The Love Laws (14 page)

Chapter Seven

Love Law # 4 -
Men can't win you if they can't find you.

The women who
complain the most about the lack of men out there are usually the ones who are
in their jammies watching Reality TV every night ALONE by 8pm. The fact is that
you have to make some effort in order to find someone to share your life. There
are buckets of available men out there, but you won't find them in your living
room. My sister, Jessica, for instance, only met her husband because an
investigation brought him into her vintage bookstore. (Forgotten Treasures on
West Hastings. Plug, plug.) If not for that coincidence, she'd be a spinster
cat lady right now, for sure. (Sorry, Jess, but it's true.) All because she
didn't want to leave her comfort zone and make herself available. I'm not
talking about standing on street corners and flagging down strangers. But why
not do something fun that will actually put you in contact with people. And by
people, I mean, men. (Don't bother with the automotive classes. They're full of
women.) Please note that this is NOT the same as pursuing men. This strategy is
about making it possible for them to pursue YOU. So, instead of sitting in
front of your TV, or getting intimate with your Kindle for the tenth night in a
row, get out and do something. Go out with someone you would never consider
spending time with, just because it will get you out there. Even if it's just
sitting in a coffee shop and watching people go by, GO! Vancouver is an amazing
city. You never know who could be sitting right next to you.

Kevin returned the waitress’
sympathetic smile absently and then took another sip from his glass. He
fervently wished he was drinking something much stronger than tonic water, but
if Jamie ever showed up he’d be smart to avoid being half-sloshed. He needed
every single of his faculties in working order to deal with her. Good thing he
enjoyed a challenge.

After his
performance at her store earlier that day, he probably deserved to be stood up.
Jamie had looked positively livid when he’d left. But she hadn’t called to
cancel so he’d assumed they were still on for dinner and a movie. He’d called
her at the store to confirm but had only reached the store’s voicemail system.
He’d left a brief message reminding her of the time and place for their date,
but hadn’t received any kind of response from her. Now he was waiting to see if
she actually followed through on their agreement.

 Impatiently,
he scanned the Italian restaurant’s menu for the third time despite the fact
that he knew every dish offered. The place was a favorite of his. Not only was
the food outstanding, but he liked the privacy offered by the oversized red
leather booths and dim lighting. The atmosphere was romantic but he rarely took
women here. This was where he brought his family when they were in town, or
when he had something to celebrate with friends. He’d brought his agent, Lou,
here when he’d signed his first book deal and later when he’d made the
bestseller list.

He hadn’t had
any reason to come here in a while. Not a lot of celebrating going on. Being
here with Jamie had seemed like a brilliant idea when he’d suggested it last
night as he’d walked her to her apartment building door. Now it seemed like a
huge mistake. From this point forward, he would always associate this place
with being stood up in truly spectacular loser fashion.

Shaking his
head at his own stupidity, he stood up and started peeling a few bills from his
wallet. He set the money down on the table for the waitress and was just
turning to leave when he saw her. Jamie. Standing in the archway to the dining
room, looking smooth, confident and sexy as hell in the same black suit she’d
been wearing earlier that day. She took his breath away and made his balls ache
in the best way imaginable. As always.

God
, he
thought as he watched her approach,
she makes me feel like a gangly, awkward
boy
.
My fucking hands are shaking. What is wrong with me?

He wanted to
smooth his hair and check his fly at the same time. He’d never been so
intimidated or aroused by a woman in his life. She just walked into the room
and everything in him came alive, utterly focused on her. It was a scary but
exhilarating feeling that he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with. One thing he
did know was that he would do everything in his power to figure out why she had
such a hold on him. She was a mystery to him; A completely irresistible puzzle.
With amazing legs that he really wanted to feel wrapped around his hips, or his
back or even his head. Anywhere would be just fine with him.

She gave him a
cool smile as she approached, but didn’t hold out her hand or kiss his cheek in
greeting. She didn’t even say ‘hello’ but just sat down across from him and
made herself comfortable, watching him expectantly.

