Derek couldn’t help but smile a little at the memory. Lindsey had most certainly lost it. Once he’d realized that his friend’s girl knew her, he’d arranged to be there at the right time. It had backfired. Big-time. Looking back, he should have known better. Eight years was a long time, but not long enough for what he’d done, and she hadn’t taken well to having him surprise her.
“So when you say good, do you mean good good?” Mike asked.
Derek was saved from responding when the bartender delivered their baskets of wings. “Extra hot, extra ranch, extra napkins,” Aiden said.
“Thanks, man, you’re the best,” Derek replied.
Aiden saluted them and headed back to the bar. Derek and Mike came into Smokey’s a few times a month, usually on Wing Wednesdays.
Aiden owned the place and served a very small menu of food that he’d created himself. Funny thing was, the guy looked like he belonged in a biker gang with his huge muscles, goatee, and closely cropped hair. Mike and Derek liked to quietly try and guess Aiden’s story. They’d had him as an ex-con, a former priest, and even involved with the Witness Protection Program. More than likely it was nothing even half as crazy as any of those, but it was fun to guess.
“Thank God Aiden learned how to make these wings when he was touring with that death metal band,” Mike said.
Derek shook his head, reaching for a piece of chicken. “I’m pretty sure he got this recipe from the shaman of an indigenous tribe in the Amazon.”
“That does sound right now that you mention it,” Mike said, grabbing a napkin off the large stack on their table. He nodded toward the bar. “Check out our man. Whatever his story is, he sure does well with the ladies.”
Derek turned in his seat to find three women sitting at the bar laughing at whatever Aiden was saying. He looked back at Mike who was tearing into another hot wing. “Yeah, we’ve noticed that before. Seems women like that badass-motherfucker look he’s got going on.”
“No lie. I couldn’t grow facial hair like that if I tried,” Mike said.
“Nope, you’re destined to look like a frat boy without an inheritance.”
“Screw you, just because I don’t wear a suit to my fancy office every day. I work with my hands, chicks dig that.”
“You think I don’t work with my hands?” Derek said, wide-eyed. “I’ll have you know I spent all last week staining your kitchen floor and cabinets. How manly you feel now?”
“Hey, thanks for reminding me. So, is this going to turn into something with you two?” Mike asked, unwilling to let Derek off the hook.
Derek sighed. “Things are complicated.”
Mike stared at him. “Tell me you haven’t slept with her.”
“No.” Derek shoved a piece of chicken in his mouth, not liking where the conversation was going. What he wanted to say was If I did it would be none of your damn business. He kept that to himself. He knew Mike meant well.
“Have you guys done anything?”
“She kissed me Friday,” Derek said. It was the truth. For the most part. No need to clarify that he’d asked for it. Practically begged.
Mike choked. “The hell you say.”
They both chuckled. When they were younger that had been Mike’s dad’s favorite saying. He’d always had the cool father and Derek had enjoyed spending time at their house. Mike’s mother had died when he was young so his father had stepped up and been the ultimate parent. Strict but understanding, fun but demanding respect. Derek had always wished his own dad had been more like Chuck Everett. Sadly, his best friend’s father died from a sudden heart attack their senior year of high school. Derek remembered how it had destroyed Mike. They’d actually lost touch for a time while Mike dealt with his grief.
“But no, seriously. I can’t believe she kissed you. We’re talking about Lindsey, right?”
“Obviously I played a pivotal role. But the point is I didn’t push. We’ve been getting closer the past couple of weeks.”
“Is this gonna turn into something?” Mike asked.
Derek sat up and listened for a moment. “You ever notice that U2 plays like every third song in this joint?”
Mike lifted his chin toward the bar at the front. “Aiden loves this shit. And stop trying to change the subject.”
Derek sighed. “I want it to be something. I didn’t at first. Or at least I didn’t want to admit I did. But I’ve never gotten over her.” Damn. It felt good to say it out loud. Just put it all on the table.
