Hard To Leave (The Hard Series Book 3) Page 5

  He let out a long sigh. “I liked it better when I wasn’t running the entire company. I used to just chase opportunities and pull the deal together, and that was fun. Believe it or not, there really isn’t much time left over to screw around when you’re the guy signing the paychecks.”

  “You mean the rumors of corporate executives having three-martini lunches and golfing their afternoons away aren’t true?”

  He laughed. “Truthfully, some of the best deals I’ve ever made have been over a game of golf. But personally, I’d rather drink a couple of cold beers at Yankees Stadium or watch the Nicks play at the Garden than chase a little white ball around the grass.”

  “I’ll file that little piece of information away for future reference.” Talking to Jack made me smile. It’s been a long time since I’ve had these fluttering feelings for a man. I guess going over seven years without any type of intimacy would do that to a girl.

  “Have you always lived in New York?” I asked, taking a sip of my lemonade. There was something about Jack that had me wanting to learn more and devour every little detail about his life. Which was ironic, because up to this point, I’d done everything I could to learn as little about the man as possible.

  “Yes. Growing up we spent the school year here in Manhattan, and were down in the Carolinas during the summer and holiday breaks.”

  I perked up at that. “Do you like living in the city?”

  “It’s a little intense, but it’s all I know. The traffic, the people, the pace. There is always something going on. We are, after all, the city that never sleeps. I find the frenetic pace very enjoyable.”

  “Unlike down here where a sale at the Piggly Wiggly might be front page news? Compared to New York, this place must seem slow and boring.”

  Jack and I could not be more different. It was almost a cruel joke that the one man to strike an interest in me was the polar opposite of everything I was. Aside from our physical attraction to one another and our obvious chemistry, what did we have in common?

  “I don’t know if I’d call it slow and boring.” He paused like he was thinking it over. “I would call it relaxing and restful. The people seem to be more genuine; they slow down long enough to look you in the eye when you’re having a conversation with them. They pay attention. That doesn’t always happen here in NYC.”

  “I’m sure having a little bit of both worlds makes for a nice balance.”

  “Have you ever visited the Big Apple before?”

  I was there once a long time ago. I remember thinking it was a great place to visit, but I would never want to live there. Now here I was, talking to a man who was born and bred in the chaos. Sure, he had a little Carolina country in him, but his body language was all city. What the hell was I doing?

  “I have, actually. It was a long time ago. It was during spring break my junior year of college.”

  Right before my whole life got turned upside down, I thought silently in my head.

  “Wait a minute.” I heard the scraping of the chair sliding across the floor. “You went to college? How did you end up working for Ree and Dave at the diner? Not that there is anything wrong with hard work and making an honest living, I’m just curious.”

  “What is that saying? Man plans and God laughs.” When he didn’t laugh at my joke, I cleared my throat. “I dropped out when I found out I was pregnant with Tanner. I had every intention of finishing my degree, but life and bills kind of got in the way.”

  “What was your major?”

  “Nursing. My mom is a cardiac nurse. I always wanted to specialize in that field, especially since both sets of my grandparents suffered from heart disease.”

  “You know my dad died of a heart attack, right?” His voice turned somber, and I wanted to kick myself.

  “I didn’t. I’m sorry. Was he sick or was it sudden?”

  “He had high cholesterol and ate like shit. Honestly, I think it was just a combination of his lifestyle and stress. They said he had a few blockages, but by the time they found them, it was too late.”

  “That’s so sad, but it happens all the time. I hope your father’s actions have served as a warning to take good care of yourself.” I cringed. He probably thought I sounded like a nagging mother.

  My eyes flickered over to the grill, which was now smoking, fire was spilling from the grates.

  Shit. I forgot all about my dinner.

  I walked over and turned the gas off and tried to wave the smoke away with my hands. I coughed into the phone and choked a bit, as I got closer.

  “Everything okay over there? Should I call 9-1-1?” Jack asked with a concerned voice and a touch of sarcasm.

  “Everything’s okay. I’m just burning my dinner.”

  “I should probably let you go.” I could hear him moving around and the faint conversations in the background. “I have a conference call starting in a couple minutes. I just wanted to give you a quick call before things got too hectic.”

  I picked the platter off the table and loaded it up with the burgers and burned vegetables that I just rescued from the flames. I looked at my phone and noticed that it was a little after five o’clock and he was still knee deep in work. It was another sign of how different our worlds were.

  Tanner walked over and frowned when he saw his plate. I held my finger up letting him know I needed one more minute to finish up my conversation.

  “I’m glad you called.”

  I really was, and the thought of talking to him again filled me with excitement. I looked at Tanner who was feeding the dog his overcooked hamburger. I laughed. “I should probably get going too. I have a very hungry seven-year-old who needs to eat before it gets too late, and a dog that needs to be rescued before he throws up all over the place.”

  He chuckled. “Your night sounds a lot more interesting than mine. I’ll be in touch. It was great talking to you, Chloe.” His voice turned low, almost a whisper. “I’m really looking forward to seeing you next week.”

