LOVE in a Small Town

by Janet Eaves

  Sighing, she relaxed and snuggled close. He was right. Business had been slow lately. “Um…what do you want for breakfast?”

  “You.”

  Not ready to go there again, she pushed nervously on his chest. “No, I’m serious. I’ll fix us something. What do you want? Omelet? You know I can do a great omelet.”

  Brad nuzzled her neck and smoothed his hands over her back, down to her buttocks. “No. No omelet. Not now, later. The only thing I want for breakfast is you,” he said lazily. “And since I’m your guest, I’m assuming you’ll accommodate? Bed, breakfast, and you. Perfect.”

  Why did he have to be so freaking romantic? He had to stop this or she was going to fall for all of this crap. Hook, line and sinker!

  Suzie smirked and sat up. “Smart ass. C’mon, we need to get up. What do you want?” It was a little too cozy, too familiar, too much like old times. She didn’t want it to be like old times.

  He tugged on a blond lock and pulled her face closer to his. “I want you for breakfast,” he moaned. “My little love slave.”

  Groan….

  Suzie backed away and jumped off the bed. Hell’s bells. He could turn her on like a light switch. “We need to talk, Brad.”

  He smiled and burrowed further into the pillows, his left leg and hip exposed from under the covers. “Hm.”

  Suzie smacked him on the butt with the back of her hand.

  “Ow!”

  “C’mon, Brad. You can’t avoid this. We have things to talk about.”

  With a lengthy exhale, Brad moved to a sitting position and looked at her. “Well, then sit.” He patted the mattress. “I’m not going to have you lording over me. At least let’s be on equal ground.”

  Grabbing the tail of the sheet, she wrapped it around her and sat. “You could cut me a little slack,” she told him. Brad grinned and lifted himself so she could easily wrap the sheet around her, leaving him uncovered.

  She tossed him a pillow. “Here. Lay that over…something.”

  Brad grinned a lazy, slack-eyed grin and did as she said. “There, you comfy?”

  “Sure.”

  “Then what do we need to talk about?”

  Men. Doesn’t he know? “Um, well, Brad we have to talk about…um…this.” She patted the bed. “Us. You and me. What happened last night. And all that.”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  “And…”

  “And what else?”

  “The hotel thing. We need to talk about the hotel thing.”

  He concurred with another nod. “So you start. You pick.”

  She stared at him. Why was he being so…accommodating? She watched his gaze lower to her chest and hers followed. Cleavage. He was looking at her cleavage.

  And the fact that he’d gotten laid last night, which contributed to part of his plan, was likely making him…accommodating.

  “I think I can talk about both of them at the same time, Brad Matthews, but quit ogling me!”

  He jerked his gaze back to her face. “Sorry, sweetheart. It’s that….”

  Suzie yanked the sheet beneath her chin. “Brad, this hotel thing. I mean. Why?” She fiddled with the corner of the sheet. “Did you not think what this would do to me? To my business?”

  He stared at her with a blank expression, then huffed out a breath and said, “I was thinking about you. All the time, every plan I made. With every detail. You, Suzie-Q, are why I came here in the first place. I want to be with you. And I made a lot of changes in my life to do that.”

  “But I don’t understand.”

  He leaned closer. “Suzie. My grandmother died six months ago.”

  “Oh no…” She reached for his hand. Large and strong, she loved his hands.

  He shook his head. “Yeah, I miss her, but she lived a full life. Thing is, she wanted me to live a full life, too. She left me a good chunk of money with instructions to follow my dream. My dream, Suzie-Q, is right here. With you. In Legend. And Lake Lodge? That’s part of my dream, too. My own business. A wonderful woman by my side. Family.”

  Stunned, Suzie sat watching his face. His gaze played over her and he waited. What could she say? He had it all planned out. But what would happen if she couldn’t fulfill the rest of his plan? His dreams. Give him that family?

  He squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart,” he softly said. “You don’t have to say anything now. We’ll work all of this out. Let’s think it through.”

