Sentimental Valentine Read online

  “We need to talk,” Joy said.

  Heath eyed her. She was dressed much more conservatively for work, a simple floral print short-sleeve dress, but in his mind, it transformed into the black number from the night before. He blinked the vision away. “I’m done talking.”

  “Why? What have I done? I admit … you seem familiar, but I figured it was from work.”

  He studied her, surprised. Then again, he shouldn’t be. As drunk as she’d been, it was possible she didn’t remember any of it. However, it wasn’t his job to set her straight.

  “Please … whatever it is I’ve done, I’m sorry. But Ms. Saccardo says if we don’t work this out … not to show up tomorrow.”

  The elevator doors rushed open, expelling a puff of metallic air, but Heath made no effort to move. “She fired you?” For that matter, he’d probably shot himself in the foot by walking out like he had and already regretted it, but that they’d fire Joy over his refusal bothered him a lot.

  Joy bobbed her head. “In so many words.”

  A man entered the elevator, casting a glance at the pair of them, and Heath stepped out at last, Joy following. Some fruity perfume she wore wafted, heady, up his nose.

  “This is the best job I’ve had in years,” Joy continued, “and I love my work. I can’t possibly be fired. I don’t have a problem putting the dinner together, but … why … why did you say that about me?”

  Staring at her, Heath’s shoulders slumped. “Let’s step outside.”

  Not answering her further, in long strides, he made his way through the lobby and onto the sidewalk. He walked left toward one of several trees lining the street and halted. “The Fox N’ Hound,” he said.

  She jittered, his mention of the place clearly poking a nerve. Stepping backwards, she descended on an iron bench, one hand rising to squeeze her head.

  “You were wearing a very low cut black dress with an amazing view of your …” He paused and coughed into his hand.

  Her head lifted. “You saw me?”

  She sounded so childlike that he couldn’t help but repent of his harshness. “You really don’t remember?”

  She sighed, mashing two fingers between her eyes. “I remember very little. I drank too much and now have this horrible headache.”

  Too much was probably putting it mildly, but he didn’t say so, reliving the moment instead. Maybe the woman who’d come onto him wasn’t really the one who faced him now. Alcohol made people act irrational. Still, he had to believe her … eagerness … came from somewhere.

  “It was my sister’s bachelorette party.”

  “Ah, the stripper.”

  Joy’s blue-eyed gaze stretched larger. “You saw him, too? Did I … I mean, was I … you know …”

  “You weren’t concerned with him at all,” he replied truthfully.

  Her face asked several questions, but he considered his response for a while. “I think if we’d been alone, it would’ve ended only one way.” And probably been the most amazing night of his life.

  Joy’s cheeks colored three shades of pink, and a tremble formed on her lip. Seeking to still it, she clamped it firmly between her teeth.

  “But I don’t take advantage of drunken girls,” he continued. “… as great as your attention was.”

  Joy inhaled deep. “That doesn’t explain why you were so upset. Whatever I did … honestly, I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything past a certain point and …” Her eyes moistened. “I just want to go home and fall asleep.”

  Seeing her misery, pity rose in him, and he released a long breath. He gazed down at her, more unsure of himself than ever. Being truthful, as the woman she was now, she appealed to him. She made him want her to make her feel better. Being even more truthful, the woman she was last night turned him on. He’d wanted that woman to make him feel better.

  His mood mixed, he frowned. He didn’t need to get involved in a workplace romance. He’d read the bylines. The company frowned on inter-office dating, and the last thing he should do on his new job was deliberately break the rules. Looking at it from another angle, though, he’d also pledged to stop looking for a woman, much less go after one who seemed to have all the traits he’d tried so hard to avoid.

  He’d met Amanda through an online dating website. He’d signed up to find someone stable and willing to go at a slow pace. In his head, their relationship would be restrained. He wouldn’t have to wonder what came next because it would be preplanned to happen in well-defined stages.

