Just Destiny (42 page)

Jenny arrived at the restaurant just as Helen got out of her car. Grinning broadly, she ran over and gave the older woman a big hug. “Thank you
so
much.”

“You’re welcome. Actually it was a lot of fun,” Helen confided. “Almost makes me want to come out of retirement.”

Jenny followed her into the restaurant. “You should. You’re a terrific attorney.”

“You’re only saying that because we won. You might’ve thought differently had we lost.”

Jenny thought about Helen’s drawings and seeming inattentiveness during the trial and her own doubts about Helen’s competency. Given Helen’s laid-back court demeanor, Jenny had to admit that she was probably right. She instantly banished the confession. They’d won. It was time to celebrate.

While waiting for Steve, they had a glass of Chianti and Jenny’s favorite appetizer. They savored the scarmorza, lingering over the rich, lemon, butter, cheesy bread creation, topped with black olives and capers, until it was gone. Having waited twenty minutes, they went ahead and ordered dinner.

She watched Helen carefully. “Did you know Steve’s no longer with Knight, Corbridge, and Howe?”

Iron eyebrows arched high. “No. How’d that come about?

Judging her surprise genuine, Jenny relaxed. “I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me.”

“I had no idea.”

“Think he got fired, because of me?” Jenny asked softly.

“O-h, I doubt it. But why wouldn’t he have said something?”

Jenny’s heart clenched. “He didn’t want to make me feel bad.”

She pursed her lips and nodded. “That could be.”

Then Steve materialized at their table. “Sorry I’m late.” He took a chair between them. “There was an accident on ninety-four.” The waiter appeared at Steve’s side, gave him a menu and took his drink order.

“We figured it was something like that, so we went ahead and ordered,” Helen said.

“Why aren’t you at Knight, Corbridge, and Howe anymore?” Jenny blurted.

Steve turned his tawny head toward her and took a sip of his water. “Hi to you too. Congratulations.” He enveloped her in a quick, tight hug.

“Did they fire you because of me?”

“You won. Aren’t you thrilled?” Steve patted her hand twice.

Jenny snatched her hand away, unwilling to be cheered or distracted. She wanted the truth. “Why aren’t you with the firm anymore?”

“You knew I wasn’t happy there. They just hired me for my name.”

“Did you get fired?”

“I got tired of being used, so I’m opening my own firm. I found this great office downtown in the Ren Cen.” He ripped off a chunk of bread and swirled it in olive oil, then looked at Helen. “You wouldn’t be interested in being one of the founding partners, would you?”

“Seriously?” Her eyes widened.

He nodded. Chewing quickly, he swallowed and licked the oil from his thumb. “I know you’re retired, but you could work a couple of years and get us up and running, then faze out as you want to. After this win I don’t think we’ll have trouble getting clients.”

“You’d want an old lady like me for a partner?”

“It’d be a chore…” Steve teased, then reached for another piece of bread. “I’d love to have a cunning, experienced woman like you for a partner.”

“Excuse me,” Jenny broke in. “Did you quit or get fired?”

“Be still my heart.” Helen’s eyes twinkled and she blushed like a schoolgirl. “I just may take you up on that offer.”

“I’m counting on it.” His head bobbed as he poured more olive oil on his bread plate.

“Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.” Helen glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to get to my daughter’s in time for cake—it’s my granddaughter’s birthday today.”

“Why didn’t you say so? We could’ve done this another time.” Jenny hated that Helen was missing her granddaughter’s birthday party for her. She shouldn’t miss a family event on her account.

The waiter brought Steve his wine.

“Nope, had to be tonight. It’s tradition.” Helen raised her glass to Jenny. “To your good health, happiness, and motherhood.” She then turned to Steve, “And best of luck with your new venture.”

“
Our
new venture, partner,” he corrected as he clinked his glass with hers.

Jenny raised her glass to Helen and then to Steve. Steve smiled warmly, mesmerizing her with twinkling blue eyes. If he’d been fired, he didn’t seem too broken up about it.

“Well, children, I’ve got to run.” Helen stood and motioned Steve back into his seat when he stood politely. She turned to Jenny. “Take care. And I expect to be invited to the baby shower.”

