by Nita Wick
“Yes. Pigeon Forge is that way.” She pointed to the left and then directly in front of her. “And Gatlinburg is up there.”
“So Cade’s Cove is over that way?” Meg pointed farther to the right.
“Somewhere in there. I spent the day there once when I was in college, but I don’t remember exactly where it is.” Haley shrugged and looked out over the valley.
Mountain laurel shrubs held tight pink and purple buds not yet opened but promising a riot of color in just a few weeks. Dogwood trees sported flowers of pink and white with yellow centers. Beneath the trees at the edge of the forest, wild columbine dotted the ground with tiny flames of orange-red blossoms. Birds chirped mating calls and squirrels scampered from tree to tree. Haley breathed deep of the fresh, fragrant air. Spring had arrived in all its glory.
Meg turned and leaned against the railing, facing Haley. “Do you remember that old whitewashed church at the cove? And the cemetery behind it?”
“Oh, yes. That was my favorite. I loved it.”
“Mine, too. Maybe we can have a picnic there one day when I get back.”
Haley smiled. “That would be nice.”
“I know I said we wouldn’t talk about him today, but I think I should warn you.”
Haley met Meg’s green gaze, so much like her brother’s. “What?”
“When Michael finds out he designed your house, he’ll think it was providence or something. Divine intervention. Some kind of sign from above.”
Haley’s heart thudded against her breast. “What do you think?”
She shrugged and winked at her. “I think you’re going to have to buy me a fritter at the Apple Barn to insure my silence.”
Relief coursed through her. Michael already believed fate had caused that leg cramp. He didn’t need to know about this. Not yet. Things were moving too quickly. He didn’t need any encouragement, divine or otherwise. Haley nodded. “Deal. We’ll add vanilla ice cream on top for good measure.”
Meg grinned. “Sold.”
* * * *
Pigeon Forge had doubled in size since she’d last visited. Outlet malls had expanded and multiplied in number along with all the usual tourist attractions. They spent hours going from store to store, doing everything from trying on clothes to considering decorations for Haley’s new home. She didn’t buy anything for the house. It would be several more weeks before she could move in, but she made a mental note of the stores with things she might want.
At lunch, they ate at the Apple Barn. As promised, Haley bought Meg one of their famous apple fritters a la mode. Afterward, the two resumed their shopping spree. Late that afternoon, Haley’s purse began to shake, and a musical jingle sounded. She grabbed her cell phone and flipped it open.
“Hello?”
“Hey, beautiful.”
She couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. “Hi, handsome.”
“Where are you?”
“Right now we’re in one of those little shops that sells Christmas stuff all year ’round.” She fingered an angel ornament on display. “This is the second one today. Your sister really loves these places.”
Michael chuckled. “Yeah, I know. If Meg had her way, we’d have the Christmas lights up all year.” He paused. “She hasn’t been telling stories on me. Has she?”
Haley met Meg’s gaze across the display table. “You mean like how you used to wet the bed?”
“I never—” He laughed. “You’re teasing me again.”
“It’s so much fun.”
“Uh huh. Well, apparently I haven’t learned to keep sheets completely dry.”
Her brows furrowed. “What?”
“I dreamt about you last night. When I woke up…Well, let’s just say things were a little damp.”
“Michael!” Heat rushed to Haley’s cheeks. An image of him in his bed sent her thoughts into dangerous territory. “You’re not serious. Oh.” She laughed. “I guess turnabout is fair play. I didn’t expect you to tease me back.”
“I wish I were just teasing. I swear you’re turning me inside out, babe. I haven’t had a wet dream since I was seventeen.”
Haley turned away from Meg and whispered into the phone. “Stop it. You’re embarrassing me.”
His deep chuckle sent a flutter through her stomach. “Tell me you’ve thought about me, too. A dream, a daydream. Anything.”
