A Chance at Love (A Ferry Creek Novel): (a billionaire romance novel) (23 page)

“
It
’
s okay. I fixed it. Appreciate
what you did when I nicked my finger.
”

“
Hey,
that
’
s no problem. Just
trying to show good faith to everyone around here. Not sure what everyone thinks
of me.
”

“
If
they didn
’
t like you,
buddy, they
’
d carry you
right out of town.
”

“
Is
that so?
”

“
Something
like that. I think you
’
re
okay here.
”

“
Thanks.
”
Sullivan let a few seconds go
by.
“
Anything you can tell
me about Bob? My father?
”

“
Not
sure what you
’
re looking
for,
”
Richie said.
“
You seem to be chasing your tail
with those kinds of questions. I ain
’
t
gonna tell you nothing you don
’
t
know. He
’
s a good man. Took
me right in after my injury and put up with me.
”
Richie reached into his pocket and pulled out a flask.
“
Put up with everything.
”

“
Drinking?
”
Sullivan asked.

Richie growled and threw the flask.
Sullivan caught it.

“
Open
it, take a drink,
”
Richie
said.

Sullivan opened it and found the
flask empty.

“
Sorry
I assumed,
”
Sullivan said.
“
What kind of injury did you
have?
”

Richie tapped his leg.
“
Almost lost my leg in Iraq. Not
many survivors of the attack.
”

“
Christ.
I
’
m...
”

“
Don
’
t apologize,
”
Richie said.
“
Don
’
t thank me, either. I hate that bullshit. It was a
job. I did it.
”

“
Okay,
”
Sullivan said.
“
I won
’
t say a thing.
”

“
That
’
s how I like it. Can I have my
flask back?
”

Sullivan tossed it back to Richie.
He stared at the man. He knew Richie was different and now the pieces seemed to
be falling into place. Bob had taken in an injured war vet with a drinking
problem. The more he learned about his father the more he wondered just what in
the hell was really happening around him.

“
Take
it easy, Richie,
”
Sullivan
said.
“
I
’
ll see you tomorrow.
”

“
You
got it, buddy,
”
Richie
said.

He went back to scrubbing the grill
and Sullivan went to the front of the diner. He saw Jess at the end of counter,
stacking coffee mugs. He walked slowly so he could stare at her longer. From
the side he could tell she was troubled. No woman should be that beautiful and
yet look as concerned as she did.

“
Hey
Jess,
”
Sullivan said.

She looked at him and her eyes lit
up.
“
Sullivan. Hey.
”

“
I
was just in the back talking to Richie,
”
he said.
“
Wow, what a man.
”

“
What
did he tell you?
”

“
Enough
for now,
”
Sullivan said.
“
I
’
m
sure you know more.
”

“
Yeah.
Richie
’
s had a rough road.
Poor guy.
”
Jess laughed.
“
Seems like everyone around here has
had a rough road.
”

“
What
about you?
”

“
No
comment,
”
Jess said.

She stacked the last mug and then tried
to move by Sullivan. He took one step to the left and she almost ran into him,
stopping at the last possible second.

“
What
are you doing for the rest of the day?
”

“
Why?
”

“
I
want to go look at a few properties and could use directions.
”

“
Properties?
What, are you moving down here?
”

“
You
never know,
”
Sullivan said.
“
I
’
m just enjoying my time. Bobby is at the hospital
with his kids. I
’
m thinking
of my father, actually both of them. I
’
m
not really in the mood to deal with those emotions right now.
”

“
Sullivan...
I...
”

“
I
haven
’
t seen you outside
the diner,
”
Sullivan said.
“
What do you have to do that
’
s so important today or tonight?
”

“
Well,
nothing really,
”
Jess said.
“
I mean, Katey, my
friend...
”

“
I
’
m sure she
’
s fine, right?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
So?
”

“
You
want me to show you to different properties?
”

“
Yeah.
I have the addresses. We can go for a ride. You can give me the general
direction.
”

“
And
you don
’
t have GPS?
”

“
I
never said I didn
’
t,
”
Sullivan said and laughed.
“
I
’
m
just looking for a cheap way to get you to come out with me.
”

“
So
that
’
s what it is?
”

“
Yes.
We
’
ll go look at the
properties. Then I
’
m going
to take to for dinner to talk about the properties.
”

“
Is
that all?
”
Jess asked.

Sullivan leaned down toward her.
She was so beautiful.