“Of course.” She got up and hugged the older woman close, suddenly shamed by her doubts. “Thanks again.”

Helen patted her back. “You’re welcome, honey. Have some Tiramisu; I hear it’s wonderful.”

Jenny sat down feeling somewhat bereft. Alone with Steve, she felt unexpectedly awkward and shy—then annoyed when she remembered how he’d avoided answering her questions. His good mood confused her. After being mad at her for weeks, it appeared that he’d finally forgiven her—which was good—but she didn’t know where they stood.

The waiter came and took Steve’s dinner order. Jenny watched Steve closely. Was he really happy, or just putting up a front? He hadn’t wanted her to win.

Steve smoothed the cloth napkin back across his lap and smiled. “Well. You did it.”

“I didn’t do anything. You and Helen did it—despite me.” Jenny looked at him, hoping he’d see the sincerity in her expression. “Thank you.”

“
I
did very little. You saw it through and fought for something you believed in. That takes guts.”

“I didn’t make it easy for you.” Jenny briefly rested her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

“Forget it. So, where do you go from here?”

The waiter delivered Steve’s veal and Jenny declined dessert. “Well, amazingly enough, this couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m going in for egg extractions in a couple of days.” She raised her eyebrows, “So we’re good to go.”

Thank God. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to go through another month of taking drugs. Even though the expected mood swings had been minimal, nasty headaches associated with the hormone treatment had been anything but minimal. She wasn’t going to miss that.

Steve’s chewing slowed. “So soon? Are you ready?”

More than ready. Feeling a little strange talking about such an intimate thing as if it were just another doctor’s appointment, Jenny tucked her hands under her thighs and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Yup. The doctor says we’ll have just enough time to get the sperm.”

“Well…that’s great then.” His smile seemed a little uncertain, forced.

“What’s the matter?”

Steve stabbed another mouthful of pasta, but instead of eating it, he twirled the fork around and around in his hand. “Nothing.”

“But?”

“But nothing. I’m happy for you,” he insisted, but Jenny sensed his withdrawal.

“What about you? Where do you go from here?”

“I signed the lease on my new office. So I’ll be busy interviewing staff and setting up shop.”

“It seems a bit risky. Can you afford to do this?” She squirmed, hoping he wouldn’t think she was prying into his finances.

“I’ll be okay—at least for a few months.”

“This is all my fault. I’m sorry. I—”

“Jen. I was just teasing.” He paused. “I made enough money playing ball that, if I were
really
frugal,” he fixed her with a serious look, “I could probably get by for…the rest of my life and the next one, without working.” He grinned broadly.

Jenny swatted his arm. “Jerk.”

“It’s sweet of you to worry.”

“Just worried about my property value. I don’t want them selling your house as a foreclosure,” she said airily.

He laughed. Finishing his meal, Steve paid the bill, stood and stretched out a hand to her. He clasped her hand in his and then pulled her out of her seat toward the door. As they left the restaurant, he didn’t let go.

Jenny relished the feeling of his big warm hand wrapped around hers. It was comforting, yet at the same time strangely intimate. They walked down the street toward her car. She looked at their clasp hands and her diamond winking at her. Did people assume that they were married?

As an only child, she’d grown up feeling a bit isolated. After Michael was born, those feelings magnified fivefold, until she’d married. Jenny loved being a part of a couple. She’d loved being married to a wonderful man, feeling that she belonged to someone. She missed that companionship and special rapport. She peeked sideways at Steve. What would it be like to be married to him?

She and Steve shared a lot. They’d always had a definite affinity. Besides Gabe, he’d been her best friend. He still was.

At her car, Steve opened her door. “So, when’s the big day?”

“Probably a couple of days.”

“Is your mom taking you?”

“No.” Jenny wrinkled up her nose. “I want to do it alone. It’s kind of personal.”

He nodded, but she didn’t think he really understood. “If you need anything, call.”

“Thanks.” Shoving her hands deep into her pants pockets, Jenny looked up at him. “For everything.”

Jenny knew Steve wouldn’t acknowledge the grief she’d caused him professionally. Now that he’d forgiven her, he’d let it go. Jenny wracked her brain to think of something she could give him or something she could do to show Steve how thankful she was. She needed him to know how much his friendship meant to her, but so far she’d come up empty.

