I Waxed My Legs for This? Read online

  “No, problem. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Carrie stopped their friend. “Martin, I think what Jack’s saying, in his polite way, is get out so we can talk.”

  Jack laughed. “Polite, hell. Get out of here...I plan to woo my lady.”

  “Hey, doesn’t the lady have anything to say about the wooing or wedding?” Carrie asked.

  Jack shook his head. “The only thing you get to say tonight is yes.”

  She looked at the maître d’. “Sorry, Martin. I plan to be a dutiful, obedient wife and must agree with everything my future husband says.”

  “That will be the day,” Jack humphed.

  “Yes, that will be the day,” she said, laughing.

  “See what I’m going to have to put up with?” Jack said.

  Chuckling, Martin left them.

  “Alone at last,” Jack said.

  “Was there some reason you wanted to be alone?” Carrie asked, desire mixing with her laughter. It was a heady combination.

  “I’ve got plans,” Jack admitted.

  “I like the sound of that,” she purred.

  “Dinner, Carrie. I plan on eating dinner with my fiancée. We need to talk.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” she muttered. Whenever Jack got that tone in his voice, things weren’t looking too good.

  He pulled out her chair and she sat down. She lifted the lid that covered her plate and almost burst out laughing.

  “Let me guess, there’s shrimp under yours,” she said, staring at her fettuccine.

  “Well, just think, if poor old Ned had known how to order appropriately I might not be here now.”

  “Ted,” she corrected. “And all you ever had to do was ask.”

  “Well, I’m asking now. How do you feel about a man who’s no longer a potential partner in a firm?”

  Her fork stopped midway between the plate and her mouth. “What happened?”

  “Well, remember when you asked me if I was happy doing my job?”

  She nodded.

  “And when I asked who is, you said you were?”

  What had she done? All that Jack had ever dreamed of was the law. “Jack, you didn’t have to quit your job for me. I’ve been around you long enough to realize what kind of hours you have to work. It’s not a shock or anything.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “And remember when I said I wasn’t pining for Sandy all those months? I was trying to figure out what I wanted. You asked one question and it all fell into place. I quit for me. You were right, I was so tense because I no longer loved what I was doing.”

  “You’re sure?” she asked.

  Jack smiled, a smile that said everything was all right and so Carrie relaxed. His hand tightened on hers. “I’m sure.”

  “So, what are you doing now?”

  “I’m setting up a small practice on my own. I can take cases that interest me, that make me feel that rush that’s been missing in my work for a long time.”

  “Jack, that’s great.” That old spark was back in his eyes and Carrie sensed that he had really thought this out—that this was what he wanted, not something she had manipulated him into.

  “And guess where my office is going to be?” he continued.

  She shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of her fettuccine. Ambrosia was a perfect word for it.

  “Next to Encore. See, I know the new boss and thought she might enjoy lunch breaks with her husband.”

  “Oh, she has a husband? Lucky woman.”

  “Lucky man.” He speared a shrimp and reached across the table, handing it to her.

  She took it and ate it with enthusiasm. “Jack, are you sure about all this?”

  “Carrie, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. How do you feel about marrying a man whose income just went down a couple zeros?”

  She grinned. “As long as he’s happy, I feel just fine.”

  “Sitting here with you tonight, he’s got everything in the world he’s ever wanted.”

  She reached across the table and laid her hand over his. Her heart was close to overflowing. “If I wasn’t worried about hurting Felix’s feelings, I’d ditch this meal and take you home right now.”

  Jack stopped chewing and managed to ask, “And what would you do with me?”

  She took a single noodle and gently pulled it into her mouth. “Oh, I think I’d think of something.”

  “Carrie?” he asked.

  “Yes?” she answered, taking another slow, seductive bite.

  “How fast can you eat?”

  Twenty minutes later they were back at her place. “Have I mentioned that you had better never wear that dress out of the house?” He wrapped his arms around her and tugged the zipper downward.

  “You don’t like the dress?” she asked, her voice sounding strange to her ears.

  His hands were on her shoulders, gently tugging them down her arms. “Oh, I like the dress,” he said. His lips replaced the straps on her shoulder.

  “So, I can’t wear it why?”

  His lips didn’t move as ran his hand down the dress.

  “You didn’t have anything on under it?” he croaked.

  “I had high hopes for this evening,” she whispered.

  “New rule—you don’t leave the house in only one layer of anything. Think multiple layers.”

  “I’m not thinking layers.”

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking I love you.”

  He kissed her and when they came up for air he asked, “Now, aren’t you glad you waxed your legs?”

  “You mean, I waxed my legs for this?” she repeated simply because it made her happy. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. “Does this mean I get your football jersey back?”

  “This means you get whatever you want.”

  At that moment, Carrington Rose Delany knew she already had everything she’d ever wanted. “I love you,” she whispered, just to hear herself say it out loud.

  “I love you, too,” Jack murmured.

  She kissed him again and she knew that yes indeed, she waxed her legs for this.

