My Sweetheart (9 page)

             
Jane walked through the doors of the bakery and came to a dead stop. Layla was standing by the counter talking to Kit, looking upset and mad. She looked like she was in full sister mode.
Wonderful.

             
“Hey you two,” she said breezily and hurried toward the hallway.

             
“Stop right there,” Layla said pointing her finger to the space right beside her. “Let’s talk.”

             
Jane grimaced feeling just like a teenager in trouble. She walked slowly over to her sisters and slipped her apron off, folding it up and putting it on the glass case.

             
“What’s up?”

             
Kit held up her hands as if she’d just lost all patience and Layla’s eyes turned bright blue. A huge warning sign anyone with basic intelligence heeded.

             
“Look, I know you’re upset about finding out about me wanting a restraining order. But in my defense Layla, you were on your honeymoon and that’s not what you want to hear about as soon as you walk through the door. Kit, same thing. You’re busy getting ready for your wedding. Why worry you if I can handle it myself?”

             
Kit spluttered and Layla held up her hand for silence. “Is this you handling it? I called Tate as soon as Kit told me and he said you were supposed to come in
last
Monday to fill out the forms and you never bothered. He said he talked to a guy named Fee Kee who said if he hadn’t shown up and crushed Alex’s wrist it looked like he was going to drag you off with him. This is serious Jane,” she said, her cheeks turning bright red.

             
Jane reached up and pulled out her pony tail holder and massaged her tender scalp before answering. “His name is Feke and you’re right. I should have gone in Monday
. I’m sorry
. I’ve just been a little busy lately.”

             
Kit’s green eyes snapped angrily. “Do you seriously not get it Jane? The guy is delusional about you. Obsessed. Who even knows what he did to his wife, but I don’t want it happening to you next.”

             
Layla tilted her head and studied her. “Kit says you’ve been locked in your room all week moping and that whenever she tries to talk to you, you push her away. Jane, has Alex done something that you haven’t told Tate about? If you don’t tell us, we can’t help you. I can’t protect you if you don’t let us in,” she said and then wiped a tear off her cheek.

             
Jane lowered her head and groaned in misery. Layla crying was the worst thing she could have done. Nothing was worse than that.

             
“No, Layla, it’s not Alex. I’ve just been having a hard time this week. It’s nothing to worry about. Just a little heartbreak. Kit knows I’ve been trying to get over Tate and I just found out that even though he likes me he’s choosing another girl . . . he feels like he owes it to his family to marry a Samoan girl. I’m not the one for him. And it’s been killing me because I love him,” she said, ending on a whisper.

             
Layla took the two steps forward and pulled her into her arms. “Oh honey, why didn’t you call me? I don’t care if I’m in Paris or two blocks away. You call me when you hurt. We’re sisters Jane that means we don’t shut each other out.”

             
Jane sniffled as she held on to her sister and smiled a little when she felt Kit’s arms come around the both of them. “You’re both so happy I feel like a freak being so miserable. I hate the idea of subtracting from your happiness.”

             
“You won’t Jane. Misery is loving someone and not being able to help. Now what can we do,” Layla said, pulling back and staring worriedly into her face. “Maybe it would help if Michael had a talk with Tate.”

             
Jane gasped and let go of Layla shaking her head back and forth. “
No!
Layla, this isn’t something you can fix. I know you’ve been there for me my whole life and you’ve done everything you can to take care of me and protect me, but you can’t protect me from this. You can’t fix a broken heart. There are some things even you can’t do.”

             
Layla looked mad for a second and then sighed, smiling slightly. “I really hate that.”

             
Kit laughed. “Well we have to do
something
. Next time Tate comes in . . .”

             
Jane held up her hand and stopped her. “I told Tate not to come by the bakery anymore. He knows how I feel. It’s over. Really.”

             
Layla glared and shook her head. “It’s not over Jane.”

             
Jane glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that she only had a half an hour to get ready for Rob now.
Rob!

             
“Well, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ve just spent the last hour working out my heart rehabilitation with Rob. He’s going to help me and I’m going to help him get over Kit.”

             
Kit gasped in horror and Layla’s eye went wide in distress. They both shouted her name at the same time.

             
Jane gave up and sat down on the floor, laughing helplessly. She spent the next ten minutes explaining what they agreed to and Kit sat down next to her, putting her arm around her shoulders.               “Well, just because he wasn’t the right guy for me
and
he’s a little macho and jerky doesn’t mean he’s incapable of being a good friend to you.”

             
Layla bit her lip and stared out the window for a moment. “Michael loves Rob for some reason. He knows I don’t like him so they haven’t hung out very much lately. Maybe we’ll see how he does. If he can help you, then maybe I’ll forgive him for Kit.”

             
Jane jumped up and kissed Layla on the cheek. “Excellent. Now if you don’t mind I need to get dressed for my date. I’m wearing my new gorgeous yellow dress you bought me.”

             
Layla groaned and Kit smiled at her as she hurried out of the room. She ran for her closet, stripped and slid on the silky dress and hurried to her bathroom. She brushed her hair out and quickly applied makeup. She spritzed on some perfume and called it good. Who said you couldn’t get ready for a date in fifteen minutes?

