Best Friends

by Curry, Edna

  Tipping his head, he kissed her, first in soft, testing nibbles, then hungrily. His pulse sped up and his heart thudded. He felt as though he’d been starving and now tasted his first food in weeks. She answered his kisses with as much need as his. For a long minute, he enjoyed the taste and feel of her, indulged the fantasies that had been driving him crazy since he first knew she was back.

  At last he lifted his head and looked down into her hazel eyes. She stared back at him, looking dazed and wondering.

  “God, Tami, I missed you!” he said, his voice coming out in a croak. “Why did we ever separate?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered, sounding desperate and frustrated. “I don’t know.”

  He stroked a finger lightly along one blonde brow, smoothing back the silky hairs. “The old magic is still there, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” she said through kiss swollen lips, her voice trembling. “But then, I never did have the sense God gave a goose.”

  Panic surged in his gut as he felt her stiffen in his arms. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  She pulled away. “It means, this is going nowhere, Cal.”

  “Why not?” he asked, even though he knew the answer. Because she was never going to live in a small town again.

  “Because I don’t want it to go anywhere.”

  “Liar. You want this as much as I do. Your pulse is racing and you’re trembling.”

  “I’m also going back to Minneapolis in the morning.”

  Realizing his arms were still reaching out as though to reclaim her, he dropped them and let out his breath. A painful erection spoke of an even greater need, which was clearly unlikely to be met anytime soon, at least from this woman. “You’re right, of course. Tell Sally I’ll be there tonight.”

  She nodded, grabbed the sheets of printed labels from the printer tray and flipped her disk out of the drive. “Thanks for doing the labels.”

  He followed her to his office door and watched her hurry out, feeling bereft. And stupid. Why had he kissed her? He’d known it was useless to think there would be anything between them again. Why start something when she wouldn’t stay?

  With an embarrassed start, he saw two customers standing in the showroom, looking annoyed at not being waited on. Needing a minute to quell his erection, he moved back and shut down his computer, then went to wait on his customers.

  Chapter 4

  Butterflies danced in her stomach as Tami drove to Sally’s house a few hours later. She’d taken pictures of Conley’s main street and their school to go with her article. Mr. Edwards might use all or none of them, but he liked having lots of choices. She’d snapped one of Sally at her computer, and a close up of the cute invitations Sally had made, in case her editor agreed they were clever.

  But Tami knew the butterflies in her stomach had nothing to do with the article, and everything to do with the man who owned the battered pick-up sitting in Sally’s drive. And everything to do with her reaction to his kisses this afternoon. She knew they’d been on the brink of making love again. Would they go over the brink next time? Did she dare?

  Parking beside his pick-up on the gravel drive in front of the house, she picked up the package of labels, envelopes and stamps she’d bought in town. It was a miracle she’d remembered to buy them at all after the way he’d kissed her. Her lips still tingled at the memory.

  She had to get through this evening without thinking about that. Or letting him know she was upset by his advance. “The old magic is still there, isn’t it?” he’d said.

  Yes, damn you, Cal, it is. I thought I’d gotten you out of my heart, but you’re still there. But nothing has changed. You’re happy in Conley and I’m a career girl now. We can’t go back. I can handle this. I have to. Because I couldn’t stand it if you refused me again.

  She’d be finished here soon and she could leave. She’d return to Minneapolis while Sally waited for answers to their invitations. When the reservations came in, Sally would call Henry’s. She could come back only for the night of the dinner-dance and that would be the end of it. Yes, she could handle that.

  Walking resolutely to Sally’s door, Tami rang the bell.

  When Cal answered the door, her knees turned to jelly.

  “Hi,” he said, the intimate way his eyes ran over her letting her know he hadn’t forgotten their kisses. “Come on in. We were about to eat without you.”

  Sally and Sam were putting the food on the table. Linda had called Tami earlier and begged off, saying she had another engagement.

  “The kids have been fed and put to bed. So, it’s only the four of us,” Sally announced gaily. She set a steaming casserole dish with a large roast beef surrounded by carrots, onions and potatoes on the table. Sam was carrying dishes of pickled beets and celery.

  “Delicious, Sally,” Tami said, buttering a hot roll. “How in the world do you stay so slim eating like this?”

  “Easy.” Sally laughed. “Chasing little kids uses up a lot of calories. Have some more roast beef, Cal.”

  “Don’t mind if I do. I’ll have to take you two out to dinner three times to make up for all these suppers,” Cal said with a grin.

  “Why do you think I invite you?” Sally teased. “Sam doesn’t let me out of the kitchen unless you invite us.”

  “I don’t blame him. Your cooking is better than any restaurant.”

  “Oh, go on with you!” Sally protested, blushing.

  A curl of envy coiled in Tami’s stomach as she watched the loving looks exchanged between Sam and his wife. It was obvious this was a happy marriage, something she’d never managed to achieve for herself.

  Sally was so lucky. And Cal seemed to be so comfortable with her and Sam. Tami couldn’t help feeling like an outsider in her own home town with these people she’d known all her life. How odd.

