Just a Little White Lie(64)
“Don’t worry. Everything’s gonna work out.” He jerked his shoulder toward Donald and Wanda Sue. “Ignore them.”
She shook her head. “I’m not worried about them.”
“Then what’s putting that look in your eyes?” He leaned across the table, cupped her chin and tipped her head up so their eyes met.
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “It’s—” She stopped. She wanted to say, “It’s you. It’s me. It’s us. I want what I can’t have.” But she didn’t, couldn’t, voice those desires aloud. Instead, she picked up the menu.
Sally Kay came back and took their order just as Lucinda’s phone rang.
She checked the ID and winced. “This isn’t a real good time for me, Dad,” she said into her cell.
“Where are you?”
“At the Blue Moon, a small diner here in Pride. Donald is here too.”
“You’ve reconciled, then?”
“No!” She heard the intensity in her lowered voice. “That’s not going to happen. Donald is actually with Jake’s, ah, old flame.”
Jake shot her a quick look.
“Humph!” Her father’s voice, rough with impatience, boomed from the speaker. “I’ve got a couple questions for you on the Benderman file.”
“Ask Jon Eisermann. I’m on vacation, remember? We agreed I’d get no work-associated calls this week.”
“That was when we figured you’d be on your honeymoon. You’re not.”
She grimaced. “No, and that means I need this time away all the more.” She lowered her voice. “Can’t I just be your daughter for this week, Dad? Can’t you put yourself in my shoes and realize I need a break?”
Jake looked away, and she was glad. She didn’t want to see the sympathy that undoubtedly played across his face. She didn’t want his pity. But she’d hoped her father would be more understanding. She should have known better. When would she learn?
“I need to go, Dad. Talk to Jon. He’s handling my work while I’m gone.” She hit End and dropped the phone into her purse. “Remind me not to answer that from now on.”
Glancing across the room, she met Donald’s interested expression with a glare.
Jake reached across the table and took her hand in his warm, strong one. His thumb rubbed the back of hers, and it was as though she’d reached a safe port.
Their waitress chose that moment to appear with two huge plates, one loaded with a burger and cheesy fries, the other with grilled chicken and a green salad.
Lucinda had noticed on the way in that Donald was eating his usual Caesar salad while Wanda Sue had a heap of cheesy fries on hers. Strange. On paper, she and Donald seemed such a good match as did Wanda Sue and Jake. Yet Jake need only touch her with his gaze to have her go up in smoke. With Donald—nothing.
“Need ketchup? Hot sauce?” Sally Kay asked.
Jake looked at her. “Luce?”
“I’m good.”
“Just some more iced tea when you get a chance, sugar. Sweet tea. Champagne of the South.”
As their waitress walked away, Lucinda eyed his plate. He picked up his burger, smiled and took a huge bite. “Mmm, good. Want a taste?”
“I’ll stick with my chicken, thanks.”
“You have no idea what you’re missin’, honey.” Scooping up a couple of cheesy fries, he practically purred. Then he turned serious. “Lucy, we need to discuss how we’re gonna handle this mess with the fishermen and shrimpers so the repercussions are minimal for you. I want to make things right for the people affected. And I have to be up-front with you. I’m not concerned about the consequences for your father and his company. But I don’t want you hurt.”
“Okay. But first, I need to tell you something else.” She hesitated, searched for the right approach. “I think, Jake, your mama’s going to have a use for that baby quilt real soon.”
Jake spit sweet tea across the table. “You—you’re—”
“No! No.” She laughed.
“Jeez, Luce.” He picked up his napkin and swiped at the mess he’d made. “I mean—I—it’s not that—”
“It’s okay, Jake.” She picked up her water glass, swirled the contents. A mischievous imp seemed to have taken over her body and brain. She grinned. “I caught your sister making out in the backroom of the salon today.”
“Birdie?” He fell back against the chair, complete surprise on his face.
“Do you have any other sisters?”
“I…No.”
“Zane’s in town.”