by Lynn LaFleur
“Did you try the cheeseburger for lunch?”
“No, I didn’t get here until about ten minutes before you did.” She pushed a blond curl behind her ear. It immediately popped forward to touch her temple. Lucky curl, Stephen thought. “Dolly yelled out my name to everyone and they all said hi. I followed the sound of the pool balls back here. Dusty was the first to approach and welcome me to Lanville, so I stood and talked with him until you arrived.”
“Did you do any exploring today?”
“I did.” She cradled the stem of her wineglass in both hands. “Dolly gave me a map and I drove around, checking out the town. I love the courthouse square. I didn’t do any shopping, but plan to in the next couple of days, especially in the bookstore.”
Something they had in common. Stephen loved to read. “I thought a modern California gal like you would have one of those electronic readers.”
“I do, but I love print books, too. There’s something so satisfying about holding a book in my hands and breathing in the scent of the paper.” She wrinkled her nose. “You probably think that’s silly, don’t you?”
No, it gave him a hint to the sensual woman he expected her to be. “Not at all. I’m a reader, too, so I understand what you’re saying.”
He must have said the right thing, for she smiled and took a chip from the basket. “What do you like to read?”
“Mysteries, mostly. I like psychological thrillers, a little bit of sci-fi.” Beer bottle in hand, he leaned back in his chair. “I’ll bet you like romances.”
“Guilty.” She broke her chip and ate half of it. “But I also like mysteries, too. I want a satisfying ending, no matter what I read.”
He could add “romantic” to the list of words he’d use to describe Julia. He already had “beautiful” and “charming” and “sexy” on that list.
Stephen saw Dolly walking toward them, carrying a large tray. “Hey, boss lady, you playing waitress?”
“Only for y’all.” She set three platters of food on the table, then rested the tray on her hip. “I had to be sure you’re taking care of Julia.”
“I’m being a perfect gentleman.”
She switched her gaze to Julia. “Is he?”
“He is,” Julia said with a smile.
“Good.” She pointed one finger at Stephen. “Be sure it stays that way.”
He gave her a sharp salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
Once Dolly left, Stephen picked up one of the bowls of salsa and poured it over his Spanish rice. He forked up a big bite, along with the refried beans. The mixture of heat and spices slid over his tongue and he almost moaned in pleasure.
He ate in silence with Julia for a few moments before speaking again. “So what’re your plans for tomorrow?”
Before she said anything, he heard beep-beep from the pager on his belt. A grass fire. Part of him cringed at the possible loss while part of him savored the quick adrenaline rush at the thought of being in the middle of the action and danger.
He gobbled the last two bites of his supper. “I gotta go.”
“Go? What—”
“There’s a grass fire somewhere.” He glanced at Dusty’s untouched plate. He hated that his cousin didn’t get to eat, but knew Hannah would take care of him. He also hated leaving Julia when they’d been getting along so well.
Knowing the fire wouldn’t wait, he pushed back his chair and stood. He dug two tens and a five from the front pocket of his jeans and tossed them on the table next to his platter. “Catch you later.” He rushed toward the exit, along with the four other guys who also belonged to the fire department.
Julia turned in her chair and watched the men leave Boot Scootin’. Apparently most of the ones here tonight belonged to the volunteer fire department. She remembered many times when she’d dropped everything in a second and hurried out to fight a forest fire. Even worse, hurrying out to fight a house fire and hopefully save some of the family’s mementoes that could never be replaced.
Worry formed a knot in her stomach. Stephen said it was a grass fire, but those could get out of control so quickly.
“Gets quiet when the guys leave,” Dolly said as she touched Julia’s shoulder.
“Stephen said it’s a grass fire.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. We’re in a bad drought and the smallest spark can set off a blaze. Course, you already know that.”
“Yeah.” She pushed her half-full plate to the side, next to Dusty’s pile of paperwork. “Dusty left all his stuff.”
“I’ll call his wife and let her know. She’ll come by and get it.” Dolly picked up the untouched platter. “I’ll fix this to go, plus a plate for her. She runs the office for Dusty’s and Stephen’s company, but also works part-time at the hospital. She gets off at seven on Thursdays.” She touched the side of Julia’s plate. “Want that to go? It makes a great midnight snack.”
“I’ll come with you and take care of it.”
Julia followed Dolly to the kitchen. She nodded to Dolly’s helper, Rosa, who she’d met when she first arrived at Boot Scootin’. To Julia, Rosa looked like a Mexican version of Alice from the old sitcom, The Brady Bunch.
Dolly handed Julia a Styrofoam container for her food, then gave Dusty’s platter to Rosa. “Make this to go and fix another container the same way. Hannah McGettis will pick them up on her way home from work.”
“Chips and salsa, too?” Rosa asked in her lovely accent.
“Yes. Double on the salsa. Hannah really likes it.” Dolly turned to Julia. “She’s expecting her and Dusty’s first child in two months. Once her morning sickness phase ended, she started craving hot and spicy.”
“I crave hot and spicy, too, but I can’t blame that on pregnancy.”
Dolly laughed out loud. “Well, then, you’ll be happy to know there are chips in my pantry and salsa in the fridge.”
