Crazy Little Thing Called Love

by Molly Cannon

  “I didn’t tell her this, but Rose’s dad has been bugging me to help him coach for a couple of years. We play together on a men’s team. When Daphne asked I couldn’t say no.”

  “Well, all I know is she wouldn’t be handling things so well if it wasn’t for you.”

  “I think you can thank Gabe. He’s not going to be too happy when she leaves. Because of that little girl, that mean old tomcat has turned into a real sweet pussycat. It’s incredible.”

  “I don’t think she’s going to like the idea of leaving either.”

  He reached for his shirt. “As much as I hate to move, and I really hate to move, I guess it would be a good idea to go check on the hams. You distracted me from my duty, woman.”

  She lounged against the sleeping bag naked as the day she was born. “And I feel just terrible about it.”

  “Behave yourself.” Even as he scolded her he leered at her with ill intent gleaming in his eyes.

  She sat up. “And what is there to check? Aren’t they buried underground?”

  “It’s just a precaution. Whenever you’re dealing with a pit of fire, possible wild animals, or wayward teenagers, you can’t be too careful.” He hopped up and pulled on his jeans and a sweatshirt before sticking his sockless feet into his shoes. “I’ll be right back. And if you’d like I’ll drive you home. You’re welcome to stay, but I know you probably need to get back.”

  After he left she got up and started gathering her clothes. She had a smile on her face wider than the Atlantic Ocean. She couldn’t have imagined a better night. She’d only managed half her layers before he scurried back inside.

  Of course she needed to help him warm up. And one thing led to another.

  And another.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Wake up, sunshine. It’s morning.” Donny Joe sat up with a feeling of dread creeping into his drowsy mind. They’d fallen asleep after their last bout of lovemaking, and he hadn’t gotten her home like he’d promised.

  Etta only burrowed closer. “Go away. Hmm. No, don’t go away. Just don’t mention that waking up stuff again.”

  “Etta, I’m serious. It’s light outside. I need to take you home.”

  She raised her head and looked around. Then she sat straight up and started grabbing for clothes. “Oh my God. I’ve got to get home. Daphne’s got school, and it’s Grand Opening day, and I have a million things to do.” She stuck her head through the first shirt she found and wadded the others in a ball. “Oh, shoot. Do you know what time it is?”

  He was throwing his clothes on, but stopped to check his watch. “It’s a little after seven. Come on. Finish getting dressed and I’ll drive you.”

  She jumped up and down, getting her jeans on. “Okay. If we hurry I can get Daphne to school without a problem. Beulah will be up and around already.” She threw blankets this way and that looking for her shoes.

  “Slow down. Take a breath.” He caught her by the arms. “This is no big deal, Etta.”

  “Then why do I feel like a teenager who stayed out after curfew?”

  “Because you always put everyone else first. Last night you didn’t, and I can’t say I’m sorry.”

  She smiled and hugged him around the waist. “I’m not sorry, either.”

  “Come on,” he said gruffly. “I’ll come back and dig up the hams later.”

  She ran out the door without looking back. He picked up his wallet and keys and followed her out to the truck. He drove as fast as the law allowed, circling around to the bridge road that crossed the creek, and then turned onto Main Street, taking it through the heart of Everson. The town was just waking up. The Rise-N-Shine was already doing a brisk business, the Hole-in-the-Dough doughnut shop had a line of cars in the drive-through. It was still early enough that most of the businesses’ doors were still closed.

  Etta bounced impatiently on the seat beside him. He glanced over, taking in her tousled hair and wrinkled clothes. “I’m sorry to see our night end in such a hectic fashion,” he said. He leaned close and whispered suggestively. “Maybe I should come upstairs and help you make sure all the beds have proper hospital corners.”

  “If you come upstairs, I don’t think there will be anything proper about it.” The look she gave him told him she wouldn’t mind. “What do you know about hospital corners anyway?”

  “Another useful skill learned at juvie camp. You can bounce a quarter on my sheets.”

