LOVE in a Small Town

by Janet Eaves

  She rolled to her side, determined to get up off the bed, uncertain how she’d gotten to it to begin with. Last thing she remembered was being rejected by Jim, again, then drinking Suzie’s special martini’s out back in the enclosed porch. Beyond that things were fuzzy.

  Like her mouth.

  A family of mice must have moved in, she was sure of it. She tried to swallow and winced. Her throat was raw, too. From the alcohol? Maybe. She couldn’t remember. Except, there was something. Something she knew she needed to remember. But repeated attempts to think only made her head hurt worse.

  “Are you up then?”

  Lilly lifted her head to find Suzie standing in her doorway. She made an attempt to sit up then stand, and then sat again since she was destined to fall. “Barely. What do you put in those drinks?”

  Suzie laughed, but it wasn’t her normal, casual laugh. It seemed a bit strained.

  “Nothing abnormal. You just had too much, too quickly.”

  Heat filled her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I feel foolish.”

  Indecision flashed across Suzie’s face before she entered the room fully. “Martin called. He’s found a rental house for you to look at tomorrow.”

  Lilly shook her head to clear some of the cobwebs currently cloaking her brain. She tried to focus on Suzie but it hurt too much to lift her head. She bit her bottom lip, knowing she looked a mess. But something in Suzie’s demeanor made her feel she must have done something to offend, as well.

  She forced herself to look Suzie in the eyes. “I apologize for getting drunk. It’s never happened before. I hope I didn’t do anything to upset you.”

  Suzie shook her head, a little too quickly. “Of course not.”

  At Suzie’s brisk reply then unusual silence Lilly took a deep, painful breath and pasted a smile on her face, which hurt more. “Well, then. I guess I get to look for a place of my own tomorrow.”

  “I hope you like it. Goodnight.” Suzie pulled the door closed as she left the room.

  Lilly settled back on the side of the bed and stared at the door. She was grateful to be alone again to wallow in the pain of too much alcohol, but her stomach hurt and she didn’t think it all had to do with her drinking.

  She tested her voice in the suddenly too-silent room. “I’ll fix it. Whatever I did I’ll fix it,” she vowed, before forcing herself to the bathroom for a shower.

  The water sloshing over her head and down her body was heavenly but couldn’t eliminate the dread eating, along with whatever alcohol still remained, her stomach lining. Suzie was angry at her. She was sure of it. There was a definite coolness that had never been there before. Suzie had welcomed her to her home with open arms. Kindness. Fun.

  She’d never had a real friend before. Only acquaintances she dare not get too close to. It made for a lonely life, a life she didn’t want back. Whatever she had done, she would make it right. First thing in the morning she would make it all right again. She had to.

  ****

  The sun shone bright overhead sending beams of light through the tall pine trees, a beautiful but painful sight. The gentle lap of water against shore which normally soothed, grated against every nerve in her body. Usually delighted by the sound of busy birds preparing for winter, the constant chirp-chatter was enough to make her want to find a gun, any type, any caliber. But of course she wouldn’t. This hell was of her own making. As was the mistake, whatever that mistake had been, that had ended a new and blossoming friendship.

  Suzie was already up and gone. Without one word.

  Lilly sipped her French vanilla and cinnamon coffee on the back porch. There were no other guests this morning, something for which she was grateful, since her head felt like a large birthday balloon and her stomach just plain hated her. Several guests had come and gone since her arrival though only a few had stayed overnight. Most just passed through to buy Suzie’s seemingly unlimited supply of pastries, soup starter bags, coffee or tea mixtures, and various other goodies the incredibly talented woman made. Tears filled her eyes and Lilly furiously slapped them away.

  What had she done to ruin what was becoming her perfect life?

  Was it her relationship with Jim? She knew he and Suzie cared for each other but if there was anything beyond a deep fondness, neither was admitting it. If anything Suzie had encouraged her to go out with him, helped her pick out outfits, had insisted on what was now a drawer full of naughty underwear.

