"Why?" The word escaped before she could stop it. She suddenly felt foolish for questioning his good, albeit stubborn, heart.
His eyes grew soft and she recognized the look of pity. She hated that look but she couldn't stop it. In the small town they lived in, everyone knew practically everyone. Pity was part of it.
Poor little Stacey Ingram, gave up her education for her grandfather. Poor Stacey, such a kind soul to help him out. She'd forgotten how to live, poor thing.
Narrowing her eyes, she lifted her chin a notch, silently daring him to say anything even resembling pity.
“Why?” she asked again through gritted teeth.
Joey lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. "Because you're my friend."
****
Joseph McCrary wanted a lot more than friendship with Stacey, but now wasn't the time. Right now, all she needed was his help. And all he needed was to see her smile again.
He was home for a while now since he'd graduated from college last week with a bachelor's in engineering. He'd planned to spend the summer interviewing for jobs and living up his last carefree summer before becoming an official adult with a nine-to-five job.
Until his parents had told him about Mr. Ingram and the cancer. His first thought had been to ask about Stacey, but his parents knew him well, and it didn't even pass his lips before they told him about how she dropped out of high school her senior year two years ago and wouldn’t even speak to anyone about going back.
Over the years, he'd look to Stacey as a solid rock in his crazy world. He lived fast and free and didn't think much about the consequences. He enjoyed easy women and no commitment.
They'd grown up across the street from each other, building the cliché mud pies and swimming in the local watering hole. But she'd always been the awkward girl with knobby knees, thick glasses and frizzy blonde hair.
But something changed around the time he went to college. She'd been sixteen at the time and started filling out those baggy shirts she always wore, and her hair was less frizzy and more… tousled. Sort of like what he envisioned her looking like after a good roll in the hay.
But Stacey Ingram wasn't built that way. She was a forever kind of gal, one he'd normally steer clear of, but after the conversation with his parents about how out of touch with society she was, Joey had realized the perfect escape for her.
Him.
With a hopeful smile tugging at his lips, he entered Mr. Ingram's room and took a good look at the man who used to be his employer.
"Hey Mr. Ingram, how ya feelin'?" He spoke loud enough for the man to hear him and extended his hand.
He obviously recognized him immediately by the way his face lit up with an ashen smile. Joey took his hand and pumped, ignoring the weakness of the other man's grip.
"I'm glad you're here, son, I need to go to the bathroom. Can you help an old man get there?"
"That's why I'm here, sir. I wanted to let Stacey get some rest."
His words gave Mr. Ingram pause. His eyes glistened suspiciously. "Why thank you. Everyone seems to fuss over me but no one thinks about her. I'm just a man who's at the end of a well-lived life. Hers is just beginning."
"I'm home from college now, and I'll be over here as much as I can to help out," he assured the man, his heartstrings tugging. Joey pushed the feeling aside to help him out of bed.
Once he was settled again, Joey strolled back in to the living room and found Stacey sitting on the edge of the couch, tissue in hand, glasses lying duct-tape side up on the coffee table. She didn't notice his entrance, and he watched for a moment. She wasn't the kind of gal to show her emotions much, and it was like getting a glimpse inside of her soul.
Her face crumpled, and she buried it in the tissue, quietly sniffing and swiping at her nose and eyes. For a moment, Joey felt the tears welling in his own eyes for her sorrow. She was such a beautiful girl — woman now — and his arms physically ached to hold her. Friends hugged each other, right?
Silently crossing the room, he sat next to her and gathered her into his arms, loving the feel of her softness against him. Her stiff body was an indicator she didn't welcome his touch, but he was determined. If there was one thing she should know about him by now, it was that he got what he wanted. And he wanted her.
Turning her face up to meet his, he wiped away her tears with his thumb and kissed her forehead. "Stace," he whispered, the lump in his throat vicious and choking.
"Thank you," she said without a trace of emotion in her voice. She tried to move away from him, but he tightened his hold.
"When was the last time you let someone hold you when you cried? Or tell you it was going to be okay?"
She swallowed and averted her eyes. "Before Mama and Daddy died."
Joey inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. He remembered that night. The police cars, the sirens, and the flashing lights had called attention to the house he now sat in. He'd even heard Stacey's childhood cries through the closed window. She'd suffered so much, and yet she was so much stronger than anyone he'd ever known before. Maybe because of the things she'd endured over the years or despite them, he wasn't sure.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, touching her cheek.
Her eyes were wide and full of something akin to desire. It was a universal look for all women, but on her, it was special, knowing he caused it. He wasn’t sure if forever was on the menu or if it was all just temporary, but he wanted to give her a glimmer of hope. Somehow make her see she still had a life to live.
