When she came back into the room, she didn’t rejoin him on the couch. She looked upset, pacing in front of the fireplace. Agitated. She raked a hand through her hair, then crossed her arms. “That was Mrs. McKay.”
He had gotten that, but he said, “What did she want?”
“It’s those reports I was going in to work on. She wants them now.” Josie shifted her weight and pushed her hair back again. “I should, I mean, I need to—”
“Go.” he supplied.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that those reports aren’t anywhere near finished. If I start now, I might be able to get them to her by,” she checked her watch and groaned. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”
Cole stood and stepped in front of her. He rubbed her arms. “Want me to give you a ride?”
She rested her hands against his chest. “I’d rather stay here with you, but I guess that’s not an option.”
“We’ll have plenty more nights to neck.”
Josie smiled. “Do I have a hickey?”
He pushed her hair back over her shoulders and checked the skin exposed above her top. She’d replaced the straps. He ran a finger along one. Josie shivered at his touch. “I had a little trouble deciding on a spot. Maybe next time.”
She moved in closer. “Promise?”
He enfolded her in his arms. “I promise.”
She tugged at his collar. “Let me see yours?”
“How’s it look?”
She grabbed his hands and urged him into the hallway. “See for yourself.”
They stopped in front of a mirror that hung over a hall table. Cole moved his collar aside. There it was.
“How did I do?”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her in for a quick kiss. “It’s perfect, just like you.”
She seemed immensely pleased with his compliment. Confident and sure of herself.
“Let me drive you into town.” He wasn’t ready to leave her.
“Thanks, but I could be there awhile. I think I’ll take my car.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll walk you out.”
They held hands as they retraced their steps to his truck. Rick lifted his head and whined as they approached. She stroked one of his long ears. “Oh, it’s okay. We’ll see each other again real soon. I promise.”
The dog wagged his tail.
“Maybe your daddy will take me to your house next time.”
“Maybe,” Cole agreed.
When he opened the door to his truck, Josie reached behind the seat for the picnic basket and her bag. Cole blocked her access by taking her hands in his. “How ’bout if I bring the basket to you tomorrow?” he suggested. “That way, you won’t have to deal with it now.”
She turned to face him. “Fill it up, and I’ll meet you in Town Square for lunch.”
“Well, I’d have to check my schedule . . .”
She gave him a playful smack on the arm.
Cole laced his fingers with hers. “Um, Josie?”
“Hmm?”
“Mrs. McKay, did she say anything to upset you?”
A breeze blew his hair across his face. She reached up to push it back. “Don’t fret about Mrs. McKay.”
“I can’t help it.”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle Mrs. McKay.”
“Nah, you’re just a little thing.”
Josie laughed again. “Thanks for this weekend.” She touched the class ring. “For everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he warned.
“Would you quit worrying about Mrs. McKay?”
He raked a hand through his hair and looked away. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you over to the library? I could come back and pick you up when you’re finished.” And maybe if he stuck around, he could help run interference with Mrs. McKay.
“There’s no need for you to go to all that trouble. I’ll just drive myself.”
“I don’t mind.”
She touched his face and said, “Kiss me and tell me you’ll see me tomorrow.”
He leaned down and kissed her, slow and sweet and thorough. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her kiss-swollen lips.
She pressed a kiss into his palm. “Tomorrow.”
He just stood there for a moment and watched her walk away. Before she entered the house, she turned and took a step back toward him.
“I almost forgot. Earlier, at the Fort, you said you wanted to tell me something. We never got around to that.”
Cole’s blood ran cold. He’d forgotten, too. Convenient. “No worries. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“You’re sure?”
He just nodded. He hated like crazy watching her walk away again without telling her, but it was not a conversation he wanted to have when he didn’t have all the time he’d need to deal with her reaction.
Rick barked his goodbye. Josie waved before disappearing from view. Cole reluctantly got into his truck.
Mrs. McKay was going to cause trouble for her. He knew it as well as he knew his own name. He couldn’t let that happen. He’d have to figure out a way to make sure that meddling old woman left Josie alone.
Chapter Eleven
Josie hurried to the room she used as her home office, gathered her papers, and stuffed them into her briefcase. Mrs. McKay would be waiting for her at the library. Josie could just imagine it. The woman would probably be standing by the front door, tapping her foot impatiently, wondering why Josie hadn’t magically appeared there immediately after their phone conversation had ended.
Josie smiled. Maybe she’d enjoy the nice weather and walk. She tossed her keys in the air, locked the back door, and walked between her house and Miss Estelee’s, heading for the sidewalk that would take her into town.
“Howdy-do there,” Miss Estelee called from her front porch.
Josie waved at her neighbor. “Oh, hello Miss Estelee. I didn’t see you sitting there.” This would make her even later getting to the library. Good.
“I ’spect you haven’t seen much besides that young man in the better part of a week.”
Josie smiled and diplomatically evaded the topic of that young man. “Nice day we had. I hope you were able to get out and enjoy it.”
