“The wine was amazing, thanks for that. I haven’t had a nice Beaujolais in close to forever. The pizza was exactly what I ordered; the perfect way to end a long weekend of tourists. And cleaning up after tourists,” I added, because one of the things I learned quickly about living in this small town was that tourists were a preferred topic of conversation, aside from gossip. It wasn’t uncommon to hear people talk about how ridiculous they were, while also coming up with ways to attract more tourists and get them to spend more of their dollars in Tulip.
“Yeah, yeah,” she said dismissively, not even bothering to pretend she cared about anything else. “What happened with Nate, girl? I’ve got a lot riding on this.”
That was news to me, so I merely shrugged. “Nothing happened. He dropped off the food, like you made him, and then went to wherever he was going before you shanghaied him into delivering my food.”
The old woman didn’t even bother to look sorry or guilty and I was glad, because I knew she wasn’t. Between her and Ry’s mom, Betty, and that policeman Antonio’s mom, Elizabeth, the remaining hometown heroes were literally quaking in their oversized work boots. “I didn’t have to do anything for him to lay one on you like he did at last month’s festival.”
No, that hadn’t taken any interfering at all, but I would never concede that point to Eddy because I’d never have another moment of peace. “I was just doing my part to help out with Tulip’s Tribute, that’s all. As a new member of this community, that’s important.”
And it happened to be the truth. Eddy didn’t need to know that I hadn’t stopped daydreaming about kissing Nate since I first saw him walking past my shop with his brother.
“Bull,” she retorted plainly, hands braced on the end of my shopping cart like we were about to do battle. “It was more than that, and don’t think I didn’t spot his rust bucket outside your house until the wee hours of the morning. The wee hours,” she emphasized, just in case there might have been some doubt as to what she was talking about. “But I’m happy to keep that little bit of info to myself, if you tell me that I’m gonna win this month. Well, am I?”
“Win what? I thought all this matchmaking was just a way for you retired ladies to have some fun and get your kids coupled up and married off.” That’s what Bo and Hope had made it seem like, but I was starting to have my doubts.
She sighed and rolled her eyes, finally unblocking my path as she walked around the cart and put her hands on my shoulders, keen brown eyes taking in every detail I couldn’t hide fast enough. “Of course, we want the young people happy and in love, bringing in another generation of Tulip citizens,” she sniffed as if offended, but the hot pink and leopard print ruined her effort.
“And?” I motioned her to keep talking with my hand, because I knew there was more. “I was raised by two world class manipulators so go on, Miss Eddy, and spill.”
“Oh, all right. There’s a hundred bucks per couple, plus the losers have to make dinner for the winner for a full week. And whoever has the most matches gets to choose our next girls’ getaway.”
“Dang.” I whistled, shocked and kind of impressed with the old ladies’ ingenuity. “Admirable, but I can’t help you.”
“And why not? You too good for the likes of Nate Callahan? I’ll have you know that I know his mama, and there’s not a woman sweeter in all the world.”
There was no way around it. I tried to keep the town gossip about me to a minimum, but it couldn’t be helped. “I just got out of a relationship, Eddy. I was engaged to a man who cheated with my so-called best friend and the last thing I need is another man who isn’t looking to settle down.” Though the truth was, Mitchell had no problem settling down. With Charla.
“Nate’s a good boy. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s normal for a big strong boy like that to sow some wild oats. He might be a tad cynical, but he’s a good man.”
“Maybe so, but he isn’t the man for me. But, hey, you’re single, aren’t you? I’ll bet you’re not the kind of woman to be put off by something as arbitrary as age, are you?”
The glare she sent my way said she saw right through me, and I shrugged. It was worth a shot. Her glare transformed into a dirty little grin. “If I didn’t know him so well, I might give him a test drive. But I do. Besides, he’s not for me. He’s for you.”
“You’re not gonna give up, are you?”
“Not until the fat lady sings, packs her bags, and throws a slab of ribs on the grill.” With those parting words, she left—probably off to harass someone else.
