Sharp Edges (14 page)

“Don’t start this again,
” I warned.

“
Look, I know I made a mistake but I swear to you, it will never happen again.”

“I…I just can’t trust you,” I said.
“After everything that’s happened. Plus, I’ll never be able to get those images out of my head.”

“We can go to counseling,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back.”

“Scott...”

“Please,” he said, softly
. “I miss you and the kids.”

“I
really need more time to think about this,” I said. “Rushing me isn’t going to help the situation.”

He sighe
d. “Well, can I at least see our children?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Friday night?”

“Sure. Why don’t you pick them up after six?”

“I thought maybe we could all have dinner together?”

I groaned. “No, Scott. I need some space right now. Just, pick them up and spend time with them.
They need you.”

“Fine.”

“I have to go,” I said.

“Lindsey, no matter
what happens, just remember, I love you and… I swear, I’ve never stopped.”

You sure have an odd way of showing it.

“Goodbye, Scott,” I mumbled, hanging up.

***

It was just after twelve when I arrived back home. The house appeared empty, but my nerves were on edge as I stepped through the door. Expecting the worst, I gripped my bat tightly and searched the house. Finding it empty, I grabbed a screwdriver from the garage and began changing all of the locks. As I was on my knees finishing up with the front door, Jake approached me. This time he was dressed casually in dark chinos and a white polo shirt.

“Good idea,” he said, nodding towards the locks. “I was going to suggest that myself.”

I stood up and smiled. “I suppose I should have done it right away.”

“
Well, you’ve had plenty of other things on your mind.”

“
Day off?” I asked, staring at his casual clothes.

“Yeah.
I was thinking about grabbing a bite to eat. Have you had lunch yet?”

At the mention of food, I realized I was famished. I hadn’t eaten anything since last night
, and even that wasn’t very much.

“I could eat,” I said, hearing my stomach start to growl.

“How about joining me?”

“I don’t know…
”

“Come on, my t
reat again. You can buy next time.”

I sighed
. “Well, okay. I’d better change.”

His caramel eyes swept over me, lingering
a little longer than necessary on my chest. “You look great. Let’s just go.”

I looked down a
t my clothing – both the tank and jeans were beginning to hang in a very unflattering way since my appetite had basically disappeared in the last week. “Thanks, but I’m definitely not going anywhere with you in this. Just give me five minutes, please?”

He shrugged.
“Okay, if it makes
you
feel more comfortable.”

I opened the door
and motioned him inside. “Come on in and wait. It’s much cooler.”

“Thanks.”

He followed me in and I was suddenly very much aware of how incredibly sexy he was and how very alone we were.

I cleared my throat. “Uh
, I’ll be right back.”

He sat down on the couch and spread
his arms across the back. “Take your time.”

I hurried
to the bedroom and went through my closet. In the very back was a white and blue sundress I hadn’t worn in a couple of years.  Thankfully, it still looked new and wasn’t too outdated. As I zipped up the back and studied myself in the mirror, I sighed with relief. The few pounds I’d shed in the last few days had allowed me to fit comfortably in the dress.

“Wow,” smiled Jake as I stepped back
into the living room, ten minutes later. I’d also applied a little makeup and managed to twist my hair into a chignon. “You look very lovely.”

“Oh, well thank you
,” I said, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my eyes.

He stood up. “So,
do you like seafood?”

I raised my eyebrows.
“For lunch?”

His eyes glittered with amusement.
“Why not?”

I broke into a grin.
“Exactly, why not?”

An hour later we sat across fr
om each other, sharing a large shrimp cocktail appetizer at “Benjamin’s On the Lake.”

“So,” he asked. “Have any luck finding a job yet?”

“Not yet, although Darcy has a couple of leads for me; she’s coming over tonight to help me with my resume.”

He took a swig of his beer. “So
unds like Darcy is a very good friend.”

I smiled. “She is. We’ve known each other for a long time. We’ve
certainly been through a lot together.”

“Is she married?”

I grinned. “Why? Are you interested?”

He shook his head.
“No. I was just curious.”

“She’s going through a
difficult divorce herself, but she’s definitely available. Actually, she has expressed an interest in you, so if you change your mind –”

He chuckled.
“No. I’m interested in someone else.”

“Oh?” I asked
, thinking of the cute brunette from the other day.

His
eyes locked with mine. “Yeah but she has too much on her plate right now. However, I’m a patient guy and she’s worth the wait.”

My eyes widened
. “Well, I uh…”

He put a hand over mine. “
Shit, I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”

The warmt
h of his hand on mine sent a heat wave all the way down to my toes. “No,” I said. “You just shocked the hell out of me.”

He squeezed my hand and re
leased it. “Sorry. I just wanted you to know that I’m interested.”

I stared at him, stun
ned. He was incredibly good-looking and could probably have anyone he wanted. “I don’t know what to say. I guess I’m just kind of surprised.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Why?”

“Well, you’re attractive, single, and I’m sure you have women waiting in line to go out with you. I’m just a little confused as to why you’d be interested in me.”