  “Goodness. That’s a skill worth investigating. I might have to take you up on that offer another day.”

  He winked. “The offer’s always open, sunshine.”

  “Why don’t you come over later, and I’ll make you some breakfast? Are you opening the store today?”

  “Actually, I’m putting the ‘Gone Fishing’ sign up today. Between digging up the hams and picking the Calhouns up from the airport, I don’t see the point. If anyone wants to buy a Tiki torch today they’re plum out of luck.”

  “Okay, then breakfast whenever you want. I’m sure I’ll need a break by then.”

  “Sounds good.” He pulled into the driveway and sat there taking in the Inn with the engine idling. The large wooden sign stood on two posts just to one side of the porch, proudly designating to one and all that they were smack dab in front of “The Hazelnut Inn.” Newly potted red and yellow flowers decorated the steps leading up to a welcoming wreath on the front door. “It looks great, Etta. Can you believe it? No matter what else happens, we made it this far.”

  “And without killing each other, too.” She leaned over and kissed him. Just a soft sweet brush of her mouth against his.

  He caught her before she could move away and kissed her more thoroughly. When she was sagging against him he grinned and whispered, “The day’s still young. Now get out of here before I start something we don’t have time to finish.”

  She gave him a saucy grin in return and slid across the bench seat. Her hand was on the handle, and she had one leg halfway outside the truck when the front door of the Inn burst open and a blonde blur of a person barreled down the walkway toward them.

  “Where the hell have you been, Etta Place Green?”

  Donny Joe leaned down, peering through the windshield, and saw Etta’s long lost older sister marching toward them like a harpy on a mission of winged destruction. He noticed Etta straightened in surprise at the sudden assault, but then she recovered and went on the attack.

  “Belle? Good Grief. When the hell did you get here?”

  “For your information I got here late last night, and I waited up ’til all hours for you to come home.” Her sister folded her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.

  Etta closed the truck door and turned to face her. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have done that.”

  Belle was still all worked up. “Well I did, and you come rolling in big as you please at seven in the morning.”

  Donny Joe got out of the truck and walked around to stand beside Etta. “Settle down, Belle. There’s no need to talk to Etta like that.”

  Etta smiled at him, and then took a step toward her sister. “It’s okay, Donny Joe. I can handle this.”

  He held up both hands, took a step back, and settled in to watch the show.

  Belle wasn’t one to back down, apparently. “So, Etta, what do you have to say for yourself?”

  “What do I have to say for myself? I say that’s the funniest thing you’ve ever asked me. I say when a woman runs off and leaves her daughter without warning, she doesn’t get to turn around and question the behavior of the people she left her with. I don’t owe you an explanation of any kind.”

  Belle was like a dog with a bone. “At the very least I expected you to behave responsibly,” Belle fumed, looking unapologetic as she continued her badgering. “And I guess I don’t need to ask what the two of you have been doing. It’s pretty obvious.”

  “Not that it is any of your business, but Donny Joe was showing me how to do the Ham in the Hole.”

  Belle scrunched up her
face. “Ew. What is that? Some kind of kinky sex act?”

  Donny Joe nearly laughed out loud as his mind raced back to several of the sex acts they’d actually indulged in only hours before. He was tired of standing on the sidelines. After all the hard work they’d put in, he wasn’t about to be chastised by Belle. “Don’t be ridiculous. The hams are for tonight’s Grand Opening dinner.”

  Belle didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t have time to fool with her any longer. “Etta, I’m going to run. I’ll check in with you later, and if you need my help with anything, just holler.”

  He wanted to kiss her good-bye. She looked so defiant facing down her older sister. He wanted to tuck her under his arm and take her home to his bed. But they both had things to do and places to be. Sometimes being responsible sucked. No matter what Belle thought.

  Etta walked him to his side of the truck. “Don’t forget breakfast.”

  “Is that still a good idea?”

  She kissed him on the cheek, and he saw the wheels turning in Belle’s head while she watched. “I’ll be expecting you.”

