"My mother isn't home right now," Well, aren't I just the warm and fuzzy person. Color me charming.
"Hello to you, too," he grinned. "I walked off with two of her folders last night and happened to be driving by the house. She mentioned you work from home, so I took a chance you might be here."
"Has my mother's been promoting me again?"
Jake was momentarily speechless at the apparent look of bitterness on her face. "Excuse me?"
"Never mind," Jenna waved her hand dismissively.
He tried on his lopsided grin again. "Is it all right if I come in? I promise I'm not armed."
Jenna felt the flush of embarrassment crawl up her neck, and she stood back to let him enter. "Of course. Please. I guess my mother was right. I seem to have lost all my manners."
"I think your manners are just fine," He put his briefcase on the bench in the hallway and removed two thick folders, handing them to Jenna. "She's sure to miss these. They're everyone's notes we collected last night, plus the suggested outlines for the focus groups. I must have picked them up by mistake with my stuff."
"Thank you for bringing them by. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."
"No problem."
Now go away and leave me alone. Please.
But Jake McConnell didn't look like he was in any hurry to leave. He leaned against the stair railing, hands in his pockets, interest sparking his eyes.
)
