by Barbara Lohr
His throat swelled. Brody cleared it, turning his attention back to the winding road. They started to climb.
“Didn’t you think high school was fun?” She was staring at him like she had in class when he didn’t have an answer.
“W-what?” He’d completely lost it. Thinking about her hair, her lips.
For a second, she sat still. “Nothing. You’d better just drive.”
Right. Because I can’t chew gum and lust over you at the same time. Disgusted with himself, he revved the engine and they rocketed up into the hills.
With a gasp, she gripped the door handle.
“It’s so beautiful out here.” He was glad he’d gotten this SUV with the wide windshield.
“It’s not the beach, that’s for sure” She’d turned pale.
“No, but beautiful in its own way.”
The road got steeper. The hairpin turns gave him a charge.
But next to him, she’d grabbed the dashboard with her left hand.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” He eased up on the accelerator.
“Nothing. I’m ah....” Her eyes were round and panicked. “I’m not good with heights.”
He tapped the brakes. “Want to go back down?”
Her chin came up. “Absolutely not.”
Chapter 7
Carolyn felt like such a wimp. Snatching her hands back, she knotted them in her lap. “Don’t mind me. I’d hoped to grow out of it someday.”
“What? Fear of heights?”
Nodding, she didn’t miss the surprise in his voice. High places probably never frightened guys.
“Some things we never grow out of,” he said.
Was there an echo of hurt in that comment? Curious, she swiveled to face him. “Tell me one thing you’ve never grown out of.”
When he flashed that beautiful smile, it hit her. That tooth. “You don’t have that chip in your front tooth anymore.”
Brody turned a deep scarlet. “Had it fixed.”
“Aw, I thought it was kind of, you know, rough and athletic.”
“Are you kidding me?” He drew that square chin back. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get it on the basketball court. I fell against the coffee table chasing my brother. I was ten and Braydon was nine. It looked terrible.”
“Never seemed to bother the girls. You were on Homecoming court, weren’t you?”
Brody snorted. “Big deal. Homecoming court. I never smiled for any pictures.”
He downshifted. They kept climbing. Looking out the window was dangerous, so she studied her earth-dusted shoes. That usually worked. That and deep breathing kept her grounded. She tried not to make too much noise.
“So, you’ve had this all your life?”
“Pretty much. I don’t know why.”
“That must have sucked.”
Carolyn laughed. “It does.”
“Did your folks try to help you with it?”
“They did but not in a helpful way.” Nothing good about that memory. “My mother always took a very direct approach.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring up something so personal.”
She hated whiners. “Time to get over bad memories, just like it’s time to get over my fear of heights.”
“Wow. Sounds like this really was an issue.”
Might as well wade right into it. “My parents decided to take me to Great America, that amusement park just north of Chicago. I should have suspected something fishy. They never had time for that type of thing. Outings were covered by field trips at my private school. The day was more a lesson than a fun trip, if you get my drift.”
But the frown told her Brody didn’t understand. “So, it wasn’t fun? I heard Great America was a blast.”
“While my dad was finding a place to park, I saw this ride with three huge arms. Each arm held three spinning cages. They swirled high in the air, and I could hear screams through the closed windows. My parents almost couldn’t get me out of the car.”
“How old were you?”
They kept climbing. “Seven or so. Maybe second grade.” The air up in these mountains felt hot and dry, harder to breathe.
“Hey, if you don’t want to talk about this, you don’t have to.”
The mountains were so beautiful. Why couldn’t she just enjoy them? But she wanted to finish this and pushed on. “No, really. I’m fine. Anyway, we got inside the park. My dad wasn’t happy to be there. I heard my mom insist that my doctor had suggested it as therapy. After all, we lived in a high-rise, and I wouldn’t look out the windows.”
“An amusement park was therapy?” Brody’s face had blanked.
“Yep. My mother headed straight for that ride. We had to wait in line for about half an hour. Longest thirty minutes of my life, listening to all that hollering. My mother kept telling me that it would be good for me.”
“That’s terrible.” Brody had pulled up in front of a fabulous home. Saws sliced the morning air, punctuated by hammering.
“Oh, the kids all came out smiling. My mother pointed that out. But for me it was totally terrifying. After one swirl or so, I threw up. My parents got into a huge fight.” Nothing like getting down and dirty with a guy.
“Man, it doesn’t get much worse than that.” Brody’s tan had paled.
“So no roller coasters for me,” she quipped.
He threw her a reassuring smile. “We don’t have that stuff out here. You have to go to California.”
Her mother had cried quietly as she cleaned Carolyn up in the ladies’ room. She wasn’t going to mention that to Brody. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I really thought it would help.” She’d ended up patting her mother on the back, trying to comfort her. When they came out, they found her dad chatting up one of the pretty young workers. Nothing unusual there. On the ride home, her parents didn’t say anything. Her grandmother had been furious when Carolyn told her about it.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Brody had gotten so serious. She was ruining the day. They both got out of the SUV.
Why the heck was she sharing this? So they were up in the mountains. She just wouldn’t look down. “What a beautiful house. This is your project?”
