Finding Mr. Happily Ever After_Edwin Page 5

  Jazz had felt a sense of loss when he hadn’t called. She hardly knew him, but the connection between them was strong enough that it hadn’t mattered. “I…”

  She’d experienced a similar connection with Chase, but look how that had turned out. Still, she couldn’t deny the instant attraction and the obsession that followed close on its heels. Wasn’t that enough to take a risk? Or was the fear of making another mistake with her heart going to stop her cold?

  The answer wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped it would be.

  A beat passed. And another. Jazz stared at the beautiful flowers Win had sent. She loved them, but she needed more than gifts and words. “Whatever is between us hit hard and fast, but I’ve been hurt in the past, and I’m not up for that happening again.”

  Ten

  After a long day at InstaLove, all Jazz wanted was to get home and work on the literacy program grant for a friend she used to volunteer with at a local center. She stepped outside, enjoying the pleasant temperature. The stifling humidity of summer would hit the city soon enough.

  “Good afternoon, Ms. Michaels.” Smiling, Royce stood next to a black limousine and opened the back door. “If you have a moment, Win would like a word.”

  Jazz nearly laughed. She hadn’t said no earlier on the phone, but she’d never expected him to show up here. Still, he’d said he persevered. Guess he wasn’t joking.

  “I have a few minutes.” She slid into the back seat, and the door closed.

  Win sat angled toward her. He wore a gray tailored suit, white shirt, and paisley-patterned tie. “Hello.”

  Despite herself, his scent—woody again, only this time with a hint of spice and more citrus—tickled her nose and made her want to take another sniff. “Hi.”

  He handed her a pretty box tied with a turquoise ribbon. Lucky guess on her favorite color? “This is for you.”

  Under his watchful gaze, she removed the lid to find three bars of chocolate, each a different flavor. “Thanks. I’ve never tried this brand. Looks delicious.”

  “The company that makes these is socially responsible. Not only with green practices and organic ingredients, but they work with less privileged countries to improve lives there.” He shifted in the seat. “Helping others is important to you, so I thought you might like that.”

  “I do.” The fact he’d figured that out about her after only one date should have surprised her, but for some reason, it didn’t even though InstaLove claimed he wasn’t a match for her. “You wanted to talk to me?”

  Dragging his upper teeth over his lower lip, he buttoned and then unbuttoned his suit jacket before rubbing his forearm. “I’m not good at this.”

  Win no longer appeared to be the confident billionaire. His fidgeting exposed his insecurity, but his regretful, almost haunted, eyes made her want to kiss him until he felt better.

  No, that wasn’t her place.

  But she could put him at ease. A funny thought since this was his limo, and he was the uncomfortable one, not her.

  She smiled at him, not a teeth-baring grin, but a soft, closed-mouth one. “Not good at what?”

  “Dating.” He blew out a breath. “I’ve never had to try hard to get women to go out with me. Still, business has always come first. I get tunnel vision about work, become distracted, and forget to say things.”

  “Like that you were going out of town.”

  He nodded.

  “I accepted your apology earlier.”

  “I wanted to do more. I still hurt you, unintentionally maybe, but that was the last thing I wanted to do, Jazz. I never want to hurt you. You have to believe me. Whatever this thing is between us, it’s not going away. I took the afternoon off. I never do that. Not even when I’m sick. I don’t feel bad or guilty for not being at the office. I want to be wherever you are.” He placed his palms on the seat and leaned toward her. “Please tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”

  Maybe she should be honest, ask him for the one thing she wanted… That kiss.

  No. She shouldn’t do that to herself. To her heart.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. They’d only been on one date, but their lunch had felt like so much more than that, which was why she’d been so upset. She’d thought he’d felt it, too.

  His crestfallen expression struck her very core. That was when the truth hit her. He had felt the same connection and was as unsure as she was about what to do.

  Jazz’s heart wanted him, but logic shouted no.

