Sandwich, With a Side of Romance

by Krista Phillips

  Yes, how about that. It still smelled fishy to her. The mechanic told her the parts ended up being much cheaper than he’d estimated, thus saving her three hundred dollars, the amount of cash Gary was going to front her. She’d been able to pay for the whole thing by draining most but not all of her bank account. Still, she wondered if Gary didn’t have a hand in the lower price, a handful of cash, that is.

  “Yes, a true answer to prayer.”

  He nodded, his face unreadable. “Sure was. Now, did Betty tell you about the place we found today?”

  She looked from Betty, who wore a conspiratorial grin, to Gary, who was the picture of triumphant, to Reuben, whose face reeked of guilt as he took a keen interest in the remote control. “No, she mentioned you’d been looking but not that you found anything.”

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of calling a few of the landlords. One of them happens to be a good friend of mine.”

  Now, there was a shocker. The Luther/Callahan family seemed to know everyone in town. “Where is it?”

  “Actually, it’s not too far from Reuben’s house. It’s in the older section of Lake Holiday, but it’s been kept up quite nicely. Bob had renters in it until a month ago when they bought a bigger house, so he’s been debating whether or not to sell it.”

  Her hopes plummeted. “I’m really not able to buy anything right—”

  Reuben interrupted. “He understands that. If you like the place, he’d be willing to rent it out for a while, then give you the option to buy it later if you’d like. No strings attached.”

  She looked over at him. “You knew about this?”

  “Mom called me this afternoon, and I went to look at it before coming here.”

  Her fist clenched a wad of fabric from her shorts. This was the nicest family she’d ever met. But it was still her life. Her decision. Her plans. Did Reuben expect her just to bow down and obey his commands? Typical male. See a damsel in distress and their ego went into overtime. They had to save her.

  Well, she wasn’t Cinderella, and she could do this just fine on her own.

  “Thank you, but—”

  “Do you want to go look at it?” Reuben’s eyes lit up like it was Christmas Eve.

  “Tonight?”

  He withdrew a key from his pocket. “Bob gave me a key so we could stop by whenever you had time.”

  How could she say no when he’d gone to the trouble of getting her a key? The story of the greedy Israelites came to mind. Was this God’s way of providing for her, and she was refusing on principle only because she wanted it a different way?

  God, forgive my selfishness, and thank you for your provision, even if it isn’t exactly like I’d like it. If possible though, could you leave Reuben out of the provision thing from now on? I mean, yeah, provide for him, but I’d rather you use someone else, anyone else, to help me out. He’s just too … handsome. Send an ugly guy, ’kay? Thanks.

  Her hopes deflated the moment they pulled up to the house. There was no way she could afford it. Evidently God answered her prayers, because Reuben sure wasn’t helping her provision by showing her this house.

  If anything, he was waving carrot cake under a rabbit’s nose and then snatching it away. This bunny wanted to just hop away and go back to scrounging for food. It hurt less that way.

  She slid out of the front seat of Reuben’s Beamer, still wishing Gary had agreed to come. But Reuben had squirmed, and Gary had faked exhaustion. Somehow she didn’t believe him given that it was only seven-thirty.

  “Reuben, I—”

  He walked around the car and swept an arm in front of her. “You first. And trust me, Maddie.”

  Oddly, she did.

  The wood siding was a pale green color, and the two-car garage was lined with a stone façade. Not fancy like Reuben’s house a few blocks away, just homey and inviting. They walked up the three steps that led to the small front porch, and Reuben inserted the key into the lock.

  She followed him into the house and smiled when the harsh scent of fresh paint mingled with the woodsy fragrance of Pine-Sol tickled her nose.

  The living room was empty except for a stone fireplace. A white ceiling fan with gold trim hung down in the middle. The carpet was a faded tan color, and the walls sported a peeling paisley green and mauve wall paper under the chair railing and off-white paint above. Obviously decorated in the eighties, but for her, it just felt like home.

