Not Quite Dating Page 9

  Jack leaned his elbows on the table and placed his head in his palms. “Nothing I can say will change your mind?”

  “No. Please understand. I’d like to still be friends.”

  Rubbing his jaw, Jack let himself smile again. “I can’t say I like it, but I understand.”

  She sighed. “So we’re good?”

  A hint of mischief sparkled in his eyes when he said, “Darlin’, we’re better than good. I’ve got to go, but I’ll be in touch.”

  “I should have the dress ready to go back by Tuesday. I can drop it off at the hotel.”

  He waved a hand and said, “That isn’t necessary. I’ll stop by the diner. You said you worked on Tuesday, right?”

  “Right.”

  He unfolded from the bench. “I’ll come by. If something comes up, I’ll call you.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Jack looked as if he wanted to say something else, but decided against it. “Have a nice day off, Jessie.”

  “Thanks, you too.”

  Then he was gone. Jessie watched his cute, denim-clad ass walking in the opposite direction. No argument, no counterpoints for trying to talk her into dating him. Nothing.

  She should have been happy with how quickly he agreed to a platonic relationship, but somehow she wasn’t. Maybe the kiss had affected only her in a profound You’ll never find another guy to kiss you like that way.

  Maybe Jack wasn’t all that into her.

  Jessie forced her gaze to fall on her son and to stop staring at the retreating man. Before she could turn in her seat, Jack glanced over his shoulder and caught her staring at him.

  Without a doubt, there would be a smirk, hidden in the shadow cast by his hat, all over his face.

  Chapter Seven

  Jack sat in meetings most of Monday and half of Tuesday. Eric Richardson, his marketing manager of the Southern California region, ran with the suggestion of renaming Jack’s new chain of hotels.

  When Jack asked Eric why he didn’t speak up earlier about his reservations, Eric told him he didn’t want to step on Jack’s ego since the new hotels had his name in the title.

  “Step on it next time,” Jack told him. “We pay you to know how to market what we come up with. If the name will keep people from coming, then these hotels will never get off the ground.”

  Eric sat opposite Jack in one of the conference rooms on the main floor. Eric was much younger than Jack and was probably worried about his job if he became too disagreeable. Jack had had to deal with those emotions from employees for years. It usually took some time and effort to help them relax and feel safe enough in their jobs to offer what they really felt.

  “I’ll remind you about this conversation next time,” Eric promised.

  “As you should. Have you considered a different name?”

  Eric shrugged. “I haven’t given it much thought. I’ll put picking a new name for the hotel at the top of my list.”

  Jack thought of Jessie and her ideas. “What about the Morrison East?”

  Eric wrinkled his nose. “Well, that might be confusing to our guests here out west.”

  “Jack’s Place.”

  “Almost too casual, but I like that direction more. Oh.” Eric shot up in his chair. “How about the Morrison Family Inn?”

  Jack smoothed his suit jacket against his chest as he considered the title. “I like that. Gives people the Morrison name, a name associated with quality and leaders in the hotel business across the nation, but puts in the family twist. I think that will work.”

  “Shall I pencil that in?”

  “Do it, but let’s run a few market tests to determine if the public will see this the way we do.”

  Eric nodded. “I’ll have my assistant get on this when I get back to my office.”

  “Get back to me next week on the results.”

  Eric stood and folded his papers before shoving them into his briefcase. “If there isn’t anything else you need, I’ll go ahead and return to San Francisco and meet with you before Christmas for the board meeting.”

  Jack stood and shook the other man’s hand. “We’ll see you then. Thanks for coming all the way down here.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “And Eric?”

  He turned toward Jack.

  “In the future, speak up. I’m not going to can you if your ideas differ from mine.”

  Eric nodded. “With the economy the way it’s been, everyone fears for their jobs.”

  Jack understood his concerns. The hotels had gone through a couple of rounds of layoffs since the recession. The budget-minded hotel idea had bloomed because of the bad economy.

