Page 53 of The House on Blueberry Lane

“I like your dad and brothers,” she said as they began jogging at a comfortable pace for the both of them. He liked that their movements seemed in sync with each other. Just like their movements in the bedroom.

“And they like you.”

She didn’t say anything for a minute and then said, “Deciding to leave Phoenix was hard for me. I had to give up friendships I’d cultivated because of my relationship with you.”

It had been hard for him, too. His brothers had given him hell. So had the Steele family. “Everyone missed you, Velvet, and blamed me for your leaving.”

“They should not have blamed you, Jaye, and I regret that they did. My expectations of your feelings were my doing and not yours. You’d told me upfront and several times in between that our relationship was built on sex and nothing more. I was wrong to hold out for more.”

“I did tell you once that I loved you.”

“Yes, but in the same breath you made it clear what you really loved was all the time we spent in bed having sex.”

Jaye didn’t say anything for a moment because he could clearly recall that night. The words I love you had slipped out while they’d been making love. He had been buried deep inside her and emotions he had never felt before for any woman had consumed him, and before he knew it, he had blurted out the words. When he realized what he’d done, he quickly decided to take the true meaning of them back. The last thing he’d wanted was to fall in love and admit it to anyone.

“So tell me about your new bank.”

Was she making the request because she figured he wouldn’t tell her anything because he never had? If that was the case, then he would surprise her. “It’s going to be nice. The community it will serve is big. It will be one of our biggest banks.”

“Even larger than the one in Phoenix?”

They had several branches in Phoenix, but he knew which one she was referring to. “Not larger than our corporate office but definitely larger than any of the other branches.”

By the time they had finished the first lap, he had discussed a number of things with her, and she definitely seemed interested in what he’d told her about Franklin submitting a bid to Reid Lacroix regarding that housing development.

“It’s going to be a nice place. I want one of those lots on the ocean and plan to purchase one when they go up for sale.”

He lifted a brow. “You do?”

“Yes. I like it here and have always wanted to own oceanfront property.”

“I thought you liked Phoenix.”

She hesitated. “I still do, but I’m not sure I’d consider Phoenix my home again. I have no reason to do so.”

He was silent as they came to a stop at the spot where they had begun. He heard what she’d just said, and more than anything he intended to give her a reason. “This is where we part ways for now. I hope you have a good day. I’m stopping by LaFitte Seafood House on my way home to grab takeout. Would you like anything?” He saw her eyes light up. Seafood was her favorite, and he knew it.

“Are you sure you don’t mind? I have a community committee meeting after school, and it would be nice if I didn’t have to stop anywhere before I got home.”

“I don’t mind at all, Velvet. Just tell me what you want.”

“A number twenty-two. It has an assortment of everything, including their crab cakes, which are to die for.”

“Okay a number twenty-two it is.” And just like the last time, he leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’ll see you later, Vel.” It seemed she didn’t have a problem with him using the shortened version of her name when they were alone.

“Okay, I’ll see you later, Jaye.”

He took off to finish his other laps and although it was hard, he didn’t look back.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

VELVET HAD JUST finished preparing the math problems for this week’s test when she heard a car pull up outside. She knew without looking that it was Jaye. She stood, placing the files in her briefcase. Lenny hadn’t come to her class so he hadn’t been there for the review. She’d seen him earlier in the halls, so he had been at school today, and she hoped he didn’t think that skipping her class was the answer.

She knew a lot of students detested math and struggled with algebra. However, instead of seeking the extra help she’d offered, he honestly believed he would pass her class because his father said he would. And what was sad was that Lenny seemed to be a nice kid. He was always well-mannered and respectful. His other teachers concurred with that.

When she heard the knock on her door, she wondered if accepting Jaye’s offer for dinner had been the smart thing to do. At the time, it had seemed convenient, knowing she had that community committee after school.

It didn’t help matters when at the end of the meeting, Robin Dyer, one of the single teachers in town, who was also on the committee, asked how it was having such a gorgeous hunk for a neighbor. Other women had overheard Robin’s question and had been interested in hearing Velvet’s answer. She had shrugged and said with their schedules she and Jaye rarely saw each other, which wasn’t the truth now that they jogged together. What she should have done was tell Robin it really wasn’t any of her business.

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