Chapter Fifteen

"I'm waiting to dance with you, Rox. Shall we?"

She started for the dance floor inside, but Jake quickly grabbed her wrist and spun her into his arms instead. She didn't resist. How could she? It was where she wanted to be.

He was dancing her toward the dark end of the porch.

"Jake, we're supposed to dance inside where we can hear the music."

"It's a heck of a lot nicer out here. Besides, we can make our own music." His rumbling baritone had taken on a dark, sexy timbre.

"Don't say things like that to me, Jake. I'm not starting up with you again. We're having one dance, and then, we're finished."

"Who sez?" His face bent toward her. "Dammit, Rox, you look good enough to eat tonight."

She saw tiny fires sparking in his eyes, reflections from the light piercing the clubhouse windows. His gaze focused on her face, and she felt an undeniable thrill ripple over her skin as she looked into his eyes.

Oh God, how she loved this man. Why oh why did it have to happen when she thought she had forgotten all about him? She had a career she needed to concentrate on. And the series of books she wanted to write. She thought after she and Grady split she'd be happy and content with the freedom to do what she wanted, go her own way for another ten years or so without a man in her life upsetting her equilibrium. When something unexpectedly happened between her and Jake again and flamed into a bonfire, roaring through her, hot and wild, she knew she was in trouble. All her suppressed emotions were on alert. Her future and her heart were in jeopardy. But at that point, Roxy no longer cared.

But then why did everything go wrong, so quickly? So stupidly?

She'd thought it over during the past weeks. She made up her mind to be strong, stick to her guns. Forget him for good.

"I said so, Jake. Why don't you just leave me alone?"

"I wish I could."

His words made her flinch silently, but she said, "Find a way, plumber man. You had your chance two weeks ago. I won't go through misery with you again. I've given up. Don't bother me anymore."

He pulled her closer, and she felt herself melting against his body.

God, this was too hard to do.

"We never finished what we started, Rox. I want more time with you. When can I see you?"

If I let him, it will begin all over, and I'll never get him out of my system.

"You can't, Jake. My parents will be home soon. After that, I won't be staying at the lake that often. I'll be in New York."

It wasn't strictly true, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She didn't want another on-off-again affair with Jake Plummer. It was better to break it off quickly, the way he had done two weeks ago. If it was his bruised ego that caused the problem, so be it. She hadn't done anything wrong; it had been an unconsidered slip of the tongue. After all, her heart was bruised, too. And sometimes she could be as dumb and stubborn as he was.

It pleased her to give him a verbal dig, because it really hurt when she learned Jake was seeing Desiree. "Whatever, Jake, I heard you've got Desiree to keep you warm and happy. She's a hot number as I recall."

"Shit, Roxy, she can hang on and be pretty persistent. She practically twisted my arm so I'd bring her to the dance."

"Oh yeah, sure, come on, Jake. Nobody makes you do anything you don't want. And Desiree Smith is no slouch. Guys have been lining up to dance with her since you entered the clubhouse. Your brother Pete, included. I saw him eyeing her. Or haven't you noticed?"

"Pete can have her. She's not anyone I'm interested in."

"Is that so? You could have fooled me."

"Roxy…"

"Jake, it's getting late. I think it's time I went home. Let go of me so I can say goodnight to my friends."

Reluctantly, he did what she asked. She walked off and left him on the porch. When she said her goodnights, she ducked out the side door of the Pub so she wouldn't run into Jake on the veranda. Heading for the clubhouse's parking lot, she met Robbie and Mary Jo, who were also leaving.

"We're in the book, Roxy. Give us a call, will you? Mary Jo and I want to see more of you."

"Thanks, Robbie. I'll do that next time I'm at the lake. G'night, Mary Jo. Hope it's a girl this time," Roxy said, aiming Robbie's wife a grin.

* * * *

Roxy had turned on the outdoor lights when she left for the dance. Now she carefully made her way from the driveway to the back door, pushed the key in the lock, and flipped on the kitchen light. The house seemed unusually empty. It wasn't simply because her parents weren't there to greet her; they weren't yet expected. It was empty because Jake had spent time there, with her, been a part of her world on a few summer weekends. Now, she felt an emptiness she'd never noticed before, except for the ticking of the antique school clock on the kitchen's wall.

Shaking her head, Roxy locked the back door again and turned off the kitchen light, flipping more switches on and off until she reached the sanctuary of her bedroom. While removing her dance finery, she went over what transpired during the past several hours—the giggling, girl talk, and reminisces between her and her high school chums. Bella was planning a "real" class reunion for next year. Roxy promised she would be there.