  Was she afraid of the intensity of her feelings for him? Yes.

  Would she walk away? She should, but…

  The urge to reach out to him was strong, but she forced herself to keep her hands on her lap. “Are you serious about wanting to go out with me?”

  “Yes.” The word rushed out on an exhale. “I didn’t think I needed anything more than work in my life until I met you.” He leaned closer with something almost like desperation in his eyes. “Please, Jazz.”

  The raw, sharp words sank into her like talons. She stared at him, taking in every detail on his face. He was hurting, and she wanted nothing more than to make his pain go away.

  She could, if she refused to let the past influence her decisions now. Oh, she wouldn’t forget what had happened over the years, but did she need to cling to her own hurts and fear the present?

  No.

  She took a breath. “How about if we start over?”

  His gaze jerked up to meet hers. “Yes. I’d like that. Are you free tonight?”

  Adrenaline rushed through her. “You don’t waste time.”

  “I don’t want to mess this up again.” Win’s smile was bright. “So tonight?”

  “I have to finish writing a grant proposal, but I’m free tomorrow.”

  He straightened, the weight he’d been carrying gone. “That works.”

  “Do you have something in mind?” she asked.

  “A walk,” he said to her surprise. “There’s a park I like to go to. It’s one of my favorite places in the city. I want to take you there. We can grab dinner afterward.”

  “Sounds good.” Starting over might not lead to anything, but Jazz needed to take this chance to understand whether the connection between them was real or not. She pointed to the chocolate bars. “I can bring one of these for dessert.”

  “Please do. And text me your address so I can pick you up.” He glanced at his phone. “Will six o’clock work?”

  Jazz nodded. She didn’t know how long they stared at each other—thirty seconds or thirty minutes—but she hadn’t wanted to look away. He seemed to feel the same way.

  A tap on the partition between the front and back seat startled her. “I should go.”

  “I’m looking forward to tomorrow night,” he said.

  “Me, too.” She couldn’t wait.

  Eleven

  “I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong. I never thought you’d find a date the good old-fashioned way. But please go into the date with an open mind and don’t find fault where there isn’t any.” Emily didn’t let being in San Antonio or talking over the phone hold her back. That was one thing Jazz appreciated about her friend. “You deserve to find a good guy, the right guy, to love. Don’t let the past stop you.”

  “That’s one reason I said yes.” Jazz heard kids laughing and screaming in the background. Emily had her hands full with four little ones. “I’m excited.”

  “Good for you.” Emily yelled something about the cat and the toilet. Jazz didn’t want to ask. “What are you wearing?”

  “Jeans and a cute peasant-style blouse that my friend Bethany gave me for my birthday last month. Not sure what I should do with my hair. I won’t have much time when I get home from work.”

  “With all the babies I’ve popped out, I’m the master of getting ready quick. Here’s what you should do…”

  The next evening, Jazz used a flat iron to straighten her hair, as Emily had suggested. The style fit well with her outfit.

  At six o’
clock, the security buzzer sounded. Jazz let Win into the building. She applied lip gloss and gave a pinch to add color to her cheeks before he made it to her door. Now she was ready.

  Win wore a pair of jeans. His gray polo shirt made his eyes look even greener. He was, in a word, stunning.

  Jazz’s mouth watered at how attractive he was in the casual clothes. She liked him in suits, but he seemed less billionaire-power-broker and more everyday-approachable tonight. That appealed to her more than she could have imagined.

  “You’ll need a jacket,” he said.

  She grabbed one off the coat tree by the front door.

  On the drive, they headed toward northwest Manhattan. Jazz had no idea what park his favorite was, but she wanted the night to unfold with no expectations. She enjoyed hearing about his trip to Germany, and he seemed interested in hearing about Xavier’s upcoming fundraiser she was helping to organize. The limousine parked, and they got out.

  The place was a tranquil oasis full of trees and greenery. She loved it immediately. “Where are we?”

