His grin widened. “What can I say? I will be thinking about you, though.”
Without thought, she shot out her hand and grabbed the neck of his shirt. She pulled him to her and planted a kiss on him, a kiss that was purely visceral. He responded, deepening the kiss till it nearly melted the soles of her shoes.
She was the first to pull away.
“What was that all about?” He blinked at her.
“I wanted to.” She backed off, put her hands on her hips and managed—just—not to lick her lips. “I’ve pretty much been kissed on demand since I met you. This one was on my terms.”
She shook her head. “And no way will I apologize for it. Now, I have to go. I’ve got a play date.” Spinning on her heel, she turned to leave.
But Jake was faster. He drew her back. His kiss sent her spiraling through space.
Oh yeah, she thought. They had chemistry…to spare.
And she had a lunch date with the girls. His girls. The women who were important to him. She pulled away. “Oh, Jake, this isn’t a good idea. Please don’t make me go.”
He laughed and chucked her under the chin. “You’ll be fine.”
“No, I won’t.”
She didn’t do well with things like this. Never had. Her life was the family business, so she did power lunches in power suits, not fancy little lunches in sundresses and broad-brimmed hats where everyone talked about their latest shopping spree. Or who was sleeping with whom. Or where they were planning to go for their next vacation.
She’d been trained to make nice when it would close a deal and only then. Not to be rude. No. Never rude. But business. All business.
Add in to the equation that this particular girl lunch would undoubtedly center on her and Jake and their relationship, their history…and her entry into their family. Their wish come true for him.
If she had any sense at all, she’d hop the nearest bus and head south.
“This means a lot to Grandma Hattie, Luce. You’ve met them. They all want to like you—so they will. Think of it as business negotiations when you’re planning a merger.”
She sent him a look that had top executives around the country scurrying to do her bidding. Jake Parker didn’t flinch.
She threw up her hands in literal surrender. “Okay, okay, okay. What does one wear to a barbecue?”
“A barbecue?” He looked puzzled.
“Yes. I’ll be the grilled entrée.”
An hour later, wearing a simple linen dress and handmade Italian leather pumps, Lucinda sat in Annie’s, a glass of ice-cold sweet tea in front of her. She looked at the sweat running down the side of the glass and felt the same running down the middle of her back. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this uncomfortable.
These were wonderful people. They loved Jake. What she and he were doing to them was wrong. Totally wrong.
And she saw no way out. Yet.
“I don’t want to seem pushy, but when is the wedding?” Birdie beamed across the table and clasped her hand, turning it so she could look at her engagement ring again. The one Donald had put there.
Lucinda wanted to run away.
Instead, she put on her corporate face and prevaricated. “We really haven’t talked about a date yet.” Guilt nipped at her, fed on itself and grew.
“Are you planning a big wedding in Florida?” Grandma Hattie asked.
“No.” Now there was an answer she knew. Only, jeez, the question wasn’t for real, was it? Well, it was, actually. For Grandma Hattie. But—argh! What the heck? She took a deep breath. She’d just go with her instinct and spit out her true feelings. The way she’d want it if she and Jake were actually anticipating following through with the “I do” thing.
She’d spin the fantasy wedding of her dreams, and it would not be anything like last Saturday’s.
“No big wedding in Florida. No fancy, high-priced wedding planner.” She paused. “We want to keep it simple, and we want to get married right here in Pride, Georgia. Family only.”
One by one, Lucinda met the eyes of each of the three wonderful women who were so willing to welcome her into their family—without reservation. This was what she wanted. To belong to this.
Overwhelmed by the feeling, even knowing what she said was impossible, she traced a line of condensation down her glass and added, “Maybe a few friends.” And before she could stop herself, without even thinking about it really, she asked Birdie to be her maid of honor and Sammy the ring bearer.
Birdie cried out in joy, and Lucinda cursed herself. She was making things worse. The more lies she told, the more everyone would be hurt.
Forget Jake’s plea for help, her own wishes that this could be real. She had to tell them the truth. She cleared her throat. “Grandma Hattie, Trudy, Birdie.” She paused. “There’s something I have to say.”