One Last Dance (Oak Grove Series Book 2)

by Stopper, Nancy

  As the night proceeded, as he learned more about her, she became more complex to him. He itched to peel back the layers of what made her tick. It had been a long time since he’d felt that way about a woman. Any woman.

  But none of that would happen if he didn’t climb out of bed.

  He pulled the pillow off his head and shoved it under him. His calf muscles ached from a long night on the floor, but he’d take that kind of pain if it meant J.J.’s was successful. He extended his arms over his head and worked the kinks out of his neck. A double shot of caffeine was a must before he headed out into the woods today, else he might step right off the edge of the path and tumble down a river bank. Especially if he couldn’t keep his mind off Brittany.

  He’d planned this solo hike earlier in the week, knowing the activities at the bar for the grand reopening and Memorial Day would be overwhelming. He needed this time to recharge his batteries after putting everything he had into getting the bar ready for the weekend crowds. That was why he’d found his private retreat a couple of years back. Everyone saw him as the happy, nothing-bothers-him ladies’ man image he projected when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Tending bar, being on for his crew and the customers, took everything out of him, and his time in the outdoors—alone—helped to keep him sane.

  That was just one of the many things he loved about his hometown—he didn’t have to go far to find nature. After being turned away from the Army due to health-related issues, he’d considered an outdoor job, like a park ranger or adventure guide, but the bar had fallen into his lap at the right time, and he’d leapt at the opportunity to be his own boss. And to show the town there was more to him than what they thought.

  But it took its toll.

  So, he’d get his caffeine fix and head out. Maybe he’d take the boat out and drop a line for a couple of hours. Or he could just hang out at his cabin and listen to the sounds of nature. A cabin no one knew he had—not even his own family.

  After he parked behind the shops on the Town Green, he climbed out of his truck and hustled to Mug ’n Muffin. Residents and visitors alike were beginning to gather on the sidewalk and across the street in the green. Laughter and the sound of happy voices wafted on the air. He even had an unexpected spring in his step. He was right. Time in the fresh air and sunshine was exactly what he needed. As long as he could grab a cup of coffee first.

  The strong, delicious scent of coffee and sweets filled his senses as soon as he stepped into the shop. He drew in a deep breath. Dang, he could get a caffeine fix from the aroma alone. Nothing smelled better, except maybe the clean, fresh scent of the outdoors.

  Customers rushed around the shop, conversations built on each other, the holiday weekend drawing out many of the residents of Oak Grove and the surrounding areas. He glanced toward the counter where Emma and Karen worked and found himself looking for another dark-haired woman beside them. But he didn’t see her, much to his disappointment.

  He had barely taken two steps when he spied his brother, Lucas, with his fiancée and her daughter, tucked at a table in the corner. He’d hoped to grab his coffee and leave undetected, but those hopes were dashed when Sarah spotted him. A smile broke out on her face. She leaned into the table and whispered, and two other heads snapped in his direction. So much for escaping unnoticed. He plastered on a fake smile and prepared for the encounter.

  Before he knew it, Lily, Sarah’s five-year-old daughter, had leapt up from the table and run up to Joey, wrapping her arms around his legs and giggling the entire time.

  “Mr. Joey, Mr. Joey. Mommy and Mr. Lucas and me are goin’ to the zoo. And I get to see Aunt Jessica and Nicky.”

  Joey laughed as he picked up the little girl and flung her over his shoulder. “That sounds great, sweetie.”

  He tickled her sides as he carried her back to Lucas and Sarah. Lowering Lily to the ground, he took the hand Lucas extended as he stood.

  “Hey, Joey. Great party last night.”

  “Thanks.” He turned to Sarah, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and placing a kiss on her temple. “Hey, Sarah.”

  “Hey.” Sarah rubbed her hand over the blonde curls of the little girl who had returned to her mother’s side, the spitting image of her mother. Lucas and Sarah both looked down to the girl who had captured the hearts of his entire family, just as she and her mother had captured Lucas’s heart. Joey couldn’t ever remember seeing Lucas so happy.

