Page 9 of Hooked on Lane (Hooked #1)

Chapter Nine

Lane

A s I emerged from the law firm, day done, my phone started to vibrate in my pocket. Home Away From Home showing on the screen. A chill ran down my spine. The exhaustion of the twelve-hour day peeled off me as I answered, but the cheerful voice of my mother was on the other end.

“Hey, sweetie. How’s New York City treating you?”

“Is everything okay? Why aren’t you calling from your phone?” Something was wrong.

“I fell, but I didn’t break anything. I’m okay.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” My mother had always been less than forthcoming with her health. It wasn’t until I started going with her to the doctor appointments that I realized how much her Parkinson’s had progressed without me realizing years ago.

“I'm fine, sweetheart. Just take a few deep breaths.”

I inhaled deeply and let the air fill my lungs before slowly blowing it out. The tension in my body melted away. “I love you, Mom. Please be careful. You know you can call me anytime. My assistant knows to always put your calls through.”

“Assistant, huh? Watch out, New York. My son is finally getting the recognition he deserves.”

She had always believed in me. Especially in what I wanted to do as a career, but I knew us being far apart wasn’t easy for her. “Ma, I’m only here for a year. That’s the contract.”

“Yeah, yeah. Love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Love you too.”

I opened the door to the dive bar. A single light flickered in the corner while country music played from a jukebox in the back. I claimed at stool at the Bar. A woman with cropped dark hair, and a deep set of wrinkles came to take my order. “What'll it be?”

“Bud Light, please.” She turned around, popped the top and placed it in front of me.

I put eight dollars on the bar and turned around to take in the rest of the bar.

I was the only guy in a suit in a room full of pool tables and neon beer signs.

It wasn't until I'd been watching the baseball game on the giant television for two hours, sipping my beers slowly, that people started to trickle in.

Soon enough, it was packed. Then my eyes found Laura and Jennifer.

They were in evening wear, laughing and smiling, enjoying a carefree night out. Of all the nights and all the places in NYC, they had to come to this one on the night I was here. Go figure, that's my luck.

Turning back around, I tried to make myself invisible, because if they saw me, then they would leave. Who wanted to hang out with their boss after work? Jennifer commanded attention in her black halter dress and red pumps. My throat tightened as I tried to avert my eyes.

The ladies had taken a seat at a table and were in the middle of a conversation when a tall, dark-haired man made his way over.

I fixed my eyes on Jennifer as he sauntered closer, talking loud enough for the entire bar to hear.

Without thinking, I crossed the room and took my place beside her, planting a swift kiss on the top of her head. “Hey, babe, you need another drink?”

The man's voice had a hard edge. He jammed his hands into the pockets of his fashionable jeans. It was clear he hadn't shaved in days. Jennifer's eyes darted back and forth between us like she was trying to detect a trap. She leaned close to my ear. “What are you doing?”

The man clenched his jaw, making a visible effort not to say a thing. He cast one last look of longing at Jennifer before delivering his critique. “So you have moved on already?”

Jennifer snuggled into my side. “He's more of a man than you will ever be. Go handle your commitment issues and leave us alone.”

As I watched him lumber out of the bar, the bitter taste of jealousy filled my mouth. My hand fell from Jennifer’s shoulder and she slowly looked up at me.

“Why did you do that?”

Offering an explanation seemed futile, but I tried anyway. “I thought he was bothering you. Figured I could help.”

Laura chimed in. “That was her ex that just broke up with her… and now he is totally seething with jealousy.” The corners of her mouth twitched upward.

This was dangerous. I was jealous. No, it couldn’t be—I was not pining over my assistant. The alcohol made the world feel hazy and malleable.

“What is it about men and having what they can't have? As soon as Lane here sat down, now men are flocking to you. Come sit by me,” Laura said.

“If your ex was dumb enough to let a woman like you go, then let him suffer. They should worship you.”

Jennifer shook her head slowly as she stirred her bright-red mojito. “There are thousands of single girls in New York City. Men just move on to the next. It's all a game to them.”

I leaned back. “What? You don’t think you're a catch? Please tell me some man hasn't ruined your confidence because you are gorgeous.”

A slight smirk crept up the corner of Laura's lips. Her best friend was enjoying this. She popped a maraschino cherry into her mouth. “That is the nicest thing she has heard this week.”

I stayed right where I was, next to Jennifer, soaking up her lavender perfume.

Laura ranted about Jennifer's ex-boyfriend Peyton, and the girl next to me was holding back tears that threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes.

Laura declared he wasn't worth the time of day.

I sipped my drink in silence and watched the game on the big-screen TV, not wanting to intrude.

"You deserve better.”

Jennifer's gaze locked with mine, and suddenly we were both blushing. "Thanks.”

The conversation moved on to other topics, but I couldn't help but still think about what I had said earlier.

It had felt different from just a platonic comment between colleagues; it had been more personal than that.

And it seemed like Jennifer had felt it too from how she had looked at me afterward.

The announcer came on and called Jennifer’s name. She walked up to the stage and took the microphone in her hand. And then she did something that totally took me by surprise. She began to sing in French. It was beautiful.

What other talents did my assistant have?