Mike nodded as he loaded up another sauce coated drumstick with ranch. He held it up as he spoke, dressing dripping off the end. “If she kissed you she must want it, too.” He stuffed the chicken in his mouth.
Derek shook his head. “I don’t know. There’s an attraction definitely, but she’s fighting it. I can’t tell what she really wants, but if the fact that we haven’t spoken since the kiss is an indicator, the forecast isn’t good.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe she’s just processing it. You know they are all at Pie Mia right now having their blog meeting. After this we can surprise them.”
Derek gave Mike a long stare. “How the hell did you manage to get yourself engaged to a woman like Anne? You have no clue about women and you eat like a caveman.”
Mike grinned. “You’re just jealous.”
They laughed together and tucked back into their food and drink. But the truth was, Mike was right. Derek was jealous as hell. He wanted Lindsey and the kiss had only served to solidify his feelings. It looked like he might have to ambush her again.
* * *
Lindsey grabbed her third piece of chicken, onion, and goat cheese pizza. Callie had just revealed their bachelorette party idea to Anne.
“You guys, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that idea. Hanging out with the girls and Mike sounds like the best of both worlds. Besides, I’m too old for the typical bachelorette shenanigans.”
“Hold up,” Callie said. “Just because your man’s going to be there doesn’t mean you get out of wearing a giant penis pacifier around your neck!”
Anne’s eyes went wide in horror.
“I’m kidding, silly.” Callie laughed. “Oh, speak of the devil.”
Anne and Lindsey both turned to see Mike walking through the small restaurant toward them. And he wasn’t alone. Derek trailed behind him, sending Lindsey’s heart racing. She’d been avoiding him the past few days since that mind-boggling kiss. But apparently—in typical Derek fashion—he was taking the situation into his own hands. She really couldn’t deny that she was happy to see him.
“Hey, babe,” Mike said, leaning down to kiss Anne. “How’s the meeting going?”
“Good,” she replied with a big grin. “I’m so glad you’re here. I haven’t seen you all day.”
Lindsey couldn’t watch anymore. She looked at Callie who put her finger in her mouth, faking a gag.
“Oh please,” Lindsey said in a whisper. “Like you can talk.”
Callie only winked before her eyes traveled over Lindsey’s shoulder and up. Lindsey glanced up to see Derek staring down into her eyes, giving her a quick wink. She smiled back, catching the faint masculine scent of him.
“Hey,” she said quietly.
“Hi.”
“Why don’t you guys pull up a chair,” Anne said, grabbing an empty chair from the table next to them. Mike immediately took it and sat down. “We’ve wrapped up all of our official business. Actually, we were just discussing something exciting. Tell them, Callie.”
Lindsey didn’t look but she sensed that Derek was pulling another chair over right next to her. She wondered what all of their friends were thinking. Had he told Mike that anything had happened between them?
“So basically Lindsey and I just decided we should have a coed bachelor party.” Callie grinned at the table. “All of us together at the new casino in Mayville.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Mike said, before reaching out and resting his arm along the back of Anne’s chair. He
glanced across the table at Derek with a grin. “Sorry, Walsh. Your stripper idea is out.”
Lindsey’s body instantly froze at the comment but before she could react Derek reached out and squeezed her thigh under the table.
“Screw you, man.” Derek shook his head, his big hand still resting on Lindsey’s leg, his fingers grazing her inner thigh. He glanced over at Anne, whose eyes had gone wide once again. “Anne, he’s kidding. I never had that idea.”
“He’s right, perfect. I was teasing you.” Mike leaned to the side and kissed Anne’s cheek. Her happy smile as she bunched her shoulders and tried to pull away made Lindsey a little jealous.
She allowed Derek to rest his hand on her thigh. Was tempted to reach below the table and touch him back, but she didn’t. She wanted things to be easy. Couples like Anne and Mike had no baggage to overcome. No resentment. Was it possible that this could just be fun? She had a sinking feeling that she was getting in too deep.
