Heels

by Megan Erickson

  I blushed. I couldn’t help it. He’d seen me say words like “Boo Boo Butt” and make sounds like “Ieeeeeeeee.”

  His hand cupped my cheek; it smelled like soap. “Hey.”

  “Hey what?” I whispered, looking into his hazel eyes.

  “Never in my life thought I’d say this, but watching you read to those kids, just letting go and putting your all into it to make them laugh…” his smile softened a bit, his lips went relaxed and the ever-present smirk vanished. This seemed like a real Luke smile. His thumb caressed the corner of my mouth as his voice lowered to a smidge above a whisper. “You’re a special one, aren’t you, Peaches?”

  “I don’t know about that.” I couldn’t look away, ensnared in his gaze.

  “I’ll rephrase so it’s not a question. You’re a special one, Peaches.”

  My body warmed, right down to my toes. “Okay.”

  “Shouldn’t need me to say that though. You should know it.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. “Okay.”

  “Say, ‘I’m special.’”

  I swallowed. “I’m special, Luke.”

  A muscle in his jaw ticked, this his grin returned. He dropped his hand. “Might want to eat that before it gets cold.”

  “Didn’t you get something for yourself?”

  “Ate already. I don’t get much time for a lunch break and wanted to make sure I got here in enough time to do this.” He leaned in before I could catch a breath and planted a kiss on my lips. I froze for a second, stunned, then melted into the kiss. Maybe he intended to keep it chaste, but as soon as I dropped the bag on the floor and reached up to wrap my arms around his shoulders, he went from zero to sixty. Suddenly my back was to a bookcase, his strong thigh was between my legs, and his tongue was in my mouth. His hands gripped my hips like he wanted to rip the clothes from my body.

  It wasn’t until I made a small moan that he tore his mouth away from me and touched his forehead to mine. “Damn, I didn’t intend that.”

  “I didn’t mind,” I said.

  His response was a deep laugh. He separated himself from me, taking a step back and righting my clothes roughly before running his hand through his hair. The bulge in his pants was noticeable, and I felt flushed and achy all over. “Can’t do that here. Not while that former cop is at your front desk. The man does not like me.”

  I picked up the bag as I thought about what to say next. “Oh, do you know Verne?”

  “That his name?”

  I peered up at him, confused. “Yes.”

  “Nah, I don’t know him.”

  “How do you know he’s a former cop?”

  Luke studied my face, and he seemed to be choosing his words carefully when he spoke next. “I can just tell these things.”

  I spoke softly. “How do you know he doesn’t like you?”

  Luke scoffed and looked away, then his shoulders jerked with a short laugh. “Ah, Sam. Men like him don’t like men like me. Not sure how else to put that.”

  My lips parted, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. I was a good girl. I followed rules. And before this weekend, Tim was the only man I’d slept with. The tide was rising, and I was going to drown. “What kind of man are you, Luke?”

  He stepped closer to me, right up into my space. Not in a threatening way, but in a way that made me understand he wanted my full attention, all my focus. He leaned down slightly. “I’m just a man who keeps his head down, works on cars, and wants to live peacefully in a small town and date the pretty librarian who wears heels like she was born in them. I’ll prove to you that I’m that man, okay?”

  I nodded, my fingers twisting in the folds of the paper bag. “Okay.”

  “You with me?” he asked.

  I nodded, despite the saltwater threatening to fill my lungs. “I’m with you.”

  He placed a kiss on my nose. “I’ll call you tonight. And I’m taking you out this weekend for dinner. You have plans?”

  “Yeah.”

  His lips turned down. “You do?”

  “Yeah, dinner plans with you.”

  His smile immediately stretched across his face, and the tide receded. The sun shone. I needed sunglasses. “Ah, so you’re a comedian now.”

  “I’m also hungry.” I sassed.

  He walked backward laughing. “All right then. Eat. I’ll call you. Deal?”

  “Deal. And thanks. For lunch. And for stopping in.”

  He saluted me with two fingers at his forehead, then sauntered away. I heard him say to Verne, “You have a good day now.” Verne mumbled something back.

