Baby, Don't Go

by Stephanie Bond

  “Right.”

  “So you think the D.O.E. wanted to see how the town of Sweetness would operate with the pressure of Homecoming and a lot of extra people?”

  “That would make sense. It’s the best way to predict if the town has the capacity to grow. The tornado was probably just a bonus,” Clancey added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if right now they’re evaluating the town on emergency response.”

  Inspired, Alicia lifted her hands. “Then let’s respond. Since the workers have been diverted to the fire, that leaves the trees and the garbage to us. We need as many volunteers as we can pull together.”

  “But we don’t have any equipment,” Clancey said. “We need chainsaws and axes and tarps—”

  “Leave the equipment to me,” Molly interrupted. “Just get the people here.”

  31

  Every muscle in Alicia’s body ached. It hurt just to type in her blog entry about the tornado and the enormous cleanup effort afterward.

  The worst part wasn’t being in a concrete hole while a freight train ran overhead—you’re glad for the concrete hole. The worst part is the moment when you climb out, and you don’t know what you’re going to see.

  From the lost and found warehouse, Colonel Molly had produced enough equipment to arm the volunteers with chainsaws, axes, rakes, shovels, buckets, tarps—any kind of tool imaginable, including a backhoe to transport the large pieces of debris. The woman had organized the volunteers into platoons, divided the storm path into color-coded areas, and given the platoon leaders strict orders to stay focused on the mission.

  The bullhorn she used helped to get her point across.

  The helicopter reporter said it was like looking down on a swarm of locusts moving over the land, leaving a wide, clean swath in its wake.

  Alicia paused in her typing, remembering the sense of community she’d felt with residents and visitors of Sweetness—including her parents—working side by side, all united in one purpose. She acknowledged that she was starting to feel…attached.

  She hit the send button, then limped to the bathroom to take a lukewarm shower to keep her muscles from tightening further. She had just pulled on soft pajamas when the phone rang. No surprise, it was Nina.

  “Oh, my God. A freaking tornado? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I’ve been on the West Coast in meetings, so I haven’t even seen the news! This is incredible. What are the odds?”

  “I’m guessing astronomical?”

  “And no one was hurt?”

  “Just minor injuries.”

  “Another Sweetness Miracle,” Nina said. “Okay, Alicia, this is too good—we have to go live with the blog entries now, while the story is trending.”

  Alicia frowned, panicked. “When?”

  “I’ll ask the syndication team to hold off until Monday.”

  She bit her lip. “So I’ll have to leave Sweetness before then.”

  “That’s up to you and whether you think you’ll get blowback from residents once they find out about it.”

  “But Marcus probably won’t hear back about the federal grant money until sometime after Monday.”

  “So you’ll find out about the grant later and write about it remotely. The results will be made public, won’t they? Or maybe you could call someone who still lives there and get an update?”

  “Maybe.”

  “There is a third option,” Nina said.

  “Which is?”

  “Come clean with your Mr. Armstrong. Maybe he won’t be as upset as you think.”

  A knock sounded on her door, startling her. “Nina, I have to go. I’ll call you soon.”

  She disconnected the call and walked to the door. It was probably a neighbor wanting to borrow an emory board, or her mother coming back for something she’d forgotten. “Who is it?”

  “Marcus.”

  Her heart thudded against her breastbone. She took a couple of deep, cleansing breaths, then opened the door.

  His body practically filled the door frame. Gone was the soiled suit, replaced by worn jeans and a navy blue short-sleeve collared shirt. “Hi.”

  She tried to tamp her nerves—and her libido. “Hi.”

  “I came by to thank you.”

  His blue eyes were so sexy, so intense, she could barely maintain eye contact. “For what?”

  “I understand it was your idea to organize the volunteer effort today. My men spent hours getting that fire under control, and in the backs of their minds, they knew they had another thankless job to do as soon as it was over. It was a nice surprise to find out it was already done, and that we still have the Homecoming events to look forward to tomorrow.” He straightened and assumed an expression she’d never seen before, leveling those dark-denim eyes on her. “So thank you, Alicia. It really means a lot to me.”

