Free Friends--And Then Some by Debbie Macomber Page B

sixty-five dollars. On Lily it would have been a bargain at twice the price.
    “That dress is gorgeous on your wife,” the salesclerk told him with a sincerity Jake couldn’t doubt. It wasn’t until they were at the car that Jake realized he hadn’t corrected her. Not only was she not his wife, but he was doing everything he could to marry her off to a wealthy man so she could have everything she desired. When the time came, he’d let her go without regret. When the time came … but not today.
    “Thank you, Jake,” Lily told him once they were outside the store.
    He looked down at her, captivated by the warmth of her smile. “Any time.” He reached for her hand, linking their fingers. “Are you hungry?”
    “Starved. But it’s my turn to treat you. What would you like?”
    “Food.”
    “That’s what I love most about you,” Lily teased. “You’re so articulate.” The word
love
echoed in the corners of her mind, sending a shaft of sensation racing through her to land in the pit of her stomach.
    They took the cable car down to Fisherman’s Wharf and stood in line with hordes of tourists. Lily’s favorite part of San Francisco was the waterfront. The air smelled of saltwater and deep-fried fish. The breeze off the bay was cool and refreshing. They ate their lunch on the sandy beach behind the Maritime Museum. Lily took off her sandals and stepped to the water’s edge, teasing the tide and then retreating to Jake’s side when the chilly water touched her toes. For his part, Jake leaned back against the sand and closed his eyes. Lily’s musical laugh lulled him into a light slumber. He was content with his world, content to have Lily nearby. He thought about the characters in the short story he’d recently submitted to
The New Yorker
. Lily had claimed it was his best story yet and had encouraged him to dream big. Personally, Jake thought it was a waste of time but to appease her, he’d sent it to the prestigious publisher.
    “Jake?”
    “Hmm?” Lily sat at his side, drawing up her legs so that her arms crossed her knees.
    “It’s almost four.”
    “Already?” He sat up. The day had slipped past too quickly. “You’re not working tonight, are you?”
    Lily hesitated. “No.” Jake knew her schedule as well as she did.
    “Good.” He settled back on the sand, folding his arms behind his head. “I’m too relaxed to move.”
    “Me, too,” Lily said with a sigh and joined him, lying back in the sand. They were in such close proximity and Jake squeezed his eyes shut at the surge of emotion that burned through him at the merest brush of her leg against his. Slow, silent seconds ticked past, but Lily didn’t move and Jake hadn’t the will. The summer air felt heavy with unspoken thoughts and labored heartbeats. It demanded everything within Jake not to reach for Lily’s hand. He felt so close to her. His heart groaned. Lily wasn’t Lily to himanymore, but a beautiful, enticing woman.
    “Jake?”
    He rolled his head to the side and their eyes met. Her warm breath tickled his face. “Yes?”
    “I’ve enjoyed today.”
    “Me, too.”
    “Can we do it again?”
    Jake turned his head and stared into the clear blue sky. For a long minute he didn’t say anything. He couldn’t do this again and remain sane; having Lily this close and not touching her was the purest form of torture. But he could never be the man she wanted. “I don’t know.” He would be doing them both a favor if he got out of her life and moved further down the coast. That was the nice thing about owning a sailboat and driving a taxi; he didn’t have a string of responsibilities tying him down.
    “You’re right,” Lily concurred. “It’s probably not a good idea.”
    “Why?” Something perverse within him insisted that he ask.
    “Well …” Lily hedged. “Just because.”
    “Right,” he agreed. “Just because.” Standing up, Jake wiped the granules of sand from his clothes. “I think I should take you