  “The Morrison hotels are riding the storm. I don’t foresee any more layoffs.” It was the best Jack could do. He couldn’t promise the man he’d always have a job, but he wanted him at ease enough to offer insightful ideas on something as important as the name of a hotel.

  “Thank you, Mr. Morrison.”

  “Safe flight home.”

  As Eric left the room, Jack stacked his market analysis papers together and placed them in his briefcase. His cell phone in his pocket rang as he headed out of the room.

  Recognizing the number, Jack answered with a greeting. “Hey, Mike.”

  “Good, you’re answering.” His friend’s frazzled voice turned Jack’s smile to a frown.

  “What’s up?”

  “It’s Dean. Has he called you?”

  “Haven’t spoken to him since Vegas. The construction end of the new hotels is a ways off, so I didn’t think I’d hear from him for a while. Why?” Jack set his briefcase back down. Dean owned and operated a major western United States construction company that Jack planned to use to build the family inns. Dean was going to take on the oversight of the project personally.

  “Damn. I thought he’d have called one of us.”

  “What’s going on? Is he OK?” Jack rubbed a hand over his face and sat forward in his chair.

  “Probably not. Maggie called off the wedding.”

  Of all the things he expected to come out of Mike’s mouth, Maggie and Dean’s engagement ending wasn’t one of them. “Oh man. Dean must be devastated.” For better or for worse, Dean had adored Maggie.

  “He’s disappeared.”

  “Do you know what happened? Why did she call it off?” Jack stood and paced the room. Dean was his best friend, and he had no idea what was happening with him. Damn, what kind of friend was that?

  “No idea.”

  “Never mind, that isn’t my business. Where do you think Dean went?” Jack could think of a few places to check out. Places they would escape to during Dean’s early years in Southern California.

  “He could be anywhere. He left on his motorcycle, according to Maggie.”

  Being pissed on a motorcycle never ended well. Dammit! “I thought he sold the motorcycle.”

  “Apparently not. Anyway, I don’t think he went far. Maybe up to Arrowhead or possibly Mammoth.”

  “It’s December. Mammoth is covered in snow.” Dean could be wild, but he wasn’t reckless. “I’ll pick you up in the hour. We’ll head out and find him.”

  “You read my mind, bro.”

  Jack hung up the phone, thinking about his friend. Dean would be distraught. Probably didn’t want company, but if left alone, he might find himself drinking too much and having an accident. Jack and Mike could keep him safe while he wallowed for a few days.

  Up in his suite, Jack tossed his case aside and stepped into his bedroom to change his clothes. Once he’d dressed down into jeans and a button-up plaid shirt, he plopped his hat on his head and started for the door.

  “Damn,” he said, thinking of Jessie. He picked up his phone and dialed her number.

  She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

  Her voice was honey to his ears. “Hey, Jessie, it’s Jack.”

  “Hi.”

  “Listen, I’m not going to be by the restaurant tonight. Something came up.”

 
; “Oh.” Was that disappointment in her voice?

  Jack smiled.

  “I hope everything’s OK.”

  “I’m not sure. Remember my friend Dean, the one who was getting married?”

  “The blond guy?”

  “Right. Well, his fiancée called off the wedding, and Dean’s disappeared.”

  “Oh God, Jack, that’s awful. He seemed all goo-goo-eyed over her—what I saw of him, anyway.” The kindhearted sincerity of her words made him smile.

  “He couldn’t have taken it well. Anyway, Mike and I are headed out to see if we can catch up with him…keep him out of trouble.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. Is your work cooperating?”

  His work? Oh, yeah, his “waiter” job. “They’re great here. You know, though, they aren’t great about personal phone calls. Let me give you my cell number so if you need to get hold of me, you can.” The last thing he wanted was for Jessie to call the hotel asking to talk to Jack Moore and learn the truth. It was probably best to keep her from the hotel as much as possible. Jack told her his number, made her promise to put it in her cell. “How is the car running?”