  I leaned back against the bookcase, clutching the bag to my chest, thinking about Luke’s words. I ran my fingers over my lips. That man could seduce a fucking brick wall.

  Reva would tell me to ask around about Luke, dig into his life. But I didn’t want to. Wasn’t it his prerogative what he chose to tell me and when? I didn’t want to hear gossip that could be untrue. This was a small town with rivalries and plenty of jealousy. A single man like Luke would cause all kinds of ruckus. I usually kept out of it, which was why I probably hadn’t heard a peep about him.

  Well, one thing I could do was return the favor. Bring him lunch. I’d ask him his work schedule tonight, and then it was his turn to get a surprise from me.

  With a plan, I headed to the front of the library.

  The doorbell rang and I raced to it, my bare feet smacking on the hardwood. I didn’t bother to look in the peephole, because I knew who it was. I threw the door open to find Reva on my doorstep holding a bag of what I knew held culinary delights and beaming from ear to ear. “I’m here!”

  I snatched the bag from her. “I don’t care about you. I only care about the food you bring.”

  “Liar.” She sashayed past me, hips swinging, looking like a million bucks even though she wore an off-the-shoulder T-shirt and a pair of cutoff shorts.

  “How was your day?” I asked, closing the door, then following her into my kitchen. Monday nights were our dinner nights—weird, yes, but it was a way for us to get some sister mojo to carry us throughout the rest of the week. Because of that, we had our duties down. Reva was already pouring us glasses of water while I doled out the food on plates. Tonight was chicken caesar salad from the Italian restaurant in town. The grilled chicken was phenomenal, and the freshly shaved parmesan was to die for. Simple, but oh so good.

  “It was all right,” Reva said. “I swear I’m still recovering from Saturday. I haven’t had that much to drink in…”

  “Weeks?”

  “Shut up,” she said with a laugh as we carried our heaping plates and drinks to the couch. She sank into my plush cushions, one long leg tucked under her. Growing up, the town didn’t make it a secret that everyone agreed Reva was the prettier Gaithers sister. I never really had a complex about it, mainly because I loved her so much. I never strove to be the prettiest girl in the room. I wanted to be left alone to read anyway. “If you had to deal with some of my clients, you’d drink more too.”

  “Probably.” I shoved a forkful of salad in my mouth.

  “How was your day? Anything interesting since we talked this morning?”

  I took my time chewing and swallowing, the fussed at my salad, not meeting my sister’s eyes. I was a bit worried she’d think this was all… fast. She was protective over me, and the Tim situation nearly killed her. Well, technically she nearly killed him, but same difference if she was convicted of homicide.

  “Luke brought me lunch,” I finally said, then busied my mouth with drinking.

  “He brought you lunch?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Like unannounced?”

  I put my glass down and finally faced her. “He came in while I was reading during preschool story time. I didn’t see him, but Verne told me. Then he came back about at lunch time with a Cardinal from Greta’s.”

  Reva’s eyes bulged. “He brought you your favorite sandwich?”

  I bit my lip. “He asked them. At Greta
’s. What my favorite sandwich was.”

  Reva dropped her fork on her plate with a clatter and placed it on my coffee table. She waved her hand and shook her head while curls fell out of her messy bun. “Hold on, hold on. Let me get this straight. Luke Trainor walked into Greta’s and asked the employees for your favorite sandwich and walked out of there with it to bring to you at work?”

  I nodded, just beginning to realize where she was going with this.

  “Good lord,” she breathed. “I’m surprised I didn’t get a phone call about this. You know there’s probably a damn phone chain going on right now through the old biddies in this town about the new mechanic buying lunch for Samantha Gaithers.”

  “He was just being nice,” I muttered.

  “Sure he was, but that boy is either not from a small town, doesn’t give a fuck, or wanted to make a statement and all three are dangerous.”

  I felt my hackles go up, like I needed to defend Luke, even as his comment about how cops didn’t like men like him played on a loop in my mind. “There’s nothing dangerous about bringing me lunch.”