“You’re a gettin’ in way over your head, Missy. Some folks up here won’t take to the likes of you consortin’ with the likes of him. You’ll see. But you just gotta trust that them angels knows what they’re a doin’. Don’t dance to them fancy folks’s tune. It’s high time some of you young people danced to your own tune. Mmm-hmm.” She nodded and rocked back in her chair.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Miss Estelee. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go in to work for a bit. Good evening.”
“Oh, it’s gonna be a dandy one. You just hold your ground.”
Josie couldn’t help shaking her head at the senile old woman as she strolled on toward the sidewalk.
“Yes sirree, it’s gonna be a sight to behold.”
Miss Estelee laughed, and the sound of her humming floated on the warm spring breeze that followed Josie down the street. When she arrived at the library, she noticed that Mrs. McKay stood at the front door, impatiently tapping her toe against the brick porch. Just as she’d suspected.
“Good evening, Mrs. McKay,” she called out a greeting as she approached.
“Well, here you are. And what exactly is the meaning of this, young lady?”
“I beg your pardon, ma’am?”
“Why are you not in your office? Why did I have to call you at home?”
“It’s Sunday evening, Mrs. McKay. The library isn’t open on Sunday evenings.”
“Yes, but I am certain your work is not completed on Friday at five.”
“Which is why I’m here now.”
“Indeed? I am surprised that you have the time. I am also aware that you did not report to work yesterday.”
“I’m off on Saturdays, Mrs. McKay. It’s in my contract.�
�
“Evenin’ ladies,” Constable Harris walked by and tipped his hat.
“Good evening, Constable Harris,” Josie said. Mrs. McKay didn’t reply. A sidewalk on Main Street was not the place to have this discussion.
“Mrs. McKay, would you like to come in?” Josie unlocked the front door of the library and held it open for the older lady.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I would.”
Mrs. McKay marched past her. Good thing Josie hadn’t decided to climb in the window like Cole. She’d been really tempted to, effectively avoiding the old biddy all together. In the end, she had figured Mrs. McKay would have had a stroke if she’d witnessed it. That stroke might evidence itself anyway. Her benefactor was clearly upset.
As soon as they entered Josie’s office, Mrs. McKay said, “Josephine, it has come to my attention that you have been seen in the company of a certain young man of late.”
“I’m seen in the company of many people, Mrs. McKay.”
“I am speaking of the Craig boy.”
“Yes, he’s been helping out at my house,” she evaded. Even though she’d expected it, she still couldn’t believe this. Surely the woman didn’t actually think she could dictate with whom she spent her time.
“Indeed? And are lunches in the Town Square part of his assistance at your home? Not to mention afternoons carousing together before the entire town.”
“Mrs. McKay, I—”
The woman held up a bony, wrinkled hand to stop Josie’s words mid-sentence. “I tried to give you the opportunity to make good decisions on your own. However, since you seem incapable of doing so, I will say this once, Josephine, and know that I invite no discussion on the matter.
“I and the other members of the McKay Foundation Board deem it wholly inappropriate for you to be consorting with that young man.”
Josie blinked. Miss Estelee had said the exact same thing not fifteen minutes ago.
“Mind you, he has his purposes here in town. He is a hard worker and does his family name proud, but he is not cut from our cloth,” the woman said succinctly. “You would do well to seek out the company of someone more your equal in social status and education.”
“Someone like your son?” Josie supplied.
“Precisely. You and Martin would make a splendid couple.”
“Mrs. McKay—”
“I do not believe it necessary to remind you that the McKay Foundation funded your education and pays your salary here at our library. We expect our town librarian to conduct herself in a respectful manner.”
A warm breeze stirred the curtains at her window.
“I was not aware that I had conducted myself in an inappropriate manner, ma’am.”
“Of course, if you are in disagreement with me, your contract with the Foundation could be easily terminated. However, we would expect reimbursement of the fees paid for your graduate studies. I’m sure you understand.”
“Yes, I understand.” She understood that this bigoted old woman thought she had just skillfully nailed her to the wall. Josie’s family didn’t have that kind of money lying around in the bank, and they’d never think of selling the house, so the woman would naturally think there was no way she could come up with the funds to pay the Foundation back for the best graduate education money could buy. She had no recourse legally against a private foundation.
There was something, however. Josie smiled. Clearly Mrs. McKay had not thought this through.
“Good. I’m glad we had this little chat, dear. I trust I shall see you at the Memorial Day celebration. I’ll tell Martin you’re in need of an escort. Good evening.”
Mrs. McKay stood, turned on her heel, and marched out of Josie’s office. Josie followed the domineering woman as far as Teresa’s unattended desk. “Mrs. McKay?”
She stopped. “Yes?”
“I am sorry to inform you that your conditions are not at all acceptable to me. I fear I shall have to resign my position with the library.”
“What?” Mrs. McKay seemed genuinely stunned. In fact, she was quite unattractive with her mouth agape.
“It’s really too bad. The trials I’ve been putting my cataloging system through show the program is ready to be implemented and interfaced with the library’s new website.”
