by Tara Rose
She put her hands on her hips. “Since when aren’t you comfortable eating a meal in my home?”
“Since you invited another man over.”
Her face colored slightly, and her dark eyes flashed with indignation. “It’s not a date, Luke. I asked him because he hasn’t even unpacked yet, and he hasn’t brought any groceries. I’m being polite.”
“Does he know that?”
“Well, he will if you’re here.”
“Ouch.”
He immediately felt guilty for having teased her because regret filled her beautiful face. “I didn’t mean it that way. You know that.”
“I know you didn’t. I’m joking around. What time should I be here?”
“Six.”
“Okay. Sure you don’t want some help with the repairs?” Any excuse to spend time with her. He knew she was more than capable of patching drywall and painting by herself, but now that the infamous doctor from Chicago had wormed an invitation to supper, Luke knew if he didn’t make a move soon, he might lose her all over again. He couldn’t let that happen.
As soon as that thought took shape, guilt consumed him as it always did when he pictured himself asking Vivian out on a date. It had been three years since Susan and Jacob were killed by a drunk driver out on Highway 269. Jacob, still strapped into his car seat and barely a year old, had died at the scene. Susan had lingered in the ICU at Sin Hospital for two days, in a coma.
Not a day passed where Luke didn’t think of them, but he also knew Susan would want him to move on. She and Vivian had been good friends. After Vivian had married Cletus, Luke started dating Susan. And now he and Vivian both were single once again. Fate had given him a second chance, and he didn’t want to waste it.
He should have followed his instincts and not listened to John or Beth. If he had, maybe Dr. Preston Benson would have had to figure out how to fix his own tire this morning. And, he’d have to get his own supper tonight.
“I won’t turn down help,” she said.
Luke grinned. “Let’s get to work, then.”
They stopped working about an hour later to eat sandwiches Vivian made them. Once they’d caught up on local gossip, Luke waited until they were working again to ask Vivian how she was doing. “I mean for real, not the answer you give everyone else.”
She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead, smearing drywall dust on it in the process. He thought it made her look even sexier than she normally did. “We’ve known each other all our lives.”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”
She gave him a long, searching look. “I married the wrong man, Luke. That’s not really a secret, is it?”
He sighed and put down the saw he’d been holding. Just to finally hear her say it out loud was a come-to-Jesus moment. Before he lost his nerve, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. She smelled like Sheetrock and sweat, but he thought it was the most enticing scent he’d ever inhaled. “You have friends, you know. We’re right here for you.”
“I know. Especially you. You’ve always been there.”
Luke didn’t dare look at her right now because there was no way he’d keep from kissing her. Then again, maybe that was what she wanted him to do? He pulled away to look into her eyes. “And I ain’t goin’ anywhere, Vivian.”
“I know,” she whispered.
Luke bent his head to kiss her but chickened out at the last second and planted his lips on her face, just next to her mouth. When he dared to glance into her eyes again, he swore he glimpsed disappointment. They stared at each other for long moments again, and then he decided to stop being such a wuss. He’d been dying to do this again for twenty years now.
* * * *
Vivian’s entire body trembled as Luke planted a kiss on her mouth that was so hot, she expected to burst into flames any second now. The last time he’d kissed her, neither one had known what they were doing. And while it had been exciting and sent unfamiliar and confusing desire racing through her, what she remembered most about it was how wet it had been.
He’d improved somewhat since then.
She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders as he slid his tongue into her mouth, and moaned softly in the back of her throat as her arousal built. It would be so easy. They had hours before she needed to pick up the barbeque. No one would disturb them, and no one would have to know. She’d had a thing for Luke most of her life.
His hands tangled themselves in her hair, and then he groaned deeply as he slid them down her back and over her ass. Vivian hadn’t had sex with Cletus once he was released from prison because he wouldn’t touch her. He’d given her one excuse after another, and then had finally come clean about Ina Mullins.
That meant Vivian literally hadn’t had sex in over ten years, and she sure as shit wanted to now. Her entire being ached for Luke.
He released the kiss and gazed into her eyes, and just like that Vivian knew there would be no wild lovemaking on her living room floor today.
She took her arms from around him and stepped away, taking in huge gulps of air to stop the tears that threatened, and then excused herself to the bathroom where she splashed cold water on her face and neck until her clit stopped throbbing and the urge the shed her clothes and return to the living room stark naked passed.
Luke had been living under a world of guilt for three years now, and Vivian understood why. Susan had been one of her oldest and dearest friends, and the entire town had grieved when she and Jacob were killed. The man responsible for it had never been caught, and that only made things worse for Luke, and for all of them.
Vivian sat on the edge of the bathtub and hugged herself while she cried as silently as possible. Her body shook with the effort, and breathing was difficult. She was so lonely. She’d been so lonely for so long now, that when the tiniest glimmer of hope presented itself that her loneliness would finally disappear, as it had twice now today, she clung to it like a drowning man hangs onto a tree branch or a life raft.