How could she be honest with him? Yes, she’d thought about him more than she should. And yes, she’d dreamt about him. He’d shown up in that same dream she’d had over and over for months. Only this time when she opened her bedroom door, it had been Michael she’d found in bed with Sheila. She’d awakened with tears on her face and pillow—not the kind of wet dream he wanted to hear about.
“Haley?”
She watched Meg move to the next display of Santa figurines. “I have this little fantasy.”
“Tell me.” A husky timbre colored his voice.
“You’re at my apartment.”
He didn’t wait long. “And?”
“You’re doing my dishes.”
A frustrated groan tickled her ear. “You’re a cruel woman.” A light humor replaced the huskiness. “Can I see you tonight?”
“I think we’re going to eat dinner here before we come back. I’ll probably collapse when I get home.” She glanced at the tall redhead. “Your sister means it when she says shop till you drop.”
“Never thought I’d be competing with my sister for time with my girlfriend.”
Haley squashed the need to correct him. He would think of her as girlfriend no matter how she argued. And damn if she hadn’t started thinking of him as her boyfriend. “Tomorrow. Ten o’clock.”
“That sounds great. I’m looking forward to it.”
Haley found a Santa with a big orange T on his suit. She smiled. “Just so you know, I won’t be seen with you if you’re not wearing the colors.”
He laughed. “Wouldn’t be caught dead without ’em.”
“See you tomorrow then.”
“Can’t wait. And Haley…” His voice grew soft. “I’ll be dreaming of you again tonight.”
Her cheeks heated again. She couldn’t find the words to answer. Her train of thought had derailed when he’d switched the track back to sex.
“Sweet dreams, babe.”
“Goodnight.” She closed the phone.
Meg approached. “So what did my brother say to make you turn three shades of red?”
Haley shook her head, feeling the heat return to her cheeks yet again. “You don’t want to know.”
Meg’s laughter followed her to the next display table. “You’re right. I probably don’t.”
Chapter Six
Michael pulled into the parking lot of Haley’s apartment, happy and nervous at the same time. And why was he nervous? He hadn’t been nervous about a date since high school. He’d seen Haley only twice this last week, Monday at the gym and Thursday when he’d brought Meg to Haley’s apartment. Neither night had been for more than an hour or so, and they hadn’t been alone. They wouldn’t be alone today either as much as he wished otherwise. Thousands of fans would pack the stadium.
He pushed the call button for her apartment. Only a few seconds passed before her voice sounded. “Yes?”
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi. I’m ready. I’ll be down in just a sec.”
The speaker clicked off. Having arrived a few minutes early, he hadn’t expected her to be ready. In fact, he’d hoped to have a moment alone with her before they left. Michael took a deep breath. Every bone in his body was telling him this woman was special. The connection he felt to her was stronger than he’d ever imagined possible. He’d always believed when he met the right one he’d know it. What he never considered was that Ms. Right wouldn’t know it, too.
Maybe she did know it. The problem was her fear of being hurt again. Gun-shy and suspicious, even if she did sense the connection between them, she’d deny it. He needed to get her alone. He needed
one-on-one, private time with her where he could make certain she couldn’t ignore the attraction between them. She claimed she wasn’t ready for a relationship, but that wasn’t entirely true. Haley may not be ready to make a commitment just yet, but she was tempted to try the waters. While jumping off the high dive into the deep was out of the question, she was already dipping her toes. Now if he could just coax her down the steps into the shallows, he might be able to earn a measure of trust. This time she wouldn’t be swimming with sharks.
The gate opened. A pair of blue jeans hugging her legs and bottom provided the only relief to the orange and white. An orange headband painted with footballs held her hair back. Two-inch, orange T earrings dangled from her earlobes. A lacy, orange camisole peeked out from beneath a Tennessee cardigan sweater covered with orange and white yarn pompoms, an embroidered UT, and a depiction of Smokey, the bluetick coonhound mascot. A beaded orange and white charm bracelet dangled from her wrist, and white tennis shoes with orange shoestrings covered her feet.