H
e leaned forward and his eyes burned into mine. “You really have no clue.”

I chuckled
as I raised my Bloody Mary to my lips. “No clue?”

“
How bad I want you,” he said, his eyes making a hot trail from my lips to my cleavage.

I choked and the spicy liquid burned all the way down my throat
.

“You okay?” he asked, si
tting up straighter as I hacked and sputtered all over my napkin.

I’m sorry…spicy drink,” I replied
hoarsely.

The gleam in his eye
s told me he knew better. “Oh, I thought it was something else.”

Feeling flushed,
I fanned my face with my napkin. “Well, okay, maybe that too.”

He leaned back and smiled
. “Sorry. It’s just that you had this look earlier today and it drove me crazy.”

I raised my eyebrows.
“What look?”

“
This look” he said, rubbing his chin with an amused expression. “Like you were wondering...”

I raised my eyebrows
. “Wondering what?”

His eyes darkened.
“If you’d have the guts to sleep with me.”

I
felt an instant surge of hunger between my legs and wanted nothing more than to jump over the table, sit on his lap, and lick the beer from his moist lips with everything I had. But then I remembered I was still a married woman.

I snaked my hand away from his.
“Jake…” I answered, my cheeks burning.

He let out a long breath. “Shit, I’m sorry
. That was probably out of line.”

I sighed.
“Actually, I’m totally flattered. But…”

Jake took another swig of his beer. “I know. It’s too soon. I totally understand that. It’s just…”

“What?”

He took a deep breath. “Okay, I don’t want to freak you out or embarrass you any further but…I just can’t stop thinking about you. You’re constantly on my mind, which is strange, because I know we’ve only just met.”

I bit my lower lip. “You’re constantly thinking about me?”

He smiled. “Yes, and dammit, you’re making me lose sleep.”

I blushed. “Sorry, I guess.”

He reached over and brushed a strand of hair from my lips, his eyes burning into mine. “I just keep thinking about the way your eyes dance when you’re laughing, or,” he touched my lip, “how your teeth graze your lower lip when you’re nervous. But mostly,” he said, leaning back.  “I look at you and everything you have to offer, and wonder how in the world Scott could have been such a fool.”

“Well, thank you,” I whispered, my stomach feeling all fluttery inside.

“You deserve to have someone who appreciates you. Who will be there for you through thick and thin, and never take you for granted.”

I was so flattered that I didn’t know what to say.

He sighed and went on. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been through a similar situation and feel your pain, or finally know what I want in life, hell I don’t
know. What I do
know
is that I want to get to know you more, in every way.”

“Um, okay,” I breathed, feeling like a teenager on her first date.

He noticed my reaction and chuckled. “You’re not going to avoid me now, are you? I know it’s a lot to take in. If you want to run for the hills, I guess I wouldn’t blame you.”

I released a long breath and smiled. “No, actually, I’m glad you told me. It feels good to be wanted.”

He smiled, wickedly. “Oh, you’re definitely wanted.”  

Just then
, the waitress came back with our food and we focused on the lobsters.

“Oh, this is so good,” I said, dipping another piece of the succulent meat into the butter. “Thanks again for doing this.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome. I love a woman with a good appetite.”

“
No salad nibbler here,” I said. “I have to have my meat and carbs.”

“
Couldn’t agree more.”

As I was taking a sip of water,
I looked towards the bar where a man with a shaved head and a dark goatee sat staring at me. When he noticed me glancing back, he raised his drink and nodded. It brought back the threats from my intruder last night and all the blood rush to my ears.

“Oh
, my God,” I squeaked.

Jake leaned forward
. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

I glanced back at the stranger. He’d finished his drink and was preparing to leave.

“I…uh…”

Jake turned
towards the bar as the man threw down some cash and strolled away casually.

Jake
turned back at me and smiled. “What, was that guy leering at you?”

I looked at him but didn’t know what to say
.

“What is it?” he prodded. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

I shook my head. “It was nothing.”

His eyes widened.
“Nothing?”

Remembering the
other man’s threats against my children, I held my tongue. “I’m fine.”

He stared at me for a few seconds and nodded.
“Okay. Just remember, if you need to talk about anything, I’m here for you.”

“Thanks,” I answered
.

His cell phone was
resting on the table and it began to vibrate. He picked it up and listened to his message. “Shit. I swear I never get any rest.”

“What is it?” I asked. “
Do you have to stop into work, again?”

He stood up. “I hope not. I’m going to make a quick call. I’
m sorry, I’ll be right back.”

“Of course
.”

When he walked away
to use his phone privately, I tried to relax, although I was shaken from the stranger’s attention. I also felt like everyone in the restaurant was staring at me and it took everything I had not to get up and leave.

“
Close call,” sighed Jake, sliding back into the booth, a few minutes later. “They were just looking for some paperwork that I must have forgotten to turn in.”

“So
, you’re safe?”

“I’m safe,” h
e grinned, “although, I’m not sure if you are, wearing that dress.”