Page 47 of The Hometown Dilemma
Instead, he placed a soft, delicate kiss on the nape of my neck, a shiver dipping right to my core, then pulled away.
“You’re right. It’s a big night for you and I don’t want to jeopardize anything for you.” He spun me around to face him. “Even if it doesn’t go well, you’ll always have a job at Dempsey’s.”
“Sounds like you have heaps of faith in me.”
Wade smirked and tapped the tip of my nose with his fingertip. “Always, Jaime. I just don’t like the thought of losing you.”
His words reverberated around in my mind as I gathered my bag and jacket together. If this did all work out, what would happen to us? Could we maintain a long-distance relationship? I highly doubted Wade would consider a move to New York. His life was in Abbott Ridge, his family and Dempsey’s. Could I ask him to uproot his life and start over? But I was getting way ahead of myself, I hadn’t even met with Colm yet.
Twenty minutes later we arrived at an Italian restaurant Vanessa had made reservations at. I’d been here a few times for client meetings and loved it. Any nerves I had experienced started to lessen as the familiarity of the restaurant calmed me.
“How can I help you?” The maître d looked at Wade.
“We’re meeting some…colleagues here.” I couldn’t quite bring myself to call Vanessa a friend because we hadn’t had that sort of relationship when we worked together.
“Of course, what was the name?”
“Um, Prince? Or Vanessa?”
He checked the list, then nodded. “Follow me.”
“It’s a bit fancier than Dempsey’s. Bet they don’t do a decent burger,” Wade whispered into my ear as we made our way to the table. “Might have to go to BK afterwards.”
I couldn’t be entirely sure he was serious, but he didn’t have to act like he was from a small town. Had it been a mistake to invite him along?
When we were seated at the table, the maître d asked if we wanted drinks while we waited. Wade ordered us a glass of champagne each - which I thought somewhat presumptuous. We didn’t have anything to celebrate. At least not yet.
Vanessa arrived about fifteen minutes later, alone, which made the butterflies in my stomach intensify. Had Colm changed his mind about me?
“I’m so sorry I’m late. Colm sends his apologies…” I stood and she immediately enveloped me in a hug, air kissing both cheeks. The scent of her perfume was as overpowering as ever. There it was. He didn’t want to pursue anything with me, and I was wasting my time, not to mention being up to my eyeballs in debt because I’d bought another designer dress I didn’t need.
She went on. “He’s stuck in traffic on the bridge. You know what it can be like.”
An almost audible sigh escaped me. “Of course, I’d forgotten about that. Obviously been living the small-town life for too long.” I took a sideways glance at Wade, who studiously sipped his drink, his gaze cast down at the table. “This is Wade, my…boyfriend.” I swallowed, it being the first time I’d described him as such. “Wade, this is Vanessa, my former boss.”
He nodded, not saying a word. My eyes narrowed at his behavior. Usually so friendly and outgoing, this cold version of him was something new.
We sat back down, and Vanessa waved a server over, ordering another round of champagne. I wondered who would be footing the bill at the end of the night and if I was expected to pay our share. Perhaps it was time to curb the alcohol consumption.
“How long are you in town for?” Vanessa asked.
“A couple of days, Wade didn’t want to be away from the bar for too long.”
She turned her attention to him. “Oh, do you work in hospitality? There are plenty of opportunities here in New York.”
Wade tilted his chin. “I own a bar. It’s been in my family for years, so there’s history to it. It would be hard to walk away from it.”
At least that gave me some insight as to where his head was at when it came to the possibility of me moving back here. Pretty much a negative.
“I see.” Vanessa nodded. “At least New York isn’t too far.”
He gave her a tight smile. “IfJaime were to get the job of course.”
“Of course.” Her tone gave nothing away.
I wanted Wade to be supportive of me tonight. I needed his backing to go for this job. If he had any doubts, he should have said so before we came out tonight. Apart from his comment about not wanting to lose me, I didn’t know what he thought about the whole thing.
Vanessa and I chit-chatted about former colleagues and clients while we waited for Colm. Wade didn’t get involved, choosing instead to check out the restaurant, probably taking suggestions for Dempsey’s. Although this restaurant was a far cry from a sports bar that served burgers. I stopped myself from being negative about the bar. It had saved me from poverty, not only now but in college too, and had given me Wade. Even if he didn’t appear to want me right now.
