This would be the first time they had seen each other since the day she left his home all those months ago.
Every time he had tried to see or contact her he had been rebuffed. MacKenzie maintained eye contact with him until she reached the beautifully decorated table; seemingly unwilling to allow Jake to see how much the absence of Jason and Aviva rattled her.
“MacKenzie,” Taking hold of her upper arms, Jake kissed her on the cheek before he held her at arm’s length and searched every inch of her face. “You look beautiful.”
“It’s good to see you too. You look well, tanned. Have you been on vacation?” As she spoke, MacKenzie took the seat Jake held for her.
“Vacation, no, but I have been to the Seychelles, we’re thinking of opening a hotel there.”
Without having to be signaled, the waiter arrived at their table. Jake ordered drinks for the both of them, and proved himself to be a master of small talk while they awaited the delivery of their beverages.
“So where’s the photos of the baby?
From the look on her face, Jake could see MacKenzie was surprised that he was interested in seeing pictures of her child. As she whipped out her phone, he was pleased when she scooted closer to him on the semi-circle leather seating. Wedged up so close to him that not even a sheet of paper could pass between them, MacKenzie showed Jake photo after photo of her daughter.
The realization that she was back at the first picture of the baby was the moment MacKenzie seemed to become aware that she was pressed up against his side. It was also the moment she appeared to sense that his attention was fixed on her.
“She’s beautiful, just like her mother,” Jake couldn’t help but say.
Jake found her look of surprise and her stunned silence amusing. “Do you doubt me?”
“No, I never refute the obvious,” MacKenzie said with a big grin.
“Good, there’s nothing I like more than a confident woman, but just how confident are you, MacKenzie?”
Jake’s question as well as his unwavering gaze seemed to throw her off her stride. “This man is forever watching me as though he wants to take a bite out of me.”
“Bite, no, not my style. A taste, now that’s a whole other issue.”
Mortified that yet again she had inadvertently spoken her thoughts aloud, MacKenzie gave Jake a flustered look which he found endearing.
Before her muddled brain could think of something scathing to say, Jake dipped his head and pressed a firm kiss against her mouth. “Did you miss me?”
“Are you crazy, why should I miss you? In fact, since the last time I saw you, you haven’t even crossed my mind!”
“A simple no would have been sufficient, MacKenzie. Is this a classic case of protesting too much? Maybe I make you nervous.”
“I don’t know about making me nervous, but you get on my nerves!”
“Well, if you don’t know, I can only surmise that I do,” Jake said with a slight tilt of his head that seemed to annoy her even more.
“You can take your surmise and shove—”
“Tut-tut, MacKenzie,” Jake grinned wagging a long finger at her. “Pretty girls don’t use the type of language that was just about to come out of your mouth,” Jake finished with a huge grin.
“You have got to be the most irritating man I’ve ever met.”
Jake only grinned, completely at ease with their banter. In all honesty, he had missed it. His thought was quickly followed by the fine hairs on the back of his neck rising. Something didn’t feel right. As surreptitiously as he could without alarming MacKenzie, he looked around the restaurant. Nothing or no one seemed out of place, but the feeling persisted.
Unwilling to spoil the evening, Jake stood and extended a hand to MacKenzie. “Would you care to dance?”
With only a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to assist her to her feet.
Once they were on the dance floor, Jake pulled MacKenzie into his arms. When they began to move around the floor, he took one more look around. Then he felt it; they were no longer being observed.
“Have you heard anything from Jason and Aviva?” MacKenzie asked.
Pulling his awareness back to her, Jake attempted to put his disquieting thoughts out of his mind.
“I was attempting to reach them when you arrived. I don’t know where they are, or if they’re still coming.”
Her toneless oh I see, told Jake he had to think of something more to say. It wasn’t like Jason and Aviva to cancel on a date without letting the other party know.
“You have to remember that with them everything is a first. Maybe they just wanted to spend the evening on their own.”
“You’re probably right, but it just doesn’t sound like Aviva.”
“Which part,” Jake asked. “The part about spending time alone with her husband on his birthday, or the fact that she didn’t call you?”
“The calling part, Jake. It’s not like her.”