"You're full of crap," she shot back with a half-smile and again tried to pull away.
"You think I'm kidding?" he asked, surprised she'd voice her insecurities.
"I know you are. Let go of me, Joey. I don't know what's wrong with you, but you need to go. I have to fix supper for Papa."
"You have to kiss me."
Her audible gasp caused him to shift uncomfortably in his seat. Was she horrified at the thought? Or was it the opposite?
She wrenched away from him, putting the whole expanse of the room between them with only a few awkward steps. She stumbled over the magazine rack at the door. "Joey McCrary, get out of this house or I'll…"
He grinned. "Or you'll what?"
Stamping her foot like the true southern belle she was, he tried not to laugh out loud.
"Wipe the smirk off your face," she ordered.
"Make me." It was fun getting her all flustered, seeing the life back in her eyes and color in her cheeks.
"Get out."
He crossed his arms and leaned back on the couch. "Nope."
"I'm gonna call your mama."
He tossed her a careless shrug. "Go ahead, but I'm bigger and faster than her these days."
That got a smile out of her. A real, genuine Stacey Ingram smile that had captivated him when he was younger. He was glad it still charmed him, even if it was disturbing to recognize now how she'd always affected him.
His heart stopped a little as her smile faded and the insecurities crossed her face, plain as day. She looked at her feet, and a pretty shade of pink rose on her cheeks.
Standing slowly, Joey walked to her. The thud of his shoe against the hardwood caught her attention and her gaze snapped up. His gaze travelled down her, lingering on her hips. The sexiest curve on a woman was right above those hips, and he loved to nibble on it.
He gave her time to back away, and he recognized the fear in her rounded eyes. Her glasses were still on the table, probably why she'd stumbled. Her blindness gave him an advantage.
Walking right up to her, he invaded her personal space, waiting for her rejection, but those eyes were trained on his lips, and her own were open in a silent gasp.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice breathy and low.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"I'm afraid to say because if I'm wrong, I'm going to look like an idiot."
Joey chuckled. "You're not wrong." He reached up and tugged at a tendril of her blonde curls. The actio
n brought her even closer to him. He took a step forward, forcing her body to back up until she touched the wall.
Stacey let out a little squeak.
He put his hand on her luscious hip and squeezed. She slapped him away quickly. But he was a patient man and put it back there as soon as he recovered from the sting. This time she didn't make him move. There was no denying she was attracted to him. And maybe it was a little too soon for her, but he needed to feel her lips against his. He needed to know he could take away her pain, if only for a little bit, maybe longer if his plan came to fruition. But kissing her was the only way he knew how to help her.
He began his descent, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. He could practically hear her heartbeat thrumming through her veins, and it caused his own body to respond.
Then, at last, his lips touched hers. Slowly he worked his mouth over hers, not demanding anything, just enjoying flesh against flesh until she opened for him. He wondered by the stiff way she held herself if she'd ever been kissed before by anyone other than him. Gripping her hip tighter and cupping the back of her head with his other hand, he leaned into her, pressing himself against her.
Stacey squirmed and tried to say something, but he took her mouth the second it opened, her words lost. She relaxed then, so much so she clung to his shirt. He helped her out by moving her arms around his shoulders, pulling her tight against him and hanging on.
Tentatively, her tongue touched his, fueling his desire. Who knew little Stacey Ingram was so perfect? With a groan, Joey deepened the kiss, giving her everything he had, praying desperately if just for a moment, she was thinking of something other than her grandfather.
As she kissed him back, finally giving in, it didn’t take much for him to realize he was in over his head. If Stacey had never been kissed before, she was a fast learner. Joey's thoughts were already turning to the bedroom, and that didn't typically happen this quickly for him. Yeah, he was a guy, and he considered himself experienced. The women blended together for him. But nothing about Stacey blended. She was kind, beautiful, and had the sweetest smile he'd ever seen.
It was those thoughts that had him pulling away. She followed him awkwardly, obviously unwilling for the moment to end, but he took her hands away from his shoulders and placed them in front of her.
Without letting on that his heart was pounding and the ground had quite literally shifted beneath him, he gave her his practiced, sexy grin he gave all the gals at college. "What time can I come over to help tomorrow?"
Her dazed eyes narrowed and finally focused on him. "Help me with what?"
His grin blossomed into a full smile. "Mission accomplished."
Table of Contents
Tinseltown
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
About the Author
Also from Stephanie Taylor
Tinseltown Page 18