  He got back in his truck and drove next door to his house. He needed a shower. He smelled like smoke and sex and that distinctive odor that was Etta. It drove him crazy. That vanilla fragrance that always lingered in the air around her. She’d rubbed herself all over his body last night, setting him on fire and etching the memory of her smell into his skin. On second thought, it seemed crazier to clean up just so he could go dig up the hams. He went inside and put some food in Gabe’s bowl. The old cat wasn’t around. Donny Joe wouldn’t be surprised if he was sleeping over at the Inn on Daphne’s bed.

  Heading back to his truck he took another look next door. So, Belle was home, and that meant some things were going to change. He had no doubt about that. He just didn’t know if the changes would be good or bad.

  Beulah and Noah were sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee when the two sisters came in the house. Their heads were close together and they straightened as if they’d been sharing secrets.

  “I’m sorry for just getting home, Beulah. Is Daphne up yet? Does she know you’re here, Belle?”

  “No, I wanted to surprise her, and I was about to wake her up when I saw you drive up in Donny Joe’s truck of all things. Good God, when did you take up with him?”

  “I’d think seeing your daughter after all this time would be more important than taking the time to bawl me out.”

  Belle suddenly changed gears and got all misty eyed. “I sat by her bedside for an hour last night, just staring at her sweet little face. But we have a lot to discuss, Etta.”

  “I agree, Belle, there’s a lot to talk about, but today’s a school day for Daphne and the big opening day for the Inn. It will have to wait.” She walked over and hugged her sister. She was still incredibly annoyed with Belle, but for Daphne’s sake she was willing to call a temporary halt to the hostilities. There would be plenty of time later to finish hashing out their differences. “I’m glad you’re home, even if you are an interfering busybody. Now, go wake up that little girl before she’s late for school.”

  “Now who’s being bossy?” But she smiled as she took off down the hall.

  Etta turned to Beulah. “I’m going to take a shower. I’m assuming I won’t need to take Daphne to school today. Her mother can do that for a change. Ha! What a concept!”

  Beulah got up and gave her a hug. “Go clean up and relax a little. We have a big day ahead of us. And in case I haven’t said it enough, thanks for all of your hard work, Etta.”

  “We all worked hard. By the way, Noah, the flowers look wonderful. Thank you.”

  The old man nodded. “It was my pleasure. Thank you for letting me play a small part. I’m making cut flower arrangements for the tables tonight if that’s okay.”

  “That sounds lovely, and Donny Joe will be by later with the hams. I said I’d cook breakfast then. I figured it might be the last calm moment we have all day.”

  A sudden shout rang through the house to emphasize her point. “Mama! Oh Mama, you’re home. I hoped and hoped you’d come home today, and you did.”

  They all smiled at the sound of pure joy in the little girl’s voice. Her mama was home and all was right with her world.

  On the way to her room Etta heard a loud yowl, and then Gabe came flying past her. The yellow cat’s ears were flattened as he made a frantic escape from Daphne’s room. Unlike most males he must have found the beautiful Belle less than charming. That fanciful notion made Etta smile. She continued down the hall to her room and made a beeline for the shower. She should throw the clothes she’d been wearing in the trash bin. Or save them in a treasure box and label them exhibit A of evidence of the best night of her life. She had so many questions to ask Belle, about Roger and Daphne’s school. But none of it seemed to matter at the moment. Images of last night with Donny Joe filled her head and small little aftershocks rippled through her body. Best night of her life.

  And this morning Donny Joe hadn’t acted like any of it had been a mistake. She wasn’t about to get ahead of herself. She acknowledged the temporary nature of whatever this was. A fling, an affair, a sexual encounter. She didn’t need to define it, or pick it apart to find out what it meant or what it didn’t mean. For once she was willing to enjoy the hell out of the time they’d shared. She wouldn’t be in Everson forever, and she didn’t see him ever living anywhere else. But now was not the time to overthink things. Not with the to-do list she had in front of her today.

