Second Look (A New Beginning Book 3) (20 page)

“So what? Like I said, we’re taking it slow.” Mandi shook her head and turned to Jennifer. “Enough about me. What about you? How are things with Adam? They look pretty good, but I worry about both of you.”

Jennifer nodded. “I know. So far, so good.”

She didn’t say much else, but thought about what Mandi said. They were both taking a chance after their long history. She could only hope things would work out this time around.

“Well, he’s clearly into you and the way he doted on Amber the other day, well, that was something I never thought I’d see. It was really pretty sweet, even for my brother,” Mandi admitted.

“Fill me in.” Cassandra stuck her lip out in a pout. “Why wasn’t I told about this?”

Mandi’s mouth curved up into a smile. “Get this, Cass. Adam took them to a play, with Amber having a princess pampering before the show and then they all came to dinner at my mom’s. You should’ve seen him with her.”

Jennifer smiled, but didn’t tell them Adam was retaking the paternity test. She could do without the concerned looks or the pity she was sure to get. It was a really touchy subject between her and Mandi and she wasn’t ready to relive that part of her past.

Mandi grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “What do you say we have one more drink before they do last call and then dance till they kick us out?”

“Sounds perfect. No shot for me though. Just the Bud Light Lime.”

Mandi nodded and jumped off her barstool to grab the drinks. It was hard to believe the night was coming to the close. She’d be thankful in the morning Mandi talked her into just the one shot.

They made their way up to the small dance floor and danced until they were kicked out, just as they said they would.

*****

Jennifer’s body felt warm and fuzzy as Adam drove them all home a little after 2:00 in the morning. She didn’t drink a lot, so she wasn’t sure if she was buzzed from the drinks or from the attention she was getting.

Even thought it was out of the way, Adam dropped Mandi and Cassandra off first, which made her smile and her body tingle.

She reached up and touched his cheek. “Thank you for driving tonight.”

“You’re welcome.” He laughed. “I actually had fun watching the three of you dancing and fighting or talking or whatever you want to call it.”

“We can get a little crazy, I guess.”

“And the slow dance made the entire night worth it.”

Jennifer gave him a small smile and nodded in agreement.

Adam’s grin highlighted his dimple as he said, “I’ll walk you up to the door so you can give me that long kiss goodnight you promised.”

As they walked together, he asked, “Are you and Amber still coming over tomorrow? I bought more toys for her, this time for inside the house.”

Jennifer’s mouth dropped open. “Yes, we’re coming, but you have to quit buying Amber so many toys, Adam. You’re totally spoiling her and she’ll start expecting it.” She wasn’t as upset as she sounded, but she couldn’t help teasing him.

“Nah, she needs some spoiling. Plus, I want her to have fun at my house and not be bored. I got a few movies too.”

“Movies, too?” Jennifer rolled her eyes. “I’m bringing the burgers and fries, remember. At least I can spoil you a little with food.”

“Yum, my favorite,” he told her, licking his lips.

Jennifer giggled, thinking how Amber was exactly the same way. “Everything’s your favorite.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I love food.”

They reached her front door and he wasted no time pulling her into his arms. She stared into his gorgeous, brown eyes as he leaned in closer.

Every time he kissed her, it got better and this time was no exception. A current of pleasure went from her head to her toes as it intensified the buzz she already had.

After several minutes, Adam gave her a tight, heart-warming hug. “Sleep well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She nodded her head and then watched as he walked back to his car.

Jennifer laid in bed that night, trying to fall asleep, but her mind was swirling. If his kisses were better than ever, she couldn’t wait to take it to the next level.

*****

After a lovely day with Amber and Adam to round out the weekend, Jennifer’s week was flying by. Between running Amber to daycare and preschool, and her new job having the additional responsibilities, she was busier than ever making the time go by in what seemed like blink.

It was Tuesday and aside from their game on Wednesday evening, she didn’t have plans with Adam again until Saturday night. She frowned when the realization hit. She missed him.

