Friends--And Then Some (8 page)

“If you insist.”

Gram chuckled. “You two remind me of Paddy and me.”

Paddy was Lily’s grandfather. He’d died several years before Lily was born, but the tales Gram told about him were very telling of the deep love and commitment her grandparents had shared. Lily hoped to find the same deep and lasting love with her own husband.

“You ready?” Jake asked, standing.

Lily looked at Gram for support, then back to Jake. “I hate to have you spend money on me. It isn’t necessary.”

“Would you like it better if Rick bought you a dress? Is that it?”

“Of course not.” She hardly knew Rick and didn’t want him buying her clothes.

“Then let’s get this over and done with.” He was halfway across the living room before Lily moved.

“Gram, what’s wrong with Jake? He’s not himself.”

Gram shook her pin-curled head and laughed. “I can’t say I rightly know, but I have my suspicions.”

With Jake marching ahead, Lily had little choice but to follow him. He was sitting
in the driver’s seat of his taxi and glaring impatiently toward Lily as she came down the front steps.

“How’d you get your cab back?” she asked, opening the car door. They’d left it parked in front of Rick’s house and Lily had wondered if Jake wanted her and Gram to pick it up for him. That was one of the things she’d planned to ask him that morning at the hospital.

“I have my ways,” he grumbled, checking the side-view mirror before pulling onto the street. A heavy pause followed. “Did you have a good time last night?”

The question repeated in Lily’s mind. Had she? Yes and no. The evening had been one she’d dreamed about for years. She’d met several interesting men who might be worth her time. Rick had been a gentleman, kind and considerate and genuinely concerned when Jake had fallen. He’d taken charge immediately and knew exactly what to do. Lily had been surprised at her response to Jake’s injury. She’d fallen to pieces, and Rick had been there to lend his support.

“Hello? Earth to Lily,” Jake said. “Did you or did you not have a good time?”

“The evening was grand. Thank you, Jake, for inviting me.”

“Did you meet someone?” Anticipating her answer, his grip tightened around the steering wheel. He wanted Lily to assure him that she had found the rich man of her dreams. But in the same breath, he wanted her to tell him she’d found no one.

“Not really.”

“What about Rick?”

“He was very nice.”

The corner of Jake’s mouth curved up sarcastically. Her word choice was comforting. “Anyone else?”

“Not really. A couple of others said they planned to visit the Wheaton to hear me play, but I don’t think they’ll show.”

“Who?” Jake demanded.

Lily lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug, surprised that Jake would sound angry when meeting eligible wealthy men was the reason he’d taken her to the party. “I don’t remember their names.”

“If they do come, I want to know about it so I can have them checked out.” He
was eager to know for other reasons as well—ones that weren’t clearly defined in his mind. He wanted Lily married and happy, and he wished to heaven that he could forget the taste of her. Every time he looked at her, he had trouble not kissing her again. He’d received a head injury, Jake told himself. One that was apparently affecting his reasoning ability. He shouldn’t be thinking of Lily in that way. His only option was to set her up with Rick or one of the others—and quickly.

“Jake,” Lily said softly.

“Yes?” Her swallowed hard.

“Why are you insisting on buying me a dress?”

“What’s the matter? Do you think Rick could afford a better one?”

“Oh, Jake, of course not.”

From the soft catch in her voice, Jake knew he’d hurt her to even imply such a thing. “It’s a matter of pride,” he explained. “You told me Rick wanted to replace the one I ruined. My blood stained it, so I should be the one to buy you another dress.”

“But Gram got the stain out.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But …”

“I’m buying you the dress. Understand?”

She didn’t answer.

“Understand?” he repeated forcefully.

“Repeaters is off Thirty-second.”

“What?”

“The secondhand store where I usually buy my dresses.” It took all of her willpower to give in to his pride. Jake had always been so reasonable, but his harsh tone told Lily she’d best concede gracefully. Either Jake would go with her or he’d buy something for her on his own.

“I’m not getting you anything secondhand.”

“All right,” she agreed reluctantly. “Either Sears or Penney’s is fine.”

“We’re going to Neiman Marcus.”

“Neiman Marcus, Jake!” Lily’s jaw fell open. Jake couldn’t afford to shop there.