She smiled at him from behind orange-rimmed sunglasses. “Nice shirt.”
He looked down at one of his favorite golf shirts. An orange and white checkerboard design paid homage to the end zone at Neyland Stadium’s football field. “Yeah, but look at you. Nice outfit.”
She looked down at herself. “The blue jeans will have to do. I couldn’t find any orange ones, and I learned a long time ago that stadium seats and white jeans aren’t a good match.”
Michael raised one brow and walked around behind her to admire her backside. “Mmm. I think those jeans will do just fine.”
She shook head. “Let’s go.”
* * * *
The early April day proved to be perfect—sunny skies, a light breeze, and temperatures in the mid-sixties. Michael marveled at Haley’s enthusiasm. After singing “Rocky Top” while the marching band played, she alternately cheered and complained about the plays called by the coaches.
Michael groaned after one play. “Oh, come on, Jones!”
“Don’t blame him,” Haley argued. “Wilson missed his block.”
Surprise left him speechless.
She pointed at the big screen where the instant replay began. “Watch.”
The video showed Wilson, the big offensive lineman, swiping at the defensive back without success. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He smiled at Haley. “I stand corrected.”
The afternoon passed with shared nachos and popcorn and Haley winning the challenge on who could remember the most record-holding players at the school. After the game, he handed her into his SUV and climbed in.
A squeaky hoarseness in her voice gave evidence of just how much she’d cheered. “Thank you. I had a great time.”
Michael smiled. “I never would have guessed.”
She laughed. “Sorry. I suppose I can get a little carried away.”
“Don’t apologize.” He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed myself more.” He put the car in drive and moved out the parking space to join a hundred other cars waiting to exit. “So I know this little place with the best fried chicken you’ve ever tasted. Interested?”
“Fried chicken? Are you kidding? That sounds awesome.”
“Great.” Michael hoped she wouldn’t freak out when she discovered which “little place” he meant.
It took almost twenty minutes to get clear of traffic from the game. When they neared their destination, Haley questioned him. “Why does this look familiar?”
He shrugged. “I guess you’ve probably been this way before.”
She was quiet for moment. He turned right and was almost there when she looked at him, panic in her eyes. “Michael, you can’t be serious.”
“Why not? Mom makes great fried chicken.”
“Take me home.”
He glanced at her long enough to see the sparks in her eyes before he returned his attention to the road. “Don’t be mad, Haley. Mom wants to—”
“I can’t meet your mom!”
“Why not?”
“Because.” She shook her head, the alarm in her expression growing now that the house was in sight. “No. I can’t. She’ll think that we…that I’m…”
“That we’re dating? That you’re my girlfriend?”
She covered her mouth, and he wondered for a moment if she might hyperventilate. “You know what she’ll think. Then she’ll be upset and hate me if…No. Take me home.”
He pulled into the drive, switched off the engine, and unbuckled his seatbelt. Turning to her, he grasped her hand. “Breathe, Haley.”
She scowled at him. “I can’t go in there.”
He sighed with dramatic flair. “I was afraid you’d react like this, but Meg wouldn’t listen.”
“Meg?”
“Yeah. She was telling Mom what a great time she had with you yesterday. They wanted me to spend the day with them, but I told them I was going to the game with you. Then Mom said something about supper, and Meg insisted I bring you. Of course, Mom got all excited.”
Haley stared at the front door. “I’m going to strangle your sister.”
“Not if I beat you to it.”
Her features softened, but she didn’t respond.
“Look, I’ll take you home if you want.” He pointed at the house. “But those two women in there will make my life miserable if I show up for supper without you.”
Her beautiful blue eyes held uncertainty. “What did you tell your mom? About me, I mean.”