  The End

  March 2016

  Dear Reader,

  I am so glad this book is finally available as an eBook. Rereading it after fifteen years brought back such wonderful memories.

  I started writing in the late nineties. I had a house full of kids—the youngest wasn’t in school yet. I had (and still have) a wonderful husband, a big dog and a really big dream. I wanted to be a writer. I was targeting Harlequin’s comedy line, Duets. They kept sending me very nice rejections that basically said, “Close, but not quite it yet.”

  January of 2000 rolled around and I finally admitted that maybe I wasn’t going to break in at Harlequin. Despite a few sales to other publishers, maybe it was time to look for a real job. My husband told me no. Stay home and keep at it. He was sure I’d sell something to Harlequin soon.

  In March of 2000 Kathryn Lye called and said those magic words, “We’d like to buy I Waxed My Legs for This?” It was published in January 2001. Holding my book in my hands was truly a dream come true.

  Since then I’ve published a lot of books both in the US and worldwide. I’ve continued writing some romantic comedies, but I’ve also written sweet romances, comedic mysteries and family dramas. I’ve even written some women’s fiction. I’m fortunate to have a job that I still love just as much as those early years.

  This story will always be special. When Kathryn bought it from me, she made a dream come true.

  I’ve hardly minded that my husband reminds me from time to time that he was right.

  Things have changed here. We live in a different house. My kids have grown into adults…and into my best friends.

  It’s exciting to see some of my older books being rereleased. As you read my Holly Jacobs’ Classic Romances, I hope you enjoy seeing where I started. Please check out an excerpt from another Classic…A Day Late and a B
ride Short.

  Thank you so much for picking up I Waxed My Legs for This?!

  Holly

  PS. If you enjoyed the story, please consider waxing poetic and giving it a review! (I know, I know, that was so bad, but I couldn’t resist!)

  Bio:

  Award-winning author Holly Jacobs has sold over two and a half million books worldwide. The first novel in her Everything But… series, Everything But a Groom, was named one of 2008's Best Romances by Booklist, and her books have been honored with many other accolades. She lives in Erie, Pennsylvania, with her husband and four children and two dogs, Ethel Merman and Ella Fitzgerald. You can visit her at http://www.HollyJacobs.com.

  Other Books for Your Kindle

  Novels

  Just One Thing

  Carry Her Heart

  Her Second-Chance Family

  These Three Words

  Romantic Comedies

  I Waxed My Legs for This?

  A Day Late and a Bride Short

  Cupid Falls

  Christmas in Cupid Falls

  A Simple Heart: A Cupid Falls Novella

  Short Stories and Novellas

  Able to Love Again

  Labor Day

  There He Was

  13 Weeks

  Rather than buy them individually, try:

  Short Stories for the Overworked and Under-Read Anthology

  Maid in LA Series:

  My first mystery series!!

  Steamed: A Maid in LA Mystery

  Dusted: A Maid in LA Mystery

  Spruced Up: A Maid in LA Novella

  Swept Up: A Maid in LA Mystery

  All four books in one edition

  Maid in LA Mysteries bundle

  Perry Square Series:

  Do You Hear What I Hear?

  A Day Late and a Bride Short

  Dad Today, Groom Tomorrow

  Be My Baby

  Once Upon a Princess

  Once Upon a Prince

  Once Upon a King

  Here With Me

  Holly Jacobs Classic Romance Collection:

  Readers kept asking, so here are the first books I ever wrote. And while I think my writing has grown over the years, I hope you enjoy them!

  Bosom Buddies

  Cinderella Wore Tennis Shoes

  Everything But… Series:

  Everything But a Groom

  Everything But a Bride

  Everything But a Wedding

  Everything But a Christmas Eve

  Everything But a Mother

  Everything But a Dog

  WLVH Series:

  Pickup Lines

  Lovehandles

  Night Calls

  Laugh Lines

  Nothing But Short Story Series:

  Nothing But Love

  Nothing But Heart

  Nothing But Luck

  Whedon Series:

  Unexpected Gifts

  A One-of-a-Kind Family

  Homecoming Day

  A Father’s Name

  Valley Ridge Series:

  You Are Invited… A Valley Ridge Wedding

  April Showers, A Valley Ridge Wedding

  A Walk Down the Aisle, A Valley Ridge Wedding

  A Valley Ridge Christmas

  American Dads:

  Once Upon a Thanksgiving

  Once Upon a Christmas

  Once Upon a Valentine’s

  Wedding Mishaps:

  How to Catch a Groom

  How to Hunt a Husband

  Also available:

  Found and Lost (working title: Can’t Find NoBody)

  The House on Briar Hill Road

  Same Time Next Summer

  Confessions of a Party Crasher

  The 100-Year Itch

  A Day Late and a Bride Short

  Excerpt

  Copyright Holly Jacobs

  Chapter One

  ‘‘I FEEL I AM PARTNER material,” Elias Donovan said. He sat, back ramrod straight, every coal-black hair in place and his dark green eyes meeting the firm’s senior partner, Leland Wagner.

  This was it. Donovan had everything in place. It was time to lay it on the line.