  Joy struck him as the opposite of that.

  He shook his head. He was getting way ahead of himself. Her one reckless evening and his involvement in it didn’t mean there was anything stirring between them. His refusal to work on the Valentine’s dinner could cost them both a good job, however.

  “Joy, was it?” he asked.

  She nodded, brushing a lock of that glorious reddish-brown hair over her shoulder. His thoughts shifted once again, and he pictured that hair falling all over him. She’d have on a pink nightie and not much else … He blinked.

  “Forget what I said,” he continued. “If we have to do this … I don’t want you to lose your job.”

  Her face brightened. “You … you agree?” she asked, hopeful. “You’ll help me?” She rose, smoothing her skirt.

  Now at eye-level, he gave a nod.

  With a squeal, she threw herself at him. He captured her perfect round bottom in his hands and, gripping it, found the kiss inevitable. He’d been reliving the moment all day, after all. But the taste of her, sweet on his lips, body heat building between them, it reiterated the reasons why he had to cut this off. His mouth tingling, he set her gingerly aside.

  “Don’t do that again,” he said. Then, not waiting for her response, he headed back inside.

  “You don’t think you’re overstressing about this?” Jason asked. He reached one hand into the bowl of beer nuts in the center of the counter and popped them into his mouth. A dozen or so other restaurant patrons lined the bar. “I mean …” He swallowed. “Perhaps, your brother’s divorce has shaded your experience.”

  Probably it had. Heath allowed his mind to go back there, back to his brother’s collapse. He’d only seen Kyle fall apart twice. The first had been when he’d gotten kicked off the varsity football team for bad grades. He’d been angry, leaning toward furious, and unhinged. The second had been when Dina cheated on him with her boss then asked for a divorce. That time, he’d sobbed and sobbed, eventually trying to take his life. He’d said he loved her, called her his “destiny”, that he lived every day for her benefit. She’d said that mentality had suffocated her and driven her away.

  In his own mind, that was no excuse for what she’d done.

  “Trust me. You don’t want a relationship with no spark. You and the redhead … Joy … you said you had that.”

  In spades.

  “Don’t let it frighten you,” Jason continued, “and don’t use it to label her.”

  Heath wrinkled his brow. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Jason took a swig of his beer, his hand remaining curved around the glass.

  Heath had asked him to come for drinks, unable to get Joy out of his head. He’d hoped Jason’s steady personality would somehow leap onto him. He wasn’t sure now if that had happened, but his friend’s advice was welcome.

  “Just because she’s ‘eager’ … that’s the word you used ….”

  Heath nodded once.

  “That doesn’t mean she’s unfaithful. It could be she’ll apply all of that enthusiasm to you.” Jason released a laugh. “I see you like that idea.”

  Heath neither denied nor confirmed it. “I’m overstressing, as you said. We’re only working on this project together, then I’m sure she’ll go on her way, and I’ll go on mine. It’s best that way. I really don’t need to ruffle company feathers … but I appreciate the advice.”

  Jason looked peeved, and Heath prepared himself for some sort of response. When it came, however, it was short a
nd to the point.

  “Forget the company. I think you’ll do great in the new job … and it’s nice to have you around. You and she will set up the perfect Valentine’s banquet. But this is about you as a person, and if you want more out of your time with this woman than work, you’re the one who has to tell her that.”

  But he didn’t know what he wanted and, after their encounter the other night, didn’t trust himself to tell her anything.

  The feeling amplified the next day. Sitting in Natalie’s office, her triumphant smile flashing toward them both, all he could think of was his face as the target on one of those shooting games at the fair. He was a sitting duck, and Joy held the pistol.

  “I’m glad you’ve worked things out,” Natalie said. “I figured you would and so dug up all of last year’s info for you to peruse. Inside this folder you’ll find the guest list, the caterers, and all of Mrs. Evan’s design ideas. You are not required to copy her, and in fact, I believe will do something far better. But I figured you’d want to at least look at her suggestions.”