  “Fort Tyron Park. It’s quieter than other parks in Manhattan, and it’s on a ridge, so you get incredible views of the Hudson River.” He extended his arm toward her. “Ready?”

  Jazz took his hand. As he laced his fingers with hers, heat rushed up her arm. “I can’t wait to see your favorite place.”

  “You’re the first person I’ve brought here. I don’t…” A vein throbbed on his neck. “I rarely share my favorite places with people. I prefer to keep my life…private.”

  “Then why did you bring me?”

  “Gut instinct.” He half-laughed. “It kept telling me to call you after our lunch. I should have listened then, so I’m listening now.”

  The park was clean and uncrowded with numerous paved paths, some running beneath stone archways. They strolled hand in hand as Win pointed out something or gave a brief history lesson. The walk was serene, but Jazz’s blood bubbled being so close to him. She chastised herself for almost letting a good thing get away over something so minor.

  As they stared at a breathtaking view of the Hudson River, Win slipped his arm around her. “What do you think?”

  “The view’s amazing. The park is incredible, too.”

  “It’s the perfect place to come when I need a break.”

  He’d mentioned how much he loved his job, but being in charge of so much must be stressful. “Do you come here a lot?”

  “Not as much as I should.” His mouth quirked. “The guilt gnaws at me if I play hooky.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  He shrugged. “I still report to the board of directors, shareholders, and my family. Not that I mind, but everyone needs an…”

  “Escape,” she finished for him. “I might have to make this place mine, too.”

  “I’m happy to share it along with all the other New Yorkers who call this park theirs.”

  He cut the short distance between them in half. “Thanks for wanting to start over.”

  Her gaze went from the view to him. She liked what she saw even more. “This is perfect.”

  “I know one thing to make it better.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “This.” He leaned forward and touched his mouth to hers.

  Her first thought was soft. Her second was warm. Her third was home.

  His kiss wasn’t tentative but slow and tender. This was the kiss she’d been wanting. Not only since their lunch last week, but also since this morning when she’d woken up, and this afternoon as the clock moved toward quitting time. She pressed her lips against his, soaking up the taste that was uniquely him.

  Win for the win.

  Though she was the one who felt like she was winning.

  Him.

  Jazz might have murmured his name, but she wasn’t sure. She hadn’t felt this way in so long, but the way her entire body thrummed was brand new.

  A welcome reaction.

  What she hadn’t known she wanted.

  As the kiss ended, he cupped her face with his hand. His ragged breathing matched hers. As did the longing and confusion in his gaze. “I don’t know what’s happening between us.”

  “I don’t know, either, but I want to find out.”

  Standing here with him, she lost track of her doubts. There was only Win, this moment, and this feeling. Everything felt right.

  This…he…was what she’d been waiting for. “Please, Win. Kiss me again.”

  Twelve

  Texts, phone calls, gifts, dates—Jazz found herself showered with all four and loving each one of them. In two weeks, she’d not only survived the time-imposed deadline that Xavier had said Win had for dating a woman, but she’d also gone from feeling blown off to being introduced as Win Forrester’s girlfriend.

  Too fast?

  Jazz was so happy she didn’t care. How did she fight something that felt so right? Spending time with Win was what mattered. His work, her job, and volunteering made finding time challenging, but they managed, even if they only saw each other briefly on some days.

  Jazz’s cell buzzed with a text notification. The name surprised her—Chase.

  MVP: Coming into town for a 3-game series. Up for coffee?

  * * *

  Jazz: Let me know time and place, and I’ll be there.

  A few days later, Win was at Jazz’s apartment on the couch. She wanted to tell him about tomorrow. “I’m having coffee with Chase Killion in the morning.”

  Win went from sitting relaxed to ramrod straight. “Your ex-fiancé? Why?”

  “He asked, and I said yes.” She noticed the lines on Win’s forehead. “Is there a problem?”

  “No,” Win said a little too fast. “Do you want me to go with you?”

