Chapter Sixteen
“My therapist asked if you were dating. I told him you wouldn’t start seeing someone when so many unresolved issues are between us…”
Jaye deleted David’s text. As far as she was concerned, just one “issue” remained between them—a software project they’d collaborate on when she started working for Davis Software. After the project ended, she’d be free of his manipulations and lies. In the meantime, she needed to stop Mitch from digging into her personal life if she wanted to spend the rest of her time at Blake Glassware in peace.
Problem was, she had no experience dealing with a man who took action when he sensed trouble.
At a loss, she turned her attention to the pictures she’d downloaded to her computer. With the click of the mouse, a picture of Mitch sprang onto her monitor. A strong tingle shimmied up her spine, shepherding a smile onto her face. She’d captured him laughing at something his partner Freddie said. Smiling crinkled the corners of his eyes with good humor, providing a striking counterpoint to the hard planes of his arresting face. Her body ignited at the sight of him.
“So, where do we go now?”
The deep voice jarred her back to reality. She minimized the screen so Mitch wouldn’t know she was drooling over his picture. “Beg pardon?”
“You’re mad at me for digging up stuff about your ex, and I’m frustrated you won’t talk to me about him. We’ve been fuming in our separate corners of the factory for hours…” He looked down at his watch in bemused irritation. “Nearly seven o’clock and everyone else has gone home. How ‘bout a truce?”
A cease-fire sounded wonderful, but could they negotiate a treaty? She crinkled her nose. “Will you stop prying into my private life?”
“No, but there’s something more pressing we need to address.” Mitch pointed to the inky black sky outside her window. “Tomorrow’s forecast calls for snow. Do you have a decent coat?”
Jaye touched the blazer hanging on the back of her chair. “While I lived in Richmond, all I needed was this.”
Mitch smirked. “That’s not a coat.”
“It’s made of wool—warm enough for a stormy day. Besides, I grew up in Syracuse. I can tolerate the cold.” She opened up a new window on her laptop and navigated to the local weather. White snowflakes crowded tomorrow’s forecast. “This can’t be right. They say we might get a foot of snow.”
“The storm is blowing in from the Great Lakes. Could end up with two feet or more.”
As if on cue, her cell phone chirped with a text from her father. “At least ten inches of snow expected. Don’t drive up tomorrow. Will reschedule meeting.”
Jaye put away her phone with a groan. “I don’t have any boots. I left them in Richmond.”
“You need warm clothes, Jaye.”
“Right.” She stared at her monitor, contemplating her options. “I’ll order a coat online and spring for express delivery.”
“Won’t get here in time.” He nodded toward the parking lot. “There’s a store twenty minutes away. I’m going there right now to pick up some rock salt for the sidewalk. Come with me and I’ll buy you a real coat.”
Jaye contemplated turning him down so she wouldn’t be subjected to more questions about David. “I don’t think….”
The furrow deepened along his brow. “Don’t think. Just say yes.”
With a start, she realized he was doing what he always did—taking care of the people who were a part of Blake Glassware. Even if they maddened him to distraction.
No wonder everyone loved him so much.
Her empty stomach voted to tag along if food was involved. “Can we have dinner first? If I don’t eat something soon, I may start nibbling my blazer.”
“You’ll need something more substantial to fill up,” he countered with a wry grin. “There’s a decent deli nearby. I’ll get us some hoagies.”
A vision of juicy beef sandwiched between soft rye bread sealed the deal. Jaye turned off her laptop and stood. “We’ll go Dutch.”
“No way.” He spoke calmly, but firmly. “I’m buying you dinner. End of story.”
She dug into the front pocket of her jeans, looking for her car key while she tried to figure out how to deal with this bullheaded, chivalrous man.
“Ride with me in the truck. We’ll pick up your car on the way home.” He rubbed the center of his chest and grimaced.
“What’s wrong?”
Something like regret filtered into his expression. “An angry consultant jabbed her tiny finger into my chest.”
She rolled her eyes. “My finger isn’t tiny.”
“I’ve got a tiny bruise to prove it.”
“Good. Maybe you’ll think twice about making me do something I don’t want to do.” She put on her blazer, grabbed her purse, and brushed past Mitch.
“If you’ll talk to me, I’m willing to sustain a few bruises,” he muttered close behind her.
Her shoulders stiffened. “I’ve told you all you need to know.”
“You haven’t told me squat. All I know is you worked with David, he cheated on you, and he’s got some sort of addiction.” A sober determination burned in his blue eyes. “Given he threatened to call all your friends until he finds you, I want to know more.”
“David isn’t coming after me. He’s making an empty threat.” She stormed ahead, noting how easily Mitch matched her brisk pace.
“You’re making a lot of assumptions, Jaye. I prefer to operate with good old-fashioned facts.”
She turned and pointed to the spot on his chest where she jabbed him a short while ago. “You’re the one making assumptions if you think I’m making assumptions, because anyone who knows me knows my assumptions about David are based on bitter experience.”
The corner of Mitch’s mouth lifted. “You’re not making a lick of sense.”
“Do you really want to argue now?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I fight dirty when I’m hungry.”
He arched a brow and broke into a full-fledged grin. “How dirty?”
“Remember the picture I found of you streaking across campus with your fraternity brothers? You’re not wearing a stitch of clothes.” Leaning forward, she lowered her voice to a menacing growl.