  Well, she’d made her choice and left, hadn’t she? She’d chosen a career over the coziness of living here where everybody knew everybody else’s business. And their secrets.

  Shame and embarrassment slid through Tami as she remembered why she’d burned her bridges and made her choices. Even if she wanted to come back, which she didn’t, they wouldn’t want her back if they knew the truth about her and her mother. The people here were very honest and down to earth. They didn’t tolerate snobbishness well.

  She bent her head and concentrated on her food.

  When they’d finished eating, she helped Sally clear the table and load the dishwasher. “Cal sure seems to appreciate your cooking,” she said, trying not to let her envy show in her voice.

  “Yes, he does,” Sally agreed. “His mom was a good cook and so was MaryAnn. I’m sure he misses them both.”

  “I’m sure.” She didn’t want to think about Cal with the woman he’d married after she’d left. It had been her own fault, hadn’t it? They’d split up. She could hardly expect him to remain single.

  “But he seemed more interested in you than his food, tonight,” Sally said, casting her a sly look. “The way his eyes followed you tonight, I think he’s hungry for something besides roast beef.”

  Tami blushed. First Linda was seeing sparks between them again and now Sally. “Honestly, Sally!”

  “Maybe things are heating up again between you two?”

  “Certainly not!”

  “Hmm. Well, let’s go stick labels and stamps on those invitations.”

  They pulled the men away from Sam’s computer and spread out the work on the table. Cal sat across from Tami, so she couldn’t help seeing everything he did. Like the way his long lashes curved upward when he glanced sideways. And the way an unruly lock of his dark hair curved down over his forehead.

  She flushed, realizing she was staring. Hurriedly, she opened the bag she’d brought and placed the stamps and envelopes in the center of the table where they could all reach them.

  “I brought some sticky notes,” she said. “So we can write notes on the invitations to make them a little more personal. After all, some of these pe
ople are going to have to spring for plane tickets to come.”

  “True. Not everyone still has family here to stay with, either,” Sally pointed out.

  A few minutes later Tami again found herself watching Cal. She noted the straight line of his nose, and slight curve of his lip, the dent in his strong chin and the way his long, graceful fingers curved around the pen as he wrote a note.

  He looked up and grinned when he caught her watching him. Their gazes met and held, the heat sizzling between them. With a blush, she hastily bent to her own work.

  What was the matter with her? She was acting worse than she had back in high school. Her pulse was pounding and she felt all thumbs. For the life of her, she couldn’t picture the face of the person whose envelope she was addressing. She gave up, wrote a generic ‘hope you can make it’ note and stuffed it into the envelope.

  Sally passed more cups of coffee and Tami gratefully sipped at the fragrant, hot brew, wetting her dry lips. Every time she glanced at Cal, he would glance away. Was he as aware of her as she was of him? The thought sent a curl of need through her.

  She had to stop this. She sat up straighter and bumped her foot into Cal’s. Another rush of heat raced up her leg. She jerked it back, and saw him grin.

  At last they finished the task. Tami put all the envelopes into a paper bag. “I’ll drop these at the post office in the morning before I leave,” she said.

  “Are you going back to Minneapolis tomorrow then?”

  Tami nodded. “I need to get back to work. And there’s really nothing more to do until we get replies, is there?”

  “No, I suppose not,” Sally said.

  Tami noticed Cal watching her, a closed look on his face. His lips tightened, but he said nothing. She looked away. “Thanks for supper, Sally.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’ll get Bobby.” Cal rose to his feet, his eyes still on Tami.

  “It’s late,” Sally replied. “And you’ll only be bringing him back first thing in the morning. Why don’t you let him stay?”

  “No.” Cal shook his head. “I’d better not. Bobby might get upset. If I’d told him he could stay before he went to sleep, it would be different.”

  “Of course. He’s still upset about losing his mom, isn’t he?”

  He nodded. “It takes time, I guess. Thanks, Sally, for supper. You’re too good to me.”

  He went upstairs and came down with his sleeping son in his arms, wrapped in a blanket. Tami was still talking to Sally at the door. He saw a tender, longing look cross her face as she looked at him carrying his son. Did she ever wonder what might have been if she hadn’t been so set on her career? If she’d cared enough to compromise so they could have had a future? Probably not.

  “I’ll return the blanket in the morning,” he told Sally. “It’s chilly out now, and I didn’t want to wake him dressing him again.”

  “That’s fine. Goodnight.”

  Tami opened the door for him and walked beside him out to their cars. The spring night was crisp and cool, with a hint of rain in the air. It carried the fresh smell of wet soil, the rich Minnesota black loam that sustained them all.

  She opened his truck door, then went over to her own car, putting the bag of invitations inside it.

  He tucked Bobby into the back seat of his truck, still asleep, and turned his attention back to Tami, who stood watching him with his son.

  He met her gaze, but she looked away and moved around to the driver’s side of her own car.

  Catching her arm before she could get inside, he pulled her to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he bent his head and claimed her lips. The kisses in his office this afternoon had been only a teaser. He wanted more. Lots more. And from the way they’d noticed each other all evening, he knew she did, too.