  Sarah had relocated to Oak Grove last fall and had immediately blended in to the tight-knit community. Before long, she was dating Lucas. He’d been in a bad place before meeting Sarah, but she’d helped him move forward, and he’d fallen in love with her. They’d recently gotten engaged and Lucas had moved in with Sarah and Lily. Joey had never imagined he’d see his big brother settle down. But here he was, with a ready-made family.

  More power to him. Joey had no interest in a serious girlfriend. He likely wouldn’t be able to sneak away to the cabin, or take a day to himself, if he had a girlfriend nagging him for his time and attention.

  “You had a good crowd last night,” Sarah said as they all sat and a cup of coffee appeared in front of him.

  “Thanks, man.” He hadn’t even seen Lucas step away. Joey grabbed the mug and inhaled a deep breath of the rich aroma before taking a tentative sip of the hot liquid. “It was a great crowd, wasn’t it? I think we can safely say the grand reopening was a huge success. I’d remind you about the bonfire tonight, but I’ve been told you guys have plans today.” Joey smiled down at Lily.

  “We do,” Lucas said. “Hate to miss it, Joey, but you know how it is.

  Joey smiled. Yeah, he knew. He was happy for Lucas but glad it wasn’t him.

  Sarah stood. “Lily and I are gonna take a quick pit stop and then we’ll be ready to go.” She leaned down as Lucas stretched up to give her a kiss before Lily and Sarah skipped away. His eyes followed them until they stepped out of sight.

  “They’re really great, Lucas. Both of them. I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks, I think so, too. I can’t wait to get married.”

  “Wow, who’d have thought.” Joey chuckled.

  Lucas laughed with him before his smile fell and his expression grew serious. “I didn’t see Rachel at the bar last night.”

  Joey’s heart sank. He no longer counted on his sister to work her shifts but hadn’t stopped worrying about her. “No, she didn’t show. She’s been skipping more and more shifts recently and rarely returns my calls. I’d stop putting her on the schedule, but I don’t want to give her even more reasons to not come see us. I keep hoping she’ll work a shift once in a while, so we can see she’s all right.”

  Lucas rubbed his hand across his jaw, the corners of his lips turned down. “I don’t know what to do anymore. Do you think you can talk to Sawyer? Can he help?”

  If only it were that simple. If they knew for a fact something was wrong with Rachel, Sawyer would be the first one in line to help… behind Joey and Lucas, of course. But so far, they only had suspicions. “I can talk to him, but I don’t imagine he can do anything. Rachel won’t tell us what’s going on. She just stays holed up with him.”

  Joey wasn’t exactly sure how long it had been since Rachel had started dating Shane because she rarely came around anymore. Maybe a year? But from the day she’d met Shane, the light in her eyes had dimmed, and she’d pulled away from their family and her friends. She’d abandoned her own apartment to move in with him, much to their parents’ chagrin. But unless they had proof Shane was hurting Rachel, there wasn’t much they could do.

  Sarah and Lily scooted out from the back of the shop. He and Lucas stood, and Joey wrapped his arm around Lily’s shoulder. “Have a good time at the zoo today, little lady.”

  “We will, Mr. Joey. Maybe I can bring an animal home.”

  They all laughed as Sarah smoothed down Lily’s hair. “She doesn’t quite understand these animals aren’t pets.”

  Lucas, Sarah and Lily left the shop,
Lucas’s hand resting gently on Sarah’s back and Lily’s shoulder. Always the protector in their family. Joey shook his head. He’d taken a chance on a life like that once and had fallen short. Never again. Not after Shelby.

  He had good friends, a cabin in the woods where he could escape from time-to-time, and now, a successfully expanded business. He even had a few extra special enhancements to the bar to introduce on Monday. A project near and dear to his heart. He had a lot going on. He didn’t need to add a woman to the mix.

  Joey cleared the table, quickly refilled his coffee cup, and headed to the counter to grab a muffin for the road. As he reached the counter, Emma McKenzie, the owner of Mug ’n Muffin, walked out from the back. The swinging door opened again, and out walked her daughter, Karen… and the woman who had occupied most of his thoughts last night. His stomach jumped and his heart raced. As exciting as it was to see her again, he couldn’t let her derail his plans to get away today.

