Taking Courage (14 page)

He'd
gotten up early and headed to the coffee shop. Janna deserved to know he was
listening, and he was looking forward to surprising her. He walked into the
quiet shop, ordered the drink, and perused the newsstand while he waited for
his order.

“Cinnamon
latte, I haven't heard that ordered in years,” an older man next to him said.

“It's
for my girlfriend.” He stopped cold. The label tumbled from him without thought
and made him smile. It was a term a Dom would never think to use in the club,
especially for a trainee. Somehow, Janna had wound her way into his life.

“It
used to be my daughter's favorite drink, but she stopped drinking them some
time ago.”

“What
does she drink now?”

“I
don't think she drinks coffee anymore.” The man
squinted
his eyes and stared out the window. “Her husband doesn't like coffee.”

“Well,
I guess you can be happy without coffee,” Simon offered. He needed to make sure
Janna knew he'd never expect her to go without something she enjoyed.

“I
guess.” The man chuckled. “She's going without the husband now, too, though.”
He shuffled his feet and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “She gives up on
things too easily. She needs a strong hand to guide her. Do you have kids?”

“Me?
No.” Simon expected hives to break out, but a bark of laughter escaped instead.
Someday he wanted kids. He'd known it for some time, but never paid any
attention to it before. He wondered if Janna wanted kids someday, too. He shifted
his weight back and forth and caught the man smiling at him.

“Be
careful, especially if you have girls. They don't really know what they want.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I traveled four hours today to try and shake
some sense into my girl.”

“I
hope she heard you out.” Simon knew his share of women who had no idea what
they needed. He hoped this man's daughter had listened to what her father had
to say. He also hoped the man listened to what she had to say.

“She
hasn't agreed to anything yet, but I'm certain she'll listen.” He widened his
stance and put his hands on his hips. “I'm confident she'll come around. She
always does.”

“Women
do tend to act in a pattern. It's about the only thing about them that's
predictable.”

“Today's
visit will be especially hard. She wasn't talking to us much before she moved
to Chicago, and she left her husband behind with a broken heart.”

“You mean, they're still married?”

“Well,
no, but we're all hoping she'll change her mind and come home where she
belongs. I plan on reminding my daughter about her responsibility to the family
and the promise she made to her husband. It's always gotten her to turn things
around. I'm hoping it will work again.”

“I
hope everything works out for the best.” Simon scratched his cheek, and familiarity
tugged at his senses. He rubbed his arms and felt sweat break out on his neck.

“Thanks.
I may have a trick up my sleeve to seal the deal though.”

“Cinnamon
latte,” called the girl at the counter.

“That's
me. I hope your daughter makes the right decision.” He had no idea what the
decision should be. He wanted out of the coffee shop and away from the man.

He
escaped to the sidewalk and paced back and forth. An obvious decision stormed
into him, and he needed to get to Janna right now. He checked his cell for the
time.

“Damn.”
She was probably already on her way to work.

It
was possible the man wasn't Janna's father, but if he was on his way to see
her, Simon wanted to get to her first. He'd yet to tell Janna what she was
beginning to mean to him. He didn't want her hearing her father’s spew without
fully knowing his intentions.

He
pinched the bridge of his nose as he walked around the corner to the front
door. The sudden pressure built inside him like a geyser. He swung the door
wide open and blew out his breath when he spotted Janna walking towards the
elevator.

He
forced positive thoughts into the forefront of his mind. Janna would not run
home to the safety of her family and to the ex-husband that didn't deserve her.
He'd have time to find out more of her secrets. The cinnamon latte would be one
of many. They'd have plenty of time to share together.

“Simon, good morning.”
Her surprise
was smothered by her wide smile. “What do you have there?”

“Take
a taste.” He handed her the latte, and they walked into the elevator.

“What—is
this a
cinnamon latte?” She took a sip. “Oh, Simon,
this hits a spot I'd all but forgotten. So, you were listening to me last night.”

“I'll
always listen.” He stepped in close, but didn't touch. Warm spice filled his
senses. “Are you looking forward to tonight?”

She
lowered the cup, and her gaze closed in on his lips. “I've been thinking about
it all week, and after last night, I'm not sure how I'll get anything done
today.” She licked her bottom lip.

The
elevator chimed its arrival. He stepped back and allowed her to exit first.

“Janna,
Simon, I'm glad you're here.” Anne waved them off the elevator. “Keller's
waiting for you both in the board room.”

They
walked in silence.

Colin
almost knocked them over on his way out.

“Sorry.”
Janna stepped into Simon, and he steadied her.

“Janna.”
Colin reached
out and held onto her shoulder. “I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll think of something.”

They
watched him walk away before they entered the board room where Keller was
waiting.

“I'm
glad you two are here. I wanted to talk to you next.” Keller motioned to the
empty chairs. “Please sit down.”

“Why
was Colin here?” Once Janna was seated, Simon sat next to her.

“We've
lost one of our investors. Normally this isn't a problem, but we have several
projects in play right now.”

“Will
one of the projects need to be put on hold?” Janna asked the hard question
straight on.

“I'm
hopeful we'll actually get the investor back. Gina has a connection, and I've
sent her and Marcus to smooth things over.”

“I
don’t want to question your judgment, but are you sure they should be working
together? We've all seen how they grate on each other’s nerves,” Simon asked as
he reached out to Janna's chair, but stopped himself before touching her.

