“Hell, Kerri Ann, you’re never in the mood for me.” He pushed his considerable body inside the small door and with his over-the-top presence took up what seemed like every available space in the office. “That’s never stopped me before.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Why is that?”
A broad smile came over his face. The creases that nearly resembled dimples, but were too long and pronounced to qualify as such, transformed him from boyishly cute to handsome. Bryce Jenson was a big hulk of a man, the kind of man a woman would call if she needed furniture moved to a different part of her house or needed a tree chopped down—all things she herself had called Bryce to do. He was always there, reliable, smiling, and never let her slide too far into a sulk, even when she wanted to.
“Don’t know,” Bryce said. “For the life of me, I just don’t know.” He plopped into her chair and scanned the top of her desk. “Doing the books always gets you in a foul mood. I should’ve known.”
“It’s not the books,” she said and then instantly wished she hadn’t. She didn’t like to talk to Bryce about Jesse and made a point never to. He and Jesse had been best friends since kindergarten. Until high school. Until Tyler, really. “I’m just sulking.”
“No one sulks without a reason. Not even you.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Don’t you have some papers to file at the courthouse, some ambulance to chase?”
“Finished up early in court today. Thought I’d catch Ty here, see if he wanted to try and beat my trout record. Caught five on Saturday.” He rocked back and forth in her chair as if it were his own.
“He’s not here. Jesse’s got him cleaning rafts before the season starts. He won’t be back until after dinner.”
“Ahh.”
“What do you mean, ‘Ahh’?”
“Your mood. I get it now.”
Kerri Ann pushed away from the windowsill and paced in front of her desk. “You don’t get anything, Bryce. Not even a free meal, which is the real reason you’re here. Just march yourself back down the street and find somebody else to pester.”
Bryce whistled between his teeth and slowly rose from the chair. “Good Lord, it’s worse than I thought.” He moved around the desk and stopped Kerri Ann from pacing. “Why don’t you share that free meal with me and tell me all about it? Misery loves company, ya know.”
Kerri Ann put her hands on her hips and cocked her head at the man who never could leave well enough alone. No wonder he was the best lawyer in western North Carolina. “Why would you even want to spend an evening with me, Bryce? I’m in a foul mood, as you pointed out, and I’ve just insulted you. You’re young and relatively attractive, in a lawyerly sort of way.” In every sort of way, she wanted to admit. “Why not go try to find an available woman who’d be a hell of a lot better company for the night?”
“I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess. Besides,” he took her hand in his, “you’re available.”
“Hummmph.”
“You’re not available?”
She turned away, hoping Bryce didn’t see the blush she could feel creeping up to her cheeks. She’d long ago accepted she wasn’t good enough for him, but her body betrayed her sometimes. “I haven’t felt like an available woman in so long I wouldn’t know how to act if someone were interested.”
“Lots of people are interested, Kerri Ann. You just don’t see it.”
“I see just fine, thank you very much. And what people see when they look at me is a thirty-year-old mother of a teenaged boy. A woman who smells like pizza half the day.” She pushed her hair behind her ears and sank into her chair, ready to end a conversation that had veered way off course. “A woman whose business isn’t going to be sound unless she gets her books in order.”
Bryce stood in front of her desk, his hands in his pants pockets, his tie loosened, and studied her with eyes as blue as the morning sky. Those eyes could see right through her, always could. “All right, Kerri Ann. But when you’re eating alone and wishing for someone to keep you company, just remember I offered.” He knocked on her desk and gave her a quick wink before leaving.
Damn it. Why did he do that? Why did he let her abuse him and then do everything he could to make her feel less guilty before she practically threw him out of her office? And why, after all these years, did it still matter so damn much?
***
Bryce opened the creaky door to the Pizza Den and stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. He’d expected to be blown off by Kerri Ann. She’d been blowing him off since sixth grade when, almost overnight, she’d gone from the girl he used to wade through the creek with to an almost alien womanly creature. But expecting to be blown off and having her do it again, especially in the middle of a funk that involved Jesse Bloodworth, were two different things altogether.
He walked along the sidewalk, waved to Mrs. Stephenson as she came out of the flower shop, and ducked his head under the broken awning of the old bank building that was being renovated. His office was only two blocks from the Pizza Den. It may as well have been two hundred miles. His feet felt heavy, like he was taking every step through quicksand. But as much as he wanted to turn around, grab Kerri Ann by the shoulders, and shake her until she could see how much he loved her, he wouldn’t do it. Her continued rejection was both humiliating and as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. Everyone in Sequoyah Falls knew he was in love with Kerri Ann Bloodworth, had been in love with her for going on fifteen years. Everyone but Kerri Ann.
