Hometown Series Box Set

by Kirsten Fullmer

  If she slept with Alex, what would happen next?

  She grimaced.

  “I’ll fall in love,” she said flatly, and it was true. She was already halfway there, and if he spent the night, being all attentive and sexy, she’d be a goner.

  “And I have to live here for a long time,” she agonized, her voice cold.

  She stomped back to the fridge, flung open the door and yanked out the wine. With a determined expression, she marched into the bathroom and stuck the bottle behind a jumble of cleaning supplies in a bottom cupboard. “There!” she grumbled, slamming the door. “The last thing I need tonight is to be drunk and reckless!”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Look, Fish, the puddles are drying up,” Alex said to the little dog in the passenger seat as they bumped over the gravel drive for the third time that day.

  Fish put his front paws on the armrest and his nose to the window.

  Glancing toward his puppy, Alex chuckled, but Katie’s trailer came into view and he sobered. He had a lot riding on this evening; he needed to stay focused and not blow it.

  Alex took stock of the mess the storm had made and the holes left from filling sandbags. He’d have plenty to do for the next few days. Chad had called, letting him know that he, Julia, and Bobby would come out the next day to help work on landscaping.

  “Chad is a good sort,” he mumbled, pulling up in front of Katie’s trailer. Lights glowed from inside, and his pulse picked up. “Keep your cool, man,” he said to himself as he stepped out of the truck and turned to lift out Fish. He wasn’t about to let the puppy get muddy again. The last thing he needed was another roll in the mud with Katie. She wasn’t ready to admit that they were a couple, and he didn’t want to scare her off.

  He circled the truck with the dog under one arm, then opened the passenger door and hauled out a bag of groceries. He had to keep it light, and not get sexual. But when Katie swung open the door wearing a simple T-shirt style dress and a brilliant smile, his thoughts scattered to the winds. Her hair was up in a bun, as always, but soft wisps of hair fell around her face. She was barefoot and looked absolutely delectable.

  It’s a good thing she has some control, because his mind was already wandering to how good it would feel to have her back in his arms. Fish squirmed and barked, anxious to get down.

  She reached for the puppy, and he handed him over, then tromped up the steps into the trailer and set the bag of groceries on the counter. As he tugged off his boots, the air-conditioner hummed on the roof, pumping cool air. Even though the temperature inside was comfortable, it didn’t keep his palms from sweating as he watched Katie hold up a treat for Fish. The little dog barked and jumped in the air reaching for the treat, and Katie laughed. The sight felt so right, so normal.

  Fish got his treat and ran into the living room to eat it by the sofa. Katie watched the puppy, her face glowing, then turned her eyes to him. It was all he could do to not tackle her, right there in the kitchen.

  Self-conscious, she smoothed the dress across her stomach. “Would you like a glass of wine?” she asked.

  “Sure.” To his surprise, she didn’t open a cupboard or the fridge but headed into the bathroom. Curious, he leaned to one side, watching as she opened a lower cupboard, shuffled through cleaning supplies, and finally drew out a bottle of wine.

  His brow rose in surprise.

  She straightened and turned back to him, then froze in place.

  “Interesting wine cabinet,” he teased, wondering what on earth would make a person store alcohol with the bathroom cleansers.

  “It— I was just—” she stuttered in her defense.

  He raised one hand to stop her. “You don’t need to explain anything to me.”

  She brushed past him into the kitchen, her cheeks red.

  “Corkscrew?” he asked, ready to help.

  Katie’s step faltered, and her eyes came to his. “I forgot, I don’t have one.” Her shoulders slumped. “Now what?”

  He took the wine from her hand and set the bottle on the counter, his eyes never leaving hers. Slowly, he allowed a grin to sparkle in his eyes, and to his relief, her face relaxed, and she smiled.

  “I’ve got this,” he said, pulling out his pocket tool. It only took him a moment to peel off the wrapper and wind the screw into the cork. Katie watched as he tugged the cork from the bottle.

