Truly Sweet

by Candis Terry

  The only activities Bo had been allowed to attend or join were ones like the school debate team or the chess club, where Mrs. Jennings could sit and watch her boy like a mother bird.

  There had been rumors back then about what kind of hold Mother Jennings really had on her son, but no one had any evidence of anything beyond an overprotective mother and a seriously pansy-ass kid. It had been weird as hell though.

  Jake glanced back up at the restaurant down the street.

  Reality struck home. It really wasn’t any of his business what Annie did or who she went out with.

  He turned the key in the ignition, and the engine rumbled to life.

  Nope.

  Not any of his damned business at all.

  Annie slugged down another drink of wine, then held her glass out for a refill, which Bo performed with a raised brow.

  Screw it. Let him think she was a lush. No way in hell was she going to sit there and listen to another story about how his mother carefully arranged his clean white T-shirts in his drawer. The creep factor went beyond the idea that a man who saved lives for a living voluntarily chose to live at home. Jake currently lived at home too. But he’d just come back injured from the war, and it was just a matter of time before he’d be doing his own thing.

  The waiter returned to take their orders, and Annie nearly applauded the interruption of Bo’s nauseating tale of his mother’s laundry prowess. No sooner had Bo handed the waiter back the menu—from which he’d taken the liberty and ordered for her—than she felt a quiver of awareness tickle the back of her neck.

  “Well, fancy finding you two here.”

  Annie didn’t need to look up to realize the overblown shit howdy Southern drawl came from none other than Jake Wilder. Just to make sure she knew he was there—like he was the one person she’d ever miss?—he pulled out a chair next to Bo and sat down.

  “What are you doing here, Jake?” she asked, refraining from giving him an eye roll.

  He grinned, literally from ear to ear, like he was in on some funny secret. “The brothers sent me in to talk to the owner about catering for Mom’s wedding.”

  “At seven o’clock at night?” Bo asked, clearly displeased their date—aka praises of his saintly mother—had been interrupted.

  “Is it that late?” Jake made a great show of looking at his watch. “Yep. I guess it is.”

  “I thought your mom wanted to keep things simple,” Annie said, not buying the reason for his sudden appearance. Although really, what else would bring him to the restaurant. He was a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, not pasta. So maybe he was telling the truth. Then again, the evil little twinkle in his eyes said otherwise.

  “She did,” Jake said with a laugh. “But then she made the mistake of turning over some of the duties to the brothers. And, well, you know how that goes.”

  Not for one minute did Annie believe Jana would turn over the planning of her wedding to her sons. The same sons who’d been pretty tough on poor Martin Lane since he started dating their mother. Their wives, yes? Her sons? Absofrickinglutely not.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important here,” Jake said, gesturing his hand between Annie and Bo.

  “As a matter of fact, you are.” Bo leaned back in his chair and puffed out his chest like he was claiming his territory. “Annie and I are here on a date.”

  “A date?” Jake’s brows spiked up his forehead. “Well, I’ll be. I suppose that’s what the roses are for.” He turned his blue eyes on Annie, and the intensity was enough to make her squirm. “Although, Annabelle darlin’? I thought you weren’t fond of roses because they made you think of the flowers they put on coffins.”

  It took everything she had not to snort. She didn’t know what this good-old-boy act was all about, and, humorous as it was, it was rude.

  “I like roses just fine. Don’t you have an appointment you need to get to?”

  His head cocked. “Appointment?”

  Bo sat in silence, obviously unsure what was going on. Unsure whether he should ask Jake to go. Unsure whether he wanted to punch Jake in the mouth. On second thought, he was probably pretty sure about that one.

  “Your appointment?” Annie reminded him. “With the owner?”

  “Oh.” Jake waved a hand. “I can talk to him anytime. The wedding isn’t for a couple of months.”

  “And yet . . . here you are,” Bo said. “Tonight. Butting your nose into our date.”

  “I do apologize. I just saw Annabelle sitting here when I walked through the door and thought I’d come over and say hello.”

  “Well, you’ve said hello,” Bo’s tone got tighter with each word. “So maybe you could leave now.”

  As wrong as it was, Annie didn’t want Jake to leave. To be honest, she never should have accepted the date in the first place. She wasn’t interested in Bo no matter how much she’d primped or hoped. Jake Wilder was all she’d ever wanted.

  Even if he didn’t want her.

  “You bet. I could sure do that. Sorry to have overstepped.” Jake stood, reached out his hand, and shook Bo’s. As soon as he let go of Bo’s hand he turned to Annie. “If I could just talk to you outside for a minute? I forgot that I have a message.”

  Something deep in his eyes beckoned her to go along with the ruse. Annie had never refused him anything. She wouldn’t dream of starting now.

  “Is there a problem?” Bo asked.

  Jake nodded. “It’s highly possible.”

  “Oh, dear.” Annie pushed away from the table and apologized to Bo before she followed Jake out the door. Once they were outside on the boardwalk, she folded her arms across her little black dress. “Okay, so what’s up?”

  “What are you doing here with him, Annie?”

