Best Laid Wedding Plans

by Lynnette Austin

  The song ended and, grudgingly, he kissed the top of her head. “Give ’em hell, tiger.”

  Moving back to his drink, he swung around on his stool and leaned against the bar to watch her. Every once and again, their gazes caught and he damned near stopped breathing.

  Good sense dictated he should go home. Catch some shut-eye. He didn’t. He ordered dinner and ate, his foot tapping to the band’s music. They had a good sound, and Cole found himself wishing Jenni Beth was up there singing with them. The woman had an incredible voice.

  At midnight, the band announced their final song, “Hit the Road, Jack.” Cole laughed. Perfect ending.

  He kept his eye on Jenni Beth as she cleared her last table. Binnie would handle the stragglers.

  She caught his eye, and he pointed to a small, empty table in the corner. After a second, she nodded. He held up his beer toward her, and she mouthed, “Yes, please.”

  Snagging another beer from Binnie, he moved to the table and slid out a chair for Jenni Beth as she made her way to him.

  “You handled your tables well.”

  “Thanks.” She took a healthy drink. “Oh, that tastes good. My throat’s parched. I haven’t played waitress in a long time.”

  “And you enjoyed it.”

  “I did.” She grinned. “It’s nice to mingle. I saw people I haven’t talked to in years. And look at this.” She reached into her jeans pocket and held up her tip money. “Between this and what Duffy owes me, I earned enough to pay for the materials for Ms. Hattie’s new porch stairs.”

  Didn’t that just do it? His heart hit the floor. How was a man supposed to resist a woman like her? She needed that money badly, yet her first thought was Ms. Hattie’s steps.

  He lov—his mind stumbled over the word—liked her. So much he hurt. Dazed, he opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she did. “Jeez, I’m starving.” She laid a hand on her stomach. “I didn’t get a chance to eat before I left the house.”

  “What can the kitchen do this late, Binnie?”

  “They’ve shut down the griddle and deep fryer, but the oven’s still on.”

  “I don’t want anything heavy. Can they toss together a sandwich?”

  “You bet.”

  Cole stretched his legs out in front of him and watched her devour the club sandwich when it came. Another point for her. He liked a woman who actually ate, one who didn’t play with her food. He snagged a couple chips off her plate while they talked about his week, her week. About happenings in town.

  “I need to go to bed, Cole.”

  His wiring short-circuited. To cover it, he laughed and rubbed his hands together. “Okay. Now you’re talkin’. I’ve been waitin’ to hear those words from you, sugar.”

  “Ha-ha. To sleep. Alone. At my house.”

  “What a tease.” As fast as it had come, the laughter left him. He wanted to make her his. Knew deep down what a horrid mistake that would be. Or would it? He didn’t know anymore. She scrambled his brains.

  Keeping his voice light, he said, “Grab your purse and I’ll walk you out.”

  When they stepped into the Georgia night, the heat and humidity grabbed at him. Overhead, stars scattered across the night sky, winking. The moon frosted Jenni Beth and gave her the appearance of an ice princess.

  Because he desperately wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her senseless, he stepped to the side, careful not to touch her as he escorted her to her little sports car.

  She reached it first and kicked at the front driver’s-side tire. “Shoot.”

  Cole came up behind her. “What’s wrong?”

  “My tire’s flat.” She ran fingers through her tangled mass of silvery hair.

  Cole knelt and ran a hand over the tire. He moved to the side so he could see it better in the meager light that filtered through the bar’s windows. Somebody opened the door and he saw the tire clearly for a few seconds. That was all he needed. Cold fury ripped through him. He took a deep breath to rein in his temper. The tire hadn’t gone flat. Somebody had slashed it.

  Jenni Beth didn’t need to know that. Not tonight.

  “I could change this tonight, sugar, but it sure would be easier in the mornin’. We’re both tired. Why don’t you let me drive you home? When I come into town tomorrow, I’ll take care of it.” He tugged at his ball cap. “Or later today, I guess, since it’s already tomorrow, isn’t it?”

  “It scares me that I understand that,” she said.

  Hand on her back, he herded her to his truck, opened her door, tossed a couple files into the back, and helped her in. Heat sizzled through him at the innocent contact.

  “There you go.”

  He walked around the hood of the vehicle and slid in behind the wheel. The truck’s cab shrank, grew intimate. The woman smelled so good, so feminine. Lavender. Jasmine. Nighttime.

  It felt right to have Jenni Beth here beside him. To drive through the night with her. To pass neighbors’ homes with their darkened windows and know they were tucked in for the night.

  His head filled with a vision of the two of them heading home to a night together. A dream where she wouldn’t have to leave. Where they’d have each other to turn to in the night. Where she’d still curl against him when the sun peeked over the horizon first thing in the morning.

  They’d share that first cup of coffee. That first burst of laughter. That first—

  She turned on the CD player and pulled back as though burned.

  Of all the— He’d been listening to Wes’s favorite CD, and Jenni Beth recognized it. Her hands moved to her face.

  Quickly he punched the power button and pitched the truck into silence. He swerved onto the road’s shoulder and threw the truck in park. When he reached out to her, she pulled away, her breathing ragged.