“Come outside with me,” a low voice said close to Lindsey’s ear. She looked over to find Derek leaning in close to her. Lindsey glanced over at Callie, who gave her a raised eyebrow and then a quick nod.
“Okay.” Lindsey stood, effectively knocking his hand away. She grabbed her cardigan and followed him through the dining area.
It was now March and as they stepped out the front door they were greeted by a row of vintage-looking street lamps, wooden bench seats, and hanging baskets waiting to be filled with spring blooms.
Pie Mia’s was one of the newer tenants in the buildings that lined the adorable Main Street that ran through the center of Preston. It was a fun little boutique town that served as a weekend getaway for people from Kansas City and other local towns. It was home to independently owned restaurants, antiques stores, an old barber shop, a beauty salon, Callie’s Confections, and several little one-of-a-kind shops. One of Lindsey’s favorites was Sweet Opal, owned by their friend Brooke, who graciously took many of Lindsey’s creations in for consignment sale.
It was a lovely town, the kind that made you want to settle down, have a family. Have picnics on the weekend, pick up coffee before work, and go to football games in the fall to cheer on the local team. It elicited feelings of happiness and contentment. Something Lindsey so desperately wanted but wondered if she’d ever have. Not that she was unhappy, but didn’t most people dream of having a happily ever after with someone by their side?
“Let’s sit,” Derek said, motioning to a nearby bench.
She followed him without a word and sat, leaving a few feet between them. She heard Derek’s annoyed sigh and then he was scooting closer to her. Before she knew it he was throwing an arm over the back of the bench and staring down at her.
“What are you doing?” she asked quietly.
“I’m getting close to you. What’s it look like?”
She looked up at him. His pupils were large and his eyes focused on her. The days were slowly getting a little longer so the streetlights hadn’t yet kicked on, the sun hanging low, just out of sight behind the row of old buildings.
It was really ridiculous how handsome he looked all the time. How was a girl supposed to do the right thing? Today he wore dark blue jeans and an ivory sweater, the color perfect against his lightly tanned skin and five o’clock shadow.
“I think we need to discuss something,” he said.
“Oh?” She was playing coy but they both knew better.
“Was it really so bad kissing me?” he asked quietly, his voice low and husky.
Lindsey’s eyes flew up to his. She hadn’t expected him to be so blunt about it. She found him trying to hold back a smile.
“Of course not.”
“Okay, then why have I not heard from you?”
“Well, we weren’t really in the habit of chatting on the phone.”
“No, we weren’t. But I know you’ve been avoiding me.”
She shrugged. “I just needed to think.”
“Fair enough. But I want you to know that no matter what, you don’t have to pull away from me.”
“Of course I don’t have to, but I needed to.”
“So while you were thinking … did you come to any grand conclusions?”
She nodded. “A few.”
He looked surprised. “Interested in sharing?”
“I think it was probably not a good idea. Something we shouldn’t repeat.” That wasn’t all she’d thought but it felt like the wisest response.
“Eh, I’m not so sure about that. Want to know my theory?” He reached out to touch a lock of hair that rested on her shoulder.
“I guess,” she said. The movement of her hair sent tingles through her scalp all the way down to her toes.
“I think that kiss scared you. It was amazing and now you want more. And you hate wanting me as bad as you do.”
Lindsey swallowed. His left hand slowly slid into her hair, his fingers caressing the back of her neck. She knew at any moment he was going to pull her toward him. She should stop him. In just a minute.
“And just so we’re clear, it scared me too, but for another reason.” His eyes went molten with each of his words. “I enjoy wanting you this bad. But I worry that I may never have you again.”
She had no words. Would he ever have her again? The right answer was no, no, no. She couldn’t handle the pain of losing him all over again, and he said nothing of loving her or wanting something more. A casual fling with Derek would just never work.
