“I’m coming with you,” she insisted. “What can I do to help? Want me to come to the office and help you field calls? At least I can screen out anything you don’t need to be dealing with right now.”
Will was tempted, but the weight of responsibility forced him to refuse. “This is my problem. I just wish I knew what to do. I never anticipated anything like this. Maybe Lunch by the Bay needs to be shut down entirely.”
“Don’t make that decision now, not until you’ve gotten a better feel for the fallout. You didn’t deliberately set some pervert loose on the women of Chesapeake Shores. He did that himself. I think your clients will indicate the best course of action. You don’t want to let down the ones who’ve been happy with having a service that concentrates on making matches locally.”
Will’s mood brightened. “There have been at least some satisfied customers.”
“And even a wedding, right?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not convinced that’s one I want to brag about. Let’s see if it lasts more than fifteen minutes or so.”
But after picking up the messages, he found one from that couple. “We’re in your corner,” it read. “Don’t let this get you down.”
“There,” Jess said, when she saw it. “That’s exactly what I was talking about. Take your cues from people like that.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “Thanks for being so supportive, but I really need to deal with this. Do you mind if I take you back to the inn, after all?”
Jess looked as if she might argue, but instead, she reached up and pressed a hand to his cheek. “I’ll walk back. Call if you change your mind and need my help. Thanks again for coming to Ocean City to look at that property with me.”
“My pleasure.” He winked at her. “So was making up.”
In fact, the memory of that was going to get him through whatever lay ahead with this Lunch by the Bay mess.
Ever since the night she’d forgotten their date, Jess had tried harder and harder to keep track of every single detail in her life, especially those that concerned Will. It was a daily struggle, and it was wearing on her. Surely a real relationship shouldn’t cause such constant anxiety over messing up?
Unfortunately, with Will buried under the weight of handling the dating service fiasco, she’d been left with more and more time to chew over the state of their relationship. Even she recognized the probability that she was creating problems where none existed.
She was sitting in her office staring despondently at the contract for the property near Ocean City and wondering if she dared to make such a huge commitment, when Abby turned up. Her big sister’s gaze immediately narrowed.
“You look exhausted,” Abby said. “Aren’t you sleeping?”
“Not that well,” Jess admitted.
“Problems with Will? I heard about the sicko who exploited Lunch by the Bay. How’s he taking it?”
“He’s been worrying himself sick, of course, especially about Laila and the other woman this guy harassed. He’s not going to rest until the guy’s behind bars. Unfortunately, at the moment, he’s out on bail, though the judge says he’ll revoke it if he makes one single harassing call or goes anywhere near any of the women involved.”
“Laila’s still here with you?”
Jess nodded.
“She could stay with us,” Abby offered. “Trace was livid when he first found out, but he’s calmed down now.”
“Talk to her, but it’s fine if she stays here till this guy goes to court.”
“She’s not in the way?” Abby asked.
“Of course not.”
Abby regarded her perceptively. “Would Will say the same thing?”
“I’m sure he would,” Jess said, then sighed. “Or maybe not. He thinks I’m using Laila as a buffer, though lately he’s so swamped with work, it hardly matters.”
“Are you using Laila as a buffer?”
“Maybe. Sometimes.”
“Why, if things are really okay with the two of you?” Abby asked worriedly.
“Will’s been a saint. Maybe it comes with being a shrink, but he’s so understanding sometimes it makes my teeth hurt,” she said wearily. When Abby looked quizzical, she added, “From clenching them.” She couldn’t seem to stop the tears that welled up. “I think I should break it off with him.” It was the first time she’d dared to voice the words aloud.
Abby stared at her incredulously. “Because he’s too nice to you?”
“Because it’s too hard being the kind of woman he deserves. I know he’s doing what he needs to do right now about this dating service crisis, but I’m feeling left out. I know I need to grow up, but when he’s not around, I start imagining he won’t ever be back. I could list chapter and verse exactly why I react like this, but I can’t seem to stop the feelings from just rolling right on in.”
“Sweetie, sure he’s busy these days, but you’re the kind of woman Will wants, and you’re certainly everything he deserves and more. He would tell you the same thing. If you’re feeling pressure, then you’re putting it on yourself. I don’t think he expects you to be anyone except the fantastic person you are.”
“I know that. I still feel as if one slip-up will ruin everything. I don’t need a shrink or you, for that matter, to tell me that it goes back to Mom leaving, but how do I get past that?”
“Time,” Abby said. “And Will understands that, probably better than any other man would.”
“But I’m being so unfair to expect that much patience from him.”
“Has he complained?”
“No.”
“Okay, then. Count your blessings, sweetie, and stop looking for a way out.”
Jess sighed. “It’s only because I’m terrified of losing someone who really matters, you know.”
Abby smiled. “I know, and I’m relieved that you do, too. If you remember nothing else, remember this. Will knows your flaws, Jess, and he chose you!”
For the first time in days, Jess let herself relax. “He did, didn’t he?”
“Do you think Will is smart?”
“Brilliant, actually.”
“Do