The first
thought to cross his mind, of course, was to grill her about the blonde guy
who’d been hanging off her at the lingerie store. He’d been so enraged at
seeing her holding hands with another man that he’d acted like a total asshole.
He couldn’t help it. Logically, he knew it was unlikely that Jamie would bring
a boyfriend to their meeting, but emotionally he couldn’t stand the idea of
someone else having the right to touch her. Not even her hand.

The fact that
he hadn’t even kissed her yet didn’t stop him from feeling an insane sense of
propriety towards her. Like she was his and had no business being touched by
anyone else. Ever. Especially someone as sophisticated-looking as that
pretty-boy from the store. He hated that dude on sight. Polished guys like that
with their matching socks and unstained ties always made him feel like an
oversized oaf.

“So, where’s
the suit?” Jamie asked, leaning back in her chair with a cheeky grin.

“Back in my
closet. Where the damn thing belongs,” he said scornfully as he folded his long
frame back into his chair.

Jamie arched an
eyebrow at him playfully. “That’s too bad. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Kevin gave a
derisive grunt. “Is that why you were throwing me out of your store? Because
you didn’t recognize me? Or because you did?”

Jamie laughed
merrily, not even slightly apologetic. “You have had a rough week. Thrown out
of two places in two days. Are you trying for some kind of record tonight? Am I
going to get dinner before you go for the hat trick? Or should I just order my
meal to go?”

Kevin chuckled
at the hockey metaphor. “I think you’re relatively safe tonight. No rowdy
juice.” He pointed at his water glass to indicate he wasn’t drinking. “Besides,
the owners actually like me here so probably won’t eject my ass unless I give
them a very good reason. Unlike certain other business owners who shall remain
nameless.” He gave her a reproachful look.

Jamie sighed.
“Kevin. I had a very good reason for asking you to leave.”

“Go on. I’m
listening.”

She pleated her
napkin thoughtfully for a moment. “Clay pointed out that maybe Cathy would be
crushed when you didn’t ask for her number. Throwing you out seemed the most
logical way to avoid that.”

He arched an
eyebrow. “Who says I wouldn’t have asked for her number?”

Jamie snorted.
“You were going to ask for her number? A woman you just met? Why am I not
surprised?”

Kevin shrugged.
“I didn’t say I was going to. But why would you assume that I wouldn’t? Cathy
is pretty and seemed sweet and intelligent too. Is there a reason I shouldn’t
have asked?”

“She’s not
really your type, is she?” She said doubtfully.

“According to
you, everyone with a pulse and an innie set of reproductive parts is my type.
So, why not Cathy? Is she too good for me?”

Jamie gave him
a shocked look. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have asked you to flirt with her if
I thought that.”

“Then what is
it? You still think she’s too awkward? Because she seemed okay to me. A little
nervous maybe, but not the scary spinster cat lady you made her out to be at
all. So why shouldn’t I see her again? Tell me.” His tone was louder and more
angry-sounding than he’d intended, but he couldn’t help himself. He wasn’t
teasing anymore.

For the first
time Jamie seemed to lose her composure. She looked down at her lap, fidgeted
with her snowy-white napkin for a moment and then stood up. “This was a mistake.
I’m sorry. I’m going to go.”

“No. Don’t.”
Kevin reached for her hand and held her in place before she could storm out. He
hadn’t meant to be such a bully but he desperately needed her to admit that she
would hate it if he called her friend. Not because he was a man-whore as she’d
alleged earlier, but because she wanted him for herself. He needed to hear just
one small word of encouragement. One reason to believe that pursuing this woman
wasn’t an exercise in futility.

Jamie stared
down at him. Her delicate features were flushed with colour and she was biting
her full lower lip in indecision. She looked a little like a rabbit with her
foot trapped in a snare. He hated that he made her feel that way. Everything in
him wanted to force her to take a chance on him but he couldn’t make her do
anything. If she really was determined to deny their attraction then all he
could do was take a step back. If he kept chasing her she’d just keep running.
It was killing him but he needed to give her some time to get to know him. Not
his reputation, but the man behind the gossip.

