Hometown Series Box Set

by Kirsten Fullmer

  Julia followed them through the dark, empty living room and to the front door. Bobby’s mother turned and looked back at the room, then to Julia. “You need some furniture in here, girl,” she announced frankly.

  Glancing to Chad and suppressing a grin, Julia could only agree. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You let me know how sweet George and her babies are getting on, won’t you?” Mrs. Middlewood inquired as Bobby led her toward his shabby pickup truck.

  Julia nodded and waved.

  Bobby helped his mother into the truck, paused to wave and call out a good night, then climbed in and they rumbled away, leaving Chad and Julia standing on the front porch.

  Rubbing her arms in the chill, Julia looked up at Chad.

  His face was blank as he gazed back, cricket chirps filling the night around them. He opened the screen and waited for Julia to pass into the house.

  Julia closed the front door and as she wandered back through the dark living room, she laughed. “Bobby’s mother was right. I do need furniture in here.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Chad retorted, following. “It’s kind of growing on me.”

  Scoffing, Julia drifted through the door of her room and to the end of her bed to gaze down at the new members of her family. Chad strolled up behind her and looked over her shoulder.

  “They’re cuter now, aren’t they?” he commented.

  She nodded, certain they were beautiful, her heart already full of love for the tiny sleeping babies. Lightning bolts of fear over the force of her feeling bounced around in her mind, but she banished them in order to linger in the moment. It had been far too long since warmth and joy had filled her broken heart.

  Chad’s hands rose to her upper arms, his palms warm on her chilled skin. Drowning in the warmth of contentment, Julia leaned back into his chest. He brushed his hands lightly up and down her arms to warm her up, sending tingles of pleasure up her spine and along her scalp.

  “Goose bumps,” he said. “Are you cold?”

  Drawing in a breath, inhaling the pure male scent of him, she turned in his arms, her eyes meeting his. “No, not cold...”

  Checking twice to be sure he was reading her correctly, Chad slipped his arms around her to pull her close. He wanted to kiss her but that never ended well, and the last thing he wanted right now was to be sent away, so he simply cradled her to his chest, the fingers of one hand rising to caress the back of her head.

  George began to purr, the rhythmic thrum filling the room like music, and Chad gently rocked back and forth, as if he and Julia were dancing.

  Sexual tension leisurely grew and crackled through the room, building like a thunderstorm, but Julia and Chad cuddled in a cocoon of simple affection. Each knew that he or she could unlock the gate and allow the persistent desire to flood upon them, but at that moment, they wanted only to explore the warmth of companionship. Everything beyond that threatened unwelcome feelings and ramifications for them both.

  Julia’s heart swelled at the knowledge that she was surrounded by Chad and her little family. And like the Grinch in the Christmas movie, whose heart grew two sizes, she felt herself burst deep inside, unleashing a torrent of emotion she’d kept carefully contained.

  As she melted into Chad’s chest, her eyes filled with tears and she wept, both with joy and for the cold, heartless places she’d been keeping herself. As her mind and body overflowed with hunger and fear, hope and love, a deep trembling overtook her. Unsure she could contain the reality of the moment but with no ability to hem it back, she rode the waves, peeking over crests of joy then plunging into troughs of panic and insecurity.

  * * *

  Disconcerted, Chad held her back to survey her face, his eyes searching for the meaning of her distress. Without asking or thinking, he gently laid her back onto the bed and climbed up beside her, then tucked her into his side, his arms encircling her to hold her close. He didn’t speak or ask her what was wrong; he simply held her and wondered if he’d ever before led a woman to bed without planning to immediately undress her.

  The house creaked as the wind outside picked up and one of the kittens cried. The bedsprings chirped as Ringo jumped onto the bed and curled up in the crook of Chad’s bent knee. The muted sound of a car rumbled past and moonbeams danced on the floor in front of the window.

  Stints of sexual interest surged and waned through Chad as Julia moved briefly against his side as she settled into sleep, her tears fading to hiccups; all the while unnerved that holding her this way, feeling her breathe, allowing her to shift and mold his thoughts and emotions, felt far too intimate.

