by Jo McNally
“No! The spider!”
“The one from the signs? The way I dropped those things, he’s probably a pancake, Britt.”
“But what if he had cousins? That spiderweb was huge! If there was a spider in it, it might be on me...” Her hands hadn’t stopped moving over her skin, over her hair, down her pant legs. It was all very... distracting. He cleared his throat, trying to think of anything but the fact that she was standing there in her bra. Her tiny, sheer bra with the lace trim and a little bow right between...
Look away! Look away!
He turned to the side, but fear was still pulsating from her and he had to address it. Steeling himself, he turned back and took her hands again.
“Brittany, stop.” He reached up and plucked a clump of dusty gray web from her ponytail and showed it to her. “Look how filthy this is.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better? That I just covered myself in a filthy cobweb?”
“Well, it should make you feel better. This level of dirt tells me this web has been in there for years. Which means its creator is probably long gone.” He knew some spiders could actually live that long. But he was smart enough to know she didn’t need to hear it. And this web looked very unused. “I know it’s gross, but I think you’re safe.” And nearly naked.
She took a shaky breath. “Can you check? I mean...my hair...”
“Turn around.” She did, giving him a break from trying not to look at her chest. Mind you, her bare back was sexy, too, but not as provocative as her lovely breasts pushing against the thin white material of her bra. He wiped the top of her head, picking off any remnants of the cobweb. He pulled the tie from her ponytail, combing his fingers through her silky long hair. Then he stepped back to inspect her from behind. There was no place for a spider of any size to hide, between all the bare skin and the tight denim. Nate’s denim got a little tighter, too, as he stood there admiring her. Inspecting her. That was all he was doing. He just had to ignore the tawny-brown hair tumbling between her shoulder blades, not quite reaching the spot where that bra connected in the middle of her back. He was about to back up even farther when she turned to face him. Not helping.
She’d apparently calmed enough to realize she was nearly topless, since her arms were crossed over her breasts, and some color had returned high on her cheeks. “Anything?”
He shook his head. “You’re good.”
Her eyes were clouded. “Could you...um...check my T-shirt?”
Thankful for the chance to look anywhere but at her, he scooped up the tee, shaking it hard before turning it right side out and shaking it again. Before he could give her the all clear, she grabbed it from his hands and tugged it on. She flipped her now-loose hair out from the shirt, fanning it across her shoulders.
“I can’t believe I yanked my clothes off in front of you. I’m...sorry. I was so freaked out...”
“You think?” He grinned, more relieved than sorry that she was covered again. It was easier to look in her eyes now. “I was afraid you were going to impale yourself on the farm tools in there.” He picked up her plaid shirt from the ground and shook it out, too. He flipped it over and checked it before handing it back to her.
She shrugged it on, stepping toward him while still looking down to tie the shirttails together. Her hands were shaking, and before he knew what was happening, Nate took the shirt and started to tie it. They were standing close now, and his knuckles brushed the white tee. He could feel her stomach beneath it. Did she just tremble?
She looked up through her long lashes. A tiny dimple appeared as she struggled not to smile and failed. Her hand rested on his arm, then slid up to his biceps, which tightened of their own accord. Or maybe because her touch made his body feel like it was being tased. Her pupils went wide and dark, and watching that happen from this close sent a surge of heat through his veins.
How did his hand get to the side of her face, where she leaned into his palm? Were they puppets being controlled by unseen strings, pulling them together and tangling around them? What else could explain the fact that her chest was pressed against his now, and her lips were right there. Just an inch from his, because he’d lowered his head toward her. Why had...? Ah, who gave a damn why or what or how?
All he cared about was her arm sliding around his neck. Her fingers in his hair. His hand against her back, magically working its way under both shirts so he could feel her warm, soft skin. The feel of her mouth against his, featherlight and cautious at first. He slid his lips across hers, back and forth, back and forth. And then she pushed up onto her toes and forced solid contact.
The match was lit. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her, throwing caution and feathers right out the window. If he was going to do something this crazy, he may as well do it big. Her lips parted for him and he went in, all thoughts ceasing as he focused only on sensation.
Chapter Eight
Brittany thought her heart might just pound its way right out of her chest as Nate got serious about kissing her. He turned his head for better access and plunged inside her mouth. His hand flattened against the small of her back, skin to skin. Pulling her against him. Was that...was that an erection she was bumping up against? So much for mild-mannered Nate Thomas.
It was clear neither of them had planned this kiss. She’d had her freak-out. And had been mortified to realize she’d ripped off her clothes right in front of him. And he’d been so calm about it all, like women stripped for him every day. The calm was what she expected from the man. But this? This hard, deep kiss that made her toes curl? Not expected at all.
This was a man who was kissing her like she was one of those treasures he talked about finding. Like she was his.
And just like that, it was over. He set her back, away from him, staring at her with...confusion? Desire? Regret? Oh, that last one hurt. What would make him regret a kiss that good?
“Nate...”
“I’m sorry.” He released her and turned away, cupping his hands on the back of his head. “I shouldn’t have done that. We shouldn’t have done that. If I took advantage...”