“Great.” She closed the lid to her container. “Thank you for the delicious meal.”
“You heading out?”
Julia nodded. “I’m a little tired. I think I’m still recuperating from the long drive.”
“I’m sure you are.” Dolly gave her a quick hug. “Go home and relax. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Two couples entered as she left the bar. The dark-haired men looked so much alike, they had to be brothers. One dipped his head in greeting while he held the door open for her. The other man and the two women smiled at her.
One thing Julia could say about the people in Lanville—everyone had been incredibly friendly to her.
Once inside her car, she draped her arms over the steering wheel while trying to decide what to do with the rest of her evening. She hadn’t lied to Dolly about being tired, but it wasn’t the kind of tired where she’d fall asleep if she went to bed early. She felt … restless, edgy, as if she needed to do something but had no idea what.
Julia started her car, backed out of her parking space. More vehicles entered the lot while she made her way to the exit. It appeared what had started out as a slow night at Boot Scootin’ would soon turn livelier.
Meeting a lot of people might jerk her out of her restlessness, but Julia didn’t have the energy to smile and make small talk tonight. She simply wanted to be alone.
She entered Dolly’s house through the back door into the kitchen. After putting her container of food in the refrigerator, she wandered into the living room. The sun would set soon, so she turned on a couple of lamps to fight off dusk’s gloom.
In no mood to watch television, she went to her bedroom to retrieve the book she’d started reading last night. After helping herself to a glass of white wine from the kitchen, she returned to the living room and curled up in a corner of the couch.
No more than ten minutes passed when she saw the flash of headlights through one of the windows. How odd. Dolly told her the bar closed at two a.m., so she usually didn’t get home until almost three-thirty. She shouldn’t be home for hours yet.
Deciding Dolly must have forgotten something an
d came home to get it, Julia turned her attention back to her book. A moment later, footsteps crossed the wooden porch, then the doorbell rang.
A shiver of fear galloped up and down her spine. Dolly lived in the country on land surrounded by trees. Julia had no idea how close a neighbor lived, or how quickly she could get help if she needed it.
Laying her book on the end table, Julia rose and walked to the front door. No peep hole. Dolly might trust everyone in Lanville, but Julia didn’t know the people here well enough to do that. She leaned close to where the door met the frame. “Who is it?”
“Hey, Julia, it’s Stephen.”
As quickly as the fear formed, it disappeared. She flipped the deadbolt and opened the door. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he said with a smile. “Am I disturbing you?”
“No, I was just reading. Is the fire out already?”
Stephen nodded. “It wasn’t very big. Someone was burning brush on his property and it got out of hand, but we caught it before it spread too much.”
She opened the door wider. “Come in.”
“I can’t. I smell like smoke.”
His comment came right before a breeze brought the scent of smoke to her from his clothing. The smell threw her back to her job in California and the many fires she’d helped fight. “I don’t mind.”
He glanced past her in the direction of the end table. “Tell you what. How about you bring your wineglass and one for me out here on the porch? Then I won’t stink up Dolly’s house.”
She liked that idea a lot. “Sure. I’ll be right out.”
Julia hurried into the kitchen, poured a second glass of Riesling, and returned to the living room. She paused before stepping over the threshold onto the porch and took a moment to admire Stephen from the back. He stood with his legs braced apart, looking out into the night. She couldn’t see his hands, so she decided he must have them in the front pockets of his jeans. Or perhaps with his thumbs hooked over the pockets. Whatever he did made the worn denim tighten over his ass.
The man had a first-class booty.
Giving her head a shake to chase away the sexy thought, she stepped behind him. “Here’s your wine.”
He faced her, accepted the glass she held out to him. “Thanks.”
Once she had a free hand, she closed the front door. It threw them into darkness, except for the bit of light shining through the windows. Julia led the way to the two chairs and small table at the edge of the porch. Unsure what to say since she didn’t know why he’d come to see her, she chose a neutral subject. “Dolly packaged Dusty’s dinner and called his wife to pick it up.”
“Good. I hated the thought of him missing out on Dolly’s enchiladas. He loves them.”
“I saw a Mexican restaurant on the main road through town when I went exploring today, but didn’t see any cars. Is it closed?”
“Only on Thursdays. Several of the restaurant owners got together and decided on their operating hours so they wouldn’t all be closed on the same days. It’s not good for tourist business if someone can’t find anything to eat. Course the fast-food places are open seven days a week, but sometimes people want something other than fast food.”
“True.” Julia sipped her wine. “Is the Mexican restaurant good?”
“Very. I haven’t eaten anywhere in town where the food isn’t good. O’Sullivan’s looks like an English pub and serves great fish and chips. It’s a block off the square. Mona’s Place is a family-style restaurant with a different plate-lunch special every day. The Purple Onion serves incredible hamburgers. It’s right off the square, too. And you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten barbecued brisket from Bunkhouse.”
It all sounded wonderful, even though she’d eaten a short while ago. “You’re making me hungry.”
“Sorry.” He swirled the wine in his glass before taking a drink. “Speaking of eating, that’s the reason I’m here. Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?”