I felt sorry for whoever that person was, but also immensely gratefully that it was no longer me. So grateful that I rushed through the rest of my shopping before another of the matchmakers could accost me. Or bribe me. I made it all the way to the parking lot undisturbed, where I smiled at my good luck.
I should have known the smile was premature the moment that wonky wheel veered hard to the right and I almost hit a… rust bucket. Nate. Dammit. “Need some help with those bags?” My gaze climbed up his big body, ignoring the way those well-worn dark blue jeans clung to powerful thighs and accentuated the length of his legs. And the way the green and gold t-shirt of the National Parks Service he wore highlighted his green eyes.
Not that I noticed or anything. “I’ve got it, thanks.”
He shrugged, but his hand didn’t let go of the shopping cart. “There’s no harm in lettin’ people help you, Mikki.”
Of all the condescending things to say to a woman… “If I needed help, the kid inside whose job it is to help would be helping me. So, it would seem, since he isn’t here, that I don’t need help.” Why the heck was he being so darn persistent, anyway, when he couldn’t wait to get away from me the last two times I saw him? Oh, of course. “Of course!” I shook my head and moved the cart around him, barely holding back the string of profanities on the tip of my tongue.
“Of course, what?” His words came out on a growl that I shouldn’t have found sexy, but dammit, I did.
With my trunk wide open, I spun on him and poked a finger against his hard, massive chest. “I don’t need you doing me any favors because you have some misplaced sense of guilt, Nate. I never expected anything from you but the good time you gave me, so your conscience is clear. Totally.”
He blinked, confused, but that didn’t stop him from wrapping a hand around my wrist. “Guilty? What the hell do I have to feel guilty about?”
Of course, he wouldn’t feel guilty. I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Whatever it is you’re trying to fix by offering to load up my car. It’s not necessary.”
“I’m just trying to be helpful. Neighborly. It’s what we do around here.” He reached for a bag, but I snatched it before he could. I could take care of myself. Regardless of what Daddy or Mitchell, or even my own mama thought, I could take care of myself just fine.
“I don’t need your help, Nate.” And I didn’t want it. When and only when I wanted help would I ask for it—until then, I was determined to be as independent as possible. And Nate was a strong reminder of why.
The last time I trusted a man, it didn’t turn out well for me. It wasn’t a mistake I was keen to repeat.
Nate
“A little help here!”
After my encounter with Mikki, I was in a bad mood and taking it out on everyone. Luckily for me, I worked with a bunch of men who didn’t give a damn and who gave as good as they got.
Preston came out of the emergency services building first, using the entrance reserved for Tulip’s big red fire trucks. “Who took a dump in your oatmeal?”
I raised a brow at him and shoved three bags into his arms. “You’ve been spending too much time with Nina.” The old Preston would have never said something so crass, and I kind of liked the change.
“Well, she is my wife, so time together is hard to avoid. Plus, she’s awesome. So, who took a big nasty in your cereal, Nate?”
“Mikki,” I grunted and turned around, because I knew Preston wouldn’t let it go a
t that. Ever since he’d hooked up with Nina, the dude wanted to talk about his feelings and her feelings—hell, everybody’s feelings—day and night. “Who else?”
“Considering your stance on commitment, it could be anyone. When did you start something up with Mikki?”
“We didn’t start anything. It was one time, well, one night. Just one night and now she’s being, I don’t know, a brat.” No, that wasn’t exactly true, but I couldn’t explain it.
“She’s asking for more than you want to give?”
I barked out a bitter laugh and slammed the back of the SUV shut, picking up the rest of the bags as we made our way inside.
“Hell no. I took off before she woke up and now, when I’m just trying to be nice, she’s acting like I’m a leper. I think she’s upset.”
Preston stared at me like I was a stranger, or maybe from outer space. “Yah think?” He shook his head as we made our way between the fire trucks and across the communal living room, decked out with recliners and a big screen TV, and passed into the kitchen.