But who the hell was she kidding? Dr. Preston Benson was off limits because she was the HR director and he was here with a very large—and controversial—shadow hanging over his head. Even the confession she’d heard today wasn’t something the general public would likely ever know, and she sure couldn’t go shooting off her mouth about it at work. Whatever had passed between them earlier today would never go anywhere. She wasn’t even sure why she’d invited him to supper.
Liar. You know perfectly well why you did.
True. Completely true. She’d invited him because he was gorgeous, and because her heart had gone out to him as he’d quietly told her his side of the story. And because she’d believed him. Vivian came from a long line of women who could tell if someone was lying in about three seconds flat. Preston had been telling the absolute truth. Vivian was sure of it.
But it didn’t matter. It wouldn’t go anywhere with him. It couldn’t. And maybe that’s why she hadn’t hesitated to invite Luke over, too. She knew with him here, Preston would feel less secure and also less likely to ask her out or try anything.
And what about Luke? What about him, indeed? She might as well admit it now. There was nothing standing in her way except her own stubbornness. She’d never stopped thinking about him, and she’d already regretted letting him get away. Always. She’d gone for Cletus instead. The bad boy. The one who taught her to smoke—a practice she’d given up the very next day because she’d been so nauseous she couldn’t even eat. He’d taught her to drink, and he’d taken her virginity.
Now he was gone, living in another state with a woman whom he’d likely leave one day, as well. Or maybe he’d rob another convenience store and shoot someone again? Then his sorry ass would be back in prison, and Ina Mullins could sit and wait ten years for him to get out, and then have him leave her anyway.
Vivian cleaned her face a second time, and then stared at herself in the mirror. Was this her life now? Pining away over men she couldn’t have? How the hell had she come t
o this? She had two college degrees and one heck of a great job that she just happened to love. She owned her own home, and could do most of the repairs it needed, if not alone, with minimal help. She could ride a horse and shoot a gun, and she was a halfway decent cook. She had a lot to offer. When was it her turn to have someone to hold in the dark? When was it her turn to find true love? Did such a thing even exist? Vivian wasn’t sure she would ever have the chance to find out.
Chapter Four
She and Luke worked side-by-side for another two hours, never mentioning the kiss. When Vivian said she was done for the day and needed to take a shower before Preston arrived, Luke offered to drive to Shelbyville and pick up the barbeque.
After she showered, Vivian drove in the opposite direction into Murfreesboro to pick up the beer. Preston was pulling up in his Jag just as she and Luke both returned, and she stifled a laugh as he climbed out of that shiny car.
She and Luke both wore jeans and sweatshirts, but Preston had on Dockers and a shirt she swore was satin. The color brought out the blue of his eyes, but he looked more suited to work than a Saturday night eating pulled pork and drinking beer.
“What the hell?”
Luke spoke softly enough that she doubted Preston heard, but she shot him a warning look anyway. “He doesn’t know any better. Be nice.”
Luke shook his head as he placed the bags from Uncle Sonny’s on the stoop and sauntered toward Preston with his hand extended. “Luke Henderson. I live next door. Vivian and I are old friends.”
“Dr. Preston Benson.”
Vivian picked up the bags Luke had brought, turning away to walk into the house because she didn’t want either man to see her face right now. He’d need to stop introducing himself as “Doctor” around here. Everyone already knew he was one, and because he stuck out like a sore thumb, any doubt they’d initially have about his identity would disappear as soon as they took one look at him.
She placed paper plates and a stack of paper napkins on the table then added plastic forks and spoons because Luke had bought potato salad and beans in addition to the wings and sandwiches. They had enough food here to feed half the town, and it smelled incredible.
The men walked into the house, and Preston’s gaze fell on the spread. “I guess you weren’t kidding about what we’re eating. It smells delicious.”
“Sit down and dig in, but be careful of the sauce. It’s not thick like some are. You’re likely to get some on that nice shirt.”
“Yeah. Looks like I’m overdressed.”
“You look very nice.” He really did. And he smelled great, too. She wasn’t sure what brand of cologne he wore, but she liked it.
He gave her a piercing look that triggered each emotion she’d held in check since her private meltdown in the bathroom earlier. “I also didn’t realize we’d have a third tonight.”
He hadn’t even tried to disguise his disappointment that Luke was here. While Vivian could appreciate his bluntness, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from spitting out the retort that sprang to mind. This wasn’t a date, and if he’d assumed it was, that was his doing, not hers. “Luke was helping me fix the holes in my walls earlier, and when I mentioned you were coming over, he wanted to meet you.” Not exactly the chain of events, but close enough.
Preston nodded slowly. “I see. Why do you have holes in your walls?”
Vivian chewed the food in her mouth as she formulated an answer. He’d hear about this at work anyway, so she might as well be the first one to tell him. “My ex-husband put them there almost a year ago. It was part of the divorce settlement that he pay for the repairs, but I’m having trouble getting him to send a check, so I finally decided to take care of it myself. That’s why I was headed to town earlier. To buy the Sheetrock.”
His gaze cut from her left hand to Luke, then back to her face again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up anything painful.”
“You didn’t. He was drunk when he punched the walls. It was right after he asked for the divorce.”
They each ate in silence while Vivian ticked off the seconds in her mind. It only took him forty-three to ask why her marriage broke up.