  How could she think of anything else? Bewildered, she looked away.

  “You’ll see. It will be great.”

  And frowned.

  He leaned closer to kiss her cheek. “Oh, and I nearly forgot! When the hotel is built, it’s gonna be the two of us again. Chef de Cuisine and his sous chef.”

  Grasping her face in his hands, he looked longingly into her eyes and whispered, “You and me, baby. Like old times.”

  She blurted, “But I don’t see why you need to tear down the Lodge. Why can’t you fix it the way it is? Renovate it or something?”

  Why can’t you do something that won’t put me out of business?

  What about Legend’s Landing B&B? What about that? What about me? My dream?

  He shook his head. “The structure is too bad. It would take too long, too much money, Suzie. Better off razing the thing and start from scratch.”

  He rose then, tossed the pillow aside and walked toward the bathroom.

  Better off starting from scratch?

  Maybe he’d be better off starting from scratch with a new relationship. Someone more his age who could give him kids. Thing was, he had it all figured out. Did he not realize that sometimes plans don’t work and dreams don’t come true?

  “I am getting a little hungry,” he called from the bathroom.

  “Yeah,” she said, not directing her response to him. “Yeah. I’ll go fix that omelet.”

  ****

  “Well, here’s the deal, Lilly.” She fingered a lacey baby bonnet at her friend’s new store, wondering why she was even there. A baby store, of all places. Everything was cute and pastel as she and Lilly sat in the cozy corner. “He wants a family. And I can’t give him that.”

  Lilly, her eyes wide and her gaze full of compassion, looked up from a pile of baby clothing she was tagging. “Why not?”

  Suzie shrugged. “I can’t get pregnant.”

  “Oh, sugar!” Lilly raced to her and held her close. “I didn’t know that. What happened?”

  Twice in one week, Suzie fought back tears. Oh hell. Why not let them fall? “Nothing happened, really, it’s that I can’t get pregnant. Cliff was always pissed about that, too. And look at him now. Nice little young wife, ripe as a plum, spitting babies out like there is no tomorrow. Did you know Chelly is pregnant again?”

  Lilly’s eyes widened in shock. “Again? I thought you said they recently had a baby?”

  Suzie nodded. “They did. In fact, you should get them on your mailing list. Way she’s going, she’ll be spending a lot of money in here. She got pregnant again when the baby was two months old.”

  “That little bitch. How dare she?”

  They burst into laughter. Suzie nodded in agreement. She loved Lilly Peach-Hood with all her heart. She was like the sister Chelly never was.

  Lilly looked at her. “So what did Brad say when you told him?”

  Distracted by inspecting the lace on the bonnet, Suzie hesitated. “When I told him what?”

  “That you couldn’t get pregnant.”

  “I didn’t tell him.”

  Lilly remained silent.

  Suzie glanced up from the bonnet. “What?”

  “You didn’t tell him?”

  Tossing the bonnet aside, Suzie rose and paced a few feet between the store window and where Lilly perched on a soft white wicker chair. Stuffing her hands in her back jeans pockets she returned, “What would I say? Oh, one thing about your plan here, Brad, the big dream of your life? I can’t have kids. So hope you don’t mind that little detail.” She swiped at he
r nose. “Besides, he’s too young for me.”

  “Pshaw. You look younger than you are and you’re in great shape.”

  “I’m pudgy.”

  Lilly laughed and stood. “You are not. You’re beautiful.” She placed her hands on Suzie’s shoulders and shook her. “Now get yourself out of this funk, you hear me? Go tell him what’s going on with you before he turns tail and runs. Because when he’s gone, you’ll up and change your mind and mourn after him for the next thirty years. As your official best friend, I’m here to tell you I don’t need to hear any of that whining for the next three decades. Okay?”

  Suzie shrugged and sighed. “I suppose.”

  Lilly hugged her. “Sweetie? Are you sure you can’t get pregnant? What did the doctor say?”

  She turned to look at her friend. “I never went to the doctor about it. I know. Cliff and I never used protection and I never got pregnant. We tried and tried.”

