Aware she’d stopped moving, Heath dragged his gaze away from the dress and trailed it around the room. “It looks like you,” he said.
“You know, my sister says that. ‘Joy, I don’t know how you did it, but this place is exactly what I’d pick for you.’”
He smiled. “Sexy and slightly over the edge.”
Her face brightened with his compliment. “The only thing that will make my day better than that compliment is seeing my sister married …” She spun on her heel. “Which will happen without me if I don’t finish making myself presentable.” She waved one hand and disappeared out an adjacent doorway. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Heath wandered across the room, halting in front of a pair of photographs. In one, Joy hugged a girl obviously her sister. In the other, the pair of them, considerably younger, stood with a very distinguished man, who must be their dad. They had his face somewhat, though Joy’s was rounder, and her sister had his soft brown hair. The red in Joy’s, he guessed, must come from their mom. He toyed with asking and decided not to. Today should be happy, and he had no idea how Joy and her sister thought of their mother.
She reappeared some ten minutes later, having added a pair of enormous pink earrings to the mix. She patted her head, tucking a loose strand of hair into place. “Now, if I don’t embarrass the daylights out of you, I’m ready to go.”
He ushered her to his car, holding the door while she climbed in, then reversed, pausing, once in the street. “You never said where the wedding was.”
Her nose twitched, a strange light forming in her eyes, and a slow, teasing smile formed on her lips.
“What? You’re Jewish or Mormon or something?”
She laughed once. “No … but let’s just say, as ridiculous as the dress is, the venue is worse.”
He tightened his grip on the wheel. “Worse?” What exactly had he gotten himself into? With her, with today, with whatever came next.
“Two peas in a pod … my sister and I,” Joy said. “She wanted it to be ‘fun’, and Grady didn’t care. ‘I want lights and music and swirly things,’ she said.”
Heath swallowed. “Need an address if we’re going to go there.”
“You look handsome by the way. I like the suit.”
He nodded his acceptance. “Joy?”
Joy faced forward, her fingers clutching the door handle. “The 80’s Retro dance hall on Eighth.”
His laughter returned. This time, he couldn’t contain it. His head back, he let loose, drinking in her happy gaze. It was infectious. She was infectious. And these next few hours something he looked forward to for the first time in ages.
“Just you wait until you see the minister,” she added. “We’ve been told he does an awesome Bon Jovi impression.”
“Can’t wait to hear that,” Heath said, hitting the gas.
Her sister snagged her arm and dragged her onto the dance floor, beginning an altered version of the Macarena. The disco ball flashing, laser lights swirling atop it, by the end of the fast-paced song, they were both in a fit of giggles. Collapsed against each other, her sister hugged her neck.
“This was the best wedding ever,” she said. Her gaze switched the where Heath and Grady stood on the opposite side. “And those are two of the handsomest men.” She brought her eyes back to Joy’s face. “Why on earth did you keep him a secret?”
Joy’s cheeks heated. “He wasn’t a secret. We just work together. Plus, I didn’t ask him to come. He volunteered.”
Maeve rolled her eyes. “You don’t ‘just’ work with a guy who volunteers to come to a family wedding. I see your face, and I see his. Please tell me this is going somewhere.”
Joy ducked her gaze, but looking back up, met Heath’s. Maeve also turned.
“What’s the hang up?” she asked, softly.
“I’m not sure.” Joy bit her lip. She faced her sister again, putting on an air of confidence. “But don’t you think about it one minute while you’re gone.”
“Not going to do much thinking,” Maeve replied, her face flushing.
Joy hugged her neck, the spun her sister toward Grady and gave her a shove. “Go … be lovesick.”
Her sister wandered across the floor, and Joy, taking a deep breath, headed in Heath’s direction. He met her part way. The music had changed, slowing.
“Can I have this dance?” he asked.
Her hand in his, she shut her eyes and wished this feeling, the world falling away beneath her, would last forever. Wished tonight was meant for them. Tucked in his grasp she pretended it was … until the song ended. The music picked up pace again, so they strolled toward the refreshment table.
Heath snagged them each a glass of punch and nodded toward a line of chairs.
“I like your sister and her husband,” he said, taking a seat at her side. “He’s a nice guy, told me all about his job at the water plant.”
Joy laughed. “He’s very proud of that. You’d think he owned the place.”
Heath’s answering smile warmed her.
“He told me his new sister-in-law was a bit on the crazy side, and I said I’d figured that out already.”
Joy wrinkled her nose, rabbit-like. “Yeah, well, it takes two to tango, and he married Maeve. She has her moments, too.” Her eyes returned to her sister and the happiness radiating from both she and Grady, and her wishes, moments ago, turned jealous.
She hadn’t been jealous of them at all until now, had been so excited when Maeve told her he’d proposed. They’d talked long into the night about everything from married life to their parents’ passing. Now, Maeve would do that with Grady. It’d become pillow talk, and she’d begin to keep things to herself. Of that, Joy was jealous.