  “It’s great. Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ve got to go.”

  “Go. Good luck.”

  “Thanks, I’ll get in touch once I’m back.”

  “I hope you find your friend, and that he’s all right.”

  She did sound as if she cared. “Bye, Jessie.”

  “Bye, Jack.”

  Boy, he thought, one relationship ending, while his and Jessie’s was just warming up. There really weren’t any guarantees when it came to love and life.

  Two days later, Jessie couldn’t handle the not knowing. She shouldn’t let Jack’s problems bother her, but for some reason they did. He hadn’t called, hadn’t shown up at the diner. Now it was her day off and she sat on the same park bench, watching her son play after school. Maybe the bench reminded her of him. Then again, she hadn’t stopped thinking about Jack since they’d met. Twice she’d picked up the phone to call him; twice she’d chickened out.

  How was his friend doing? Did they find him? If there was one thing she knew about Jack it was his loyalty to people he called friend. Look at her. They hardly knew each other and yet he’d put his job on the line for her…fixed her car when he didn’t need to.

  Sure, he might not have a kid to take care of or much in the way of responsibility, but he’d spent his money paying to have her car fixed. She hadn’t bought into his saying he owed a friend a favor. Chances were he’d paid something to have her car fixed.

  The oil light didn’t even blink at her anymore.

  Where was Jack now? Could she return the friendship favor and help him out? She had to do something other than sit here in the park and worry.

  Friends call friends to see how they’re doing.

  Jack was a friend…right?

  Jessie had a sudden feeling of déjà vu. She was in high school again, contemplating whether or not she should call a boy.

  “Grow up,” she chided herself.

  She dialed Jack’s number and held her breath until he answered. When he did, he sounded like he was still in bed.

  “Jack, it’s Jessie. Did I wake you?”

  “Jessie? Yeah, hold on.”

  Muffled sounds permeated the line until Jack returned. “Hey.”

  “You’re in bed?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s four o’clock.”

  Jack released a long sigh. “We couldn’t get Dean off his binge until sunrise. Then the alcohol haunted him until noon. He was a mess, Jessie. One sorry son of a bitch.”

  Jessie sighed. “So you found him.”

  “We did. I might have to spike his cereal with whiskey to keep his head from exploding, but we did find him, drunk as any sailor on shore leave.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Up in Arrowhead.”

  “Dean is taking the breakup hard, then?”

  Jack’s voice sounded more alert with every sentence. “He is. No man ever wants to believe the woman he pledged his life to isn’t committed. But between you and me, I think it’s for the best. Maggie was nice and all, but not for Dean. Better they figure that out now than get married and figure it out after.”

  “You didn’t tell him that, did you?”

  “I’m not an idiot, Jessie.” He laughed. “I’ve seen Dean throw a punch, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of one.”

  “Good. Why did his fiancée break it off?”

  Jack sounded as if he was moving around on a bed. “I don’t think he knows. She just told him she couldn’t do it. They were too different. Shouldn’t she have figured that out before she said yes?”

  “I’ve never been engaged, but I think that’s what an engagement is all about. You have to spend time with each other, figure out if you work together outside of the physical.”

  “Dean said the physical was amazing.”

  “He’s a guy. Of course it was. Did he know about the things that count? Did they mesh outside of the bedroom? Could they talk to each other about any and everything?”

  “Damn…no. I don’t think so. But I already told you I didn’t think they worked. Dean thought they did, and for that I’m bummed for him.”

  Jessie watched her son on the playground and leaned on her forearms. “You’re a good friend, Jack. You were ready to accept her regardless, and you’re there for him when it fell apart.”

  “I’ve known Dean since we were kids.”

  “Did you grow up together?”

  “Yeah. He’s like a brother to me.”

  Jessie smiled. “You take care of the people you care about, Jack, and it shows. Dean’s lucky to have you on his side.”