“Why the hell should she be upset? I made sure we both had a good time—a real good time.”
“What’s going on?” Ry called as he and Jase strolled in from the other side of the building where the ambulance trucks were located, both wearing the wide, satisfied smiles of men who’d woken up wrapped around a warm woman that morning.
With a laugh that was too amused for my liking, Preston filled them in and I had to ball my hands into fists for a minute to keep from screaming at the looks all three men shot my way. “Nate thinks she might be mad, and he doesn’t know why since they both had a ‘real good time.’”
I pointed at each one of them, all my friends and brothers in arms. “If any of you even thinks about laughing, you’ll be walking funny for a week.”
Jase shook his head, looking sad and sympathetic. “I thought you were the brother with all the game. How disappointing,” he said in mock dismay.
“I have plenty of game, thank you very much. I mean, usually, I do, but something about her makes me constantly say and do the wrong thing.” I hated to admit it, but dammit, I didn’t like how she seemed to be going out of her way to avoid me. Like she didn’t want anything to do with me.
Three pairs of eyes bounced around the room, an eager gleam lighting all of them. “Oh.” That was Ry, giving me his best poor bastard look, which I hated. “So, you like her.”
“No.” I shook my head vehemently because I didn’t like Mikki, not like that. “I mean, she’s all right, but I don’t like her, like her.” I didn’t like anyone like that, it just wasn’t how I was wired.
“Then why the hell do you care so much?” Leave it family to never pull any punches.
But it was a fair question, and I didn’t have an acceptable answer. “Because I don’t like that she’s treating me like I’m a bad guy.” I couldn’t stop thinking about the look she’d sent me last night before shutting the door in my face. It was equal parts disgust and disappointment, the same look my mother sometimes graced me with. It stuck with me long after the chicken dinner and two—okay, three—beers were gone.
Preston smiled and clapped me on the back, a sympathetic, commiserative smile on his face. “You poor, poor bastard.”
I shook off his hand; I didn’t want his sympathy. “Whatever you’re thinking, quit it right now.”
Ry barked out a laugh and stepped up beside me, handing me the items that needed to go into the shared fridge. “No offense, dude, but you are the bad guy here. Did she ask you for anything at all?”
That night, all she’d asked for was more. “No,” I sighed, because she really hadn’t.
“So, why did you leave? Were you worried she might start planning your wedding?”
I glared at Ry’s affable smile, and he only grinned wider.
“Nope.”
“See? Bad guy. You got what you wanted, now she’s not talking to you. Be okay with that.”
I knew he was right, dammit, but I didn’t like it. “I’m not okay with it.”
“Too bad,” Jase put in. His voice had lost all humor and his tone was serious. Gravely serious. “Either make it up to her or leave her alone. Bo likes Mikki, and she’ll gut you for screwing with her, and there won’t be a damn thing I can do about it.” His tone and his smile suggested he would probably sit back with a beer and popcorn and enjoy the show. “It’s also okay if you like Mikki, too.”
“I don’t,” I growled, and I knew my mistake right away. The denial came too quick and Jase was there, ready to pounce.
“You do,” he insisted in that tone he used to boss people around when they were in shock or too upset to answer. “And that’s all right. There’s nothing wrong with liking a girl,” he pointed out, an amused smile slowly spreading across his face, “it’s the natural way of things, big brother. It happens to all of us.”
“You forgot about dear old dad?” My brother was younger than me, so he didn’t remember how Mom had fallen apart when she’d finally gotten sick of his cheating ways and kicked him to the curb. “Married six times and cheated on every last one of them, probably getting ready to walk number seven down the aisle.”
“That’s him, not you. Please don’t tell me you’re too stupid to realize this?” Jase must have mistaken my silence for stupidity, because he went on, his tone exasperated as hell. “He is his own man, the same way you are and I am. Sure, we’ve got the same DNA, but I’m not like that.” His tone was proud, and it was hard to miss the stars in his eyes because he was so clearly thinking about Bo. “Just because you got his red hair doesn’t mean shit, Nate. You’ve got Mom’s green eyes, and I don’t imagine you’ll put up with a cheating woman for too many damn years. Will you?”