For a moment there, when he’d seen the blush rise from her neck, he thought maybe, just maybe, she was getting a clue. He should have known better. But if there was one thing he couldn’t do, it was separate right from wrong where Kerri Ann was concerned. He’d love her until the day he died. And some days, days like today, he wished he weren’t quite so far from the grave.
Chapter 3
Angelita had just stepped out of the shower when she heard her cell phone ringing from the counter where she’d plugged it in to charge. She raced to the kitchen to answer it with only a towel around her body and her hair dripping in her eyes.
“Hello?”
“I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday,” said a voice she knew all too well. “Where the hell are you?”
“Sophie, I left you a message on your cell.”
“You know I never check my messages. When I couldn’t reach you on your cell, I called the resort and they said you never checked in. I’ve been worried sick. So where are you and, more importantly, are you okay?”
“I’m in North Carolina and I’m fine.”
There was silence on the other end of the line, except for the background Latin music that continually played in the boutique. Just the sound of it had Lita’s stomach muscles clenching.
“Okay, I’m waiting for the punch line,” Sophie said. “Go ahead and give it to me so I can get back to work. Because since you disappeared, I’ve been a nervous wreck.”
“There is no punch line.” Lita tried to wrap her hair in another towel she’d gotten from the bathroom while still holding the phone. It wasn’t working. “I know I worried you, changing my plans the way I did, but I just couldn’t go to Florida after I saw my father in the store.”
“How did you know he was here?”
“I came by to drop something off for you and I saw him. What did he want?”
“I’m not sure. He introduced himself, gave me his card, and asked to see you. When I told him you were on vacation, he seemed…upset, I guess. He wanted to know where you’d gone, but I didn’t tell him.”
“I’m sorry I scared you, Sophie, but I panicked when I saw him. I need some time to figure out how to handle him.”
“Okay, I get that, but why North Carolina? Why didn’t you just go to Florida like you’d planned?”
“I was afraid you’d tell him where I’d gone and he’d come find me.”
“After what he did to you? Lita, I’d never tell him anything.”
“I know,
I know, I just wasn’t thinking straight. I appreciate you not telling him.”
“So what now? Are you going to stay there?”
Lita looked out the window just as a deer walked out of the woods like magic. “It’s beautiful here and I kind of like the fact that no one knows where I am.”
Sophie sighed heavily. “I’m worried about you. Promise me you’ll keep your cell phone with you.”
“Sophie, I’m fine. I’m not in danger. It’s just a change of plans, that’s all.”
“I know, but if I’m in a crisis and can’t reach you, you know I’ll freak out.”
“No, you won’t. You know the business better than I do. Just because my name’s on the door doesn’t mean I’m a one-woman shop. But I promise to keep my phone with me.”
After another silence, Sophie cleared her throat. “Does this mean you’ll be gone longer than planned?”
Lita smiled. How would she ever get through her life without Sophie? “I might be gone a little longer than planned. I’m exhausted from the magazine thing and now that Davi’s poking around, I’ve got some thinking to do. It’s hard to relax when he’s in the picture. When I’m ready to come home, you’ll be the first to know. Until then, I know you can handle the shop.”
“Yeah, yeah. Take your time, just please stay in touch.”
“I will, I promise.” She hung up the phone and felt a twinge of guilt at leaving Sophie to handle all the details of the business for longer than she’d intended. But if she hadn’t gotten away for a break and from her father, there wouldn’t be a business for them to worry about.
***
Jesse couldn’t believe his luck. He’d spent the better part of the last two days thinking about the beautiful Angelita and there she was, walking down the main street of Sequoyah Falls in the most ridiculous pair of high heels he’d ever seen. The woman had seriously bizarre taste in shoes.
He considered it fate, their meeting again, and in such a happenstance way that it wouldn’t appear she’d gotten to him the way she had. His interest had reached new levels when he’d badgered Cal into admitting she didn’t have a husband.
“Angelita,” he called and got the pleasure of watching a small, irritated crease form between her brows before she placed him.
“Jesse,” she said as he came to stand in front of her. “Sorry, for a moment I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.”
She was wearing big brown sunglasses with cheetah print on the rims, or was it leopard… he never could keep the two straight. Either way, they were fancy. Between the shoes, the glasses, the designer jeans, and the brightly colored loose-fitting tank that lay over her curves like a veil, she was quite an anomaly in his sleepy hometown.