  God, it felt good to hold her. Heat sizzled between them and she met him kiss for kiss. His hand slid under her light jacket and blouse, exposing bare skin to his exploring hands. Her skin felt smooth and warm under his fingers.

  When she made no objection, he pushed aside her bra and closed a hand over the warm, soft flesh it had covered. A groan of pleasure escaped her lips and he caught it with another kiss. Her lips opened to allow his tongue inside her mouth and her hands moved under his jacket to caress his back. He bared her breast, then kissed his way down her throat and bent to capture her nipple in his mouth.

  He backed her against her car and rubbed his hardness against her, letting it tell her how much he wanted her.

  “Oh, Cal,” she breathed, soft as butter in his hands. Her body squirmed against his, creating more tension between them and urging him closer.

  He reached lower and slid a hand inside her slacks, then cupped her soft mound. She wiggled closer and he slid a finger inside her. She was hot and wet. She kissed him frantically as he rubbed her sensitive nub until she jerked under his hand and moaned. He almost exploded himself when she reached down to rub him and started to undo his belt.

  Oh, God. Not here, not like this. He wanted her in his own soft bed, with room to twist and turn and roll. “Tami, we can’t go to my house tonight. Bobby…. Do you have to go back so soon?”

  She froze at his suggestion. “Cal,” she said, pulling away with a sigh. “I—I’m sorry I got carried away. We can’t do this. You know there’s nothing here for me.”

  “I’m here. I always have been.”

  She nodded. “Your way or the highway, right?”

  “Tami—”

  “Daddy?” Bobby whimpered from the truck behind them.

  “Damn,” Cal groaned, pulling her blouse down and turning back to his son. “I’m right here, son.”

  “Okay.” Bobby assured himself of his father’s presence, and snuggled back down in the blanket. But the spell was broken.

  “I really have to go, Cal,” Tami said nervously. “I’ll be back for the reunion. Goodnight.” She got in her car before he could reclaim her.

  “Goodnight,” he managed to call, stepping away. She waved at him as she backed up, then turned and drove down the driveway. Her taillights winked at him as she stopped at the road, then disappeared behind the tall evergreens that lined Sam’s farmyard.

  Cal watched her go with a sigh, then got into his vehicle and followed. He was crazy to want her, even knowing it would never last. Knowing he’d only be tasting forbidden fruit, with no hope of it ever being his for keeps. But right now, one night with her seemed better than nothing.

  He was a fool for her, as always.

  ~*~

  Tami dropped the invitations in the mail on her way back to Minneapolis the next morning.

  She had mixed emotions about leaving Conley again. On the one hand, her friends and Aunt Cora made her feel at home again, there. None of her past lies had surfaced to haunt her as she’d feared. But her life was tied to the city now. The bustle and noise of the metro surrounding her was familiar and made her feel so wonderfully, comfortingly anonymous. Here it didn’t matter who her parents were. No one knew or cared where her relatives lived. She stood on her own merits here.

  She turned in her article and pictures to Mr. Edwards and returned to her desk.

  Arlo, apparently watching from across the aisle, immediately came over.

  “What’s your new assignment?” he asked.

  Dislike for her co-worker almost overcame her good manners. But she pushed it down and answered, “I’m to cover the art show in Burnsville, tomorrow.”

  He smirked. “You’re not likely to win our annual award for most important article on that. That’s not high profile at all, you know.”

  “I know.” Agreeing with the man was the best way to get rid of him, she’d found. He loved to best her and if she let him think he had, he usually let her alone, at least for a little while.

  “I have another political candidate to cover at the capitol,” he bragged.

  “That’s nice. I really hate politics, so I wouldn’t like that.”

  “But it’s important!”
<
br />   “I’m sure it is. Good luck.” She gathered her back-up CDs and purse. “Well, I’m off. See you later.”

  She drove home. Arlo was right. She had little chance of winning their annual award, with Mr. Edwards handing all the high profile assignments to others in their office. Of course, they weren’t all jerks like Arlo. She’d let him think winning wasn’t important to her.

  It was, but assignments like weddings, art shows and class reunions were not going to cut it with the judges.

  Maybe she was, as Arlo thought, only a small town girl trying to play in the big leagues. Like her mother, who had always put on the dog to give a false impression of wealth. Was she only a fake as well?

  ~*~

  Cal Lentz tossed his electric trouble light aside. He crawled from under the big John Deere tractor and frowned at the darkened atmosphere inside the huge metal repair shop behind his house. Was it later than he thought?

  It didn’t get dark this early in Minnesota in late March. He glanced at his watch. Only three o’clock. There should be several hours of daylight left.

  Suspicious, he ran to the open doors and surveyed his darkened farmyard on the edge of Conley. Black clouds loomed in the sky overhead and there was a greenish cast to the light. His automatic yard light had switched itself on. The ominous quiet confirmed the unmistakable atmosphere of a storm.

  Where was his son? Because he was working at home this afternoon, he’d picked him up early from Sally’s house. Bobby played around the yard, but he always stayed near.

  Quickly pulling the huge shed doors shut on their overhead rollers, Cal shouted, “Bobby! Bobby! We’re in for a storm, boy. Where are you?”