A Place to Rest Part 24

"Jori." The fl ash of rejection Jori failed to hide hurt. "It's not personal."

Jori paused with an open carton of juice poised over a gla.s.s.

* 197 *

Sawyer couldn't read her expression, but when she spoke the iciness in her tone was clear. "Of course it's not."

"So I'm going to call the offi ce at my old complex and see if they have a one-bedroom open." Sawyer picked up her jeans from the chair and stepped into them.

"That's a good idea."

After she fi nished dressing, Sawyer crossed to Jori and slid an arm around her waist. "I want to see you again."

"You'll see me later at Drake's."

"I mean," she cupped Jori's jaw and kissed her lightly, "I want to see you. Not just s.e.x. We could have drinks, watch a movie, or whatever you want."

"Okay. Maybe this weekend." When Sawyer kissed her again, Jori held her close and lingered.

Twenty minutes later, Sawyer knocked on Matt's door.

When he opened it, wearing his favorite boxers and a familiar faded T-shirt, Sawyer realized they hadn't gone this long without seeing each other since they'd met. She missed the comfort of knowing she could wander into the next room and talk to him about whatever was on her mind.

"I was over at the offi ce checking on vacant apartments so I thought I'd stop in and say hi."

"I'm glad you did. Come on in, I was just making breakfast.

How's Erica doing? She and the baby move home?"

Sawyer followed him to the kitchen and leaned against the counter out of the way while he fried bacon and eggs. "Yeah, she came back yesterday afternoon. A bit unexpectedly."

Matt loaded up a plate, and she took it and got two forks out of the drawer. As they settled at the table, she gave him an edited version of Erica's discovery of her relationship with Jori.

When she described the moment she'd realized Erica was in * 198 *

the room, he laughed. "Man, I wish I could have seen the look on your face."

"I knew Erica was going to let me have it, but I thought she might wait until Jori left."

"What did Jori do?"

"She was cool. We went back to her place and talked for a while, then went to sleep. This morning she offered to let me stay with her for a while."

"How did she take it when you told her no?"

"How do you know I didn't take her up on it?"

"Come on, Sawyer. Even if you hadn't already told me you were over here looking for a place, I would've known you turned her down."

Sawyer didn't respond, instead taking a forkful of eggs.

"I think you should give Jori a chance."

"Who says I'm not? I was with her last night. We've made plans to see each other again." Once more, Sawyer found herself on the defensive.

"But you're waiting for it to be over."

"What's wrong with being realistic?"

"Okay, I know I'm not going to win this argument. All I'm saying is that Jori seems good for you. She's sweet, patient, and has a quietness about her that complements you."

"Maybe you should talk to Erica, because she doesn't see a relationship between Jori and me as a good thing."

"She's got a slightly different perspective than I do. It could be uncomfortable at the restaurant if things don't work out."

Sawyer shook her head. "I promised Jori I'd leave Drake's.

Besides, I'm not going to work there forever."

Matt stood and stacked their empty plates. "Well, I can't help you with that. But I can offer you an alternative regarding your living situation. Move back in here."

She picked up their gla.s.ses and followed him into the kitchen. "Thank you. But you and Davis-"

* 199 *

"Davis wants to look for a house. There's no sense in you leasing another apartment, when this one will be free when we fi nd a place."

"A house?" Sawyer had never seen Matt move so quickly with anyone.

"He wants a puppy, a golden retriever. So a yard, preferably with a fence-"

"A puppy?"

"I know it seems like it's too soon. But I really don't doubt that I love him. So, yeah, he wants a puppy. And I want to give him everything."

"If you're sure you guys don't mind." When Sawyer had gone to stay at Erica's, she had taken only what she'd need for several weeks, leaving most of her things at the apartment she'd shared with Matt.

"We don't. Besides, I don't think it will be that long. Davis already has his eye on a house that he heard is going on the market soon."

"Wow, a house." Things really were changing quickly.

He shrugged. "It's time to grow up and decide what I want from life."

Sawyer wondered if those were his father's words. When he'd graduated pre-med and announced his intention to sell cars instead of going to medical school, his father had been livid. For months, every time the two were in the same room, his father had thrown badly veiled barbs about wasted money and a shyster's living. But Matt had known what he wanted and gone after it.