  His ears rang with warning as his actions proved he was involved on a deeper level -- one that smacked of commitment beyond neighborly consideration or sexual interest. How would he untangle himself now? He couldn’t get up and leave Julia this way, nor did he want to. But if he stayed, she would wake at some point and her dark eyes would blink and focus, finding him holding her, and then what?

  Would she stiffen and push him away? Is that what he wanted? Or would her gaze soften, her fingers caress his cheek, and her lips find his? If she came to him willingly asking for passion, what would he do? If he allowed himself to get close to this woman, he knew he would be under her spell, and his so-called ‘easy and carefree life’ would be lost. As would his heart.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning, Chad awoke to the steamy smell of dog breath. Cracking one eye open, all he could see was blinding sunlight flooding from the window and across the bed, casting a halo around Ringo’s head which was propped on his chest.

  Glossy brown dog eyes peered soulfully at Chad as the man blinked and grappled through the past evening’s events to recollect where he was. Then it hit him full force in the chest. Julia. Bolting up in bed, nearly pitching Ringo onto the floor, he found Julia stretched out beside him, still asleep.

  She snuffled, her dream interrupted by him jostling the bed. Lips pursed, her hand shifted under her cheek, then her deep breathing resumed.

  Carefully, Chad lowered himself back down onto the bed, his gaze glued to Julia’s face. With her lips slightly open and her muscles relaxed, she looked youthful and remarkably delicate. She must hold herself in a very terse manner, he realized, to hide such vulnerability.

  Ringo whined at his side and he reached down to pat the little dog’s back. “I know, buddy,” he whispered. “There is a cat in your bed, and I’m in Julia’s.”

  Calming under Chad’s pats and scratches, Ringo stretched and ever so slowly, as if he thought that if he moved gradually enough no one would notice, rolled onto his back, feet up, to get his tummy rubbed.

  Chad stared at the ceiling as he scratched Ringo’s belly and contemplated a getaway. He was definitely at a loss as to how to handle the situation. Even though south of his belt buckle, he had some interesting ideas fully formed, he pushed them away to formulate a more feasible plan.

  Maybe he could get off the bed and sneak out without waking Julia, but did he want to miss her waking up? Her lashes would blink as those unusual dark eyes would absorb him. What would she do, jerk back in shock? Smile languidly? Stretch and moan?

  His earlier ideas came rushing back with fierce determination. Reaching down, he rearranged himself under his jeans in search of relief. Julia muttered and snuggled into his side, causing him to bite his bottom lip. This isn’t good, he thought, as his mind wandered toward reaching for Julia and pulling her full against him. He could almost feel her breath hot on his neck, her cool fingers sliding under his shirt.

  “Chad?” Julia mumbled.

  Her voice jolting him from the daydream, he turned to face her, braced for just about any response she would offer.

  She stretched – first her legs, then her arms, her stomach pressed into his side.

  He suppressed a moan.

  Julia leaned up on one elbow to cup her hand under her cheek and studied him solemnly, her hazy dark eyes reflecting his hesitation and indecision. “Should we fire up ol’ B
essy?” she asked, rubbing one eye.

  Honing in on the “fired up” part, he was all game until he realized he didn’t know what she was taking about.

  “Bessy?” he asked, carefully shifting to bring his hand up to rest on her hip.

  “Yeah,” Julia grinned sleepily.

  Confused and distracted, he reached up to smooth her tangled curls, watching all the time for any sign that she was not in a mood to be touched. “I don’t understand.”

  Her eyes closed slightly under his strokes, and she purred. “You know... Bessy the stove... breakfast?”

  Chad’s hand paused. “The stove?”

  Julia giggled and rolled away to sit up. “Yeah, I named the stove Bessy.”

  Disappointed that she was thinking about food, he tugged at her hand. “I’m hungry, but—” She tumbled onto his chest. “Not so much for breakfast,” he murmured, rolling her onto her back under him.

  A myriad of expressions fluttered across her face, and in the mix, he identified longing and … irritation? While he waited for her to settle into one emotion, or even a few in the same general family, he smoothed one thumb along the blanket line on her cheek.