  “Glasses?” he asked.

  Pulled from her thoughts, Katie glanced toward the cupboards over the sink. “Um…”

  “Let me guess,” he interrupted, “they’re under the bed.”

  She arched a brow. “I don’t have wine glasses either. I’m not very prepared, am I?”

  He leaned against the counter. “I feel special. This must not happen often.”

  “And I’ve lived out here all this time,” she scoffed.

  “See?” He laughed, enjoying the way the banter flowed between them.

  Katie brushed past him to open the cupboard and reached for a bag of red plastic cups.

  “No way,” he said, moving in front of her. “This is a special occasion.” With a look that said don’t mess with me, he put back the bag of disposable cups, inspected the cupboard, then reached down a thick ceramic coffee mug and a glass measuring cup. Holding each in front of him, he grinned at Katie. “What’s your preference ma’am?”

  She selected the coffee mug.

  “Good choice,” he said, retrieving the wine bottle. As he poured wine into her mug, he winked, making her blush. With her mug half-filled, he poured some for himself, then set the bottle on the counter. He lifted the measuring cup to the light, swirling the wine like a connoisseur. He raised it to his nose and moaned, his eyes falling closed as he sniffed the wine.

  Katie swatted at his arm. “Stop teasing me.”

  He grinned down at her, and her eyes shone. He took her mug and set it on the counter along with his measuring cup, then took her in his arms. He kissed her, slow and soft, then pulled back to look into her eyes. “Sweeter than wine,” he murmured.

  Shock registered across her face, and she pulled back. “How did you do that?”

  “Do what,” he asked, wondering what he’d said wrong.

  “Read my mind.”

  Realizing that he’d done something right, he wanted to follow every damn whim that blew through his mind. But he knew better. “Wait until you see this—” he said with an evil grin. Reaching into the grocery bag, he drew out a box of microwave kettle corn popcorn.

  “You remembered!” she exclaimed, reaching for the box. “I haven’t had this forever.”

  “Me either,” he said, but his tone put extra meaning on his words, causing her eyes to whip to his. The moment drew out, with emotion sparking between them.

  “Shall I be the cook tonight?” he asked, breaking the spell.

  She handed him the box, then turned to wander into the living room where she picked up Fish and nuzzled him to her cheek. Looking over the dog’s head, she watched as Alex put a bag of popcorn into the microwave. He collected her mug and his measuring cup and returned to the living room. Extending her mug, he smiled at the look of sheer delight on the puppy’s face.

  Katie tucked Fish under her arm and took her mug. Alex raised his cup. “To working together,” he said, with a serious face but his eyes crinkled at the corners.

  She raised her mug to clink with his cup, and they both took a sip.

  Popcorn popped in the microwave, reminding Katie that Alex had come to watch a movie, not drink wine from assorted kitchenware. She placed Fish on the sofa and opened the cupboard. Her finger walked through assorted DVDs, then pulled out the movie. She handed the case to Alex, then hurried into the kitchen to find a bowl for the popcorn.

  Alex sipped his wine as he watched her take down a stack of bowls and sort out the largest one. It was hard to believe that just the night before, he’d finished the electrical connections and lay beside Katie in the back of her trailer. It had been an insanely long day.

&
nbsp; The wine pumped pleasantly through his veins. A yawn stretched across his face, reminding him that he’d spent the better part of the night banging on doors rather than sleeping.

  The microwave dinged, and Katie used a dishtowel to pull the steaming bag out and dump it into the bowl. She sprinkled salt on the popcorn, then made eye contact. “My TV is in the bedroom,” she said with a grin. Then without waiting for his response, she tucked the bowl against her side, collected the bottle of wine and her cup, and turned to head toward the bedroom.

  Alex forgot all about being tired.

  * * *

  The next afternoon, sweat ran across Katherine’s scalp, under her hair, and down the back of her neck. At least, she hoped it was sweat and not a spider. Just thinking about the number of creepy-crawlies that were likely in the small space under the sink with her made her shudder. She was not coping well today. Blinking, she wished she could see better, as she angled the flashlight to shine into the far corner.

