…with us…”

“No. We’re here. We opened officially a week ago. Still
looking to fill a couple positions, but…” Mike handed him a card. “This is us.”

Jake took the card, “Wythe and Company Designs. Good for you
Mike.”

Mike hesitated. “Jake, you’re obviously miserable, she’s not
exactly happy. What happened?”

Jake was truly shocked, down to his boots shocked. “She
really didn’t tell you?” Mike shook his head. “I, um, well, I thought…” Jake
rubbed a hand over his face. “No, she’ll tell you. If she wants to.” He turned,
started to walk into the house. He needed a drink and beer wasn’t going to cut
it.

He stopped and turned back to Mike, guilt over what he’d
thought of Jess, what he’d thought of Mike forcing him to apologize, even while
he hoped Mike never knew the truth. “I said some things. She’ll never forgive
me, but for what it’s worth, I was wrong. Really wrong and I’m sorry.”

Jake grabbed bourbon out of the kitchen, smiling politely at
everyone looking around. He went and sat back down on the edge of the back
porch, seeing Bethany walk toward him. Jake groaned.
God, will this day
never end?
He didn’t want to deal with her right now.

Bethany walked up to Jake. For the first time he really saw
her. Everything about her seemed deliberate, too made up. Even her walk. He
felt like prey while she was the hunter. Even as he wondered how he'd missed it
before, she smiled, a slow sexy smile and sat down next to him.

“Hey there, handsome. Hiding out from all the noise?”

Jake nodded, afraid to speak. He had nothing good to say to
her. His mom had raised him to be polite to women, and he had tried to live by
that. He’d failed miserably with Jess, and look where that had gotten him.

“This is some shindig you’ve got going out here. I saw your
mom. I took the liberty of introducing myself, since you weren’t anywhere
around. I haven’t met your dad yet, maybe you can introduce me?” She settled a
hand on his thigh, tracing little circles with her fingernail.

Jake slowly, deliberately grabbed her hand, removing it from
his leg. “Beth, don’t. It’s over. It’s been over. You just don’t want to believe
it.”

Bethany looked truly shocked. “Come on, you can’t mean that,
Jake.” She tried a cajoling smile, running her hand down his cheek.

Jake pulled back, leaning away from her and scooting over.
“Bethany, no! I’m trying to be nice, here. Just go.”

“But, Jake…”

He stood up, pacing around the porch. “Bethany, you need to
leave.”

Bethany rose stood as close to him as she could. “You’ll
call, Jake. You always do. You even called me after your little trollop first
got here. You’ll come back to me again.”

That was it, that snapped the leash he’d been keeping on his
temper. “Trollop? Are you serious? How dare you! You lying, manipulative bitch.
You came out here, lied about Jess, using years of friendship to make me
believe you. Understand this—I don’t love you. I never will. Hell, I don’t even
like
you! Get off my land, get out of my life and never,
never
come back!”

Everyone had heard Jake roaring, effectively bringing a hush
across the crowd. Mike and Cody both headed over, grabbing her arms and getting
Bethany out of there before there was more of a scene than they’d already
witnessed.

Jake saw his mom heading his direction and turned to head
back in the house. He figured one good scene per day was more than sufficient.

People were already starting to resume their conversations.
Jake’s temper was nothing new, so when they realized the show was over, they
were perfectly willing to ignore it. At least until the party was over. After
that, he was sure he'd be the talk of the town.

When his mom followed him into the house, closing and
locking the door behind her, he was not at all surprised. Catherine
Morgenstern, or Cat as she was known, stood in front of him, hands on her hips,
giving him a long hard look before she spoke.

“So, she’s not the one that broke your heart, is she?”

Jake shook his head no, then started nodding instead,
finally shrugging his shoulders. “Sort of, but not the way you think. I thought
I was hiding it pretty well. Guess not, huh?”

Cat laughed, placing her hand on his shoulder and hopped up
to sit on the kitchen island. “Jake, honey, it shines through brighter than
sunshine. Besides, I still know people, and people still talk.”

