Page 15 of Loving Jake

He hadn’t even fooled his grandfather this morning into believing his thoughts were anywhere but with Kimberly. Grandpa Zack had sensed his eagerness to be somewhere else five minutes after he walked through the door. Gramps had repeatedly asked where Kimberly was, blaming the questions on his old age and failing memory, rather than his sly perception and knowledge of his grandson.

Jake watched her in the distance, and the memory of her soft, welcoming lips eagerly returning his kisses the previous night taunted him. He rubbed his palms together and was reminded of the warmth of her silky skin beneath his rough, callused hands. He never imagined finding a woman whose body felt so right against his, her feminine curves fitting perfectly against him.

He had to stop thinking about her. Each day he spent with her, he felt himself falling deeper under the mystical spell she wove around him; each time, she came closer to taking ownership of his heart. If only he were more like his brother, Zane, and able to leave his emotions out of a relationship. A love them and leave them kind of guy: that was his brother.

Years ago, baffled by his brother’s ability to walk away from some of the most beautiful and interesting women Jake had ever met, he had asked Zane, after one of his brother’s many broken affairs, how he did it. Giving him with a rakish grin that Jake was sure was part of his appeal, Zane had confided, ever so eloquently, that love stinks. In Zane’s opinion, it was better to get going while the going was good, or you would find yourself with a broken heart and a pile of credit card bills.

Kimberly stood up and stretched her long limbs, and Jake ached with frustration. He decided with a renewed determination that Zane couldn’t be more right. Jake needed to be movingon and soon, as love did, indeed, stink. A smile creased his tanned face, until moments later when he felt his lips freeze in place and his heart beat rapidly in his chest. He wiped his palms on his thighs as he took a deep gulp of air.Love? Love stinks?No. He couldn’t be in love with Kimberly. Lust, sure, but love, no. He knew better. Love, no way, it was not for him. He was not in love with Kimberly.

He ran his hand through his wind-swept hair, determined to return home before the cause of all his reckless emotions spotted him. He looked up and then swore under his breath, as he caught sight of Kimberly waving at him. She was halfway around the small pond, Daisy trotting happily behind her.

“Jake, what are you doing here?” she asked hesitantly when she approached him. She gracefully folded her long, slender legs under her, and she sat down next to him on the blanket.

“I was out for a walk and saw your stuff. I thought I’d say hello.”

She retrieved two bottles of water from her cooler and held one out to him. She took a sip of water and then smiled back at him.

Jake gladly accepted the bottle, eager for the cold water to cool off his conflicting emotions. “Thanks.” He took a long drink of water, glad for the distraction it provided him.

She sipped from the bottle of water as her gaze wandered to the sky. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Her gaze was dreamy, her chestnut eyes following the path of an eagle soaring overhead.

“Yes,” he replied truthfully, unable to tear his eyes away from her.

Kimberly gazed back at him with a puzzled look in her eyes. “I thought you already went for a run today?”

Two actually, he mentally replied. “I did. However, after visiting my grandfather today and making a few phone callswhen I returned home, I found myself with some free time. I decided to take a walk to the park.”

“Oh.”

“I spoke to Zane.”

“Really? Where is he, anyway?” She rested her hand on Daisy’s back, absently petting the dog lying at her side.

“The Philippines. He and his team are returning home soon. His plans are to be back in the Bay area by the end of October,” he paused momentarily before continuing, his gaze wandering over to the pond. “Who would ever believe Zane Taylor would become a plastic surgeon, treating children with severe challenges? Amazing, isn’t it?”

Kimberly rested her hands on her lap. “I don’t know, Jake. You forget that Zane was only a year ahead of me in school, and from what I recall, he was only too eager to play doctor with my friends and me.”

Jake laughed. She was more than kind with her description of his brother’s sexual prowess. “That’s Zane for you. He always loved a pretty girl.”

“I don’t think love is the word I’d use, Jake,” she added with a wide grin.

Jake swallowed the last of his water, grateful to not have choked on the cold drink. “No, I guess you’re right.” He chuckled and placed the empty bottle inside her cooler.

“I’ve decided to give up my apartment in New York.” His gaze remained focused on the pond off in the distance. He placed his hand on Daisy’s head and ruffled her hair, while he looked out over the water.

“Really? Why is that?”

He dared to glance into her eyes and saw the hope radiating from them. His response would not be the one she wanted; it never would be. “Zane and I have been discussing it on and off for a while now. Neither of us is ever home much. We’re always traveling somewhere or spending hours on end at work, yet I have an apartment in New York, and he owns a house here in the San Francisco area. As you know, some friends of his are staying at his place until they complete the renovations on their home,” he added with a smile, and she responded with one of her own that told him they both knew he wouldn’t be living with her if it wasn’t the case. “Anyway, we agreed that I would give up my place in New York since I only rent, and I could move my stuff into his house. He’s tired of trying to maintain the place when he’s gone, and he thinks between the two of us, we can take care of it.” He pushed aside the sense of loss he felt whenever he thought about his inevitable move from Kimberly’s house.

“I’ve decided to go to New York this weekend to clear out my apartment. Zane is going to call his friends and let them know they should expect a few boxes to be delivered. The timing is right, my lease is up at the end of the month, and, well, I might as well, while I have the time.” And I need to put some distance between us. We both need a break, and it’s for the best, he mentally added. Trust me, please.

“Sounds like as good a plan as any.”

He looked at her, and he swore she wanted to say something else, but when she didn’t, he said, “Yeah, I think it will work out okay. Especially since Zane plans to be home in another four or five weeks, and I promised my producer I would be back to work in another month, two at the most. Gramps will be glad to have Zane around, especially while I’m off to the Middle East again for at least six months.”

“Like I said, sounds like as good of a plan as any,” she repeated with a shrug. She unfolded her legs and sat up on her knees and the balls of her feet. She packed her camera back into its case and placed it into a large canvas bag.

Jake admitted he was disappointed by her lack of reaction,but knew it was for the best. He had spent the morning beating himself up over his behavior last night, so her indifference should be a welcome relief. But it wasn’t, and it scared the hell out of him.

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