  “Chad,” she whispered, her hands wriggling up between them to press on his chest.

  “Wait,” he insisted, his finger to her lips. “I just want a kiss, then we’ll go find Betty.” He leaned down to kiss along her jaw line with little nibbles. She smelled of soap and flowers and warm sleepy woman.

  Her back arched slightly and her fingers curled into his shirt. “Bessy, not Betty.”

  “Whatever,” he mumbled into the hair above her ear as his other hand, limited by holding his weight on that elbow, teased her upper arm. Goosebumps rose along her arm under his fingers so he kissed her cheek. “You feel so good,” he whispered, the fingers on his other hand weaving in her hair.

  “So do you,” she moaned, her hands coming up to cup his jaws.

  Boot steps clattered on the front porch, followed by loud banging on the front door. Ringo sprang off the bed and clattered through the living room, barking as if the world were ending.

  Chad moaned, the sound coming from deep in his soul, every inch of him resisting the interruption.

  Julia sighed, her eyes focused and her expression once again registered the careful calm she wore like a mask.

  “Hey, Miss Julia? Chad?” Bobby’s muffled voice squawked, as he pounded on the door.

  Kittens meowed and cried, awakened by the knocking and barking.

  “I’m gonna choke him.” Chad muttered, rolling off Julia to stand by the bed.

  Julia primly jumped up to stand beside him, her expression giving away nothing. Hurrying toward the door, straightening her shirt and smoothing her hair, she nearly tripped over Ringo as he frantically jumped and ran in circles. “Down, boy,” she said, pushing at the dog as she pulled open the door.

  Bobby stood on the front porch, his neck craned to ogle Chad’s truck pulled up beside the house. “Is Chad here?” he asked without greeting or preamble.

  “Good morning, Bobby,” Julia welcomed calmly. “Please, come in. Yes, Chad is here. He came by to check on me and the kittens.”

  After a slight hesitation and a dark glance through his grubby glasses, Bobby moved into the living room. “My momma wanted me to check and see how the babies were getting along, so I stopped by on my way to the office.”

  “See for yourself,” Julia suggested, her hand out to propose the way.

  Eyeing her warily, Bobby paraded past. Julia sighed and readjusted her calm face, then followed. In her room, the bedcovers had been straightened and Chad was crouched by Ringo’s bed, apparently captivated by the kittens.

  With his skinny hands on his hips, Bobby scrutinized the scene, then glanced up at Julia. She smiled and threaded her fingers in front of her, the very picture of serenity. “As you can see,” she said, “they are doing well. We had a quiet night.” Chad didn’t look up, but from her vantage point Julia could see his cheek muscles clench.

  “Hmph,” Bobby huffed, then shouldered past her to stomp back through the living room. The screen door slammed, followed by footsteps across the porch.

  * * *

  Julia’s hands came up to cover her face. “This will be all over town within minutes, won’t it?” she muttered through her fingers.

  Chad stood and stared down at the hungry crying kittens and frowned. “No, Bobby will see this as a betrayal, and he’ll be hurt. He won’t say a word to anyone.” With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his fingers along his jaw, then his hands dropped to his sides and he turned to Julia. “He thinks I stole his girl.”

  “I’m not anyone’s girl,” she objected, her hands twisting.

  He grimaced. “I know that, but in his mind you liked him and I stepped over the line.”

  Julia’s expressed fell. “He thinks we—”

  Chad nodded, silently wishing it was true, and they’d had time to continue what they’d started, and that Bobby didn’t know.

  Both stood silent and solemn, considering the situation. The kittens mewled and tumbled, jockeying for position to nurse, while Ringo sat gazing at them all with liquid brown eyes.

  “What are we going to do?” Julia finally asked.

  Longing to sweep her up and resume where they left off, Chad tossed his hands. “I have no idea. None of this has ever happened before.” He jammed his fingers through his hair, leaving it standing on end. “I guess I’ll go to the office and see if I can talk to him.”

