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“JAMETT PENELOPE SUTHERLAND, what is that on your face?”
My pen paused mid-sentence as I looked up from the calendar on my work desk. In the doorway of my office stood Melissa, her arms crossed, her foot tapping with impatience. Absently, my hand came up to my cheek. I wondered if I’d missed a dab of strawberry sauce from the Danish pastry I’d eaten this morning.
“Not your face,” Melissa corrected, frowning. “Your face.” She waved her hands in a large circle as if to indicate my aura. “You have the look of someone in love.”
I pressed my cold palms against my face to cool my burning cheeks. “Is it that obvious?”
“Honey, Helen Keller could see it.” She took a seat on the corner of my desk. “But how is that possible? The last time I saw you, you were near tears over Joseph and his bitch of an ex. Heck, I was near tears too.” She glared at me sternly. “Don’t tell me you went on that date with him after I specifically told you not to?”
I cringed. “I did...” I confessed. “But I had good reason.”
“Oh, Jamie...” I could hear the disappointment in her voice. “I knew he’d get to you. You’re such a softy.”
“Just hear me out, Melissa. Trust me. You’re going to love this.”
She shook her head. “This better be good.”
I pushed next month’s scheduling aside and ditched the pen. I sat back in my chair and got comfortable. I knew this would be a long conversation, considering all that had happened since Melissa and I saw each other last Friday night. I sighed. “Gosh, where do I start?”
“Friday night after you left here would be good.” The sarcasm in her voice was palpable.
“Okay, so Friday night I went home and got into bed, determined to ignore any of Joseph’s attempts to get me to listen to him. And I did,” I reassured Melissa. “At least, until he came barging into my bedroom.”
“What?”
“Yes, he let himself into my apartment.”
“You gave him a key?”
“No, he has a key. To everyone’s apartment. He’s the superintendent of the building, remember?”
“Oh, my gosh,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I forgot.”
“Yeah, well, me too.”
“I can’t believe he just broke into your apartment like that. I would’ve called the cops.”
“The thought certainly crossed my mind. But I think the shock of him standing in my bedroom in the dark rendered me senseless.”
“So anyway....” She churned her hand in a “get on with it” motion.
I reorganized my thoughts and continued. “I sat there in my bed, with the covers pulled up to my ears, and he came to the side of my bed, begging me to talk to him. I told him about Caroline coming out of his apartment early Wednesday morning, and he said he wasn’t even in town. He’d been at his sister’s in Lexington and had no idea what Caroline was doing there.”
“Of course, he’s going to say that, Jamie. Men don’t just admit they’re sleeping with their ex when another chance to score some tail comes their way.”
“It wasn’t like that at all. He really was in Lexington. His sister confirmed it and she hates Caroline. There’s no way she’d lie for Joseph. Besides, wait until you hear why he was in Lexington and what he did for me.”
“Well, you better hurry this along. We open in fifteen.”
Anxious to fill Melissa in on all the beautiful details of the weekend I had with Joseph, I commenced the long, drawn-out story of our date, how I’d ended up in his bed the next morning, how he’d taken my grandmother and me to dinner, how he’d consoled me over the news of my grandma moving to Florida, how we’d gone Christmas shopping together, and lastly, how we’d played Truth or Dare Jenga. Seeing the look on Melissa’s face when I described how I blew a raspberry on his stomach was the best, but seeing her swoon over the fact that he didn’t want to take advantage of me once we started making out was priceless.
“I don’t know what to say,” Melissa uttered as she fanned her face. “What a weekend. What a gentleman.” The joy on her face matched the delight on mine as she ruminated over all the glorious details. “I bet you’re exhausted. I know I am just listening to you.” She clasped my hands in hers. “I’m so happy for you. My little Penelope has finally found true love.”
I squeezed her hands and we squealed in unison like immature school girls. Sharing this news with Melissa felt so good. It was twice as gratifying having someone to open up to about the developments in my pitiful dating life, especially when they involved someone like Joseph Scarbrough.
“I could barely fall asleep last night,” I conveyed shyly. “My mind kept running through last night, over and over. If only I hadn’t had those two drinks.”
“I know,” Melissa agreed, slugging my arm. “What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know. I could just kick myself. But then again, he saved me from the dreaded morning after,” I said, striking quotes with my fingers. “You know as well as I do that you would’ve found me in a fetal position under my desk had we done the dirty. Joseph saying no was for the best.”
