Jack called a few times on Kara’s cell phone, but she didn’t answer. It was eleven when there was a knock on her door. She glanced around her apartment thinking Zoe forgot something when she brought her back.
Kara sighed, flipped off the T.V. and made her way to the door. “What did you forget, Zo.”
“It’s Jack. I know it’s late, but can I talk to you for a minute?”
Kara slid the chain on, and opened the door a few inches. It was raining again, and his dark hair was wet.
“I know...” Jack said and held up a hand. He looked miserable. “I have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Go on.”
“Can I come in for five minutes so I can explain? If you still think I should go, I will without an argument.”
What am I doing? Kara slid off the chain and stepped to the side to let him in.
“I was going to bring flowers or Valentine candy, but decided, instead, on the truth.” He hooked thumbs in the front pockets of his Levi’s and rocked forward.
“Valentine’s Day isn’t until tomorrow.” She crossed her arms. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Oh, yeah, I do. Because back at the bar, you cannot believe how sorry I am for putting that look on your face.”
“We spent a couple hours together after I was pepper-sprayed.” Kara shrugged a shoulder. “It wasn’t a lifetime commitment and it wasn’t even a ‘date’.
“When I left, you gave me your number, and then I didn’t call. I can only imagine what a creep you think I am, and then the bar...” He blew out a breath. “I was working undercover and couldn’t call. Nothing in my life ever seems to be timed right. It’s crayons or meth dealers... as I said, my life’s not easy. I wanted to ask you out the first night, but you’d just been traumatized. It wasn’t right.”
“You wanted to ask me out... on a date?” Kara asked.
“I like you. You’re down to earth and have a level head. I like that in a woman. You made me feel something I haven’t felt in awhile... and you’re beautiful.”
If he wanted to, he could stop there. “Go on.”
He continued, “Half the time, I don’t even think it would be fair to ask someone out on a date. I can’t keep track of my own life, it changes so suddenly.”
“I can imagine between your job and helping with Ada, it must be a little crazy.”
“I ask a girl out, and then I need to cancel to go pick up Ada. It’s a real deal breaker when you have a precocious three year old tagging along. In the last six months I haven’t gone out with anyone.”
“I like Ada. And, I like that you’re willing to postpone a date to help your sister.”
“Really?” He looked surprised.
“You also take your job seriously. That was why you blew by me at the bar. You were working. I understand.” Kara couldn’t help but smile. “Did you catch him?”
“Yeah, we caught him. What I really wanted to do was bounce his head a few times off the cement for showing up the same time you did. What are the odds?”
“That wasn’t his fault.”
“Everything tonight was his fault. Air is his fault,” Jack grumbled.
“I forgive you. Though, I think my ego may take a few days of heavy recovery.”
“Could any of this recovery time include dinner with me tomorrow night?” He smiled. The dimples were back too.
“You’re asking me out? Tomorrow? On Valentine’s Day?” Kara’s heart stuttered. Jack’s smile combined with the shadow of a beard, made him look rakish.
“Tomorrow it’s just the two of us. No misunderstandings, undercover jobs in the way, or Ada... hopefully.”
“I’d like that,” she admitted.
“I’m past my five-minutes, but I have one more question. Why were you wearing that funny looking headband back at the bar? Did you lose a bet with your girlfriends?”
Kara felt her cheeks flush with heat. “No actually, I made a bet with them.”
“You can’t leave it at that. Now you have to tell me.”
“I made the bet a few months ago. This couldn’t be any more embarrassing if I tried.” She paused and bit her lip. “It’s mistletoe. It was for Christmas, but since I didn’t get a guy to kiss me, I swore I would wear it the rest of the year until I did.”
“You haven’t kissed a guy since Christmas?”
“No.”
“Good to know. Is it still in your purse?” Jack asked.
Kara looked around, spotted where she dumped her purse and pulled out the headband.
“Put it on.” The twinkle in his eyes was mixed with male assurance. He strode to her and stopped, then tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m thinking it’s time for you to ditch this headband. What do you think?”
He leaned in and kissed her.
The simple press of his mouth to hers quickly turned into something amazing. Bracing his hands against the wall, he pressed his body against hers and deepened the kiss. Whatever she was forgiving him for; she was ready to forgive him again.
Jack wrapped one arm around her waist from behind and pulled her even closer. With the other hand, he reached up and slipped the headband off. “Does this get passed on to the next friend who made the pact?”
“Zoe. She’ll get it,” Kara whispered. His mouth was inches from hers.
He kissed her again as he tossed the headband off on a side table. He drew her hair back on her neck and nuzzled his nose to her ear. “I like passing things on. It’s repurposing at its best.”
Kara sighed, relishing the feel of his lips against the oh-so-sensitive neck. Every bone in her body melted. If he didn’t have her by the waist she would have slid down the wall. Jack was tall and strong making her feel delicate and desired.
When he finally broke the kiss, he stepped back. “I have to warn you again, I have a crazy life and a crazy schedule. Not everyone can handle it.”
“I’m willing to try. How about, instead of going out to dinner, I make something here. Then if you get called to work, I can throw it in the crock-pot. And, if you have Ada, I’ll stock up on chicken nuggets.”
“You’d do that?”
Kara grinned. “I’d do it for another kiss.”
Jack’s gaze dropped to linger on her mouth. Dinner-in may be the best idea she’d had in months. She kind of hoped Ada wouldn’t be with him this time.
He caught her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his. They were both breathing rapidly when they broke apart.
“How about before dinner, we deliver the headband to your friend?” Jack said.
“It’s mobile mistletoe. It’s time it traveled to someone else’s care.”
As Jack kissed her goodnight, Kara wondered how many holidays they would celebrate together.
Valentine’s Day would only be the beginning if she had a say.
*****
Zoe dipped her spoon in the carton of Haagen-Dazs, and sighed. She was spending another Valentine’s Day with Chunky Monkey and not a hunky. There was a knock. She swung her legs off the couch and looked through the peep-hole.
She opened the door. “Kara? What are you doing here?”
Kara stood next to a tall, handsome man who had his arm around her waist.
“Hey,” Zoe said. “Isn’t this the guy from the bar?”
“This is Jack. Let’ say he broke the pact and now it’s all yours, babe.” Kara held the headband and dangled it between two fingers. “I’m beginning to think it’s lucky, and not a curse after all. By the way, happy Valentine’s Day.”
Kara slipped the dangling mistletoe headband over Zoe’s hair and pulled her door shut.