Brenda Jackson - Stern

She checked her watch. “You’re on time.”

“Aren’t I always?” Stern said, glancing around. “I hope you don’t stand out here on the porch waiting for all your dates.”

JoJo adjusted her cap. “You aren’t a date. Come on,” she said, grabbing his arm and heading down the steps. “I’ve already locked up and turned on the alarm. The movie starts in twenty minutes.”

“Whoa, what’s the rush? There’s not much traffic out so we’ll make it.”

She knew he was right, but she was looking forward to tonight. Any time she got to spend with Stern made her all giggly inside. She was certain those feelings would pass once she knew more about Walter. And speaking of Walter...

“I’m going to get that makeover this weekend,” she said as she got into the car and buckled her seat belt.

Stern glanced over at her after buckling his own. “Why?”

She felt the huge smile that spread across her face. “I found out where my guy hangs out on the weekend and I plan to show up.”

Stern held her gaze for a moment and then asked, “Where?”

“I’ll tell you only if you promise not to show up.”

“Not making that promise, JoJo.”

She rolled her eyes. “Then I won’t tell you. Why are you being difficult about this, Stern? Do I show up at places where I know you’ll be taking your dates?”

“No. But I’m not the one asking for advice on how to reel someone in. Besides, I want to make sure he doesn’t get disrespectful with you,” Stern said, pulling out of her driveway.

She frowned. “Dammit, Stern, I can take care of myself. If I can catch his attention, we’ll talk, listen to music and dance. It shouldn’t be hard to tell if he’s interested.”

He turned to her when the car came to a traffic light. “But he’ll be interested for the wrong reason.”

“I can handle it.”

He grunted. “So you’re really going to go through with this?”

“Yes. Of course. I thought we cleared up the issue of how serious I was last week.” He was acting too much like a big brother to suit her.

A couple of hours later, to her way of thinking, Stern was not in the best of moods. The movie was good and she had enjoyed it, but each time she stole a glance at him, he was frowning.

“That sour look will get stuck in place if you don’t get rid of it, Stern,” she teased as they walked out of the theater.

He looked over at her. “Funny.”

“You don’t see me laughing. The movie was your idea, but I don’t think you enjoyed being here,” she said, sliding into the car when he opened the door for her.

“I enjoyed the movie, and I enjoyed your company.”

JoJo wasn’t convinced. She glanced at her watch. “It’s early. You want to drop by McKays for coffee?”

“That sounds good.”

At least he wasn’t in a rush to get her home, she thought. “I talked to Megan about the guy that does her hair, and she suggested I talk to Pam, so I’m doing that tomorrow. I hope she’ll be able to recommend someone who can do my makeover. She always looks good. In fact, all the women your cousins and brothers married look great.”

Pam was married to his oldest brother, Dillon. A former movie star who’d been a regular on one of JoJo’s favorite soaps years ago, Pam had given it all up to return to her home in Wyoming to raise her three younger sisters when her father died. That was when she’d met Dillon.

“What if I told you I like the way you look?” Stern said, intruding on her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes. “You would since you’re my best friend. Besides, I’m not trying to impress you, remember? However, I appreciate the fact that you gave me some advice at the lodge. It’s advice that I’m putting to good use since I consider you an expert on what men like. I’m going shopping on Friday, and after talking to Pam I’ll be contacting someone who can perform miracles on my hair and help with my makeup.”

He didn’t say anything. He just redirected his focus on the road. But she would swear she could hear his teeth gnashing. Why was he upset about her setting her sights on a guy? When minutes passed and she could feel the tension radiating between them, she couldn’t stand it any longer. When he pulled into McKays’ parking lot and brought the car to a stop, she turned to him as she unbuckled her seat belt. “What’s wrong with you, Stern? I thought you understood. Why do you have a problem with me going after a guy I want when you do the same with any woman you want?”

Stern didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Is it wrong for me to want to protect you, JoJo?”

She drew in a deep breath. Little did he know, she was trying to protect him...mainly from herself. If Stern had any idea that she’d fallen in love with him, he would probably race toward the nearest mountain, away from her.

“It’s wrong if I don’t want to be protected. You’re acting worse than Dad ever did. Even he had the good sense to loosen the binds when I got older. In fact, he would tell me all the time that I needed to get out more, date, get dressed up and meet boys. He didn’t worry about me because he knew I could take care of myself. Why don’t you?”

“That’s not it.”

She lifted a brow. “Then what is it?”

Stern frowned, not knowing if he could explain how he felt without sounding selfish. Was he willing to deny her a chance to be happy just because he didn’t want to lose her? “Nothing. I’m just in a bad mood. Sorry.”

He started to open the car door to get out when she reached out and touched his arm. “Why are you in a bad mood?”

He shrugged. “Craziness at the office. My first day back yesterday didn’t go well.” No need to tell her how he’d been a jerk in front of his brothers and how Dillon had read him the riot act. “Work was piled high on my desk. I have a lot of cases to prepare for this week. A ton of stuff to do with little time.”

He saw the sympathetic look in her eyes and felt like a heel for stretching the truth. The number of files on his desk was manageable and had nothing to do with his mood.

She patted his hand. “Don’t worry about it, Stern. You can do it. You always do. You’re bright. Intelligent. A hard worker. And you have a good head on your shoulders.”

He couldn’t respond. What she’d said was the JoJo way. She’d always had the ability to make him believe in himself even when the odds were stacked against him. Like when he’d wanted to play basketball in high school but his grades hadn’t been the best. She had tutored him and when he’d wanted to give up, she wouldn’t let him. She’d encouraged him by saying some of the same things to him then that she had said just now. And, dammit, she always had him believing it. “Thanks, JoJo.”

How in the world had he been blessed with a best friend like her? A lot of people considered them odd because of their unique friendship. And there were some, like his cousins Bailey and the twins—Aiden and Adrian—who thought they would eventually become more than friends. He had told them time and time again that he didn’t see JoJo that way. She was his best friend and nothing more. He refused to think anything had changed.

“Ready to go inside?” he asked her.

“Yes, I can use the coffee. I need to finish inventory. We’re running out of supplies too soon. Something isn’t adding up.”

“Then I’m sure you’ll find out what the problem is,” he said, getting out of the car. “You’re always on top of stuff.”

He came around the car to open the door for her. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she said.

“No problem.”

Pushing the car door shut behind her, he took her hand and together they moved toward the entrance of McKays, a popular restaurant in town. It was only when they were inside and greeted by the hostess that he released JoJo’s hand.