"Okay, then. Send Tracy a new PDF and let's get this off to press." Teri straightened and turned away from the graphic artist's screen to answer her cell phone. "Hello?"
"Teri, it's Jack."
Her stomach did a little flip. Typical. He was calling her at work, where he knew she couldn't get into anything. "Yes?" She walked further away from her co-worker.
Jack sighed a little. She sounded pissed off, and he needed her not to be. He took a breath. "I was wondering if you were free for lunch."
Her stomach curled into a hard little ball. She hadn't really spent any time with him for months, and the idea made her nervous. Nervous, but happy. She felt like she was in high school again and he was coming to pick her up on his motorcycle. "Um, okay." She checked her watch. "When?"
"As soon as you can. I'm downstairs."
Teri tightened her grip on the phone. Her palms were suddenly slippery. "Oh. Okay. Okay. I'll be right down." She hung up and walked to her desk to get her purse. Kitty looked up. "Heading out?"
Teri paused. "Yeah. I'm going for lunch."
"Want some company?"
Teri shook her head. "No, thanks. I've got some. Jack called. He's downstairs."
Kitty stared. "Really. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Okay. Well, good luck." Kitty hated what was happening to her friends, but despite her warnings to Jack, she hadn't gotten involved, other than offering Teri regular sessions of tea and sympathy. This was something Teri and Jack needed to sort out on their own. Even though she secretly thought Teri might be better off without Jack and all of his complications, she could see how much her friend missed him.
A few weeks ago they had been browsing through the self-help section of the bookstore, only half in fun, and Teri had commented that there were tons of books on how to divorce, but almost none on how to get back together. "It's funny, isn't it? In our parent's day, it was unthinkable to leave. Now it's almost unthinkable that anyone would want to work it out."
Teri pressed the button for the elevator and smoothed her sweater with her hands. She pressed the button again. "Come on," she muttered. She couldn't believe how excited she was at the thought of seeing him. She had to remind herself to breathe as she rode down. The doors opened, and there he was, across the lobby, staring intently at the elevator. A shy smile stole across his face when he saw her. Damn, he looked good. She loved him in that blue dress shirt. She walked over to him. "Jack."
"Teri." He risked giving her a one-armed hug as his lips brushed her cheek. His touch was electric and she pulled away without thinking. He stepped back quickly, shaking his head. "Thanks for meeting me."
She decided to keep her voice cool to mask the heat on her skin. "What do you want, Jack?" She saw the pain flash across his eyes before the mask went up. Shit. Too cool.
"There's some things we need to talk about." He was all business, now. "Do you want something to eat?"
She shook her head and he opened the door for her as they started to walk, heading across the street to the park. They found a bench and sat without speaking. Jack turned to her and she questioned him with her eyes. "I wanted to talk about Christmas."
"Oh." She was taken aback. She had told Kim she would talk to him, but she'd been avoiding the conversation.
"Kim and I are going to Carol's," she told him.
He tilted his head, puzzled. "Carol's? But that's out of town."
"I know."
"I was hoping to spend some time with Kim, maybe take her to Catalina."
"Well, we're going to Carol's."
He leaned forward, frustrated. "Why didn't you talk to me about this?"
She shrugged, miserable. She was making a mess of this. "I don't know, Jack. It just seemed like the right thing to do. I need to be around my family."
He stood up, turning away from her, then turned back. "Dammit, Teri! What about me? What if I need to be around my family?" he saw her look and caught himself. He ran a hand through his hair, sitting down again. "Fine." He leaned an elbow on the back of the bench and rubbed his forehead. This wasn't going as well as he'd wanted. "I'm sorry. I just – I was just hoping to see her, that's all." And you. I was hoping to see you.
She looked away, swallowing. "I'm sorry, Jack. I wasn't thinking. We can stay here."
"No. No, you're right. You should do what you planned. I'll take Kim for New Year's."
Teri bit her lip. "I already told her she could go to Stephanie's. Her family is doing their annual beach barbeque."
Jack managed to hide most of his irritation. "Fine." He closed his eyes. "When are you getting back from Carol's?"
"The 28th. You could do something then…" She watched him, wanting to smooth down the strand of hair that was out of place. He opened his eyes and she looked away quickly.
"Okay. The 28th."
"The 29th, Jack, if you want the whole day. We get back the 28th."
"Alright. The 29th." He stood up again, putting on his sunglasses. He turned to her as he dug his car keys out of his pocket. "I'll pick her up in the morning. At 8:00. Make sure she gets to bed in good time."
Teri stood up as well. "Yeah, I'll try." She took a step towards him and touched his arm gently. "I really am sorry, Jack. I don't know what I was thinking."
He snorted softly. "Yeah. Well, I've got to get back to work." They stood there a minute, then he turned and walked away. Teri sat down again, leaning her elbows on her knees and buried her head in her hands. She couldn't watch him leave her.
Xxxxxx
Nina slipped into his office, closing the door behind her. "Have a good lunch?"
"It was fine." He hadn't told her he was meeting Teri. And he hadn't told Teri he was seeing Nina. It was complicated.
Nina sashayed towards the desk, impishly holding her hand behind her back. "I've got something for you."
He smiled at her, intrigued. She always knew how to make him feel better. "Oh yeah?" He stepped out from behind his desk to stand in front of her. "I suggest you give it to me," he growled, leaning in close to her ear.
She pretended to squirm. "Not that, Jack. Although you might get some later." She stepped back and held up two tickets. "Handel's Messiah. Christmas day."
He leaned against his desk. "Shit, Nina. I just told Mason I'd work Christmas day."
Her smile faded. "What? Why would you do that?"
He shrugged. "I figured it was my turn."
"But Jack –"
"I don't want to talk about this, Nina. It's done. I'm sorry." He'd been in minefields less complex than this year's holiday.
She scanned his face. He was a good poker player, but she could read him pretty well. He was upset about something. Then it dawned on her. Teri wasn't going to let him see Kim on Christmas. How stupid was that woman? She obviously had no idea of the danger she was in. Every dumb move put her closer to losing Jack for good.
Nina straddled Jack's outstretched legs and leaned in to place her hands on the desk on either side of him. She tilted her head up, exposing her neck the way she knew he liked. "That's okay. I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up to me."
He glanced through his office walls at the floor below. No one was looking up. He risked a kiss, low on her throat where she smelled so good. "I will. I really will," he murmured, grateful for her understanding.
She could feel his body responding to hers. She leaned in a little bit closer for a moment, then straightened, swinging her legs back together as she stood. "Alright, then. I'll see you later?"
He shifted, adjusting his pants. "Yeah. I get off at six."
"Okay." She opened the office door and walked out. I'll see to it that you get off later, too.