She wiped her mouth before she answered him. “He was arrested about a year after we were married for armed robbery and aggravated assault. He shot a woman during the crime, and his partner shot the store clerk. My ex did ten years in prison because the woman he shot was pregnant. She lived, but her baby died, and neither the jury nor the judge were very sympathetic as a consequence. When he got out last year, I discovered he’d been in touch with his public defender during his entire incarceration, and I don’t mean they were filing appeals. He lives with her now in Georgia.”
Preston still had his fork poised halfway to his mouth, and apparently hadn’t noticed the sauce dripping down onto his shirt. “I am so sorry.”
“I am, too, but not for my marriage. I’m sorry for her family. The woman Cletus shot, I mean. My marriage was over a long time ago.”
“Forgive my asking, but did you know he was likely to commit such a violent crime when you married him? I mean, did you grow up with him here? Did you know him well?”
Luke mumbled something under his breath that Vivian didn’t quite catch, but she decided to ignore it. “Yes, he grew up here. Everyone knows everyone here, Preston. Cletus was what y’all call a bad boy. And I seem to have been attracted to them in my younger days.” She still was, but not to the extent she had been. Never again would she throw caution to the wind like that.
“Still, it must have been devastating for you.”
“It was.”
They returned to their food, and Vivian asked Luke about his business, simply to change the subject. He made a few comments about how well things were going, and then they returned to the meal.
“This is really incredible food,” said Preston. “Is this from a local place?”
“Uncle Sonny’s is in Shelbyville,” said Luke. “Just down the road.”
Preston smiled. “I’m slowly learning that the phrase ‘just down the road’ can mean anywhere from a few feet to over ten miles.”
“It’s about ten,” she said. “Straight down US 231. Can’t miss it. Best barbeque in these parts.”
“Although,” said Luke, “some folks will tell you that Slick Pig up in Murfreesboro is better, but I prefer the sauce at Uncle Sonny’s.”
“And their potato salad beats everyone else’s” she said. “Thanks again for picking this up, Luke.”
“My pleasure.” He glanced toward Preston. “Want another beer?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“Vivian?”
She nodded because her mouth was full again. Once they each had a second beer, Luke asked Preston why he’d left Chicago. Preston glanced at her briefly, as if assessing whether she’d told his story to Luke, and then he wiped his hands on a clean napkin and leaned back in his chair. “It’s a long story.” Once more, he cut his gaze toward her for a second. “Didn’t Vivian tell you?”
“I did not. You told me that in confidence. I’m not about to go blabbing it all over the county.”
“Folks here aren’t like that,” said Luke. “If you ask someone to keep it to themselves, they will.”
“I didn’t ask her to, but I apologize for assuming she had told you.”
Vivian’s heart went out to Preston once more. He was eating messy pulled pork and baked beans, dressed as if they’d gone into Nashville for an expensive dinner. And clearly he was wondering exactly who Luke was to her, and why she’d invited him over tonight. He might even be wondering right about now why he’d taken the job at all, despite the fact he needed one.
There was no reason to make him feel any more out of place than he already did. He hadn’t done anything to her, personally. And, he had come clean about the lawsuit earlier. That wasn’t something he’d had to do.
“No need to apologize,” she said. “Luke and I have known each other all our lives. You can trust us bot
h. I thought you might could use a male friend which is why I asked him to join us.”
“Might could use?”
His grin made her pussy wet. She was in deep shit here as she realized again how physically attracted to both men she was.
Luke chuckled, and Vivian spoke up before he could. “It’s a common expression here. You’ll get used to it.”
“I have a lot to get used to.” He eyed Luke. “All right. I’ll tell you my sad tale of why I left Chicago.”
As Preston relayed the same story to Luke that she’d heard earlier, Vivian began to clean up the dishes and put the extra food into containers. She’d give some to Preston to take home so he wouldn’t have to drive ten miles for all his meals. Once she finished, she took her place at the table again as Preston was finishing his story. Vivian watched Luke’s face carefully as he spoke.
“Seems to me those bosses of yours in Chicago wanted you gone and used this lawsuit as an excuse.”
Part of Vivian agreed with Luke, but she also knew that businesses and hospitals tended to take sexual harassment complaints very seriously. They had to. It wouldn’t have gone down any differently here for Preston. He’d been screwed the moment that nurse decided to file a lawsuit. But that didn’t mean he should pay for something he hadn’t actually done. That was part of why she’d fought to get him this job.
She’d pointed out to the board that anyone could accuse anyone else of anything. Filing a suit didn’t automatically mean the accused person had done what the suit alleged. It had been dropped three months later, and no money had changed hands that anyone had been aware of. The board reminded her those facts could mean anything, from the suit being frivolous to begin with, all the way to Preston having threatened her if she didn’t drop it.
Vivian had agreed with them, but also pointed out that since they had no proof of why it had been dropped, she preferred to give Dr. Benson the benefit of the doubt. They had finally reached a compromise, and he’d been offered a one year contract. If he kept his nose clean and nothing happened during that year, they’d revisit it. It was the best she’d been able to do for him.
