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“Did you like it?” What in the name of all that is holy made him ask that?
“It was nice.”
“Just nice?” That couldn’t be good. Not that any of this was good.
“He was a perfect gentleman about it.”
“A perfect gentleman. Really.”
He honked at the car in front of him for not moving the moment the light turned green. Why was everything getting under his skin this morning?
“Maybe even a little bit too gentlemanly. It was over so quickly. Somehow, I thought there would be more to it.”
Oh Doug. You complete dolt. How could you kiss her and not do it properly? Not that Jack wanted Doug to do it properly. If there had to be kissing, it was for the best that it was nice and gentlemanly.
Jack cleared his throat, not trusting himself to speak.
She turned her sweet, heart-shaped face toward him. “Anyhow, I thought you would want to know.”
He absolutely did not. Even if he had spent more time than he should have since Sunday dwelling on the possibility.
“Thank you.” She tilted her head and melted his heart with a smile. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“Happy to help.” It was a lie, but who could refuse a face like that?
“So,” she said, as they drove past City Hall and into the shadowy canyon between the tall buildings of Lower Manhattan. “What’s next? How do I get him to go from kissing to proposing?”
He deeply regretted ever agreeing to this, but a promise was a promise. “Do you have any idea what might be holding him back?”
She bit her lip and furrowed her brow. “I think he’s just shy. His mother has made no secret of the fact that she wants him to marry, so I don’t think family obligations are holding him back. He can easily afford to marry and start a household on his salary, so it isn’t that.”
Jack hated that money was a consideration for her, even though he understood why. Constance had a far better excuse than Myrtle for marrying wealthy.
“So, he’s shy. He also probably thinks he has all the time in the world. You’ve been patient for six months. Why should he move things along? What you need is something that creates a sense of urgency.”
“Like what?” There were those big brown eyes again—so kind, intelligent, and curious.
Doug definitely didn’t deserve her if he had to be cajoled into proposing. But then Jack and Ernie had scared off everyone else. Doug only made it through their defenses because he seemed so innocuous. Jack supposed he owed it to Constance to help her out with the one man they’d allowed to approach her.
“Maybe he needs a bit of competition to inspire him.”
Constance laughed. “And where would we find this competition? It’s not as if men have been beating down my door.”
Little did she know.
“Although…” She tapped her chin with her finger. “He did say something silly about thinking you were acting jealous on Sunday.”
Jack’s cheeks burned. Sure, he was a bit protective, but jealous? “That’s ridiculous. You’re practically my sister.”
Her smile tightened. Did he say something wrong? “That’s what I told him,” she said lightly.
“And what did he say?”
She gasped and clapped her hands together. “You’re a genius.”
“Wait. What? Why?”
“It was right after Doug mentioned thinking you were jealous that he kissed me.”
