by Noelle Adams
“He always was like that,” Tari concluded with a smile. “Pretending that he had everything under control, even when he got himself into the biggest messes you could imagine.”
Allison laughed at the stories and at the visual of Rob as a boy, but her heart was touched in a strange way, picturing that boy and how hard he’d tried to hide his messes.
He was still doing that. She remembered how long it had taken him to let her see his messy house.
Eventually Rob put the burgers on the grill and everyone gathered on the patio to eat. A lot of the guests had brought their own chairs, and the others sat on the low brick wall that surrounded the patio. The kids sat on the grass.
When Allison got up to get her burger, someone took her chair, so she was looking around for a place to sit when she walked up to Rob at the grill with her opened bun.
He smiled at her—a secret little smile that felt intimate and special—and asked very softly, “How’s it going?”
“Fine. I’m having a good time.”
“And my folks really didn’t say anything embarrassing?”
“They told me about you blowing up the shed.”
Rob chuckled. “That’s okay, I guess. It was a really impressive explosion.”
Allison had to stop herself from reaching out to touch him—his face, his chest. She hadn’t realized how hard it would be to act like they were casual acquaintances after they’d gotten so close.
“It looks like everyone has their food,” Rob said. “Hold on a minute, and let me get a couple more chairs from inside.”
Relieved that she wouldn’t have to try to make pleasant conversation while sitting on the ground, Allison waited and took one of the chairs that Rob set up near the grill. He grabbed a plate and filled it up before coming to sit beside her.
“Hey, Jeanie,” he said, his voice pitched to carry, getting the attention of a middle-aged woman with long graying hair and a broomstick skirt. “Can you tell Allison about how to hook up with those craft fairs you go to?”
Allison looked at him in surprise. Since he hadn’t mentioned it again, she’d assumed he might have forgotten their conversation from a couple of weeks ago.
“Sure,” Jeanie said, leaning over to meet Allison’s eyes. “There are a few that happen every year, and then I’m on a list that announces some others. If you give me your email, I can put you on the list.”
“That would be great. Thank you. What kind of crafts do you make?”
“Pottery. I’d love to show you sometime. What about you?”
“I make jewelry.” She felt a little self-conscious announcing it, since about ten other people were now listening to their conversation, but there was nothing strange or unusual about making jewelry. Most people weren’t like Arthur, belittling it as an unworthy activity.
“You didn’t make that gorgeous bracelet you’re wearing?” That was from an overweight woman in a surprisingly clingy sundress who was sitting near her. Allison was pretty sure her name was Peg.
“I did,” Allison admitted, glancing down at the beaded cuff she wore.
Peg gasped and leaned down to examine the bracelet more closely. “It’s stunning. Those don’t look like normal Walmart beads. Where did you get them?”
“A couple of years ago I found a big tub of beads at a thrift shop in Charlotte. Some of them were just cheap plastic, but some of them were really valuable, and they were all thrown in there together and offered for almost nothing. It was an amazing find. All I had to do was sort through them all.” She remembered the days she’d spent trying to sort out all of those beads. Even that tedious task had been enjoyable, since she could imagine what she might make out of them after she was finished.
“It’s amazing,” Peg said. “You’re really good.”
“Thank you.”
“Stuff like that would do really well at the craft fairs,” Jeanie told her, nodding in a competent, no-nonsense way. “You should definitely get hooked up.”
“I will. Thank you.” She turned to smile at Rob, who was watching her with a strangely satisfied look.
Since the conversation had broken up, Rob asked her quietly, “How did your trip to the college go yesterday afternoon?”
“It was good,” she said. “I talked to a really nice lady in the financial aid department, and she helped me fill out all the forms. She said that in my situation a Pell Grant would cover a lot of the tuition.”
“So when do you start?”
“Their next session starts in a couple of weeks, so I’ve signed up for an online class then.”
“Good.” His eyes were very warm. “I’m glad.”
“I just hope I can do it on top of work.”
Peg, sitting nearby, must have heard that part of the conversation because she broke in, “I got my degree while I was working. It kicked my butt sometimes, but you can do it.”
“Well, that’s the plan.” Allison decided that going back to college wasn’t a really personal issue, so it didn’t matter if other people heard about it.
“Someone said you were married to a billionaire,” Peg said, after taking a few chips off the plate of the silent man who must be her husband.
Allison almost choked on her bite of burger. Once she’d gotten it down, she said, “Not a billionaire.”
“Some bigwig in Charlotte?”
“He’s an executive at an investment firm.” Allison didn’t want to talk about Arthur, but she also didn’t want to be rude.
“So how come you’re so tight on money, after being married to him?”
Allison was definitely uncomfortable now. In her previous circles no one had ever talked about money. Of course, everyone had had it in her old life, so things here would likely be different. She spoke carefully, making sure not to sound offended or annoyed. “We had a prenup. We had to be married for ten years before I got any real money. I left him after eight.”
“And you couldn’t stick it out for two more years, just for all that cash?” Peg’s eyes were completely sincere. She wasn’t being catty. She really wanted to know.