Although there was no practice on Friday, he made plans with his friends. He was ignoring his friends and they were starting to give him crap about spending too much time with her. She understood but she didn’t have to like it.

After their nightly routine of dinner, bath and reading stories, she got Amber to bed and Jennifer started to flip through the mail. Her stomach dropped.

There was a package from HomeDNA.

Jennifer tucked the small package away in her purse, figuring Saturday would be the perfect time for him to take the test.

Her phone started to ring and she frowned when she saw a phone number she didn’t recognize. She almost didn’t answer, but on a whim decided to answer.

“Hello?”

“Jennifer?”

The caller’s deep voice sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

“Yes, who’s this?”

“It’s Sam Taylor.”

Jennifer’s mouth dropped open and she could feel her face flush. She was thankful he couldn’t see her right now.

“Oh, wow, hi! How are you?”

“I’m good. And you?”

“Doing well.”

“So how’s Minnesota treating you? Snowing yet?” Sam chuckled at this, a deep, sexy laugh. “I bet you’re ready to come back to sunny Arizona.”

Jennifer laughed with him. “Considering its summer, it hasn’t snowed quite yet.”

“How’s your new job?”

“It’s really good. Thanks for asking. So, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Well, I’m actually in town for a medical conference. I know I should have called sooner, but this week just snuck up on me. I was hoping you’d be free Friday night for dinner? The conference goes really late each night during the week, but that night we get out earlier and I’d really love to see you before I head back home.”

“Oh! I had no idea you were in town,” she said, and then regretted the words. Of course she didn’t know. Why would she?

“Yeah, it was sort of a short notice for the conference, but a really good opportunity I didn’t want to pass up.”

“Friday, let me think. I should actually be able to get together, but it would have to be a little later at night. I’m heading out to my mom’s to drop off Amber for the weekend and won’t be back until at least 7:00.”

Why did I just tell him that?

Amber was going to stay with Jennifer’s mom and dad that weekend, which she hadn’t done for a while. She was begging to go every weekend since and Jennifer finally agreed.

“That’s not a problem.”

“We could meet somewhere. Where’s the conference? Downtown Minneapolis?”

“Yes. How about Manny’s Steakhouse? It’s pretty close to the conference location and my hotel.”

Um, whoa. Spendy. Is he going to expect more than dinner?

“Sure.”

She could practically hear his smile from the other end of the phone coming through his voice when he responded.

“Great! Let’s meet at 8:00. I’ll make reservations.” Sam’s voice went impossibly lower, sending shivers down her spine as he said, “I’m really glad you can make it on such short notice. It hasn’t been the same without you.”

Warning bells went off in her head.

“It’ll be nice to see you.”

“See you Friday.”

After she hung up, she realized she was going out with one man on Friday night and another one on Saturday. Although she didn’t technically consider going out with Sam a date, it was still a first for her.

Should I mention it to Adam?

It felt a little wrong to go out with Sam, considering he may have more expectations about their night that she did. Plus, she’d been spending a lot of time with Adam and it seemed like they were dating, but hadn’t committed to being exclusive yet.

She’d just push those guilty feelings aside because it would be good to see Sam and she didn’t know how to classify her relationship with Adam anyway.

*****

Jennifer walked into the restaurant shortly before 8:00 and it didn’t take her long to find Sam. He was waiting for her in the front entryway of the restaurant.

She forgot how incredibly handsome he was.

His suit was a dark gray and the blue tie over the crisp white shirt made his ice blue eyes shine. He’d grown out his scruff into a goatee and she had to admit it made him look incredibly sexy.

The second he saw her, he smiled wide and started walking her way.

“Jennifer! You look fantastic. Absolutely beautiful,” Sam told her, as he pulled her in for a hug. “I’ve missed you.”

She missed many of her old co-workers and friends from Arizona and he was definitely one of them.

As good as it was to see him, however, Adam popped into her mind. Her feelings confused the hell out her so she attempted to push thoughts of Adam aside and enjoy her time with Sam.

“I’ve missed you too. How was your conference?”