  “Can you reach it?” Alex called from behind her.

  Unable to find the wires Alex needed, she backed out of the cupboard under the little trailer’s kitchen sink, clunking the back of her head in the process. Finally free of the cupboard, she plopped back onto her butt, rubbing the sore spot on her head.

  “Well?” he asked.

  She scowled up at him and wiped her forehead with the inside of her elbow.

  “For the third time, no, I don’t see a black wire.”

  “Where else would it be?” he muttered, massaging his beard.

  Katherine pushed to her feet, palpating the bump rising on the back of her head. This whole RV park thing was becoming too much. Why had she ever thought she could do this? She watched Alex consider the problem, knowing she needed his help, but for some reason she couldn’t name, she felt crowded - like the whole thing was getting out of control.

  Alex brushed a dusty cobweb off her shoulder, and she drew away in horror. “Is there a spider?” She cried, wild eyed, twisting in a circle in the tiny space, swatting at her shoulder. “Do you see it?” She had toughened up a lot in the last few months, but she couldn’t abide bugs of any sort on her person.

  Alex scanned her up and down. “I don’t see any spiders.”

  With one last swat at her arm, she finally stilled.

  “And no connection,” he sighed, staring toward the back curve of the trailer.

  “I don’t have any more time to waste on this.” She huffed, pushing past him. It wasn’t any cooler outside of the trailer, but at least there was a breeze. Maybe, if she could get a few feet between her and Alex, she could catch her breath.

  Tossing a frustrated glance back at the little Aljoa, she reached up to unwind her tangle of hair. She tightened the elastic holding her hair, then rewound her bun.

  “Why do you always pull it up,” Alex asked from the trailer doorway.

  “What?”

  “Your hair, why don’t you leave it down?”

  Her hands dropped to her side. Now he didn’t like her hair? “It’s hot. I’m working.”

  “You weren’t working last night,” he said, wagging his eyebrows.

  Katherine didn’t want to be reminded of her failure the night before.

  “You have such pretty hair,” he continued, oblivious to her mood. “I always loved the way it—”

  “Can we get on with this?” she interrupted. “It’s way too hot.”

  Finally catching on, Alex pulled a face. “Excuse me. I can’t connect it to nothing.”

  “Then you crawl through spider webs to find the connection!”

  Alex watched her shudder anew as she brushed at her arms. Her efforts did no good since she was sticky and sweaty, but he felt bad. There was no way he could bend at the angle needed to crawl into that cabinet. Frustrated over his lack of agility, he tromped down the trailer steps. “Why are you mad at me? I’m trying to help.”

  “I know that. I’m—” She sighed, tossing her hands in the air. Truly she couldn’t put her finger on why she was an emotional wreck, she just was. “I don’t know what I am.”

  He closed the distance between them. “You’re beautiful. I can tell you that.”

  “See?” she blustered. “That! I hate it when you do that!”

  He raised his hands in the air. “Do what?”

  She cocked her hip and gave him a look. “Say stupid stuff like that. I know how I look.”

  His gaze swept down her long, lean body, then back up to her face with its smooth skin and snapping eyes. “You are beautiful.”

  “Stop it, just stop it,” she grumbled, turning her back and folding her arms across her chest. She was practical, even in a temper tantrum. Beauty was not a description she used for herself, even on a clean, well-groomed day.

  Alex circled around her to see her face. “Who convinced you that you’re not pretty?”

  Her arms came down to her sides, her fists clenched. “I’m not delusional, Alex, I have a mirror! I am plain, boring, and stuffy. And I have no social skills!” she waved her hand toward the field. “I’m not even sure why I’m doing all this!”

  He folded his arms. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

  She sputtered in response, her eyes flashing. “Oh, and last night,” she motioned toward her trailer. “I suppose that is how all your dates go, right?”