  “Having dinner and conversation. By the way, that’s not a message, it’s a question. So why do you care where I am or who I’m with?”

  Those broad shoulders shrugged. “I just do.”

  “Well, sorry, buddy, you had your chance.” She turned to go. Her stilettos caught in a crack in the boardwalk, and she wobbled.

  Jake reached out to steady her. His hands went to her waist and he pulled her close. Looked down into her eyes like they were somewhere private and not standing on Main Street, where anyone who drove by could see them.

  “Ah hell, Annie. Do you really want to be on a date with that guy?”

  Her hesitation gave her away.

  “I’ll take that as a no.”

  “Don’t assume anything,” she said. “You don’t know me that well.”

  He tightened his grip around her waist. “I know you well enough to know you deserve better.”

  “Better than what? Sitting at home alone every night?”

  Next thing she knew he had her over his shoulder and she was fighting like crazy to keep the short dress down and her derriere from being exposed to the entire town.

  “Jake! What are you doing?” She tried not to be concerned that his limp became more prominent as he carted her down to where his truck was parked on the street. Still, she couldn’t ignore the intense thrill that shot up her middle at his ridiculous caveman action.

  “Friends don’t let friends go out on bad dates.” He opened the passenger door, set her inside, and pulled the seat belt over her lap. Then he leaned in and grinned. “I’m removing you from a bad situation.”

  “I didn’t ask to be removed.”

  “Too bad. I’m doing it anyway.”

  “So . . . what. You’re kidnapping me?”

  “Guess so.”

  Jake had done some truly asinine things in his life. He’d done a lot without thinking of the consequences. This one rated right up there at the top. Funny. He didn’t give a shit. He was doing it anyway.

  Annie looked too wild and hot in that little black dress and those sexy high heels to have to s
uffer through a boring date with Bo Jennings. If she wanted to have a little fun, he’d be happy to give it to her.

  As a friend.

  That’s all.

  As he climbed up into the driver’s seat, he could feel the heat of her glare. He turned his head and almost laughed. The whole pissed-off thing she had going on was completely ruined by the mirth playing at the corners of her luscious mouth.

  “You can’t just kidnap me. I’m on a date. That’s not very nice to Bo. He made a real effort to do something romantic. He even bought me flowers. Which, by the way, are still sitting on the table.”

  “Annie? I don’t really give a shit about Bo. And if you want flowers, I’ll buy you flowers. But when I walked into that restaurant and saw the misery on your face, not to mention that you were slugging down a good amount of wine—which you never drink—well, I knew I couldn’t just stand by and let you suffer. I’ve only got your best interest at heart.”

  “My best interest? Ha. That’s what you said the other day when you told me there could never be anything between us.”

  “It’s the truth, Annie. And you know it.”

  “Yet here you are butting your nose into my business. Thinking you know what I want or what I need. Maybe I was having a good time. Maybe what you describe as misery was really keen interest in what Bo was saying. Maybe I discovered I like wine.”

  “You can lie to me, Annie, but you can’t lie to yourself.”

  “You’re a jackass, Jake.” She huffed. “A bona fide one hundred percent jackass who makes no sense at all. Especially when your lips are moving.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. He loved the way she got all fired up and feisty. “So what you’re saying is, I don’t explain myself very well.”

  “Amongst other things.”

  “Huh.” He laughed when she narrowed her eyes. “Maybe we should discuss this over a cold Shiner.”

  “Maybe I should just give you a shiner.”

  Another laugh rumbled in his chest. “You’re a pistol, Annie.” He turned the key in the ignition.

  “Wait!” She turned to look back at the restaurant. “What about Bo?”

  “I figure in about five more minutes, he’ll get the clue that you aren’t coming back.”

  “You can’t just leave him in there waiting for me.”

  “Sure I can.”

  “That is so rude.”

  “Annabelle. You can hardly call it kidnapping if you tell someone who you took and where you’re going.”

  She folded her arms across that hot little black dress and refused to look at him.

  “Fine.” He groaned.

  She still didn’t give him as much as a glance as he got out of the truck and went back into the restaurant. Ditto for when he came back and slid into the seat next to her.

  “Happy now?”

  Finally, she looked his way. “What did you tell him?”

  “To pay for his wine and go home. You weren’t coming back because he bored the snot out of you.”

  “Oh my God.” She gasped. “Is that really what you said?”

  “Maybe.” He put the truck in DRIVE and pulled away from the curb.

  “You are such a shit, Jake.”

  “Not the worst thing I’ve ever been called.”

  “I can come up with quite a list.” She grinned. “Want to hear it?”

  “Nope.”

  The Blue Armadillo beer garden was the last place Annie imagined Jake would have in mind. Seven Devils’ loud and rowdy honky-tonk saloon was more his style. Then again, he was just full of surprises lately. And that sparked all kinds of ideas in her head. Call her crazy, but she knew by the look he’d had in his eye the other day by the creek, he liked being with her. And judging by the sounds he’d made and the things he’d said, he really liked what they’d been together. With that in mind, she wasn’t ready to give up.