  Jazz didn’t know if he was being protective or jealous or a little of both, but he needed to get used to her exes being a part of her life. “Thanks, but you’d be bored. Chase just wants to catch up.”

  A muscle flicked at Win’s jaw. “Are you sure that’s all he wants?”

  “Positive.” She wrapped her arms around him. “We’re just friends now.”

  “Like you and Xavier and that other guy. The photographer.”

  “Nathan.” She didn’t want to keep things from Win. She’d learned that lesson with Chase. “I know people think it’s weird I’ve stayed in touch with former boyfriends, but that’s just how it is. We were young, but we shared important moments in each other’s lives. Friendships don’t have to end after breakups.”

  “I don’t blame them for wanting to keep in touch with you. You’re amazing and have a big heart.”

  “Thank you.” She curled up next to him. “Each was a part of my life and made me who I am today.”

  “I like who you are.”

  “I know you do.” She pulled back. “But I need to know you’re okay with this.”

  “I am.” Affection shone in his gaze. “I trust you, Jazz. I just might not trust your exes.”

  She laughed. “Your eyes look a little greener tonight.”

  “Ha-ha, but I’m not jealous.” Win tickled her until she scooted away. “Do you want Royce to drive you tomorrow?”

  “No, thanks. It’s a quick subway ride.”

  His jaw tensed. “The subway isn’t safe.”

  “Says the man who never rides it.” He was so overprotective, way worse than Xavier had been. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

  “Sounds serious.”

  She nodded. “When I lived in San Antonio, a guy who worked for the non-profit group where I volunteered assaulted me at a company dinner.”

  He pulled her close to him, and she soaked up his warmth. “Oh, sweetheart…”

  “My friend Simone found us before things went too far. After I healed from my injuries, she and I enrolled in a self-defense program. That’s why I’m telling you this. I can take care of myself.”

  “I know, but I’d prefer if you took a cab or called for a ride.”

  She
shook her head. “I don’t get it. You’re fine with me riding in a car with a total stranger, but you don’t want me on a subway surrounded by lots of people?”

  “You’re right. Royce will—”

  “Let’s watch a movie.” Jazz wanted to change the subject, so she sat up to reach for the remote. “Romance, action adventure, comedy, or horror?”

  He patted the spot where she’d been sitting, and she scooted back there. “Which one will get me the most cuddling?”

  “All the above.”

  He wrapped his arm around her. “Then you pick.”

  The next morning, Jazz arrived at the coffee shop. Chase was seated at a table. When he saw her, he grinned and stood.

  His face had matured, making him even better looking than she remembered. He hadn’t shaved, which made her wonder if the team was in the middle of a winning streak. He’d always had a killer body, but his shoulders seemed wider as if he’d filled out more.

  “Hey,” she said, making her way to him.

  “It’s so good to see you, Jazzy.” His arms wrapped around her in a big hug. “You look great.”

  Chase’s warmth, strength, and smell proved as familiar and comforting as they had always been. The hum of physical awareness was still there, too. Whatever chemistry they’d shared hadn’t disappeared. To be honest, that didn’t surprise her.

  He didn’t let go of her, so she stepped back and sat. She noticed two drinks and two blueberry scones on the table. Just like their first date.

  Though the memory was bittersweet, she smiled. “Thanks for ordering.”

  He sat across from her. “Figured that would give us more time to talk before I have to get to the stadium.”

  She raised her white coffee cup filled with a steaming vanilla latte. “How are things going?”

  “We’re having a great season. Hit a rough patch on the road last month, but things are better now.” He took a quick sip of his mocha. “You?”

  “Work’s good. Busy as always. The company was sold, but so far, no big changes.” The cup warmed her hands. She wasn’t cold, but sitting with Chase like this was weird. It was as if no time had passed at all, but she couldn’t forget everything had changed between them. “I’ve been working with at-risk youths twice a week and helping with Xavier’s upcoming fundraiser.”