  His eyebrows rose. “All my dates?”

  She scowled. “Don’t play stupid with me, Alex. We live in a society with rules! I’m a librarian; I know my place.”

  “You are not,” he said, his demeanor assured.

  “I’m not what?”

  “A librarian,” he said, motioning toward her. “Do you know how you look? Because nothing about your look says librarian.” He spread his arms and turned to the left and right. “I see no library.”

  She glanced down, and her expression faltered. “I… I’m…”

  Then to Alex’s chagrin, she broke down in tears.

  She didn’t know who she was. Up to now, no one had called her out on the fact that she no longer worked at the library, so what was she?

  He reached out to take her in his arms, and she pulled away. “I can’t do this, Alex. I can’t be who I was back then. I can’t be what you expect. I- I can’t even build this stupid RV park!”

  His expression grew grim. “Look, something has obviously got you all riled up today, but you evidently don’t know what I want, because I want you, the way you are now.”

  His words gave her pause, and she swiped the back of her hand under her nose. But her misery over their failed date returned, and she couldn’t face him. With a sob, she turned to escape to her trailer and regain her composure.

  His hand shot out to her shoulder, and he turned her back to face him. “Do you think my life has been a boulevard of green lights?” he demanded, his eyes boring into her.

  Her face paled.

  “Look at me; I’m different too.” He motioned toward his leg. “Yet here we are.”

  A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed hard. “You’re— You— I don’t even know who I am now. I’m not— I used to be— I’m so confused—” Her voice caught.

  “You’re trying something new, Katie. That changes a person. It’s okay to change.”

  * * *

  As the words left his lips, Alex realized that he should listen to his own advice. He’d spent months fighting his injury, fighting work, fighting being home, and he’d been unwilling to deal with the loss of his friends and his career. Yet, his words had been on target. Change was inevitable.

  “You were here last night,” she countered, her face turning red in shame. “I fell asleep! You were all ready to— and I wanted—” her words faded.

  He sighed. “Katie, I fell asleep too.”

  Shock registered across her features.

  “We were both exhausted.”

  “I know, but when Lucy and Desi were pulling their trailer on that cliff road and they were freaking out, you pulled me close, a
nd I was—” she started, but he stepped in front of her, close enough to kiss her, and her words faded.

  His hands came up and carefully unwound her bun, then gently he tugged the elastic from her hair. Threading his fingers through the hair above her ears, he massaged them across her head.

  Her breathing slowed, and her eyes fell closed.

  “You just need to let your scalp catch its breath,” he whispered.

  “I—” she muttered.

  “Shhhh,” he said, putting a finger to her lips. “We have a lot of work to do here, and I know you’re tired and scared.”

  Her eyes flew open. “Back when I worked at the library, I knew who I was— I wasn’t scared, I knew what I could do— but now—”

  He gave her a look, and she stopped. “I’m not leaving you to do this alone.”

  Katie’s eyes filled with tears and she blinked frantically.

  Ignoring her confusion, he kissed her. Their lips met and he felt an unexpected surge, as if a bit of his old self were returning, and some tiny part of his heart began to mend.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mac sorted through the wad of keys on his key ring, searching for the correct one. “Why do you want to look in here?” he asked Alex, trying a key in the lock on the door of the old metal building.

  “Come” Alex called to Fish. The puppy trotted to his side. “I just want to check it out,” he said, working to appear nonchalant.

  Giving up on the selected key, Mac tried another. “I could have just given you the key.”

  “Roger that,” Alex scoffed, watching as his dad tried yet another key in the lock. This time the lock clicked, so Mac tugged the padlock off the latch and pushed open the garage door. The door clanked and rattled up the track, and the men ambled into the shop.

  Alex bent to scoop up the dog, unsure what all the puppy might get into. But the dark shop appeared to be orderly and fairly clean, with tool benches lining one wall and shelves of various boxes and parts along the other. A faint stream of evening sun shone through the cracked back window, lighting a shaft of dust pixies.