Someone Like You (11 page)

“You don’t
want me in your bed?”

“I want you
here more than I can tell you.”

Chapter Twelve

Jake didn’t
snore, but every now and then he made a sound like he was breathing more intently.
Gen thought she’d feel more relaxed having him at her side, but she didn’t.
Truth was she was on edge. Jake agreeing to sleep over in her bed had thrown
her for a loop.
A pleasant one, but it sacred her.
What if she got used to this? Having a man around, having sex, sharing a bed,
and then they went their separate ways. What if he found a woman that he
wouldn’t think twice about kissing on the lips?

Gen stared up
at the ceiling. She knew she was falling for him, which was stupid because from
the first time they’d met she’d known this wouldn’t be a normal relationship.

She felt the
side of the bed tilt a little and glanced sideways. The moon was full, lighting
up the room slightly. She could see that Jake had turned on his side and was
now facing her. He was wide awake just like her.

 
He grabbed her hand.

“You having
trouble sleeping?” he asked.

“I guess it’s
just strange having someone in your bed when you’re not used to it.”

“It’s worse
when you have had someone there and suddenly they’re gone.”

She turned to
look at him. “Oh, Jake, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” She touched his
cheek.

“It’s okay.”

“Can I see a
photo of her?”

“What, right
now?”

“If
you have one.”

Gen knew it
was a crazy request, but she was curious as to what Katie looked like.

Jake switched
on the light, got out of bed, walked over to his pants he’d set on the back of
a chair, and pulled out his wallet. He got back onto the bed. He opened his
wallet and passed it to
Gen
.

The photo was
of both him and Katie. Jake had his arm around a woman with blonde hair and a heart-shaped
face. Gen swallowed. The woman was pretty. Gen could understand how his heart
had been broken. His wife looked so young and healthy in this shot.

“Thank you,”
she said, handing the wallet back to him. Jake took a glance at the photo and
smiled before closing the billfold. He set it down on the bedside table and
turned back to her.

“Did you love
Nicky’s father?” he asked.

“I did at the
time. I mean when we slept together, but after he deserted us I realized no, I
guess I never did.”

“So you’ve
never seen him again?”

“A
few times, but not to talk to.
I saw him from a distance when Nicky was
a baby, and then once again when he started kindergarten.”

“It had to be
really hard on you bringing him up when you were still basically a teenager.”

“I couldn’t
have done it without my parent’s financial and emotional support. I just don’t
know how young girls without great families cope. Did you and Katie ever think
about having a family?”

He didn’t
answer. Gen regretted asking him about something that was obviously a taboo
topic.

“Yes. It’s
how we found out that she had cancer. We’d been trying to get pregnant for over
a year, and when it hadn’t happened Katie went to the doctor, and that’s when
they found it.”

“Oh, Jake,
I’m so sorry.”

“I suppose it
was a good thing that she wasn’t pregnant, or she wouldn’t have been able to
take the chemotherapy which bought her another year with me.”

Gen reached
across and wiped the tear from his cheek.

“Shit, this
is embarrassing, me crying in front of you. What must you think?”

“That you’re
a good man, a good husband, and that Katie was so lucky to have you.”

Gen leaned
over and kissed his forehead.
And I’d
give anything to have you too.

Chapter Thirteen

Jake sat on
the step of the backdoor and watched as Nicky used the sandpaper to get rid of
the rust on the patio chairs. They hadn’t been used since Katie had been sick.
He’d stored them in the garage thinking they’d be out of the elements, but they’d
still rusted.

“Am I doing
this okay?” called Nicky.

“You’re doing
just fine. You’ll be an expert before you know it.”

Jake took a
knife and eased open the can of paint he’d bought that morning. The chairs had
been white before they’d deteriorated, and he’d opted to change them to green.
He put a stick into the middle of the paint and gave it a stir.

“I’m all done
with that. You want to come and check my work?”

Jake hadn’t
realized that Nicky was standing beside him.

“I believe
you.”

“So what do
you want me to do next?”

“I have this
paint ready, but maybe we can sit out here and have
a
lemonade
first.”

“Sure, I’d
like that.”

“You sit down
there, and I’ll be right back.”

Jake went
into the kitchen and poured two drinks and then went back outside where Nicky,
without being asked, was stirring the paint.

“I think we
should find you an apron to wear while you paint the chairs. Your mom will be
angry with me if you get that all over those jeans and T-shirt.”

Jake sat down
and handed Nicky a glass.

“She wouldn’t
be mad at you because she thinks you’re a nice guy.”

“Well, I’m
glad to hear that because she’s a very nice lady.”

“I think so,
and I’m not being biased because she’s my mom.”

Jake laughed.
“I hope you remember that when you give her a hard time.”

“I don’t mean
to. It’s just I’m my own person now.”

“You’re not
that until you’re at least twenty-one,” said Jake, leaning back against the
patio door. He stretched his legs out in front of him. He didn’t think he
would, but he was enjoying Nicky’s company. He’d known from the beginning he
wasn’t all bad, just testing the waters and the limits of
Gen’s
patience.

“I think I
should get back to work,” said Nicky putting the empty glass down on the step.