“One of them. Yes.” Out in front, two men were sawing lengths of wood. They smiled at her with curiosity. “Jose. Everett.”
Nodding to the guys, Brody held the massive front door open. “Now watch your step.”
When he took her elbow, sparks sizzled through her. Made her a little weak at the knees. Inside, two men were putting up what looked like molding.
“Morning, Paco. Wayne. I’m just giving a friend a tour.”
A friend, huh?
Carolyn stepped carefully over the cord leading to a table saw. Sawdust floated in the air, smelling as clean and fresh as the blue shirt Brody wore slightly open under his leather jacket. Like most of the guys, Brody had dressed in over-sized T-shirts in high school. This was a much better look.
This was a much better body.
Now be good.
Looking around, Brody said, “Don’t mind the stares. These guys aren’t used to visitors.”
“I don’t want to bother them.” The rooms were large. Beautiful beams patterned the vaulted ceilings. “Such a big place.”
“We’re not bothering anyone. I stop in all the time to check on things.”
“How many projects do you have going at one time?” A sense of authority clung to him. This was a new look for him, at least to her.
He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Hmm. Just started on the fourth.”
Did he ever bring a woman here? The surprised looks on their faces answered that question.
Holding out a hand, he edged over to a huge window. He was taking baby steps. “You okay with this?”
“Sure.” Her hand felt safe in his. She stepped closer. Below them, the hills rolled and her stomach pitched with them. “The drive didn’t seem that steep. But it is gorgeous.”
“Pretty awesome.” He tightened his hold. “Let me
know if you get uncomfortable.”
She looked over. “I can see why you wanted to return here.”
How beautiful it would be to wake up to this every morning. Lots near Canyon Road were small, precious and crowded together. It wasn’t easy to get a view of the mountains from the casita.
Dizziness caught her and the mountains tilted. Dropping his hand, she jerked and turned. Bad move. Pain shot through her foot and she yelped. He caught her just as she reached for a table nearby.
“What is it?” Scooping her up, Brody sat her on the table. His face was set with worry.
She felt like a clod. “I stepped on something. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” He tossed his hat on the table. The pain in her foot wouldn’t stop.
“I’m the one who should be sorry. They’re supposed to clean up at the end of the day.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Which foot?”
She pointed. He took her left foot and gently turned it. A nail had punctured the sole of her shoe. Well, that’s gross. Head spinning, she grabbed his arm.
“I’m going to have to take that out, Carolyn. Unless you want to go to an ER.”
“I’ve had a tetanus shot. Take it out. Please.”
“Be right back.” He stormed out to his car and along the way had a few words with his men. The air fell silent and they disappeared.
“Break time for the guys,” he said, returning with a red plastic kit. Sure. He just didn’t want them to hear her scream. The pliers he took out looked huge. Thank goodness, the nail hadn’t gone in any farther. There was enough of a head to grab. Feeling woozy, she closed her eyes.
Brody tipped her chin up. “Hey, you okay?”
“Fine,” she said, blinking. Staring into the inky depths of his eyes only made her feel more off kilter. “Go ahead. Let’s g-get it done.” First the height, now this. She really was a wimp.
His jaw clenched.
Oh so slowly, he removed the nail. She sucked the pain in through her teeth and held on tight. I’m a total baby. The whimper was a surprise. The nail came out.
“I’m going to take your shoe off now.” He started to unlace the ties.
“And the sock.” Leaning back on her elbows, she watched. This felt so wrong to be turned on right now. But the look on his face touched her. Running a hand over the bottom of her foot he frowned. “You’re doing great.”
She wanted to say do that again, please. “Right.”
Poor guy looked like he might pass out. Pouring alcohol onto a cotton ball, he swabbed her foot. It tickled. “I’m so sorry about this, Carolyn.”
“You’ll have to pay up,” she told him as he bandaged her foot.
He threw her a slanted look. “How much is a nailed foot worth?”
“Lunch at the diner?”
“You got it, Teach. I mean, Carolyn…Miss Knight.”
“Carolyn,” she purred, loving the blush that burnished his features.
Almost made the whole thing worthwhile.
~.~
Brody stood on Justine’s porch, hands in his pockets. He’d never felt this bad on a woman’s porch before. But this was the right thing to do. His gut told him that. Guess there was a first time for everything, and this was the first time he’d been the one to end it. Usually women felt him pulling away. Tired of his “ambivalence,” as one woman called it, they cut the strings. Not this time and he hated it. A light glowed overhead.
The door flew open just as he rang the doorbell.
“So. Here you are.” Justine’s dark eyes flashed. That had been one of the things that had attracted him. He had a thing for dark eyes. Well, he used to anyway. Carolyn had soft brown eyes that were more like warm caramel than M&Ms.
When had he studied a woman’s eyes like this?
“Yep. Here I am.” No teasing note in his voice tonight and she heard it.
Opening the door wider, she didn’t even crack a smile. “Come on in then.”
Her cozy living room was full of bright colors, bordering on neon. Definitely a chick’s place. That was Justine. Ultra feminine, but more Tina Turner than Carrie Underwood.
“How about a beer?” She turned, already on her way into the kitchen.
“No thanks.”