  “Oh, and you think Tim is just gonna be cool?”

  “We are divorced.” My voice came out firmer than I intended.

  Reva’s incredulous expression softened. “Baby, don’t mistake my concern for siding with Tim. I believe he’s got no right to care about what you do. But that doesn’t change the fact that we both know he does. That Luke is new and a wild card. No one knows anything about him, but he’s here working at a Gentry landmark and courting the most eligible bachelorette in town.”

  “Oh, here we go,” I rolled my eyes.

  “You know it’s true,” she snapped.

  “You overestimate my appeal.”

  “See, now here we go again with that confidence thing,” she retorted.

  “What do you want me to do?” I asked. “Tell him to go away? No way. He’s sweet. He brings me lunch, and he said he liked watching me read to the kids. I read one of the silliest books ever where I have to make faces and weird sounds, and he said he enjoyed watching me let go to entertain kids.” I leaned toward Reva and said more forcefully. “He said he liked it.”

  Reva leaned back, eyebrows arched nearly to her hairline. “He said that?”

  “Yesss,” I hissed, returning to my salad.

  “He’s…” she paused to take a sip of her water. “He’s really into you.”

  “I know. I keep wondering if there’s a catch,” I said under my breath.

  “Baby—”

  “I’m not sure I get it. I don’t think I’m ugly but I’m not…well I’m not you. I’m average. I’m not that exciting. I’m not spontaneous. I drive an Accord.”

  “Sam—”

  “We’ve had sex once, and while it was amazing for me, and he said it was amazing for him, you’ve seen him. There’s no way a guy like that hasn’t had a good amount of women under him. Over him. Whatever. Hell there’s even better options in this town. What about Ali? Did he smell the desperation on me?”

  I finally stopped talking to find Reva staring at me, horrified.

  “What?”

  She placed a hand gently on my arm. “You think all that about yourself?”

  “I think I’m kind. I’m giving. I think I’m a good cook and housekeeper. I love my job, and I love kids. I walk really well in heels. I think a lot of good things about myself. I just don’t know that I’m the kind of woman a man like Luke wants to keep.”

  “Do you want him to keep you?”

  I picked up a piece of lettuce and dropped it into my mouth as I thought about that. I didn’t necessarily need him to keep me. I just wanted to believe he was into me like he said he was. No ulterior motives. “No, I just want him to be honest with me.”

  “Then ask him. Be straight. I don’t know him, but I can ask around.”

  I groaned. “Oh God, please don’t.”

  “I don’t think I’ll get much information. He just moved. It’s worth a shot. Vera’s son works with Luke.”

  “I don’t want him to think I’m trying to pry.” I dropped my head in my hands. “I don’t know.”

  My phone rang, the mechanical tune filling the room. We both glanced at it and Reva laughed. “Well, speak of the devil.”

  “I totally forgot he said he was going to call me.” I flapped my hands. “What do I do?”

  Reva picked up my phone and shoved it at me. “What do you mean? Answer it?”

  “But you’re here and that’s rude!”

  She held her finger over the answer button. “Reva!” I shouted.

  She dramatically tapped my phone screen, then held it up to my ear. “Reva,” I whisper shouted as I grabbed for the phone, flustered. She dropped it and it slipped through my hands into my lap. I picked it up, juggled it like I was a hot potato. Finally, I got myself under control and got the microphone at my mouth. I cleared my throat. “Hello?”

  There was a slight pause before his deep voice flooded my senses. “Everything okay there?”

  “Uh, yes, sorry. My sister is here.”

  “I can call back.”

  “No!” My voice came out sharper than I intended, and Reva clapped her hand over her mouth as her eyes crinkled with humor. “No, it’s okay.”

  “I’m gonna make it quick anyway. When can I take you out?”

  “Take me out?”

  “Yeah, Peaches, like a date. Wine and dine you. Then get back under that skirt.”

  I ducked my head as heat bloomed across my face. I was sure Reva saw it. Damn my fair skin. “I have to admit, it’s refreshing that you’re pretty upfront about your intentions.”

