Time Changes Everything (5 page)

“Anyway, you admitted to having a shitty relationship with that Paris dude, so you’re no expert.”

Flinching back, she said, “I never said I was.”

He nodded his head. “You’re preaching to me as if you knew all the answers.”

She stopped his fingers from tapping the table. “Will you ever take that leap?”

“We’ll have to wait and see.” He glanced sideways. “How about you?”

She sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be helpless again. “I don’t plan on seeing a man in my life for a long time.”

A melancholy frown flitted across his features. “We’re both screwed.” His expression darkened with an unreadable emotion and he took a deep breath.

Amanda reached into her purse and pulled out one of her business cards. “Here’s my number, in case you have time to call me in between all your other dates.”

Jake tucked the card into his wallet but didn’t smile at her joke.

Why was he quiet?  All of a sudden, the most serious talk she ever had with Jake came to an abrupt end. Just like that. She began to panic.

As if he thought the very same, Jake rose. “I have to go.”

She stood. “You’re going to run away again?”

He jerked his head back and frowned. “I’m not running away. It’s just been a little bit too deep for me this morning.”

“I’ve got to get to work, too.”

He held the door open for her and they both walked through, stopping outside.

Jake crowded her and looked down intently. His breath was warm on her ear. “You need to listen to your own advice, too. I think you’re just as lonely as I am.”

Before Amanda could reply, he kissed her on the cheek, turned around and walked away.

JAKE HAILED A TAXI
and tried to think about the shitload of work that sat on his desk. But his mind meandered to Amanda -- again. She’d called earlier in the week to invite him to spend Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment, which surprised him. Since their jog in Central Park, they hadn’t spoken.

The thought of seeing her again tightened his throat. He didn’t want to screw things up like he did during their last talk – the sissy talk they shared – the one that scared the shit out of him. Never in his life had he been so open with a woman. The minute Amanda prodded him with questions, he poured his soul out like a weenie.

Jake couldn’t stop thinking about Amanda’s statements regarding her future. Of course, the idea of her running a major fashion show thrilled him. No doubt, she would succeed. However, Amanda’s unwavering decision to have no man in her life disturbed him.  

When the doorman let him in and escorted him to the elevator, Jake took a deep breath. In all his years, not once had he been this anxious about seeing a woman. Sure, Amanda was a childhood friend, but he meant it when he said she stirred something within him. He was about to find out what that something was.

Amanda opened the door. “Welcome to Chez Mandy.” 

He stepped in and handed her the pumpkin pie he’d brought, just as the phone rang in the background. 

“I have to get the phone. Be right back.” Amanda excused herself.

Contemporary furniture and blue walls with drapes over the windows decorated the apartment.  Amanda’s touch was everywhere including her framed drawings that hung around the room. It used to take a lot of persuasion to get her to share her work, and now
it was displayed for anyone to see.

Jake strode over to a watercolor piece depicting the large sycamores in the Larson’s yard back home. It brought memories of home and a twinge of longing to be there, with Amanda, surged through him.

He turned around and stopped short. 

Amanda leaned in the doorway of her kitchen.  She wore suede pants and a white tuxedo shirt. A thick brown belt hugged her hips in all the right places, accentuating her flawless figure. She had an ease about her as she moved to him and asked, “What do you think?”

He brushed aside a strand of hair in her face. “Absolutely beautiful.”

Amanda blinked. “What?”

“Your painting.” He faced the wall and pointed, so he wouldn’t lean into her and kiss that surprised look off her face. “It’s home. I like it.”

Amanda blushed. “I painted it last year.”

Jake titled her chin toward him. “Still story-telling, huh?”

“Only you would know the stories about the sycamores.” Amanda rolled her eyes and retreated to the kitchen.

He’d kissed her under the sycamore on her homecoming night. He took a deep breath and followed her into the kitchen to watch her as she worked.

“That was Mom on the phone, giving me orders about the turkey,” Amanda said.

“I’m sure you’ll manage.” He raised his eyebrows. “Did you tell her I was here?”

“No way. She would order us to give her all the details of how we met up again and then I would never get dinner ready.”

“Probably true. Where’s your roommate? You said she would be here.” Jake inspected the small apartment, and avoided staring directly at Amanda. She was like a magnet, tonight, pulling him closer and if he smelled her perfumed body again, he’d pull her in his arms. To hell with just being friends.

“She and Veronica worked at the parade this morning. They should be finished soon.”

“Sounds nice.” He hadn’t counted on being alone with Amanda. Crap. He needed people around him to control his emotions – the ones he couldn’t figure out.

The minute he saw her in Manahatta’s, he’d been sucker punched in the stomach. She wasn’t the little girl he remembered, and this wanting inside of him wasn’t very neighborly. Hell, if he didn’t think too hard about keeping his hands to himself, he’d have her in her bed in two minutes flat.

But, no. This was Mandy, and she was clear the other day that she didn’t want anything to do with a guy. So, why the hell couldn’t he stop thinking about her, dreaming about her, for crying out loud.

“I need a little help. You up to it?” Amanda reached into a drawer pulling out a second apron and tossed it to him. 

“Anything for you.” He tied the apron on. “What can I do?”

She pointed to a bowl. “I need a strong man to mash the potatoes.”

“No problem.” He grabbed the masher and diligently mashed the potatoes, while Amanda glided around the kitchen.

His eyes devoured her. Every move she made was like a dish in itself. She leaned over the sweet potatoes, stirring them, round and round, and she bent to check the turkey in the oven. He almost fell over checking out her ass. In his defense, it was a nice ass. She held back her hair, so it wouldn’t dip into her concoction and hummed a tune he didn’t recognize. The back of her neck glistened like white chocolate waiting to be nibbled. 

