Page 22 of Love on the Vine
“Come on, you know.” I stared down at my glass.
“Honey, Jake is a master at concealing his emotions. He’s almost as bad as my own father. So don’t take it personally.” Jin sat back in his chair and contemplated me. “Anyway, he’s been hiding out in the office a lot more than usual. It’s like he’s trying to avoid you.”
“Geez, thanks for confirming my suspicions.” I hid my head in my hands.
“No, that’s a good thing. Nothing ever bothers him. You’re obviously making him uncomfortable.”
“Again, thank you for the confidence boost. You really know how to make a girl feel special.”
Jin drummed his perfectly manicured fingers against the glass tabletop. “Listen. If he were truly indifferent to you, he wouldn’t be acting like a bride-to-be two days before herwedding, pretending she doesn’t see that tub of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer. You know what I mean?”
I shook my head. What he was implying was truly impossible.
“Did Marie-Claude spike your lemonade?” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Anyway, what makes you think I want him?”
He nearly spit his lemonade out laughing. “Girl, what did I say earlier? You are terrible at faking it. I knew the minute I walked in and saw the way you were eyeballing him when he wasn’t looking.”
I sighed. “Okay, so it’s that obvious.”
“To me, yeah. But Jake can be real slow on the uptake with that kind of stuff. That’s why he’s still single. Well, that and the fact that he clings to his independence like saran wrap on an egg salad sandwich.” He smiled wickedly. “You know, I can count on exactly no hands how many serious relationships he’s been in since I’ve known him. Lucie and Magali were before my time.”
“Lucie and Magali?” Jealousy pricked at me, which was ridiculous. Jake was in his late thirties; of course he’d had girlfriends.
“Lucie and Jake had a thing over a decade ago. Off and on, but neither one was the settling down type. Her father owns half the media in France.” Jin fanned himself. “She’ll no doubt be in town for Jake’s birthday.”
“Oh, when’s that?”
He shook his index finger at me. “Do I look like someone who remembers birthdays? And don’t try to change the subject.”
“I wasn’t,” I lied. Truth was, I was more than a little uncomfortable avowing my attraction to Jake. “And who is Magali?”
“He never mentions her, but from what I understand they were together for a while. Everyone thought they’d get married.”Jin leaned in to whisper as if Jake could hear us. “Then she left him for Thomas.”
“Thomas?”
“His ex best friend and business partner. They’ve always been super competitive. I swear it’s a soap opera. And it gets worse! Thomas is now a hotshot consultant for one of the biggest distributors in the Asian market and they’re going after those contracts we just lost.” Jin speared a green olive in the tiny bowl and leaned back while I took it all in.
“No wonder Jake’s been in such a foul mood.” So many puzzle pieces at once. It was overwhelming.
“Look, Olivia. I’ve known Jake for years now, and I’m getting sick of his lone wolf bullshit. He could be such a slut, but he isn’t. That would at least be entertaining. Now, it’s just starting to depress me. I shouldnotbe getting more action than him.” He took my hand in his. “I need a vacation, and this latest catastrophe is only going to make him even more driven and intolerable.”
“I don’t see how this has anything to do with me.”
“You need to distract him, honey. Show him what he’s been missing. I want to see that man happy for once.”
“Wow, Jin. I don’t think I’m the person for that role, as much as I’d like to be. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m too young and, given his relationship to my dad, off-limits.” I could feel panic rise in my gut. It was one thing to fantasize about the guy, but going after him for real was frightening.
“Forbidden fruit. It’s so hot!” He covered his mouth with both hands. “Seriously, though. You know how good I am at pairing wine with food.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I’ve gotten to know you over the past two weeks, and I’m sure you’d be good together. You’re sweet, he’s sour. You’re a good listener with a big heart, and he has a lot of baggage heneeds to work through. You both had complicated childhoods. You’re inexperienced and easily intimidated . . .”
“Hey!” I tried to look outraged, but he was right.
“Whereas he never flinches from a challenge and has loads of experience.” Yeah, I’d already thought about how I could benefit from that experience.
“It’s like a cupcake with a late harvest wine. A Viognier with softshell crab. A crisp Riesling with some hard old cheese.”
