Chapter Nine
Phoebe set up her folding chair on the grass on the first base line with the other parents to watch Jamie’s baseball game. The boys were already huddled near the makeshift dugout, talking to their coach.
She’d brought extra chairs for Jake and Callie, grateful that today Halley and Kane had opted not to join them. Of course, the fact that she hadn’t told her sister Jake was coming might have helped. They rarely missed a game, and she didn’t hold it against her sister. It was sweet of her to show up for Jamie as much as she did.
She bit her lip nervously as she waited for them to arrive, making conversation with the other parents, not addressing the fact that it was Jamie’s dad she was waiting for and not her sister. They’d be talking about it soon enough. Not that she cared. She just didn’t feel close enough with any of them to discuss her personal situation.
Finally, she saw Jake walking onto the field, holding hands with an adorable little girl in pigtails. She hadn’t seen Callie that day in the hospital, so today was a big day for them all.
She waited for him to reach her before rising from her chair. “Hi!”
“Hi.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, taking her by surprise. “Callie, I want you to meet someone.”
The little girl hugged her father’s leg. “Callie, this is Phoebe, Jamie’s mommy. Remember I told you about her in the car on the way here?”
Callie nodded and looked up at Phoebe.
Phoebe dropped to one knee, getting onto her level. “Hi, Callie. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hi.” She smiled and Phoebe noticed her teeth were still growing in.
“Thank you for coming to watch the game,” Phoebe said. “Do you want to come sit?”
Callie nodded and Phoebe rose to her feet. “I brought fold-up chairs for you both,” she told Jake.
“Thank you.” He smiled at her and held out his hand for Callie. “Come on. Let’s go watch the game.”
They settled into chairs, Callie with an iPad in her lap. Luckily they were in the shade and she could see the screen, which kept her busy while the game went on.
“She’s adorable,” Phoebe told Jake, who grinned and clearly agreed. She was also well behaved considering how… well, boring a boy’s baseball game could be for a girl her age.
Jake seemed preoccupied. Although he paid attention to the game, splitting his time between watching his son and answering Callie’s never-ending questions, he seemed weighted down, like he had something on his mind.
Phoebe waited until Callie seemed occupied with her game on the other side of Jake before asking, “Hey, is everything okay?”
He nodded. “Just the usual uncomfortable conversation with Lindsay,” he whispered, not facing Callie.
Phoebe’s stomach knotted at the mention of his ex-wife and her shenanigans. “What happened?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. She found out I was buying a house, and I think it dashed some dreams she still held on to as long as I was renting and didn’t have a house that I owned.” He frowned as he recalled the conversation.
Phoebe couldn’t help but wonder why Lindsay was holding on if Jake made it as clear as he claimed that it was over. It seemed extreme and unhealthy. But it wasn’t her place to say, especially with Callie right here.
“I also explained to her that, as far as I’m concerned, Jamie and Callie are equally my children and she’d best adjust quickly and learn to be civil regardless of the circumstances. Don’t worry, she heard me,” he said, obviously addressing Phoebe’s concerns about Lindsay and how she might treat Jamie.
“Okay, I’m glad you had the conversation,” she said diplomatically.
But his mood made it clear something hadn’t gone well between them, which fired up all Phoebe’s worries.
Just then, Jamie came up to bat.
“Go, Jamie!” Phoebe yelled, clapping her hands for her son. “He usually strikes out,” she whispered.
“Although I only worked with him once, I taught him about keeping an eye on the ball and not swinging if it looks too high or too low. So let’s see,” Jake said.
Jamie swung and missed. Strike. Another swing and miss. Strike. Ball, which impressed Phoebe because he’d never let one pass before, and another swing and miss for a strike. She blew out a frustrated breath.
“That’s okay, buddy!” she yelled. “He’ll hit next time,” she said hopefully.
“I’ll definitely work with him before his next game,” Jake said, and when he made the promise, Phoebe believed him.
Afterwards, they made introductions between Jamie and Callie, which went well. Then Jake suggested pizza for dinner, and everyone left the field smiling, even Jamie, whose team had lost the game.
* * *
A week after the baseball game, Jake wrapped up the Renault job, and he was meeting Phoebe for a final walk-through of the house and renovations. Then he could let Brent know things were completed on time, within budget, and the owner had signed off.
He’d seen Phoebe during the week, to turn over the signed contracts for the house he was buying. He’d also managed to do the inspection quickly thanks to the connections he had in the business, and the house didn’t hold any surprises despite its age, and he would be closing at the end of the month.
House business aside, he and Phoebe hadn’t been alone since they’d been together at his apartment, and though she hadn’t pulled back, she wasn’t all in, either. He had no doubt she was withholding, not telling him everything that was on her mind when it came to their relationship, and he didn’t know how to push her for answers that she wasn’t willing to give.
