Chapter 47: Chapter 12: A Lot of Men in My Life.

Jamie

Ethan and I walked through the lobby of the Ritz after a quick lunch and a catch-up before we both headed back to work. With Carmen’s wedding only two weeks away, we had our own planning to do.

Ethan wasn’t going to Carmen’s bachelorette party, so it was just us girls. He was going to Brent’s instead, even though he wasn’t keen on the idea.

He didn’t particularly like Brent, but he couldn’t say as much to Carmen. I was sure she’d have pretty much disowned us if we’d been honest about our feelings toward her fiancé.

I guessed we couldn’t really blame her for that. I didn’t think I’d be happy either if my best friends didn’t like the man in my life.

As hard as it was sometimes, we needed to get along with Brent for this to work.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Ethan asked.

“Of course I don’t. You’re my best friend. You know I’d do anything for you.” I walked behind the reception desk and looked at the computer. “I can’t believe this. I’m so excited for you!”

“I just hope Steph will feel the same way. I’m kinda nervous, Jamie. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s normal to feel nervous when you’re planning a proposal to the woman you love.”

I looked at Ethan, giving him a smile of reassurance. “Relax, it’s going to go perfectly. I promise.”

Carmen was getting married to Brent in a matter of weeks, and Ethan was planning his proposal to the woman he loved. Here I stood at the Ritz, still single like I had always been.

I imagined years to come, sitting around a table with my friends for a meal or a drink, and I’d still be that spare tire.

Maybe it was better that way. I had Penelope. I didn’t need anyone else. Sometimes being single got a little lonely though.

“Jamie. Jamie.” Ethan called my name and chuckled when he eventually snapped me from my daydream. “Where did you go just now?”

“Hmm, I was just planning it all out in my head.” I looked down at my screen once again. “All right, you’re all booked in for Friday night. Check-in at one and dinner in the restaurant at eight.”

“I’m going to propose in a room full of people. I must be crazy.” He smirked.

“Crazy in love!” I chuckled.

I stopped immediately when I saw a familiar face. He was looking right at me as he walked toward the reception desk.

“Jack, hi!”

He stopped in front of me. “Jamie. I was in the area, so I thought I’d come in and see if you were here.”

“It’s nice to see you again.” I smiled, but I was feeling rather shy seeing him after our kiss the night of the party. “This is my friend Ethan.”

“Jack, I’ve heard about you. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You’ve heard about me?” Jack looked at me, his eyebrows arched in surprise. “I guess I must’ve made a good impression.”

My lips curved into a smile. “I guess you did.”

I think he knew well the impression that he had on me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have kissed him.

“So, what are you doing down here?”

“Just a work thing. You never did call after the party. You still have my number, right?” he asked.

Jack wasn’t the type of guy that was full of ego. He didn’t expect a call just because he was so irresistibly hot, though he was! He was happy doing the chasing.

I still had his number. I’d just never gotten around to using it. Even after the kiss, I was still unsure about the whole thing, though the kiss was great.

“No. Actually, I lost it,” I lied and smiled afterward, hoping that it would be enough for him to believe me. I doubted it though. I’d never been good at lying.

Ethan chuckled, and I gave him a look.

“You lost it. Well, let’s cut to the chase. How about dinner tonight? Are you free?”

“Tonight?”

I glanced in Ethan’s direction. He stood beside Jack with a smirk on his face. I know his opinion on the matter. When I told him about Jack, he told me I should go for it.

Jack was waiting patiently for my answer.

“I, um…”

I was too distracted to finish my sentence when I saw him walk toward the reception desk, a typical scowl on his face.

“Mason.”

“Mason?” Jack repeated in confusion, looking at me like I had two heads. Well, that was until he saw Mason come up beside him.

“There’s water leaking from the heater in my room, Jamie,” he said with a tone.

He looked at Ethan before he set his sights on Jack. “You again. I thought she had gotten rid of you.”

Jack looked confused again. Confused as to who the hell this guy was. I never did explain to him who Mason was after they met that night. “No, it doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere.”

“Not yet.” He smirked before looking back at me. “So, about that heater, something needs to be done. There’s a constant sound of water dripping, and I’m trying to work.”

~Complain, complain, complain!~

“Okay, I’ll get someone up there to take a look at it. Let me find a number, and I’ll give them a call.”

“I’ll be up in my suite.” He stormed through the lobby once more, but of course, not without drawing the attention of everyone around him.

“Same old Mason Knight.” Ethan chuckled. “I better get going. I’m late for work. Thanks for helping me out with that, Jamie. It was nice meeting you, Jack.”

“Same to you,” Jack replied with kindness.