“Riveting,” he said, and then started laughing at the skeptical look she gave him. “No, I mean it. The conference was about new surgery techniques on several of the surgeries I perform. I learned a lot.”

“A success, then.”

They heard his name called indicating their table was ready. “Shall we?”

She felt his hand at the small of her back as they walked towards the table. It felt…wrong.

Dinner went well and they caught up on the nurse who took her place and how she was fitting in to her new position.

As they walked out the door of the restaurant, she dreaded this part of the night.

“It was so good to see you, Sam. Thank you for dinner.”

“Thanks for coming on such short notice. Minnesota isn’t such a bad state,” he replied, laughing.

“No, it really isn’t so bad now, but you should see it with a foot of snow.”

They were standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and Sam was looking at her intently. He had been glancing at her mouth at the restaurant, and now he was blatantly staring.

Before she could react, he reached out, grabbed her hand and pulled her close.

“You don’t have to leave already, do you? My hotel is just around the corner. We could go have a drink in the lobby?”

Sam looked at her hopefully and the guilt came crashing through her body.

She knew what Sam was offering and back in Arizona she’d have jumped at another chance to be with him. Now? All she could do was think of Adam. So what if they hadn’t said they were exclusive? Going out with Sam tonight made her certain that she sure wanted to be.

“I really need to get going because I have an early morning tomorrow.”

Sam cocked his head to the side, looking into her eyes. He was still holding her close.

Okay, that was a lie and he knows that. Just be honest.

“Actually, I’m sort of seeing someone.”

Jennifer saw a flash of disappointment cross Sam’s features as he pulled her in to a quick hug before letting her go and backing away a step. “That’s great, Jennifer. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry. Maybe I should have told you earlier?”

Sam shook his head and said, “No, it’s fine. I’d have still wanted to see you. I had no expectations about tonight. Hope, yes, but expectations, no.”

“Thanks.” She hesitated and said, “If you’re ever in town again…”

“Yes, I’ll let you know.”

Sam pulled her in for one more quick hug, kissed her on the cheek and then walked towards his hotel.

She figured it was probably the last time she’d ever see Sam.

As she drove through the downtown area of Minneapolis, heading towards the freeway, she noticed the Radisson Hotel.

It reminded her of the night of her senior prom with Adam and many of their friends.

Twelve Years ago…

The Grand March set to start in just a little over an hour at the Radisson Hotel in down town Minneapolis. She looked at the clock in her kitchen. They were never going to make it.

Mandi and her boyfriend, Jake, and Cassandra and her best friend, Noah were at Jennifer’s house, dressed in their formal attire. The limo was parked at the curb just outside of her house.

The only thing missing? Adam.

Her friends were giving her sympathetic looks and it was getting on her nerves.

“You guys, just go. We’ll catch up with you later. We already missed dinner. I don’t want you to miss the Grand March!”

“Not a chance, Jennifer. He’ll be here. Pizza was fine for dinner.” Noah told her, clearly try to make her feel better. All it did was make things worse.

Tears filled her eyes. “Yeah, pizza was just great.”

Jake tried to lighten the mood by saying, “Hey, it actually saved us all a bunch of money. Pizza was way better than where we planned to go.”

Mandi smacked him in the arm. “Shut up, you cheapskate.”

She looked over at the other two couples and tried to hide her frown. It was nice to see everyone dressed up. She and the girls went prom dress shopping months ago and it was so much fun. The guys got their tuxes just a few days before, which they of course left to the last second. Adam wasn’t able to meet with the guys to pick out their tuxes so he got his on his own.

College was taking up a lot of his time, and even though he was right in Minneapolis at the U of M, they weren’t able to get together quite as often as they used to and she really missed him. She was looking forward to their night together.

Where is he?

He was well aware Prom was important to her, but he was supposed to be there well over an hour before and she hadn’t even heard from him. She wasn’t mad…just worried.

Just as she was about to insist her friends go without her, she heard a car screeching to a halt in front of her house. A few seconds later, his telltale knock sounded at the door.