Come a Little Closer

by Kelsey Browning

  Damn him.

  While she was out and about, Jenny’s phone had rung several times, each one a call from Teague. But she couldn’t talk with him yet. Not until she got a handle on this entire situation and had a plan. No using talking about problems without some solutions in hand. Words to live by.

  When Jenny zombie-walked into the bakery, Desi was there behind the counter, her friendly face as bright as the pink-and-yellow-striped walls. “How’d you like those eclairs Teague surprised you with yesterday? I used a new vanilla in the filling. Could you tell the difference?”

  “What eclairs?”

  Desi winced. “Teague didn’t bring them out to Summer Haven?”

  “The last time I saw him, he was stomping away from me, so no, I don’t think eclairs were on his mind.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.” Desi glanced around the empty shop. She quickly poured two coffees and came around the counter. “Sit down and tell me all about it. Y’all can’t be on the outs. You two are the only reason I still believe in the existence of good guys and true love.”

  Jenny sat down at the table next to Desi and wrapped her hands around the cup, warming her palms. She hadn’t realized how cold all this bad news had made her today. “We’re both smart women, right?”

  Desi let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “I’d like to think so, but sometimes I’m not completely sure about myself.”

  “Then why do we make ourselves so vulnerable to men? To their damn pride?”

  Her hand surprisingly strong, Desi squeezed Jenny’s fingers with hers. “Because we love them. Sometimes we love the wrong ones.”

  Jenny closed her eyes in embarrassed pain. Here she was whining about Teague when Desi’s marriage had ended horribly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  “Tell me something,” Desi cut her off. “Why did you stay with your son’s father for so long?”

  Because Desi had become a friend and because Jenny now felt she owed her something, she said simply, “Because I wanted Grayson to have a stable family.”

  “And why did you get back together with Teague? Because your first thought was he’d make a great stepdad for Grayson?”

  Jenny swallowed. “Does it make me a horrible mom if I say no?” She winced, hoping not to sound selfish. “That was definitely my first-and-a-half thought.”

  “Exactly. Because if you didn’t care so much for Teague, you never would’ve let him get close to Grayson. We might be blind once and get involved with the wrong man, even have a child with him. But once we’re mothers, we’re never blind with the other men we bring into our children’s lives. But I know Teague. He’s a good man and he’d never do anything to hurt either you or Grayson.”

  Jenny rolled the scenario through her mind and dropped her head to the table.

  “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

  She lifted her head, feeling the stinging tears blurring her vision. “I did something I shouldn’t have. I wasn’t thinking, and he didn’t react to it well.”

  “You don’t have to tell me the details,” Desi hurried to say. “The bottom line is when your guy does something stupid, something where you feel he’s left you on the outside, you automatically feel as if he’s rejected or jeopardized Grayson too. We moms don’t take that lying down. In fact, if you’re like me…my claws come out and I get downright fierce.”

  Desi was a smart, smart cookie. “And any mother worth her salt,” Jenny said, “would tear apart anyone who hurt her kid.”

  “Bingo.” Desi sat back in her chair with a look of satisfaction. “Now you have to figure out if you have a problem or this is just a little speed bump on the path to happiness. Talk to him.”

  “He’s mad. And busy.”

  Desi got up from the table. “Hang on a second.”

  Jenny took in a deep breath and let it out in one of those slow yoga counts Serendipity was always preaching about.

  A few minutes later, Desi returned from the back with eclairs and took her seat. “You’ll get through this.”

  “I’ll call him tonight. Or as soon as I figure out exactly why I’m so mad and hurt.”

  Desi’s smile was soft and caring. “I’m so far from being ready for another relationship, it’s not funny. But I’ll tell you this, Jenny, one of these days I’d give anything in the world to have a man treat Gabby and me with even half the love and protectiveness that Teague shows you and Grayson.”

  “Thanks, Desi. Is there anything I can do to help you and Gabby?”

  Desi stood and picked up the coffee cups. “Just promise me to fight for the good things you’ve got. Because that gives us all hope.”

  * * *

  As Teague walked toward the bakery, his nerves were strung so tight he felt like he was seven feet tall. Thank goodness Desi had called to let him know Jenny was there. Her only motivation may have been that the eclairs he bought for Jenny and the gals at Summer Haven were keeping her in business, but he didn’t much care right now.

  He’d been a jerk to Jenny, and her ignoring his calls only amplified Abby Ruth’s warning to handle this situation with Jenny or lose her for good. He’d already let it go too long. Momma would have told him not to go one night without making up. She’d sworn it was the secret to a happy marriage. Heck, he needed a marriage first. How many missteps would he possibly take before getting Jenny down the aisle?

  He forced a smile and gave a little salute to the citizens of his small community. Sure felt good to be a part of a town like Summer Shoals, where people looked out for one another and helped in a pinch. Now if he could just get all his ducks swimming—the election, Jenny, that house—in a row again, everything would be fine again.

  When Teague pushed inside the sweet-smelling bakery, Maroon 5’s “Sugar” was playing over Desi’s music system. Jenny’s favorite song paired with the scent of vanilla and chocolate couldn’t hurt his chances of coming to a sweet compromise with the woman he loved. Desi spotted him and hopped to her feet, her chair squeaking on the black-and-white tiled floor.