  His gratitude only made her feel more guilty about…everything. “You’re welcome for my part, but I can assure you, there were a lot of people out there working much harder.”

  “Molly told me you would probably say that.”

  She smiled. “Have the two of you buried the hatchet?”

  “No, but maybe someday she’ll let me back into her good graces.” He craned his neck. “I thought your mother was staying with you.”

  “Tonight she’s staying at the hotel…with her attorney.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Oh.”

  “They used to be married a long time ago.”

  He pursed his mouth. “Oh.” He scratched his temple. “So…what a day, huh?”

  “I know…I can’t believe I lived through a tornado.” She held out her hand. “I’m still shaking. But you were so calm. Did you get that steely nerve from the Marines, or from business school?”

  He squinted. “How did you know I went to business school?”

  Her throat convulsed. “Uh…”

  “My mom told you, didn’t she?”

  She gave a little laugh, then made a zipping motion across her mouth. “She’s incorrigible.”

  “Mothers,” she agreed with a sigh, then changed the subject. “So…how are things with the D.O.E. inspectors?”

  He lifted his big shoulders in a shrug. “I can’t really tell.”

  “I heard no one at the plant sustained any injuries in the storm, or the fire.”

  “Yeah…we were lucky.” He cleared his throat. “Listen, I also came to talk to you about something…else. Can I come in?”

  Something in his demeanor set off a warning bell in her head. Whatever it was, he didn’t really want to talk about it. “Uh…sure.” She stepped aside, then closed the door behind him. No one man should be so good-looking.

  And so strong…and so noble…and so intelligent…and so…good-looking.

  “I’m sorry for inviting myself in,” he said, “but I didn’t want to talk where someone might overhear us.”

  Her nerves bundled. “What’s on your mind?”

  He reached into his shirt pocket. At the sound of paper crackling, she tensed. Was it her column torn out of Feminine Power? Notification from the IRS that they didn’t have an Alicia Waters in their records?

  He pulled out a piece of folded up newspaper, and her knees went weak—it was something about her in a newspaper.

  He unfolded the newsprint and held up…her missing bracelet.

  “My bracelet!” She reached for it. “Where did you get it?”

  “I…found it.”

  “Where?” She held it and turned over her wrist so he could fasten the clasp.

  His fingers were rough and masculine against her skin. “At the creek.”

  She held up her wrist and smiled, then she squinted. “Where?”

  “Uh…near the covered bridge.”

  “Oh…yeah, I went back to look for it there, but I didn’t find it.” Then she squinted again. “Wait—how did you know it was mine? My name isn’t on it.”

  “I, uh…might’ve been there when you…dropped it.”

  Alicia�
�s mind rewound. She’d gone back to that spot because she thought she might have dropped it when she…” She looked up and covered her mouth with her hand. “Not when I…”

  He bit back a smile, then nodded.

  A hot flush zoomed up her face. “But I didn’t see anyone.”

  He reached forward and picked up her hand. “I kind of gathered that at the time. Then I didn’t want to make myself known and embarrass you, so I just…”

  “Watched?”

  He locked his gaze with hers and nodded. “I couldn’t help it.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. The sensation shot straight to her nipples. She gasped.

  “You are—” he kissed his way up her arm and neck “—the most…beautiful woman…I’ve ever seen.”

  Her mouth opened, inviting him. He captured her lips in a warm, deep kiss, lapping at her tongue. He slid his hands underneath her top and lifted it over her head, tossing it away. Her nipples budded in the open air.

  “That’s how you knew about my tattoo,” she accused.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, then dipped his head for a taste. His tongue set fires all over her body. He groaned and lifted her, walking her back to the bed where he feasted on her breasts until she cried out.

