“I think this one goes here.” Zach was brandishing the tent pole like a sword, so Todd took a step back to save his eye.
“If you say so.”
The kid was a natural. He’d have to talk to Sarah about getting him into the local Scout group for sure.
Sarah and Chloe’s voices preceded them down the stairs and into the room. His breath caught when he saw Sarah in her cotton summer dress, freshly scrubbed and hair down. She looked beautiful. Too beautiful. Really, did the woman he had been most attracted to in years have to have two kids, a buttload of problems, and live across the road? The universe was a cruel mistress.
“Look at this!” she exclaimed, taking in the sight of the tent.
“Cool, right, Mom?” Zach grinned up at her from the ground where he was putting the last tent pole in.
“Very.” Her face lit up with a big genuine smile, and he realized that was the first he’d seen. She looked almost relaxed.
His aunt always talked of her being a bright, carefree girl, and he could see that now when she smiled and some of her worries were lifted from her shoulders for at least a minute or two.
“I’m reading the ‘structions,” Livi informed her, her face serious.
“Oh, that’s an important job. I’m sure you’ve been a big help.”
“Do you feel better?” Todd asked.
“So much.”
“You know what will make you feel even better?” Chloe asked. “A glass of wine.”
Todd could go for a drink. “Zach, you want to get those sleeping bags sorted? Livi, you tell him where these lanterns should go. Ladies, after you.”
In the kitchen, they positioned Sarah with one leg on a chair. Chloe grabbed a bottle from the fridge, and Todd grabbed some glasses.
“You two sure know your way around this place.”
“If you needed a drink or someone to talk to in this town, you just strolled past Esme’s at dusk. She’d be on the porch having a sundowner, and then you’d end up in here,” Todd said. “Your aunt was a very hospitable woman.”
“And an excellent listener. She really helped me sort a few things out about my boyfriend, Moose. She was good counsel. We all miss her. Todd especially.”
“She always talked about you, Todd. I felt like I already knew you when I met you.”
“Yeah, well, she was a very kind woman. I’m sure she painted a better picture than the truth.”
Chloe laughed and checked him with her hip. “Please, you’re a great guy, everyone knows that.”
“Maybe I’m an utter bastard underneath,” Todd said defensively. He didn’t want the whole town thinking he was a great guy, and especially not Sarah. No attachments.
“Of course you are,” Chloe said, patting his arm. “I forgot all men like to think they’re dangerous and edgy.”
Chloe could leave now. She was so not helping him here.
Sarah was just sitting quietly, watching the exchange. He handed her a glass of wine. “She doesn’t know me as well as she thinks she does.”
“Have it your way,” Chloe said, sitting down. “So, Sarah, what did you do back in Ohio?”
“I did the books at a dance school and taught dance. I studied dance in college. In retrospect, not a wise choice.”
“No wonder you have such a great body,” Chloe said matter-of-factly.
Todd was trying very hard not to think about Sarah’s body beneath that ethereal dress.
Sarah just laughed. “I wouldn’t say that, but dancing does keep you fit and supple.”
“Is that what you’re going to do here? Teach dance?”
What had she planned to do? Todd hadn’t even asked. Sometimes he forgot now that money was no longer an issue for him that for most people a job was the key to freedom.
“I really don’t know.” She sighed and took a long sip of wine. “I need to find a job soon, but I don’t have daycare and . . .” A slow tear ran down her cheek.
He wanted to take her in his arms and rock her until the tears were gone. Chloe stood up and leaned over to hug her. “Don’t worry about that today, it will work out.”
Chloe’s eyes were looking pointedly at Todd and he read their meaning. We need to help.
Chapter 4
Sarah could not believe she was crying. God, she was pathetic. What must they think of her? She barely knew either of them, and now she was blubbering into her wine. She needed to pull it together.
“I’m fine, really. Bad day and all that.”
“Of course,” Chloe said, pulling back. “We’ve all had those. Tomorrow will be better.”
The kids were giggling in the next room. This day really wasn’t so bad. She had a roof over her head, happy kids, and new friends.
“Absolutely.”
She was aware of Todd’s eyes on her. He looked worried. Luckily, she had sworn off men, because when she’d come down the stairs earlier, she could have sworn he’d been looking at her in this dress like she was a sexy and desirable woman. Nothing like a nice flood of tears and some puffy eyes to burst that bubble.
“Are you staying for dinner, Chloe?” he asked her, standing up and heading to the fridge.
“No, thanks. Stuff to do. I’ll head off in a minute.”
“Are you sure? There’s plenty.”
Plenty? She looked past Todd and saw her fridge had magically filled up while she’d been upstairs. She noticed the fruit bowl on the counter was also overflowing.
“Where did all this food come from?” she asked.
“Todd, you know the utter bastard that he is, brought it,” Chloe said with a wink.
“Really, Todd . . . how . . . ?”
“I just carried it across the road, it’s not a big deal.”
Oh, it was a very big deal to her. How long had it been since she’d had a full fridge? Months? Years? “Thank you. I have no idea how I’m going to repay you for everything.”
