Not Quite Dating (Page 24)

Not Quite Dating (Not Quite #1)(24)
Author: Catherine Bybee

“Thank you, Mr. Morrison.”

“Safe flight home.”

As Eric left the room, Jack stacked his market analysis papers together and placed them in his briefcase. His cell phone in his pocket rang as he headed out of the room.

Recognizing the number, Jack answered with a greeting. “Hey, Mike.”

“Good, you’re answering.” His friend’s frazzled voice turned Jack’s smile to a frown.

“What’s up?”

“It’s Dean. Has he called you?”

“Haven’t spoken to him since Vegas. The construction end of the new hotels is a ways off, so I didn’t think I’d hear from him for a while. Why?” Jack set his briefcase back down. Dean owned and operated a major western United States construction company that Jack planned to use to build the family inns. Dean was going to take on the oversight of the project personally.

“Damn. I thought he’d have called one of us.”

“What’s going on? Is he OK?” Jack rubbed a hand over his face and sat forward in his chair.

“Probably not. Maggie called off the wedding.”

Of all the things he expected to come out of Mike’s mouth, Maggie and Dean’s engagement ending wasn’t one of them. “Oh man. Dean must be devastated.” For better or for worse, Dean had adored Maggie.

“He’s disappeared.”

“Do you know what happened? Why did she call it off?” Jack stood and paced the room. Dean was his best friend, and he had no idea what was happening with him. Damn, what kind of friend was that?

“No idea.”

“Never mind, that isn’t my business. Where do you think Dean went?” Jack could think of a few places to check out. Places they would escape to during Dean’s early years in Southern California.

“He could be anywhere. He left on his motorcycle, according to Maggie.”

Being pissed on a motorcycle never ended well. Dammit! “I thought he sold the motorcycle.”

“Apparently not. Anyway, I don’t think he went far. Maybe up to Arrowhead or possibly Mammoth.”

“It’s December. Mammoth is covered in snow.” Dean could be wild, but he wasn’t reckless. “I’ll pick you up in the hour. We’ll head out and find him.”

“You read my mind, bro.”

Jack hung up the phone, thinking about his friend. Dean would be distraught. Probably didn’t want company, but if left alone, he might find himself drinking too much and having an accident. Jack and Mike could keep him safe while he wallowed for a few days.

Up in his suite, Jack tossed his case aside and stepped into his bedroom to change his clothes. Once he’d dressed down into jeans and a button-up plaid shirt, he plopped his hat on his head and started for the door.

“Damn,” he said, thinking of Jessie. He picked up his phone and dialed her number.

She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

Her voice was honey to his ears. “Hey, Jessie, it’s Jack.”

“Hi.”

“Listen, I’m not going to be by the restaurant tonight. Something came up.”

“Oh.” Was that disappointment in her voice?

Jack smiled.

“I hope everything’s OK.”

“I’m not sure. Remember my friend Dean, the one who was getting married?”

“The blond guy?”

“Right. Well, his fiancée called off the wedding, and Dean’s disappeared.”

“Oh God, Jack, that’s awful. He seemed all goo-goo-eyed over her—what I saw of him, anyway.” The kindhearted sincerity of her words made him smile.

“He couldn’t have taken it well. Anyway, Mike and I are headed out to see if we can catch up with him…keep him out of trouble.”

“That sounds like a great idea. Is your work cooperating?”

His work? Oh, yeah, his “waiter” job. “They’re great here. You know, though, they aren’t great about personal phone calls. Let me give you my cell number so if you need to get hold of me, you can.” The last thing he wanted was for Jessie to call the hotel asking to talk to Jack Moore and learn the truth. It was probably best to keep her from the hotel as much as possible. Jack told her his number, made her promise to put it in her cell. “How is the car running?”

“It’s great. Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve got to go.”

“Go. Good luck.”

“Thanks, I’ll get in touch once I’m back.”

“I hope you find your friend, and that he’s all right.”

She did sound as if she cared. “Bye, Jessie.”

“Bye, Jack.”

Boy, he thought, one relationship ending, while his and Jessie’s was just warming up. There really weren’t any guarantees when it came to love and life.

Two days later, Jessie couldn’t handle the not knowing. She shouldn’t let Jack’s problems bother her, but for some reason they did. He hadn’t called, hadn’t shown up at the diner. Now it was her day off and she sat on the same park bench, watching her son play after school. Maybe the bench reminded her of him. Then again, she hadn’t stopped thinking about Jack since they’d met. Twice she’d picked up the phone to call him; twice she’d chickened out.

How was his friend doing? Did they find him? If there was one thing she knew about Jack it was his loyalty to people he called friend. Look at her. They hardly knew each other and yet he’d put his job on the line for her…fixed her car when he didn’t need to.

Sure, he might not have a kid to take care of or much in the way of responsibility, but he’d spent his money paying to have her car fixed. She hadn’t bought into his saying he owed a friend a favor. Chances were he’d paid something to have her car fixed.

The oil light didn’t even blink at her anymore.

Where was Jack now? Could she return the friendship favor and help him out? She had to do something other than sit here in the park and worry.

Friends call friends to see how they’re doing.

Jack was a friend…right?

Jessie had a sudden feeling of déjà vu. She was in high school again, contemplating whether or not she should call a boy.

“Grow up,” she chided herself.

She dialed Jack’s number and held her breath until he answered. When he did, he sounded like he was still in bed.

“Jack, it’s Jessie. Did I wake you?”

“Jessie? Yeah, hold on.”