Kevin removed
his fingers from her wrist and held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay.
Forget I asked. I won’t say another word about this afternoon. Just please. Sit
down. I promise to not be a douche-bag for the rest of the evening. ”

Jamie gave him
a haughty glare. “The entire evening? You do have high hopes, don’t you? Let’s
just see if you can keep your douchy impulses at bay until I can try the
Manicotti. I’ve heard it’s divine here. And I’m starving.” She sat back down
and started perusing the menu like she hadn’t nearly walked out in a
melodramatic huff seconds earlier.

Kevin slumped
in his chair in relief and smiled as he listened to her read the dish
descriptions with a truly awful Italian accent. He would be on his best
behavior, but only as long as she didn’t touch him. If she made the first move,
all bets were off. He was only human. And resisting temptation wasn’t exactly
his strong suit.

*****

The old movie theatre
was dark and nearly deserted. Of course that hadn’t stopped Kevin from sitting
right next to Jamie. The seats were red, threadbare and very small. As a
result, his big body crowded against her side and she could feel the delicious
heat emanating from his skin. Occasionally he would turn his head and the faint
scent of his woodsy soap or cologne would tickle her nose.

To his credit,
Kevin’s attention was firmly focused on the action playing out on the giant
screen, but Jamie was significantly less interested in the movie. She couldn’t
stop glancing at Kevin’s profile. He really was very handsome. Even in the dim
lighting she could make out the outline of his strong chin and sharp
cheekbones. And then there was the small matter of his thigh. His big, hard
thigh. She couldn’t see it but every once in a while he would shift positions
and his leg would press against hers.

Her body’s
reaction to these innocent touches made her glad they were sitting in the dark
because she was certain her arousal would show on her face. Her cheeks were
probably as red as tomatoes. She could feel herself growing more restless and
turned on by the second and yet Kevin seemed oblivious. His inattention was
starting to annoy her.

 She kept
expecting him to use their close proximity as an excuse to touch her but he hardly
glanced in her direction. The movie itself was another one of those mindless
comic book superhero features that didn’t require his deep concentration and
yet he looked like he was watching a thought-provoking documentary.

She slumped
further down in her seat, dejected. She knew she was being ridiculous. This was
her fault. She’d requested that he keep the douche-bag at bay. He was being a
perfect gentleman. She should be thrilled that she’d be able to get away from
him as soon as the movie was over with her pride and virtue intact. And yet she
found herself longing for the outrageous, flirtatious, stimulating Kevin. Or at
least one demanding part of her body was aching for that Kevin. And that
aching, moist part of her was taking over control, despite her brain’s best
efforts to talk her out of it.

Watching him
carefully, she waited for a quiet moment onscreen and then moved her legs to
his side of the seat and re-crossed them. Her knee barely grazed his thigh, but
the sound of her silk stockings rubbing against one another was loud to her
ears.

Kevin had just
been bringing a mouthful of popcorn from the bucket in his lap to his mouth.
His hand froze in midair and he took a gulp before glancing in her direction.
“Everything okay over there?” He whispered, his eyes regarding her with
surprise and not a little suspicion.

She gave an
innocent shrug. “My legs are cold. Can I borrow your jacket?”

“Of course.”
Looking more than a bit confused, Kevin quickly scrambled out of his leather
coat and tucked it around her thighs, paying special attention to ensure every
inch of her stocking-clad legs were covered..

“Thanks,” she
whispered. “Are you warm enough now? Do you want to share your coat? Nothing
funny. Just two people cuddling for body heat, okay? Like camping.”

Kevin’s
movements were a blur as he nearly threw the bucket of popcorn on the next seat
and then pulled her calves over his lap. He settled the coat over both of them
and rested his warm hands on her legs. “How’s that?” He asked, his voice
sounding more than a little strained.