  Lilly exhaled and smiled. “Maybe he’s not good sperm material. Or maybe he wasn’t doing things right for you.”

  Suzie laughed. “I love you Lilly Peach-Hood.”

  “You better. Now go get things fixed with that man.”

  “You think?”

  “I think.”

  Suzie still wasn’t convinced. The baby thing was just one issue. The whole hotel mess was something else entirely.

  ****

  The meeting with the architect lasted a lot longer than he’d expected. Again. He’d told Suzie not to wait up for him. Dinner would probably be ready. She’d been great that way for the past week. Breakfast every morning. Dinner waiting for him. She was a gem. Thing was, since that night they’d spent together, she’d no longer allowed him in her bed.

  She needed space. He figured given how she felt about the whole hotel business, he’d muled his way into her life and upset the apple cart. She wasn’t prepared to deal with the possibility of a relationship and the intrusion of the new hotel into Legend lifestyle. He’d had months to figure things out. She, on the other hand, had not. So he’d give her time and space if that was what she needed.

  His days were busy, though. Good thing. Kept his mind off sex.

  Besides meeting with the architect, a contractor and even the local employment agency, he’d started thinking about marketing. Martin McClain’s girlfriend Midnight also had some fantastic ideas about promotion and he’d met with her about the Market Legend campaign. Martin’s son had made a preliminary commitment to build his future website, which excited him to no end.

  Things were moving along quite nicely.

  He’d borrowed Suzie’s Honda for the day because of the paperwork he was carrying around. He pulled up the short lane in the boxy vehicle and looked for any signs of her. A quick glance at his watch told him it was almost nine o’clock. No light shone from her window at the back of the house.

  In the kitchen he found a note on the cooking island. Dinner in the fridge, it read. Hope your day was good. Talk to you in the morning. I’m pooped.

  Frowning, he crumpled the note. He could give her space but he didn’t expect to be ignored. This was the third night in a row she’d holed herself up in her bedroom.

  Tossing the wad of paper at the garbage can, he turned and took the stairs to his bedroom. To hell with dinner.

  Chapter Nine

  A flurry of last minute guests left Suzie busy the whole week and secretly, she’d been glad of it. Midnight was hosting a craft expo at the Emporium, continuing her search for more juried crafters. And they all needed a place to stay. Which was very, very good.

  For business and for her sanity.

  She made breakfast every morning at seven and a light brunch around ten-thirty for those who lingered late. The continental buffet was set up in the dining room and guests helped themselves.

  Then there was cleanup—the kitchen, the guest rooms, the house in general. And yard work. She couldn’t neglect her yard and plants.

  Of course, there was always the cookbook. An agent had loved her book proposal and was interested in representing her. She had options.

  And Brad. She was masterful at neglecting him, it seemed, and she sensed his frustration. She had to come to closure with all this soon, figure this thing out, or Lilly would be right. He’d turn tail and run faster than a frog on a fly, and the choice would no longer be hers.

  The bacon frying in the pan crackled and hissed, sending that sharp, smoky scent her way. Home. It reminded her of home. Wasn’t that all she ever wanted? To be happy and content with a family and a home of her own?

  It was Friday and she’d loved this entire, busy week. Yes, it was hectic, but it was hers. This was what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Run her little B&B. She didn’t want to be a sous chef. Even though she was damn good. Even though she loved Brad (yes, dammit, she did) she didn’t want to cook beside him anymore. Not at the hotel. She wanted him to be in her life.

  There. She admitted it.

  What a wimp! Suddenly she realized she’d all along been holding all the cards. She was the one making the choices for both of them. Brad had not been given a chance. Lilly was right. Brad needed to know her thoughts on everything. She’d been holding back, probably because she was afraid, deep down, of losing him.

  That she could never measure up. Like with Cliff. She could never please the man.

  But Brad was nothing like Cliff.

