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Book: Love Online (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Kristin Billerbeck, Nancy Toback
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Authors: Kristin Billerbeck, Nancy Toback
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into the restaurant as he could see. His gaze stopped at the corner booth. The dark head of long hair grabbed his attention first. The man sitting across from her—
“Tom?” Frank’s voice broke into his jumbled thoughts.
Forcing his attention away from the man—from Jess—Tom’s gaze traveled from Frank, to the hostess, then to Linda, who seemed to be restraining a smile. “What?”
“Our table is ready.” Frank indicated with a stern look.
Tom nodded. Following behind the group, he fixed his gaze on the booth—and Jess, chatting with a distinguished-looking character.
Tom pulled out a chair for Linda, then chose a ringside seat for himself—directly opposite Jess’s table.
Seven
Jess’s gaze strayed from Jim Hunt’s face to her forkful of salad. Her stomach grumbled as her date continued his rags-to-riches saga. Scarlett O’Hara’s story didn’t drag on this long.
“I opened my third location in 2001.” Jim paused. Not long enough for her to answer, but just enough to make sure she heard every angst-filled memory.
Jess took the cue, nodded interest, and plunked down her fork. If only she could enjoy the getting-to-know-you phase, but she and Jim didn’t click. The sad realization hit the minute Jim strode through Flavors’s dining room, pumped her hand brusquely, and dropped into the booth with an air of let’s-get-down-to-business. Jim was obviously used to getting what he wanted. Jess prayed she wasn’t it.
Judging by the glances shooting her way, the employees silently concurred. This was not a match made in heaven. But she was on Flavors’s safe turf, and the staff knew not to let on that she worked there. If Tom’s Internet warnings proved valid, there’d be evidence—witnesses.
Jess bit back a grin. At five-feet-seven, she towered over Jim. Her poor choice to wear heels didn’t help the matter, and her self-consciousness over her height troubled her far more than the fear of being accosted.
“This year I’ll be opening my fifth office.” Jim sat back and crossed his arms as if to say, “There—digest that.”
“Wonderful.” Jess ran her finger over the itchy hive blooming on her forehead. No need to stress. According to Marilyn, all this would be funny—in retrospect.
“A lot of hard work. I had to put my company first.” Jim’s eyes shifted as if he’d given away computer underworld secrets. “And I guess that’s how I ended up single at forty-one.”
“I see.” Perhaps the overhead lights picking up the silver-gray at his temples and the deep grooves in his forehead made him appear older. Or maybe she’d grown accustomed to seeing Tom sitting across from her. His intelligent eyes, usually etched with humor, gave her the perception he was the forever-young man she’d met in high school.
“So? What’s your excuse?”
Jess choked on her drink. “I beg your pardon?” Despite her initial misgivings, she’d promised herself to stick with the date until the Lord indicated otherwise. But things were sliding downhill fast.
Jim grabbed a slice of crusty bread from the basket. “Why are you still single?”
He delivered the blunt question with a sarcastic edge. Jess watched him slathering butter on the bread. “I’m single because—”
Dora bounded past their table for the third time. Jess forked salad into her mouth, chewing while scrutinizing the waitress’s face. Dora’s green eyes widened, then shifted in a clandestine signal that left her clueless.
Frowning, Jess redirected her gaze to Jim and surveyed the crumb-littered table. She had to find a tactful way to end the date before the entrées arrived. And before she exploded like the cork on a bottle. “Same as you, Jim—I put my career first.”
He grinned around a mouthful. “But I’m a man. Most women regret putting off marriage and children in favor of a career.” He drank water, making a glunking sound, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “No offense. But Christian women especially.
“Tom?” Frank’s voice broke into his jumbled thoughts.
Forcing his attention away from the man—from Jess—Tom’s gaze traveled from Frank, to the hostess, then to Linda, who seemed to be restraining a smile. “What?”
“Our table is ready.” Frank indicated with a stern look.
Tom nodded. Following behind the group, he fixed his gaze on the booth—and Jess, chatting with a distinguished-looking character.
Tom pulled out a chair for Linda, then chose a ringside seat for himself—directly opposite Jess’s table.
Seven
Jess’s gaze strayed from Jim Hunt’s face to her forkful of salad. Her stomach grumbled as her date continued his rags-to-riches saga. Scarlett O’Hara’s story didn’t drag on this long.
“I opened my third location in 2001.” Jim paused. Not long enough for her to answer, but just enough to make sure she heard every angst-filled memory.
Jess took the cue, nodded interest, and plunked down her fork. If only she could enjoy the getting-to-know-you phase, but she and Jim didn’t click. The sad realization hit the minute Jim strode through Flavors’s dining room, pumped her hand brusquely, and dropped into the booth with an air of let’s-get-down-to-business. Jim was obviously used to getting what he wanted. Jess prayed she wasn’t it.
Judging by the glances shooting her way, the employees silently concurred. This was not a match made in heaven. But she was on Flavors’s safe turf, and the staff knew not to let on that she worked there. If Tom’s Internet warnings proved valid, there’d be evidence—witnesses.
Jess bit back a grin. At five-feet-seven, she towered over Jim. Her poor choice to wear heels didn’t help the matter, and her self-consciousness over her height troubled her far more than the fear of being accosted.
“This year I’ll be opening my fifth office.” Jim sat back and crossed his arms as if to say, “There—digest that.”
“Wonderful.” Jess ran her finger over the itchy hive blooming on her forehead. No need to stress. According to Marilyn, all this would be funny—in retrospect.
“A lot of hard work. I had to put my company first.” Jim’s eyes shifted as if he’d given away computer underworld secrets. “And I guess that’s how I ended up single at forty-one.”
“I see.” Perhaps the overhead lights picking up the silver-gray at his temples and the deep grooves in his forehead made him appear older. Or maybe she’d grown accustomed to seeing Tom sitting across from her. His intelligent eyes, usually etched with humor, gave her the perception he was the forever-young man she’d met in high school.
“So? What’s your excuse?”
Jess choked on her drink. “I beg your pardon?” Despite her initial misgivings, she’d promised herself to stick with the date until the Lord indicated otherwise. But things were sliding downhill fast.
Jim grabbed a slice of crusty bread from the basket. “Why are you still single?”
He delivered the blunt question with a sarcastic edge. Jess watched him slathering butter on the bread. “I’m single because—”
Dora bounded past their table for the third time. Jess forked salad into her mouth, chewing while scrutinizing the waitress’s face. Dora’s green eyes widened, then shifted in a clandestine signal that left her clueless.
Frowning, Jess redirected her gaze to Jim and surveyed the crumb-littered table. She had to find a tactful way to end the date before the entrées arrived. And before she exploded like the cork on a bottle. “Same as you, Jim—I put my career first.”
He grinned around a mouthful. “But I’m a man. Most women regret putting off marriage and children in favor of a career.” He drank water, making a glunking sound, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “No offense. But Christian women especially.
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