Mrs. McKay stood facing Josie, rigid with indignation. “The program will remain whether you stay or go, you ungrateful chit.”
“No, I’m afraid not. You see, the program is mine and is copyrighted in my name. I have had numerous lucrative offers for the software rights, but money was never an issue for me. Loyalty to the Foundation and my hometown are of greater importance. Or were. I will remain for two weeks while you search for my replacement. Good evening.” Josie walked back into her office.
“Wait just a minute, young lady. The Foundation owns that program. We paid for your education.”
Josie closed her window, then sat in her desk chair and faced Mrs. McKay, her fingers steepled before her. “Yes, but I created the program, and you do not own my mind, or me for that matter.”
“Josephine, don’t be so hasty. Let’s discuss this a bit further.”
“I can’t see that there is anything to discuss.”
“The Foundation should at least be afforded the opportunity to purchase the program from you.”
“It is not in my best interest to sell the program at this time, Mrs. McKay. I prefer to secure a library directorship where I would be free to work unencumbered and allowed to implement the system. I do not have to tell you that there is no other cataloging system such as this in the nation. It won’t be difficult to find a prestigious institution willing to allow me to write my own terms of appointment.”
Mrs. McKay sat heavily in the chair on the other side of Josie’s desk. “And what would those terms be if you stayed here?”
“In return for exclusive use of the cataloging system for two years, I would hold the position of director of the library with a ten percent increase in pay, a seat on the Foundation board, my educational debt canceled . . . and never mentioned again,” Josie said succinctly.
“Five years,” she countered.
“Three.”
“Deal.” Mrs. McKay stood. “I’ll have the Foundation’s attorney draw up the contract.”
“Fine,” Josie agreed. “Oh, and I assume I need not mention that my private life is my own. It is of no one’s concern.”
Mrs. McKay hesitated in the doorway of Josie’s office, but at last glanced over her shoulder and said, “Of course.”
Josie nodded and leaned back in her chair as Mrs. McKay disappeared from view. She’d done it. She slapped her desk with the flat of her hands. At last, she was totally free. She stood and spun around, stopping to face the window.
Cole. She pushed the window open and sat on the sill. She leaned out a bit, hoping against hope that he would be there. He wasn’t.
She relaxed against the window casing and took a deep, cleansing breath. Her first without the stifling expectations of this town and her indebtedness to the Foundation weighing on her.
She and Cole . . . They’d be free to have an open relationship. She’d like nothing better than to go now and find him to tell him her news. Her gaze fell on the unopened briefcase sitting on her desk. Those reports still had to be finished for tomorrow’s board meeting.
Tomorrow. She’d tell Cole everything at lunch tomorrow. He’d said he would meet her in town for lunch. She hoped she could convince him to take her up to the tall pines for a much more private celebration.
A secret smile stayed glued to her face as she completed the work on the reports. Everything was finally falling into place. The job of her dreams, a wonderful man who was crazy about her, and a life in the town that she loved. Maybe Miss Estelee was right. Those angels were working their magic.
*
Cole fumed all the way home. How dare that old woman threaten Josie’s job because of her relationship with him. He slammed his fist against the dash.
He
shouldn’t be surprised. He’d known that this was exactly what would happen. It’s why he’d followed Josie back to her office. He’d stood outside the window and heard all the hurtful things that woman had said to Josie. It had been all he could do to not intervene then and there. But that would have only made matters worse, so he’d forced himself to leave when they’d entered the outer office.
No. He’d bide his time. Come up with a plan. He’d show them all who he was. Who he really was. He’d become a man Josie could be proud to be seen with in front of the haughtiest of Angel Ridge society. He and Josie would thumb their noses at them all. He’d see to that.
Chapter Twelve
The next day, Josie anticipated Cole appearing at her window all morning. When noon came and went, she walked down to the Town Square. Cole hadn’t called to further discuss their lunch plans this morning. Maybe he just expected her to meet him at the angel monument.
She hoped she’d either find him sitting on the bench near the monument, or maybe walking down the sidewalk toward the library, but the park bench stood empty. She scanned the streets, expecting his disreputable looking truck to be parked somewhere along Main Street, but she didn’t see it. Thinking that he might be running late, she sat and waited. When the courthouse clock tolled two, she returned to the library.
She spent the rest of the day with half her mind on her work, the other half tuned to any sign of Cole. She didn’t even have the board meeting to distract her because Mrs. McKay had postponed it a day. With all the reports completed the night before, all she could think about was Cole. Where could he be?
As the sun began to set, Josie kept glancing from her computer screen to her window, but he never came. On her walk home, Josie encountered Constable Harris.
“Evenin’, Dr. Allen.” He tipped his hat.
“Good evening, Constable.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have seen the Craig boy today, would you?” the man asked.
Surprised that he would ask the very question that had been on her mind, she responded, “No, I’m sorry.” She waited, hoping he’d offer more information. He didn’t disappoint.
Only You Page 15