  It didn’t make sense.

  “Hello?”

  Lilly left the sanctuary of the porch and entered the house. Standing just inside the front door was a man she’d never met. As was her habit with strangers, she assessed him as he seemed to be assessing her.

  Reflective glasses hid his eyes; precisely cut sandy blond hair just touched a neatly pressed button-down shirt. His jeans were clearly pressed as if he was trying to look casual but didn’t know how. The outfit ended with pristine pointed-toe cowboy boots that looked brand new. She tamped down years of cautious reaction and pasted a smile on her face. This was a business, and as Suzie’s friend, or at least a friend from her own standpoint, then it was her duty to take care of things in Suzie’s absence. “Hello. Can I help you?”

  The man lowered his aviator sunglasses to the hump of his nose. Lilly forced herself not to squirm as he looked her over. A flash of a smile transformed his face from merely astonishingly handsome to extraordinary. She smiled, more in humor than anything else as she knew then and there that if this man didn’t knock her socks off, then none ever would, except for the one that already had. She was really and truly in love with one James Hood. The pain in her head eased a bit.

  “My name is Green. Tom Green. Is this your establishment?”

  She shook her head, a little dazed by the realization that she had fallen so hard in such a short period of time. “No. I’m Lilly, a guest. Suzie is out right now. Did you want a room?”

  Tom Green studied the room as if looking for ghost in the corners. He took one step, then another, then another before scanning the room again. He slid a glance to Lilly. “Maybe. I understand there is a cooking class here on Saturdays.”

  “Yes. It starts at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

  Tom smiled at her again. “Good. May I see the kitchen?”

  She nodded. A health inspector? He sure didn’t look like a health inspector, to her. Not that she knew what one should look like. But not Mr. GQ here. He was way too pretty for such a mundane job. But then, as she was learning quickly, many of the men in Legend were gorgeous. Maybe it was something in the water… Maybe, Lake Legend held supernatural powers. Shaking her head at the unusual whimsy of her thoughts she focused on her duty.

  “This way.” She led him to the kitchen and watched as he inspected the windows and doorway to the sun-porch. He stuck his head through then pulled it back in before glancing at the door that lead to Suzie’s private rooms.

  “What’s in there?”

  Lilly frowned. Now he seemed just a little too nosy. “The owner’s rooms. They’re off limits to guests.”

  Tom studied her for a moment. “May I see a room?”

  She wanted to say no, that the B&B was all booked up, but she couldn’t do that. If he was a potential customer he had a right to see the facilities he would be renting. If he was a government official she wasn’t sure of his rights, or hers in refusing him entry. And it wasn’t her place to run off Suzie’s potential income either way. Even if Mr. Astonishing was starting to give her the creeps. “Of course. Follow me.”

  Lilly lead the way to the room beside her own and opened the door. “Here you go.”

  Tom stepped into the room and looked around. He walked to the single window which overlooked the woods leading to the lake. He turned back and pointed to the adjoining bathroom door. “What’s that?”

  “Bathroom. It adjoins the other room up here. Currently occupied.”

  Tom stared at her for several seconds then flashed that smile. “Your room.”

  Lill
y balled her hands into fists. He was starting to scare her and she refused to be afraid. “Who are you?”

  The smile stayed in place but steel entered the eyes. “I told you. I’m Tom Green.”

  Lilly didn’t smile back. She’d spent a lifetime around people who weren’t what they seemed. She was one of them. And like recognized like. “Why are you here?”

  Thoughtful eyes stared back at her. “I need a place to stay while I look for a job. This looks like a nice place.”

  Lilly nodded. “It is. But you’ll have to talk to the owner to see if she has anything available.

  “What kind of job are you looking for?”

  That smile again. “Pig farmer.”

  Horse shit! Lilly kept the thought to herself, but just barely. This man was no more pig farmer than she was. “Seriously.”

  He shrugged. “Looking to become a farm laborer, really. Temporarily. Brought up on a farm. Enjoyed the life. Thought I’d see if I still liked it before investing in my own place.”