Julia didn’t speak right away since she didn’t know how to answer his question. She liked Stephen, yet had no desire to get involved with anyone.
One date didn’t mean involvement. Stephen would be a lot of fun on a date. She had no doubt about that. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
Her eyes had adjusted to the dimness so she could see him smile. “Great. Café Crystal is the nicest place in town. I’d like to take you there.”
“I don’t need the nicest place in town, Stephen. I don’t have expensive tastes. One of those other restaurants you mentioned would be fine.”
“Hey, let a guy impress you on the first date, okay?”
She thought it sweet that he wanted to impress her. “Okay.”
“I’ll make reservations for … six? Six-thirty?”
“Six-thirty is good.”
A cool breeze whipped over them. Now that the sun had set, the temperature began to steadily drop. Julia was about to excuse herself to go and get her sweater when Stephen spoke again.
“My shower is calling me to get rid of this smoky smell.” He drained his glass and set it on the table between them. “I’ll pick you up a little after six.”
“Okay.”
She started to rise when he did, but remained in her chair when he motioned for her to do so. “Enjoy your wine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She watched him walk across the porch and down the first two steps. He stopped on the third one, turned, and came back to her. Placing his hands on the arms of her chair, he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers.
His soft, warm lips moved slowly over hers, tempting, enticing. Her heart sped up, her breath hitched. She caught the scent of smoke on his skin, mixed with his masculine aroma. The flavor of the wine he’d drunk lingered on his mouth.
Julia gripped her wineglass to keep from reaching for him. He didn’t deepen the kiss, but he didn’t have to. The gentle kiss sent pleasure zipping up and down her spine.
Stephen lifted his head so their lips no longer touched, but still close enough for her to stare into his eyes. She couldn’t clearly see the emotion in them due to the dim light, but the sound of his increased breathing proved he had enjoyed their kiss as much as she.
“Oh, yeah,” he said, his voice husky. “Definitely singed.” He ran his thumb across her chin. “See you tomorrow.”
Singed? She didn’t understand what he meant by that. Turning in her chair, she watched him walk to his pickup and drive away. She lightly touched her lips with her fingertips. She didn’t think a simple kiss had ever affected her so strongly. If they ever made love, she would probably self-combust.
Her heart may not be ready for a relationship, but apparently her hormones had other ideas.
4
Stephen checked once more to be sure his shirt was tucked into his pants before he pressed the doorbell. He fought the urge to run his hands through his hair. He didn’t want to muss it since he’d taken a lot longer with it tonight than he usually did. Normal for him meant washing it and letting it dry however it wanted to. Tonight he’d used a hair dryer and brush to tame the natural waves.
Normal also meant not bothering to shave but once or twice a week. He’d made sure to shave tonight, wanting his face to be smooth for Julia. If he kissed her after dinner—which he hoped to do, more than once—he didn’t want to leave whisker burns on her skin.
Two seconds before he rang the doorbell again, the front door opened. Stephen caught himself before his mouth dropped open. A vision from a dream stood before him. Julia wore a sleeveless white dress with splashes of purple, blue, and green in it. The V-neck gave him a hint of cleavage. The skirt hit right below her knees, letting him admire her tanned and shapely calves. Her white shoes consisted of little more than a strap across the top of her foot and around her ankle.
“Wow,” he breathed.
Delight filled her eyes, a tinge of pink colored her cheeks. “Thank you. I could say the same thing about you.”
He dipped his head to acknowledge her compliment. “Think w
e’ll be the best looking couple at Café Crystal tonight?” he gently teased.
She smiled, which made her look even lovelier. “I’d be willing to bet I’ll have the most handsome escort.”
“You’d better stop with the compliments or my head won’t fit through the doorway.”
Her musical laugh made him grin. “Okay, no more compliments.” She moved away from the door, returning a moment later with a small white purse hung over her shoulder and a silky-looking white wrap draped over her forearm. “I’m ready.”
Stephen waited while she closed and locked the door, then placed his hand on the small of her back to lead her toward his car. They’d taken no more than a few steps when she suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You have a Mustang Fastback?” she asked with awe in her voice.
It pleased him that she recognized the model. “I do.”
She hurried over to the hood of the car. “V8 289?”
“V8 302.”
“What year?”
“Sixty-five.”
She slowly ran her hand over the smooth, black surface, similar to the way a woman would touch her lover’s skin. Stephen swallowed at the mental image of her stroking him instead of the car. “How do you know the model?”
“My best friend’s brother had one, only it was a 289 engine. It sat in the garage more than he drove it. There was always something wrong with it. I think he tinkered more than repaired.” Still touching the car, she looked at him. “All original?”
“Most of it. It took Dusty and me months to get the necessary parts because I wanted as much of it original as possible. The carpet isn’t original, but it still has the AM radio. And it works.” He walked over to her, leaned against the side of the Mustang. “Then he bought a fifty-seven T-Bird in February for us to repair. Our roofing business keeps us busy, but we hope to have the car finished by the end of summer.”
“Will it be black, too?”
“Nope. Candy-apple red. Dusty has a thing for red cars.” He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice. “Want to drive it?”
She bit her bottom lip, but he could still see her grin as she nodded.
