Page 54 of About that Fling (The Can’t Have Hearts Club #2)

O ne year later

“Here are the packets you ordered.” Jenna passed off a cardboard box to Allison Ross. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Oh, thank you.” Allie took the printouts and stuffed the box beneath the podium. “I think I’m good.”

She didn’t look good. She looked frazzled and tired, and Jenna suspected it had something to do with this morning’s headlines. Allie’s father lost his latest bid to get his prison sentence overturned. It happened the same exact day that his mother—Allie’s grandma—had passed away unexpectedly.

The papers had made a big deal of it. That was the reason Jenna had chosen to stay and help Allie set up, rather than passing it off to an admin. A lifetime of struggling to control the whole world gave Jenna a sense of when someone else started to buckle under that pressure.

She just wasn’t sure how to broach the subject, or even if she should. “What else can I help with?”

“I’m probably okay.” Allie nibbled her lip. “The guest speaker texted ten minutes ago to say she’s already on site. The caterer should be here any minute, so we’re set there.” She practically vibrated with tension. “Hopefully the food is good.”

“Who’s catering?”

“Meg Delaney.”

“You’re in amazing hands with Meg. She revamped our food service menu and caters tons of our events.”

“Good. That’s good. I’ve used Meg before, so I trust her.” Allie surveyed the space, her shoulders relaxing an almost imperceptible amount.

Jenna glanced at her watch. She had ten minutes to meet Adam, but didn’t want to leave Allie hanging. “You doing okay?”

“Hmm?” Allie looked up from scanning the agenda. “Yes, everything’s coming together.”

“I don’t mean the event. I meant you . How are you doing?

“I’m great.” The tick of a tiny muscle beside her eye suggested otherwise.

“I saw the news this morning,” Jenna began, and watched Allie stiffen. “I’m so sorry about your grandmother.”

“Thank you.” Allie bit her lip. “She was an amazing woman.”

Jenna drew a deep breath. “I’ve never brought this up, and now may not be the time or maybe you don’t want to discuss it, but I just wanted to say I’m aware of the situation with your parents and I think you’re really brave. Holding it together like you do can’t be easy.”

“Oh.” Allie blinked and set down the basket of pens she’d just grabbed. “That’s—thank you. Wow, that means a lot.”

“I can only imagine the toll it’s taken on you. If you ever need someone to talk to, you can trust me for discretion.”

“Thank you.” Tears filled Allie’s green eyes as she pulled in a shuddery breath. “No one ever asks how I’m doing. They just pretend they don’t know I’m the daughter of the people who orchestrated Portland’s big, scandalous Ponzi scheme.”

“I’m sorry.” Sympathy flooded her system. “That sounds lonely.”

“It can be.” Allie straightened her shoulders. “I need to get my game face on right now, but maybe we could grab a drink sometime?”

“I’d like that.” Jenna took a chance on hugging her, even though that’s not how their professional relationship normally went.

As Allie sagged in her arms, Jenna knew she’d done the right thing.

“For what it’s worth, I know the toll it can take when you try to control everything.

It’ll break you, eventually. I’m here for you if you ever want to talk. ”

“Thanks, Jenna. I really appreciate it.”

With one last squeeze, she let go of Allie and stepped back. “Text me if anything comes up. I’m sure your seminar will go off without a hitch.”

“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

With one last encouraging smile, Jenna turned and walked out of the conference room. She hustled out the doors of the hospital and into her car, texting Adam to let him know she’d be a little bit late.

By the time she rushed through the door of The Corkscrew, he’d already staked out their usual table. The same one they’d sat at the very first day they’d met. As soon as he saw her, his face broke into a grin.

Man, she’d never get tired of seeing that smile. Or his chiseled arms flexing as he pushed himself up to stand and greet her.

“What’s a pretty lady like you doing in a place like this?”

“Sorry I’m late,” she said, kissing his cheek before sliding into the chair right across from him. “Had to help Allison Ross with the setup for an event we’re hosting.”

Adam sat down and tilted his head. “Who?”

“Allie Ross.” She’d definitely mentioned the woman before. “She’s the Certified Association Executive for?—”

“I’m sorry, have we met before?” One edge of his mouth quirked as he extended a hand across the table. “Adam Thomas. Former professional gigolo turned bullfighter. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Ah, so he was feeling flirty tonight. She loved when he embraced his playful side. Struggling to keep a straight face, she shook his hand. “Jenna McArthur. Former spy turned professional nanny.”

That part wasn’t too far off. She’d taken a half-day from work to watch Lola for Mia and Mark.