Was it Lindsay? He had no doubt his ex-wife’s behavior played a part in her reluctance to commit, but it wasn’t the sole reason Phoebe had doubts and fears about them. He wasn’t giving up, either.
Phoebe walked into the house at nine a.m. sharp. Unlike the baseball game, where he’d gotten to see her body in fitted jeans and a white tee shirt, which molded to her curves, today she was back in her workweek power suit. He liked both versions of the woman and was happy to see her regardless of what she wore.
“Good morning,” she said, clearly in a good mood.
“Good morning to you.” Refusing to keep things strictly professional when they were alone, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
She stiffened in surprise, but instead of backing away, she kissed him back, something he took as a positive sign.
They’d had a good night at Jamie’s baseball game. Callie had been happy around Phoebe, who’d made an effort to talk to his daughter, even getting down on her level to make her feel comfortable. His heart had warmed at the sight.
“Are you ready to do the walk-through?” he asked.
She nodded. “I have my cell phone so I can take pictures to send to Celeste. I have no doubt she’s going to be thrilled, but let’s see.”
He led her from the front door, showing her the trim touch-ups, to the kitchen, the bathrooms, and everything in between that he, his men, and the subcontractors had worked on. She paused to take photos and constantly reiterated her praise and appreciation for the job he’d done. And by the time they were finished, he knew he could tell Brent the work was complete.
They were in the kitchen when Phoebe turned to him. “I have the final paperwork for you on your house, signed by the sellers. It’s in my car.”
He nodded. “Great. I’ll walk out with you.”
He locked up the house and followed Phoebe to her car. She leaned over to pull out the contract, giving him a nice view of her rounded ass, causing his cock to swell inside his pants.
He cleared his throat as she rose and handed him the papers. “Looks like I’ll own the house by the end of the month,” he said, excited by the prospect of moving out of his small apartment and into a real home.
“That’s the plan.”
“So what’s on tap for the rest of the day?” he asked.
She frowned at the question. “Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork,” she muttered. “Why?”
“What do you say to playing hooky and going furniture shopping? I’m a guy and it’s not my specialty. Take pity on me and help me out?”
“I thought we had plans for next week?”
They did but he was anxious to go, not that he’d go without her. He had a reason for wanting to make her a part of the process of decorating his new home and not just because he needed the help. Which he did. But if he had his way, she’d be helping to pick out things for a house she’d be living in one day.
No, it wasn’t as large or as grand as the guesthouse where she lived now with his son, but it was small and cozy. It would be renovated to her taste and specs. But most importantly, it would be a home.
He had a ways to go to get her to come around, but he was nothing if not persistent.
“I’m free today, and the sooner I order, the sooner they’ll be able to deliver, hopefully the first week I move in.”
“Hmm. Can’t really argue with that. Okay,” she said. “I’ll go with you today.”
He let out a relieved breath. “Great. Because I need new everything, from a bed and bedroom furniture to a family room set. Can you call and see if we can stop by and do some measuring?”
She rolled her eyes. “You really did set me up for this,” she said but she smiled at his enthusiasm. “Give me a few minutes to call the seller and see if we can stop by. I take it you have a tape measure?”
“I’m a contractor, aren’t I?” He always had one handy in his truck.
An hour later, they’d dropped her car off at her house. Then they took measurements of all the rooms he wanted to furnish immediately in the new house, and they were on their way to furniture stores in the neighboring town because Rosewood Bay didn’t have any large chains.
They started in a mattress store, which was his priority.
“Don’t you have a mattress?” she asked.
“It’s a garbage one. Kills my back. I was in a rush to move out and I ordered over the phone. I’m going to test them out this time.”
“Okay,” she said, following him to the higher-end mattresses at the far end of the store.
He stopped at a pillow-top that was on sale, and he patted the top. “Nice. Check it out,” he said, telling himself they’d be spending a lot of time on whatever mattress he chose.
Hey, a man could be confident, right?
“What? No. It’s your bed. You try it out.”
“I want your opinion,” he said, raising an eyebrow in what was almost a dare.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She kicked off her heels and lay down on the bed, groaning in pleasure as her body molded against the pillow-top. “This is a nice bed.”
“Really? Let’s see.” Before she could pop up, he lay down beside her, stretching out his body to test the mattress. “You’re right. This is a fantastic bed,” he said, turning his head toward her, meeting her gaze.
“You should check out a few others,” she suggested, not getting up from her comfortable position.
“Why? I like this one.”
“What if you like another one better?” she asked, ever the voice of reason.
“Do you like this one?” He reached out and threaded his fingers through hers.
Her lashes fluttered over her green eyes. “Why does that matter?”
