No Place Like Home

by Trina Crooks

  “Do you like Italian food?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason. Where is the Italian aisle?”

  “Two.” Antonio headed in that direction and Laya turned to me again.

  “I think Mr. Handsome likes you.”

  I rearranged things at the cash register to keep myself busy. “The man has been in town all of three days.”

  “How long does he have to be here before he likes you? I am telling you that he likes you.”

  Antonio eventually came to the register and Laya jumped down so that he could put his items on the conveyor. “You see I bought some pasta. I would love to have you over for dinner,” he said.

  “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “I like Italian,” Laya whispered softly but Antonio wasn’t paying her any attention. Right next to the cash register was a basket of plastic mistletoe that my mother thought would be cute to sell during the holidays and Antonio threw one with his items.

  “You never know when that might come in handy.” I held back my frustration with how this man managed to make anything coming out of his mouth sound sexy and worked hard to swipe all of his groceries over the scanner and quickly bag it all up.

  “$52.47.” He handed me some money, received his change and exited the store.

  “Why did you turn that dinner down?”

  “He is not looking for anything serious.” I picked up the magazine and pointed at the title of his article. “Single and Loving It.” Laya waved her hand as if that meant nothing but I felt very differently and that was why I was not going to pay any attention to Jasper Springs’ newest visitor.

  Nine o’clock came a little after Laya left so I locked the doors to the grocery store and turned toward my car that was parked across the street. The streets were already coming alive with Christmas decorations sprinkled everywhere. Wreaths and red ribbons were attached to every street lamp for as far as the eye could see. Decorative signs were hanging with pictures of bells, mistletoe, and Santa Claus was aplenty. I couldn’t help but smile. It was times like this that I didn’t know how I was going to pull myself away from my hometown.

  “But I am,” I stated as if I was trying to convince someone but it was more like trying to convince myself. I drove the relatively quiet streets home and since there was not a lot of traffic at this time of night, I made it home in just under five minutes. It was too late in the evening to make anything heavy for dinner so I elected to fix a simple salad with a turkey sandwich. I then sat down on my couch and stared at the magazine cover of Antonio. Laya was right. The picture did not do him justice. I flipped to the last page of the interview and reread a question that always jumped out at me.

  Q: Last question. If it is up to you, how long will you remain single?

  A: I am just waiting for that right woman to come along. I like being single but being in love is what I want more than anything.

  I found myself wondering if I could be that one woman for him before I threw the magazine across the room in frustration. Hell no! “Stop thinking like that,” I uttered as I took a bite of my salad.

  Chapter Four

  “How are you enjoying your vacation?” Dominick, Antonio’s assistant asked. Dominick was holding down the fort for him while he was on vacation and he couldn’t be happier about that. Dom was a hard worker and with him still in the office, Antonio knew that business was rolling as normal.

  “It’s going good. It’s really nice here. As I am talking to you, I am sitting out on the porch because the weather is amazing.” The weather was still in the 60’s and Antonio was taking full advantage of it. It was hard to believe that it was the beginning of December and it was not frigidly cold outside. Now he knew why everyone was flocking to live in the south.

  “I looked up Jasper Springs and it is barely a blip on the map. “

  “I know. I couldn’t believe it myself when I saw the place. But it does have that homey feeling and I can see why my grandmother comes here every year.”

  Dominick chuckled. “Sounds like you could stay for a while.”

  “I don’t know if I could live here permanently,” Antonio stated as he turned to his computer screen. “Now enough about the town. Let’s get down to business. Are we running on time for the opening of the Phoenix store?”

  Antonio leaned back in his chair and absorbed the sun as Dominick began explaining to him that they were making good time. The new store was due to open its doors on schedule next week. Normally this would be good news for Antonio but since he had to be there for all grand openings, he wasn’t too enthused about things actually being on schedule. He didn’t really want to leave Jasper Springs, even for a little while. Not yet.

  “Dom, do you want to go and check on the new store?”

  “Sure boss.” Antonio knew Dominick was itching for more responsibility and this was the perfect time.

  “Great. How about you head on out there in the next couple of days and keep me in the loop on what is going on.”

  “I will.”

  Antonio hung up the phone and busied himself with his work. He emailed the marketing department to make sure they were getting the word out about the Phoenix store and checked on some of the more recent stores that had just opened in the last couple of months. Everything was running as it should which was exactly how Antonio liked it. He practically put in a whole day’s work right from his laptop before he finally closed the lid and tried to figure out what he was doing with his evening.

  I haven’t laid eyes on Gigi in a couple of days, he thought to himself. This realization made him push himself off of the couch in search of his shoes. Antonio then exited out of the back door and went over to his grandmother’s rental where he knocked on the door. Within moments she was answering.

  “Why are you at the back door?”

  “Just wanted to do something different.” He stepped inside and saw that Gigi had not fixed anything to eat. “What are you doing for dinner?”

  “I don’t know. Might be going to a friend’s house.”