Once Ethan was gone, Jack turned to me. “I see there are a lot of men in your life.”

“Well, Ethan has been a friend for years.” Of course, I knew he was talking about Mason more than anyone. But I was trying to play dumb.

“What about the other guy? Mason?” he asked. Curiosity had finally gotten the better of him, and he finally asked the dreaded question.

It was a dreaded question for me. I wasn’t quite ready to have this conversation with him.

“It’s a long story.”

“Long story! I’m intrigued. How about you tell me over dinner tonight?”

Dinner with Doctor Jack. He wanted to take me on a date, wanted it enough to come find me when I didn’t call him after the anniversary party.

It had been a long time since I’d been out with anyone. I’d pegged every guy as a womanizer who only cared about getting a woman into bed.

Mason Knight was the reason for my trust issues with men.

Jack could be different. He certainly seemed like a man who cared about more in life. ~Maybe I should give him a shot and see how things go.~

“Okay, Sure. I’d love to go on a date with you.”

Jack grinned, satisfied with my answer. “I was worried that you were going to say no again. What time do you get off work, Jamie? I can come pick you up.”

“I’m off at six. How about you pick me up at my place?”

I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and started writing. “Here is my address and phone number.” I handed it to him, and he looked at it.

“I’ll make a reservation somewhere.” He looked at me and smiled. “I’ll see you tonight, then.”

“Bye!” I replied shyly. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as I watched him walk away.

He had a cute behind in the pair of fitted black pants he was wearing.

I didn’t have much time to plan my date outfit in my head. Mason made the leaky heater sound like an emergency, and I was straight on the phone to the plumber to get him down to the Ritz to fix it.

I was kneeling down beside the heater with my phone to my ear. “Yes, I can take some pictures. I’ll send them right over.”

I hung up the phone and started taking the pictures. All the while, he was towering over me, watching everything that I was doing. Most likely, he was criticizing me in his head.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

“It’s a bit hard to work when you’re down there like that.” He smirked, and I shook my head in annoyance. “So, is someone coming to fix this?”

“Yes. He should be here soon. Just keep a towel under there until he does.” I got to my feet. “I can have you moved to a different suite if you like.”

“No, I’ll stay. I won’t be here at the hotel much longer anyway. I bought a house. I’m just waiting to sign the papers.”

A house! I would have expected maybe he would buy a luxury apartment, but never a house. That wasn’t really him.

He’d always explained that living in an apartment was more him. Houses were for families.

He has Penelope now. Maybe he’s thinking about her needs over his.

“Oh, well, at least that’ll be more appropriate for when you have Penelope. Congratulations.” I walked toward the double doors of the suite.

“So, you’re just going to leave? What about the plumber?” he asked.

“I’ll meet him on his way in.” I opened the door and saw Eoin’s face. He was just about to knock. “Eoin, hi!”

“Jamie.” He smiled. “What are you doing here?”

“Just a plumbing emergency.” I walked past him, and he walked in.

I looked back and saw that Eoin was giving Mason a look. Not that Mason would notice or anything. He was too distracted watching me leave. “Nice to see you.”

“Yeah, you too,” Eoin replied.

I guessed he was here to work.

Mason never had liked his cousin. It seemed they were on better terms since Mason had gotten back. Harry had told me they’d been hanging out quite a bit lately.

My workday seemed to drag by. Maybe it was the thought of my date with Doctor Jack. I was anxious about it. It had been a while since I’d been on a date or out with a guy alone, for that matter.

It had been a long time since I’d had sex, not that it was in the cards or anything. I just felt like I was a little clueless when it came to dating.

I slipped into a little black dress. It was fitted, and I was grateful for all those fitness classes I’d taken after having Penelope. It had long sleeves, and it was full of sequins, so I was covered enough for a first date.

I wondered if Jack would like it. Tonight would be the first time he’d see me out of my work clothes. I wanted to make a good impression.

I’d been waiting in the living room for what felt like forever when finally, the doorbell rang.

Jack wasn’t late picking me up. I was just quick getting ready. I was too anxious to do anything but wait.

Before I opened my front door, I prepared myself. Deep breaths and a quick fix of my hair. I glanced in the mirror to make sure my makeup was perfect.

The effort I had made didn’t go unnoticed. When I opened the door to him, he immediately looked me up and down and smiled.

“Wow, Jamie! You look incredible.”

“Thank you.” I blushed, just like I always did when I received a compliment. No matter who it came from, I always blushed. “So do you. I like your shirt.”

“Well, good because I bought it to impress you. I’m glad that worked out.” He chuckled. “So, are you ready to go?”

“Sure, let’s get going.”