Oh, fuck it. In for a penny, he thought. “Because I plan on spending a hell of a lot of time with you in this bed. I want you to be comfortable.”
Her cheeks turned a healthy shade of red and he laughed. “Well?”
“I like the bed,” she said, her voice husky with desire.
“Can I help you folks?” a salesman asked.
Phoebe scrambled to sit upright in the bed.
Jake braced a hand beneath his head and glanced up at the man. “I’ll take this one,” he said, doing his best not to grin.
* * *
One thing Phoebe learned about Jake during their day of shopping, he didn’t take long to make up his mind. Once she’d found something she liked, he’d agreed and hadn’t needed to see anything more. So the hours passed relatively quickly as they shifted their attention from room to room in his new house, stopping for lunch at a restaurant near the main road where all the stores were located. By the time the day ended, Jake had a houseful of furniture ordered and she was exhausted.
Phoebe discovered something else today, too. She was beginning to believe Jake wanted something serious with her. Something real and meaningful, and he had the patience not only to go after what he wanted but to wait until she was ready. Of course, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do everything he could to convince her of his intentions.
She wasn’t stupid. The fact that he’d taken her along for his furniture, that he’d made sure she was comfortable in his bed, all went a long way toward mellowing out her and her fears.
So when he pulled up to her house to drop her off, she took herself by surprise. “Jake, my sister and Kane are having a small get-together at her beach house this weekend. Would you like to come with me?”
A slow, sexy smile curved his lips. “I would. And I’m glad you asked me.”
He leaned in, placed a hand behind her neck, and pulled her to him for a kiss. His lips sealed over hers, his tongue gliding over the seam, and next thing she knew, the kiss was hot, him devouring her where they sat.
“What was that for?” she asked, breathless after they’d parted.
“That was my thank you for taking a day out of your work week to come shopping with me. It was because I like being with you. And to let you know I want to be with you in the future.”
She forced herself to relax at his words because that was her new plan. To see where things led but to be very careful with her heart.
“Okay then,” she whispered, said heart beating hard inside her chest. “Jamie will be home from camp in an hour if you want to stay.”
“I wish I could, but I have to go by the office before closing, then I’m having dinner with Brent.” He shot her a regret-filled look. “Another time, though.”
“Sure.”
He hopped out of the truck and walked her to her door, seeing her inside before striding back to his vehicle.
Once he was gone, she leaned against the door and prayed she was being smart. She couldn’t freeze him out; he was too tempting. Too sweet. Too everything. And he wasn’t giving her a reason to hold on to her fears.
So she’d released her hold on them. A little bit.
* * *
The day of the gathering at Halley’s was sunny and bright, a warm summer day. Jake picked up Phoebe to go to her sister’s, and as he pulled up and climbed out of the car, Jamie ran out of the house to meet him.
“Dad! Can we practice baseball again?”
Jake had come by one evening after camp and worked with Jamie on hitting the ball. After one lesson, he was connecting more often and Jake was proud of him. He was a quick learner.
“Sorry but we’re going to your Aunt Halley’s, remember?”
His shoulders sagged in disappointment. “Yeah. I just thought we could get some practice in first.”
“I know but then you’ll be all sweaty and your mom won’t be happy with us, right?”
He nodded. “She’s almost ready. She’s just getting some cookies she baked ready to go.”
“I’m right here.” Phoebe walked out of the house with a Tupperware full of cookies in her hands.
She was dressed completely differently than he’d ever seen her in a sundress with bright-colored flowers as the pattern. Her hair was in a high ponytail, and sunglasses were perched on top of her head.
She looked fresh, young, and beautiful, and his heart swelled as he gazed at her. “You look amazing,” he said, unable to keep the words in.
She beamed at him. “Thank you. I’ve been waiting for an excuse to wear this dress. Jamie, can you hold the cookies while I lock up the house?” She handed him the tub.
They drove across town to the beach, where Jake was once again struck by the wealth in the family. To own a house directly on the water, and one as large and as beautiful as her sister’s… well, it was something.
He didn’t dwell on their differences, though. Phoebe had never indicated anything like that mattered to her, and it damn well didn’t make a difference to him.
“Her house is beautiful,” he said as they pulled up and parked out front.
“Aunt Joy bought it for her a couple of years ago. Halley went through some… stuff in foster care and needed a place where she could be alone and paint. This place is good for her.”
They headed around the back, where a wide deck wrapped around the outside of the house, and they walked up the side stairs.
“Kane finished the deck for Halley last summer,” Phoebe said as they climbed up where the party was located. “Stick close and I’ll introduce you to the people you don’t know.”
It looked like a small group, he thought, as Phoebe brought him over to say hello to Halley first, who was talking to a pretty woman with wavy brown hair.
