Kristine ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t know if that would be wise. I meant it when I said I couldn’t leave New York. My mother is here for the duration because this is where her job is. It’s not like there’s another Broadway anywhere. And not only is she my mother and my roommate, she’s also my best friend.”
Jayce nodded. “I thought as much.”
“Then why do you want to pursue things between us? It seems impossible. You have your family obligations in Boston, and I have mine in New York. Just because I only have one person to think about and you have, like, a million doesn’t mean that my situation is less important than yours.”
“Of course not. I never said that, and I wouldn’t.” A sly smile stole across Jayce’s face. “But just because it’s impossible doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue this anyway.”
Kristine couldn’t help chuckling. “I wish I had your optimism.”
“So will you come home with me and meet my family sometime?”
Kristine heaved a big sigh. “After this is all over and my mother is safely home—”
“That goes without saying. Family comes first. Always.”
Kristine admired his values. They seemed to have that in common too. Why the hell couldn’t they be together? He was perfect. He was everything she needed and wanted.
“We have to get you out of this hopeless mind-set,” Jayce said. “So what can I do to help? Make you a cup of coffee? Take you out for some rocky road ice cream? What do you need?”
Kristine gave him a sad smile. “Not coffee, my nerves are shot as it is. Ice cream sounds good, but I don’t want to go out, and I don’t want you going out either.”
“Why not? I’m willing and able, just as soon as I get some pants on.”
She nuzzled his neck. “You are just about the sweetest firebird I’ve ever known, but the kidnapper may be watching. How about if I make us some cocoa?”
“Cocoa sounds great. I think we need to stop calling this asshole the kidnapper. We need to give him a less respectful name.”
Kristine slipped out of bed and strolled to the closet. “Like what? Dick?”
Jayce laughed as he rolled to the edge of the bed and stood up. “I was actually thinking more in terms of dickhead, shit-for-brains, or fuckwad,” he said.
Kristine thought about how she could swear with the best of them at work, but she didn’t want to be “one of the guys” with Jayce. “How about Donkey Pizzle?”
Jayce laughed hard. “Much better. More unique but still irreverent. Do you know where my pants went?”
She donned her fluffy pink bathrobe and wondered what he thought about all her girly accoutrements, but on the other hand she really didn’t care. This room was her domain. This was where she could express herself and enjoy who she really was—not the generic room at work. “On the floor, of course.” She pointed to the pile of clothes on the opposite side of the bed.
“Oh yeah, we got in on the other side, didn’t we?” His bold grin reminded her of the passion that swept them away earlier.
Damn. If only she could grab hold of Boston with one hand and New York with the other and then mash them together somehow… Oh well. She’d just have to enjoy whatever time they had.
* * *
The following morning, Jayce sat at Kristine’s kitchen table, sipping coffee. She was on pins and needles, waiting for the kidnapper to call with instructions. Jayce admired the way she had been holding herself together all this time.
But she was starting to lose it.
“What if they’ve seen you? I don’t understand how they could be watching me and not have seen you.” She paced back and forth across the kitchen, not touching the breakfast Jayce had made her.
“Sit. Eat. You’re driving yourself nuts.”
Kristine whirled on him. “You think sitting down will make me any less nuts? I thought they would’ve called by now.”
“Pacing won’t make Donkey Pizzle call faster.”
Kristine let out a sigh, and her posture sagged. “I know, you’re right. But I can’t stop wondering why they didn’t want this exchange to happen last night. Wouldn’t it be easier to hide in the dark? What if something’s wrong?”
Jayce thought about it and deduced that the kidnappers might be playing a mind game. If that were the case, it was working. Kristine was more unbalanced than he’d ever seen her.
