r. “Thanks for letting me talk.”
Alex swallowed and nodded. The desire in his eyes and the way his tongue darted across his upper lip tore through her like fire.
She turned and hurried away. While she couldn’t deny the sexual tension, she wished he wouldn’t look at her like that. It made her feel beyond sexy. Something she had never felt empowered with and it made her unable to think about anything except the way it felt when he touched her, slipped inside of her and made her beg him to do it again.
She closed her eyes as she leaned against her door after she stepped inside her apartment. Having him close during the workday was barely manageable, but sleeping under him in his house and being in constant close proximity was driving her sexual desires into overload. Maybe it would be better if she moved.
Ugh. She shook her head, causing her wet hair to stick to the sides of her face. She grimaced as she peeled the strands off and then went into the bathroom to dry off. She wasn’t moving. She didn’t want to. She would get over Alex eventually. Right?
The next day, she got a voicemail from her father. She hadn’t heard from him at all, even though she had heard plenty from her mother and sister. She figured it was going to be him pleading with her to make up with them because he couldn’t stand to be around his wife when she was angry about something. She decided to listen to the voicemail anyway.
“Hi, honey,” her father said gruffly. He sounded strange. “I, uh, was wondering if you would want to meet for lunch sometime this week. My treat, of course. Don’t worry, I don’t want to badger you about any problems you might be having with Christine. I just think it would be nice to catch up. Call me back. I love you.”
Jamie listened to it three more times, stunned. Her father wanted to see her? Why? He hadn’t taken her out to lunch for no apparent reason since she was still in high school. He always saved lunch for business meetings, not for something as frivolous and unproductive as a family get together. She sat and stared at her phone and decided to call him back, sort of relieved when it went to voicemail. She listed off the days she was available for lunch before turning back to her computer screen and burying herself deep into work.
They ended up having lunch on Friday. They met at an Italian restaurant down the street from Jamie’s work. Her father was already there, looking awkward and uncomfortable when he rose to give her a hug. She realized he didn’t have his cell phone on him.
He smiled at her. “Hello, sweetie. You look nice.”
She looked down. She was wearing a new blouse and a pair of black pants. She had dropped even more weight since the time Alex bought her clothes and had to pick up a few more outfits as well as a sewing kit to take in the clothes she already had. Size eight clothes were starting to fit loosely. “You look good, too.” She leaned in for a quick hug. “You ready to order?”
He nodded. “Don’t have much time?”
“Not as much as I’d like.” She smiled and ordered chicken Marsala, one of the most fattening dishes on the menu. Her dad ordered the same thing. She didn’t care about ordering the high-calorie food with her dad because he was the only family member who hadn’t actually given her any grief about her weight. Besides, he was breaking his diet as well.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“I’ve been okay.” Jamie eyed him suspiciously. “What’s going on, Dad? We’ve never had lunch together, so we can’t exactly pretend this is a normal thing.”
“I know, I know.” He sighed. “I’ve missed you, Jamie. I know I’m not that family oriented and haven’t been the best father, but I really do love you, and I want to try to make things right.” He forced a smile. “Besides, sometimes I think you’re the only sane relation I have.” He grimaced slightly.
Jamie smiled. “Thanks, Dad, that really means a lot to me.”
“You are a good kid. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” He smiled. “Now, tell me how you’ve been? How’s work? So proud of you with your new job.”
“It’s been good. Mr. Reid’s given me a pay raise. Apparently, I’m doing a great job.” She laughed, loving that she could brag to him and he wouldn’t take it as she was being conceited. She was proud.
He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yes, it’s amazing! I took charge of a meeting when he had to call out of work and I was able to get twice the amount of money from the investors than what he asked for. Ever since then I’ve been in charge of some more things and he’s given me a pay raise.”
“That is amazing,” he said, clearly impressed. “Tell me more.”
They talked about her work and her dad’s work. They avoided the subject of Jamie’s mom and sister completely, much to Jamie’s relief. At the end of lunch, Jamie walked her dad to his car and hugged him. “Thank you for lunch,” she said. “I’m glad you called.”
“My pleasure,” he said, and he sounded very sincere, which gave Jamie hope for the future. “We should do this again. Maybe next week?”
Jamie nodded, unable to hold back her joy. “I would like that.” She grinned. “Definitely.”
He smiled. “Good. Now, I know neither one of us really want to talk about the unpleasantness at home, but… You know I will still think the world of you even if you don’t go to your sister’s wedding tomorrow?” He shook his head. “She’s completely stressed but that doesn’t mean she should be taking it out on you. Not to mention the history between you and Stephen—” He held up his hand. “I don’t mean about you, I mean about that prick.” He grimaced. “Personally, I wish she would just call the whole thing off. Stephen’s an asshole, but I’m apparently the only one in the family aside from you who can see past his good looks and little bit of money.”
Jamie laughed. “Honestly, his looks aren’t that good.”
He chuckled and then grew serious again. “I want you to know I’m proud of you, Jamie. Very proud. You’re everything I ever could have wanted in a daughter and more.”
Jamie swallowed but she could feel the tears rising up anyway. Please don’t break down. Don’t break down. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug to hide her tears and compose herself. “I love you, Dad,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” he said as they broke apart. “Don’t marry an asshole like Stephen. Please don’t make me walk you down the aisle to a prick like that. I won’t do it.”