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And if she didn’t fall in love with him? He didn’t want to imagine that outcome, but at least she wouldn’t be denied access to her child. The very idea was unthinkable. They’d have to talk things through, but to leave Grace Haven and separate mother and child was wrong, and Jacob Weatherly had always made a point of not doing wrong. He intended to keep that trend going.
He got up in the morning, showered and shaved, ready for his last day of work with Carrington. He’d had a solid history with them, but the time had come to lay down roots. Roots strong enough to help Addie grow wings. That was his goal now. To lay down roots in Grace Haven, New York.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Josie put Terry on smoker detail early Friday, and monitored his progress as the day went on.
She didn’t give one thought to Jacob’s gentle gaze. His kind words. His obvious sympathy for what had taken place long ago.
And she absolutely, positively refused to think about his scent when he took a seat next to her, the smell of fading aftershave, minty breath and fresh lake breezes.
And she would not contemplate his touch, that gentle stroke of his big, strong hand to her shoulder, putting her in mind of that heart-stopping kiss shared not long ago.
She refused to think about any of it, but she couldn’t seem to think of anything else. She thought of him as she steamed basmati rice. She pictured him as they filled the big barbecue drum with Cajun-blackened split chickens, a Friday special. And when the fish and seafood order came in, she thought about Lake Ontario, and their beautiful day of sun and sand.
She thought of him as they warmed peppered cheese for nachos.
And she couldn’t help but think about him as she watched the sous chef mix a monster-size vat of coleslaw while she tossed together her own version of hot potato salad alongside. Nothing was a big enough distraction.
He shouldn’t have come.
He could have left town quietly, as planned, but no. He showed up, being kind and good and understanding.
He was kind and good and understanding last night. Last week? Not so much.
She heard the internal warning clearly, and got the gist. He’d turned on her when he thought she’d deceived him for her own purposes.
He could have asked, her conscience prodded when she finally closed the door on the restaurant at nearly ten o’clock that evening.
But a part of Josie was glad he’d leaped to protecting Addie first. That’s what a dad did, right? Her father had been like that, and when he’d died, she’d lost that sense of being safe and protected. Maybe that’s why she’d been foolish in college. Either way, she’d appreciated her father’s strong stance on life and love and family. And she felt the same way about Jacob with Addie.
She walked to her car. The sun had gone down minutes before, the elongated days of summer lingering well past nine. Shadows deepened as she walked, and when she got to the car, there was a note taped to the windshield window. “Dear Miss Josie…”
Her heart melted instantly.
“Will you come on a date with me and my dad on Monday?” Addie had crossed out an f on the word wif and corrected it with a th, indicating someone helped the six-year-old pen the letter in bright red crayon on faded construction paper.
Why was he doing this? She’d cut things off deliberately. Was he feeling some sense of misguided guilt? Or…
And she didn’t even begin to dare hope this.
Was he still interested?
You think?
The voice in her head sounded a little sarcastic. She tucked the note into her purse, shushed the voice and climbed into the car.
She found another note waiting for her at the garage door, on blue paper this time.
“Meet us in your driveway at ten o’clock. Please. XXX OOO.”
And then on the bottom she’d added: “On Monday.”
She should text Jacob and tell him no. Wasn’t it foolish to hang out with Addie, only to lose her all over again? And yet, when would she get another chance?
Perhaps never.
At the top of the stairs she found a third note. “Text YES to 404-555-4101.”
He’d covered the bases. With Addie.
She walked inside the apartment. Cool air met her, and after working in a hot, sweat-inducing kitchen on a hot summer’s day, the air felt good. So good.