“No need. I’ll go check on the kids,” he said, heading out of the room.
He was clearly feeling awkward, but she didn’t know why. After all, she was the one who needed the help. She was the one with the bare pantry and the messed-up life.
“I think he likes you,” Chloe whispered.
Sarah gave a laugh. “I don’t think so. I mean, yes as a person, not the way you mean.”
Chloe gave her a pointed stare. “You’re wrong.”
Then, her new friend stood to go. “Okay, I’m heading off. I’ll stop by tomorrow. Todd has my number so get him to pop it in your phone so you can text me if you need me.”
“Thanks, I really don’t know how I’m going to pay you back.”
“I’m sure there’ll be plenty of chances. Life is long, if you’re lucky.” And then she headed out of the kitchen. Sarah could hear her farewelling the kids and telling them she hoped they enjoyed their ice cream in the tent later. What a sweet if chatty soul she was.
Sarah sat alone nursing her wine. Chloe had the fact Todd liked her one hundred and fifty percent wrong. He was a good guy, and he was helping her out because of that and the fact her aunt had been good to him. It had nothing to do with attraction. From what she could work out, he wasn’t a guy with a messiah complex who helped single moms. She knew that type, the ones that preyed on women who were alone. She’d dated one or two.
No, Todd was a straight up small-town guy, that was it. Yes, he was good-looking, had a smile that made her insides go to molten lava, and seemed to enjoy her company but that was all it was.
He did not like her. Not at all.
A few minutes later, he came back. “The kids are all set. They think dinner in the tent sounds like fun.”
“Sure,” she said, looking up at him. He was being polite, definitely no signs of attraction. “If that’s what they want.”
“They’re set up with beds and flashlights and sleeping bags and I’ve got Livi propped up for now in her other seat, so I think they’re good for a while.”
“You’re good with kids,” she said. It
was a fact.
“I have lots of friends with kids. I’m used to being the fun one that gets wrestled while the poor parents take a break.”
“Poor parents, is that how you see us? You’ll feel differently when you have your own kids.”
He was pulling ingredients for dinner from the fridge. “Oh, I’m not having kids.”
“You say that now . . .”
“No, I say that always. I’m not getting married. I’m not having kids. I’m not that guy.” He turned to face her and reached in and topped up her wine. The pointed stare he gave her said, “Don’t look at me like I’m that guy.”
“You might be, one day.”
He shook his head. “You know, I won’t be. Everybody seems to think we should all want the same things in life but we don’t. I like kids and women for that matter, but I also like my independence. I’m too selfish to have a family. Better to work that out now.”
“If you say so.”
“I do,” he said. “And for the record, because I’m helping you the whole town will be talking about us like that.”
“Like what?” She felt her eyes bug.
“Like we’re an item. As if I’m the knight in shining armor who’s going to swoop in and save you,” he said. “Not that I think you need saving by the way, but the town talks.”
“And you don’t want them talking?”
He was leaning against the counter, hands across his fine chest, one leg crossed over the other. “Sarah, I can’t stop them talking. I’m just telling you to ignore their talk. I want us to be friends, but that’s all this is.”
“I know that!” Did he think she was some love-sick puppy or worse some opportunist who would latch on to the first guy who came along?
“I can see that you do. This town has a way of getting in people’s heads . . . like a nagging voice. I’m just warning you, that’s all. Ignore them.”
She could almost hear him say the words “for your own good.” But he didn’t. He just stood there waiting for answer.
“Of course I will. First of all, I’ve sworn off men, and anyway, you’re not my type.”
Todd was glad to hear he wasn’t her type, kind of. I mean, everyone wanted people to be attracted to them and he was attracted to Sarah, so it would have been kind of nice if it was mutual. Messy of course, so this was better.
He set the small grill up on the front porch. Sarah was in with the kids, checking out the tent. He’d deposited her on a mountain of cushions on the floor and would go retrieve her when dinner was ready.
He hoped she really heard what he said. He could tell by the gleam in Chloe’s eye she was already getting ideas, and she would be one of many. It was a shame you couldn’t just help someone without the whole town reading into it, but there it was.
Todd knew their intentions were good. People wanted to see him happy, and they thought a wife and kids would be the ticket. Maybe if he told the town he was a millionaire and he actually had the means to make himself very happy that would solve his problem. He knew better. That just meant he’d have more attention and even more people trying to set him up with their “lovely” daughter, granddaughter, or niece. No, thank you.
Or maybe if he went off and traveled and had a few grand adventures he wouldn’t be here to hear their many opinions. That was an option. Of course, the truth was up until recently his life revolved around his business, hanging out with Marissa or Mike, poker night, playing computer games half the night, a twilight catch-up with Esme, and trips to his cabin in the summer. Now, Mike and Marissa were joined at the hip and Esme was gone. His life didn’t look the same as a year ago, and he figured when Mike and Marissa got married it would look different again.
Still, that didn’t mean he wanted to join them on the path to wedded bliss. He was happy for them, but he wasn’t like them. He knew it.