Because Allison recognized that, she kept the bitterness from her voice. “It was a bad marriage. And honestly, at the end of it I didn’t want to feel like I was bought and paid for.”
Peg’s face changed, as if she were thinking through the words. Then she nodded. “Makes total sense. A girl’s got to know her own worth—and that ain’t money.”
Allison was surprised and gave an appreciative smile. “Exactly.”
Rob had moved his hand so it was slightly behind her. He rubbed her back with the tips of his fingers very lightly. Anyone looking would probably not realize he was doing anything intentionally, but Allison felt it. She knew he was being supportive.
It meant something to her.
She glanced over and noticed Tari looking in her direction, so she smiled, pleased when the older woman smiled back.
Today had felt awkward a few times, but overall it had been pretty good. These people were different from her, but they weren’t as different as she’d assumed. She was glad she had come.
—
It was eight thirty before the last of the guests finally left. Rob was ready for them to clear out an hour early, but everyone was having a good time and it was just now getting dark.
The good thing was that Allison had stayed to help clean up, so he didn’t have to cross the street to find her. She was right in his kitchen.
“You don’t have to do that,” he murmured, walking over to press himself against her back and wrap his arms around her.
“So everyone is gone?”
“Finally.” He tilted his head so he could brush a few kisses against her jaw and then her neck. “I’ve been dying to kiss you for hours and couldn’t do it.”
“Poor Rob. Tortured in that way.” Her voice was light, her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were smiling.
He turned her around with her back against the sink so he could kiss her properly. “Poor Rob indeed,”
he murmured against her lips.
She responded to the kiss, her body softening, her tongue meeting his, but she pulled away before he wanted her to. “Let’s finish cleaning all this up.”
“It can wait.”
“But if it waits, it will still be here for days, and I really don’t want to see all these dirty dishes the next time I come over here.”
The guests had used paper plates and cups, so the only dishes were the ones they’d served food from. It didn’t really take that long to get them washed, and Rob was pleased by the sight of his halfway neat kitchen when they were done.
It had never looked that way until Allison came into his life.
“Now that the cleaning is done, we can get to the kissing.” He pulled her against him again and this time had a much more satisfying embrace.
“So did you have a good time?” he asked, holding her in a hug after their lips had finally broken apart.
“Yeah. I did.”
“Why do you sound surprised?”
“I don’t know. I just didn’t know anyone. You know how that is.” She paused and glanced up at him. “Or maybe you don’t.”
“I don’t always know people.”
“I didn’t mean to imply there was something wrong with it. It’s great you’re so connected here. I just wonder how long it’s been since you’ve felt awkward and insecure around people you don’t know.”
“I do my best never to feel awkward or insecure,” he said. It was true. He tried to avoid it as much as possible. Allison didn’t have to know how often he felt that way, especially when it came to his previous marriages.
She chuckled. “Yeah. I guess you do. Anyway, it was nice to get to know some of the people in town, and I really liked your parents.”
“Good. They’re pretty nice.”
She stretched up to brush a kiss against his cheekbone. “And they have a pretty nice son.”
“I have no objection to you believing that.”
He gave her a few kisses, then murmured, “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”
“There’s no good answer to that question.” Allison was stroking her fingers down his back in a way that felt incredibly good.
“Well, I’m telling you that you are. And I’m feeling a little guilty because I wanted everyone to know that this damned gorgeous woman wants to be with me.”
For just a moment it felt like she tensed up, but when he pulled back to check her face she was smiling.
“Is that all right?” he asked, wanting to make sure he hadn’t accidentally said something wrong. Surely a woman wouldn’t mind being called gorgeous.
“Of course it’s all right.” She pulled him back into a kiss.
He was really getting into it when a voice interrupted them. “Rob? Rob?”
They jumped apart, but not soon enough. Rob was pretty sure that Cali had seen them as she entered the kitchen.
“Cali,” he said, darting a quick look over to Allison, hoping she wasn’t going to freak out. “What are you doing here?”
“The door was wide open.” She wore jeans that were way too tight and a halter top that showed far too much cleavage. Her makeup was very heavy—as heavy as Dee usually wore. Rob wasn’t her father, though, so he couldn’t say anything about it.
“I had a cookout earlier, and people were just leaving. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” She was peering at Allison curiously. “Mom’s not going to be happy about this.”
Rob had to stifle a groan. He stopped himself from acting worried or urgent, though, since he knew that would encourage the girl to do exactly what he didn’t want. “She doesn’t have to know,” he said casually.
“She’ll find out soon enough.”
“No one knows yet.”
Cali’s eyes widened. Then she laughed in a decidedly naughty way. “Nice. So it’s a secret, then.”
“Up to you,” Rob said with a shrug. Allison was obviously letting him handle this, since she hadn’t said a word or moved a muscle.
“I won’t tell her,” Cali said, suddenly looking much younger than she usually looked. Even her makeup looked more like dress-up than anything else. “You’re that waitress from Dora’s.”
