Dare to Love by user (read dune TXT) 📗

“Jake?”

“Why are you here?”

This wasn’t going to be easy. Did she really expect it to be? She’d just have to stand

there and take it. Whatever he dished out, she deserved. “I’m here to apologize.” Somehow it didn’t seem powerful enough. The words fell flat. He stared at her, his

lips in a straight line, no emotion showing on his face.

“For what?”

“For last night. For what I did, for what I said. For assuming—”

“It’s not necessary. You didn’t need to come all the way out here.”

“It is necessary,” she said, taking a step toward him. He looked, as usual, amazing.

Last night in a tux, today in shorts and a tank top, showing off tanned, broad shoulders.

Her heart accelerated, whether from sheer nervousness or feminine delight she wasn’t

sure.

Taking a deep breath, she figured she’d better just spit it out. “Jake, I was wrong.

I’ve always prided myself on not being a snob, not judging people based on their appearances or occupation. And I grossly underestimated you. I have no excuse other

than complete stupidity. Please, I beg you to forgive me.” He stood silent for a moment, his head tilted at an angle as if digesting what she’d just said.

“Come in.” He held the door open and motioned her inside.

With a silent sigh of relief, she stepped into the tiled entry, immediately struck by the

simplistic beauty of his home. She’d thought the same thing when she pulled up into the

double driveway. A one story beige frame with blue painted shutters and ornate double

front doors, the house had beckoned her in welcome. The lawn was expertly manicured,

evergreen bushes lined the picture window in the front, and three river birch trees

provided a shady overhang.

Children played in the front yard of the surrounding homes, screaming and laughing,

riding their bikes and playing ball.

It was a beautiful sight.

“You want a drink?”

She nodded and followed him, admiring the dark Berber carpet and pale gray walls.

The furniture was modern, from the black leather sofa and matching chair in the family

room off the entry way, to the glass and chrome table nestled in a nook in the kitchen.

“I’ve got beer, some white wine, or iced tea. Take your pick.”

“A glass of wine would be great.” She smoothed her hair off her face and tucked it into her ponytail before sitting down at the table.

He came back with a bottle of beer and a glass of wine. She took a sip, surprised at

the smooth flavor.

“What is this?” she asked, twirling the liquid in the glass.

“Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, eighty-eight.”

“I like it. Very easy and light.”

He shrugged, but didn’t respond.

“You have a lovely home,” she said, cringing at the small talk.

“Thanks.”

She turned at the sound of scratching, surprised to find a beautiful dog wagging its

tail on the other side of the sliding glass door. “Oh! You have a dog!” Without a look in Jake’s direction, she bounded from the chair and threw open the

door, stepped out back and dropped to her knees to pet the dog.

He was very friendly, licking her face and wagging his tail furiously.

“Aren’t you just the sweetest thing?”

“His name’s Rascal.” Jake stepped out behind her.

She looked up at him. “He’s adorable.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “Wait ’till he drops his slimy tennis ball in your hand.” Lucy laughed and ran her hands over Rascal’s thick coat. “I’ve always wanted a dog.

I love animals.”

“Why don’t you have one?” He handed her glass of wine over and they sat at a white

patio table with a blue flowered umbrella.

“Father would never allow it,” she said, petting Rascal on the head.

“So? Move out. You are kind of old to be living with Daddy, aren’t you?” Not the first time she’d heard that. “I’ve thought about it, but Father and I spend so

much time at night going over cases and paperwork related to the firm, I just felt it was

easier to stay there. I have my own wing of the house, so I get plenty of privacy.”

“Uh huh.”

“Look, Jake. The house is huge. Father and I barely run into each other unless we’re

having a meeting in the home office. We lead separate lives, and he stays out of my

business.”

At Jake’s raised eyebrow, she added, “Mostly.”

He leaned back in the chair and took a long swallow of beer. “And what if you want

to bring a man home to spend the night? What then?” Heat rose in her cheeks. “I don’t.”

“Ever?”

“No.”

“So, you’re a virgin.”

“No!”

He laughed, and she felt her face flame even hotter.

“I meant I’d never bring someone to the house.”

“What do you do when you want to sleep with someone?” How had this conversation gotten so personal, so intimate? “I don’t really think that’s any of your business.”

“Counselor, you’re evading the issue.”

“I’m not being evasive. I’m simply uncomfortable talking about something so personal.”

“Your choice.” He stood. “I’ll be right back.”

After he went into the house, Lucy took a couple quick drinks of wine and scrunched

her shoulders, trying to ease the tension in her neck. She’d done what she came to do.

They really had nothing left to say to each other.

Jake stepped back outside with a plate of steaks and layered them on the grill.

Lucy

giggled at Rascal’s rapt attention to each slice of meat going from plate to grill.

“I really should go.” She watched as he closed the lid on the grill and turned to her.

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just put a steak on for you.”

“Oh.” She supposed she’d been invited to dinner. “All right, then. Thank you.”

“No big deal. We all have to eat.”

Lucy hated this distance between them, and knowing she was the cause of it set the

guilt demons plaguing her again. She wished she knew how to get things back the way

they were before. Although they hadn’t known each other long, she’d quickly grown

accustomed to how comfortable she felt talking to Jake. There were no barriers, no games

between them.

At least there hadn’t been. Now there was a steel wall between them that she wasn’t

sure would ever come down. And she’d put it there.

“What can I do to help?” she asked.

After turning the steaks, he motioned her