  “Why that CD?”

  “It makes me feel close to him, honey. When I’m missin’ him, I’ll put this in sometimes, turn it up, and go for a ride. I had no idea—”

  “I miss him.”

  “I know.”

  “And you’re crowding me, Cole.”

  “Crowdin’ you?” He turned in his seat and rested his head against the side window, staring at her. “What are you talkin’ about?”

  “You’ve wormed your way into my life. Made yourself necessary to me. Made it so that I think about you all the time. I—”

  He laid a finger over her lips. “Stop. Don’t say whatever it is that’s ready to spill from that gorgeous mouth.”

  “Cole—”

  He shook his head. “Please. We can work this out, Jenni Beth.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Against his better judgment, he unsnapped both their seat belts and crushed her to him, held her close. Cursed the storage compartment between them.

  Her heart raced—or was it his?

  He heard the first sob, almost a hiccup. The tears came faster. She shook in his arms, her hot tears wetting his shirt.

  He cupped the back of her head and buried his face in her hair. “Oh, sugar, don’t. Please. Don’t cry.” He ran his fingers through her hair.

  “You’re breaking down my walls,” she sobbed. “I swore I’d never let that happen again. After Wes died, I don’t seem to be able to invest myself in relationships. I hold back. I can’t face that pain again.”

  “That’s understandable.”

  “No, it’s not. I’ve even wedged that little bit of space between me and my friends, between me and my parents, and I hate it. I’m always preparing, always getting ready to say good-bye.”

  “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  “Not right now, but you will!”

  He drew back, rested a finger beneath her chin. “Honey, I’m right here. Always will be.”

  “No.” She jerked away from him. “That’s not true, Cole. You know it, and so
do I. But I will be. Misty Bottoms is my home. My parents are here. This is where what’s left of my heart is. Your niche is in Savannah.”

  “That’s where my business is.”

  “That’s what I said. You belong in Savannah.”

  “I wonder.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “I’m beginnin’ to think my heart is right here. You’re doin’ something to me, sugar, that I can’t fight. That I’m not sure I want to fight.”

  “Don’t say that, Cole.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I can’t do this. I can’t give you my heart, then watch you walk away. So, please, go now. Before it hurts worse.”

  Desperation welled in him, and his eyes burned into her. “You’re not listenin’. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You will.” She pushed away. “Take me home.”

  He did, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.

  The instant the tires stopped turning, she hopped out and walked inside without looking back. When the wooden screen door slapped shut, he swore he heard the sound of his heart breaking. How stupid was that?

  He should go. Instead, he sat in the dark, his window down. The sweet smell of roses surrounded him. Crickets chirped. Night birds called. Overhead, the moon shone through the leaves of the live oaks, giving the appearance of a huge lace doily spread across the newly mown yard.

  The last light in the house went out, and he was alone.

  Time for him to go home, too. Putting the truck in gear, he drove away. Tomorrow would be soon enough to tell Jenni Beth her tire hadn’t gone flat. She hadn’t run over anything.

  Someone had slashed it. Viciously.

  And everybody in town knew that Corvette belonged to her.

  Chapter 18

  Cole knocked sharply at the base of the attic stairs and headed up them two at a time.

  “Wake up, sleepyhead. The day’s wastin’ away.”

  “What?” Jenni Beth peeked out from beneath the covers and let out a small cry before pulling them over her head. “Get out of here. What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Kind of grumpy in the morning, aren’t you?” He sat down on the edge of her bed, felt it dip beneath his weight.

  “Cole!”

  “Always wake up this cranky?”

  “I’m not cranky!”

  “Sure sounds like it to me.”

  “I was up late.”

  “Yeah, I know. I was with you, remember? We need to head into town and pick up your car.”

  “You already changed the tire?” She lowered the covers enough to peer at him.

  “Early bird catches the worm.”

  “Ha-ha.” She drew the covers over her head again.

  “Actually, I took it to Tommy.” He hesitated. “You needed to replace the tire. Now, up.” He reached for the spread, and she swatted his hand away.

  “You naked under there?” Words meant to be playful had his voice deepening, his heart thumping a little too fast.

  “No!”

  “Too bad. Maybe this’ll help.” He handed her a mug.

  “Coffee?”

  “Yep. Now be a good girl. Get up.”

  She sat up, pushed the hair out of her eyes, and greedily grabbed the steaming hot coffee.

  The morning sun shone on that mass of thick blond hair and she looked just like the angel his mom perched atop the Christmas tree every year. So soft. Her cheeks pink, her hair mussed. She’d never looked more beautiful.

  He tore his gaze away. “You don’t draw your curtains at night?”

  “Why should I? Unless you intend to climb the tree outside my window and play Peeping Tom.”

  Although he hated himself for it, he had to admit the idea held more than a little appeal.

  He covered with, “How can you sleep with all this light?”

  “It doesn’t bother me. In fact, I was sound asleep—until some idiot came bursting in on me.” She made a shooing motion. “Go away. Let me enjoy my coffee.”

  “God, you’re gorgeous in the morning.”

  Her face flushed. “I’m a mess.”

  “No, you’re not.” His words were soft.