  At her friend’s quick movement, Jenny looked up from the coffee cup she’d been staring into and spotted him. “Teague? What are you doing here?”

  His name from her mouth—nothing had ever sounded so good. Why was he letting his foolish pride keep them apart for even a moment?

  Desi moved past Teague in a flurry, flipped the sign to CLOSED and pushed the BE BACK IN CLOCK sign to 5:00. “I’ll be across the street,” she said. “Take your time, and change the sign if you need to. I’m half-tempted to lock y’all in here. That won’t be necessary, will it?”

  Jenny’s lips tilted into a small smile. “No.” She glanced at Teague, and he walked over behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, giving them a soft squeeze.

  “Thank you, Desi,” Teague said as he took the seat next to Jenny.

  Desi walked out, and Jenny reached for Teague’s hands, sending surprised relief through him. “Why haven’t you told me about Angus Hillen opposing you in the election?”

  He’d expected to be the one doing the talking. “We need to talk about the house.”

  “Let’s be honest. Isn’t it all the same thing?” Her smile was a tiny tilt of her lips. Not much, but surely he could make her give him a real one by the time this conversation was over.

  “Just one more reason I love you.” He leaned across the table and kissed her. “I guess they are all pretty well tied together.”

  “Don’t ever push me away, Teague. I know we’re not engaged. I know buying that house was presumptuous, but I promise my intentions were good.”

  Presumptuous? “Jenny, I am marrying you. My life isn’t worth living without you and Grayson in it. It might be foolish pride or old-fashioned, but I want to take care of you. In every way.”

  “You do. You will. Don’t you know I believe that? We can’t let anything—even a job—keep us apart. We can get through anything together. And if we can’t…we’ll have Mom shoot something. At least we’ll neve
r go hungry.”

  And there was that smile that warmed him from the inside out. “I love you. I look forward to every day with you, even the ones that don’t go our way.” Teague scooted his chair close to hers and wrapped an arm around her. There was nothing he loved more than having Jenny in his arms, by his side, but he needed her to understand. “But I’m still a man, and I need to be able to provide for you. That’s hard to promise when my whole life is feeling unsteady.”

  “There’s nothing we can’t fix together. I should’ve talked to you about the church-house.” She snuggled close to his side and laid her head on his shoulder. “If you don’t like that house, I’ll sell it today. I don’t care. Grayson and I can live at Summer Haven a while longer, or at least until you know what’s going on with your job. And if that means moving to another town, we can move anywhere. Iowa. Montana. Timbuktu.”

  Teague laughed, the good down-in-your-gut kind of laugh that made his heart smile. He’d known she loved him, but for her to even consider moving Grayson again was huge. Not that he had any intention of putting her in that situation. “Timbuktu? Never. And the last thing I want is to uproot Grayson when he’s just getting settled in Summer Shoals. You and your mom are back in the same town, and the residency at the school suits you and your talents. Life can be good here. I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

  “Then quit suiting up the shining armor and trust me.” She lifted her head and gave him a narrow-eyed stare. “Who cares who buys the house? As long as we’re together, what does it matter which bank account the money came from?”

  “I can’t be a kept man.” Why was it so hard for her to understand? If she were a man, she’d totally get it. Then again, if she were a man, they wouldn’t be having this conversation. “Pig-headed or not, I just can’t. With all this election uncertainty swirling around, I’m being completely honest here. I’m worried.”

  “Me too. Remember the stupid choices you made the last time you tried to be honorable?”

  “I will never forget what I gave up.” Yeah, he’d been duped into a loveless marriage with a woman who claimed to be carrying his baby. By trying to do the right thing, he’d lost Jenny. Lost her love all those years ago and was lucky as hell to have won it back recently. He didn’t want to jeopardize what they’d found together, but he also didn’t want to sacrifice his values. “Believe me when I say we’ll work everything out, but it’s hard for me to concentrate on starting our life together when I’m not sure I’ll have a job after the first of the year. I need you to be patient.”

  She sighed. “I guess that means you want to set aside the house discussion for now.”

  That she would even consider letting the subject drop when she’d been so excited about the place hit a soft spot in the center of Teague’s chest. They might not agree on everything. Heck, they might fight straight-out sometimes. But this woman understood him, and that was the greatest gift.

  He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck, pulled her close to kiss her. The kiss was so full of meaning that he could almost hear the conversation between them.

  I get you, but you make me crazy sometimes.

  Same here, babe.

  But I love you and I’ve got your back.

  There’s not a thing that’ll ever come between us.

  Damn straight.

  When he’d made sure the woman he loved had been thoroughly kissed, he finally eased back and chuckled.

  “Why do I feel like we just settled something without saying a word?” Jenny asked, her smile wide and loving.

  “Because that’s how it works when two people were meant to be together.”

  Chapter 6

  Jenny could understand why Teague didn’t want to talk about the church-house until he felt more secure with his standing in the community. Which meant she needed to help reassure him that people in this county loved him and had every intention of reelecting him. Exactly the reason she was waiting for him on the sidewalk in front of the Atlanta Highway Diner doing a “hell, yeah” touchdown dance on the inside even as she wore a demure smile on the outside.

