Jake

jake

J ake had lied to Jenna. The sitter hadn’t canceled on Eleanor. She’d forgotten to book one, despite reminding her several times. And suspected Eleanor hadn’t even tried to find a neighbor to stay with Henry. It was clear Eleanor had no intention of joining them for drinks or dinner. believed everything happened for a reason. He’d been waiting for a sign to show him the way forward.

He glanced over at Jenna, seated beside him in the backseat of the Uber. She was Cupid’s Valentine in her sexy red dress, black thigh-high boots, and a white faux fur coat. While preferred the softer pastel colors she usually wore, it was clear she had dressed to impress her Dr. Right on Valentine’s Day. An urgency about her concerned , as though she were desperate to do anything for Dr. Gabe Rossi.

had texted the bartender—a friend from the gym—to arrange a secluded corner table with a view overlooking the city at an exclusive uptown rooftop bar. Soft blue flames flickered from the gas fire at the table’s center, and a bottle of champagne awaited them in a nearby ice bucket. and Jenna huddled together on the rattan love seat.

“What’re we celebrating?” Jenna asked as she watched the waiter pop the cork.

“Our Valentine’s contest.”

Confusion crossed her face. “But we both lost.”

tilted his head, a playful smirk on his lips. “Or did we?”

Another waiter arrived, presenting a dozen oysters on the half shell. “Will you be ordering dinner tonight?” the second waiter asked.

smiled over at Jenna. “It’s your call. Shall we order dinner?”

Her gaze lingered on the oysters, a flicker of longing in her eyes. “I’m fine with just oysters for now.”

looked up at the waiter. “Maybe check back with us in a few minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” the waiter said with a slight bow before slipping away.

“Cheers!” Jenna said, holding her glass up to toast. “While you didn’t win the contest, you get bonus points for the venue.”

“I’m glad you approve,” he said, clinking her glass.

Jenna took a long sip of champagne. “What’s really going on, ? I get the impression you have an agenda. Is this about Eleanor?”

“Yes, and no. It also has to do with you and me. I have something I need to get off my chest.”

She gave him an encouraging nod. “I’m all ears.”

set down his glass. “Eleanor is a wonderful woman who has a lot to offer the right guy. But that guy isn’t me.” He shifted in his seat toward Jenna. “And you’re right. I will miss Henry more than Eleanor. That kid stole my heart.”

Jenna reached for his hand, giving it a little squeeze. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ve only just started your search. You’ll find the right person in time.”

“I’ve already found the right person. I found her in a biology lab on our first day of high school.” tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You’re the right girl, the only girl, for me.”

Jenna smacked his hand away. “Stop! We’re not doing this. Whatever happened between us is ancient history.”

“For you, maybe. But not for me.” He grabbed her hand again, bringing it to his lips. “All these years, I’ve been trying to get past my feelings for you. The Valentine’s contest was supposed to help me move on—to force me to find someone new. That’s why I insisted on our friendship timeout. I needed to clear my head of you.”

Jenna chewed on her lower lip. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“I kept hoping you would realize what’s so obvious to me—that we belong together.”

Jenna lowered her gaze, staring into her champagne. “But you cheated on me.”

“I didn’t really cheat on you—not in the true sense of the word. That girl came onto me. I never even knew her name. She kissed me once. You just happened to see it.” reached out, tilting Jenna’s chin to meet her eyes. “But I’ve been faithful to you every single day since, Jenna. I always put you first. Your happiness means more to me than my own.”

She held his gaze. “Our friendship means too much to me to risk another failed romance. If things didn’t work out, I couldn’t bear losing my best friend.”

“You do realize our relationship will never be the same once one of us gets married, right? What if our spouses get jealous of our friendship and insist we stopped seeing each other?”

Jenna rose from the loveseat and moved to the glass railing, her back to . He followed, gently turning her toward him. Cupping her face, his thumbs caressed her cheeks as he brushed his lips against hers—a feather-light touch that quickly deepened with urgency. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Her heartbeat echoed against his chest, and for one brief moment, everything felt right in his world.

“This is wrong, !” Jenna said, trying to push him away.

But he held her at arm’s length, his eyes locked on her. “The connection felt pretty right to me.”

She shook her head, staring down at the ground. “The connection doesn’t matter. You’re not my type.”

Irritation prickled his skin. “Why? Because I’m not a successful doctor.”

“I need to leave.” She returned to the table, summoning the waiter for the check.

“Where are you going?”

“To Felicia’s party,” Jenna said, retrieving her credit card from her purse.

“Put that back,” said, pulling out his wallet. “I’ve got this. And I’m coming with you to the party.”

“But you weren’t invited,” she scoffed.

“Says who? Felicia is a friend. She invites me every year.”

“Suit yourself. But I’m meeting Gabe. And just to be clear, you and I are not on a date.”

“Understood.” had a bad feeling about this party. No way was he letting Jenna go there alone.