The announcement was as much of a shock to Jake as it was to Lily. He’d driven
toward downtown, thinking they’d figure out where to shop once he’d found parking. But now that he’d spoken the words, he wouldn’t back down. If he was going to buy Lily a dress it would be one she’d remember all her life.

“I saw a dress I liked on display in Penney’s.” Her hands felt clammy just at the thought of spending all Jake’s money on some silly dress. He worked too hard and saved so little.

“And I saw one at Neiman Marcus,” Jake countered. “You’re always talking about how you want to shop there someday. I’m giving you the chance.”

A hundred arguments crossed her mind as they parked and Jake escorted her through the elite department store.

“Jake,” Lily pleaded.

“And nothing on sale.” Jake paused in front of a mannequin. “Nice,” he said to no one in particular.

“It should be,” Lily informed him stiffly, reading the price tag. “This little piece of chiffon is fifteen hundred dollars.”

It demanded all of his discipline for Jake to reveal none of his thoughts. Fifteen hundred dollars for a dress? He had no idea. He hesitated a second longer. “So?”

“Jake, honestly, fifteen hundred dollars would wipe you out.” Lily was growing more uneasy by the minute. This whole idea was ridiculous. Pride or not, Jake had no business buying her clothes. Not here.

“May I help you?” An attentive salesclerk approached them.

“Yes,” Jake said.

“No,” Lily countered.

“Perhaps if I came back in a few minutes.” The salesclerk took a step in retreat.

“My friend here would like to try on this dress,” Jake said, lifting the hem of the pricey dress on the mannequin.

“Jake,” Lily hissed under her breath.

“And a few more just like this,” Jake continued.

The clerk gave a polite nod. “If you’ll come this way.”

Jake’s hand on the small of Lily’s back urged her forward.

“Do you have any color in mind?”

“Midnight blue, red, and maybe something white.” The choices came off the top of his head. Once, a long time back, it had occurred to him that with Lily’s dark hair she’d look like an angel in white.

“I have just the thing.” The clerk motioned toward the dressing rooms on the other side of the spacious floor.

Like a small duckling marching after its mother, Lily walked behind the salesclerk through rows and rows of expensive dresses.

Sitting in a deep, cushioned chair outside the dressing room, Jake leaned against the padded back and crossed his legs, playing the part of a generous benefactor. This was just the type of thing Rick would relish. Jake had recognized the look in Rick’s eyes the minute he laid eyes on Lily. He’d wanted her. Jake knew the feeling. He’d wanted Elaine from the first minute he’d seen her; had lusted after her and been so thoroughly infatuated with her that he couldn’t think straight. But Lily was different. She wasn’t Elaine—knowledgeable in the ways of the world and practiced in controlling men. No, Lily was an innocent.

Changing positions, Jake uncrossed his legs and folded his arms over his chest. He didn’t know what could be taking so long—or how he was going to pay for whichever dress Lily chose. But it would be worth it to salvage his pride.

“Jake,” Lily whispered, coming out of the dressing room. She wore a deep-blue dress with a scalloped collar and short sleeves. “How do you like it?”

Jake watched her walk self-consciously in front of him. It was a dress, nothing special. “What do you think?” he asked.

“The saleslady called it Spun Sapphires.”

“It has a name?”

“Yes.” She inserted her hand inside the thin belt. “It’s a little big around the waist.”

“Then try on another.”

Relieved, Lily returned to the dressing room. The dress was nice, but she hated the thought of Jake spending nine hundred dollars on it. As tactfully as possible, she asked the clerk to bring dresses that were in a lower price range. Eager to please, the woman returned with a variety in the colors Jake had requested. A white crepe frock with
feminine tucks and simulated pearl embellishments caught her eye.

Jake felt a little too conspicuous as he sat and waited. Since Iraq, he liked to think of himself as an island, an entity unto himself. His life was comfortable. He needed no one. There were no ties to the mainland, no bridges, no sandbars. Nothing. Elaine had been the first to tug him closer to the shore. And now Lily … Just when he wanted to cast thoughts of her from his mind, he glanced up to discover her standing in front of him. She was breathtakingly beautiful in a simple white dress. Without realizing what he was doing, he slowly rose to his feet. Their eyes met for an instant before Lily turned away. Jake could hardly breathe, let alone speak. He’d never seen anyone more lovely.