She hid it for the rest of the night, busying herself cleaning up after the guests, and saw the pair off in grand style, having made sure the car was decorated with streamers and empty aluminum cans. On the back glass, she’d written, “Just Married”. They waved, speeding away, and her unrest returned. Standing on her stoop, facing Heath in the low light, suddenly, being alone was the last thing she wanted.
“Come in. Have a drink,” she said. “Non-alcoholic.”
Heath hesitated, so she held the door wider. A brief flash of worry on his brow, he finally obeyed. He’d left his suit coat in the car and rolled his sleeves up. He loosened his tie while she kicked off her shoes.
She headed for the kitchen. Her head in the cabinet, two glasses in her grasp, she dared herself to take things further. He’d made the comments about her lingerie, and she’d returned them, half teasing. Probably, she shouldn’t have, and probably, she should respect the limits of their working relationship. But her head filled with possibilities, she filled the glasses with iced tea and returned to the living room.
He took one from her, his gaze asking questions. She smiled, her glass hovering at her lips. “Despite what you’ve heard,” she said, sipping, “I spend most of my Saturday nights alone watching TV.”
“Same here,” Heath replied. “I only recently tried to find a date. We both know how that turned out.”
“I think it turned out perfectly,” Joy said. “You’re here.”
The air thickened.
“You know,” she continued, “as wonderful as this dress is. Do you mind if I run and change?”
He shook his head, but his unspoken questions returned. She set her glass down on the coffee table and stepped from the room. Her head battled with her heart all the way down the hall. Should she or shouldn’t she make the first move? It could be incredible, or she could fall flat on her face. But, she reasoned, surely, by now he expected it. He’d come in. Hadn’t he? And hung around. He looked like he wanted to know how things would end. That was a positive. Right?
Convinced, Joy unzipped the dress and stood in front of the bedroom mirror. Taking her hair down, she fluffed it around her face, dusted her naval with body powder, then returned to the door. She inhaled and mumbled beneath her breath. “Don’t blow this.”
“Joy …”
She stepped close. “I promised.”
He stared at her, his eyes greedy, but hesitation on his brow. She pushed closer, within his reach, and slipped up against him. Draping one arm around his neck, she tilted her chin upward, and his mouth neared hers. He rested one hand at her waist, his palm soft, but the heat of it spreading outward.
He exhaled. “You are the most beautiful woman, and I’m not going to sleep well tonight. But, Joy, I can’t do this.”
Embarrassment swamped her, and she retreated, “I understand. I’m too much. I knew better and …”
But before she could escape, he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. One hand on her cheek, he turned her mouth toward his and lowered his lips to hers. Their breath mingled, they hung there, and he roamed his fingers further. She ached for his touch to lead somewhere and was almost insensible when he stopped.
“I know I’m a fool,” he said, “but there’s something you don’t know that stops me. To be honest, I can’t tell you yet, and I’m sorry about that.”
His brother. That she knew but couldn’t say struck her hard. It wasn’t her job to press him for it though, so she decided to relieve him of the burden.
She laughed, though it was forced. “Silly me. I am kind of tired. Just don’t you worry, Heath Olson. You show up at my door again, and I’m going to switch to the red ones.”
“Joy …”
She waved one hand outward and stepped away. “I’m fine. Think I’ll head to bed.”
His shoulders sinking, he nodded and turned, but his steps were slow, his motions lethargic.
“Thanks for everything. Be seeing you at work on Monday.”
Tugging open the door, he turned and looked behind him. She acted like she wasn’t wearing black lingerie and hadn’t wanted him to stay the night. Seconds later, he was gone, and her language descended to curses. She spat them all the way down the hall, kicking her bridesmaid gown against the wall. Taking the hateful bra off, she put on a silken robe and hastily unmade the bed.
She froze in place at the ring of the doorbell. Her heart pounding, she forced her steps to slow the closer she came to the door, and there, she waited. It rang again, and with a faux smile on her face, she opened it.
Heath stepped in the foyer, lifted her off the floor, and mashed her back against the wall. His tongue dancing between her lips, his body pressed tight against hers, he kissed her until her breath fled. Then holding her suspended, he met her gaze.
“I’m going home now,” he said, “but you and I aren’t finished.”
The sash of her robe loosened, the edges falling open, and he stared, setting her on her feet. He tugged the robe closed, turned, and was gone.
Her legs gave way after the door shut, and she slid into the floor.
Jason eyed him from the doorway, his brow furrowed, lips pursed, and Heath, conscious of the hour, tried to look suitably apologetic. He almost hadn’t come, making the turn in this direction at the last second, then had sat in the car for fifteen minutes before he convinced himself to exit and knock.
“I could use some advice,” he said. “Did I wake up …?” Susan, Jason’s wife.
Jason shook his head and waved him in.
His house was in a state of disrepair, new furniture, still covered in plastic, sitting beside older pieces and boxes stacked ceiling high. Jason waved him toward the couch, a relic obviously from former years, and reached for the remote, switching the TV off.
“How was the wedding?” he asked, taking a seat.
Heath followed suit. “Untraditional, but somehow that worked. Joy’s sister is just as outgoing as Joy, her new husband, Grady, a very nice guy … and extremely tolerant I might add.”