  “Oh. I thought we could catch a meal together. I feel like I haven’t spent any time with you and I am just next door.” Antonio leaned against the kitchen counter and grabbed an apple to munch on.

  “You act like you have to see me every day. I saw you once every other week in New York,” she stated as she grabbed her purse. “I am meeting some friends.”

  “At first it was a might be going to a dinner with a friend and now it’s a definite dinner with a gaggle of them. What are you up to Gigi?” Ever since they arrived in Jasper, Gigi was always vague and suspicious acting. It was a terrible thing when you thought your own grandmother was up to something.

  “Who’s the grandmother here? I’m not up to anything. Go over to the uh, Barnyard. That’s where all the folks your age hang out. You might see Sonya there,” she stated with a sly smile.

  Antonio moved toward the door. “I ain’t thinking about her.”

  “Yeah, right. Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you. See you later.” His grandmother gave him a gentle shove out the door before she locked it behind him.

  Antonio decided to take Gigi’s advice because anything was better than sitting in a quiet house all night long. He found the keys for the new car rental he got delivered to him earlier that day from Dallas and then made his way to the bar which was not too difficult to find. He parked his car out front and walked inside to find the place in full swing. The music was loud, laughter was filling the air and drinks were flowing proving that this was the place to be. Antonio weaved his way to the bar and sat down.

  “What can I get you?”

  “Whatever beer you have on tap.”

  The bartender grabbed a glass and poured a frothy beer into it. “You enjoying your stay in Jasper Springs?”

  “So far, so good.”

  The man extended his hand. “Michael. I am the owner of this fine establishment.”

  “Alright. Antonio.”

  “Oh,
I know who you are. Every woman, single and married, is going on and on about the new handsome stranger in town. Although you are not really a stranger I guess.”

  “I guess not,” Antonio answered. He drank some of his beer and turned his head to the door when it opened. There appeared Sonya which was who he was hoping he ran into this evening. She came over toward them and gave Michael a warm smile.

  “Hey there man. Can I have my usual?”

  “Yes, you may. I will get your order in.”

  “Thanks.” Then she looked at Antonio. She laid a hand on his arm before she greeted him. “Hello.”

  “Hello beautiful.”

  Sonya went to sit down at a booth and Antonio kept his eyes on her the whole way until he finally turned back to Michael who was staring at him. “You should go have dinner with her.”

  “I just might do that.” He felt like he was constantly in her space but he couldn’t help himself and she truly was the only person he knew here besides his grandmother. But before he could get off of his stool an attractive woman approached him. She came to him differently than the other women of this particular town. She tried to hold in her eagerness to meet him which he appreciated.

  “Hello,” she greeted erotically in a way that he never heard before. Like sex seemed to be dripping from her lips.

  “Hello.”

  “I saw you sitting here and I had to come over and speak to you.” She stood back and admired him like he was a piece of art. “The pictures certainly did not do you justice.”

  “Thanks.” Sonya sat in her booth and glanced in their direction before turning her attention back to her cell phone. That was what was attracting him to her. She treated him like a regular man. Ever since he became more in the public eye with helping to promote the family business, women started being very forward with him; always flirting, always putting their phone number in his pocket. It was nice to have a woman that let him chase her and to be honest Sonya was the first woman he ever wanted to chase.

  “I would love to have dinner with you this evening. Get to know more about you,” she said. “Oh, how rude of me. My name is Evelyn.”

  “Nice to meet you Evelyn but I am going to be having dinner with my friend Sonya. Thank you so much for the invite though.”

  She scowled slightly before she pulled out a business card. “Well give me a call if you have time in your calendar for dinner. I am free anytime.”

  Antonio took the card but had no intention of using it. Evelyn walked away and Antonio turned to Michael as he stood to his feet. “Are all of the woman so upfront?”

  “Not all of them. Not Sonya.” Antonio could clearly see who Michael was rooting for.

  Antonio pointed his feet in her direction and stood at her table until she finally glanced up at him. Sonya’s eyes narrowed before she smiled. “What do you want?”

  “Can I have dinner with you?”

  She nodded her head before she gestured toward the other side of the booth. “Sure. Might as well.” Antonio scooted in and got comfortable. He stretched his long legs out and accidentally brushed against hers in the process.

  “How was your day?”

  Sonya sat her phone down before she answered. “It was easy. The calls are starting to slow down now that most of the winter birds have made it down here.”

  “Winter birds. Nice expression.”

  Michael came over to the table with two plates of food. “I brought you her usual,” he announced as he sat down a plate with a delicious looking cheeseburger and some homemade chips that appeared very appetizing. Antonio put one of the chips in his mouth and he closed his eyes.

  “Good isn’t it,” Sonya said with a smile.

  “Yes.”

  “So, tell me about yourself Mr. Randall? What exactly do you do in your family business?”

  Antonio liked that she wanted to know something about him. “I am the New Store Liaison. Which is a fancy way of saying that I am the man who is in charge of new store openings. I make sure that everything is running smoothly, that the new stores are publicized and I keep up with them after they are open for the first year. It calls for a fair amount of travel but I enjoy that.”