  They pulled and pushed at each other’s clothes. She expected him to hold back, but this time he shed his clothes with no modesty or restraint. She explored his body with her mouth and hands, following his guttural cues, until he stilled her hand. “Enough…I have to have you.”

  She was beyond ready for him. He rolled on a condom, then spooned her body to his. “You’ve bewitched me,” he murmured, then he thrust into her from behind, and buried his face in her hair.

  He flicked his tongue against her ear and fondled her nipples. “Does that feel good, baby?”

  She moaned and arched into him. He slid his hand lower to please her, murmuring in her ear throughout…how sexy she was…how he thought about her all the time…

  Alicia’s body bucked against his as a climax broke over her. She felt wild and frenzied in his arms, like the most wanton woman in the world.

  “Are you ready for me?” he asked.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she whispered, weak and still convulsing.

  “You make me crazy,” he rasped. “Oh, baby…?.” Then his body shuddered and he clenched her hips against his. “Oh…oh…baby…?.”

  He relaxed, but held her to him in a powerful grip. As their bodies recovered, Alicia thought she might die of pure pleasure. Sex had never been like this for her. Funny, but she’d always thought casual sex was hotter than committed sex. But casual sex didn’t hold a candle to intimacy with someone you had an emotional connection to.

  It was as if their bodies communicated in some kind of carnal shorthand.

  He leaned up and kissed her shoulder, then pulled himself out of bed and into the bathroom. When he came back a few minutes later, he stretched out next to her with a groan.

  “I have to warn you, I’ll probably be asleep in about five minutes. If you don’t want me to be here in the morning, you’d better kick me out now.”

  “I thought men weren’t allowed to spend the night.”

  “What are my brothers going to do to me? I only hope they put me in jail. That way, I might get some rest.”

  She laughed.

  “Besides, they’ve spent their fair share of time sneaking in and out of Nikki’s and Amy’s rooms.”

  “Ah. I heard that Porter proposed to Nikki.”

  “Yeah, he did. Right after she came up out of that basement, he fell to one knee and proposed.” Marcus chuckled. “I guess that experience scared him straight. He said he didn’t want to waste any more time.”

  She pressed her lips together. “I can relate to that.”

  “So can I,” Marcus murmured. “Moments like that are a gift.” He reached over and traced a finger down her cheek. “When you can so clearly see what you want.”

  Her breathing grew shallow.

  He made a rueful noise. “This is going to sound nuts, but…I think I fell for you that first day, when I saw you bathing in the creek. You were so…magical. I thought, now there’s a woman who knows how to be herself, who knows how to enjoy life. When you walked into the diner, I couldn’t believe my luck. And I couldn’t get you out of my mind. It was torture working with you every day.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  She wet her lips. “Yes. I do know what you mean.”

  Her heart thrashed in her chest. She wanted to blurt that she loved him, too, but she needed to do some housekeeping first—namely, cancel the blog, or arrange to write a different kind of blog about Sweetness. She could tell him her real identity and explain things after she’d mitigated the town’s exposure.

  Marcus missed his estimate—within three minutes, he was sound asleep, his broad chest moving up and down. Alicia lay there and marveled at the turn of events, about how much her outlook on life had changed in a scant few weeks. She would be content to fall asleep on this man for the rest of her life…?.

  When she awoke the next morning, Marcus was fully dressed and sitting in a chair, pulling on his boots. “I was trying to be quiet,” he said. “It’s still early, you could sleep.”

  She sat up and stretched, then winced at the soreness from yesterday’s—and last night’s—exertion. “No, I wanted to say goodbye.”

  He stared at her, his hand over his mouth.

  She smiled. “What’s wrong?” She touched her hair. “Do I look awful in the morning?”

  “You look beautiful in the morning.”

  She basked in his compliment, but when he kept staring, she gave a little laugh. “Something you want to share?”

  “Actually, there is something.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  He lowered his gaze to her nakedness. “You are definitely not all ears.”