“Nate, I was just as much a participant as you were.”
He spun, a look of disbelief on his face. “But why?”
“I...” Her mind went blank on how to answer that question. “Why what? We had a moment, and we went for it.”
“We shouldn’t have.”
Her shoulders tensed. He was spoiling the moment with all of his angst. The fact that he was right made her even more irritated. They shouldn’t have kissed. Until she could figure out what was happening with Conrad’s plans for Gallant Lake, she needed to be careful. Getting personally involved with a potential rival—the president of the preservation society, for heaven’s sake—was a bad idea. Even if it was a damn good kiss.
“Look, it was just a kiss. I’m a big girl, Nate. I know you didn’t want to get involved.” He started to speak, but she waved him off. “But you can relax. I’m not expecting us to go steady or anything.” She headed toward the van, her emotions a jumble of anger and desire. “You know what? Never mind. You’re right. We shouldn’t have. Let’s get out of this creepy-ass place.”
They drove back to the lake in silence. It wasn’t the comfortable silence like they had after going to the llama farm. This was tense and heavy. He pulled up to her cabin, then sat back, staring straight ahead.
“I want to be clear about one thing, Brittany. I enjoyed that kiss. A lot. So don’t think that’s what this is about. I’m just not a...” His fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “I’m not a casual relationship sort of guy. If I kiss a woman, it means I’m serious, and...”
She yanked at the door handle. Hard.
“And you can’t see yourself getting serious about a woman like me, right?”
She knew she sounded petulant, but she was feeling petulant, damn it.
Nate le
t out a sigh. “That is not what I said. Or meant. It shouldn’t surprise you to hear I’m kind of an old-fashioned guy. We barely know each other. You’re in town for a few weeks, and you’re involved in some shady-sounding business deal...”
She got out of the van, hiding her hurt from him. She’d had people treating her like someone shady her whole life. Especially when she, Mom and Ellie had been scraping by on the streets. She’d hated the distrust in people’s eyes when she’d ask for a few dollars to buy a couple of burgers with so she and Ellie wouldn’t go hungry. Even if they gave her something, it was usually with a comment about not spending it on drugs or booze. As if her fifteen-year-old self would ever do that.
“Thanks for the day, Nate.” Her voice was flat. “See you around.”
He called her name, but she walked to the cabin without looking back. She didn’t want him to see the tears in her eyes. She didn’t want him to know how much she cared about what he thought of her. Because she shouldn’t care. This stab of pain was proof of it.
Her sister knew something was wrong as soon as Brittany called her the next morning. She’d just left Nora’s coffee shop and made sure to walk away from the hardware store. She tried to deflect Ellie’s questions, but it was pointless.
“There’s this guy...”
“Oh, my God. A guy?” Ellie laughed. “Tell me everything. Right now.”
“Turns out there’s nothing to tell. I think I was more...curious...than anything, but then we had this weird moment and kissed, and it was...amazing.” She smiled a greeting at the police chief, Dan Adams, as he passed her on the sidewalk. “But he doesn’t do casual, so he ended it before it ever got started.” She took a deep breath. “And that’s a good thing. This guy is a settle-down-and-start-a-family type, and you know better than anyone that’s...not for me.”
“I know no such thing. You deserve to find love, Britt-Britt.”
She scoffed, walking by Mack Wallace, who was unlocking the front door to her liquor store. “Who said anything about love? I was just looking for a little fun, but Nate was one kiss and done.”
Ellie laughed. “Nice rhyme, sis!”
“Yeah, ha ha.” She shook her head, trying to shake off Nate’s kiss, too. “It’s no big deal. I’ll just move on. I always do.”
“Someday you’re gonna get tired of all that movin’ on, sis.”
Someday is already here.
“Who, me? I’m a rolling stone, kiddo. I’ll give you a call later, okay?”
She walked on, turning down a side street and walking down sidewalks lined with charming older homes. Some were Victorian, but most were sturdy square houses like Nate’s, solid and practical. They had sharply-pitched roofs to handle the winter snowfall. The yards were tidy, and most had flowers all around. It was a nice town. She could understand why Nate wanted to preserve it.
She couldn’t keep the man out of her head, so she tried to change her focus. Instead of thinking about The Kiss, she tried to come up with a way to keep the hardware store intact and still deliver Conrad what he wanted. Maybe she could convince him to scale back the number of condos. Or bump them to the east of Nate’s store, extending farther that direction instead of being centered in downtown. She walked back to Main Street and looked at the area. There was an old firehouse there that was vacant.
It was a cool place, part of the town’s history, and distinctive with the arched windows on the old wood doors, now sealed shut. The building would make a fun office or storefront. And it was for sale. She jotted down the number. It would be a shame to see it demolished for condos, but whoever bought it might tear it down anyway. She snapped a few photos and took some information on other nearby properties.
She was headed back to her car when she heard Mack calling her name. The door to the liquor store had been propped open, probably to let the fresh air in. She stepped inside and saw Mack ringing up a sale for Stella. The older woman gave her a wink as she left, honoring their little secret of an offer on Stella’s building. It was still just a verbal agreement until she had everyone lined up, but it was a step in the right direction. For Conrad, at least.