Melissa giggled. “Yeah, you’re right. Finding you grinning from ear to ear was much better.” She closed her eyes and sighed, relishing my story all over again. “Where can I find a man like Joseph?” Her eyes popped open. “Does he have a brother?”
I slapped her knee as I stood from my chair. “Nope. Sorry.”
“Cousin? Distant cousin? Once removed?” she probed, following me out into the coffee shop. “I’m desperate here. I’ll take anything.”
I unlocked the door and flipped the window sign to OPEN. As I turned to walk back behind the counter, the chimes rang aloud. Melissa’s eyes widened momentarily.
“Speak of the devil,” she murmured.
I spun and caught sight of Joseph entering with his to-die-for smile plastered on his face. He wore his normal work attire—jeans, boots, and his Carhartt jacket. His chunk of hair was on its best behavior today, but I was hard pressed to forget how messy it had looked last night. Naughty had never looked so good.
I cleared my throat and met him halfway, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him good morning. His arm wound its way around my back as he whispered in my ear. “Good morning, Sutherland.” He sneaked a peek in Melissa’s direction, noting the huge grin on her face. “I take it she’s been briefed.”
“I left no detail untold,” I said, drawing an imaginary circle on his chest above where his coat gaped. The hard swell of his pec beneath his T-shirt had me itching to tug his cute little self into my office for a little private one-on-one. But I didn’t scratch that itch. That would be far too cruel in front of my loyal friend. “So,” I finally breathed. “What are you doing here?”
He released his hold on me and eased his way up to the counter. “I just thought I’d grab a cup of coffee before I headed to your grandmother’s to fix her stuff.”
I walked behind the counter to fill his order. “I thought you were going to do that this coming weekend?”
“Well, I was, but my sister, Randi, called this morning and asked me to help her load some furniture in the U-Haul. Spencer’s flying in from Denver to help her pack. Thought I’d just kill two birds with one stone while I was down there.”
“Oh, I see.” I didn’t mean to sound disappointed, but I was looking forward to going with him to see my grandmother. “I wish I could go with you, but Monday’s are Donna’s night class at Northern. There’s no one to cover for me.”
“No problem,” he said, leaning over the counter. “As long as you don’t mind me hanging out with your grandmother without you.”
“No, I don’t mind.” I thought about how Grandma had gushed over him this past Saturday. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind having you all to herself either. I saw her wandering eyes when you weren’t looking.”
“Nothing like the way her granddaughter looks at me though.”
I caught his charming little wink as I looked over my shoulder and blushed. I couldn’t argue with him there and poured some extra frothy cream into his steaming cup of mocha. I didn’t bother asking how he wanted his coffee today. I figured I’d give him something to remind him of me for his long drive south.
“You dating anyone, Melissa?” I heard him ask. Without turning around, I knew he’d just piqued her interest with that little question.
“Who’s asking?” she replied with a tinge of flirtatiousness.
“A friend of mine. I told him about you and he seemed interested to meet you.”
“Is that so?” I saw her eyes light up. “Is he as cute as you?”
“Can’t say I ever looked at him that way, but I’d be happy to give him your number, if you’re so inclined.”
“Oh, I’m inclined,” she said in haste. I watched her scratch her number on a slip of paper and hand it to Joseph. “What’s his story?”
He tucked her number in his back pocket and smiled. “The usual. Can’t find a decent woman to save his ass. Tired of gold diggers and one-night stands.”
“Sounds like my kind of man.”
I handed Joseph his cup and shook my head at his twenty-dollar bill. “You’re doing me a favor by helping my grandmother. Keep it.”
He took a sip of coffee and leaned in for a kiss. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay.” I heard Melissa giggle as she turned to help the next customer who walked in the door. “Be careful,” I commanded protectively.
“Always.” He turned on his heel and almost bumped into the person standing behind him. He apologized and sifted around the long line that had already started to form at the register.
As usual, Melissa and I watched him walk out the door, our eyes glued to his tight Wrangler butt. When the door chimed upon his exit, we both sighed with utter contentment. Having our ‘Joseph fix’ for the day meant nothing could ruin the start of our manic work week.
