A Man to Believe In (6 page)

He had on a pair of faded jeans and a T-shirt that stretched tight across his muscular chest. A Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap covered most of his dark, wavy hair. The color of the hat matched the color of his eyes—Dodger blue. She thought he looked adorable, appealing. Sexy.

“Just in the neighborhood?” she asked him when she finally found her voice.

Jake walked over and sat down opposite her. As he’d driven into her driveway, he’d called himself a damn fool for showing up there. She’d made it pretty clear she didn’t want to see him before the ballet. But then, hadn’t he made it equally clear he didn’t intend to wait so long to see her? He must have, because she didn’t look surprised to see him.

“I came by to ask you to go to a picnic with me.”

“Why, Jake. That almost sounded like an invitation. You mean you aren’t going to grab my hand and drag me off?”

He shook his head. “I’m trying a new technique.” Her curious expression spurred him on. “It’s the new three-step approach I read about in
Popular Caveman
.”

She smiled, another encouraging sign, he decided. “Step one,” he continued, pretending to quote the magazine article word for word. “Politely ask the lady to go out with you.”

“How incredibly civilized.”

“Exactly.”

“But I’m afraid I—”

“Ah-ha.” He pretended to consult an imaginary copy of the magazine. “It says here that step one doesn’t always work, in which case, you should move on to step two. Beg.” He clasped his hands together and tried for a humble look. “Cori, will you
please
go to the picnic with me? My whole family will be there, and they’d really like to meet you. And I want you to meet them too.”

Cori laughed. He was laying it on thick, but she had to admit, it worked. Without realizing it, he’d said the one thing that would make it hard for her to say no.
Family
. It would be great to be part of a family, if only for a few hours, and a picnic sounded like fun. Besides, in the last few minutes she’d managed to work out the details of her floor plan to her satisfaction, and she could use a break.

“I’d love to go with you. Just let me make a few more changes here, then I’ll be through with this.” She scribbled several notes before she put down the pencil, satisfied with the results. “All done.”

“Let’s have a look.” Jake turned her drawing around to get a better view. “Your bookstore?”

Cori nodded and watched with pride as Jake inspected her floor plan. It had been a challenge, but she’d finally managed to find a place for everything.
She wouldn’t have to eliminate magazines or cookbooks or anything else.

“This is darn good,” he commented, obviously impressed. “How’s the construction coming on the interior fixtures?”

“Well … we’re a few days behind schedule, but I don’t think I need to start worrying just yet.”

“If you need help, I can pull a couple of my men off a job and get them over to your place.”

“Thanks, but I wouldn’t want you to fall behind on one of your jobs.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ve always got a man or two I can spare for a special project. I’ll have them report to you tomorrow.”

“No, really, I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?”

Cori didn’t know how he’d react if she told him she couldn’t afford the expense of a professional construction crew. The teenagers she’d hired on the recommendation of the high-school woodshop instructor were affordable, and they had been working out fine. They were just a little slower getting the job done than she’d hoped.

“I appreciate your offer, but the truth is, I’m on a limited budget,” she confessed, hoping he wouldn’t be offended. “Marsha told me you have your own company, and I’m sure you’re very good. But I can’t afford you.”

“I see. How about we work out a deal? I’ll have my men get you back on schedule, and you and I can—”

“Jake Tanner,” she said, interrupting him before he could get any more specific—or personal—with
his deal. “In the short time I’ve known you, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you take no for an answer.”

He grinned. “Must be a genetic defect.”

Cori laughed, thinking if it was true that some people were incapable of hearing the word
no
, Jake was certainly one of them. Rolling up her floor plan, she said, “Hadn’t we better get going to the picnic?”

Jake glanced at his watch. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I’ll be just a minute.” She dashed into the house, stashing her floor plan in the bookshelf before grabbing a sweatshirt. When she came back outside, Jake was waiting for her beside his truck. He opened the door and motioned for her to get in on the driver’s side.

“About that article in
Popular Caveman
,” she said, climbing in.

Jake climbed in after her. “What about it?”

“The first two steps were ask politely and beg. Just out of curiosity, what was step three?”