  “Ah, now, Miss Jessie, you keep talkin’ like that and I’m going to have to get down to you and show you how much I appreciate your astute attention to my divine disposition.” Jack’s accent sang like a soprano in church.

  “I’m paying you a compliment, not inviting you into anything divine.”

  Jack laughed.

  She laughed with him. “OK, well, I’ll let you go. Just wanted to check up.”

  “You just wanted to hear my sexy cowboy voice,” he teased.

  “I was concerned for your friend.” The sexy voice was a nice bonus.

  Jack laughed. “What are you doing today?”

  “I’m at the park with Danny. We’re going to the outlet center tomorrow, get some Christmas shopping done. How long are you going to be in Arrowhead?”

  “We’re going to try and get Dean off the hill later tonight. He’ll stay with Mike for a while.”

  “If there is anything I can do for him, let me know.”

  “I will. Dean is pissed at your whole gender right now, but I’ll keep you in mind.”

  She heard Jack yawn. “Get some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “OK, thanks for calling.”

  She hung up and found herself smiling.

  It was good to hear his sexy cowboy voice.

  The outlet center was packed. Jessie held on to Danny’s hand for fear he’d get lost in the crowd. People pushed, shoved, and seldom offered an apology for stepping into her personal space. Bah humbug!

  “How long do we have to be here, Mommy?”

  “Long enough to pick out something for Auntie Monica and Grandma.” Her mother was the hardest person to shop for. What she really needed, Jessie couldn’t afford, and what she wanted, love from a man, Jessie couldn’t buy. There was no guarantee the outlet mall would have anything on her list.

  “Can we buy something for Mrs. Ridgwall?”

  “Your teacher?”

  “Yeah.”

  Jessie wanted to say yes, but every dime really needed to go far. “How about we make something at home for your teacher? I’ll bet she’d love some of our famous peanut brittle.”

  Danny nodded with enthusiasm. “OK. I’ll make her a card, too.”

 
Jessie knew she had skated out of that one. In the future he wouldn’t be that easy to sway, but she was glad he was at this point.

  Every toy store they passed, Danny wanted to go inside to see what he should put on his Christmas list for Santa. Jessie had explained to Danny that Santa had a lot of kids to take care of and to give Santa only a few things to choose from. Just in case the elves couldn’t come up with his most favorite toy. Steering him away from the pricey items took a certain skill that didn’t always work.

  On the way into the third toy store, Jessie glanced up and noticed Jack’s hat before she recognized the man.

  Jack, in his signature outfit, leaned against the massive window of the toy store with a smile on his face. It was almost as if he was waiting there for her.

  “Isn’t that your friend?” Danny asked.

  “It is.”

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “I don’t know.” But seeing him brought a smile to her face and gooseflesh to her arms.

  “Hey, darlin’.” Jack tipped his hat when she walked up to him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He ignored her question and bent down to talk to Danny. “Hey, Danny. Are you dragging your mother through the mall today?”

  Danny laughed. “She’s dragging me,” he revealed.

  “She’s dragging you, huh? Into a toy store? I didn’t know your mom played with toys.”

  Jessie felt the warmth of Danny’s giggle and couldn’t hold back the grin on her face. “My mom doesn’t play with toys. I play with toys.”

  “Oh, so you are dragging her into the toy store.”

  Danny shrugged. “I guess.”

  Jack stood and winked. His flashy smile and dimples matched his mood.

  Closer to eye level, Jessie glanced up and felt the warmth of his smile slide over her. The crowded mall melted away and the chore of shopping in the holiday shuffle felt less bleak. “How’s your friend?”

  “Pickled, but he’ll live.”

  “I’m glad to hear you found him and that your boss was gracious enough to let you help him out.”

  “My boss loves me. I make the customers in the hotel smile. Must be the hat.”

  She laughed. “The hat does have a certain something we don’t see around here very often.”