Don't Lie to Me (5 page)

I looked back to him, only to be shocked to see a look of sadness fill his features. “It’s fine, Jack. I’ll see you Monday.”

He nodded once. “Just like normal?”

I blinked, his words shocking me even though I shouldn’t have been surprised. Slowly, as I processed what he said, I pursed my lips together. I wanted to either yell at him or smack him, but knew nothing would change what had just happened in the hall. “Like normal,” I replied and then opened the door without another word.

I made it inside the apartment and shut my door before sinking to the floor, resting my head against the wall. There wasn’t going to be anything normal at all about showing up to work on Monday and I knew it. I had just had a taste of Jack, something I had wanted for years. And it would be my last.

THREE

I moaned in pain when the shrill beeping of my alarm clock woke me up first thing on Sunday morning. My head felt like it was going to explode and even though I had brushed my teeth severely before crashing into bed the night before, my mouth felt like I had slept with a handful of cotton balls in it. I needed water desperately. And ibuprofen. And coffee. Definitely coffee.

Slowly getting up, I dressed in the pair of yoga pants I wished I could have stayed home and worn the night before and made my way to the kitchen for some much needed hangover relief. The delicious smell of coffee permeated the air and I smiled, knowing Macy was already awake.

I had cringed the night before when I saw her huddled up on my couch sleeping peacefully underneath a quilt my mom had made me for my high school graduation. It was old and tattered after years of use, and Macy’s small body barely fit under it, but she was sleeping so deeply I didn’t want to wake her up to send her home. I also didn’t wake her up because I wasn’t nearly ready to explain why I was getting home so late from my date with Dean.

I smiled just thinking about him, doing whatever I could to avoid thinking of the clusterfuck that had occurred between Jack and me. I also knew, as I hit the kitchen and saw Macy look at me expectantly, that my time of avoidance was now up. I couldn’t hide it from her either. Years of trying to hide things from Macy had taught me that she always knew when I was lying. I completely sucked at it.

“So….” She started with a wiggling of her eyebrows. “I take it you charmed the pants off Dean, after all. How was he?”

I snorted and teasingly pushed her out of my way on my way to the coffee pot. She should know better than to try to get any form of conversation out of me before my first hit of caffeine.

She grew more aggravated by the moment as I slowly, poured my coffee, walked to my chair, pulled it out, and sat down, making the entire process take five times longer than normal. It was only then that I took the first, long, lingering sip of coffee. Macy was a half second away from exploding in frustration as I tortured her with my slowness. I bit back a smile when she slammed her hand on my kitchen table.

She narrowed her chocolate brown eyes at me. “You have two seconds to start talking before I call Dean and get the story from him.”

I chuckled. Dean would have no idea why I was out so late.

“Dean and I decided after dinner that we felt more like brother and sister than anything more.”

Her face fell in shock. “Seriously? He was perfect for you.”

I shrugged and took another sip of the coffee letting it warm me and wake me up at the same time. “There was no chemistry and we both knew it.”

“That was a really long dinner for you guys to not have any chemistry.”

I exhaled slowly, wanting to prolong the moment where I told her the truth but desperately wanting to run from it. I set my coffee cup down and pinched the bridge of my nose with my thumb and finger. I wanted to erase the part that happened after dinner with Dean and just completely forget I had run into Jack at all. I didn’t want the reminder of how horrible the night had ended, and how I felt like a fool when I had closed the door to my apartment. I looked over at the door, wanting to erase everything but knowing I couldn’t, before looking back at the irritated little squirt sitting across from me.

Her fingers impatiently tapped the top of my table.

“We ran into Jack as we were leaving dinner and he invited me for a drink.”

She was a stuttering, fumbling mess when she finally found her voice. “You…Jack…drinks?”

I laughed softly and did the best I could to dismiss the thoughts I knew were running rampant in her mind. She knew what kind of torch I carried for him. I tried to hide my embarrassment from her, knowing if she looked too closely she could probably still see how swollen my lips were from the scorching kiss he gave me when he plastered me up against the hallway wall.

“It was just a few drinks, no big deal.”

She didn’t believe me. I didn’t realize I was actually touching my lips until she gasped and stared at me like she’d just solved the global warming crisis. Pure exaltation filled her face as she started wagging her fingers at me. “You kissed him!”

I cringed and looked at Logan’s door, hoping her loudness wouldn’t wake him up. I knew he was too young, but the last thing I ever wanted him hearing about was his mom’s sexual escapades….not that there’d been any recently to share.

“He was up late – there’s no way he’ll hear us,” she said, reading my mind and still bouncing up and down in her chair.

“Tell me. You have to tell me what happened.”

I scrunched my nose trying to figure out how much to share. She worked for Jack too and I didn’t know what was appropriate since we both worked for him. He also knew she was my best friend and we told her each other everything. Surely he wouldn’t be too upset to know that I spilled what happened to her. It was a risk I was willing to take.

“I drank too much at the Irish pub next to Frenzio’s and he drove me home. He kissed me when we got to my door.”

“And….how was it?”

I looked back at the door, remembering how it felt when his large chest pushed mine against the wall, how hot it made me feel when he moaned into my mouth and held onto to the back of my neck with his strong hand. It was amazing.