  The retro décor gave her hope. Maybe she could afford this place after all.

  “So what do you think?” Reuben stood to the side, his hands behind his back, feet apart, letting her take it all in.

  “I like it so far. But what about—”

  He took a step toward her and placed a hand on the small of her back, silencing her logical reasoning. “Let’s just see the rest of the house first, okay?”

  She agreed quickly, needing to get his hand away from her back before she gave in to her impulses and jumped into his arms.

  God, I don’t like men. I really don’t. Please make me stop feeling this stupid attraction to a man I don’t want, can’t have, but desperately want to kiss. Ugh, yes, there, I admit it. I want to kiss a kinda-engaged man. Send Ye forth the lightning now.

  They walked through the living room to a small dining room off the kitchen. The floor sported ceramic tiles, some chipped here and there but clean. The appliances weren’t new by any means, but there was a fridge, stove, and dishwasher. At least she wouldn’t have to purchase any of those.

  Reuben pointed to the door on the other side of the kitchen. “That leads to the garage. The small door on the left is the pantry.”

  Maddie bit her bottom lip. A pantry? Why was it that the thought of her very own pantry made her giddy? She could go grocery shopping and not have to move aside cups to fit the food. Woohoo!

  And if Kyle came to live with her, she was sure to need plenty of groceries. Even a few years ago, the boy could eat like a cow. His teenage years were sure to do damage to her meager budget.

  If, that is, he came to live with her. That was all that mattered right now.

  “You okay?” Reuben stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his forehead wrinkled in concern.

  She nodded and flashed him a smile. “Yes. Just worrying for nothing. Let’s see the rest of the place.”

  He led her back through the living room and down the hall, showing her three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a closet in the hallway which held a washer and dryer.

  Two more things she wouldn’t have to purchase.

  When they came back to the living room, she popped a squat on the floor, leaning back on her hands and looking up into his bemused face. “You’ve done a great job as tour guide. But now we need to face reality. How much does it cost, Reub?”

  He smiled, and only then did Maddie realize she’d slipped and called him the nickname many others around here did. “Sorry, I mean, Reuben.”

  He sat down on the worn carpet and draped his arms over his knees. “No apology needed. It sounded kinda nice. Like we’re friends instead of boss and employee.” He turned his face to look at her. “We are friends, right, Maddie?”

  Her voice refused to work due to the emotion lodged in her throat, so she only nodded.

  He winked at her. “Good. I’m your handsome boss and friend. I can handle that.”

  “My, aren’t we a little egotistical today?”

  “What? You were the one who called me handsome.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “Did not.”

  “Did too.”

  “Whatever. At least I know you’re tempted to sin now too.”

  He shifted to look at her. “What are you talking about?”

  “You never did answer me, remember? Pride goeth before a fall. You think you’re handsome.” She shook her head. “Sinful, sinful, sinful.”

  “I do not. I was repeating what you started to say, then turned tomato red, if I recall.”

  “Fine. Then answer me now. The truth. What ar
e you tempted with?”

  His eyes locked with hers. “What if I said kissing you?”

  Maddie cleared her throat and willed her face not to blush. The man clearly was joking to get a rise out of her. “I’d say I’d have to quit for real this time, because I’d hate to be the one who causes you to sin. Kinda like Bathsheba and David.”

  His deep laugh lessened the tension. “If I remember the story right, David was the one at fault there.”

  “True. I don’t remember the story very well, but wasn’t Bathsheba bathing on the roof or something? Goodness, the woman should’ve known better than that, especially if the King’s window overlooked her house. The little hussy.”

  His eyebrows rose. “You think she was doing it on purpose? Trying to seduce him?”

  “She sure didn’t turn him away.”

  A finger poked her arm. “Would you have turned me away if I tried?”

  Desire and caution warred inside of her, causing what felt like a bad case of indigestion. “Of course I would. I’m reformed, remember?”

