Regret (Never Waste a Second Chance Book 2)

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  She peeked to the left. Autumn was squinting intently at her paintbrush as she mixed tiny dabs of paint together on her palette.

  Even Beth was happily painting, a glass of white wine in one hand and a paint loaded brush in the other. She and Mina were chatting and giggling like old friends.

  Nancy turned back to the glaringly white rectangle staring her down. She rolled up the sleeves of her sweater and grabbed her brush. This couldn’t be that hard. She’d painted before and done a decent job. Of course that was a barn.

  Loading up, she slowly, carefully ran her brush in a horizontal line across the canvas exactly three-quarters of the way up.

  There. Step one done.

  She looked back up at the instructor who appeared to be at least on step four along with her friends. “Shit.” She took a gulp of her wine and swiped on more paint before looking at the pictures in progress around her.

  “Shit.” She took another drink. She sucked at this.

  “What’s wrong?” Mina turned her way, her eyes getting wide when they landed on Nancy’s masterpiece. “Oh.”

  Nancy grabbed her wine glass again. “I am awful at this.”

  Autumn leaned into her other side. “Holy cow you are.” She giggled as she poured more wine into her own glass then filled Nancy’s. “Drink more wine. You’ll get better.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Beth polished off her own glass and was reaching for the bottle herself. “You’re just trying too hard.”

  “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” Nancy stared at her own painting, but what was in front of her only earned the name in the literal sense. It was a collection of hard lined edges and exact proportions. “Maybe I’d be better at abstract.”

  “You’d be great at stripes.” Ever the optimist, Autumn pointed at the perfectly straight lines of green, blue and orange. “They are perfectly symmetrical.”

  They all stared at what was supposed to be an evening sky as the sun met the ocean. Finally Mina spoke up.

  “We should do something else for our next girl’s night.”

  Nancy laughed. “Thank you. Maybe a cooking class. I can kick all your asses at that.”

  Everyone laughed with her. Beth hugged her from behind before taking her newly full glass of wine back to finish her own painting. Mina was still giggling as she went back to her beautifully blended painting, occasionally wiping at the corners of her eyes.

  Autumn looked over from where she was fine-tuning an arching dolphin, jumping out of the water. “When do you think you’ll open the market this year?”

  She was one of Nancy’s regular customers. A stay at home mom with four hungry boys trying their best to eat them out of house and home, her family went through copious amounts of produce.

  Nancy tried to duplicate Autumn’s perfect mammal, but it was looking more like a rock. She gave up and dropped her brush onto the tray in front of her.

  “Probably early May. I won’t have much until later in June though.” Unless the weather kept taking its sweet time warming up. Then it would be mid-July before she had anything substantial.

  “I can’t wait. There’s just nothing like home grown.” Autumn’s eyes were big and her smile even bigger. Exuberant was the perfect word to describe her. Nancy liked being around her. Her happiness was contagious. Nancy was feeling pretty darn good in spite of her terrible artistic skills.

  Then again, maybe it was the alcohol.

  “Why don’t you start your own little garden?” Nancy blinked her eyes hard and poured herself some more wine.

  Autumn’s eyes got even wider as she shook her head. “Oh m’gosh. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

  Nancy swallowed the crisp white, for the first time trying to remember just how many glasses she’d had. “I can help you if you want.”

  “Really?” The pretty red-head nodded, her hair bouncing free from behind her ears. Autumn used both hands to tuck the strands on each side of her face back in place. “That would be so great. I could pay you for your help.”

  “Oh honey, no. I just want to help as a friend.” With four boys and one salary that last thing that woman needed was to be paying someone to help her plant beans. “It would help me. Keep me occupied now that this one has my son to take care of.” She grinned and thumbed over her shoulder at Mina. The tiny motion was enough to throw her a little off balance and she had to quickly grab the table to steady herself.

  Mina started laughing behind her. “Nancy, your painting looks better than I remember.” Beth was laughing and leaning into Mina’s shoulder. “It certainly looks more presentable than Beth’s.”