  “Glad you think so. I’m too old to change now.”

  “How old are you?”

  “I’m thirty-five.”

  “Oh. I’m thirty.”

  “Cool, we can go over favorite colors another time. So what night are you free?”

  I didn’t have much of a social life. “I’m free any night, really. I do work Saturday but only until noon.”

  “Do you have to work Sunday?”

  “No.”

  “Neither do I. Saturday night then. That okay?”

  “Sure, that works.”

  “Do you need details like where we’re going so you can decide what to wear?”

  I smiled at his appropriate question, and then began to wonder about his past relationships. Not in a jealous way, but in a curious way. That’d be a conversation for another time. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

  “I’ll let you know when I get plans set then.”

  “Okay, Luke.”

  “You have a good rest of the day?”

  “I did since lunch was so satisfying.”

  He laughed, a deep rumbling of sound. “Glad to hear it. That kiss kept me going all day. You get back to your sister, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Thanks. Already looking forward to Saturday.”

  “Me too, you have no idea,” he said. “Tell your sister I said hi.”

  “Will do.”

  “Bye, Peaches.”

  “Bye, Luke.”

  He hung up, and I dropped my phone into my lap and stared at it for a moment. I liked his voice on the phone. It sounded so deep and intimate. And best of all, I had a date on Saturday. An actual, honest-to-God date.

  “Well,” said Reva, and I blushed as I met her eyes. “A minute on the phone with him and you’re all flushed and smiling.”

  “He’s taking me out on a date.” I couldn’t help it, I grinned.

  “Yeah, I got that. And I’ll be honest. I’m happy for you. I truly am. Just remember what we talked about. You said he’s straight forward about his intentions with you, so be straight with him back. Okay?”

  I nodded. “I can do that.”

  Reva patted my leg. “Great, now let’s get back to dinner. Finish your salad because I also brought cannolis and by God, I’m excited to stuff my face tonight.”

  I dug into my salad, my body warm down to my t
oes, eager for cannolis, and sister time and most of all—a date.

  Six

  Luke said he wasn’t picky about food, but I was still second-guessing my choice of lunch. I’d made grilled chicken, pasta salad, bruschetta with toasted baguette, and my chocolate chip cookies with Rice Krispies as the special ingredient. All homemade, all my recipes I’d perfected over potlucks with Tim’s large and ungrateful family.

  I didn’t make anything that had to be warmed because I wasn’t sure what kind of appliances were at Gentry Auto. But my mac and cheese was great. Maybe I should have made that and kept it warm in a crock? Was pasta salad and bruschetta too fancy? Would Luke think I was silly?

  Then I remembered he saw me read a silly book to a bunch of kids and it hadn’t scared him away. Every time I wondered what he would think of me, he showed me that he liked me…for me. My self-confidence had improved in a matter of days, but it felt too good to be true. Because I was negative nelly, I wondered—what would it do to me when Luke rejected me? Was that inevitable?

  Screw it. I made good food, my best, and I wore a pretty flared skirt, V-neck shirt, and strappy heels. This was me. The town librarian. Samantha Gaithers. Take me or leave me. (Please don’t leave me.)

  I pulled into the parking lot of Gentry Auto and stole a look at myself in the mirror. After a quick touchup on my lipstick, stepped out of my car. I opened up the backseat and bent down to retrieve the cooler from the floor behind the driver’s seat. When I stood up, I set my sights on the office, only to see three men standing outside watching me. One was Vera’s son, Michael, who was leaning against the side of one bay. Another was the owner, Harry Buchanan. And the third was a Harry’s son, Kelly. I held up my hand in a wave, which only Harry returned. “Hullo there, Miss Sam,” he called as I clicked my way across the parking lot.

  “Hi, Mr. Buchanan,” I greeted him.

  “Told you to call me Harry,” he said, eyeing the cooler in my arms.

  “Okay, Harry. How’s your day?”

  “Better now that I got to see your pretty face. Need something?”