  Teague wanted to stay sheriff in this county, and she would do everything in her power to make sure he got what he wanted. But the people of Summer Shoals needed to be reminded of why they’d elected him in the first place. Not just a dedicated law enforcement professional, but the whole package. Because that’s what she and Teague were—a full meal deal.

  “Jenny?”

  She twirled around on her high but tasteful heels. Teague stood ten feet from her, his head tilted to one side like someone had whacked him with a crowbar. Still, in his pressed khaki uniform and with his dark hair and eyes, he was even more handsome than he’d been when they dated as teenagers. So sexy her heart, and a few other body parts, tingled.

  “Right on time!” she said.

  “Right on time for what? When you called, I thought we were having lunch at the diner.”

  “And we are.” She reached for his hand then reconsidered and tucked hers into the crook of his arm. “I reserved a booth.”

  “Reserved? A booth? At the diner?”

  “Was I unclear?”

  “No. That’s what I thought you said, but I didn’t know the diner even took reservations.”

  “Well, they do now.” She straightened the placket on his shirt, plucked a teensy piece of lint from his sleeve. “I wanted to make sure we had a big table. We have so much to talk about.”

  They strolled into the diner, Teague still staring at her. She steered him to the left to keep him from tripping over the rack of real estate magazines. With a smile at Dottie, she said, “Castro, party of two.”

  Dottie snickered and grabbed two menus. “I saved y’all our best seat in the house.” She turned and gestured. “Over here in the corner.”

  “Excellent.” As they made their way across the room, Jenny leaned in to Teague. “Smile and say hello to folks.”

  “Huh?”

  “These are the people who will reelect you.” She smiled, hoping her expression looked warm and genuine and not like an uptight Miss America contestant. She spotted a man who looked familiar. Oh, yes. Brandon Cartwright’s dad. He’d asked her out when he visited her classroom on back-to-school night. Nice guy, but she’d quickly let him know she was spoken for. She gave him a little wave, and he looked back at his lunch. That was probably one vote she could scratch off for Teague. “Act like you care about them.”

  “I do care about them.” He stopped in the middle of the room and stared down at her.

  “Then stop looking at me and talk to them.”

  “I do not understand women,” he grumbled to himself.

  Jenny tried her hardest to hide her smile, but it took some effort. She and Teague meandered toward their table, pausing three times along the way, her nudging him to chat. At each, Teague asked about people’s lives, loved ones, and pets. If these people didn’t see the value of what they had right in front of them, they were crazy. This man wasn’t one of those chest-thumping types who was in the job for the rush of catching bad guys. He truly cared about people.

  When they finally made it to their own booth, Dottie already had iced tea waiting for them. Teague handed Jenny into the booth, and she slid halfway around, the vinyl cool and slick through the stockings she wore, and placed a thick folder on the table. Teague sat as well, keeping too much distance between them. There was making a good impression on the community and there was appearing aloof. “Come closer,” she whispered.

  “I have no idea what’s going on here. And I don’t like it one damn bit when I feel like I’m lost in the forest without a bread crust.”

  Dottie approached the table and held out a basket. “Bread?”

  Jenny beamed up at her. “Don’t mind if we do. And Dottie, your hair looks amazing. Did you do something different to it recently?”

  With a pat to the back of her blond head, Dottie said, “Ginger over at the salon said short was in, so I had her take a little off.”


  “Totally suits you.”

  “And you look awfully…blue…today,” Dottie said, her gaze touching Jenny’s dress.

  “Oh, this old thing?” She glanced down at the two-piece skirted suit she’d borrowed from Lil’s closet. “Thank you.”

  “Need a minute to decide on your lunch order?

  “I’ll have the spaghetti,” Teague said.

  Jenny leaned toward him. “Do you think that’s smart? Even if you don’t get sauce all over your shirt, you’ll have garlic breath the rest of the day.”

  He gave her a when-did-you-become-a-food-Nazi look, but said, “You know what, I think I’ll do the meatloaf instead.”

  Lord, she needed to explain to this man that tomato-based dishes were not election-year foods. “I’d like the baked chicken, green beans, and rice.”

  When Dottie left, Teague turned in to Jenny, shielding their conversation from the other diners. “Why do I feel like I fell into a time machine and stepped out in 1968?”

  “You weren’t even born in 1968.”

  “Which is the reason this is the strangest damn thing you’ve ever done.” His eyes skimmed over her again, from the frilly peplum at her waist, over the snug bodice and princess-cut neckline, up to the little pillbox hat Lil had helped her bobby pin to her hair. “Do you want to tell me why you decided today would be a good day to have a Jackie Kennedy lookalike day? I mean you look beautiful and all, but…”

  “Well, I thought—”

  He leaned in close to her neck and sniffed. And his breath on her skin sent a very unladylike feeling down Jenny’s body. “Why in God’s name do you smell like mothballs?” Another sniff shot an under-the-skirt jolt coursing through her. He lowered his voice to a growl, “And why the hell is it turning me on?”