  Mina grabbed Beth’s painting and held it up for the other two to see. She peeked over the top. “Her dolphin looks like a wiener.”

  Nancy cocked her head to one side, squinting at the gray shape. “Only if it’s sad.” She took a swallow of wine. “And uncircumcised.”

  The four women started cackling, loud enough that the rest of the class grew silent and turned their way looking more than a little aggravated.

  Nancy bit her lip and looked straight ahead at her painting, trying to quickly finish up. The sound of occasional snickering came from both sides and frequently her. Luckily the class was nearly over and soon they were walking arm in arm into the parking lot. Mostly to hold each other up.

  “We can’t drive home.” Mina giggled as she shoved Beth’s painting on top of hers in the back of her minivan. “We’d end up in handcuffs before the night was over.”

  Autumn shrugged her shoulders. “When Jerry figures out I’m drunk I’ll probably end up in handcuffs anyway.”

  “Ahhhhh!” The women fell against Mina’s van laughing.

  Nancy could hardly breathe and her stomach muscles hurt. Tonight was the most fun she’d had in… God, forever.

  Eventually, they calmed down and Mina pushed off the van. “Seriously though. What are we going to do?”

  Beth zipped her coat and pulled on her gloves. “I bet we can walk it off.” She cinched her hood around her face.

  Hiking around town at 10 at night didn’t sound like fun, especially in the cold. Nancy shook her head. “Let’s just call someone to come get us.”

  Beth slung her purse high on her shoulder. “Like who? You and I have no one to call and I’m pretty sure neither of these,” she motioned at Autumn and Mina, “wants to confess their girl’s night sins unless absolutely necessary.”

  The four looked at each other for a second.

  “Let’s go.” Autumn tucked her hands in the pockets of her black parka and started walking with Mina hurrying to catch up, her path only slightly weaving.

  “We can’t just wander the streets.” Nancy followed behind, trying to focus on each step to avoid stumbling. “Where in the world can we go?”

  Mina stopped, nearly colliding with her. “I have an idea.”

  ****

  Paul slowed his truck peering across the dark lawn at the brightly lit house beyond it. He turned off the lights when he left. He was positive of it.

  Cutting his head lights, he pulled into the empty driveway. If some son-of-a-bitch was there thinking they’d steal his tools… Let’s just say they were about to have quite the surprise.

  Moving carefully, he slid out of the truck and silently pushed the door closed, making a barely audible click. He crouched down and hurried over the lawn, the brown and slightly frozen grass crunching under the soles of his work boots, keeping his eyes glued to the uncovered windows of the house he and Mina were working on. If someone was in there, he had yet to see them.

  Climbing the steps to the porch gave him a clear view into most of the house. The drywall was still not hung in this side of the building so he was able to scan quickly. No one. If someone was inside they were on the other side. The one he couldn’t see without going in.

  Muffled voices floated through the night air. Voices that were coming from inside the house.

  His blood started to rush as his adrenaline spiked. No more
sneaking. Someone was in there and he was about to make them fill their pants. With one swift kick from a heavy steel-toed boot, Paul knocked the door open and off one set of hinges.

  He expected to be met with yelling and chaos, and he was, but of a completely different nature then he’d anticipated. He assumed the sight of him would send the men scrambling to get away. Instead he was met by screaming women. Running toward him. Armed with any sort of weapon they could grab.

  His arms went up reflexively, shielding his head from the assailants.

  “Paul?”

  He peeked between his forearms, then dropped them altogether and straightened. These were women he knew well, all staring at him, weapons still clutched tightly in their hands.

  Mina dropped the hammer she held cocked above her shoulder down to her side then looked toward the demolished front door, and back at him. “What in the hell are you doing?”

  Beth propped against the flat shovel she’d grabbed and Autumn lowered her crowbar, their eyes wide and chests heaving. Autumn looked at Beth. “I knew I was right. This is the best girls night ever.”