“
Okay,
and when you’re done, how about me showing you some of
the photos of my days in the Army?”

“Yeah, that
would be neat.”

****

 
Gen had to admit she missed having Nicky
around on Sunday afternoon when he’d gone over to Jake’s house. He hadn’t put
up any protest about doing the work to pay for the damage to the car. She’d
seen a change in him since Jake had entered the picture. And one good thing, he
hadn’t contacted his two friends since Gen had pulled him out of the arcade.

Her son returned later that evening with paint on both his
face and hands.

“So what did
you get up to?” she asked him.

“I helped
Jake paint the patio furniture. It was all
kinda
going rusty. Then he showed me some of his Army photos. They were cool. Did you
know that Jake diffuses bombs?”

“No, no I
didn’t.”

Gen sat down
cradling her mug of coffee.

“He worked
with dogs that can detect explosives. He knows so much about dogs too. He said
he’ll help me pick out one if I want to get a puppy.”

“Who said
anything about having a dog, young man?”

“Please, Mom.
I’ll take care of it.”

“Sure, like
the rabbit I let you talk me into when you were six. Who ended up feeding it
and cleaning its hutch every week?”

“I’m older
now.”

He sat down
beside her, and she brushed the bangs from his eyes. “I know you are, and one
day soon before I know it, you’ll find yourself a wife, and I’ll be all by
myself.”

Would you listen to me, Ms. Doom and Gloom all
of a
sudden.

“You’ll have
Jake.”

“I don’t know
about that. He doesn’t want to get involved because he still loves his wife.”

“I saw her
photo. She was pretty, but not half as beautiful as you are.”

She smiled.
Her son was really a sweet kid.

“You know
Mom, you meeting Jake was the best thing that’s happened to us. I thought he
was like every other adult at first, but now I’ve spent time with him, I think
he’s cool. I can’t wait to spend more time at his place. And who knows, he
might end up being my stepdad. How neat would that be to finally have a dad?”

Gen looked at
her son into total shock. He’d never praised someone so much, ever. And he
looked happy. He stood up.

 
“I’m going to take a shower,” he said.

Gen sipped
her coffee and watched her son head to the bathroom. She was sure he was
getting bigger by the month. His father had been tall and broad, and each year
she could see Nicky resembling him more.

She ran her
finger around the rim of her mug, lost in thought about Jake and the future.
She had to think about Nicky and his feelings as much as she did her own. What
if he got used to having Jake in their lives and one day Jake met a woman and
decided he couldn’t spend time with them any more?

 
Maybe it would be best for both her and her
son if she ended this before things got out of hand. She’d fooled herself as
long as she could about their
arrangement.
Men might be able to fuck like crazy and keep it all business, but she
wanted the promise of a tomorrow.
At least a kiss on the lips
for a start.

****

Jake rinsed
the paintbrushes under running water in the utility tub. Nicky wasn’t such a
bad kid even if he had damaged the car. Jake had enjoyed spending time with him
and showing him all his photos from his days in the Army. In all honesty, Jake
loved getting caught up with Gen and Nicky’s life. It made him think about
other things besides the fact that he was facing the rest of his life as a
widower.

A car headed
up the driveway, and he glanced out of the window to see Gen getting out of it.

Panic set in.
She’d never been here before. He’d never invited her because the thought of the
woman he’d been having sex with stepping inside the house he’d shared with
Katie almost repulsed him.

She rang his
doorbell. He could pretend he was out, but his car was sitting there in front
of the garage. Plus, the light was on in his kitchen, so she must have seen it,
and probably his outline, when she’d walked up the path to the door. He rushed
into the hallway, hoping he could just disappear.

Jake ran his
hands through his hair, feeling the walls closing in on him. He was
suffocating. On the one hand he was falling for Gen and didn’t want to think
about being without her. On the other, loyalty to his wife and her memory made
him want to send her away.

He held his
chest as Gen rang the bell for a second time. His heart was beating double
time, almost pumping its way out of his chest. With any luck he’d have a heart
attack and wouldn’t have to worry about opening the door to her.

That’s the most stupid thing you’ve ever come up
with.

Pull yourself together and answer the door.

He glanced at
Katie’s photo in the living room before taking the first step.

Gen rang the
bell for a third time just as he put his hand on the knob and opened the door
to her.

He swallowed
because she looked so beautiful and he desperately wanted a normal relationship
with her. However, if he did then he’d be a man who went back on his word and
his promise.

He wasn’t
that sort of guy.

“Hi, I was
driving around and thought I’d drop by. Nope, that’s a lie, and I don’t want to
ever lie to you, Jake. I was thinking about us and wanted to come over to your
house.”

Jake stood
frozen. He knew this moment was coming. Women said they just wanted sex and
that was all, but it wasn’t in their nature. Not like men. Who was he kidding?
It wasn’t in his nature either. Bottom line was he wasn’t the type of guy who
just had sex without some sort of commitment.

Idiot.

“It’s great
to see you, but I’m in the middle of cleaning the paintbrushes.”

She looked
hurt. Her smile turned to a frown. She obviously knew he was stalling and
lying. And she’d been so honest with him.

Bastard.

“I can help
clean them if you like.”