Burned by Amity Hope Page A

to be that I didn’t hold that against him. I mean, business is business. But now, the more time that passes and the further I get from the situation, the more I start to think maybe this is for the best. I don’t want to be like him. I sure as hell don’t want to follow in his footsteps. I mean, sure, he’s respected. But he’s not well liked.”
    “It sounds like this internship will be a good move for you.”
    “What about you?” Jake asked. “What are you interested in?”
    “Real estate,” I said decisively. “My mom’s worked in real estate for as long as I can remember.” I did not tell him that at one time, I was sure it was a serious career for her. But since the death of my dad, I thought she probably only dabbled in it out of boredom. And because that’s how she’d met her last two husbands. Instead I continued with, “I love walking through houses. I love checking out the architecture. I love seeing how people’s personalities really come through in the décor. But mostly, I’m interested in it because I can’t imagine a lifelong career where I’m stuck behind a desk all day. For now, it’s fine.” I explained to him that I was a receptionist at Grove City Realty. “I’m more of a go-fer than anything. I’m learning a lot, I’m meeting people, I’m becoming familiar with the community.”
    He raised his eyebrows at that. “So you plan on sticking around indefinitely?”
    I nodded. “I do. I don’t plan on crashing with Max and Holly forever, though. I’ve mentioned moving out and so far, they both have managed to talk me into staying.” I didn’t want to overstay my welcome but they both assured me that wasn’t the case.  “I’d like to look into getting my license. I’ve talked to Terry, the owner of the office I work in, and he was really supportive.”
    “Sounds like a good move for you,” he said.
    I nodded. “I think so.”
    “I should get going. I’m taking a few classes over the summer,” Jake said as he got up again. “I need to get to campus.” He moved toward the door but stopped in the arched frame. “So this date we’re going on, how’s Friday night?”
    I smiled. “I’ll clear my calendar. I’m pretty sure I was just busy doing nothing.”
    “Perfect.” He still hesitated, as if he had something else to say. “Any chance you’d want to do something tonight? Just hang out?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Awesome. Have a good day, Lanna!” he called over his shoulder.
    A few minutes later the front door slammed.
    I tossed a load of laundry into the washing machine, made my bed and put the half dozen dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
    My mother’s infuriating phone call had lodged itself in my brain. How could she condemn my relationship before it had even gotten started? Why did I let myself care ? Scrubbing the kitchen floor did not help scrub the bothersome thoughts from my mind.
    “She doesn’t even know Jake!” I growled to the empty kitchen.
    I dumped out the dirty water and put everything away. I found myself wishing that Terry had needed me today, after all. Work would’ve been a nice distraction. Now I had all day to hang around the beach house doing…nothing.
    I was not a fan of doing nothing.
    My mom’s call had angered me. But also…I found that I was second guessing myself. What if she was right? What if I saw what I wanted to see when I looked at Jake? What if I was doomed to forever and always be a horrific judge of character?
    I snatched my phone off the counter, powered it up, and hit the first number on my speed dial.
    Holly answered on the second ring. “Hey, Lanna. What’s up?”
    “Can you talk? I need some advice. Like…now.”
    “Um…give me a minute.”
    I heard her muffled voice, probably as she explained to Max that her suddenly high-maintenance friend was on the phone.
    “What’s going on?” she asked as she came back on the line.
    “What do you think of Jake? He’s a good guy, right? A little aloof at first?