“It was the best and absolute worst kiss of my entire life.” I groaned in frustration and then dropped my forehead into my hands on the table. “It was incredible. Hot, passionate….I don't think I've ever had a more powerful, mind-blowing kiss in my life.” I groaned again and shook my head, frustrated that I had allowed myself to get a small taste of Jack McMillan. After seeing the regret and remorse that filled his eyes when we finally pulled away, I knew he was never going to touch me again.

“Why was it the worst?” she asked softly. Surprised she wasn’t digging me for more dirt on the good part, I slowly took my head out of my hands.

“You should have seen the way he looked when the kiss stopped.” I opened my mouth and shut it again, not wanting to relive the worst part. “He told me to forget it ever happened and that he shouldn’t have done it in the first place. I’ve never seen him look so sick to his stomach.”

I got up from my chair and went to refill my coffee cup, replaying the scene in my head the entire time.

“Well that sucks. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is looking. Personally I’m surprised it took him this long to make his move on you.”

I shook off her ridiculous statement. Before last night, Jack had never given any indication that he was at all interested in me. But if not, then what the hell happened last night? He couldn’t have been upset about Jessica. He never let a woman get to know him enough to care what they thought. Macy and I were potentially the only exception to that rule, and even then, he was always friendly but purely professional. Everything personal I learned about him was through Google and Macy’s connections through the country club. Besides the small glimpses he allowed people to see, he kept his private life and past locked up tighter than Fort Knox.

“I think you’re seeing things again.”

“And I think he likes you. And he adores Logan. I don’t know what caused him to finally make a move on you last night, but trust me; he’ll realize it was a mistake to push you away.”

I turned to her and smiled softly. “And what am I supposed to do then? How am I supposed to see him at his condo tomorrow, when I can still feel his lips on mine today?”

She shrugged simply. “Ignore him. Pretend it never happened just like he said. It’ll drive him crazy.”

“Maybe I should just forget it. I don’t want to be just another three-date girl, and I have Logan to think about. He’s crazy about Jack, and I’d hate to risk the relationship they have.”

Macy bent down and picked up her purse before slipping her ballet flats on her feet. When she reached the door, she turned to me with a mischievous smile. “Maybe it could end up being a great, happily ever after relationship and the reward would be well worth the risk. Ever think of that?”

Ever since his lips left mine that was the only thing I could think about.

I wasn't about to tell her that.

My silence apparently spoke for itself because she simply wiggled her fingers at me and started walking out the door. “I’m going to go home and wake Tate up so he can cook me some breakfast. Have fun at work tomorrow.”

She closed the door before I could tell her to shut up. Smart girl, I thought, and then frowned into my coffee cup. Ignore Jack and simply pretend last night never happened. I had been pretending for what seemed like forever that I wasn’t interested in him at all. How hard could it be just to keep on pretending?

I set my coffee cup down on the counter harder than necessary and jumped at my own annoyance for letting him affect me so much. It was just one kiss with a guy. It’s not like I hadn’t had my share of kisses and hook-ups over the years.

Go to work and pretend it never happened. I could totally do that.

Two hours later once my laundry was finishing up, Logan had eaten breakfast and we had both showered for the day, I was bored out of my mind playing my fifth game of UNO.

“How about we play something else?” I asked him, trying to hide my boredom. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the game. And I did absolutely love that my son could spend hours playing cards, board games and with his toys instead of solely focusing on our video game system, but I just wasn’t in the mood today. I needed something to take my mind off going to work the next day.

I laughed when Logan whined for just one more game.

“Puh-lease, mommy?” I couldn’t resist his chubby cheeks and smile.

“Okay. One more, but then I want to go do something. The zoo maybe?”

Logan’s face lit up like the Fourth of July fireworks. I took that as a yes, and dealt out seven cards to each of us for hopefully, my last game of cards for the day.

After he beat me in the last game, I sent him to his room to get his shoes on so we could head out to zoo. I was moving all the items from my clutch bag I used on the previous night’s date to my bigger purse when I realized that my car was still parked several miles away outside Frenzio’s.

As if on cue, someone knocked on my door. I opened it and smiled at Shane, Jack’s driver.

“Hey Shane,” I said politely.

He held out my key ring that I had given to Jack last night and smiled. “Mr. McMillan asked me to return your car today.”

My smile fell at the mere mention of Jack’s name. If Shane noticed, he didn’t mention it.

“How are you feeling today?”

I frowned slightly at his question. Shane and I have known each other for years, and I was pretty sure this was the most we had ever spoken. Normally it was just the pleasant hello and good evening when we passed in the entryway to Jack’s condo. I stiffened when I realized Jack must have said something.

“Fine…” I said slowly, suspiciously.

He smiled and handed me a brown bag in his other hand. I gave him a look, but then took the bag and opened it. Two gourmet cupcakes sat at the bottom of the bag. I knew with only a quick glance they were my favorite caramel apple flavored ones that came from the bakery near Jack’s building.

“Mr. McMillan asked me to deliver these to you. Said he hoped they make you feel better.” He arched an eyebrow in question as to what that could mean, but I didn’t tell him.

My stomach soured at the reason behind the cupcakes. Was he still feeling guilty for the kiss and trying to placate me with cupcakes? Or was he concerned about the hangover he probably knew I would have?