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“That’s cool.”
“Well, make yourself at home. I’ll catch you later.” Jack jogged out of the house, down the stairs to the ground floor, and over to his pickup. He jumped in and made the five-mile trek to the Stewart house.
He’d had no plans to ask Jo out, but when he saw her on the sidewalk in her cute little skirt and soft pink blouse, he was moving toward her before he even realized it. When she kicked the wall, she’d been irresistible. Not because she’d kicked it but because her cute little nose squinched up. What man could resist that?
Parking in front of the house, he stepped out of the truck and strode to the front door. He respected Charlie and Jo enough that he wasn’t going to honk the horn. Plus, he was pretty sure Charlie would beat him with a rolling pin, or worse, and never let him eat her chicken pot pie again.
Before his knuckles could touch the door, it opened. Charlie grinned. “Hey, Jack.”
“Hey, Charlie.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Jo will be out in a second?—”
“I’m here.”
Her eyes connected with his, and his heart was out of the chute. She was cute in the casual outfit she’d worn earlier. In the baby blue sleeveless dress she wore now, she was a knockout. It showed off her soft-looking skin and the delicate curve of her shoulders. Her hair was pulled up with little wisps left loose that framed her face, and lip gloss that made her already kissable lips even more kissable—and a bullseye for his attention.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Hey, you look great.”
She looked down. “Oh, thanks. I didn’t know what to wear.” When she lifted her gaze to his again, the world suddenly stood still, like it was telling him she was the one. He forced the thought away. They hadn’t even gone on a date yet. What if she wasn’t at all like he thought? His heart promptly shut that down. She was, and more.
“It’s great,” he said.
During the entire exchange, Charlie’s head moved back and forth like she was watching a tennis match.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Jo kissed her grandma on the cheek. “Don’t wait up.”
Her grandma laughed. “Sure, honey.” Based on the look in the woman’s eyes, she’d see Jo when he brought her home.
They headed down the steps, and Jack raced ahead to open the passenger door. Somehow, he’d forgotten the reaction when he’d shaken her hand the day before, and once again, his skin tingled as their hands touched.
He jogged around the truck and got in, put on his seatbelt, and started the engine. Dating was fun, but none of the women he’d dated made him feel like this. Excited, hopeful… Truth be told, after his breakup with Natalie, he’d been half-invested anytime he went out with someone.
“So… how was your day?” Jo asked.
“It was good.”
Silence fell over them for a moment while he racked his brain for something to say. “What was with the kicking the wall today? Did it have something to do with the phone call?”
“I started at the magazine with the understanding that one day I’d be one of their photographers. It’s been my dream to be a photographer. That wasn’t where I planned to stay forever, but I thought it was a great place to start and get my foot into the door of that world. Only…” She sighed. “Arianna Carter agreed to work for the magazine. She’s huge. She’s shot the hottest designers, models, and everything in between. There was only one opening, and it was supposed to be mine, but of course, Delia couldn’t turn down Arianna Carter.” She grumbled something else under her breath, something he couldn’t quite catch.
“So, you won’t transition to a photographer?”
“No. Honestly, I think Delia has been stringing me along. She always says I’m their best writer?—”
“You are.”
She tilted her head. “What?”
He smiled as he glanced at her. “I looked you up. As a guy, I have no warm fuzzies when it comes to weddings, and I even enjoyed your articles. You’re phenomenal. I can see why she’d want to keep you as a writer.”
Talented enough that it gave him a moment’s pause. She’d left town, moved to New York, and she was surrounded by successful people. Jack was a small-town guy with a little construction business. Then he’d reminded himself that this was just dinner with a friend. Not even a friend yet. Although, the prospect of becoming friends sure did sit well with him.
Pink blanketed her cheeks and with the sunset pouring in through the cab, it gave her skin a rosy glow. “Thanks. I can’t believe you read my stuff.”
Jack shrugged. “After the way Serenity talked about you, I had to see what all the hype was about.” He shot her a grin.
