On Sunday morning, Tori woke up smiling. It looked like a great day, with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing. For a few minutes, she just sat in bed and soaked up the good feelings. Then the realities of the day before came back to her. She was not who she had been yesterday morning – or any of the mornings before that. Now, she was an experienced woman – well sort of!
Tori climbed out of the bed and dressed in a skort and halter top. She didn’t bother with shoes. After flipping her hair into a quick braid, she headed downstairs. Jake wasn’t in the kitchen. In fact, Tori couldn’t find him in any of the front rooms. Finally, she heard a sound from the back of the house. She went down the hall to Jake’s office and found him hard at work.
Frowning, Tori said, “Jake, what are you doing? This is Sunday.”
Jake looked up from the papers he was working on. “I have great news! Your dad called this morning and he has been hired as the divorce lawyer for Constance Vallirosa.”
Trying to figure out what Jake was talking about, Tori said, “Constance Vallirosa? Isn’t that the wife of the ambassador who just got caught up in the embezzlement scandal?”
Nodding, Jake said, “That’s right. And Paul got the job. Now, I have to go to Washington to get the evidence that we need in order to prove our case. Paul believes that his wife was completely ignorant of the ambassador’s actions. So, not only do I need information to support the divorce, but we also think we should collect some proof that she is innocent before the question is asked.”
Tori wasn’t sure what her role in Jake’s new job would be. She said, “Jake, am I going with you?”
Jake gave Tori a rather distant look and said, “No. I don’t need your help with this. You need to stay here and keep up with the other cases that your dad is working on. We can’t afford for both of us to go.”
Biting her bottom lip, Tori considered Jake’s words. “Jake, are you sure that you are up to this? You haven’t been doing a lot of travelling over the past few years. This is a major undertaking. Are you ready to be in the spotlight this much?”
“Oh, I’m ready, alright. You have done your work well. I feel confident enough to handle anything this case requires,” Jake said. Then he waved his hand in her general direction and added, “I’m sorry that I won’t have time to spend with you today. My flight leaves at lunch.”
“Lunch?” Tori squeaked. “Are you sure? Why are you leaving so soon?”
Jake looked at her calmly. “I need to get started. There’s no reason to wait. Is there?”
Tori couldn’t bring herself to give Jake the answer that she wanted to give him. She wanted to tell him that there was an excellent reason for him to stay. She wasn’t exactly sure what that reason was, but it had to do with their relationship. Tori wanted to tell him that she loved him and that she didn’t want him to go. She needed him to stay. But she couldn’t say that. So, instead, she said, “No, of course not. What can I do to help you get ready?”
Jake suggested that Tori grab some specific information for him to study on the plane, then he dismissed her with another wave of his hand. Biting her cheeks to keep from screaming, Tori excused herself and went to find what he had asked for.
The first few days after Jake left, Tori threw herself into her work. She wrapped up cases right and left. She tried not to think about Jake, but it was a little difficult since she was living in his house, eating his food and sleeping so close to his bedroom. George and Beatrice tried to make Tori comfortable, but she was still lonely. She missed Jake. She had only known the man three weeks and she was already so used to his presence in her life that his absence left a hole in her heart. She loved him and she was miserable without him.
Jake didn’t seem to be having the same problem, though. Every day Tori got an e-mail from Jake telling her what he was doing and how the case was going. He had flown into Washington, D.C. and was living in a five star motel, curtesy of his client. His client also happened to live in the same motel, at least temporarily. Jake assured Tori that he was making headway on the case, but she wasn’t sure how he was having time to do much in between the meals and parties he was enjoying with his client. Of course, his lovely client had assured Jake that his presence was necessary. She said that she needed him to accompany her to these events so she would have adequate protection during the divorce proceedings. And Jake was nothing if not a gentleman. He couldn’t let the lady down or allow her reputation to be soiled. So, he obediently attended the functions and e-mailed Tori the details.
At the end of the second week of Jake’s absence, George and Beatrice were ready to move into their new home. They had offered to put off leaving until Jake was back, but Tori convinced them that she would be fine in the house alone. She helped them pack up and waved good bye as they pulled out of the driveway. Even knowing that they would be back bright and early on Monday morning didn’t help dispel the feelings of abandonment that Tori was experiencing. She ate supper alone that night, sitting in front of the TV. Tori would never know what was playing on the set, because she was lost in her thoughts – thoughts that revolved around the man who was busy wining and dining an embassador’s soon to be ex-wife.
Two more weeks passed and Tori was beginning to think that Jake’s assignment would never end. It had been almost a month since she had seen him. Other than his e-mails, she hadn’t had any contact with him.
By the time that Friday rolled around on the fourth week, Tori was fit to be tied. When her dad called her to invite her out to dinner, she gladly accepted. She had been eating with him and Stella at least once a week since Jake left, and she was thrilled that their relationship seemed to be going so well. And indeed it was going well. Over a glass of champagne, Paul announced that he and Stella were getting married! Tori was so happy for them, that she actually forgot how unhappy she had been since Jake left. She enjoyed discussing the wedding plans over supper and gladly accepted their offer of a ride home afterward. As she opened the door to Jake’s house, she smiled to herself. It had been a great evening. Maybe she was getting over Jake. Yeah, right. And maybe pigs could fly.
The next morning, Tori was awakened by something tickling her face. She swatted at the intrusion and rolled over to go back to sleep. The obnoxious intruder didn’t go away, though. Suddenly, Tori felt something creep across her shoulders. Coming fully awake, Tori bolted upright in the bed. A scream formed on her lips as she realized that someone was in the bed with her, but it died just as quickly when she recognized who it was. Then her panic turned to fear, “Jake! What are you doing? Why are you here? Is everything alright? Are you alright?”
Jake laid his finger across her lips. “I just couldn’t be away from you any longer, woman. I have given you a month. Are you ready now to admit that what we have is something special, or am I going to have to tie you up here in the bed and torture you with lovemaking until you are willing to agree?”