She arched a brow.
“Can we talk?”
Disappointment flickered across her face and was gone. Standing stiff at the edge of her sofa, he wanted to kick himself. “Justine, I really like you.”
Her nostrils flared. “Why do I feel a kiss-off is coming here?”
He swallowed. With one hand, she shoved him down onto the sofa. Then she took the rocker across from him. Looking totally hot in skintight jeans and a casual denim shirt, she wore tons of beads around her neck. That was Justine. She clattered when she walked. There was nothing subtle about her, and he’d always liked that.
“So who is she?”
He tensed. “Aren’t you jumping to conclusions?”
She tilted her head. “Brody, we both knew this day would come. You’re restless.”
On with it. “You’re wonderful, Justine. Terrific. Gorgeous and really good in…”
She held one hand up flat. “Stop right there.”
Crap. He didn’t blame her. “I’m not the one for you.”
There it was again, that disappointment. Like she was his mother and he’d let her down. Dropping her gaze, she swept a length of coal dark hair behind her shoulder. “I know that. But you were fun. I-I enjoyed my time with you.”
She was being nice about it. That only made him feel worse. “Look, I’d feel a hell of a lot better about this if you’d scratch my eyes out and call me every name in the book.”
“Maybe I will.” The laugh was so Justine, like a sister who’d called him on his shit. “Hold that thought.”
“I wish you had fooled around on me or gave me the finger once or twice.”
“Look, don’t feel bad okay?” Resting elbows on her knees, she leaned forward. She had to realize she was granting him full view of her assets. Brody became wary.
Planting his hands on his knees, he braced himself for anything she might toss his way. “I really like you. We had some great times together.” In his heart, he always hoped. Maybe a woman would turn out to be something magical.
But back then he didn’t know what magic was. How it could feel, at the touch of a foot.
“You already said that,” Justine said, her voice brittle. “I always knew we weren’t headed down the aisle together.”
“Okay then. So we’re good?” He stood up.
She hitched a shoulder. “Of course we are. I want you to be happy.”
“There’s a great guy out there for you.” The words sounded so lame.
Her smile stretched tight, bold and bright in that cherry red lipstick. “Yes, there is and I will find him. Hey, if you found yours, I can find mine, right?”
Feeling his chest expand, he felt better. Absolved. “You’re too good for me.”
“Probably. But I think this woman must be better. Because you have changed.” She followed him to the door.
“I have?” He didn’t see this coming.
“Yes, you have. You are softer, somehow. Thoughtful. Call it weird but I saw that Saturday night and wondered.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t plan this.” When she wrapped her arms around his waist, he kissed her forehead and then gently pushed back.
“Now hit the road.” Her eyes flashed. Sometimes Justine could blow hot and cold. Her mood changes had always caught him by surprise.
When he got into the SUV, he felt almost giddy with relief. Was something happening that he didn’t even realize? Whatever it was, it had sharpened his focus and brightened his life. Whenever he got charged up, Brody drove into the mountains. Roared around the back roads until the red arrow told him he was running out of gas. This was almost as good as running. Or great sex.
But with Carolyn, if they ever got that far, it wouldn’t be just sex. And that settled him down fas
t.
One thing still bothered him, though, as he pulled into his garage.
Carolyn wasn’t taking him seriously. She still treated him like a boy.
The boy she used to know.
That had to change.
Chapter 8
Mama V helped Carolyn wrestle the large box through the front door. Diana had come through. Sure felt like Christmas and just in time.
“My goodness, have you been shopping online?” Mama V loved the unexpected.
“Not exactly. This is from my friend Diana. Do we have a pair of scissors?”
“Of course. I’ll get it.”
Carolyn’s foot throbbed and her head spun. She collapsed on the edge of the sofa. It wasn’t the Santa Fe air making her dizzy. Nope, she couldn’t stop thinking about Brody’s hand on her bare foot. His warm breath on her cheek. The smell of his mint lozenge after they finished their burritos.
But he hadn’t kissed her yet. Hadn’t even tried. Her disappointment confused her. But he’d asked her to go with him to El Farol tomorrow night. And now she’d be decked out in whatever was in this box from Diana. She trusted her friend completely.
A kitchen drawer slid open and shut. Mama V bustled back in waving a pair of scissors.
“You’ll love Diana.” Carolyn sank the scissors blade into the cardboard. “Her shop is kind of campy but cool. I haven’t shopped there much. Well, until now.”
Her grandmother clapped her hands. “I like her already.”
“Next time you visit I’ll take you to Hippy Chick so you can meet her.” Chuckling, Carolyn pulled up the flaps. Brilliant colors met her eyes. Reaching in, she felt soft fabric. No more turtlenecks and jeans. She gently tugged out a turquoise top.
“Oh my. So colorful.” Her grandmother was fascinated.
The bright fabric flowed over Carolyn’s fingers, soft except for the delicate rows of aqua, yellow and turquoise beads around the neckline. Whipping off her turtleneck, Carolyn pulled the new top over her head. Her grandmother sat back, her eyes sparkling with appreciation. In the hallway was a full-length mirror. Carolyn stumbled toward it while her grandmother hovered.