She was glad she met Robbie and his wife and several other men she knew from her class. A few had asked her to dance, including Pete Plummer. The compliments she'd heard, her reappearance as part of the "crowd", gave a boost to her ego, and she was glad she didn't make an excuse to stay away from the dance. Her encounter with Desiree Smith in the Ladies' Room had only been half bad. Later, running into Jake on the clubhouse's veranda … well, what could she say? She was still hung up on him, but she promised herself she would try harder to put him out of her mind. She'd been nervous about the dance. But everything had gone smooth as glass. Falling into bed, Roxy fell asleep almost immediately.

The telephone rang at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, Sunday, jerking her out of a deep, dreamless slumber. She reached for the phone at the same time she glanced at the clock on her bedside table. "Uh-hh, hullo?"

"Roxanne?"

She struggled to sit up, wiping sleep from her eyes. "Mom? Is that you? Where are you?"

"I'm in Texas, honey, with your father."

"Texas? Huh?" She cleared her throat. "I expected you home tomorrow or the next day."

"Well, honey, your father and I had a long talk, and we decided to go back to Texas to live."

"What? Oh my gosh, Mom." There was silence at the other end of the phone line. "Well, you just sent me into a tailspin. When did this happen?"

"In Italy, dear. But it's a long story. Your Dad and I are staying at the Hilton for a few days until we find a rental. We just wanted you to know what was happening."

"I-I'm really, really glad, Mom, you know, that everything worked out. But this is a real surprise. What…"

"It surprised me, too, honey," her mother said softly into the receiver. "We fell in love again in Italy. It was wonderful, Roxy. I'm so damn happy. We plan to get married again, in the same chapel where we were wed twenty-seven years ago. Isn't it wonderful?"

Roxy inhaled a long happy sigh. "Wow! It sure is."

She'd been on pins and needles waiting the outcome of her parents' "vacation" together, and it bore fruit. She exhaled in relief.

The happy news about her parents' marriage staying intact was first and foremost. Second, her mind was bombarded by what would happen to the lake house.

Just then, her mother broached the topic. "Oh, by the way, honey, would you mind baby-sitting the lake house until we decide whether we should sell it or rent? I can't handle that problem right now. We want to get settled first. But we'll make up our minds in a few weeks when we come up there. Is that okay with you?"

Sell the lake house? Roxy's heart hit rock bottom.

I love this place, but how can I buy it on my salary, maintain it by myself, and work at the same time? There aren't enough hours in the day.

"Yeah, sure, Mom." A million things whirled around in Roxy's head.

"All right then, sweetheart. Your father wants to say hello to you."

"Hi sweetheart, how are you? How are things?"

"Just fine, Dad. How are you and Mom?"

"Missing you, but we'll be up there to get things straightened out and in shape. I put out

some feelers down here, so a job opportunity came up already, and things look good. We're glad to be back in Texas, Roxy. It's like coming home."

"Yeah, great! I'm really happy for you both. Oh, by the way, I forgot. Tell Mom I have a commission check waiting for her and ask if I should mail it to you or hold onto it."

Roxy heard her father ask a muted question to her mother. "Your mother says to hold it until we call you back. We need to get a post office box, okay?"

"Okay."

"Roxy? Are you all right with this? I mean, our going back to Texas?"

"Of course, Dad. I'm fine up here. I've got my job, my apartment, what else do I need?"

"I know I didn't do the best job in the world, honey, but I'm trying to make up for it to your mother."

"You'll do fine. But, hey, I'll be very excited to see you both again. I hope it's soon."

"Okay, honey. I'll give you back to your mother. Take care of yourself until we see you."

"'Bye, Dad."

"Roxanne?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Did you have any problems at the house while we were gone?"

"Uh, only a little leak downstairs. But Jake Plummer fixed it."

"Well, send us the bill if you haven't paid it, Roxy, and I'll send Mr. Plummer a check."

"It's okay, Mom. I'll take care of it. Good thing it happened while I was here."

"All right, dear, whatever you say. Well, I'll say goodbye now. If you need to speak to us, you can reach us at the Hilton. But I'll call you at the lake a little later this weekend. You'll be staying there, won't you?"

"Yes, of course. I'll be staying here on Tuesday and next weekend. G'bye, Mom. You don't know how happy you've both made me."