  His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Do we need to test it out to make sure?” He leaned toward her and put a hand to the floor as if he was going to crawl up to her.

  She giggled and rolled out of the way and hurried to her feet. “No, I don’t think that’s necessary. Besides, we never did talk money.”

  He stood up and shook his head. “Now, Maddie, I’m not the kinda guy that pays for kisses.”

  She blinked. Did he know? No, he couldn’t. He was just teasing. She stuck out her tongue at him to cover her discomfort. “Good, because it’d cost you an arm and a leg for me to kiss the likes of you, all homely and everything, and I’m sure you’d like to keep yours.”

  He smiled, then turned and walked to the back window. “I am partial to my limbs. Now, how about you take a look at the backyard?”

  The man obviously didn’t want to talk about the money aspect. She’d humor him for now. “Fine.”

  He opened the door and let her out first. The backyard took her breath away.

  She stepped out onto a wooden deck and took a deep inhale of air. The back lot held a tree smack dab in the middle and beautiful green grass that could use attention from a lawn mower. But there was evidence of a previous garden in the corner and flowers planted along the backside of the house. There wasn’t a fence, but trees lined most of the yard.

  Closing her eyes, she imagined Kyle climbing the tree with friends, and her lying out on the deck in a patio chair enjoying the evening air. Maybe a barbecue in the nice weather, having birthday parties back here.

  Here her dreams could come true. She could have a normal, peaceful life. Her dad forgotten, her past behind her. She could move on.

  If the price was right.

  A voice sounded in her ear, quoting a number she couldn’t quite understand. His lips were so close she could feel breath on her earlobe.

  She turned to find Reuben standing directly behind her, barely an inch away. “What’d you say?”

  He repeated the number, much lower than she’d even dreamed of hoping.

  She blinked. “But … how?”

  He shrugged. “Tom doesn’t want to deal with it right now. He just wants someone who will take care of it and pay the small mortgage he has on it so he doesn’t have to dip into savings to pay it. The economy isn’t the greatest right now, so he couldn’t sell it for a good price anyway. Plus, I told him I’d help you update the place a little over time and keep it in good shape.”

  A tear escaped her eye, and she held up her hand to brush it away, but Reuben’s reflexes were faster. He put a thumb to her cheek and wiped it away, lingering longer than necessary.

  Her heart took on a beat of its own, racing faster than her chest could bear. She held a hand over her heart, willing it to slow down and behave itself. But when Reuben took a small step toward her, closing the one inch gap, and covered her hand with his, all attempts to slow it vanished.

  She looked up at him, her mouth opening to ask what he was doing, but no words escaped as his lips claimed hers.

  And for a moment, nothing else mattered. Only the feeling of Reuben’s mouth on hers, his lips probing, moving so sweetly and tenderly. She moved her hands to his shoulders, and he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, molding them into one.

  Warning bells sounded in her head. A man was kissing her. Holding her. Touching her. All the memories of the last time she’d been like this swarmed back into her mind, and terror grabbed at her heart. She pushed his shoulders away, but he held tight.

  Just like before.

  A scream caught in her throat, and Reuben finally lifted his head, his eyebrows knit together in concern. “Maddie?”

  She gave him a shove, turned toward the door and ran inside.

  22

  Stew, I’m totally getting sued.” Reuben hunched over and allowed the sweat to drip off his brow onto the paved running track. He hadn’t run in months because of his crazy schedule, and his gasping for breath told the story.

  He’d only agreed to do it now because his brother-in-law had all but forced him to go. That, and he could stand to blow off a few gallons of steam.

  Stew put his hands on his hips, struggling for air himself. “I knew …” gasp “something was” gasp “up.” He took a few steps and collapsed on the green grass in the middle of the track.

  Reuben followed suit. They probably looked like two old farts barely able to run a lap instead of guys in their late twenties who should be pumping iron at the gym. He looked over at Stew, who covered his face with his arm to shield out the hot June sun. “Allie told me by the way.”