  Dismissed, Heath stood outside her office, gazing down at Joy, who actually looked rather penitent.

  She tucked the folder tighter to her chest. “I’ll look this over, then maybe we can meet somewhere and talk about it?”

  He nodded, unmoved.

  “I … should get your number.”

  Give her his number and, in response, receive hers. That opened a whole other can of worms. But he couldn’t see his way around it and so complied. But back in his office, his cell inches away from his fingers, he already wanted to pick it up and dial.

  He opened a desk drawer and slid the device in. “Enough of that,” he said to himself. “I’ve got work to do.” Work which didn’t involve a very sexy redhead in a slinky black dress.

  Joy stared at her phone off and on until noon and then decided she couldn’t stand it any longer. Typing in a text to Heath, she penned the brief message and hit send. Can we have lunch?

  His response was some five long minutes coming. Meet me in the lobby.

  Reading it, she logged off the system, grabbed her purse, and made her way there, but had to wait for him once more. When he arrived, he looked wary, as if she would spring on him at any minute. She said nothing about that, however, and tried to act calm, nodding toward the exit. “You want to go separately or …?”

  “I’ll drive,” he said.

  He held her door while she climbed into his car, then rounded the front and took a place behind the wheel. He drove in silence to a café overflowing with young professionals. Cups of coffee in one hand, a salad and sandwich combo in the other, twenty-somethings crowded around tables set at intervals in the midsized room. Their voices echoed against brick and stone walls.

  “My treat,” Heath said. “Order whatever you want.”

  That was generous of him and made her feel a tinge guilty. Not wanting to argue though, she picked a lower priced item then thought to apologize for everything.

  “Thanks for this,” Joy began. “I …” She paused, mid-sentence, distracted by the direction of his gaze. Following it, she noticed an attractive woman in a white blouse and navy pencil skirt. Her hair perfectly coiled at the base of her neck, fingers curved around a water glass, she chatted with another woman, similarly dressed. “Who is she?” she asked.

  “No one.”

  She didn’t believe that, nor, when she looked back at him, did she think his head was any longer in the room. He was distracted and more than a little bit antsy. Joy attempted to redirect his mind, her apology forgotten.

  “I thought we could discuss how we want this to work. We’re going to have to meet up somewhere to get the ball rolling,” she said, her apology forgotten, “but I wanted to make sure it was comfortable for us both.”

  His eyes flicked to her face, his gaze saying that would never be possible, and she questioned why. Not the first time she’d wondered what made him so reluctant where she was concerned.

  “Doesn’t have to be anywhere personal,” she said. “But it is going to take some time together.”

  “Of course. I guess I …”

  His gaze strayed again, and exasperated, Joy turned once more. The woman, this time, was staring at both of them. Her grip on her glass tightened, and she appeared to debate with herself, then rising, she strolled in their direction.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” she said to Heath. Her gaze shifted to Joy and remained there. Less an inspection and more what looked like disgust. “I see you’re still hooked up with her.”

  Hooked up? Joy wrinkled her brow, confused.

  “You know what?” the woman continued. “Some of us have higher standards.”

  “Amanda, I’m sorry …”

  Heath made what sounded like the beginning of a plea. But that struck her wrong. Her stomach knotted, her mood souring, Joy interrupted him. “Amanda, right?”

  The woman scowled at her again.

  “I don’t know what your problem is, nor what you meant by ‘standards’. But you don’t know me well enough to make any judgments.”

  Amanda released an amused laugh. “You’re just super. You know that? I saw enough the other night.”

  The other night. The scene fitted into place … Heath’s discomfort, the woman’s unhappiness, her unknown behavior. This was related to what happened at the Fox N’ Hound. Had he been on a date? She knew the answer the second she asked the question. She, somehow, had broken into his evening with this woman. Regret picked at her, but didn’t stay too long.