  “My mother is going to have one heck of a conniption if she catches you up here.”

  “Sue Ellen’s the one who sent me up.”

  “What?” Jenni Beth bobbled the cup and would have spilled it if he hadn’t reached out to steady it.

  Their fingers touched, and she drew away. So, he mused, eyes slitting. She felt the zing, too. What he wouldn’t give to slip under those covers with her.

  “Cole—”

  “Jenni Beth.” He smiled.

  “We skirted around this yesterday, but I have to ask again. What’s going on here?” She waved her free hand between them.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. Don’t play dumb.” She sipped her coffee and looked at him over the rim, those big, beautiful blue eyes boring into him. “You, me, these kisses you keep stealing. This…thing.”

  She’d admitted she held people at bay. Well, so did he when it came to women. Usually. He found it safer. It kept him from committing.

  He’d never considered actually taking that next step before now. Still, he kept dancing around it, unsure he was ready. One step forward, two back. Enough to confuse anybody, including him.

  Not knowing what to say, he shrugged.

  “Cole?”

  He had no answer, so he said honestly, “Damned if I know.”

  “When the house is done, will you disappear?”

  “Is that what you want?”

  “You’re really good at this, aren’t you?”

  “At what?”

  “At ducking an issue,” she snapped.

  He wasn’t ready to discuss it, so he did exactly that. He ducked. “Jenni Beth, I care about you.”

  “But?”

  “But,” he said, squirming, “I’m happy with my life. At least I was.”

  “Okay.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked. “Okay? Just okay and that’s it?”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  The ground turned boggy beneath him. “I don’t know, but I thought I meant more than that to you.”

  Her laugh was sad. “You do, Cole. Now go away.”

  He didn’t move. “Wait. I’m not being fair. Or honest.” He raked the fingers of one hand through his hair. “Truth? I wish I understood all this. You. Me. I don’t, and it’s got me all tangled up. I don’t want you to walk away, and, God help me, I can’t seem to. How ’bout we play it by ear for a while?”

  “Sure. Now go away. I want to sleep.” She set the nearly empty coffee mug on her nightstand.

  He leaned in, kissed the top of her head. Wanted to lose himself in her. She smelled so good. Felt so warm. Looked so sleep-tousled. He wanted more than anything to crawl into that bed with her and spend the day right there.

  But her mom and dad were in the building.

  So, instead, he pulled away. “Get some clothes on and meet me downstairs. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

  “We?”

  “Yeah, we.” He pointed a finger first at her, then at himself. “You and me. Don’t take too long.”

  Turning to go, he decided he might as well get the ugly out and done with. On a big sigh, he said, “One more thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Your tire. It didn’t go flat.”

  “I ran over something?”

  “No. Somebody slashed it.”

  She shook her head. “Nobody in Misty Bottoms would do that.”

  “You’re wrong. Might be a good idea if you don’t go out alone after dark.”

  She gasped and erupted from the bed, dragging the top cover with her.

&
nbsp; “Just sayin’.”

  Cole moseyed back to the kitchen while he waited. He thought he’d find Charlotte there. Instead, Jenni Beth’s parents sat at the table sharing coffee and a newspaper.

  “Sit down,” Todd said. “Knowing my daughter, you’ve got plenty of time for coffee with Sue Ellen and me.” He grabbed a mug and the coffeepot. Back at the table, he handed a steaming mug of coffee to Cole, then refilled his and his wife’s cups.

  He slid a plate across the table. “Have a cinnamon roll. Charlotte made them this morning. Best in the county.”

  “Don’t mind if I do. Thanks.”

  Todd peppered him with questions about the renovation, about his business in Savannah. “You’ve done a good job, Cole. Sue Ellen and I are proud of you.”

  “Thank you, sir. That means a lot.”

  “What are you up to today?” Sue Ellen asked.

  He licked a bit of frosting from his fingers. Grinning, he said, “I know I should use my napkin, but darned, that frosting’s too good to waste.”

  She laughed. “I know. It’s a good thing Charlotte doesn’t make these often. I can’t resist them.”

  “Jenni Beth had a flat tire last night.” It wasn’t a lie, just not the entire truth. The Beaumonts already had enough on their plate and darned if he’d add more. Although maybe her dad… No.

  “She didn’t tell me,” Todd said.

  “Understandable. It was pretty late by the time she finished at the pub last night.”

  “You were there?”

  “Pure luck.” Cole sipped his coffee. “I drove up from Savannah, decided I was hungry, and stopped by Duffy’s in time to have a bite and bring her home.”

  “Thank you, honey.” Sue Ellen patted his hand.

  He turned his, grasping hers in a warm grip. This woman had been like a second mother to him, and he’d all but abandoned her when she needed him most. He felt like a heel. Yet neither Todd nor Sue Ellen seemed to notice his neglect. Either that or they were simply too well-bred to mention it.

  “No problem. I changed the tire this morning, but her spare’s pretty worn. I found the key she’d hidden in the wheel well and drove the car over to Tommy’s. He’s gonna replace the spare with a new tire. Thought I’d take Jenni Beth to pick it up.”

  “Wonderful.”