  He peeked out behind his arm. “Told you what?”

  “About you and Livy.”

  The poor guy’s face turned redder than it already was. “Reub, I’m sorry.”

  He waved him quiet. “No need. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Man, it’s no excuse. I should have told you a long time ago myself.”

  “It was Livy who should have confessed.” After Allie first told him, he’d decided to forgive and forget. It had happened years ago.

  And after what happened with Maddie, he was no different than her.

  Stew sat back up and draped his arms over his knees. “So what’s this about being sued?”

  Reuben pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes. “I kissed her, Stew.”

  “Kissed who?” His tone implied this was the craziest thing he’d ever heard.

  Which fit the action, because that kiss was the craziest, stupidest, most wonderful thing Reuben had done in his life. “Maddie.”

  Stews mouth hung open. “No way.”

  “I don’t know what came over me. Lately I can’t take my eyes off her.”

  He let out a snort. “Or your lips?”

  Reuben kicked to the side, catching his friend in the leg.

  “Ouch.”

  “I need advice, not sarcasm. She could seriously sue me for this. I’m her boss. There’s no way I should be kissing her.”

  Stew shook his head. “How did she react? I mean, did she kiss you back?”

  “She pushed me away and ran.”

  “Dude, you need to talk to a lawyer or something. This could be bad.”

  Sound advice, but not what he wanted to hear. Especially since Maddie had barely talked to him since the incident. It’d been two days now, and one would think he had the bubonic plague the way she was treating him. Every time he started to say a word to her, she’d jump out of her seat, claim she had to go to the bathroom, and come back five minutes later and ignore him. He knew women sometimes had issues, but going to the ladies’ room ten times in the two hours she’d been there yesterday afternoon seemed a little excessive.

  He had visions of her calling different lawyers getting price quotes.

  Yet, the frustrating thing was, he’d liked it. He liked her. She was funny and tough. She didn’t get all fake and sugary when she wanted something like Livy did. When sh
e was mad at him, he knew it.

  She stuck her tongue out at him to be goofy.

  And talked to herself while filing, even though he was sure she had no idea she did it.

  His favorite was her yelling at her computer when it didn’t cooperate. She said every word imaginable but a cuss word.

  Her faith was refreshing and bold, not stagnant like his had been lately. She read her Bible on her lunch breaks, and made odd analogies using Bible stories that she got only half the facts right on.

  Man, he had it bad.

  A punch in the arm brought his mind back around. “Ouch. What was that for?”

  Stew sat beside him, his legs bent and arms draped over his knees. “You were daydreaming, probably about your assistant.”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  “No?”

  Reuben punched the ground with his fist. “This could ruin my business, Stew. And what if Livy finds out?” Even though they were technically still on a break, they’d been talking more, and Livy was acting like her old, clingy self.

  Stew clapped him on the back. “I don’t know what to tell you about that. But I’d apologize to Maddie, bring her chocolate as a peace offering, pretend everything is normal beyond that and pray like crazy.”

  “I’ve been praying nonstop for two days.”

  “Good. Oh, and whatever you do, don’t kiss her again.” Reuben nodded, but even while he knew that, he was afraid if presented with the opportunity, he’d do it again in a heartbeat.

  Maddie clutched the strap of her oversized handbag and hastened her pace into Reuben’s office. Anything to avoid Livy’s look of disdain or even worse, a conversation. Thankfully, the woman seemed to prefer giving her dirty looks over actually talking to her. Maddie could only wonder how she’d be treated if Livy knew she’d kissed Reuben too.

  She shut the door behind her a little harder than necessary, relieved that her boss wasn’t at his desk. Maybe she’d get lucky and he wouldn’t show up at all today.

  This was all his fault anyway. He shouldn’t have kissed her. Men were all the same and wanted only one thing. A woman and a bed. And even then they’d settle for a backseat.