CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sydney decided to keep the meeting with Jesse. Maybe they could go out for lunch. If he didn’t want their relationship to end, there was only one way it would go forward. She couldn’t let either of them get in any deeper until he knew her secret. Remembering the look on Jack’s face when she told him she couldn’t bear children, she knew telling Jesse might be the most difficult thing she’d ever done. Doing it in a public restaurant would keep her from bursting into tears when Jesse gently, regretfully, but nonetheless firmly broke her heart and walked away.
Up most of the night worrying, Sydney dragged herself out of bed several hours later, and with much less enthusiasm, than yesterday. She dressed in skinny jeans and a tank top, adding a lightweight cover-up in case the restaurant was as air-conditioned as Jesse’s apartment.
Her father had already eaten his breakfast and was in his den working on an article he hoped to get published in the fall. She kissed his cheek, told him not to wait dinner and left. By the time she got to the gym, it was almost ten thirty.
There were quite a few customers using the equipment. Sydney stopped just inside the door and watched Marcus spray disinfectant and wipe a unit down between customers. When he finished, he saw Syd and immediately came over.
“Ms. Houghton, it’s nice to see you again. Jesse is back in his office. I’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you, Marcus. I’m glad to see you again, as well.”
Marcus opened the door and ushered her inside. “Boss, your, ah, friend, is here.” He backed out quickly before Jesse could call him on his sass.
“Sorry to be so late. I didn’t sleep as well last night as the one before.” She gave him a sexy grin, which faded at his serious expression. She sat in the chair by his desk. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Can I get you a cup of coffee before we start?”
“No, thanks. I was hoping we might get some lunch a little later.” Where I can drop a bomb and possibly blow up our relationship forever.
Jesse shook his head. “I can’t eat or drink anything but water. I have to get some lab work done this afternoon.”
“Oh.” Sydney didn’t know what to say to that.
“It’s just routine stuff related to my injury. Nothing serious.”
Sydney nodded. “Oh, okay. Maybe dinner then?”
He grimaced. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be. You know how hospitals are.”
Actually Sydney didn’t know how hospitals were, but she was pretty sure it didn’t take half a day to get lab work done. Either something is really wrong or this is the big brush-off I’ve been worried about. “If it’s not a good time right now, Jess, I can come back another day.” Or maybe never, if I’m reading you right.
“No, no. Now is fine. I want to show you around.” He came around the desk and took her arm. “We may not be L.A. Fitness, but for a medium-size center, we do fairly well.” He steered her next door to a smaller office. “I’d like you to meet Sally. She handles our books, keeps track of membership dues, does the ordering, and generally keeps us all in line.”
A slender but very pregnant woman struggled to stand up behind the desk.
“Oh, please, don’t get up on my account.” Sydney leaned across the desk and shook hands. “It’s lovely to meet you. Are you due soon?”
“Two weeks,” Sally said. “And it can’t come too soon. I should have timed this pregnancy better. I didn’t think that an August due date also meant being this pregnant all summer.” She fanned herself with her hand. “Whew.”
“Is this your first?”
Sally nodded. “A boy. Al and I are so excited.” She smiled broadly.
Sydney’s heart folded over. She’d gladly be pregnant in any season, if only she could. “I’m sure you are. Congratulations.”
“We still don’t have a replacement while Sally is on maternity leave,” Jesse said. “I expect the place will fall apart once she’s gone for twenty-four hours.”
“You’ll be fine.” Sally waved her hand at the computer screen in front of her. “I’ve showed him all the things he needs to do, and I’ll be only a phone call away if he needs help.”
“Just keep that little one inside for two more weeks, Sally. I’m sure I can find someone to take over your duties by then.”
As they left, Jesse leaned back in the door and said, “Ed’s coming in early today. He’ll stay to close, too. I have some things to do this afternoon.”
They continued around the perimeter where several spaces had been closed off from the main area. Sydney saw rows of stationary bikes in one. “For spinning classes?” she guessed, pointing.
“Yes, one of our more popular exercises, especially among the men. This next room is for yoga, a favorite of our female customers.”
The last room was dark. “Right now we’re using this one for extra storage.” Jesse greeted several customers as he showed her around. They crisscrossed the main floor and wound up back at the locker rooms. He spread his hands. “That’s pretty much it.”
“It seems like a busy place. You must be doing well, Jesse. I would have expected more women during the day, though.”
“Yeah, we’ve tried some advertising targeted to the ladies, but it hasn’t seemed to help much.”
Sydney tapped her chin with a finger as she scanned the space. “Have you thought of using that empty room for kids? I bet a lot more women would join if they knew they could bring in their toddlers for an hour or so instead of having to hire babysitters. The cost of a few toys and coloring books plus one more employee to ride herd would be offset quickly by increased membership.”
“Syd, that’s a great idea. I never thought how the extra expense of a babysitter could make a membership here too costly. Thank you.”
He smiled for the first time since Sydney arrived. It pleased her no end to have put that smile there. “Okay, I don’t want to take up any more of your time. Thanks for the tour.”
“Hey, there’s one more thing … ” Jesse spun her around and backed her up to a wall out of sight. “I never did greet you properly.” He lowered his head and kissed her tenderly. “You don’t go back to Barefoot Bay until Sunday, right?”
She nodded. “Plane leaves at twelve thirty-five.”
“We have to get together before then, Syd.” He squinted as though doing mental calculations. “How about Friday, after I close the joint?”
Three days from now? She’d expected to see him well before that. Something was definitely going on with him. Trying not to look disappointed, she kissed him lightly. “Sure. Call me, okay?”
“Will do.”
* * *
Jesse watched her walk to the door and prayed this would not be the last time he saw her. His cell phone vibrated, and his dad’s face appeared on the screen. “Dad, hi. I guess you’ve already talked to Luke.”
“I have, son. While I’m pleased that you’ve finally decided to go ahead with the surgery, I don’t understand what the rush is all about.”
“I’ve got some decisions to make, Dad, and the results of this operation will swing the needle one way or the other.”
“I get that, Jess, but surely those decisions don’t have to be made so quickly.”
“Yeah, they do. If I wait too long, I’m afraid I’ll lose her.”
“Lose her? What? Who are you talking about, son?”
“Sydney. The maid of honor at Owen’s wedding.”
“Yes, yes, I know who Sydney is. What I don’t know is how the two of you became so involved.”
“I know it’s sudden, Dad. I don’t know how it happened so fast, either, but I love her. I won’t tie her down to a man in a wheelchair. I’m not sure she loves me enough to handle that.”
“If she loves you, she’ll want you no matter whether you can stand on your own or not. Give her some credit, Jess. She seemed like an intelligent woman, although I hardly had a chance to chat with her while we were in Florida.”
“You’re probably right. I just … I want to know one way or the other before I ask her to marry me. Did you talk to Dr. Maysfield?”
“I did. Called in a couple of favors to get you on the schedule Wednesday. Assuming all your tests come back clean.”
“I’m leaving in a few minutes to go to the lab, then the hospital for the CAT scan. How about I stop home after I get done and talk to you and Mom?”
“Good idea, son. Otherwise she’ll have my ass in a sling.”
“See you later, then. And thanks for all the string-pulling.”