Trusting Jay: (A Chicago Suits Romance) (Loving Jay Book 1) Read Free Page A

wipe it from his memory now.
    “I’m fine, thanks,” I said sitting up, conscious every single person in the shop was watching me.
    “Here, let me help you,” he said grabbing my hands.  My face burned red, but at least he would think it was from my fall and not from talking to him.  The next moments were a blur but somehow I ended up sitting at a table with him and a glass of water.  Over his shoulder I saw Sam hightail it out the door.
    “Are you hurt?” he asked.
    “Only my pride.”  I tried to smile, though my insides were a clash of emotions, fighting between embarrassment over the fall and excitement over finding him so easily.
    “Don’t worry, I’ve done things a hundred times worse.”
    “You have?  Like what?”
    “Um,” he hesitated.
    I jumped in, “Liar!”  His eyes widened at my accusation and we both laughed. 
    “I have,” he protested. “When I was a kid I got to ride my horse in a town parade. And I fell off.”
    I burst out laughing. Not knowing whether to believe him. “I appreciate you trying to make me feel better,” I said with a smile beaming across my face.
    “Sir, your coffee,” the barista called.
    He stood and took a step towards the counter before turning back to me, “Don’t go anywhere.”
    My heart swelled, Sam was right, he was interested in me.  I watched as he fixed his coffee, then retrieved my coffee from my original table.  “Here,” he said as he set it in front of me.

4
    “ S o …you remembered my name.”  That sounded awkward, why did I say that?
    “I never forget a pretty girl’s name.”  He certainly didn’t lack for confidence but his comment had my heart dancing.
    “Do I get to know your name?” I asked, fiddling with my stir stick.
    “Of course.  It’s Ja…”  
    Was he done?  He didn’t sound done.  Did he forget his name?
    “Jay?” I repeated.
    “Yes,” he said, sounding surprised.
    “Nice to meet you, Jay.  I’m Abbie White.”
    “Yes, I’m Jay, Jay McCal…”
    “Jay Mickle?”
    “Yes, Jay Mickle.”  This was a strange conversation.
    “I feel like Judy Garland in The Clock,” I said.
    “Except you tripped over a chair, not me. And you didn’t break your heel.”
    “I,” I was speechless. How did he know that movie? No one knows that movie.
    He smiled at me, holding my eyes in his.
    “You’re a fan of old movies?” I finally said.
    “My mother watched them endlessly when I was growing up.”
    I sucked on the rim of my coffee cup, looking at him. Pondering.
    “Normally people look at me with blank faces when I make a reference to one.”

    * * *
    I glanced at my watch .  Holy cow, we’d been talking for an hour.  Calvin would freak, fingers crossed Sam came up with a convincing story to cover for me. 
    “Is everything okay?” Jay asked.
    “Yes, it’s just I have a real hard ass for a boss, and he's going to freak on me for being late.”
    He shook his head, “Don’t worry about him.”  How could he say that?  I had a mortgage to try to keep up with.  I’m sure Calvin will put this on my record.  I’m convinced he’s building a case against me to get me fired.
    “You sure must have a nice boss with a comment like that.”
    He laughed. “I don’t have a boss.”
    “What do you mean you don’t have a boss?”  My comment seemed to surprise him, and he sat up straighter.
    “No, I don’t have a job.”
    “You don’t have a job?”  What kind of person doesn’t have a job?  It’s not like he’s old enough to be retired.  But it does explain his lax attitude towards my job.  He probably got fired from his last job for laziness.  But it doesn’t matter what he does for a one-night stand, as long as he does me.
    “No, I’m, um, between jobs right now.”
    “Oh, then why are you hanging out downtown?”
    “You know, job interviews.”
    “What time is your interview?  I don’t want you to be late because of me.”
    “Don’t worry, I have time.  I like to come good