He looked up, shock and horror both running through him.
“You know about Jess?”

His mom shrugged. “A little, although I didn’t have a name.
Just that she was a pretty brunette. I guess that one could have fit the
description, minus that God-awful bleached hair. But the conversation didn’t
seem quite right.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I should’ve told you. I was planning to
propose. Before things… I was hoping to introduce you guys. Today, or maybe fly
down to Florida if she could take the time off. We were on a tight schedule to
get everything done in time for this party.”

His mom raised her eyebrows. “Were you getting married
without telling me too?”

“What? No! No, she built this house. Or at least designed
it, and picked the cabinets and the floors. And that damn stained glass window
up there.”

Cat looked around slowly, taking in all the little details,
including the ornate window above the front door. Not to mention the
hand-carved doors themselves. “She’s good. Really good.”

“Yeah, she‘s amazing.” Jake’s voice pulsed with the pride,
the pain, the loss he felt.

“So, why isn’t she here?”

Jake sighed, took a deep breath. “Because I screwed up.
Badly.”

“Okay. So apologize.”

"You make it sound so simple. Mom, it’s not that easy.
You have no idea what I did. I accused her of cheating…with her foreman.”

“Aaahh. Well, you come by your jealousy honestly. Your
father’s always been the same way.”

Jake couldn't hold in the little hiccup of surprise. “You
and dad are perfect. He’s not jealous, or possessive, or whatever.”

Cat guffawed. “Hah! Nobody’s perfect, Jake. Not your father
and not me. And he is jealous. Still... even after thirty-five years together.”

Jake still didn’t believe her. “Mom, don’t just say this to
make me feel better.”

“Jake, don’t you remember when you were younger... the
yelling. We fought. Not often, but when we did it was hard and loud.
Incidentally, so was the making up.”

Jake groaned in horror. He didn't want to hear this. “Okay,
I’m a grown man, but you’re still my parents. No details, please!”

Now Cat laughed harder. “Jake, passion, love, real love
makes everything stronger. You’re going to be possessive and prideful. It’s in
your nature. But you need to trust also. Did she? Cheat on you?”

“No, she didn’t.”

“And you’re sure?”

“Positive. She wouldn’t, mom. I knew it almost as soon as I
said it. But it was too late to call it back. I was…awful to her.”

“Did you apologize?”

Jake shook his head. “No. It wouldn’t be enough. Mom, I
called her a…whore.”

Cat's face registered a little bit of shock at that. “Well,
that’s definitely something to apologize for. Maybe even grovel a little bit.”

Jake looked up. “She wouldn’t forgive me. Not for that.
There was more that I said, I don’t even remember all of it.”

Cat smiled softly, but not a mother’s smile, a secret
woman’s smile. “Jake, does she love you?”

He took a minute to think about it before answering. “Yeah,
she did. Before.”

“Then go and apologize. Love makes
everything
stronger. Even forgiveness.” She hopped off the counter, started to walk away
and then leaned against it again. “That’s how I knew you never loved Karen.”

Jake looked at her, startled.

Cat smiled, patting his cheek. “You were humiliated by her,
by being duped, but you never loved her. Even when you kicked her out, there
was no passion.” She headed to the door. “Go see her Jake. Don’t wait too long.
And, get some damn furniture so I don’t have to sit on the counter!”

Jake stared at his mother’s back as the door shut behind
her. All at once the last sentence penetrated through the fog in his brain.
Jake laughed, for the first time since Jess had walked out. Only his mom could
casually issue an order, without looking backward, and still come off sounding
like a queen.

Even before he finished the thought, Jake remembered one
other woman that could do that. Jess. Could his mom be right? Was there any
chance that she could forgive him? Could he live with himself if he didn’t try?

He didn’t know the answer to the first two questions, but
the last one was no. He had to try. It wasn’t going to hurt any more if she
said no than it did right now. Feeling hope for the first time in months, Jake
couldn’t wait for this party to be over. He had somewhere he needed to go.