Sawyer envied his surety then and now.

"And what you want is Davis, a house, and a dog?"

"Yes." He wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her into a hug. She wondered if she'd ever seen him so happy.

"Okay. But I'm not bearing any children for the two of you, so don't even think about it."

* 200 *

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

Are you sure you'll be okay?" Erica asked for the third time in the fi fteen minutes since Sawyer had walked through Brady's front door. She paced the living room, softly singing to the cooing baby in her arms.

"Yes. I've taken care of an infant before." When she paused, Sawyer touched Taylor's hand and felt the tiny fi ngers curl against hers. "I used to watch the boys all the time when they were babies, remember?"

"I know."

Erica and Derrick Ames were going to dinner with Paige and Brady, but Erica was nervous about leaving Taylor for the fi rst time. Paige had called Sawyer earlier that day to ask if she would mind watching all of the kids. Sawyer was sure she'd heard a smile in Paige's voice when she'd told her to invite Jori over as well.

Though Ames had visited several times since Taylor's birth, Sawyer suspected Erica was nervous because this was their fi rst real date. And she wondered if Paige and Brady had been invited along to buffer some of the pressure.

Erica had certainly dressed to impress. She wore a rich brown pencil skirt that ended just above her knees and showed off her shapely legs. Her wheat-colored silk blouse was the same shade as the lightest strands that wove through her French braid.

* 201 *

The only thing that detracted from her appearance was the towel tucked against her left breast and over her shoulder, to protect her blouse.

"You look nice."

"Thanks." Erica blushed.

During the three weeks since their argument, Erica and she had been politely distant, neither of them bringing up the dispute.

They didn't discuss her relationship with Jori, but limited their conversation to Drake's, and even that was spa.r.s.e since Erica hadn't returned to work yet. Sawyer had already decided that she couldn't change Erica's mind, so she could hope for only a silent truce and maybe time would prove her wrong. Surely I am capable of a long-term relationship with the right person. Is Jori that person?

"I'm going to feed her before Derrick gets here."

As Erica disappeared down the hallway, she pa.s.sed Paige entering the living room. Paige's deep purple dress accented her trim fi gure, and a teardrop-shaped diamond nestled in the plunging neckline.

Sawyer whistled. "Wow, fancy. Where are you guys going for dinner?"

"Brady's been promising me we'd go to Antonio's for months. Tonight he's going to deliver." She winked at Sawyer.

"Then maybe later when we get home, I'll deliver, too."

"Oh, man, that's my brother you're talking about. I don't need to hear that."

Paige laughed. "I let the boys rent a movie earlier, so they'll probably want to watch it. I put a pan of mac and cheese in the oven for dinner. The timer will go off when it's ready."

"Okay."

"Is Jori coming over?"

Sawyer shrugged. "She might stop by."

Paige looked like she wanted to say more, but the doorbell * 202 *

pealed and she left the room. Sawyer heard her say, "h.e.l.lo, Lieutenant."

"Please, call me Derrick," he said as she led him into the living room. He nodded at Sawyer and she returned the gesture.

He looked every bit the gentleman in his dark gray suit, white shirt, and burgundy paisley tie. She guessed his jacket had been tailored to fi t his broad shoulders.

"Are we ready to go?" Brady came down the hallway yanking on the knot of his tie. He crossed to Paige, who straightened it for him.

"We are now." Paige patted his chest. "Why don't you guys go start the car, and we ladies will join you in a minute."

"Yes, dear. Come on, Derrick, we can go out through the garage."

As they disappeared through the kitchen, Sawyer laughed.

"You have him so well trained."

Paige waved a hand. "Please, men are easy."

"Compared to women, I'd have to agree."

"Your problem is not the other women, though. You're the complicated one."

"I'm complicated?"

"Well, being in a relationship with you is." Paige smiled as if trying to take the sting out of her words.

"Have you been talking to Erica?"

"Contrary to what you might believe, this whole family isn't against you." She touched Sawyer's shoulder. "And I understand more than you think. Before I met your brother, I wasn't very trusting. But I came around and, someday, you'll trust yourself enough, too."

Sawyer allowed Paige to wrap her in a quick embrace, then pulled away as Erica reappeared from the bedroom.

"The guys are waiting in the car," Paige said, picking up her small black clutch.

* 203 *