“Nothing really. Meg’s the one who went on and on about how much fun she had shopping with you yesterday.” He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “She knows we’re dating, but she also knows that we only met a couple of weeks ago. So to her, you’re Meg’s new friend and my friend, too.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Mom used to let us have friends over for supper all the time, but we haven’t done that since we were teenagers. I think she misses it.”
She sighed, closed her eyes, and gulped. “Can we leave early?”
He released the breath he’d been holding. “As soon as supper is over. I promise.” He stroked her hand with his thumb. “Do you think you can refrain from choking Meg for an hour or so?”
A hint of a grin played on her lips. “I don’t know.”
“Mom may not like it if you try to murder her only daughter.”
Haley laughed and looked at the front door again, the tension in her features easing. “Will there be mashed potatoes?”
He nodded. “Biscuits and gravy, too.”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s go inside before I come to my senses and demand you take me home.”
Michael came around to open Haley’s door for her. She placed her palm in his and climbed down. He gave her hand a squeeze but refused to release it. They walked hand-in-hand to the door. Opening the door, he pulled her in behind him—not an easy task since she’d gone rigid at the threshold.
A feminine squeal of excitement broke the silence. “Haley!” Meg bounded down the stairs. “I’m so glad you came.” Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she pirouetted. “What do you think? Doesn’t it look great on me?”
Haley smiled. “Yeah, it does. Even better than when you tried it on yesterday.”
“Well, today I have on the right essentials underneath it.” Meg hugged Haley. “Thanks for talking me into it.”
Haley’s eyes widened in surprise at Meg’s impromptu show of affection, but she recovered with a laugh. “It’s your color.”
Michael examined Meg’s dress with a critical eye. The turquoise served as a foil to Meg’s fair skin lending it a healthy glow, and it complemented her hair as well. “Haley’s right. You look great in that color.”
Meg’s hands rested on her hips. “Who are trying to score the brownie points with, me or Haley?” She laughed. “If it’s me, it worked. What are you after?”
Michael grinned. “Note to self. Complimenting my sister gets me brownie
points.” He scratched his head. “How come that never works with Mom?”
“’Cause your father used that strategy on me for years. I know better now.” His mother stood near the door joining the living room and kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron.
Haley stiffened next to him, her posture prim and straight.
“Hey, Mom.” Michael pressed his palm to Haley’s back to guide her into the living room. “This is Haley.”
His mother met them halfway across the room. “Hi, Haley. It’s nice to meet you.”
Haley offered her hand. “Hello, Mrs. Flannery. It’s a pleasure.”
His mother released a dramatic sigh and took her hand. “You make me feel so old. Couldn’t you call me Kate?”
Haley offered a shy smile and nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, Kate.”
His mother’s gaze examined Haley’s attire from head to toe. She stared at the tennis shoes. “Meg, you asked what I wanted for Mother’s Day.” She pointed at Haley’s feet. “I want some shoestrings like that.”
“Aw, Mom,” Meg whined. “Wouldn’t you rather have a spa treatment?”
Michael grasped Haley’s left forearm and lifted it. “I don’t know, Mom. Check out this bracelet.”
As expected, his mother exclaimed over it. “Oh, my goodness! How cute. Look at the charms. Where did you get this?”
Haley’s stance relaxed. “I found it one of shops in Pigeon Forge yesterday.”
“I love it!” His mother addressed Haley. “Do you know you’re the first girl Michael’s ever brought home for supper? You know what that means, don’t you?”
Haley paled. “I…”
“Mom,” Michael growled a warning.
His mother ignored him. “It means that he knew I wouldn’t approve of the other women he’s been dating.” She cut him a chiding look. “It’s about time you started dating decent women. There may be hope for you yet.”
Haley bit her lip, her eyes smiling with relief. “No, he’s hopeless.”
His mother laughed. “Supper is just about ready.” A bell dinged in the kitchen. “Ah, that’s the biscuits.” She called over her shoulder on her way to the kitchen. “Meg, help your brother set the table.”
