Her eyes shifted between the picture, then his face. “Why?”
He raised his hands in an act of surrender. “Because you’ve been so compassionate. I want to return the favor. The least I can do is make sure that you get where you’re going. I mean, it’s my turn to do something nice for you.”
Her brow wrinkled as Shae evaluated the truth of his words. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, studying him.
J.D. held his breath, silently praying she’d accept his offer, which might possibly open the door to a future meeting, maybe even a date. After what seemed like hours, but was in fact no more than a few tense seconds, Shae spoke. With the air of someone who had just thrown caution to the wind, she replied, “Thanks. I appreciate the help.”
“No, thank you.” J.D. grinned broadly at her. Until Shae had said “yes” he hadn’t realized how worried he was that she might reject him. Sure, he found her beautiful, but there was so much more that he wanted to learn about her.
Now that they were going to be spending a bit more time together, J.D. was concerned Shae not believe he was a coward. “I want to thank you for helping me during the flight.” He let out a sigh of relief, then turned to her with an expression of embarrassment on his face. “I kind of acted like a big sissy earlier. I’m sorry. That’s not me in the normal scheme of things.”
Placing a warm hand on his arm, Shae offered him an encouraging smile. J.D.’s skin tingled on the spot where her hand rested. “Don’t be concerned, I understand. I’m glad I was able to help.”
His embarrassment vanished. He felt his mood lighten. This woman was amazing.
Shae watched J.D. stroll toward long-term parking while she waited at the curb with their bags. She shook her head and giggled. Who would believe that after less than twenty-four hours away from home she’d be so frivolous? What was happening to her? she wondered. Why would she agree to get into a car with a complete stranger? You know why, a voice whispered in her head. She agreed—because she felt something special going on between them. Feelings that she wanted to explore.
Shae knew that her mother would be on her way up to God if she knew her only child was putting her life in jeopardy this way. But J.D.’s gentle face and expression pushed its way to the forefront; she believed J.D. when he said all he wanted to do was pay her back in some small way for all her kindness.
J.D. zoomed up to the curb in a black Chrysler Cross-fire. After he stored their luggage, the couple headed for the Downtown Marriott on Michigan Avenue. Forty minutes later he brought the vehicle to a halt in front of the hotel. Instantly, the valet and bellboy approached the car.
He popped the trunk, got out of the car and removed Shae’s belongings. Immediately, the bellboy placed her bags on the cart and started for the entrance. J.D. tossed his car keys to the valet, helped Shae from the car and led her into the two-story lobby with a hand at her elbow. He waited while she completed the check-in process and followed her up the elevator to the penthouse, halting outside the suite’s entrance.
“What do you have planned for dinner?” J.D. asked.
Shae shrugged, nervously turning her key card over and over in her hands. “I’ll order from room service.”
“Don’t do that.” He moved a step closer. The warmth of his body penetrated the layers of her clothes. “Let me take you out for dinner.”
Her heart rate accelerated and a rat-a-tat-tat continued in her chest as she considered J.D.’s suggestion. Up to this point, everything had gone well. He had been a perfect gentleman. There were no accidental touches or intrusions into her personal space. Had he been setting her up for a major seduction? Was she pushing her luck by trusting him one more time?
Shae closely examined his handsome face. Albert and Vivian Weitherspoon’s warnings came flying back. “You have to be careful,” they always advised. “Remember,” her mother would add in her special tone that always made Shae feel like the village idiot, “there are people that prey on wealthy young women as trusting as you are.”
All her life Shae’s parents had warned her about the pitfalls of allowing people to get too close to her. Mommie and Pop had continually reminded her of her social and financial status as the daughter of a wealthy man. Her father constantly harped about her girlfriends, boyfriends and the university she attended; he was especially harsh about her boyfriends. Albert Weitherspoon managed to find a problem with every male she’d ever brought home. The poor souls weren’t serious, didn’t show respect, were too silly or too old. Unless he hand chose the guy, no one was ever good enough for Albert Weitherspoon’s daughter.
Yet, Shae had always fought for her own choices. Moving to Chicago was an example of that. This was her life. The life she chose. Now, a handsome young man was asking her out.
“Look, if you’re still worried, we can leave a message at the front desk so that they know where we’re going for dinner and what time to expect you back.” J.D. added a disarming smile. “Please?”
It was time for her to take charge of her life. She needed to stop worrying about what her parents thought. “All right, I’ll go.”
A big grin slowly spread across his face. “What time would you like me to pick you up?”
“Why don’t we get together at six? That’ll give me a little time to relax,” Shae suggested.
“It sounds great. I’ll see you then.” Hesitating for a moment, J.D. reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. “You won’t regret it.”
Shae shoved the key card into the door slit and turned the door knob when the green light flashed. She moved into the suite’s hallway and took a quick glance over her shoulder. J.D. stood, waiting at the elevator.
She was going out with a person she had met on a plane less than four hours earlier. Smiling, Shae shut the door after her. She hadn’t been in town for an hour, and already she had a date.
Chapter 4
At 6:00 p.m. Shae opened the door to a freshly shaved and showered J.D. Casually dressed, he looked great in a camel-colored V-neck sweater, a coffee-brown crew-neck T-shirt and rust-colored trousers. White sneakers peeked from beneath the hem of J.D.’s pant legs.
Shae grabbed her bag and headed out the door, trying to push her concerns about the evening from her mind. She clutched the strap of her purse and studied her dinner date, hoping she wasn’t making a major mistake. When J.D. turned away, she regarded him with somber curiosity. Who was J.D. really? After all, they had only known each other for a few hours.
They took the elevator to the lobby, detouring to the reception desk where Shae gave the clerk her door key card. Before leaving the hotel she instructed the woman behind the desk, “If I get any calls, you can tell them that I’m at dinner and to please try again in a couple of hours.”
Flashing Shae a dazzling smile, J.D. cupped her elbow in his warm palm and they strolled out of the Marriott into the sixty-degree weather. Cars, SUVs and busses zoomed by as they made their way along Michigan Avenue.
He stopped in front of a mud-colored brick building sporting a cloth red-and-white striped awning; small, white tables with umbrellas lined the front of the building. J.D. opened the door and guided Shae inside. The mouthwatering aromas of oregano, tomatoes and garlic instantly greeted them.
A chubby man with midnight-black hair slowly waddled from behind a counter. The waiter shifted his large bulk between the tightly packed rows of tables, making his way to the door. “Table for two?”
J.D. nodded, then turned to Shae with a look of dismay spreading across his face.
Shae touched his arm. “What?”
“I just assumed that it was okay. That’s not always true. You might have allergies