  Well, she’d have to suck it up and deal with it. She couldn’t go on like this any longer and neither could he. He needed to know exactly how she felt about the lodge, her not being a sous chef, the B&B, and the baby situation. He had to know.

  “Bacon sure smells good.”

  Startled, Suzie looked up from where she lazily pushed around half-cooked slices of bacon. Brad reached over, plucked a piece draining on a paper towel, smiled at her and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. Then, he put one end of the bacon in his mouth, the other end sticking out toward her. “Here, have a bite,” he muttered.

  She smiled and rubbed her tummy. She felt queasy this morning. Yesterday, too.

  “Quit playing around and eat it.”

  He moved closer and pointed to the bacon. “Take a bite,” he mumbled.

  Sighing, Suzie relaxed. “Okay,” she smiled and stepped closer. Brad put his hands on her hips and tugged her to him. Her arms fell naturally over his shoulders. She took the bacon into her mouth and bit off a piece, barely grazing his lips, and chewed.

  Brad’s face was close. Hell’s bells, she loved those dark eyes.

  “You do good bacon, sweetheart.”

  “I do good lots of things,” she countered, still chewing.

  That bad-boy grin returned and he pulled her in tight. “Yes, my love. You do.”

  Love.

  About the time she swallowed the bacon, he captured her lips with his in a gentle caress. Leaning into him, for the first time in nearly two weeks, Suzie let herself enjoy the sensual play of his lips on hers. They broke the kiss after a second and she laid her head on his shoulder. His arms came around her and he held her close.

  “I’ve missed you,” he whispered in her hair.

  Squeezing her eyes tight, she once more fought back tears. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  Talk to him, Suzie. This is the time. The door is open. Now or never.

  Brad pulled back and pointed his thumb toward the dining room. “You’ve got a hungry crowd gathering out there. Want me to help you get the meal out this morning?”

  Suzie looked at his face, studied the ever-present, slightly crooked smile, and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was a goner. She smiled back. “I would like that very much.”

  ****

  “Sure is quicker getting things cleaned with you around.”

  Brad glanced up from his dishwashing to the kitchen island where Suzie bagged leftover muffins and croissants. “I bet. We always were a good team.”

  She nodded, averting her gaze to her task. “I think everyone ate a full breakfast this mornin
g, so I shouldn’t have to put out too much on the buffet for the stragglers.” She popped another muffin into the bag. “Could be enough bread here to make a nice bread pudding tomorrow.”

  Brad flung excess water from his hands into the sink then dried them on a nearby towel. They did work together well, didn’t they? But why was she avoiding the subject? Turning, he rested against the sink and crossed his arms across his chest, watching her.

  Waiting her out was one thing. But she, too, had to participate in this game.

  “We’re good for each other, Suzie-Q.”

  “What do you think of the blueberry ones? Have you tasted them yet? It’s a new recipe and I think I have it perfected for the cookbook, and—”

  Brad stepped forward and reached for her hands. “Suzie, stop. Look at me.”

  Gradually, she stopped stuffing the bread in the bag and looked up. One look in her eyes told him loads. She was scared. Dammit! Why was she scared?

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  She plopped on a bar stool behind the kitchen island, keeping her hands in his. “We are good together, Brad. I know that.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  She jumped up and jerked her hands away. “What’s wrong? Can’t you see? We don’t have any of this worked out, we’re both avoiding it, and…and, hell’s bells mostly it’s because I…” She turned her back on him.

  Shit. Don’t clam up on me again.

  Brad rounded the kitchen island. “Suzie, dammit, talk to me. I need to know what you are thinking, what you are feeling. This is driving me freakin’ nuts. I can’t go on much longer wondering what in the hell you want. Whether you are going to allow me into your life or not.”

  She whirled back around. “Okay! All right. I don’t want to be your sous chef!”

  He stared at her, hands on hips. What? “Then why didn’t you tell me that?”

  Her shoulders fell and one hand went to her tummy, rubbing it. “I don’t want to be your sous chef and I don’t want to have anything to do with the hotel and I don’t want to give up my bed and breakfast.”