Mack was giving her the strangest look from behind the counter. Both amused and curious.
Brittany looked down at her clothes, wondering if she had her shirt on inside out or something. Nope, everything looked tidy, just the way she liked it.
“What are you grinning at?”
“Oh...nothing.” Mack came around the counter. “Just wondering if I heard right earlier.”
Brittany went still. Had rumors started about her making offers on properties? She swallowed hard.
“What did you hear?”
“I hate to admit to eavesdropping, but I couldn’t help overhearing when you walked by earlier. I could swear I heard you on the phone using the words Nate and kiss in the same sentence.”
Brittany’s face burned. She thought nothing of strolling city streets while on the phone, with strangers pressing in all around her. But that didn’t happen in Gallant Lake. Not a chance. One lousy phone call on a quiet weekday morning, and naturally it was overheard by someone who not only knew her, but also didn’t mind asking her about it directly.
Mack held her hands up. “Hey, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot...” Brittany gave her a look, and Mack laughed. “Okay, I meant to put you on a little spot. But if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s cool. I just want to say Nate’s about as good as a man can get. I went to school with him, and he’s true blue, honorable, all that Scout stuff.” She grinned. “And he’s got that hot nerd look down to a T. Don’t let the flannel and plaid scare you off.”
“I wasn’t the one who got scared off.” Brittany shrugged. “But it’s honestly for the best. He said he doesn’t do casual, and I’m not staying, so...”
“He wasn’t lying. I’ve never known him to just hook up with anyone. He’s dated a few women, but it’s been a while. Maybe because of his parents’ divorce... I don’t know.”
Brittany couldn’t resist asking, even if it was going to prove her interest. “Divorced? What happened?”
Mack looked out the window, as if making sure no one was listening, which was ironic, considering how this conversation had started. She gestured for Brittany to follow her to the back of the store, where the wine-tasting area was set up. They sat at a café table.
“Nate’s dad had a bad gambling problem.”
Brittany nodded. “He mentioned his father liked Atlantic City.”
Mack’s brows rose. “Wow. He very rarely talks about it. His dad had always been a little edgy. He resented the store. Fought with Nate’s grandfather all the time. Did some drinking. But it was the gambling that did him in.” She sat back, and her expression turned sad. “It destroyed his marriage. He took out a loan against the store to cover his debts, and they almost lost the place. Nate and his grandfather really never forgave him. I think Nate just got that mortgage paid off a few years ago.”
She digested that news. No wonder he was so resentful of change. His dad wanted to change everything and blew up Nate’s whole world.
“Where’s his dad now?”
Mack shook her head. “He passed away about ten years ago.”
“His mom?”
“Oh, she’s fine. She remarried and lives in Florida with her husband and Nate’s half sister.” Mack’s head tilted. “Now it’s your turn to talk. How did you end up kissing our Nate?”
Our Nate. This town loved Nate as much as he loved the town. They were permanently entwined. She told Mack about the spiderweb and the kiss.
“Wait a minute. He took you picking with him? And then he told you about his dad? And saw you half-naked and then kissed you? Girl, you’re already more than casual. What made him pull away?”
“Like I said, I’m not staying here. We have nothing in common. He was right to pull the plug.”
; “But you wish he hadn’t.”
She opened her mouth to deny it but couldn’t.
“It stung a little.”
Mack reached over and squeezed her hand. “Don’t give up on him if that’s what you really want.”
Brittany chuckled. “I don’t know what I’d do with him if I caught him. But I’m fine, Mack. Do me a favor and keep this on the down low, okay? I’d hate to embarrass him with rumors.”
“Sure thing.” Brittany was almost to the door when Mack called out. “Hey, did you see the forecast for this weekend? They say we could get some wild storms. If you get nervous about that old cabin floating away, just give Dan and me a call. You’re welcome to stay at our place.”
Brittany thanked her for the offer and headed back to the cabin, unconcerned about the weather. A little rain wasn’t going to worry her. She was more concerned with coming up with a viable proposal for Conrad. Her preference was to reduce the footprint of the condos, if she could talk him into it. Now that she was getting to know more people in town, she knew her friends, like Nora, Mack and Mel, would probably be horrified to see modern condos built right across the street from their businesses. She reminded herself that the condos would bring more customers for those businesses. But it would drastically change the face of Gallant Lake, even if they didn’t use Nate’s Hardware. It would be small consolation for him to keep his store but lose “his” town.
Because of her.
* * *
The storm hit exactly when forecast—in the wee hours of the morning. Nate had been checking his weather app since early the day before. That was when the local meteorologist in White Plains had declared a Storm Team Weather Watch Stay Alert Day or whatever they called it. The channel liked to do that at the least hint of bad weather, but this one sounded legit. A strong weather system was roaring up from the Ohio Valley, gathering energy as it came. They figured when that cold front hit the hot, humid air in New York, things could get dicey, with high winds and dangerous lightning.