  Beth started laughing, followed by Mina and Autumn.

  What in the hell was going on here?

  “You just kicked that door in.” A fourth voice came from behind the other women.

  Shit. No, no, no, no. Not her. Not here.

  “Holy shit Nancy, did you see that?” Autumn pointed to the splintered wood trim hanging from the frame. “He just,” the red head made a wide sweep with her arms, “boom!”

  Four women ready to lynch him with his own tools was unsettling. Nancy seeing him make an ass out of himself was embarassing. But the fact she was holding his cordless drill, still fitted with a six inch bit was terrifying. So much so, he couldn’t stop himself. He pointed at it.

  “That’s what you grabbed?”

  Nancy looked down at the scuffed, well-used Craftsman in her hand then shrugged. “I grabbed what I thought could do the most damage and Beth already had the shovel.”

  At the mention, Beth lifted the thing and swung it through the air. “I was ready to defend myself.”

  “Me too.” Autumn swung around the crowbar in a much less graceful movement. “We are bad-assed.”

  Paul rubbed his temples. “What are you even doing he--” He shook his head. “No. Never mind.”

  It was late. He’d worked all day, then taught a class and he just wanted to get out of here and away from these women, one in particular. “I’m going home.” He pointed at the door. “I’ll fix this in the morning.”

  “No, wait.” Mina sidled up to him. “We need a favor.” She looked around him and nodded her head. “We need you to take us home.”

  Paul paused. He looked at the woman beside him and realization dawned on him. Everything made a lot more sense. Now that Mina was close enough, he could smell the alcohol on her breath.

  Autumn was at his other side. “We went to this painting place where you drink and paint and we mostly did the first part.”

  Beth was at Mina’s side. “Can you take me home first? I have a sitter and she needs to be home by midnight.”

  They were everywhere. Their glassy eyes plastered to him as they pleaded their case. He was backed into a corner and they knew it.

  “Fine.”

  Autumn bounced away. “Yay! I’ll get my purse.”

  He stomped through the busted door and onto the empty porch. He inhaled, filling his lungs with the chilly early March air. How in the hell did he end up here?

  A body bumped into him from behind. He looked over his shoulder to find Beth clutching the back of his coat, trying to regain her balance. She looked up at him, her green eyes wide.

  “Sorry. I didn’t realize there was a step there.”

  Mina came onto the porch next. She looked at his truck and groaned. “I forgot it was a two door.”

  The women filed down the steps and tugged open the passenger side door. “What is this big bag in the back seat?” Autumn tilted the front seat forward and leaned into the back. Her hand was wrapped around the handle just as Paul dropped his big mitt on the top of the bag.

  “That stays there.”

  Mina looked in at him. “Can’t it go in the back? We’re going to be smoshed.”

  “Nope. It stays inside.” Paul climbed in the driver’s seat, refusing to elaborate any further. What he did in his spare time was no one’s business but his.

  His abrupt reaction didn’t seem to faze Autumn at all. “That’s okay. Beth and I will be just fine.” She shoved Beth in first then climbed into the back behind her.

  Mina suddenly started rummaging through her purse. “Crap. I left my keys inside. I’ll be right back.” She took off for the house leaving Nancy standing at the open door.

  She shifted on her feet, looking more than a little uncomfortable.

  The feeling was mutual. He didn’t want to be here anymore than she did, but there was no way he was going to leave four drunk women to fend for themselves. Especially this group of women.

  “Get in. It’s freezing.”

  Nancy lurched forward as Mina shoved at her from behind. He’d been so busy trying to pretend she wasn’t there he’d missed her almost daughter-in-law running down the driveway.

  Nancy grabbed the dash, narrowly avoiding landing face first into his lap. The brain he’d been trying to convince of her non-existence grabbed onto the image and refused to let go. As she righted herself and slid across the seat his brain kept going, already off to a running start, imaging her sliding around and over him in much different ways. Better ways.