  Joy stood to her feet, unwilling to be looked down on any longer.

  “First off,” she said, not giving the woman time to talk, “I was drunk, stupefying, mind-blanking drunk and have no memory of what happened that night. Secondly, I can assure you, whatever I did, at least, I’m willing to admit my mistake. What I won’t do, however, is let someone I’ve never met decide who she thinks I ought to be. I’m sorry for whatever happened to you and, I’m sure, so is he. But I don’t see him chasing after you either. Perhaps if you weren’t so uptight your legs squeaked …”

  Amanda’s face flushed red. She opened and closed her mouth, then spinning around in a huff, she stomped out. Joy watched her go, aware of the stares of the entire room. She turned back to Heath.

  “You want to go somewhere else?” she asked. “I need something fattening.”

  Heath’s mouth quirked, and he stood to his feet. “Whatever you want,” he said.

  “So tell me the truth …”

  Joy’s method of devouring her ice cream cone had been more than a little distracting, the flick of her tongue constantly drawing his gaze. She seemed conscious of his stare, but hadn’t commented, though he figured after her performance at the café, something was coming.

  “Tell me the truth,” she continued, “how bad was I?”

  Crumpling his napkin, Heath coughed. “‘Bad’ is relative.”

  Joy took a bite of her cone, chewing slowly.

  “I enjoyed it,” he added.

  Her smile emerged. “I figured that. But tell me then, why the long face? I assure you I don’t make it a habit of doing the ‘bump and grind’ with every man I meet, and I am sorry for ruining your date.”

  He waved one hand outward. “I’m not. She wasn’t my type.”

  “No?”

  Heath shook his head. “I was far more … excited … by the girl in the black dress. In fact …” He paused, unsure how much he wanted to admit. “She pops into my head at random moments.”

  Joy’s answering expression told him how much she enjoyed that.

  “She still owns the black dress.”

  That bothered him … and he glanced aside. Joy’s laughter spun him back around. Why did this one woman drive him crazy? It was like every force in the universe kept throwing them together, knowing eventually he’d give in to her. And he felt it coming. He stood on the edge teetering back and forth.

  “This may surprise you,” she said, “but I don’t drink.�
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  Doubt wrote on his brow.

  “Honestly …” she continued. “I don’t. That was an exception, which will not be repeated. I neither cared for the physical after effects nor liked not knowing what I did while I was inebriated.” She took another bite of her cone and spent a few seconds crunching it. “I suppose though that I tend to get carried away at times. Yeah … I kind of proved that with your friend.”

  “Not my friend,” he replied. “We only went out that once, and I can’t say I blame her for being mad. She thought I was more … strait-laced ….” He hushed, unwilling to say anything further. He’d probably already left a bad impression.

  Joy filled in the silence. “My sister, Maeve, didn’t ask for the stripper, and I didn’t hire him, for what it’s worth. The wedding is Saturday.”

  “You need a date?” The question fell off his lips, and he heard it, not believing he’d asked. What happened to his reservations?

  Joy clearly held doubts, too, but to her credit, she handled the answer with aplomb.

  “You’re volunteering? Because it’ll be busy. She and I are the only family we’ve got, so I’ll have a lot to do. And because you’re now wondering, we never knew our mom, and our dad died a few years back.”

  He hesitated to reply right away, then thought of Jason’s advice. What if she was exactly the girl he was looking for? Unable to get Joy out of his head, he’d looked into her work at the company and been impressed. She had a real talent for spinning words. Similarly, maybe if he put himself out there, they’d find something worth hanging onto and create a real version of one of those Valentine’s Day sentiments she was so good at writing.

  “I’m curious about your dad and the whole military thing,” she added, breaking into his wandering thoughts.

  “Too long of a story,” he replied with a smile. He checked the time on his cell. “Especially if we’re going to be back at work on time.”

  She stuffed the rest of her cone in her mouth, and watching her chew it, he swallowed hard, steam filling his head.