  She laughed and pulled the sheet higher. “You’re evading, you don’t want to tell me.”

  “No, I do. It’s just—” He stopped.

  “Just?”

  “It’s just that I’m not used to…having someone to…talk to.”

  Her heart squeezed for him. The man had created his own town, yet he was lonely.

  “You seem close to your brothers.”

  “We’re close,” he agreed. “But it’s not the same as…”

  She leaned forward and offered her hand palm up. “I know.”

  He lay his large work-calloused hand on top of hers, then fell into silent mode again.

  After a few minutes, she sighed. “So…are you going to tell me?”

  “How about if I show you?”

  Her curiosity piqued, she scooted to the edge of the bed and watched as he retrieved something out of his jeans pocket. He brought it over and handed it to her.

  At the unexpected weight of it, she sat up and held it closer to the lamp light. It looked like some kind of dull rock. “What is it?”

  “Gold.”

  Alicia went still. “Gold? You mean, real gold?”

  He nodded.

  She scrutinized the rock, now almost afraid of it. “I don’t understand. Where did you get this?”

  “Out of Timber Creek.”

  As the significance of his words bled over her, her jaw loosened. “There’s gold in your creek?”

  “So it would seem.”

  “What’s something like this worth?”

  “That nugget is worth about twenty grand, give or take.”

  She blinked. “Who knows about this?”

  “Me…and you.” She took a few seconds to absorb the fact that he would share something so monumental with her, but she had to know one thing. “So is this why you came back to build your town?”

  He gave a little laugh. “Absolutely not. I had no idea there was gold in this area. I found this nugget the day we were handed the new deadline. Before that, I was ready to give up.”

  “But then you found this and real
ized you couldn’t let the land revert back to the government?”

  “Right. Can you imagine what a circus that would be? The mountains would be blasted right off the map.”

  “And overrun with crazies looking to strike it rich.”

  “You see why I’m so desperate to make this work,” he said. “I want to keep the land intact and I want Sweetness to be the kind of town where people can make a decent living and raise a family and feel safe.”

  “So you’re not going to tell anyone about the gold?”

  “Right…I’m just keeping it in case I run out of options. I might be able to use it as leverage of some kind.”

  She reached out to stroke his arm. “I’m glad you told me. You must feel like you’re dragging an anvil around with you.”

  “Some days,” he agreed.

  Alicia was suddenly more antsy than ever to call Nina and unwind everything regarding the syndication deal. Then she could be totally honest with Marcus, and they could start with a clean slate.

  “It won’t be for much longer,” she soothed, then handed back the nugget and folded his fingers over it. “Hopefully the D.O.E. team will make the right decision.”

  He nodded. “Have you ever had the feeling your life is on pause?”

  “Yes.” Like right now.

  He gave her a tight smile. “I guess I’d better try to get out of here without raising a ruckus.”

  She squinted. “What is a ruckus, exactly?”

  He grinned, then leaned forward to kiss her. “Today’s going to be pretty hectic for us both. I hope we can see each other.”

  “If you can, come by the diner for the unveiling of the new name at one o’clock.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” He gave her another lingering kiss, then he slipped out.

  Alicia lay there for a few moments, reveling in all the new parts of her life that seemed to be unfurling in front of her. It was as if she’d lived her life to this point behind a veil, and now suddenly the veil had been lifted, and the really good things that she’d always thought were out of her reach, were right there in front of her to be plucked. She smiled to herself and gave a little squeal.

  But first things first. She called Nina’s cell phone and no surprise for a pre-dawn Saturday morning, it rolled to voice mail.

  “Nina, it’s Alicia. Listen, I know this is going to come as a bit of a shock to you, but I need for you to stop the blogs from being published Monday.” She gave a little laugh. “I guess the joke is on me—the Undercover Feminist has fallen head over heels in love with the man I came here to skewer. But I do have some other ideas for replacement blog series. Just call me when you can to confirm that you got my message.”