  Not yet.

  It seemed the Armadillo was having a busy night, as there were no available spots on Main Street to park. Jake finally found a place down a darkened side street. When he got out of the truck, he came around, opened her door, and held out his hand.

  “So now you want to be the gentleman?”

  “Just don’t want you breaking your pretty neck in those shoes. It’s pretty dark, and there could be cracks in the sidewalk.”

  “You’re afraid I’ll tell your mother, right?”

  “Damn straight. I’m way more afraid of her than I am you.”

  She took his arm, and they walked down the sidewalk that did indeed have cracks. “You should probably rethink that strategy.”

  He looked down at her, and even through the shadows, she could see the white gleam of his smile. “Is that a threat?”

  “Do I look like the type who’d threaten someone?”

  “Hell, you look like the type who could take an opponent to the mat and pin their shoulders before they even blinked.”

  “I’ve had to learn to be tough. So I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  They rounded the corner onto Main Street and walked down a couple of blocks. Then they cut in between the Rusty Junk antique shop and The Tipsy Tulip, a floral shop that also sold local wines. The Blue Armadillo sat back about fifty feet off Main Street, which was originally an old homestead with a huge lot. When they got to the garden-arbor entrance, Jake stopped and looked down into her face.

  “Once we cross this threshold,” he said, “no more sniping, arguing, or thinking bad thoughts, okay?”

  “Then how will we ever have a conversation?” She was joking but his expression turned serious.

  “I think we can do just fine without all that.”

  So did she. Because in the end, it was all just teasing. She’d never hurt him in any way. She hoped the feeling was mutual.

  “Would you mind waiting here for just a minute?” he asked.

  “First you kidnap me, now you want to dump me?”

  “Not a chance.” He chuckled. “I just forgot something.”

  “Fine. Do you want me to go ahead and try to find a table?”

  “Nope. I want you to wait right here.” With that he disappeared back from where they came. A few minutes later he came around the corner of the building holding the biggest bouquet of luscious lilies and cheerful daisies she’d ever seen. He held them out with a smile.

  “For you.”

  “Jake.” She reached out to take them, but he didn’t let go. “You didn’t have to.”

  “You should know by now I don’t do anything I don’t want to. And by the way . . .” He pointed at the bouquet. “Not funeral flowers.”

  “I appreciate that. And thank you. They’re beautiful.” She tried to take them again, but he still held the bouquet tightly in his hand.

  “Before I let go, you have to admit one thing.”

  “What’s that?” She couldn’t help but smile at the mischievous curve to his mouth.

  “Admit you were miserable sitting there listening to Bo talk about his mother.”

  She sighed. “Sooooo miserable.”

  “See.” His grin doubled as he let go of the flowers. “Friends don’t let friends go on bad dates.”

  She lifted the bouquet and inhaled the sweet fragrance. “How did you know?”

  “I went to school with the guy. A leopard can’t change its spots, so I figured it was a good guess he’s still a mama’s boy.”

  “You have no idea.” A chuckle tickled her chest.

  “By the way, in case I forgot to mention it, you look amazing.”

  “Are you saying that just so I’ll be nice?”

  “Annabelle? Have you ever known me not to tell the truth?”

  “Back at the restaurant comes to mind.”

  “No bullshit.” His big hands came up and gently cupped her face. “You. Lo
ok. Amazing.”

  “Way to win me over, big guy.” The National Guard couldn’t have stopped the flurry of hot tingles that danced through her stomach. “Okay. You’ve got a deal. No sniping, arguing, or thinking bad thoughts.”

  “That’s my girl.” He kissed her forehead, and she had to do everything she could to keep from melting. Because aside from the fact that they were just friends, this felt like a real date.

  With his warm hand settled on the small of her back, they walked beneath the arbor lit up with white fairy lights and into the patio area of the Blue Armadillo. Set back beneath a small grapevine-covered gazebo, the band’s female vocalist sang Allison Krause’s “Let Me Touch You For A While.” Ivy-covered latticework surrounded the patio, and a three-tiered fountain provided a comfortable atmosphere.

  Jake, a head taller than she, looked over the crowd and spotted an empty table back in the corner. No sooner had they sat down than an attractive redhead showed up to take their order. Annie didn’t have to wonder if Jake’s sexy smile and good-old-boy shtick charmed the woman as he placed their order. The poor thing was just about evaporating in her Daisy Dukes.

  “You and your brothers should find a way to market that,” Annie said.

  “Market what?”

  “The charm that oozes out of you like warm honey.”

  “Ah. So now you think I’m charming.”

  “Yes. I think you’re charming.”

  She watched the redheaded server approach with their Shiners with an eager smile on her face.

  Setting two bottles of ale down on the table should take a matter of seconds. The redhead managed to turn it into a process that included flirting, fawning, and if she’d had her way, fornicating with Jake. Annie figured she should be insulted that the woman didn’t see her as a threat. Apparently the way Jake looked at her said friends only. And no matter what spin she tried to put on it, that was just disappointing.