  Julia dropped onto the edge of the bed, the springs squeaking in protest. “What will you say?” The question was simple enough, but the meaning behind the words was far deeper and more complicated.

  Walking to the bedroom door, Chad stared across the empty living room. “Are you ever going to get furniture?” He knew his response was an obvious sidestep but he had no idea what he would tell Bobby, because he hadn’t a clue what the hell he was doing.

  When Julia didn’t respond, he turned back and cocked his hip against the doorframe. Ringo whined and wandered over to sit on his boot, his chin pointed to the ceiling as he looked up at Chad.

  With her head hanging, Julia stared at her hands in her lap. “Sorry,” she muttered.

  Chad pushed away from the doorframe. “You didn’t do anything, don’t feel bad. I’m gonna head to the office.” He waited for a response, but none came. “I need a shower and a shave.”

  Still nothing.

  “Julia?” he asked, his head dipping as he tried to see her face. She looked up, misery written across her expression. “I told you I wasn’t—” She shrugged, unsure what she was trying to say.

  Chad roamed to the edge of the bed and reached out to caress her cheek, searching for words that would bring back the intimacy they’d shared earlier, which in itself felt odd. “I’ll call you later,” he finally said, his hand dropping in resignation.

  She nodded.

  He turned and his footsteps echoed through the house. The screen door creaked then closed quietly, and Julia sat staring at the kittens, now happily nursing. Why had she opened her heart? One unguarded evening and somehow everything had changed.

  * * *

  Bending to sweep the last of the dirt and debris into the dustpan, Julia straightened and turned to dump it in the trash. Plodding to the mudroom, she tucked the broom and dustpan behind the door, brushed her hands on the front of her shirt, then stood in the doorway to survey the kitchen.

  Morning sunshine spilled through the window over the sink and onto the clean floor. Her mother’s china glittered behind the wavy glass in the hutch cabinets and across the room, Bessy stood proudly beside the old cutting block. The only sour spot left in the room was the mustard-colored fridge. “All things in time,” she muttered, heading to the bedroom to collect her clothes for a bath.

  Perching on the foot of her bed, her hands in her lap, Julia gazed lovingly down at the new kittens as they squirmed and wrestled with high squeaking mews across Ringo’s bed. George wa
s busy licking and arranging the babies, keeping a watchful eye on them as they tumbled over each other blindly. Julia grinned, realizing she could watch all day, and gave herself a mental boost to get moving as she rose off the bed.

  Pausing in the living room, carrying her bathrobe and slippers, she decided to get cleaned up and go see Becky at the boutique to get some ideas for the living room. It was time. Humming a sad tune and with her mind on couches and coffee tables, she plodded up the steps not bothering with the handrail.

  In the old bathroom, Julia bent to turn on the hot water tap, then balanced on the edge of the tub to think, distractedly swishing her fingers under the water while waiting for it to get warm.

  Paint peeling from the wainscoting drew her eye. The room needed a good scrape and sanding, including the floor, but the bones were good. Her head tilted to one side. Some color on the wainscoting, teal green maybe, and fresh paint on the outside of the tub would freshen things up, silver leaf on the claw feet, perhaps a chair in the corner, a tall glass door cabinet for towels, and a braided rug. Ideas flowed and ebbed through her mind as she stood and twisted the cold handle, testing the water.

  Steam wafted up from the tub and Julia dripped a dollop of bath oil into the water, filling the room with the scent of lavender.

  Her clothes slipped to the floor and she stepped into the tub, flinching as her feet contacted the still cold porcelain under the hot water. Her thoughts wandered as she eased in, steam rising around her, and she willed the deep tub to fill faster.

  The kitchen was almost finished, she contemplated, minus the million little touches that would come with time, and today she would get started on the living room.

  Her brow lowered as she considered a budget for the room. Her account had been comfortably full when she arrived in town, due to Brad selling their condo and all her earthly goods and depositing the funds, but she knew she couldn’t spend on the house forever without an income. The checks from her long-term disability insurance were enough to pay her modest monthly bills, but her savings were waning, and she needed to find an income -- even if it was humble.