“What’s this one called?” He swallowed and held his breath, trying to slow his racing heart. The task was impossible. Lily was a vision; she was everything that Jake wanted in a woman. His fingers ached with the need to trace her cheekbones and touch the fullness of her lips.

“It’s called Angel’s Breath,” she said.

“We’ll take it,” Jake informed the salesclerk, without glancing her way. Tearing his eyes away from Lily was unthinkable. He wanted to hold the memory of her in his mind and carry it with him for the remainder of his days.

“But you don’t even know how much it is,” Lily said.

“The price doesn’t matter.” Her nose was perfect, Jake decided, with a soft sprinkling of freckles across the narrow bridge. He adored every single one.

Jake paid the salesclerk while Lily changed back into her clothes. The woman smiled warmly at him as he signed the credit card receipt for three hundred and sixty-five dollars. On Lily it would have been a bargain at twice the price.

“That dress is gorgeous on your wife,” the salesclerk told him with a sincerity Jake couldn’t doubt. It wasn’t until they were at the car that Jake realized he hadn’t corrected her. Not only was she not his wife, but he was doing everything he could to marry her off to a wealthy man so she could have everything she desired. When the time came, he’d let her go without regret. When the time came … but not today.

“Thank you, Jake,” Lily told him once they were outside the store.

He looked down at her, captivated by the warmth of her smile. “Any time.” He reached for her hand, linking their fingers. “Are you hungry?”

“Starved. But it’s my turn to treat you. What would you like?”

“Food.”

“That’s what I love most about you,” Lily teased. “You’re so articulate.” The word
love
echoed in the corners of her mind, sending a shaft of sensation racing through her to land in the pit of her stomach.

They took the cable car down to Fisherman’s Wharf and stood in line with hordes of tourists. Lily’s favorite part of San Francisco was the waterfront. The air smelled of saltwater and deep-fried fish. The breeze off the bay was cool and refreshing. They ate their lunch on the sandy beach behind the Maritime Museum. Lily took off her sandals and stepped to the water’s edge, teasing the tide and then retreating to Jake’s side when the chilly water touched her toes. For his part, Jake leaned back against the sand and closed his eyes. Lily’s musical laugh lulled him into a light slumber. He was content with his world, content to have Lily nearby. He thought about the characters in the short story he’d recently submitted to
The New Yorker
. Lily had claimed it was his best story yet and had encouraged him to dream big. Personally, Jake thought it was a waste of time but to appease her, he’d sent it to the prestigious publisher.

“Jake?”

“Hmm?” Lily sat at his side, drawing up her legs so that her arms crossed her knees.

“It’s almost four.”

“Already?” He sat up. The day had slipped past too quickly. “You’re not working tonight, are you?”

Lily hesitated. “No.” Jake knew her schedule as well as she did.

“Good.” He settled back on the sand, folding his arms behind his head. “I’m too relaxed to move.”

“Me, too,” Lily said with a sigh and joined him, lying back in the sand. They were in such close proximity and Jake squeezed his eyes shut at the surge of emotion that burned through him at the merest brush of her leg against his. Slow, silent seconds ticked past, but Lily didn’t move and Jake hadn’t the will. The summer air felt heavy with unspoken thoughts and labored heartbeats. It demanded everything within Jake not to reach for Lily’s hand. He felt so close to her. His heart groaned. Lily wasn’t Lily to him
anymore, but a beautiful, enticing woman.

“Jake?”

He rolled his head to the side and their eyes met. Her warm breath tickled his face. “Yes?”

“I’ve enjoyed today.”

“Me, too.”

“Can we do it again?”

Jake turned his head and stared into the clear blue sky. For a long minute he didn’t say anything. He couldn’t do this again and remain sane; having Lily this close and not touching her was the purest form of torture. But he could never be the man she wanted. “I don’t know.” He would be doing them both a favor if he got out of her life and moved further down the coast. That was the nice thing about owning a sailboat and driving a taxi; he didn’t have a string of responsibilities tying him down.

“You’re right,” Lily concurred. “It’s probably not a good idea.”

“Why?” Something perverse within him insisted that he ask.

“Well …” Lily hedged. “Just because.”