  Lilly wasn’t sure she bought his story, but it wasn’t her business as long as he hadn’t come for her. She relaxed. If he was after her she would already be dead. What better chance could anyone have than where they stood now? That she had allowed herself to be put in a situation where she was alone with a strange man just went to show how safe she actually felt. It was a great feeling, but she wasn’t stupid. There were more threats to a woman than the Italian mob. And something about Tom Green made the hairs want to stand at the nape of her neck. She just couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

  She made a point of looking at her watch. “Well. You’ll need to call back in to talk to Suzie Schul later. I’m afraid I have an appointment and I’ll be late if I don’t leave immediately.”

  Tom nodded and headed from the room back to the front of the house. Lilly followed. He turned and smiled at her again. This time it didn’t seem practiced or menacing. “Thank you for your time.” He started to leave then turned back. “Tell Ms. Schul to expect one more for her class tomorrow.”

  ****

  “We’re as ready as we get, Coach.”

  Jim nodded and looked down the line of booster busses that would follow the team’s bus to Larkstone High School. The community, as always, was prepared to travel with, and cheer the Dragons on to victory. This year though, after word about the horse crap on the Dragon’s field got out, there was a lot more determination in the eyes of players and fans alike. Even some of the buses had large banners that had less than nicely worded slogans for the Larks on them. His personal favorite was:

  Looks like someone already beat the crap out of Larkstone!

  We’re just here to clean up the field!

  He wished he could get as fired up.

  Suzie wasn’t speaking to him because he’d told her the theory that Lilly was a murderous hooker was ridiculous. She was in such a huff she’d told him to stick a football someplace he’d prefer it didn’t go - even if that had been logistically possible. Then there was the matter of the object of their disagreement. Lilly hadn’t been seen or heard from since he’d taken her back to the B&B the day before. And to top it all off Kyle Sanders had arrived with a black eye and an attitude that had nothing to do with the impending game.

  Jim glanced back once more and watched as all eighteen Dragon cheerleaders stood in line by their bus. Sissy, as usual, was talking a mile a minute, and just loud enough to be heard over the buzz of activity that always preceded an away game departure. He heard, as he was certain had been Sissy’s intent, Kyle’s name mentioned a couple of times, but he didn’t have time to deal with high school drama. He had his own drama to worry about.

  He was certain Suzie was mistaken. She had to be. He hadn’t been willing to let a woman in his life, for reasons other than pleasure, in a very long time. Now that he had, and was certain he was in love, he couldn’t fathom that the woman he wanted sold her body to other men. No, it wasn’t even a possibility. Lilly was bold in some ways, yes, but her heart showed when she didn’t think he was looking and what they had shared and almost shared together had been new for her. He’d stake his home on it.

  “Hi.”

  Jim couldn’t hold back his smile of pleasure. No way was Suzie right this time. “Hi.” He pulled Lilly into his arms as bus engine after bus engine roared to life. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

  Lilly hugged him back, hard. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I got tied up with Martin McClain. I rented my own place today.”

  Jim nuzzled her hair as a spark of irritation towards Suzie surfaced. “I’ve gotta go now. Maybe you can show me where it is later.”

  Lilly laughed. “It’s empty tonight, but I’m moving in tomorrow. Fortunately it’s partially furnished. Maybe after tomorrow morning’s practice?”

  Jim nodded. Suzie would just have to hold class with Broomhilda without his help. That would teach her. “Sounds good. “Are you taking one of the buses to the game?”

  Lilly glanced back. “Can I?”

  Further irritated with Suzie for withholding something as simple as transportation information, he nodded. “Yes. Go about three back and tell the driver, Lucy Rider, I want you on her bus.”

  He kissed her hard and long and only pulled back when nearly all his boys hung out the bus windows cheering him on. “For luck.”

  Lilly smiled at him, with what he could only call heart. “For luck.”