“So, what’s up with you?” Amanda asked. “You mad about something?”

He looked down.  He’d mashed the potatoes to mush. He set the utensil down, looking around to keep his thoughts at bay. “I’m just surprised you invited me here.”

“Why would you be surprised? We’re both in New York and we don’t have time to go home until Christmas. We grew up toge –”

“I mean, I’m a man and you were quite clear the other day that you don’t want a man in your life.” He grabbed a rag from the counter and rung it in his hands. Their talk from the bagel shop still rang in his head. 

“Jake, you’re not just any man. You’re a good friend.”

So, he was just a good friend.

Okay.

He sighed. Not okay.

“Well, no matter, I’m a man and I took offense to your comment the other day.” Jake slapped the rag over his shoulder.

“Look who’s talking. Shouldn’t I take offense to how you treat women? Go on a date, sleep with them, and never call again.” Amanda tore open a bag of marshmallows and threw them on top of the sweet potatoes.

“I never did that to you.”

“Right. But you sure did lead me on with that kiss. You said you would come back and then you just left.” Amanda shoved a serving dish his way and nodded to the mashed potatoes.

Jake grabbed the dish and pointed it at her. “That was seven years ago. And it was different.”

“Why should I want a man in my life after being treated like that?”

“Hey, you can’t blame me for that. Anyway, we kissed that night. I didn’t force you, may I remind you. And, we’re talking about today, not seven years ago.” Jake scooped the mash potatoes into the serving dish with swift movements.

She grabbed the mashed potatoes from him and slammed it against the counter on the opposite side of the kitchen. She stood with her back to him and sighed.  “I don’t want to fight.”

He walked behind her, placed his hand on her shoulder and moved her hair to the side so he could see her neck. She shivered.  His finger trailed a line from her ear to her shoulder. “There’s lots of things we can do instead of fight.”

Amanda lifted her head and a tiny gasp came from her throat. Then she turned to face him and shook her head. “What’s going on with us?”

His fingertips brushed lightly over a cheek. “Hell if I know.”

She closed her eyes. “I can’t be hurt by you again.”

He stopped stroking her and nodded. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then why are you doing this?” she whispered.

He scooted her back and put his arms around her, holding onto the counter. “We both feel it. Don’t give me any of that friends crap, Mandy. We’ve grown up. Things change. And I bet you want to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you right now.”

She held a finger to his lips as he bent down. “What happened to not wanting a relationship?”

He looked at her lips and shook his head. “I already told you that I’m not ready for that.”

“Then I can’t do this, Jake.” Amanda tried to push Jake away, but he didn’t budge.

He moved her back with a tighter hold around her. “For you, I might be able to do it.”

“Hellooo.” Chloe and Veronica opened the door. “We’re here.” Chloe walked into the kitchen, and stopped. “What’s going on? We came at the wrong time, didn’t we?” She backed away.

Amanda pushed Jake away this time and walked to her friends. “No. Come back. We’re fine.”

Jake swiped his hand through his hair and then put on a fake smile. “Hi, ladies.”

Veronica glanced in the direction of the kitchen. “I’d say you were more than fine. We’ll just leave you alone to ...” She waved her hand in the air. “You know, to finish what you were doing.” Veronica pulled Chloe who stood with a smile on her face. 

“It’s okay.” Amanda glared at Jake and followed her friends to the living area. “We are done here.”

What the hell did that mean? He wasn’t done yet.

Chloe batted her lashes. “Good to see you again, Jake. Amanda told us so much about you.”

“Really? All good things I hope.” He looked at Amanda.  Her mouth shut and her hands were on her hips. She was gorgeous when she was mad. He smiled helplessly. “God knows she wouldn’t tell you anything good right now.”

“Well, it’s Thanksgiving. Let’s be thankful we’re here together.” Chloe took off her jacket and handed it to Veronica, who shrugged and threw it on the couch. Chloe walked past Amanda into the kitchen. “Smells good.”

Jake returned to the scene of the crime and stared at Amanda. “I am thankful.” He grasped a loose strand of her hair. “And I’m sorry.” He looked down at her, smiled and lifted his eyebrows.

He knew she forgave him by the smile she returned. Jake turned her body around by her shoulders, pressed her back to his chest and rested his chin on top of her head. “Let’s go fix up the rest of the dinner.”

They walked together to the kitchen, with unanswered questions in his mind.

*****

With hands in the air, Mandy told a story about her mom’s notorious holiday cookbook. “She wrote down every recipe for the traditional Thanksgiving meal – including instructions for opening a can of Cranberry.”

Veronica frowned. “That’s a bit overboard.”

Amanda laughed. “Exactly. She had to make sure I get it all right this time. I should’ve never told her I messed up the stuffing last year.”

Jake wiped his mouth on a napkin and stood. “Well, it was delicious Mandy, with or without your mom’s help.” He picked up the pie on the side table.

Chloe smiled as he handed her a piece. “Wow, handsome and can bake, too.”

“I slaved the long lines at Magnolia Bakery. You should’ve seen me. I had to push an old granny out of the way for the last one.”

Veronica laughed and held her hand up when he tried to serve her a slice. “None for me. I have to meet Diego.”

“So, it’s getting serious?” Chloe asked as she took a bite.

She shrugged as she stood. “We’re taking it one step at a time.”

Amanda straightened and cocked her head in Jake’s direction. “That’s usually what people do when they start a relationship.”

He jerked his head at Amanda and breathed deep when she smirked.