He closed the door and started the engine, then shot her a sly smile that could have melted an iceberg.

“Ignore all protests and drag her out by her hair,” he said, and threw the truck into gear.

“I’ll grab the cooler. Why don’t you bring those two bags there.” Jake hefted the enormous ice chest from the back of the pickup as if it weighed no more than a cotton ball.

Already, Cori was glad she’d decided to accept Jake’s invitation. The weather was perfect for a
Sunday afternoon picnic, and because she’d had such a productive morning, she was ready to kick back and have some fun. She pulled the bags of hot dog buns and potato chips from the back of the truck and started off after Jake. He made it part of the way to the grove of trees where the picnic tables were located before being stopped by a little boy with white-blond hair carrying a neon-yellow sponge football.

“Uncle J.T. Look what I brought. You were right. It’s easier for me to catch passes.”

Jake set the cooler down and took the ball from the boy. “Let’s see. Go out for a long one, Ricky.”

Ricky ran a jagged pattern, as if pretending to dodge an invisible defense, then whipped around, his hands held high, ready for the pass. The ball bounced off his chest and landed in his arms. “See, I caught it!”

Jake cheered. “Way to go, sport. We’ll turn you into an all-pro receiver in no time.”

Ricky smiled proudly, then ran toward the picnic tables, where a man and several women were sitting, yelling about the great pass Uncle J.T. threw, and how he caught it like a pro.

Cori followed Jake to where the group was gathered and looked for a place to set down her load. Two tables, covered with plastic tablecloths, were already laden with a variety of picnic supplies.

“Here’s a spot.” A woman with short brown hair scooted aside a bowl of fruit salad to make room for Cori’s bag. She had a warm, friendly smile. Cori liked her instantly.

“I’m Mary, and these”—Jake’s sister pointed to three children rummaging through the cooler for soft drinks—“are my kids. Hey, you guys, what did I tell you about asking first?”

“Sorry, Mom,” they chimed in unison. “Can we have some pop?”

“May we …” Mary coached patiently, tugging on the bottom of a red sweatshirt that, baggy as it was, couldn’t begin to hide her generous curves.

“May we please have some pop?” They all smiled sweetly, their singsong voices and angelic expressions a clear sign that they had been through this routine many times.

“One each. I mean it—one.” Mary shook her head in good-natured exasperation. “Gotta watch ’em like a hawk.”

Cori returned the introduction and gave Mary an understanding smile. Being a single parent had to be a tough job, but Mary looked as though she was pretty good at it. The cheerful way she disciplined her kids told Cori that Mary was a loving mother, comfortable with her role as chief correction officer.

Her interest in the supposed angels piqued, Cori ventured over to the ice chest and stooped down to the level of the children. “Hi. What’s your name?”

She’d directed her question to the tallest little girl, whose long blond hair was pulled into a jaunty ponytail at the side of her head.

“I’m Jennifer, and I’m the oldest,” she informed Cori proudly. “This is my sister, Christy, and my brother, Ricky. He’s only six.” The last bit of information was issued as if it were critically important.

Cori nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Ricky. “That was quite a catch a few minutes ago.” Ricky nodded his head slowly and flashed her a grin that said he agreed with her.

“Come meet the rest of the family.” Jake waved her over. Indicating a slender young woman, he said, “This is my sister Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s nutmeg-brown hair was several shades lighter than her sister Mary’s. Soft bangs feathered across her forehead, and the sides ended in a simple blunt cut at her shoulders. Her quiet air of sophistication was in obvious contrast to Mary’s exuberant enthusiasm.

Pointing to the only other man in the group, he said, “This is my brother-in-law, Tom, and the little guy here is their son, Timothy. We’re celebrating his first birthday today.” Timothy bounced on his mother’s knee, obviously enjoying all the attention.

Then Jake walked around the tables to stand behind a woman whose dark, wavy hair and strikingly blue eyes were an exact match to his own. “And this is—”

“If you call me the oldest living Tanner one more time, young man, I’ll turn you over my knee and blister your behind,” the woman said, shooting him a mock-ferocious scowl.