  Chapter Nine

  Soft drinks were in her hair, popcorn, too, if she wasn’t mistaken, and people, some she had seen before and some complete strangers, were screaming in her ears, shaking her with excitement, and nearly knocked her down the steep bleachers when the clock wound down to zero and the Legend Dragons wiped the field with Larkstone’s players.

  She searched the now crowded field to locate the man who had molded and shaped these young men into an incredibly talented team and found him in the middle of a team hug. She wanted to be there with him. To hug him. To congratulate him. To kiss him until they were both dizzy with it.

  She laughed aloud, uncaring that anyone would know the absolute joy she felt. The buzz of excitement was as much inside of her as all around, a new and pleasurable experience. She smiled and hugged strangers as they passed by, many of them whispering that it was good to see the coach so happy, that they would be stopping in as soon as her shop opened, that they were so delighted she had joined their community.

  To be so accepted, to be so known so soon after moving to Legend was a new and wonderful experience too. That the town already considered her and Jim a couple was weird, but strangely okay. She’d never been this known anywhere she had lived. She hadn’t been able to open herself up to strangers. She couldn’t become a part of anything because of the dangers involved. And because of the possibility of having to move on without a trace. It would have been unfair to have gotten close and then deserted people who considered her a friend.

  This time was different. She really believed the past was past. That this was her place, her time to live. It felt completely right to be among people who embraced her into their lives and wanted to make her a part of their community.

  It didn’t even matter that it was because they loved Jim. Because she did too. And for the first time in her adult life she loved being herself. Not a shadow of who she was. Not the remains of what might have been.

  Lilly pulled herself back from her introspection only to find the sexy grin she had so come to crave directed at her. The stands were nearly empty now and still she stood, staring at the man she wanted like she had never wanted anything in her life. He leaned over and whispered into the ear of the assistant coach she’d seen the other day before heading her way.

  She kept her eyes on him as he climbed the bleachers, taking high-fives and handshakes along the way. A very heavily made-up woman leaned into him but he ignored her completely as he made his way straight to Lilly. “I want you, tonight.”

  Lilly threw her arms around his neck. “I’m yours.”
<
br />   They stared into each other’s eyes. His radiated triumph and hunger.

  “We have a very large audience watching.”

  Jim pulled her closer, nearly meeting her lips with his. “Do you care?” he asked.

  Lilly shook her head. “Not at all.”

  The slow slide melted into a full on kiss that tilted her world. She didn’t know how long they stood there, buried in each other, lost to the rest of the universe. Finally the thunderous applause penetrated and Lilly slowly pulled back. “I don’t want to ride the bus back.”

  Jim rested his forehead against hers. “Me either.”

  He raised his head and looked around, as did she. Many of those who should have already headed to their cars, trucks, or the buses stood watching them; the women with romance in their eyes, the men with knowing grins. She didn’t care, not one bit, and smiled at them all. “Does anyone here have a car we can borrow?”

  Jim turned to her with a startled laugh.

  “I do. I’ll ride with Betty.” The unknown man reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He pitched them towards Jim. “Get it back to me tomorrow, Coach.”

  Jim nodded his thanks. “Sure thing, Clark. See you at the feed store.”

  “Thanks,” Lilly called at Clark’s back. He turned and nodded, then spun back to head towards the parking area with the rest of the Dragons’ fans. She turned to Jim. “Looks like we have a ride.”

  “Looks like.” Jim shook his head. “You impress me, Miss Lilly.”

  She laughed long and hard as she settled against his side, tucked beneath his arm. “Me, too. Come on. I believe you owe me a touchdown.”

  Jim nodded. “Yes Ma’am, I do believe I do.”

  ****

  The trip to Jim’s house was a blur of touches and kisses, of boldness and blushes. Once there they made their way to his room where they stood looking at each other. Lilly closed her eyes, then opened them again as she felt Jim’s hand slide so gently down her cheek. She turned her face into his palm and placed a tender kiss there. He lowered his head and skimmed her lips then began to sway slightly.