Page 59 of Dive Into Me

It was my turn to give him a raised eyebrow stare. “Actually, I’m wondering how you found me,” I replied when what I really wanted to do was throw myself into his arms.

Sure, I was reeling from shock and confusion but I was happy to see him. My heart hammered against my rib cage as I took him in. He looked different than he did on vacation. He was clean-shaven and immaculately dressed. He looked good.

“I, um…” He rubbed his nape and cleared his throat. A flustered Jamie was adorable because I was sure he rarely lost his cool. “I called the resort asking for you because we never exchanged phone numbers.”

I went back and forth between regretting not asking for his information and convincing myself that it was for the best.

“They said you weren’t there.” His brow creased. “You didn’t lose your job, did you?”

I glanced at Max who was tugging at my necklace. “No. I took a short break. I’m going back to work next week.”

“Oh… good.” He blew out a breath. “I wanted to see you. I remembered you told me where you were from and I tracked you down…” The slightest tinge of pink highlighted his cheeks. “Not like a stalker…” He then frowned. “Although hunting you down might come off… Shit,” he breathed. “I’m regretting showing up at your mother’s place without calling first to find out if you wanted to see me. I was trying the whole spontaneity thing.” Uncertainty clouded his eyes as he frowned at me. “Please tell me you want to see me or I might die of embarrassment.”

I pulled my lip between my teeth to hold back my amusement at the otherwise stoic Jamie practically having a meltdown on Mom’s porch. He hunted me down and showed up, and I was happy about it. A giggle escaped me and I almost burst into tears because of the barrage of emotions that hit me.

I stepped outside and cupped his face with my free hand. As soon as I lifted my face to him, his mouth came down on mine. The kiss was short because I held a baby in one arm but it was so good. I wanted to kiss him deeper and savor our reunion.

However, I pulled away and breathed. “I’m happy enough to see you that I don’t care how you found me.”

“Thank fuck, or this would have been beyond weird.”

“Jamie!” I hissed, putting a hand over Max’s ear.

Jamie winced as he glanced at my nephew. “Sorry…”

“I’m really happy to see you. I?—”

“Charlotte, sweetie, who’s at the door?”

Crap. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to introduce Jamie to Mom, I just would have liked to warn him about her craziness first. Mom appeared in the doorway and glanced at Jamie with a polite smile.

“I thought it might be Lincoln,” she said, glancing at me. “You did tell him what I said about wanting to see him, right?”

My jaw tightened as I glared at her. “Things didn’t work out with him, Mom,” I bit out, hoping that my sharp tone was warning enough to tell her to shut it.

Jamie didn’t react to the mention of Lincoln or Mom being kinda rude and dismissive. Of course, if he felt any way about it, no one would know because he was a pro at hiding his emotions.

“Oh… And who is this?” Mom asked.

“This is my friend, James. Jamie, this is my mother, Faye.”

Mom’s eyes narrowed. “A friend?”

I groaned inwardly. “Mom, can you give us a minute?”

Maybe I could arrange a meet-up with Jamie in town far away from my mother.

“Wouldn’t your friend like to stay for breakfast?”

I turned to Jamie and tried to tell him with my eyes that he’d better refuse.

A devious smirk curled his lips and he said, “Breakfast sounds lovely, Mrs. Brooks.”

I glowered at him.

“And I’m not just Charlotte’s friend. I’m dating your daughter, ma’am.”

My jaw nearly brushed the floor as I stared at him in disbelief. The angelic smile that appeared on his face made me want to throttle him. Mom just about swooned at the news… the false news. I frowned at Jamie, wondering what he was thinking.

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