“Yes,” Allison said. “I am. And you’re Cali. I’ve seen you around.”
“Only when my mom is making a fool out of herself,” Cali said. “I love your shoes.”
Allison was wearing red sandals that looked very fancy to Rob. “Thanks,” she said. “They’re one of my favorites.”
“Did you need something?” Rob asked. “To make you come over, I mean.”
“Oh yeah. I ran out of gas just down the block there. Do you think you can help me?”
“Sure,” Rob said, relieved it wasn’t any sort of real crisis, particularly one involving her ass of a boyfriend or Dee. “I can run down to the station and get you some. Do you want to come with me?”
“I can stay here with Allison.”
Rob shot Allison a quick look. They weren’t supposed to be in anything like a serious relationship. The last thing she was going to want was to spend time with his rather pouty ex-stepdaughter.
At least Cali seemed in a reasonable mood today. That might help.
“Sure,” Allison said, smiling at Cali and then nodding at Rob. “That would be okay. She can help me clean up the last of the trash.”
Rob felt a little nervous about this, but there was nothing he could do. So he left them in his house and drove as quickly as he could to the gas station at the end of town to put two gallons in a tank, then drove it back to where Cali’s little car was pulled over on the side of the road.
He wondered if she had genuinely forgotten or if she’d just run out of money. He wondered if that Nelson boy was taking her money.
Either way, he’d put enough in to get her through the evening, and now he needed to get back to make sure that Allison was all right.
He was never more surprised than when he walked into his house and found Allison and Cali talking enthusiastically about shoes and jewelry as Allison swept a pile of dust into the pan Cali held steady.
Cali was smiling for real. Rob hadn’t seen that expression on her in years.
Chapter 8
Two weeks later, Allison was carrying a tray of dirty plates she’d just cleared from a table when Jeanie came into the restaurant.
Since Rob had introduced them, Allison had talked to the other woman a few times about the craft fairs in the area, and today Jeanie was waving around a couple of sheets of paper as she approached.
“There’s a fair going on I just heard about. It’s only an hour away. You want to sign up?”
Switching the tray into both hands so she didn’t drop it, Allison tried to look at the papers Jeanie was still waving. “What date?”
“The eighteenth.”
“Sure, that would probably work. Thanks for thinking of me.”
“We can drive up together if you want. It’s really out in the boonies.”
Allison would have said Fielding was out in the middle of nowhere too, but that didn’t seem entirely polite. She wondered how much more isolated a town could get. “That sounds great. Let me confirm my schedule, but I think that should work out.”
Jeanie rambled on awhile, talking about the way the fair was set up and the kind of people it was likely to attract. As the other woman spoke, Allison glanced over to see Rob getting up from his stool at the counter.
He looked particularly scrumptious today in gray trousers that made his butt look very tight and a black shirt that hugged his broad shoulders. He met her eyes, his face perfectly serious as he gave her a little wink before he dropped his tip and the folded napkin next to his empty breakfast plate.
Allison was hard pressed not to smile like a sappy fool.
Flushing a little, she turned back to Jeanie, who fortunately hadn’t noticed her distraction. They talked for a few more minutes until a new couple walked in and Allison had to get back to work.
She was taking the tray back into the kitchen as Chelle wiped down the counter in her brisk manner. Chelle collected Rob’s plate and coffee mug and caught Allison’s eye as she picked up the tip, to indicate that she was getting it for Allison.
Allison appreciated the help clearing up, but she was worried that Chelle would throw away the napkin. Rob still left her little notes with the tip, and she didn’t want to miss it.
When she’d put the dirty dishes in the sink, she came out quickly to pour the newcomers coffee and give them their menus. Then she went over to Chelle, who was waiting for Gus to finish an order.
Chelle handed her a five-dollar bill, which was what Rob always left as a tip. It was almost 60 percent of the price of his meal, and Allison had told him several times that he didn’t have to tip her like that. He’d just blandly said that someone would notice if he stopped tipping like he normally did and they might suspect something was going on between them.
Allison knew he was a generous tipper with anyone who served him, so she kept telling herself it was no big deal. He wasn’t giving her money because he liked her.
The notes meant a lot more to her than the money, but Chelle didn’t hand her a napkin.
Trying to act casual, Allison glanced into the big trash can as she thanked Chelle.
“Were you looking for something else?” Chelle asked in a slightly taunting tone.
Allison straightened up with a gasp, glancing down as Chelle pulled a folded napkin from her pocket.
Chelle laughed at her expression. “Now what could he possibly have said to you today?” She made a show of opening up the napkin to look, although she didn’t actually read the words.
Torn between laughter and embarrassment, Allison grabbed the napkin from her. “Give me that!”
Still cackling, Chelle let go of the note. “I’ve always wondered what he says to you.”
“It’s nothing,” Allison murmured. “Just silly things.” She looked down at the note and flushed a little as she read it.
I’ve got big plans for you tonight. R.
“I knew you two had a thing going,” Chelle said.