  He began to verbally run through his mental checklist. “I’ve been with the firm for six years, and I’ve generated more income for you than any other associate. I have a solid client base and—”

  “Elias...”

  Donovan winced at the sound of his first name. Leland was one of the few people he permitted to use it. Elias sounded too soft, and Donovan wasn’t the least bit soft. He’d spent years perfecting his rock-hard court persona, and the name Donovan suited it to a T.

  “...we’re all aware of what an asset you are to the firm. You’re promising partner material. We all realize it.”

  “Promising?” Donovan asked.

  He didn’t like the sound of being promising. He carefully schooled his expression so his displeasure didn’t show.

  “You’ve accomplished everything you just mentioned and more. The only concern we have, Elias, is your lack of balance. You’ve got work and...? What else is there in your life?” he asked.

  As senior partner of Wagner, McDuffy and Chambers, Leland Wagner seemed to feel as if he had to play father to the entire firm. Or maybe it wasn’t that he was senior partner, but that he had reached an age where he could have been father, or even grandfather, to all the associates and employees of the firm.

  “Work is my life,” Donovan said.

  Work was his passion, and like any mistress, she was jealous of time he spent elsewhere. Donovan was happy to indulge her. He found his relationship with his practice was so much more straightforward than any relationship he’d ever had with a woman. The law he could understand, but he’d never totally figured out the female species. And he’d given up trying to figure them out at least for now. The day would come that he’d be ready to settle down, but it wasn’t here yet

  “Work’s not enough,” Leland said. “I’ve been in this business for my entire adult life—over four decades—and it’s not enough. It might not be politically correct to say, but you need someone to come home to. You need the balance of a life outside the firm and the courthouse. You need a wife. When we see that you’ve learned that there’s more to life than your practice, then it will be time to talk about partnership.”

  “A wife?” Donovan echoed. He’d never even dated the same woman for more than a few months. Why would Leland think he was interested in tying his life to one?

  “A wife,” Leland repeated gently. “I know you think this is an archaic idea. But Dorothy and I are celebrating our fiftieth wedding anniversary next week. I married her right out of high school and she’s been my balance all these years. She’s my reason for going home at night. She’s—”

  Donovan interrupted. “How about a fiancée?”

  He heard the words come out of his mouth, but couldn’t believe he was saying them. A fiancée? He didn’t have a fiancée. He didn’t want a fiancée any more than he wanted a wife.

  “A fiancée?” Leland echoed, as if he could hear Donovan’s thoughts.

  Thinking fast on his feet, Donovan said, “I know she’s not quite a wife, at least not yet, but you’re right, she’s given my life balance. I can hardly remember a time without her.”

  Leland’s eyes narrowed as he studied Donovan. “When did this happen?”

  Feeling rather like a teenager lying about the dent in the car, Donovan said, “Recently.”

  That wasn’t quite a lie. He’d acquired a fiancé about two seconds ago.

  “Well,” Leland said slowly. A smile suddenly blossomed on his life-lined face. “You certainly do keep things close to your chest, my boy. That’s what makes you such a great lawyer.”

  The older man paused a moment and then repeated, “A fiancé? This puts an entirely different spin on the matter. I’ll talk to the other partners, but in the meantime you had better bring her along to the party next week so we can all meet her. I’m sure everyone wi
ll want to meet the woman who finally melted the legendary Iceman. You’re a private man, Elias. I can respect that, but Wagner, McDuffy and Chambers is a family. And if she’s marrying you, she’ll be part of that family. So you just bring her and introduce her around.”

  “I will,” he found himself promising.

  “Like I said, I’ll talk to the other partners, and get back to you with our decision soon.” Leland stood.

  Donovan followed suit and extended his hand. “Thank you, Leland.”

  He walked out of the office with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t decide if he’d just made things better or worse. But either way, he had something to take care of and there was no time to waste.

  Elias Donovan had to find a fiancée...fast.

  ~~~

  Sarah Jane Madison took a deep breath. This was it her last hope. If this didn’t work—

  She refused to think about it. This would work It had to.

  “Hi, Amelia.” She occasionally met the chatty receptionist in the park for lunch and genuinely liked the woman. Amelia had spiky blond hair, piercing blue eyes that always sparkled with a hint of laughter, and an infectious grin. Add all that to her gregarious personality and it would be next to impossible not to like her.

  ‘‘Donovan’s expecting you. You’ve got the cream of the crop. At least the cream of the single bachelor crop here at Wagner, McDuffy and Chambers. He’s just at the top of the stairs, to the right. You can’t miss it I’m sure he’s the lawyer here to take care of all your needs." Amelia winked and shot Sarah a wicked grin.

  Sarah laughed. “If he can take care of my legal problems, he’ll have satisfied every one of my needs for him.”

  “Well, I could think of a few needs of my own for him. Tall, dark and handsome—” Amelia sounded practically ready to swoon “—and those green eyes. Why sometimes I swear he can look right into my very soul. But the feeling never lasts. He never gives up a single emotion.”