“No,” I conceded. “When did you start making sense?”
He shrugged. “Bo requires it. She has a very low tolerance for nonsense and bull.” We both laughed at the truth of that statement. “You seem to be full up on both right now.”
“I can still take you, kid.”
“You wish,” Jase countered casually, but he did take a cautious step back. “Maybe you’re bored with a different woman warming your bed or her bed, nothing serious other than your job. Maybe you don’t want to be the sad old dude at the club trying to hit on twenty-year-olds who see you as their grandpa.”
I reached out and punched his arm, hard, for that statement. “I’m not old, asshole.”
“Not yet, but to the girls and women at the clubs, at Black Thumb, you will be. Soon.” He shrugged at my silence and walked away, satisfied he’d said everything he had to say.
Hell, was I bored with my life? No. I did what I wanted when I wanted, and I didn’t have to answer to one damn person to do it. My life was my own, and that’s exactly what I always wanted it to be.
“Ah, hell.” Even I didn’t believe that.
Mikki
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this nonsense.” I glared at Bo while I sucked in heaving breaths of the freshest air I’d ever inhaled. The scenery was gorgeous, without a doubt, but the bugs were vicious. “What happened to good, old-fashioned, indoor fun?”
Bo stopped about ten feet ahead of me and turned with a scowl that told me exactly what she thought of my indoor fun. “You mean like shopping and spa days?” The disgust dripping from her voice was obvious and comical.
“For starters, yeah. But there are also museums and restaurants, wine tastings, movies and concerts. Those are all wonderful things to do, and they have the benefit of taking place indoors. Where the bugs don’t live.” Sweat was starting to gather in nooks and crannies I didn’t know existed, and I swore the bugs grew bigger the nearer we got to Bo’s house.
“Don’t be a baby; we’re almost done.” She was growing impatient with my whining but dang, this kind of walking just for fun really wasn’t my thing.
“I’m not being a baby, Bo. Some of us didn’t grow up traipsing through the outdoors like this and I don’t know if you noticed, but w
e’re not exactly in the same shape.” Where she was lean and toned, muscles visible with every move she made, I was curvy—what some might call lush or voluptuous. Or, as my mama liked to say, a little bit plump.
“You’re doing fine, physically, Mikki. Just open your mind and enjoy the beauty of nature.”
I sighed, because it was beautiful. Breathtaking, actually, with all the thick, lush greenery and the vibrant pops of color found in the occasional clusters of flowers. “Fine. But then we eat, right? Because I was promised food.” It was the only way I’d agreed to risk life and limb climbing a giant hill with no paved streets or paths.
Bo nodded and reached back for my hand as we came to a spot with a three-foot drop off. “Yes, food. Jase and Nate are getting the food going right now, I imagine.” Her words came out easy and casual—as well they should, because I hadn’t told her or anyone else about what had happened with Nate.
“What is Nate doing here?” I focused on landing on my feet while steadfastly ignoring the strange look Bo sent my way.
She blinked a few times before focusing in on my face. “He’s Jase’s brother, kind of comes with the territory. Why, do you have a problem with Nate?”
“I don’t,” I insisted quickly, probably too quickly if her expression was any indication, so I settled on a half-truth. “He’s just kind of a jerk, that’s all. But I’m just here for the food, so no big deal.”
“And the company,” she added sarcastically.
“And the company, of course,” I agreed with a smile she couldn’t see because she was moving forward, always moving forward. My breathing started to come out choppy as the last part of the path became a death trap and my lack of physical fitness became even more obvious. “Are you trying to kill me the same way you tried to kill Jase?” Everyone in town knew about that infamous hike.
Misters of Love: A Small Town Romance Boxset Page 3