Janna
turned back to him. “I saw that, too, yesterday at your office.” They both
turned to Keller.

“I'm
confident they can take care of things.”

“What
now?”

“I'm
sorry, Janna, but your project will need to be put on hold. It's at the
earliest stages and poses the least risk and cost.” Keller reached out and
steadied her hand. “Unfortunately, I don't have another project for you, but we
can keep you busy until things get ironed out.”

“Thank
you, Sir. I appreciate it.”

“I've
already spoken to Anne. Stop by her desk on your way back to your office.”

“Okay.
Will do.”
Janna got up, and Simon moved to follow her.

“Simon,
would you stick around for a minute?”

He
watched her walk away with her head high.

“She's
a lot stronger than anyone has ever given her credit for.” There were so many
things he needed to say to her. For now, he enjoyed the sway of her hips and
the flow of her long golden hair.

“You
have gotten to know her this week. I'm glad.”

Simon
turned around and shook his head as he sat back down. “How did you know I'd
take to her like this?”

“I
don't have a sixth sense if that's what you're getting at. I simply watch and
listen.” Keller flipped his phone around in his hand. “Has she talked much
about her family with you yet?”

“A very little.
Her father
seems to be a selfish bastard. I’m glad she’s moved away from him.”

“I've
heard twice from him this week.”

“What?”
Simon leaned forward, and a sour taste filled his mouth, making him wish he
could spit. He clamped his hands into fists.

“The
first call was on Tuesday. He demanded I fire his daughter and put her on the
first flight back to Detroit.”

“What
a jerk. The man obviously has no history of listening to his daughter.” Simon
got up and paced the room.

“I'm
inclined to agree with you. Unfortunately, he didn't leave it there. Our loss
of funding came with a message.” Keller looked at his phone. “It will all be
returned once your new employee returns home.”

“That bastard.”

“Anne's
just informed me her father is here now and waiting for Janna in her office.”

Simon
stopped his forward movement and thought back to his odd conversation at the
coffee shop. “Damn it.”

“Simon.”

He
stopped, but squeezed the handle of the door.

“Barreling
into her office and fighting her battles won't help.”

“Shit.”
Simon threw his hands in the air. “What am I supposed to do? She doesn't know
how I feel, and now she doesn't have a project keeping her here.”

“You
do need to tell her how you feel. First, I think you should think about why you
haven't already told her. More importantly, she needs to deal with her father
on her own. If you step in, you might be playing into his hands. I believe it's
important to Janna to make her own decisions.”

“You're
right.” Simon blew out a ragged breath.

“You
remind her to make her own choices, and I'll remind her that this is my town
and not her father's.”

“Okay.
I should have known you'd have a plan. Thanks, Keller.” Simon shoved his hands
in his pockets. “Do you really think Gina and Marcus can get the funding back?”

“Gina
and Marcus are capable of many things.”

“That
was a cryptic Keller statement.” He shook his head at his friend. “We need to
get the funding back. Janna deserves to see this project through.”

“I
know. Try not to worry.”

Simon
took the long way back to his office and wandered into the break room across
from Janna's office. He turned around just enough to notice her door was
closed. The office was nice and quiet, and he couldn't hear a thing.

His
fingers tapped on the countertop. As if he willed it, the blinds on Janna’s
window opened. The man from the coffee shop stepped in front of her window. He
stopped when he spotted Simon. A slick smile blazed across his face and left
Simon thinking about Keller's advice. His fist smacked into the counter.

****

“You
shouldn’t have come.” Janna didn’t bother to get up. Dealing with her father
was the last thing she wanted today. “I’m fine here. You didn’t need to check
on me.”

“That’s
a terrible way to greet your own father.” He took a seat in her guest chair.

“Hi, Dad.”
She took a deep
breath. “Why are you here?”

“I
came to bring you home.” He flicked a piece of lint from his pants.

“What
makes you think I’m leaving?”

“Your
project is over.”

“Please
tell me you had nothing to do with that?” She crossed her arms over her
stomach.

“You’ve
pushed this little stunt far enough. Leaving Mike was one thing, but to take off
and leave your family is a step too far.”

“Dad,
he was cheating on me. You can’t expect for me to stay in a sham of a marriage
like that. You can’t expect—”

“I
didn’t raise you to talk back to me like this.” He stood. “Fine, if you’re not
ready to go home yet. I’ll leave.” He walked to the door. “Know that I’m
prepared to call in more favors and call your mother. She’s worried about you.”

Her
father left, and his words echoed in her thoughts.
More favors.
Janna slumped back in her chair. He’d done it. He made
a phone call, and now her project was gone.

She
reached across her desk and picked up the picture of her and her mom. The photo
was taken a few summers ago, back when Janna was following her father's lead.
Her thumbs caressed the ridges of the frame, and she sat back in her chair.

Simon
stepped just inside her office and stopped, like he was just another co-worker
coming to chat about his day. The distance was probably best. She didn't want
to bring him down with her.

“This
is my mom.” She held out the photo for a second to show him the older version
of herself, but with dark hair. “Do you think she's proud of me?”

“I'd
bet on it.” He took several steps closer, but stopped at her guest chairs.

A coldness
seeped into
her. The only problem with believing him was it opened up the grand possibility
her mother wasn't proud of herself. Janna had been following in her mother's
footsteps until this move to Chicago.