“I’d be happy to strip if you’d like.” When she scowled, he realized he’d taken her flirtatious intro one step too far. “I’m only kidding.” He pulled his eyes away from her face and swept his arm down Main Street. “So what do you think of Sequoyah Falls? A little smaller than Atlanta?”
Her eyes narrowed and her scowl deepened. She sure was pretty when she was irritated. “How did you know I’m from Atlanta?”
“Big silver-haired fox spilled the beans. I’m afraid Cal’s got a crush.” She rewarded him with a giggle.
“It’s mutual. He brought me homemade muffins this morning. I haven’t been pampered like that in a very long time.”
“Well, if you consider morning muffin delivery pampering, you’re easier to please than I thought.”
“And why would you have given any thought to pleasing me?” She turned and continued walking down the street.
Jesse took it as an invitation to follow and moved into step with her. “Because I plan to, at some point, during your stay. That is, if you don’t mind,” he added when she stopped and stared at him blankly.
“I’m not interested in starting something up with you, Jesse. No matter how tempting you make it sound.” She began walking again.
So she was tempted. “I just want to be friends, Angelita, that’s all. But if you can’t get your mind out of the gutter, then by all means, cast me in a starring role. I’ll sacrifice my usually strict moral code for your greater good.”
“You’re funny. I’ll give you that much. But I didn’t come here to indulge in a cheap affair. I’m here to clear my head.”
“I’ll try not to be offended at you insinuating our affair would be cheap. But personally, I’ve found there’s nothing that clears my head more than an innocent tango between two mutually attracted participants.”
“Yes, I can see how you’d think that. But from my experience, I can tell you that indulging in anything with a charming man tends to cloud my mind, not clear it.”
“You let me get my hands on you and I may blow your mind.” He nearly winced when he realized he’d said his thoughts out loud. What was it about her that made him want to beg at her feet?
“Such a shame, the intense insecurity and self-confidence issues you suffer from. I imagine you don’t get turned down by women very often. But I’m afraid nothing’s going to happen between us.”
“Okay, okay, I can see you may need some time to get used to the idea.” He could only laugh when she turned on him, clearly exasperated. He held his hand up in defense. “I’ve got an alternative. There’s nothing that’ll clear your head better than a wild ride on the Powollachee.”
“Oh dear God!” She had such a sickened look on her face that for a moment he thought he’d insulted the leader of her native tribe. “You’ve named your…your…” she glanced at his crotch. “Your thingie.”
Jesse nearly collapsed with laughter. He bent over and clutched his stomach until he could stand upright and catch his breath without howling. When he could see through the tears, he realized her anger had propelled her almost a block away. He caught up to her and gently reached for her arm to stop her. “Christ, that was priceless. The look on your face.” The look she gave him now was one of rage. He needed to explain before she slugged him. “The Powollachee’s a river and the ride I’m referring to is in a dinghy, not with a thingie.” He laughed again despite her angry look. “I’m sorry, but that was too much. So, what do you say? I’m pretty open before the season starts up full swing.”
“I’m glad I was able to amuse you today, but I don’t think so.”
“Why not? I’m the best guide in western Carolina. Unless you’re afraid?”
He saw something cross her face, a paling of her skin and a shifting of her eyes that made him think a layer of fear simmered just below the red hot anger his response had provoked. “You are afraid,” he said.
She tried to storm away. When he reached for her again, she yanked her arm from his hand. “What is your problem? I’m not interested, okay? Just leave me alone.”
He decided to leave it be when Mr. Collins leaned his bald head out of the five and dime and snickered. “Okay, Angelita. We’ll discuss this later.” When I’ve softened you up a little more, he thought, as she stomped back to her SUV. He gave old man Collins a scathing look before heading back to the bank where he’d first intended to go before he spotted her.
Well, well, well. Angelita was turning out to be a very hard nut wrapped in a very delicious package. Strangely enough, the madder she got, the more he found himself wanting to be around her. He never thought he liked hotheaded, strong-willed women, especially after Kerri Ann, but damn if her anger and willfulness didn’t notch his desire into uncharted territory. One thing was for sure, he’d be better prepared for their next encounter.
***
Angelita’s hands were shaking as she slammed the SUV into reverse. She needed to get a grip on her temper, but it was near boiling and wouldn’t simmer down for awhile, she knew from experience. The nerve of that man, that near stranger, assuming she’d have sex with him at the snap of his fingers and then laughing in her face like she were some sort of schoolgirl idiot.
Shoe Strings Page 3
