“Yes. We back everything up.” Paige raised her eyes from her computer.
“That’s good.” Cory grinned at Paige like they shared some big technological secret he didn’t get.
True. He didn’t get it, and he didn’t care that he didn’t. Ted shifted in his chair. Her nearness, the way she smelled and seeing her grin—it all worked on him until he couldn’t think straight. He wanted more time with her. Alone. “Are you prepared to lose our bet?” She’d be more likely to think the whole thing was no big deal if he opened up the conversation in front of Paige, right? “We can start with my place this weekend.”
Paige straightened, peering at him over the top of her computer screen. “What’s this about?”
“I bet Cory where I grew up is worse than where she grew up.”
“Oh.” Paige laughed. “Ted’s gonna win that one.”
“Don’t count on it.” Cory raised an eyebrow, and her eyes held a competitive glint. “What did you have in mind?”
“Come to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner. The whole family gathers there once or twice a month, and one more mouth to feed won’t make a difference.”
She tensed and averted her gaze.
“It’s no big deal. Jenny and her husband will be there, and maybe Noah, Ceejay and their brood. They prefer to keep their Sundays to themselves, but they do join us every few months or so. If you aren’t comfortable with me picking you up, I’m sure Jenny and Harlen would be happy to swing by for you if Noah’s family isn’t coming.”
Cory looked to Paige, her expression unsure.
“Ted’s folks are the nicest people ever,” Paige told her. “Even if they do live—”
“Don’t say it.” Ted flashed her a warning look. “This is a wager between me and Cory, and I don’t want her to…uh…get wind of my situation. She might pull out if she finds out what she’s up against.”
“I see what you mean. If you want, I can be the final judge if it comes down to a tie,” Paige volunteered. “You can each give me your impressions of each other’s situation, and I promise to be fair.”
Cory looked between them, her brow furrowed as if she was trying to figure something out. “All right.” Her chin rose a determined notch. “You can pick me up.”
“Great.” He tried to keep his expression neutral, even though he wanted to jump up and down and throw his fists in the air like he’d just scored the winning touchdown in the last game of the playoffs. “I’ll be by around eleven thirty. We generally eat at noon or shortly after.”
“Should I bring something?”
“Naw. Between my mom, my sisters and my aunts, there’s always way more than enough to feed the entire town.”
“All the Lovejoys are great cooks too,” Paige added. She glanced at Ted. “We’ll have to make sure Cory is included for the Fourth of July pig roast.”
“Absolutely.” Ted flashed her a grateful look.
“I don’t know.” Cory frowned. “I’m just an employee here. I don’t want to intrude.”
“It’s not like that. The Fourth of July celebration is open to the entire town of Perfect,” Ted said. “The Lovejoys host the event every year because our ancestor is the town’s primary founder. Everybody brings a dish to share, and we all camp out on Ceejay and Noah’s lawn to eat and watch fireworks across the river.”
“Anyway, Noah should’ve made it clear before you accepted the job,” Paige added. “No one here is just an employee. As soon as you signed on the dotted line, you became part of the L&L family. Just ask the guys. In fact, as soon as we’re done painting our bare walls, Ryan and I are planning a company picnic at our new place.” She turned to Ted. “You wouldn’t mind picking her up for that, would you, Ted?”
“Not at all.”
“I don’t want to be a burden. Maybe Bunny can come for me.”
“It’s in the opposite direction for Wes, and I don’t mind. You’re on my way.” A twinge of jealousy shot through him. He didn’t like the idea of Wesley being her go-to guy. He wanted to be that man for her. “You’re not a burden.”
“I can always catch a ride with Noah and his family.”
He caught the look of frustration Paige slid his way as she spoke. “Let’s wait until we have the day planned, and we can figure it out then.”
He shot Paige a wry grin. She’d tried, and he was grateful for the help. He rose from his chair and stretched. “We’ve done enough for today. There are a few orders ready to go. Tomorrow we’ll walk through the process together. I’ll let you deal with dispatch while I sit next to you in case any questions come up.”