The following Friday, they all agreed to close the office
early and have a little in-house celebration. They’d gotten three more houses
that week. One was even out of state. It looked like they were going to be
busy. Two of the customers had come from the party at the ranch, and one was
straight out of the phone book. Mike was already looking into additional crews
for the local area, and one down in Florida.

Jess headed to the back to get the champagne and glasses
while Mike finished the last call of the day. It was time to celebrate.

* * * * *

Jake walked in the glass doors, seeing a stunningly
gorgeous, slightly wild looking blonde at the front desk. She stood up, coming
around the desk to meet him, and he saw that she was tall, at least five foot
ten and built like a model. Jake knew he should feel something, he wasn’t dead
after all, but the only thought he had was “smart choice.” People would love
seeing her first thing when they came in.

“Hi, may I help you?” She extended her hand, and Jake shook
it automatically. “I apologize for the jeans, but we’re having a casual day
today. A private celebration. Did you have an appointment?”

“No, I didn’t. I was hoping I could see…”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Mike’s tone was furious,
clearly not happy to see Jake in their office.

Following Mike's angry words, the blonde joined in. “Jake
Morgenstern. How very nice to meet you. I’m Cindy.”

Jake noticed that the warm welcome was gone, a chill seeping
into her voice. Cindy, the other college friend.

“I’m sorry,” Jake said, turning to Mike, “I really wanted to
talk to Jess. Is she here?”

“No, she’s out.”

At that moment, Jess came around the corner, stopping
midstride when she saw him. She stood for a second, frozen, before finally
continuing toward the front desk. Toward him.

Jess set the champagne and the cups onto the front desk.
“Sorry, we don’t have any real champagne flutes, the plastic will have to do.”
Jess turned to Jake, her voice like ice. “I’m sorry, sir, we’re closed for the
day.”

He stared, his eyes drinking her in like a man too long
without water. She was beautiful, even more so than he remembered. Her hair was
down, a long tangle of black waves, her lips red and full, she was in low
fitting jeans with black sandals. Her shirt was red, deep red and simple. A
basic T-shirt, that fit her perfectly, showing just the tiniest inch of her
belly. When he finally made it back to her eyes, he was thrilled to see the
silver instead of the brown she used to hide behind. Until he noticed the look.
Whatever she was thinking or feeling, she was masking it with ice.

“Jess, please. I just wanted to talk to—”

“No.” She turned back the way she came but Jake grabbed her
hand, stopping her before she could go more than a step.

“Let go.” This time the anger leaked into her voice, making
it come out as a growl through clenched teeth.

* * * * *

Jess caught Mike and Cindy sneaking out the door and locking
it behind them. She was alone with him.
Traitors!

She yanked her hand, the suddenness of her movement
successfully freeing her. “Jake, there’s nothing to say. You said it all two
months ago. Please leave.”

This time she made it mostly down the hall before she heard
his footfalls behind her. She barely resisted the urge to run to her office and
lock the door. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She did try to slam the
door, but he caught it before it shut.

“There is one thing I forgot to say.”

Jess turned back to face him. Why couldn't he just leave her
alone?

“What Jake? What could you possibly have forgotten? You
managed to call me a liar, a cheat. You even threw in whore if I’m not
mistaken. You obviously proved that you don’t trust me. You believed Bethany,
Bethany
,
over me! You didn’t even
ask
me if it was true. So, what else is left? I
think you pretty much covered it all.” Her voice had steadily risen, until, by
the end, she was screaming. She knew it, heard it, but couldn’t stop herself.

He took one step forward, making her step back toward her
desk. If he was trying to intimidate her, she refused to let him succeed. She
stood taller, shoulders back..

His voice was barely a whisper when he said, “I forgot to
tell you I was wrong. I forgot to say I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. And I forgot to
tell you I love you.” He looked into her eyes. His hand came up to push back a
strand of her hair, stopped just before he touched her, and fell back to his
side in a fist.