“What can I do to make it better?” he asked. His body angled closer to hers, their faces only inches apart.
Lindsey’s heart began to hammer in her chest. This was his power, this persistent seduction of her mind and body. She had to be stronger.
A car full of teenagers drove down Main, voices whistling out of the windows as they passed by. “Get a room,” one called.
Like a splash of cold water, those words reminded her that they were quickly entering dangerous territory.
“You could give me some space,” she said.
He hesitated a moment and then pulled back. His hand dropped from her lap but he continued to stroke the back of her neck. “If that’s what you need.”
“It is.”
He nodded, looking down at the ground. Finally he turned back to her with a sly grin. “I think I liked that punk’s idea a little better.”
Lindsey groaned in mock annoyance and then they both laughed quietly.
“Things are just—”
“Moving too fast,” he finished for her. “I understand.” She was grateful that there was no annoyance in his tone. “I want to give you exactly what you need, Linds. What you deserve. What you want. I wish that was me, but if it’s not, I’ll accept that. Either way I want us to be friends.”
Her insides quivered at his statement. The serious look in his eyes. Finally she nodded her head. “Okay.”
Behind them the front door of Pie Mia opened, the warm glow from the restaurant casting light onto Derek’s face. He was still staring at her but he pulled back.
“Oh boy, what a lovely evening,” Callie said, a little too loudly. Lindsey knew she was sending her a warning.
Lindsey stood and faced the building.
“How about we get back to work tomorrow?” Derek asked behind her. “No sense in not finishing what we started.”
Lindsey nodded and glanced up at him. “What we started with the island,” she clarified.
Derek winked. “Of course.”
She gave another nod. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
“In the morning, then.” Derek pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Good night, Lindsey.”
“Good night, Derek.”
He walked away toward his Mercedes. She wasn’t sure which she liked better, that car or his truck.
“Everything okay?” Callie squeezed Lindsey’s hand.
Lindsey let out a cleansing sigh. “I think so.”
“You two looked pretty cozy.”
“Too cozy.”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s the same guy from eight years ago.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Thirteen
Lindsey watched as Derek stood up from his sanding and stretched. They’d been out in the barn working on Anne’s island for nearly two days. Amazingly, Derek had kept his promise and behaved. He hadn’t flirted or touched her once, and she’d enjoyed herself. Even if she occasionally wished he’d might make a tiny move. But she was pleased that he’d respected her wishes for space. They’d talked, laughed, and gotten a lot of work done.
She still couldn’t believe they’d found this amazing piece for the island and she was so excited for it to be completed. Lindsey honestly wasn’t sure what it had been in its former life—some sort of one-of-a-kind workspace—but it was perfect. It was just a touch higher than counter height, had small cabinets on each end, two sets of drawers in the center and a large stainless steel shelf across the entire bottom. It would hold a ton of kitchen stuff and Anne was going to love it.
“I think I need a break. What about you?” Derek asked.
The weather had warmed considerably over the course of the afternoon, leaving the barn a little stuffy. The minute Derek’s fingers went to the button on his plaid flannel shirt Lindsey’s eyes went back down to the drawer she was working on.
After a moment she was unable to help herself and she let her eyes peer up through her lashes quickly. He almost had the last button undone. A light gray tee came into view, and when he pulled the shirt off Lindsey noticed how it squeezed against his biceps and shoulders. Derek ran a hand through his hair and turned to look down at the island.
Good Lord, why did the man have to be so beautiful? She remembered his naked body like it was yesterday. A blessing, because it was a wonderful memory, a curse because now she wanted to see it again. And here he was in the flesh, tempting her.
The dark hair on his arms drew her attention as he used a hand to absently scratch his stomach, pulling up his shirt, revealing just a trace of his abs and happy trail.
She picked up her sanding block and refocused on the small trim running around the drawer face. She should probably sand it again just to get her body under control. Yep, good idea.
Draw Me Close Page 15
