61

She laughed ruefully. “Sara says she never expected any better of him. But it’s always easier to see that kind of thing when you’re on the outside looking in, I guess.”
“Yeah, that sounds right,” I said. “To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been with anyone since Tess’s mother.”
She hesitated. “What happened to her, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“She had cancer.” The words were still hard to say. “I’m so sorry,” Jenna said quietly.
“Thank you.” I took a long drink, composing myself.
“Do you have any other family?” she asked. “I mean, I know your dad has passed since you inherited the company, but what about your mom? Or any siblings?”
I shook my head. “I’m an only child and my mom died when I was young. I was raised primarily by nannies while my father worked to build his empire.”
Or to steal from it, I thought.
“That’s too bad. I mean, Jessica and I spent a lot of time with our nanny as well growing up. My dad was always hard at work growing the business and my mother was out keeping up appearances. My dad likes to say she acted rich way before she was.”
“What about your dad? Are you close?”
She shrugged. “I’m closer to him than I am to my mom, but that’s not saying much. Plus, he still works a ton.”
“Your mom has never really supported you?”
Jenna shook her head. “My mom just wants to control my life. Like I told you at the wedding, she thinks design is a stupid thing to try to make a career out of.”
“She’s wrong. You’re amazing at it. You really do need to make her look at your portfolio. I’m sure that would win her over, if your other projects have been anything like Tess’s room.”
“Tess’s room was one of my best,” Jenna admitted. “I felt inspired working on it. I don’t know exactly what it was. I just had a pretty clear vision, right from the start.” She blushed prettily.
“Well, Tess loves it,” I told her. “To be honest, I was shocked when she said she wanted to stay over at a friend’s house tonight. I thought the second coming of Christ would happen before I got her out of that room. She’s been spending all her time in there.”
“I’m glad she’s happy,” Jenna said, smiling. “Should we have another?” I lifted my empty glass.
She laughed. “Maybe we should slow down a little. How about bring back some bar nuts this time?”
“Can do.” I went to the bar, traded our glasses for fresh drinks, and grabbed a bowl of nuts for our table. When I got back, Jenna was watching Sara and Eric bickering over their game of pool. Sara leaned over the table, grabbed the cue
ball, and waved it in Eric’s face as though trying to emphasize a point. Eric looked scandalized.
“They seem to be getting along,” I said.
“Well, Sara gets along with everyone she meets.” Jenna smiled. “She’s one of the friendliest, most outgoing people I’ve ever met.”
“Eric’s the same way,” I agreed. “He’s always up for a good time.” Sometimes a little too much of a good time, in truth, although I decided not to tell Jenna that. Confiding in her about myself was one thing, but it would feel wrong to tell someone so new in my life about my worries that my best friend had a substance problem.
“Sometimes I wish it was as easy for me to make a good impression on new people,” Jenna sighed.
I had to laugh at that. “Come on. You aren’t trying to tell me you have a hard time making a good impression.”
“What’s so funny?”
“Well, you and I hit it off pretty quickly.” “That wasn’t normal for me, though.”
“I don’t believe it. You made a great first impression on Tess, too. She loves you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. She kept signing compliments all night,” I revealed with a smile.
She straightened and said, “Teach me some more sign language.”
“Okay.” I thought for a minute, then held my palms out in front of me, pushing them out in her direction at shoulder height, then retracting my arms and repeating the motion about ten inches lower.
She copied the sign. “What does this mean?”
“It means awesome, and it’s the kind of impression you made on me and my daughter.” I signed something longer. “There you go. Awesome first impression.”
She laughed. “You lost me with that one, I’m afraid.”
“Like this.” I took her hands in mine and showed her how to shape the signs. Her fingers didn’t know where to go, and it was awkward and messy. Eventually I gave it up, dropping my arms to the tabletop, still chuckling, still holding her hands in mine.
She looked up at me. “You’re really easy to get along with,” she said, the levity gone from her voice. “That’s what it is. It isn’t me.”
I shook my head. “I’m impossible to get along with,” I said with a laugh. “I haven’t opened up to anyone like this since...well, since my wife died.”
“I’m glad you did,” she murmured. “I’m glad you feel like you can talk to me.”
“I honestly can’t imagine why anybody wouldn’t.” I squeezed her hands, and she squeezed back. I felt a current rush through my body downward toward my groin. Maybe Jenna felt the same thing, because her breathing accelerated. The rise and fall of her chest was incredibly distracting. “Listen,” I said, “is it too late to change my mind about that date?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them, her gaze was sweet. “I don’t think I have it in me to say no to you, Noah Clark.”
I nodded. “Do you want to come back to my place?” “You said Tess’s out for the evening?”
“She’s at a friend’s.” “Then yes.”
“Do you want to tell Sara and Eric we’re leaving?”
“They’ll figure it out,” she said. Keeping one hand firmly in mine, she grabbed her purse and towed me out the door and into the cool night air.