  He hung up before I could respond. The thought of seeing him again had me grinning from ear to ear. But I still couldn’t stop that nagging question that kept popping up in my head.

  Could I really allow myself to get wrapped up in a man like Jack Jenson? Was I really ready to put myself out there again?

  The dog started barking, causing me to snap out of my thoughts.

  I picked up the burned food and threw it all in the trash. I turned to Tanner. “How does McDonald’s sound?”

  He perked right up and dashed toward the door.

  I wanted to laugh. One call and my life was already up in smoke.

  What the hell was this man doing to me?

  My cell phone vibrated in my hand with an incoming text. I looked down at the screen.

  Go out with me next Friday night?

  I hesitated for a second. This was all so new to me. I blew out a deep breath and felt a crease tighten in my forehead. This man had me feeling off balance.

  It might be a little tough for me to find a sitter on Friday. How about Saturday?

  I bit down on my bottom lip while he typed away on his phone. Tanner had a sleepover on Saturday night, so that would work out perfectly.

  How about I come to your place on Friday? I’ll bring dinner and a bottle of wine that I’ve been itching to try?

  My face fell. I didn’t bring men around my son. Ever. Not that I’ve had men to bring around. Another text came through before I could respond.

  If you’re not comfortable with that plan, I understand.

  He was giving me an out. So why was I stalling? I wished I had more time to think this over. It felt like I was being put on the spot, and it surprised me that I was warming up to the idea.

  As long as you don’t mind coming over a little later? Tanner goes to bed at 9. I’ll order some takeout; so don’t eat before you come over.

  I looked up at the sky and prayed I wasn’t making a mistake.

  I can be at your door at 9:05 and we can discuss our plans for
Saturday. Don’t worry, we’ll keep Friday night casual, but on Saturday, I can’t make any promises

  My eyebrows rose up in surprise.

  You’re already thinking about your second date, and you haven’t even had your first?

  His response caught me off guard.

  I’m always thinking about you lately.

  My smile was so wide he could probably see it all the way from Park Avenue.

  Chapter 6

  Jack

  After parking my car in the street, I took a moment to look over at her house. It was located in a quiet little subdivision, lined with pine trees and white picket fences. I brought my hand up to my neck and worked the kinks out as my eyes scanned my surroundings.

  There were basketball hoops with minivans filling up the driveways and a couple bicycles laying scattered in yards. Everything around me screamed family. I was so out of my comfort zone, it felt like I was on another planet. Ignoring how out of place I felt, I grabbed the bottle of wine and the flowers that were riding shotgun with me and made my way up to her front porch.

  A pair of warm green eyes the color of emeralds greeted me at the door. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail hanging just past the middle of her back. I loved it when she wore her hair like that; it allowed me to better see her face. “Hey, come on in.” She smiled, opening the door wider to let me pass through.

  Upon entering her house, I took a look around. The walls were covered with different pictures that documented her life, most of them being playful images of her and Tanner.

  I skated my eyes casually across each photo. Something about the boy scared me to death, which was really pretty silly considering he was only seven years old and not much of a threat to my manhood.

  “I can take those,” she offered, grabbing the wine and lilies I held in my hands. She placed her nose in the bouquet and smelled the flowers. “These are beautiful.”

  She was dressed casually in a pair of tight skinny jeans and a long flowy white top. I liked the fact that she didn’t dress up and try to impress me. Everything about her screamed natural and organic. I would bet money she didn’t have an ounce of silicone in her body.

  “You’re not afraid of dogs, are you?” she called from the kitchen as I slid into the warm leather couch.

  “You’ve got a dog?” I vaguely remembered her mentioning a dog last week when we spoke. I couldn’t remember what kind of dog she had, but I read once that you could tell a lot about a person by the breed they picked.

  She kicked a cabinet closed and started to pour water into a vase. “I do, but I can leave him out back if you’re not a fan.”

  I wasn’t sure if this was a test, but I genuinely liked dogs, so I replied, “No, I’m good. Let him in.”

  I heard the back door open and close just as a reddish-blonde, furry-haired creature came bounding toward me, tongue hanging out when he jumped on the couch, nearly knocking me over. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t a golden retriever. I was expecting more of a little lapdog for some reason.

  “Smuckers…down,” she scolded, pointing her finger to the floor. The dog looked up at me, tail wagging, silently pleading for help. Despite the serious intent of his owner, the dog showed no signs of leaving the couch.

  I scratched the back of his soft, furry ear. I’ve always liked dogs. I was never allowed to have one growing up because my mom said they shed too much. Which I didn’t know why it was such a big deal considering we had a cleaning lady come in three times a week.

  “He’s fine,” I said, continuing to scratch his head.

  Chloe didn’t look convinced. “Okay, but fair warning, he’s a people person. Once you give him attention, he’ll never leave your side.”

  I laughed as my new buddy snuggled up closer, giving me those droopy eyes. “I don’t mind.”

  She laughed, and I was caught off guard by how relaxed and comfortable it made me feel. “Yeah, well, you might think differently once you look at your clothes and see how much he sheds.”

  I found myself laughing along with her as she went back to the kitchen and poured us both a glass of wine.