It was interesting that he and Mike were physically identical but really so very different. He’d read a lot about twins and often they were very similar but not them. They liked some of the same things, but who didn’t like lasagna and beer? But fundamentally they were different.
Even as kids they’d approached their less-than-happy home life differently. Mike worked hard, joined every committee at the school, and tried to fly under the radar. Todd, oh, Todd was the troublemaker. He had attitude and he used it. If there was a way to niggle at his stepfather or to push the boundaries, he took it. He took great pleasure in provoking his last stepfather especially.
He enjoyed seeing him get wound up in front of their mother. Partly because Todd wanted his true colors on display. So she’d know what an ass-hat she’d brought into their lives. His stepdad was usually not too bad when his mother was home. But it was also the power. Knowing he could bring the other guy to the brink, or maybe over the line.
Mike would never do that. Todd couldn’t help himself.
And that made him, he knew, just as much of a tool as the other guy. And that meant he had that in him. He’d probably be just as much of a jerk as a father. He wasn’t going there. Maybe when he was fifty he’d marry some woman with no kids . . . that was a possibility, but women of childbearing age, he wasn’t subjecting them to the monster he was sure lay within.
He threw some patties on the little grill and stuck his head in to check on the campers. Sarah caught his eye, and he could see she was in pain but playing along with the kids to be a good sport.
“Kids, can I borrow your mama so I make sure I get these burgers exactly how you like them?”
“Sure.” It was obvious they were deliriously happy in that tent. They could keep it up all summer for all he cared.
Sarah scooted toward him, and he put his hands under in her armpits to pull her up. “One. Two. Three.”
A moment later, she was up and came smack against his chest. Her soft curves meeting his not so soft planes. The waft of strawberry hit him again.
He looked down at her and felt that jolt again. He told himself it was her proximity and he’d be the same with any woman, but he knew he was kidding himself. Yes, she had baggage, yes, she was off-limits, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want her and bad.
“You want me to carry you out to the deck or shall I help you hobble?”
“I’d like to say yes to the lift, but after your warning about small-town gossip.”
“Screw the gossips,” he said, swinging her into his arms. If he couldn’t touch her the way he wanted to. If he couldn’t kiss her, well then, carrying her and inhaling her sweet scent would have to do.
He walked out and placed her gently on the porch swing. “Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem.” He released her slowly. He didn’t really want to let go. She blinked up a him. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her, her mouth was maybe an inch from his. Her eyes were trained on his mouth as if she was wondering will he or won’t he.
He wouldn’t because it was a bad idea and because he didn’t go around kissing women who weren’t attracted to him, even if he wanted to.
“So how do you and the kids like your burgers?”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, burgers, how do we like them?” he asked, stepping over to the grill.
She looked like she wanted to talk about something other than burgers, maybe the almost kissing, but she didn’t.
“Medium is fine. Cheese for the kids. Ketchup and you’re done.”
“And you? What do you like?”
She bit her lower lip and considered her answer. “The lot. I want the lot.”
“Excellent. Same here.” He hoped they were still talking about burgers but he couldn’t be sure. He returned his attention to things he understood. Meat, bread, and condiments were all so much simpler than women, that was for sure.
Sarah lay upstairs in her bed replaying the evening. The kids had sacked out early in the tent, and she and Todd had sat chatting on the porch. A couple of neighbors strolled past and Todd had introduced her. They’d offered condolences for her aunt and her
fall. Todd said to expect food deliveries to start coming.
She’d read books about small towns where that happened, but she had never seen it in action. Her own glimpses of small-town life had been here as a teen. She’d spent her days working at the summer camp and her nights with her aunt. They’d gone on trips on the weekends, and they’d head off to places like Boston and even a long weekend in New York full of museums and stage plays.
Her own parents had worked as drug counselors and psychologists in downtown Cincinnati. They were good people but so full of causes and concern for others that their own daughter sometimes was an afterthought. She could hardly complain about the quality of her life to them when they saw people at their very worst. They’d loved her, but they weren’t churchgoing, casserole-making people.
She often wondered if she would have fallen so hard for Greg and raced off to marry him if they’d been more present. She knew she’d been desperate for love and attention. Her mistake was choosing a guy who honestly loved the idea of her more than the woman herself.
She knew Todd was up downstairs, tapping away on his computer. He said he usually worked until the small hours of the morning. She supposed if you worked for yourself you could do that. She really didn’t know what Todd actually did. She must ask him to explain it properly. If they were going to be friends as he’d said that’s what a friend would do.
When she thought about it, Sarah realized she never really had had a male friend who wasn’t a boyfriend, well not a straight one. Being in the dance program at college and then working in a dance studio meant she was surrounded by women day in and day out. Not that she minded, she liked female company but it meant she wasn’t even sure she quite knew how to be Todd’s friend. It was time she learned. In fact, it was time she learned to do a lot of new things. He obviously had more than one female friend, so he would know how it worked.
Any Way You Build It: An Upper Crust Novel, Book 6 (Upper Crust Series) Page 4