             
She ran down stairs, slipping her phone in her purse and walked into the store to see Rob smiling cheerfully at Kit and Layla. Layla had her arms crossed over her chest and Kit was frowning, but he was alive.
Good
.

             
“There’s my hot boyfriend,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

             
Rob saw her and relaxed with a genuine smile. “Hey there. Ready to go?”

             
Kit stepped forward and put a hand on Jane’s arm stopping her. “Rob, for your own sake, you better treat Jane like a queen, because if you treat her like an object, or like she’s just a pretty face or make her feel like she’s less than human, we’ll . . .”

             
Rob frowned and interrupted her. “Stop right there. I messed up with you. That doesn’t mean I can’t learn from my mistakes. Besides, we’re just going out as friends. You can relax. Your little sister is as safe with me as she would be going out with you two tonight. You have my word.”

             
Kit studied Rob for a moment and then smiled. “Okay. I’m good with it then.”

             
Jane and Rob turned to Layla and she threw her hands in the air and stomped over to Jane and hugged her. And then she shocked everyone in the room when she turned and hugged Rob too.

             
“You have one more chance Rob. Don’t mess it up,” she said, and then patted his cheek three times, although from where Jane was standing it looked more like three small slaps.

             
Rob nodded his head regally and held out his hand to her. Jane slipped her hand into his and with a wave they were gone. They walked down the stairs and Jane sighed in relief.

             
“I was scared they were going to throw you out.”

             
Rob laughed and opened the door to his convertible for her. “You and me both.”

             
They drove into Tacoma where Rob took her to a comedy club. Rob knew the owners and was able to get seats at the front. She’d had an early dinner at the Iron Skillet, so he bought appetizers for them to snack on. She didn’t like the first comedian that much. It seemed like every joke was about sex. Rob looked slightly embarrassed. She was about to ask to leave when he finished though. The second comedian was much better and they spent the next half hour laughing. There were two more acts scheduled but they snuck out and Rob took her dancing. The last time she’d gone dancing had been in college.

             
She was a little nervous at first, but Rob was relaxed and a good dancer and so she was able to enjoy herself in a way she never had before. Before when she’d gone dancing with her girlfriends, she’d been nervous about all the guys that would come up and ask her to dance. And when she’d gone dancing with a date, she’d always been nervous about how she was dancing or worried if he liked her, or she didn’t like him or she was just wanting it to be over. With Rob, she could relax so completely because none of the other guys would dare to ask her to dance and she didn’t really care if he approved of her dance moves or not. She was having a blast.

             
Rob seemed to be having a good time too. It was amazing how much fun you could have when there was no pressure. But when she began yawning, Rob noticed and grabbed her hand, leading her outside into the cool night.

             
“You’re not going to believe this, but this was the best date I’ve had in years,” Rob said, sounding surprised as they walked to his car.

             
Jane laughed and Rob put his arm around her shoulders companionably. “I know. It’s so weird. I can’t wait to tell Kit and Layla how much fun I had.”

             
Rob grinned but then slowed down. “Hey Jane, remember today when we were talking about kissing? Looks like you’re up to bat,” he said quietly.

             
Jane frowned up at him, confused. They reached Rob’s car but instead of opening the door for her, he pulled her into his arms.

             
“Put your arms around me and smile up into my face as if you’re going to die if you don’t kiss me,” he instructed.

             
Jane snorted softly but did as she was instructed. She didn’t know why Rob was making a big deal out of the kiss right now but they’d had fun and a little peck wouldn’t hurt her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled up into his face. “Like this?”

             
Rob glanced quickly over her head and then grinned down at her. “Here goes nothing,” he said and leaned down and began kissing her. Jane critiqued his style and finesse and had to admit that Rob was a pretty decent kisser. It was going beyond a peck but she’d forgive him.

             
She pulled away and stared up at him in consternation. “Do you know what the definition of a peck is Rob? Dude, way overboard.”

             
Rob sighed and shook his head at her before looking over her shoulder. “Hey Tate. How’s it going man? Who’s your beautiful date?” he asked, gently turning Jane around so that she was face to face with Tate, Alea and two other people she didn’t recognize.

             
Tate stared at her stonily before replying. “Rob, this is my friend Alea and her best friend Tasi and Darren. Looks like you guys are having fun tonight,” he said dryly as he casually looked Jane up and down, taking in her beautiful dress and Rob’s arm around her.

             
Jane licked her lips and looked away from Tate. Alea was smiling at her in a snotty way that reminded her of high school all over again. The other two people smiled politely and nodded.

             
Rob put his arm around her waist and pulled her in close to his side. “Jane’s been working so hard lately I figured she deserved a night on the town. We just finished dancing. Next time you’ll have to join us.”

             
Tate smiled stiffly and shoved his hands in his pockets. “How long have you two been dating?” he asked Rob, ignoring Alea pulling on his arm in a very obvious way.

             
Rob looked down at Jane and grinned. “Not long enough if you ask me. Jane’s a woman I can relax with and be myself, you know. Best night I’ve had in years. Oh before I forget Tate. Jane’s been after me to sign up for Rugby. She’s been watching you and your buddies play lately and she thinks I’d have fun. Any room on your team?”

             
Tate’s cold hard face was suddenly transformed by a big smile. A lethal one.