“
The
secret though, Jess, is that I
’
m
not going to talk about the properties. I
’
m
going to talk about you. Ask you questions.
”

“
That
sounds more like a date.
”

“
Damn,
”
Sullivan said.
“
You caught me.
”

Sullivan stepped back and to the
side. He gave Jess a chance to walk away but she didn
’
t. She stood, looking at him, her cheeks flushed.

“
We
can
’
t keep getting to know
each other in a diner, can we?
”

“
I
don
’
t know,
”
Jess said.
“
I don
’
t know what to say right now.
”

“
Then
maybe I can help... I
’
ll
pick you up in an hour. Right here.
”

“
Make
it two hours,
”
Jess said.

“
Two
hours it is then.
”

Sullivan smiled as Jess walked by
him. He noticed that she took a few small steps and then started to walk
faster.

Did that mean she was excited?

“
I
’
m in trouble. I think.
”

Jess threw her apron on an end
table and ran to the steps. She took them two at a time. Her heart was racing.
Being cornered by a man like Sullivan Chasen wasn
’
t
easy, considering how close he stood to her and how hot he looked with a dirty
rag over his shoulder. Sullivan had got to her. It was his ability to just
settle in and help everyone. It was in his blood, just like this father, Bob.
Jess had watched the way he acted when Bobby
’
s
family showed up. Sullivan was right there to make sure Bobby was comfortable.
He made Bobby
’
s kids a bite
to eat. Everything he did today was for Bobby and nothing more. Considering
everything happening in Sullivan
’
s
life that was the most selfless thing Jess had seen in a long time.

Katey came barging into Jess
’
s room as she stood in bra and
panties. She had her hands behind her back, ready to unsnap her bra.

“
I
need a shower,
”
Jess said.
“
Let me get in and then come talk
to me.
”

“
Are
you serious? What
’
s wrong?
Did something... is it Bob?
”

“
No.
Wait here.
”

Jess hurried into the bathroom. She
started the shower and stripped of her bra and panties. She climbed into the
back of the shower and used her foot to test the water as she waited for it to
warm up. When it did, she stepped forward, closed her eyes, and started reached
for the shampoo. She had no time to waste.

Two hours to get ready to go out
with Sullivan Chasen.

What the hell am I doing right
now...?

“
Jess,
talk to me,
”
Katey said as
she came into the bathroom.

“
I
’
m going out with Sullivan Chasen.
”

“
What?
When?
”

“
Right
now,
”
Jess yelled.

She scrubbed shampoo into her hair.

“
What
do you mean right now? He asked you at work?
”

“
More
like told me,
”
Jess said.
“
He has some properties he wants
to look at. He wants me to go with him and then we
’
re going for dinner.
”

“
Look
at you,
”
Katey said.
“
That
’
s awesome.
”

“
No,
it
’
s not. I
’
m scared to death, Katey.
”

“
Finish
your shower, I
’
ll pick out
clothes.
”

Katey was gone before Jess could
say another word.

A little over an hour later, Jess
was as satisfied as she was going to be. Showered, dressed, hair done. It was
the best she could do on such short notice. The only thing that ran through her
mind was that this would be the first time Sullivan would see her outside of
work. That meant there was no excuse if she looked like hell. At work, she
could blame work.

“
Don
’
t be nervous,
”
Katey said from the dining
room.
“
Just be yourself and
enjoy.
”

“
Easy
for you to say,
”
Jess said.

She left the kitchen, considering
her words, and felt terrible.

“
Don
’
t give me that look either,
”
Katey said.
“
Don
’
t feel guilty.
”

“
I
do though,
”
Jess said.
“
I mean... talking about this in
front of you.
”

“
There
’
s no reason to feel that way,
”
Katey said.
“
I
’
ve
been working on some new stuff this week. Writing a lot. And... I
’
m going to get an apartment.
”

“
Where?
”
Jess asked.

“
Ferry
Creek.
”

Jess smiled.
“
You
’
re staying? That
’
s
great.
”

“
Yeah.
I just found a place that
’
s
open on a short term lease.
”

“
Short
term? Why?
”

“
I
really want a house, Jess,
”
Katey said.
“
I want to get
back on my feet. I want the house I want. I want it to be about me.
”

Jess walked to the table and sat
down.
“
Then just stay here,
Katey. You
’
re not in my
way. That
’
s kind of silly
to move and move and move.
”

“
I
don
’
t want to bother you,
”
Katey said.
“
Like tonight. What if you and
Sullivan want to be alone?
”

“
No,
”
Jess said.
“
I doubt that will happen.
”
Even though Jess would have him
in a heartbeat.

“
But
this is your place,
”
Katey
said.