Paige put her things away and shut her computer down. Cory followed suit. She glanced at the clock. “Wesley’s sister is picking me up at five. I’d better head downstairs. I told her to come in through the alley.”
“Oh?” Ted stepped back so she and Paige could walk out of the office ahead of him. “Are you two going out on the town tonight?”
“Hardly.” She chuffed out a breath. “She’s coming to the carriage house for dinner. Thanks again for the Crock-Pot, by the way.”
“Sure.” By the time they got to the stairs, the sound of voices and laughter drifted up. One of them decidedly feminine.
“Brenda’s here.” Cory grinned and hurried down to the first floor. “Gotta go protect the production crew.”
Huh? Curious, Ted followed. He stepped into the room to find a gorgeous, curvy blonde in the midst of a circle of enraptured men. Kyle Reeves leaned against his workbench as if his legs wouldn’t hold him, and he wore a stunned look while two of the finishing crew teased and flirted with the newcomer.
“Hey, Bren,” Cory interrupted. “Did you meet everyone?”
Brenda’s glance brushed over Kyle and swung back to the guys who were flirting with her. “TreVonne and Kenneth introduced themselves when we came in together, and I met the other two production guys as they left. This one’s kind of shy, though.” She shot Kyle a wry grin. “He hasn’t said a word.”
Kyle’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he turned to rearrange the tools on his workbench that didn’t need rearranging. Ted felt sorry for the guy. He knew the feeling. “That’s Kyle. I’m Ted Lovejoy, and this is Paige Malloy. You’re Wesley’s little sister?”
“Yep.” She gave Ted a dazzling smile and held out her hand. “I’m Brenda Holt. It’s nice to meet all of you. I was just telling the guys here I’d be happy to give them a veteran’s discount on haircuts.”
Ted shook her hand. “That’s nice of you.”
Brenda fished around in her purse and pulled out a bunch of business cards. “I’m happy to do it.” She placed the cards on the edge of the table saw next to where Kyle worked. Her eyes flitted over the flustered guy for a second and then darted away just as quickly. She turned to Ted. “Call me for an appointment anytime.”
Ted stuffed his hands into his pockets, once again feeling like the odd man out. “I’m not a veteran.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Brenda’s gaze swept the room. “My offer is meant for everyone involved with Langford & Lovejoy.” She turned to Paige. “I’d really love to get my hands on your hair. It’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” Paige reached for one of the cards. “Did you style Cory’s hair?”
“I did.”
“I really like the cut. It’s perfect for her.”
“That’s my specialty, finding the right cut to bring out my client’s best assets.”
“Are you ready to go?” Cory slung her purse strap over her shoulder. “I’m starving.”
Brenda turned her dazzling smile on the guys one more time. “It was great meeting all of you. Tell Wes I’m sorry I missed him.” She followed Cory out the back door.
Kyle snatched one of her cards from the table saw and stuffed it in his pocket. Ted grinned. “Are you going to get your haircut at”—he picked up a card—“the Hair Apparent Salon in Evansville?”
“Maybe I am, kid.” Kyle shrugged without meeting his eyes. “She’s Wesley’
s sister. We all gotta get our hair cut now and then. May as well give her the business.”
“What’s that about my sister?” Wesley stepped into the room with Rex at his side.
“Brenda came by for Cory. You just missed her,” Ted answered. “She offered L&L employees a discount on haircuts.”
“Humph,” Wesley grunted. “She does mine for free.”
The remaining day crew left, and Ted went out the doors with them, heading for his Mustang. He had a date on Sunday. Cory didn’t think of it as a date, but he did. With someone as wary and skittish as she was, he’d have to find ways to circumvent her defenses, gain her trust and work his way into her heart before she even knew what was happening. The challenge gave him a new focus.
He wanted to replace her bad memories with good, coax more of those heart-stopping smiles out of her and erase the hurt from those pretty brown eyes once and for all. Was he crazy? Probably, but he’d been far less restless at work since she’d joined them, and being around her did something to him. Every hard-earned look of trust she aimed his way turned his insides to mush and stole his breath.