“Hi, guys,” Phoebe said.
“Hi! So glad you’re here!” Halley pulled her sister into a hug. “And Jake, it’s good to see you again.”
“Same here,” he said to her. “Thanks for having me.”
Halley smiled. “Of course.” She dismissed his thanks easily. “Jake, this is Andrea Harmon, Kane’s sister. Andrea, meet Jake Nichols.”
He shook her hand.
“Is Nicky here?” Jamie asked.
Andrea smiled. “He’s down by the water with his grandpa.”
“You can run down. I’ll keep an eye on you until you get to them,” Phoebe said.
Jamie took off down the steps again, headed for the beach. Jake watched until he saw him catch up with an older man and a boy who, from a distance, appeared shorter than Jamie.
“Nicky is Andrea’s seven—”
“Now eight,” Andrea interrupted.
Phoebe smiled. “Her eight-year-old son.”
“Got it,” Jake said.
Kane was talking to another man, and Jake didn’t want Phoebe to feel like she had to babysit him. “Why don’t you hang out with your sister. I’ll go talk to Kane,” he said.
She nodded and he headed in the direction of the two men.
“Grab a beer,” Kane said before Jake met up with them, pointing to a cooler in the corner.
He pulled out a cold bottle and joined them. Kane introduced him to Jackson Traynor, who worked for him at his garage.
They talked sports for a little while, until Jackson got a phone call and had to go, leaving Jake and Kane to hang out while the women still talked across the deck.
“I hear you’re buying a house in Rosewood Bay,” Kane said. He tilted his head toward Halley. “The women talked. Get used to it,” he said, laughing.
Jake grinned. “I can handle it.”
“I understand you and Phoebe go way back.”
“Way, way back,” he said. “We were kids when she got pregnant.” He shook his head. “I’d give anything to have been there.”
Kane smiled grimly. “Neither sister had it easy. Halley was withdrawn before I met up with her again, nursing her pain, while Phoebe likes to go through life as if nothing gets to her. But it’s not true.”
This man knew the women well. “I’m still trying to work out what’s eating Phoebe half the time,” he said, agreeing with Kane. “She’s not opening up.”
“It’ll be worth it once she does,” Kane assured him, tipping his bottle and tapping Kane’s with his.
Just then the boys came running up the stairs, Kane’s father trudging behind them.
“They wear you out, Dad?” Kane asked.
“I can keep up with ’em,” the older man said, but from the worn look on his face, he’d had it.
Kane chuckled. “I see that Halley’s aunt is here, which means this party can get underway.”
Curious, Jake tipped his head to the side. “Am I missing something?” he asked.
Kane leaned against the railing. “Nope. It’s a surprise, even for Halley. Just wish me luck,” he said, straightening as he shoved one hand into his front pocket. With the other, he rid himself of his beer bottle, placing it on the railing.
“Attention, everyone,” Kane said, striding over to where Halley stood.
The people on the deck gathered around, whispering and curious.
Jake set his beer on the railing beside Kane’s and made his way to Phoebe. Listening to his gut, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She hesitated before leaning into him, her lithe, warm body easing against his.
Kane stood in front of Halley. “I debated doing this when we were alone, but then I decided you deserved to have the people you love surrounding you when I asked.”
Beside him, Phoebe gasped. Halley did the same, her hands coming to cover her mouth, her surprise evident.
“When I answered a call for a tow last summer, something I rarely do anymore because Jackson usually handles things, little did I know I had something special waiting for me. Or maybe I should say someone special.” He paused, then went on. “I sensed something special about you back in high school, and I knew when I found you on the side of the road that I had to get to know you better. Since then, I’ve wanted nothing more than to be by your side.”
Phoebe sniffed and Jake held her closer, knowing how emotional it had to be for her to watch the sister she loved getting engaged.
“Kane,” Halley whispered.
“Shh, baby. I’m not finished. I waited for you to be ready to date me, and I waited for you to be ready for me to move in, and I waited some more until you were ready for this next step. I decided I’ve waited long enough.”
Everyone laughed at that, as Kane pulled something out of his shorts pocket and dropped to one knee. “Halley Ward, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Oh my God, Kane. Yes. Yes!” He slipped the ring on her finger and she threw herself into his arms.
Even Jake had a lump in his throat at the sight, and Phoebe was a sniffling mess beside him.
He hugged her to him. “It’s a good thing,” he reminded her.
“I know,” she said, still crying.
“Go congratulate her.” He squeezed her once and let her go, watching as she wrapped her arms around first her sister, then Kane.
His girl had a big heart. And like Halley, she had fears she hadn’t yet conquered. Like Kane, Jake planned to be there every step of the way, because the man had a valid point.
These sisters were worth the wait.