Adam’s brow quirked. “Everything okay with . . . er, your clients?”

“Perfect.” She didn’t want to break character, but also didn’t want him to worry. “Their regular sitter got sick, so I insisted they let me help out until the backup one could arrive. My professional nanny skills are legendary, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“Clearly. Weren’t you the star of that show, The Baby Whisperer ?”

“You’re familiar with my work, then.”

“I routinely teach your methods at the Baby Wrangling Academy where I’m headmaster.”

“I thought I recognized you.”

He smiled and she knew they were thinking the same thing.

They’d talked about trying for a baby sometime in the future.

Now that they lived in the same city under the same roof, things felt a little more settled.

“I hope the Hollywood superstars you nanny for appreciate you stepping up so they could jet off to Barbados.”

“Oh, they’re very grateful.” Jenna’s lips quirked. Mia and Mark weren’t on a jet, but they were on their first baby-free trip since Lola was born. They’d rented one of the cabins at Sunridge Vineyards for a romantic weekend getaway. Aunt Gertie had set it up, since she was dating one of the owners.

“Not dating , dear,” Gertie was fond of reminding her. “It’s purely physical. Axl and I are simply—what is that term you kids use?”

Jenna had tried not to cringe. “Friends with benefits?”

“Fuck buddies.” Aunt Gertie had smiled. “But there are definitely benefits. Shall I book a half-price cabin for Mia and Mark?”

So that’s how the whole trip came about, then nearly didn’t happen when the sitter got sick.

“My clients made it out just fine,” Jenna told Adam now. “The paparazzi trailed them all the way to their private jet. You know how it is.”

“Of course.” He signaled the server, who hurried over with a wine menu for Jenna. “It’s a special night,” he informed the young waitress. “National Noodle Day.”

“Oh-kay.”

“And as I’m sure you can tell, I’m entertaining a VIP,” he continued.

“Um—”

“Very Icy Person,” Jenna supplied, swallowing a snicker. “I hold the Guinness World Record as the person with the lowest body temperature.”

Adam nodded sagely. “Comes in handy when my tennis elbow flares up. She just sits on my arm and?—”

“He used to play professionally,” Jenna supplied. “Won Wimbledon six times.”

“Sure.” The waitress set down a menu and stepped back. “Should I give you a minute?”

“No need.” Jenna nodded to Adam. “I’ll have whatever he’s having. My husband has excellent taste in wine.”

“My wife flatters me.” Adam grinned, and rockets of pleasure shot through her body.

It wasn’t just the thrill of the game. She loved when they play acted as a married couple. Adam did, too. He was often the first one to start up the ruse.

But something shone brighter in his eyes tonight. The joy of pretending, or something else?

As the waitress stepped away to get the wine, Adam cleared his throat. “Mind if I break character for a sec?”

“By all means.” She studied his face. “Is everything okay?”

“Very much so.” Taking her hands, he smiled into her eyes. “Besides being National Noodle Day, do you know what else today is?”

“If it’s not National Alfredo Sauce Day, that’s a missed marketing opportunity.”

He chuckled and threaded his fingers through hers. “It’s the one-year anniversary of the first time we said ‘I love you’ to each other.”

“I love that you remember the date.” Not just for that milestone, either. Adam had reminders on his calendar to text her each month on the date of their first kiss, their first official date, the day they moved in together?—

“I know we’ve talked about marriage,” he said, and Jenna sat up straight in her chair. “And you’ve made it clear you’re not interested in a formal proposal.”

“I—” Her mouth went dry. “That’s right.” She hated to steal his fun, but she had to be honest. “I don’t like surprises, not even the good kind. I think something as big as marriage should be entered into with a series of thoughtful conversations and discussions.”

She watched for the flash of disappointment in his eyes, but Adam just grinned. “I agree one-hundred percent.”

“You do?”

“Absolutely. As someone who’s been down that path before, I’m determined to do things better this time.”

This time? Did he mean ? —

“So broaching the subject of marriage right now shouldn’t bet be a surprise to you, right?”

“Of course not.” They’d discussed it a lot, even in the office of a couples’ therapist specializing in Compassionate Communication.

But something seemed different this time.

As Jenna’s pulse raced, she struggled to figure out what it was.

“I’m not surprised. I’m just . . .” She did her best to find the right words.

“Guarded? Nervous? Not sure what you’re thinking? ”

Naming her emotions like that felt like a big step. She’d spent so much of her life bottling them up, trying to keep everything under control.