  She tucked her arms tightly at her sides and carefully positioned herself so not even the smallest bit of their bodies touched.

  “You’re going to have to scooch more.” Mina climbed in and undid all Nancy’s careful placement, pushing her body tightly against his.

  Her leg pressed warmly into his. Her side tucked neatly against him. The smell of wine and honey invaded him. Worst of all, the impact bounced her hand to his thigh. Just as the warmth of her palm seeped through his jeans, she yanked it away to grip the handle of her purse with white knuckles.

  Mina kept shifting trying to get the volume of her overstuffed coat adjusted around her, making Nancy’s body rub against his in a horribly unforgettable way.

  He snuck a sidelong glance at the woman so close by his side. Her face was flushed red and her eyes were glued straight ahead.

  Mina stared at him impatiently. “Paul. Let’s go.”

  Shit.

  He threw the truck in reverse and backed down the drive.

  How long had he been staring? Did the women notice? Worse yet, did Nancy notice?

  It was just another perfect example of why he tried to stay away from the woman. He didn’t know how to act around her. Never did. That’s probably why things went the way they did.

  “You can stop right here.” Autumn piped up from the back seat.

  “Why?” He slowed the truck.

  She pointed a finger out the windshield at a large brick two-story. “‘Cause that’s my house.”

  He put the truck back in park less than two minutes after leaving the house and turned to look into the back. “You live a block away?”

  Autumn nodded.

  Women made no sense. “Why didn’t you just walk home?”

  Autumn smiled broadly. “Because I was having the best night ever.”

  At least someone was.

  FOUR

  “In through the nose. Out through the mouth.”

  Nancy opened one eye and looked around. The rest of the room was peacefully face down, ass up. It was a position she hadn’t been in in years.

  Lots of years.

  “Raise up, keeping the arms and the chest high, continuing to breathe deeply.”

  The man directing the class was keeping his voice low and soft. Nancy assumed it was supposed to be soothing and calming, but this whole situation was having the complete opposite effect on her. She was going craz
y just sitting here. Breathing.

  “You’re not relaxing.” Beth whispered in her direction, her own eyes still closed.

  Nancy tried to lean back into the next pose with the rest of the class but kept losing her balance. “You don’t know that.”

  Beth opened one eye. “I can feel it.”

  “I can’t help it.” Closing her eyes and looking inward was the last thing she wanted to do. “I’m trying but I don’t think I’m cut out for relaxing.”

  “That is because you have not found your center.” A deep male voice spoke so close to her ear she could feel his breath move across her skin, making her shiver. She immediately looked down.

  Damn Mina.

  The skin tight active-wear tank Mina loaned her for this class did nothing to hide the puckering of her nipples brought on by that damn shiver. Nancy tried to will away the reaction, but before she could make any headway, the yoga instructor spread his large, tanned hand over her stomach and pulled her back against his hard, naked chest.

  “Here. This is where you breathe from. This is where you focus.” He leaned down, his long dark hair tickling her bare shoulder as he slid both hands up her ribcage, high enough to tease at the underside of her breasts. “You are breathing from here. You must stop. You will hyperventilate.”

  Whether it was his hands on her, or his voice in her ear, Nancy had the sudden urge to start laughing. This was how her dry-spell would end? A strange, albeit devastatingly attractive, yoga instructor would be the first man to feel her up in so long she couldn’t even remember? And of course it would be in front of a roomful of people.

  Of course.

  “Close your eyes.”

  She hated herself for it, but did as she was told. The feel of his large, solid body behind her, holding her, his deep voice in her ear, it was all a little overwhelming. Maybe closing her eyes was a good idea. Shut the big accent wielding yoga God out of her mind.

  It worked.

  Now, with her eyes closed, it wasn’t Ricardo or whatever his name was behind her. It was Paul. Holding her, rocking her body back against his.

  Her eyes flew open. “Nope.” She squirmed away and scooted to the edge of the class grabbing her bag as she made a beeline for the exit.