  She rinsed the soap from her body, dried off and got dressed to face the day. And what a day it was, too. The biggest day as far as the Inn was concerned.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Etta finally had all of the small tables arranged and was in the middle of covering them with freshly pressed white tablecloths. Beulah had insisted on doing the ironing, declaring that taking them straight from the clothes dryer simply wasn’t good enough. As she worked she kept checking outside at the darkening skies. Low hanging gray clouds threatened, bolstering the weatherman’s prediction that they had a good chance of snow this weekend. If she was in Chicago she’d shrug and say so what, but in North Texas snow that stuck to roads and overpasses could bring things to a screeching halt.

  That was the last thing she needed tonight. Folks would stay home rather than venture out on slick, unplowed roads. But she couldn’t worry about that. She would smile and carry on as if the weather outside was springlike and rosy.

  Noah had lined his flower arrangements along the bar. Dark pink roses, pink alstroemeria, and green spider mums placed in cut glass vases. Beulah had found all different sizes and shapes of vases stored in different cabinets and hidey-holes around the house. Etta placed one in the middle of each table. Along with silver flatware polished by Daphne, the red napkins rolled up and finished off with the wire heart-shaped napkins rings, and the tables were complete. And they were going to use mixed china plates of different patterns that blended together to make a pretty picture. For the first time since she’d decided to stay Etta felt like she was in her element. Providing a warm and welcoming setting to feed people. She could hardly wait for tonight.

  The hams were staying warm in the kitchen. She’d opened up the foil on one and peeked inside. Then she’d stolen a sliver. And she’d swooned at the carnival of flavor that exploded in her mouth. The town people might be showing up because they wanted to support Donny Joe, but now she suspected they were showing up in droves because it was out-of-this-world delicious. Maybe they should consider making this a signature dish for the Inn.

  But she was getting ahead of herself. All the side dishes were prepared, only awaiting last minute touches. The bar was stocked with wine and liquor. Noah had generously offered to serve as a bartender. She had accepted the offer gratefully. He seemed like a nice man, and if Donny Joe wasn’t going to hold a grudge she should probably let it go, too.

  And then there was Belle. They hadn’t had time for any meaningful conversation. She hadn’
t even filled her in on the developments with Finale’s. Daphne was so excited that her mother was home she could hardly contain herself. She danced into the room, scoping out the preparations, talking nonstop, and giving random opinions on the upcoming festivities.

  “I’m carrying the bread basket around to all the tables, right, Aunt Etta?”

  “That’s right, sweetie. The smell of fresh baked yeast rolls makes people hungry. You’re the star of the whole show.” Beulah had prepared her famous rolls that morning and let them rise. Now they sat in the kitchen ready to be popped in the oven so the aroma would waft into the dining rooms just as the diners began to arrive.

  Daphne took her basket from the sidebar and arranged the napkins carefully. “What’s Mama going to do?”

  That was a good question. “She can help me. There will be plenty to do.”

  “Beulah made some extra aprons, so she can wear one, too. I’m going to go tell her right now.”

  “Okay. Sounds good.” Etta’s phone rang and she dug it from her front pocket. “Hello. Hey, Donny Joe. What’s up?”

  “The Calhouns’ plane has been delayed because of the weather. Right now it looks like another hour.”

  “Okay. That might complicate letting them get settled before dinner, but we’ll handle it.”

  “When are the Mitchells supposed to get there?”

  “Well, they’re driving in from Arkansas so the weather shouldn’t be a problem. They should be here in the next hour.”

  “Is everything else okay?”

  Etta looked around the finished dining room and smiled. “The place looks great. Just please be careful driving home with the paying customers.”

  She could hear the smile in his voice. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you later.”

  She disconnected and was setting out wine glasses when she heard a knock on the front door. She glanced at her watch. Three o’clock precisely. The official check-in time. That might be Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, their first guests. A little tingle of excitement ran down her spine. This was it. No turning back now. She glanced at herself in the mirror and fluffed her hair with her fingers. Wishing she’d freshened her lipstick, she started toward the front parlor. Before she could reach it Belle floated down the staircase and opened the door.