Want You Back by Karen Whiddon Read Free Book Online

the rearview mirror at Jake in the backseat.
    She could smell cologne—Howard’s musky-sweet brand. He must have splashed it on liberally, because the smell was close to overpowering. Trying not to gag, she wished she could open her window, but the heat and humidity were such that it made sense to turn up the air conditioner instead. So she did, catch ing a glimpse of Jake’s grin.
    He knew. She felt herself blushing, powerless to stop it
    Luckily, Ater was a small town. The downtown area near the loop was only six blocks long. All of the newer chain restaurants had been built in a cluster. Jenny had decided to take them to Applebriar’s—a brightly lit, festive sort of place with a wide variety of food. At seven, the parking lot was three quarters full.
    Howard turned in his seat and peered at her over his glasses. “Applebriar’s?”
    In her hurry, she’d managed to forget how Howard hated loud, convivial places. When he did dine out, he preferred steakhouses or quiet Italian restaurants. In the year they’d been dating, she hadn’t even been able to get him to set foot inside a Mexican restaurant
    “That’s right,” she answered quietly, refusing to defend her choice. After all, she was paying. Even Howard wouldn’t be rude enough to refuse to eat here in front of her guest.
    Her guest. Without even looking at him, Jenny knew that Jake would love Applebriar’s. Though it hadn’t been built two years ago when they were together, it was the kind of place that they used to love to frequent Monica had dragged her here for lunch a few times. It had good food, reasonable prices, and was clean. Even Howard couldn’t disap prove of that.
    As he always did, Howard came around and opened her door for her, helping her out of her car. He kept his hand possessively on her arm as Jake joined them. He went to Jenny’s other side, linking his arm with hers.
    Jenny couldn’t help it—she stiffened. Though she tried subtly to free herself, she couldn’t yank her arm away without making a scene. Jake chuckled, a low sound meant only for her to hear. Howard, appearing oblivious, released her to hold open the door.
    So Jenny walked in to Applebriar’s with Jake on her arm and a fake smile plastered on her lips. It seemed to her as if everyone in the place turned and stared.
    The hostess, a woman Jenny had gone to high school with, turned to greet them and froze.   " Jenny Reder and Jake Durham, together again. Well, I’ll be. I never would have imagined it.”  
    Then, catching sight of Howard as he came up on Jenny’s other side, she frowned. “And Howard Ater.”
    Hearing, even more people turned to watch them. Jenny could have sworn more heads swiveled than at a tennis match. Inwardly, she groaned. Maybe she should have picked some out-of-the-way hole in the wall, preferably in the next town over.
    Howard, finally noticing, leaned over to whisper in her ear, “Don’t worry, they’ll understand this is for business. Most of them saw your ad in the paper and if they didn’t, someone will point it out to them.” He clapped his arm over her shoulders, a telling move for him since he despised public displays of affection.
    “Thank you,” she whispered back, intimately con scious of Jake still holding her other arm.
    “Am I missing something?” Jake whispered, lean ing across her shoulder to whisper in her other ear.
    Jenny couldn’t help it, she shivered. His breath was warm— she supposed Howard’s was too, but really hadn’t noticed. Why couldn’t Howard have the same effect on her that Jake apparently still did?
    This time Howard became flustered. “I apologize,” he said stiffly. “That was an incredible lapse in man ners.”
    About to protest, Jenny noticed the hostess watch ing the little exchange with an avid gleam in her eye. “Do you have a table ready?” she asked, hoping her desperation wasn’t evident
    They were shown to a table in the middle of the restaurant, where every move they made