  “That sounds fascinating. Seeing different parts of the country.”

  “It is most of the time but it makes it hard for me to settle down. When I was in my twenties it was fine because I wanted to be gallivanting everywhere. I got to be around a new crop of women and was living life like only a single man could.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “But now, I’m thirty-four, and I am longing to settle down. Stay in one spot and find a wonderful woman to love and make my wife.” Sonya stopped her burger midway to her mouth to really look at him.

  “Mr. Single and Loving It wants to settle down?”

  “I didn’t know that was going to be the title of the article. Honest truth,” he said as he held up his hand like a boy scout. “I was just jumping at the chance to get my face on the cover.” Sonya rolled her eyes at him before she chuckled.

  “That sounds like something you would do.” She took a bite of her sandwich and waved at someone behind him before she spoke again. “How long are you planning to stay here in Jasper?”

  “Until the new year, I think. I like the feel of this town so I am going to get in some major relaxation before I head back to the craziness of New York.” He watched as her mouth opened and closed before she took another bite of her cheeseburger. “Do you have a thought about that?”

  “No. No thought about that,” she answered.

  “Well a thought that I have,” Antonio said as he sat back, “is why a woman as beautiful as you does not have a man?”

  “You assume I don’t have one.”

  “If you do, he is dumb as hell to leave you alone all of the time. If you were my lady, I would be at your side constantly.”

  “I haven’t found the right fit for me. And the dating pool is small here.”

  “Good to know.” Antonio didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes so he was happy to hear that she was not spoken for.

  They ate for another half an hour, chit chatting about a couple of general topics before she threw her napkin on her empty plate. Sonya then reached into her purse but he stopped her.

  “I am going to take care of that,” Antonio said as he pulled some bills from his wallet.

  “Thank you and I should really get going. It’s getting late,” Sonya stated as she scooted out of the booth. Antonio did too and followed her out of the bar where they stood for a second. Down the streets he could see white Christmas lights illuminating the block. It was beautiful and a lot different than the streets of Manhattan.

  “Thank you for letting me dine with you.”

  “You are very welcome. Get home safely.” Sonya turned her back on him and began walking towards the woods behind her.

  “Where the hell do you think you are going?” he asked as he gently grabbed her arm to stop her. Sonya started laughing.

  “I live just through these trees.”

  Antonio frowned because what he saw in front of him was anything but just trees. “Those are not just trees, that’s a whole forest. Let me take you home.”

  “That’s silly. There is a path in there. I walk it all of the time.”

  Antonio stepped closer, invading her space. He already knew he cared too much about this woman to let her go walking into the darkness. He raised her chin so that she could see the concern that was very evidently on his face. “I am not going to let you walk home Sonya. So please get in the car. I will not be able to sleep tonight knowing you walked into some trees.”

  Sonya stared into his eyes longer than necessary before she broke their trance. “Okay,” she answered softly. She got into his car and they had a quiet drive around the block.

  *~~~*

  I sat silently as Antonio drove. The way he looked at me, with worry in his eyes, I couldn’t be anything but flattered. There were men that I knew way longer than this that had no co
ncern on whether I made it home or not, so this level of chivalry was a nice change. Antonio pulled in front of my small home and insisted on walking me to the door. “You are really doing too much. You don’t have to walk me to the door.” But he didn’t listen.

  “Isn’t it obvious that I like you Sonya.” He always had a way of making all of the words coming out of his mouth sound so seductive and sincere.

  “It’s obvious that you are a flirt.”

  “You ever meet someone that you had an immediate connection to? That is the way I feel with you,” he said as he leaned against my house.

  I loved how he always spoke what was on his mind. It was kind of refreshing to know what he was thinking. Maybe that was how men in bigger cities operated because it was always a guessing game here in Jasper. I inserted my key in the lock before turning to him again. “Thanks for dinner,” I said before I disappeared behind the door. I went to my front window and tried to peek out at him as he slowly walked back to his car. He glanced back a couple of times as if he wanted to approach my door once again, which would not have been a problem with me, but he got into his car and drove away.

  I pulled off my shoes and sat down in front of the television with a smile on my face. Having dinner with him was nice. The conversation flowed effortlessly and I found myself really enjoying his company, more than I wanted to. Antonio was extremely handsome too and I was thrilled that I made it through the whole dinner without totally embarrassing myself. Tonight, I knew for sure that he was going to invade my dreams.

  The alarm on my cell phone went off way too early this morning. Or at least it felt like it did because I didn’t get much sleep last night. My mind kept coming back to Antonio, flashing his extraordinarily handsome face at me on repeat. He was wearing me down with his charm and kindness and I was finding it hard to resist him. But that was exactly what I planned on doing—resisting.

  I pushed the comforter back and when my bare feet him the wood floor I almost cursed. The weather dipped low last night and the house was feeling the effects of that. I quickly found my slippers and shuffled myself into the bathroom for my normal routine. I dressed myself in a pair of jeans and a light sweater before I made it over to the coffee shop for my tea.