Watching her spirit ignite when she argued with him about updating their systems sent his pulse soaring, and the glint of competitiveness he’d witnessed when they talked about their bet gave him glimpses of the feisty woman she’d been before that asshole stole her fire.
L&L was the perfect place for Corinna Marcel, and he intended to be there for her each step of the way as she returned to herself, full of confidence and ready to take on the world.
Like every other Friday, Ted worked on payroll, hurrying to get it done. He couldn’t wait to see the pleased expression on Cory’s face when he handed over her first paycheck. Hell, he couldn’t wait to pick her up on Sunday to take her to his folks’. He turned up his iPod dock and moved the ruler down to the next line on the spreadsheet.
“Hey, kid.” Kyle stood in his doorway with his shoulders bunched forward. “I have a favor to ask.”
“You’re much more likely to get that favor if you’d stop calling me kid,” Ted muttered to his desktop.
“Huh?”
Ted blew out a long breath and turned the volume down on his iPod. “What’s the favor, Kyle?”
“I…uh…” He cleared his throat. “I asked Brenda Holt out for a date.”
“Yeah? Good for you. What’s that got to do with me?”
“She said she’d only go out with me on one condition.”
Puzzled, Ted abandoned his spreadsheet and frowned. “And?”
“It has to be a double date with Cory, and I thought you could be the fourth.”
“Why me?” Ted leaned back in his chair, his thoughts spinning.
“I don’t want any of the other guys on our crew along. You saw how they acted around Brenda.” His brow furrowed. “And you—”
“I’m the safest choice?” Like he couldn’t possibly compete? Ted’s jaw clenched, and the familiar ache of inferiority twisted his gut.
“No. It’s not like that. You didn’t seem interested in her, is all. Help me out here, will you? We’re talking bowling and pizza—completely casual.”
“I’ll talk to Cory about it this Sunday.” Hell, what difference did it make? He should be grateful for any chance he caught to spend time with her. “I can’t promise anything.”
“Sunday?” Kyle’s eyes lit up. “What’s going with you two this Sunday?”
Heat crept up his neck. He shouldn’t have let that slip. Speculation and gossip at work would not help his cause. “I’ll do you this favor if you’ll do one for me.”
“Yeah?” Kyle’s eyes filled with amusement. “What’s that?”
“Cory is coming to dinner at my folks’ house this Sunday. It’s not a date, just a friendly gesture to a newcomer. I’d—”
“Just a friendly gesture, eh, kid?” Kyle smirked. “I’m a newcomer. You’ve never asked me to have dinner at your folks’.”
Ted glared. “You want me to arrange this foursome or not?”
Kyle’s smirk remained firmly in place. “Yep.”
“Then keep that bit of information to yourself.”
“Done.” He straightened up off the door frame.
“And stop calling me kid.”
“Sure, kid.” Kyle sauntered away.
Ted chewed on this newest development while he finished payroll. No way could he disguise an evening out with another couple as anything other than what it was: a date. His heart skipped a beat. What if she said no? Aw, hell. What if she said yes?
He hit print and sat back in his leather chair while the printer did its job. Visions of Cory looking at him with trust and something more lighting her brown eyes played through his mind, sending heat curling through him…
“Hey.” Noah came in and sat in the chair in front of Ted’s desk. “You about done with the paychecks? I thought I’d give Cory a ride to the bank in town before it closes, so she can open an account.”
His fantasy cut short, Ted pulled his chair up to his desk and straightened. “I’ll take her.”
“It makes more sense for me to do it,” Noah said. “She rides home in my truck.”
Heat crept up Ted’s neck again. He moved to the printer and started separating the serrated edges of their paychecks. “Right.”
“Unless you really want to—”
“No, that’s OK.” It wasn’t, but he didn’t want to push the issue. “I’m giving her the check, though.”
“If you insist.” Noah pushed himself out of the chair. “Do it soon. I want to get going a little early.”
They all had their pay direct deposited, so distributing the stubs was no big deal. Cory’s was the only actual check. Ted signed it and headed for her office. “I’m on my way.”
“I’m right behind you,” Noah said.