  When she saw him, a huge smile lit her face.

  That smile stopped him dead in his tracks, unable to take another step, mesmerized.

  Her brown hair hung in a ponytail today, and her deep green T-shirt hugged her curves before tapering down into a pair of faded jeans. Evidently, it didn’t matter what Brittany wore, because she looked sexy in anything. And probably in nothing. Stop it.

  “Hey, Joey,” Emma said, shocking him from the direction his thoughts were leading him.

  “Oh, hey, Emma. Karen.” He paused. “Brittany.” His eyes lingered on Brittany’s. A faint pink color rose on her cheeks. She lowered her gaze. Interesting. Maybe she’d had a sleepless night thinking about him.

  He smiled, intrigued that she may have been as restless as he had been.

  “That is one great lookin’ smile on your face this morning. What can I get you?” Karen asked.

  “How about two blueberry muffins for the road? I’m heading out for a hike before the bonfire tonight.”

  “A hike” Karen’s eyes brightened. “That’s perfect.”

  Perfect. Perfect for what? What did Karen have in mind? She didn’t give him any time to mull over her comment or formulate a response to what he knew was going to be a bad idea before she continued.

  “I was telling Brittany I need to help my mom today and she would be bored hanging out at the shop. I think a hike would be great—show her the area around Oak Grove. What do you say, Brittany?”

  Joey froze. Had Karen just invited her friend to join him on his hike? His alone time. To his cabin no one knew about.

  Brittany elbowed Karen in the gut, and Karen nudged Brittany back. “I don’t know, Karen…” Brittany fumbled over her words. The two women put their heads together and whispered. Brittany shook her head violently during the exchange.

  This city girl wouldn’t last an hour out in the woods with him. There wasn’t a fancy restaurant or a dance club for miles.

  Karen finished her argument with Brittany and spoke louder for Joey’s benefit. “It’ll be great, Brittany. Now you won’t be stuck here with me. You’ll have fun. I promise.”

  What was Karen up to? Meddling, no doubt. But she’d gone too far, inviting her friend to his one place of peace, the one place all his own. Where he could go to get away from everything swirling around him and the pressures of his family and this town. As much as he loved Oak Grove, sometimes the well-meaning residents and his family went too far.

  Now that Karen had put the idea out there, he needed to respond. He could let her down easy, explain how he wasn’t going somewhere she would be comfortable. Anything to keep her from joining him. Besides, he wasn’t sure his libido could handle being in close quarters with Brittany for any period of time. No, nuh-uh, she just couldn’t come. He’d apologize and make it clear to Karen that it wasn’t a good day. Offer another date to put her off.

  Karen, Brittany and Emma all looked at him expectantly. He opened his mouth to say no, but something else entirely came out of his mouth. “You can come along if you want.”

  Wait, what? That wasn’t what he meant to say at all.

  Brittany’s eyes snapped to his, a look of hope in them he hadn’t seen a moment ago. “Really?”

  Her features were relaxed and her smile was easy. How could he say no now? He couldn’t. Guess he had company on his hike today. “Sure. How quickly can you be ready?”

  Brittany rubbed her hands down her T-shirt and jeans, and sweat broke out across his upper lip. She had no idea what a simple act like that did to him. His heart raced with memories of her body pressed against his last night, the smile on her face as she’d talked about her home, and the comfortable conversation they’d shared.

  He still wasn’t sure what had prompted him to tell her he wouldn’t give her back her purse until she danced with him. He’d just wanted to feel her, and the music had spurred him to ask her to dance. She’d melted into him. But as comfortable as they’d been last night, he wasn’t ready to spend a day alone with her—especially a day he’d planned to spend by himself. Her scent would fill his truck and he wouldn’t be able to escape. He wouldn’t be alone with his thoughts because they’d be focused on Brittany the entire time.

  So much for relaxing today. He rubbed his hand over the muscle at the back of his neck that had already tightened at the idea of Brittany joining him.