  Walking over, she handed me my glass then took a seat on the other side of Smuckers. Such an interesting name. “So how did he end up with a name like Smuckers?” I asked, taking a sip of my Pino. “Are you a fan of jelly?”

  Chloe ran her finger along the rim of her wineglass. “He’s Tanner’s dog, so I thought he should be the one to pick the name. I’m not really sure why he picked it. I guess it just sorta suited him.”

  There was a knock on the door. “That would be dinner,” she said, setting her wine down and standing up to go answer the door.

  “I got it,” I said, reaching into my back pocket to pull out my wallet.

  Chloe shook her head in disapproval. “No, you are my guest. I should have cooked, but I ran out of time. I ordered Chinese instead. I hope that’s okay?”

  I gently nudged her out of the way as I moved toward the door. “I’ll take care of this. You’ve been working all day then had to come home and take care of your boy. Please let me pay.”

  She held her hands up in mock surrender. “By all means, who am I to turn down a free meal.”

  I laughed and then did something unexpected. I leaned in and kissed her on the lips. “You’re adorable.” It wasn’t hot and passionate, nor was it earth-shattering. It was real and unexpected, just like her.

  She smiled nervously, then grabbed the bags from the delivery guy while I took cash out of my wallet to pay.

  After we finished our dinner, I helped Chloe pick up the kitchen while Smuckers stood at my leg the entire time, silently begging me for table scraps. When Chloe’s back was turned, I would sneak a piece of sesame chicken into his waiting mouth.

  “It’s a beautiful night. Would you like to sit outside on the back deck?”

  “I would love to.” It was in the low sixties, which was the perfect temperature for me.

  I followed her as we walked through the kitchen and toward a sliding glass door. “Wow, this is pretty cool,” I said, noting the outdoor stone firepit and wicker furniture sitting on her deck.

  “Thanks.” She smiled while lighting a couple Tiki torches. “We spend a lot of time out here.”

  I smiled back at her while breathing in the fresh air. “I love it.”

  It was dark outside, but I could see the shadows of a wooden jungle gym resting toward the back near the fence. “Does Tanner use that a lot?”

  Her deep green eyes met mine. “All the time.”

  Being in her home, surrounded by kids’ toys, served as a reminder of what I was potentially stepping into.

  We took a seat on the wooden swing and began rocking slowly to the soft music that was playing through the Bluetooth speaker. “You really have a nice home, Chloe. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to invite me over.”

  She smiled as she stared into my eyes. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  I took a swallow of my wine and leaned a little closer. The smell of her shampoo hit my nose. It shouldn’t have been such a turn on, but with this woman, everything was.

  “I love it here. It’s so different from New York,” I said, and slipped my arm around her shoulders, taking full advantage of out proximity.

  “How much time do you end up spending here?”

  “It depends.” My lips turned up into a grin. “But I have a feeling it’s going to be much more frequently than I have in the past.”

  She either didn’t catch my hint, or she chose to ignore it. Her voice was quiet when she asked, “Do you have a lot of friends and family in New York?”

  I pondered her question. Technically, that’s where my life was, but things were changing for me. Most of my close friends were now married. My family wasn’t all that big, and the only thing grounding me to New York was the company my father left me to run.

  My world was definitely shifting.

  I blew out a deep breath, trying to get myself t
o relax. “I do, but my friends aren’t getting any younger. Everyone is starting to move on with their lives.” I hesitated, feeling nervous and uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation. “I was an only child, so there isn’t much family. It’s basically just me and my mom and few relatives.”

  “Were you and your dad close?”

  This wasn’t something I normally talked about with anyone, but with her, I just couldn’t seem to stop myself.

  “We were very close. Even though he was a busy man and traveled away more than I liked, he always did his best to be there when he could. As far as role models go, I couldn’t ask for anyone better. He taught me a lot about being a man and encouraged me to take risks. I think that’s where my confidence comes from.” I was starting to get choked up. There was no denying that my loss was still pretty raw. I missed him now more than ever.

  Chloe reached for my hand. Her face softened; she had no idea how beautiful she was. “I can’t imagine how hard this must be on you.”

  I gave her fingers a squeeze. “I have my moments.” I took a sip of my wine. Talking to her was way too easy. “But I have to admit, it also helps to keep busy.”

  “What about your mom? Do you guys have a good relationship too?”

  I pulled on the collar of my polo shirt, averting my gaze from hers. “My relationship with my mother is a bit more complicated, and I’d need more than one bottle of wine to get through that conversation.”

  She looked down at our joined hands. “We’ll save that topic for a rainy day then.”

  I liked that she didn’t push me to talk about it more. I wanted to ask her about her family. About Tanner’s dad, but the thought of kissing her and finding out what she tasted like was more appealing. I didn’t do well with heavy conversation, to begin with, and I opened up to her more than I did with anyone else since the funeral, and that said a lot.

  I reached over and slid my hand up the back of her neck. She was absolutely beautiful, both inside and out. I didn’t deserve a girl like her. Her kindness and sincerity took her out of my league. I had no business touching her, but I didn’t have the strength to stop myself either.