Great. An audience, when all he wanted was a moment alone with Cory. He wanted to savor the pleased expression on her face when he placed the check in her hands. Swallowing the disappointment, he walked into her office with Noah on his heels. Cory and Paige both looked up from their work.
“I have something for you,” Ted said, handing Cory the check. “Your first L&L earnings.”
“Oh,” she said, taking it from him. “Thank you.”
The smile she aimed his way hit the bull’s-eye tattooed on his heart, and the impact sent an electric buzz humming through his veins. “You want a ride to the bank? There’s enough time to open an account if we hurry.”
“Uh…” Her eyes clouded, and her brow creased.
“We can stop there on our way home.” Noah squeezed Ted’s shoulder as he edged around him to enter the small office. “You about ready to leave?”
Cory’s face cleared. “Sure.” She grabbed her purse, shut her computer off, and got up to leave. She spared him a glance as she passed.
Ted watched her leave, embarrassment and disappointment chasing through him.
“Well.” Paige put her stuff away. “That was painful, huh?”
“A little.”
“Go slow, Ted. Baby steps. She’s—”
“Yeah, I know. I just got caught up—”
“In her smile?” Paige chuckled. “I noticed, but I’m not sure Cory did. She’s too wrapped up in her own protective shell to see what a great guy you are. Give it time.”
“I offered her a ride to the bank—a public place with a security guard. It’s not like I asked her on a date. I don’t think time is going to make a difference.” He plowed a hand through his hair. His attraction to her was a one-way street to heartache, but he couldn’t manage to steer his bus in another direction. Her smile and the way she’d looked at him flashed through his mind, sending his heart racing. Shit.
Where his heart was concerned, he was a sucker for lost causes.
CHAPTER FOUR
CORY STARED AT HER REFLECTION in the tiny bathroom mirror. Steam from her shower still obscured the edges, framing her face in silvery drips. Should she wear makeup today? If she did, would
Ted take it as a sign that she was interested in him? Her mind shied away from the thought. If she didn’t wear makeup, would his family think she didn’t care enough to look her best for them?
A compromise—foundation, a little blush and mascara—not enough to draw attention, and not so little that she’d come across as disinterested in her own appearance. She snorted. Like anybody would care either way.
Reaching for her toothbrush, she considered her clothing options: baggy old army fatigues or jeans and a blouse. Hmm. She’d like to do something about her limited wardrobe, but after paying Ted a portion of what she owed for groceries, and forcing Noah to take half a month’s rent, she didn’t have enough left for a shopping spree. Not if she wanted to continue eating, which she did. And not if she wanted to buy a car at some point. Which she also did.
She could’ve tucked a little of her paycheck away. Noah didn’t expect rent for the first three months, but it just wasn’t in her to take charity. As a child she’d had no choice. As an adult with an education and skills, it didn’t sit well with her. She had a job; she’d pay her way.
Once she finished drying her hair and putting on a little makeup, she moved into the bedroom and dressed. As ready as she’d ever be, Cory made the rounds, locking all the windows and making sure everything had been shut off. Her stun gun rested in its place on the bedside table, and she had the pepper spray with her. Check. Slinging the strap of her purse over her shoulder, she left the carriage house to wait for Ted on the Langfords’ veranda.
It was one of those rare days where the temperature and humidity were in sync, warm but not overwhelming. Lazy white clouds drifted across the clear blue sky, and a light breeze lifted the hair around her face. Rounding the corner of the big house, she found Ceejay sitting at the wrought-iron table by herself. Sweet Pea lay sprawled half under the table, half out, like he didn’t realize he was too big to fit.
“Good morning.” Ceejay held a mug in her hands, and her feet were propped up on another chair.
“Hi. It’s awfully quiet around here. Where’s the rest of your squadron?”
“Noah is taking Lucinda to our neighbor’s for a play date. Then he has a few errands to run, and Toby wanted to go along for the ride. Micah is napping.” She ran her hand over her belly and grinned. “Once this one is born, moments to myself are going to be difficult to find.” She swung her feet down and started to rise. “Would you like a cup of coffee? It’s decaf, but—”
A Change of Heart (Perfect Indiana#3) Page 6