  “I don’t have any hiking boots. I probably shouldn’t go. Really, Karen, I can stay here with you and your mom and help out in the shop. It’ll be fine—”

  “Nonsense. I have a pair of boots in the car. Never know when you’ll need them around here.” Dang, Karen sure was all fired up for Brittany to join him today. Karen wouldn’t even let her friend get in a word edgewise. “I’ll fetch them and you’ll be all set. Mom, can you make them a couple of sandwiches to go while I run to the car?”

  “Sure thing, sweetie,” Emma responded. Dang, were Emma and Karen conspiring to match-make?

  While Karen and Brittany retreated to the back of the shop, Emma leaned over the counter, a smile on her face. “A force of nature, that daughter of mine. Isn’t she?”

  Joey laughed. “No doubt. I have no idea what I just got roped into.”

  Emma quickly prepped sandwiches, and before Joey could catch his breath and settle his rapidly beating heart, the girls returned from the back.

  Brittany wore a ball cap, her ponytail pulled through the back. She was even cuter than before—and more innocent-looking. She rounded the counter, the expression on her face hesitant as she kicked her foot out, looking for his approval of the fancy new hiking boots.

  He nodded to her but didn’t say anything else.

  Emma grabbed the large brown bag she’d packed and carried it around the counter. “Here you go, Joey. I tucked some chips and another treat in the bag with your sandwiches. You won’t go hungry.”

  Joey laughed. “I never do when you’re around, Emma. That’s for sure.”

  “Are you sure about this, Karen?” Brittany’s voice wobbled

  This was new. Where had the strong woman who had fended Walt off gone?

  “Absolutely. You go on. Have fun hiking. We’ll hook up later when you get back to town.”

  Brittany turned to him, her eyes hopeful but wary. She wrung her hands together at her waist, and her shoulders were slumped. She didn’t meet his gaze, her eyes darting anywhere but his face. “I guess I’m ready to go.”

  Joey smiled at the woman who only came up to the middle of his chest. He hadn’t noticed her height last night—her heels must have really added on the inches. He grabbed the bag from Emma and turned to Brittany.

  “I’m parked right out back.” He motioned to her, and before he could stop himself, he found his hand on her lower back to guide her out the door. He pulled the door open and followed her onto the sidewalk, gesturing to the left. “This way.”

  “I’m so sorry Karen roped you into this. I swear I didn’t tell her about us meeting last night. She’s been worried about me being bored.”

  “It’s fine
. Although the woods is no New York City. I hope you’ll be okay.”

  Brittany got a mischievous look on her face. “I think you’ll be surprised.”

  Of that, he had no doubt.

  Chapter Four

  BRITTANY SHOOK HER head and blinked her eyes, shocked to find herself in the cab of Joey’s truck, heading into the woods. How had she gotten here? She woke up early this morning, although waking up was probably not accurate. She’d hardly slept, her mind racing with thoughts of the man sitting beside her. He kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the wheel so tight, his knuckles were turning white. He wasn’t happy to have her along, that much was clear. He’d practically been bullied into it by Karen. Brittany couldn’t help but laugh at the force of nature that was her friend. She should have protested more forcefully, but if she were honest with herself, Joey intrigued her.

  Everything about him screamed small town, starting with his truck. Her BMW would never survive on the roads she imagined they would take to their ultimate destination. No sports car for this man—he was a truck, Jeep, or SUV man all the way. But unlike most bachelors’ vehicles, it was surprisingly clean and looked new. She’d expected his truck to be filled with empty water bottles and fast-food wrappers. But no. His floors were freshly vacuumed and there were no stains on the seats or dash. How did someone who spent this kind of time in the woods keep his vehicle so clean? Joey was a man full of contradictions, and she was interested in discovering even more of them.

  Last night’s T-shirt had been replaced by today’s long-sleeved one. Although the temperatures were expected to creep into the eighties today, she knew for a fact that long sleeves were the best defense against scratches on a hike. She brushed her hands down her own shirt, wishing she’d had a chance to change before heading out. Not that she had anything appropriate for hiking anyway. It hadn’t exactly been on her itinerary when she’d come to town with Karen.