His hands resting on her shoulders, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “As I was about to say,” he continued with exaggerated politeness, “this is my beautiful mother, Virginia. Mom, I’d like you to meet Cori.”

“Don’t take any guff from this one, young lady,”
she advised, patting her son’s hand. “He gets out of control easily.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about Cori,” he assured his mother. “She’s held her own so far.”

Cori glanced around, remembering that Jake had three sisters. “Where’s Susie?”

“Here I am.” Susie covered the last hundred yards at a run, then flopped down into one of the beach chairs. She settled her head of short dark curls back against the headrest and closed her eyes for a few seconds. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, slightly out of breath, before introducing herself to Cori.

“Are you alone?” Virginia asked. “I thought we were going to get to meet your new boyfriend.”

“Robert got called in to do an audition for a commercial.”

“He’s an actor?” Cori asked. “How exciting.” Even though she’d grown up a few miles from Hollywood, she still found the mystique of the entertainment industry fascinating.

“Hardly.” Jake’s derisive tone startled Cori.

Susie blew out a frustrated sigh. “Jake …” The single word sounded like a cross between an appeal and a warning.

“He’s a waiter who works for minimum wage,” Jake continued, adding a challenging gaze that locked with Susie’s. The confrontation threatened to burst the friendly mood of the gathering.

“Well, I believe I’m thirsty,” Virginia declared brightly. “Ricky, would you do Grandma a big favor and bring her a nice cold drink?” Ricky ran to the cooler and brought her a soda, then passed out cans
to the others as well. Virginia’s cheerful announcement had effectively dispelled the tension, and within seconds everyone was laughing and talking once again.

The next several minutes were filled with questions as the women turned their attention on Cori.

“Do you live in the area?”

“Where did you go to high school?”

“Where do you work?”

“You’re going to open your own business? How exciting.”

Cori barely had time to answer one query before they tossed another at her. She responded as honestly as possible, amused by the intensity of their rapid-fire questions, surprised that their keen interest in what she told them made her feel like one of the family.

“How did you meet Jake?” Elizabeth asked.

Mumbling something about not wanting to witness the rest of the interrogation, Tom took Ricky off to set up the volleyball net.

Jake didn’t budge. He stood off to the side, his eyes never leaving her, letting her know he was just as interested in her response as were his female relatives.

When Cori told the ladies how she and Jake had met, and how accurately he’d played the part of an arrogant pirate, they glanced at each other briefly before bursting out in laughter.

“Sounds like our Jake, all right,” Susie said, her hand propping up her chin in a thoughtful pose. “He
does tend to act as if he’s the undisputed ruler of the high seas.”

The dry smile she gave Jake made Cori think that maybe Susie didn’t mind her brother’s high-handed tactics after all. Cori shot him her own look that said
she
, for one, could be counted on to dispute his authority.

“The net’s ready,” Jake said. “Let’s go work up an appetite.”

The women got up in unison and started off toward the volleyball court, laughing over Cori’s story about the charade she and Jake had played out the night they’d met.

Cori was amazed. They’d just confirmed her feelings about how bossy he was, yet no one gave him an argument when he’d ended their question-and-answer period so abruptly. No wonder he acted like such a dictator. No one ever challenged him.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. After a fast-paced game of volleyball and a lunch that consisted of typical picnic fare, Tom and Elizabeth helped Timothy open his gifts. When presented with his first birthday cake, he predictably plunged both hands into the frosting. Everyone cheered.

There were no further incidents between Jake and Susie. Quite the contrary, in fact. The two seemed to have an especially close relationship. Obviously, Jake loved his youngest sister very much, which made Cori wonder about the real reason for his rude outburst. She remembered how he’d scowled when Harriet had mentioned Susie’s new boyfriend at lunch the other day, but she found it hard to believe
Jake would be so upset just because Susie had a man in her life. And she couldn’t help wondering why Susie hadn’t seemed more upset by Jake’s attitude.

When it came time for Susie to leave, she surprised Cori by asking her to walk with her to her car. “I wanted to apologize for my lunkhead brother. I could see that his comments about Robert upset you.”