Page 71 of Bursting With Love
“What? I just can’t picture it. I know you’ve been with other guys, but when I try to put the picture together of you and other men, I can’t hold on to it. I only see you in my arms.” He smiled, and it lit up his entire face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? I can hold on to guilt and anger like a lifeline, but try to grasp an unpleasant thought about you and I haven’t a chance in hell.”
Savannah felt her heart open up a little more. She remembered what he’d said about being in the city, and as they strolled toward the restaurant, she hadn’t felt any tension in his body or seen any in his face.
“Do you feel the eyes of the city on you?” she asked.
He laughed. “No, but I thought I would. I thought a lot of things that apparently were skewed by my guilt.”
She tossed the worry that Aida had sparked earlier in the afternoon to the curb. They stopped at an intersection to wait for the light to change, and Jack pulled her against him. After she’d seen how her dress affected him, she’d decided to amp up the tease and she’d slipped on her four-inch heels, bringing her much closer to his lips, which she loved.
“Everything is better when I’m with you,” he said before kissing her.
The lights from the nearby restaurants glistened in his dark eyes, and as his gaze fell upon hers, she felt warm all over. In all the years she’d lived in Manhattan, never once had the city felt so romantic. The lights, the sounds, the cool air against her warm skin, even the busy streets carried an aura of romance and love. How could she have missed it for so many years? Or was that what love did to a person?
“Savannah? Is that you?”
Savannah spun around at the sound of Aida’s voice. She narrowed her eyes and shot Aida a harsh I-cannot-believe-you-did-this glare. “What are you doing here?” She knew exactly what Aida was doing, and as her friend scrutinized Jack from head to toe, lingering a little too long just below the belt, Savannah felt the claws of the green-eyed monster take hold. She narrowed her eyes at her well-meaning friend.
“I was just… out for a walk. You look gorgeous.” She leaned in, kissed Savannah’s cheek, and whispered, “Hot, hot, hot.” Aida ran her hands down the hips of her black jeans. Her breasts pressed against the silky fabric of her low-cut, navy blouse in their usual look-at-me fashion.
Despite the fact that Jack didn’t once lower his eyes past Aida’s, Savannah had the urge to open her arms wide and stand in front of Aida, saying, Don’t look. Please don’t look.
“Hi, I’m Jack.” Jack held out his hand.
Aida shook his hand. “Aida Strong.” Her crimson lips lifted, and she put an arm around Savannah. “We work together.”
Savannah couldn’t stay upset with her. She knew Aida meant well, and if Aida had come home after one weekend claiming to be in love, Savannah would have probably done the same thing.
“Aida’s also an attorney.” She glared at Aida but topped it off with a smile.
“Hey, let’s grab a drink,” Aida suggested.
Savannah tried to catch her eye, but Aida purposely avoided her gaze, looking at Jack, then at the restaurant, at the ground—anywhere but at Savannah. She watched Jack’s jaw, waiting for it to clench, and again was surprised when he didn’t show one ounce of discomfort. She wondered if seeing Ralph had anything to do with his more relaxed state. She was itching to ask, but first she had to deal with Aida. “Sure, a drink sounds good. If Jack doesn’t mind.”
“Of course not. I want to get to know your friends,” Jack said.
“Great. That will give me time to get to know the man who’s got Savannah’s head up in the clouds,” Aida said.
Jack raised his eyebrows, and Savannah shook her head and waved it off, as if to say, That’s just Aida.
They were seated on a patio beside the restaurant. Savannah had been there a number of times before, but she’d never noticed the ivy climbing the iron gate or the yellow lights strung throughout, as if it were Christmas in September. Jack scooted his chair closer to hers so their legs touched, and he placed his arm around her shoulder. Aida sat across from them and folded her hands beneath her chin, watching Jack like a hawk.
“Aida, I assume you want the lowdown on me?” Jack’s voice was dead serious again.
Savannah watched Aida slip seamlessly into interrogation mode. Her slim brows knitted together and she lowered her chin, looking at Jack with a defiant stare. Savannah cringed, though she knew both Aida and Jack could hold their own. She felt strangely like a seventh grader playing, He said, she said.
