Doesn’t matter. The important thing was that she had not outright said no to him the other night. She’d merely asked for time and space while she sorted out her emotions. If no chance for them existed, she would have told him to leave and never come back.
He had to hang on to that. Right now it was all he had as the wait slowly killed him. In the meantime, he needed a distraction. That brought him back to the two Celtics tickets on the kitchen table. A game at the Garden would provide him with a few hours of mindless entertainment.
Picking up his cell phone, he dialed his brother’s number. Maybe Ryan would be up for a game tonight.
Chapter 9
After a drive through town to kill time, Lauren pulled onto the long driveway leading up to the Talbot estate. She’d remained at the diner as long as possible, but eventually self-preservation won out. If she sat around consuming any more of the black ink the restaurant called coffee, she’d have a permanent hole in her stomach.
She’d visited Callie’s new home a few times since its completion, but when she pulled up near the multi-car garage she once again gaped at the structure in awe. Dylan had spared no expense, and it showed. I could have something similar with Kevin. While not quite as grand, his parents’ estate, as well as his home, was gorgeous.
Marriage is about more than a nice house. Lauren pushed open the car door and slammed it with all her might. She’d never approached a relationship in terms of what she could gain from it. The fact that she just had didn’t sit well with her.
Before ringing the doorbell, she slipped a hand into her jeans pocket. Her fingers wrapped around the velvet box. Then she took one more step and rang the bell.
Moments later the door swung open, but rather than the housekeeper who’d answered on her last visit, or Callie, Jake Sherbrooke stood in the foyer.
“Long time no see. Come on in.” Jake graced her with his legendary smile and then gave her a hug.
Unable not to, Lauren returned the embrace. Since their first meeting, Jake had been friendly and welcoming. Not at all what she’d expected after years of reading about him in magazines.
“Callie’s not up yet, but you can hang out with us till she comes down.”
Great. Callie has guests. That’s what I get for not calling first. “I can come back later.” She liked Callie’s family but didn’t want to intrude.
Jake gave her hand a little tug. “It’s just me and Charlie and Sara and Christopher. Besides, Callie would be pissed if I let you leave.”
Lauren refrained from arguing. If Jake and Callie shared any personality trait it was stubbornness. In fact, the Sherbrookes, or at least the ones she’d met, seemed to have a monopoly on the characteristic.
Jake made polite conversation as he led her toward the dining room. Lauren held up her end, although if someone were to later ask what they talked about she’d draw a blank. Her mind was busy taking in her surroundings. Although not overdone or showy like Cliff House, the Sherbrooke mansion in Newport, there was no mistaking the refined elegance and wealth that ran through the estate. Unlike the penthouse apartment Callie and Dylan lived in while in New York City which favored a modern style, their new home showcased a turn-of-the-century traditional décor. She hadn’t thought much about it on her previous visits, but now she wondered what had influenced the design.
Regardless of what inspired the home, the place was nothing like the apartment Callie had once lived in or the homes Lauren normally visited.
“Help yourself if you’re hungry.” Jake stopped next to his chair in the dining room and inclined his head toward the far wall. “Nancy set out plenty of food.”
Must be nice. The sarcastic thought remained safely in her head. She wasn’t jealous of her friends, but who wouldn’t love to have a gourmet buffet breakfast set out for them? “Thanks, but I’ll just grab some tea.” The greasy egg sandwich she’d eaten at the diner still sat in her stomach.
“You don’t know what you’re missing. Maureen gave Nancy her blueberry-lemon muffin recipe.” Jake held up a golden brown muffin.
Across the table from her, Charlie rolled her eyes in Lauren’s direction.
“I see some things never change.” For the first time since leaving Kevin’s house, the stress in her stomach lessened.
“If anything, it has gotten worse since Ma started sending him care packages full of baked goods.” Charlie winked in her direction. “I’m starting to think he only married me because of Ma’s cooking.”
“I told you, Charlie. That was only one of the reasons.” Jake popped the rest of his muffin in his mouth.