Steve brushed bangs from her eyes. She froze, holding her breath as his fingers skimmed her cheek, trailing lightly down her jaw in a lingering caress. She closed her eyes as he bent forward and pressed a light kiss to her lips.

“You’re welcome. Drive carefully.”

Jenny’s eyelids flew open as she felt him move away. He’d kissed her. A sweet gentle kiss, intimate and deliberate, blowing all thoughts from her mind.

He’d kissed her on the lips, then walked away? What the heck?

Steve couldn’t sleep. Again. For the third dang night in a row. He rose up on his elbow. The neon green three thirty-seven on his alarm clock mocked him. Damn it. He punched his pillow and flopped onto his back. The past month, keeping busy setting up his new practice had allowed him a decent measure of sleep, then one little dinner with Jenny, she mentions insemination and it’s blown to smithereens. He dreamed about Jenny and a newborn. Gabe’s newborn. He wanted it to be his. Why shouldn’t it be his?

Gabe was gone, damn it. Steve’s jaw clamped shut. Why shouldn’t he love Jenny? He couldn’t come up with one solid reason, except that she wasn’t ready for a committed relationship with anybody. But she hadn’t said so…This baby, being a single mom, certainly was a new life direction. Maybe she
was
ready.

Are you ready to raise Gabe’s baby?
His annoying conscience asked.
Didn’t work out so well with Annie and her kids, now did it?

That was different. But alike enough to give him pause. How did Jenny even feel about him? Did she ever think of him as more than a friend? They had fun playing tennis and games together. They liked the same movies—for the most part. They enjoyed talking together, sharing work. They had a lot in common. She cared; he’d bet his house on it.

They’d had an amazing time at the Christmas party—that’d been romantic. And over the past few months he’d caught her looking at him oddly, as if noticing what had been under her nose all along. That was encouraging.

Unless you’re making it up ’cause you’re desperate to believe you might have a chance with her
.

No, he pursed his lips and shook his head. There was something there; otherwise she’d have slapped him for kissing her. Hard. The impulsive kiss he’d given her after dinner had surprised her, yet Jenny hadn’t pulled back or pushed him away. That was a good sign. There was definitely something there.

She’s going to have his baby
, his little voice reminded.

Yeah, but maybe she wouldn’t, if she knew how much he loved her.

But she doesn’t know, now does she, numbnut? ’Cause you’ve never told her
.

Wha—He stopped breathing with the realization, then blew out a deep breath of frustration. He’d never actually said the words. Would it make a difference?
Should
it make a difference? Shit, he didn’t know, but she should know how he felt. He had to tell her before her doctor’s appointment—if it wasn’t too late already.

Steve threw himself out of bed, slipped his bare feet into sneakers, pulled on the first shirt his hand landed on, put his watch on and was halfway across the drive before he realized it was still dark outside. He held up his watch to catch the streetlight’s glow. Four in the morning. Jenny would be sleeping. Clenching his teeth, he returned to his house to wait until a decent hour.

At seven o’ clock, Steve couldn’t stand the inactivity another second. Fueled by three cups of coffee, he showered, shaved, and dressed. Nervous thoughts combined with the caffeine jumped around his brain, having him nearly vibrating out of his skin.

He fixed eggs and bacon to push around the plate, hoping food would take the edge off his jitters. It didn’t. Finally, after watching the sun slowly crest the lake, he strode out the door and retrieved her morning paper.

Breathing deeply to prevent hyperventilating, Steve wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and marched toward Jenny’s house, feeling as nervous and ill as he had when he’d pitched his first professional game in front of fifty thousand people.

He rapped twice on the screen before trying the door. Locked. He knocked again. Dressed in a white robe, Jenny opened the door and smiled in surprise.

“Newspaper boy. New profession?” she asked as she looped a lock of hair behind her ear.

Steve took in her mussed hair and sleepy face. She looked so cuddly wrapped in a new white terry robe. At least she wasn’t still wearing Gabe’s; he tried not to attach any great significance to the observation but failed.

He returned her smile. “I was out getting mine and thought I’d save you the trip.” Never mind he only had her newspaper in hand.