Jason crossed his ankle over the opposite knee. “That isn’t why you’re here at midnight.”
“No.” Heath ducked his gaze, his mind traveling back to Joy’s foyer, her lips eager on his, her curves begging … begging him to stay. He’d wanted to, pictured it even, then thought of his brother and left. “She asked me to stay.”
Jason coughed, his hand curled at his mouth. “And you didn’t?” He sounded incredulous.
Heath shook his head. But he’d kissed her like he meant to. Soft and warm, her breasts pressed against him, he knew everything he missed when he walked away.
“Dude, I know your brother’s problems freaked you out, and, okay, maybe jumping in the sack this soon is a bad idea, but you have to stop applying his mistakes to your life. At the very least, explain it to her.”
Explain it? He knew Jason was right, but thought of telling Joy something he’d worked so hard to forget … He hadn’t forgot, and that really was the problem. Though he didn’t think of it all the time, or even every day, he did think of it way too much. He’d gotten this new job to help himself move on.
He wanted to move on. He wanted to be with Joy. Yet, using her to forget was as wrong as avoiding her to keep from speaking of it. He didn’t know her well enough to do either one and ought to take the time to feel something deeper than what his body screamed at him every time he saw her. But there was the problem, what his head knew he should do, what his heart agreed with, the rest of him wanted to embrace.
Jason pushed to his feet, drawing Heath’s gaze. “Beer?” he asked. “Then we’ll watch the Late Late Show and I’ll make you a spot on the couch.” Before he could protest, Jason raised his hand, palm outward. “It’s the least I can do. Things with Susan and I are great now, but I remember walking away once, and a friend of mine gave me a place for the night. Consider this my returning the favor.”
Heath nodded. “Beer sounds good.”
A car had parked in his usual spot, the license plate from out of state. Georgia, interesting enough. Heath stared at the vehicle, exhaling his frustration, then continued ahead, taking a guest space instead. Probably, whoever it was, didn’t know they couldn’t park there. Not the first time he’d seen that happen, but the first time it’d happened to him.
He made his way up the walk to his apartment door and turned his thoughts toward a shower and a change of clothes. Twenty-four hours was long enough to wear a suit. He had in mind blue jeans and a t-shirt, maybe watch the game this afternoon.
Taking the stairs two at a time, he headed down the corridor, shaking his keys out. He came to a halt at the sight of his brother reclined against the front door.
“Kyle? What are you doing here?”
His brother blinked back the morning sun. “Sleeping,” he replied. “I admit three a.m. was a bad time to show up, but then when you weren’t here … You spent the night with a woman?”
Heath thought of Joy briefly but immediately dismissed it. Why would his brother assume that anyhow? Paranoia probably. “No. I was busy yesterday,” he said, “and it got too late to come home. Here …” He extended his hand. “Get up and I’ll let us in.”
Taking hold of his brother’s fingers, he braced himself, pulling him to his feet, then unlocked the door and waved him through.
Kyle strolled into the open kitchen-living room, his fingers shoved in his pockets. “Guess you want an explanation,” he said, coming to a halt.
“That’d be good, and please tell me Mom knows where you are.”
“She knows, but she doesn’t like it.”
That was a given. She’d been very protective of him since he drove into the lake.
“I’m suffocating there with her. She hovers over me all the time. If I leave, she calls every five minutes. I am an adult. I know I goofed up …”
“That was more than goofing up, and you can’t blame her for worrying.”
Kyle didn’t reply right away, then wandered to the window. “I don’t blame her, but maybe I’m trying to feel normal again. Part of that is being able to come and go as I please.” He revolved on one heel. “I was hoping you’d let me stay here.”
Here? He
ath held back the retort. He and Kyle had never gotten along particularly well, especially after his suicide attempt. Still, refusing outright might send him in the wrong direction.
“I’ll sleep on the couch, clean up after myself … and I called John about work. He says they can use me part time. I can sort inventory.”
Inventory at the electrical supply store his brother’s friend owned. It was great Kyle was willing to work, but it meant he’d be underfoot. For how long?
“I’m going to take a shower and put on something comfortable. Take a seat, and I’ll be out in fifteen.” Heath dropped his keys and his cell on the kitchen counter and made his way down the hall.
He was quick getting in and out. Tugging his shirt over his head, he opened the bedroom door, but again, came to a halt at the sight of his brother. “What are you doing?” he asked.
Kyle dropped his phone like it scalded and reversed. “It went off, and I thought it was mom. I left in a hurry, you remember, with her running after me.” He glanced back toward the phone. “Who’s Joy? And what did she mean by ‘not sorry about last night.’ I thought you didn’t stay with a woman.”
Heath scooped his cell from the counter and filtered through the texts. Two from Joy. Not sorry about last night. The second one had an image. He clicked on it, his groin tightening at the erotic picture. Uncomfortable, he turned around. Her nightie was even better than the black lingerie set, and this time she’d put it on. He stared until the screen went dark.
“Who is she?” Kyle asked.
Heath pulled in a breath. “A woman I work with. We’re supposed to do a project together, and I didn’t stay the night.”
“She said you did, and looks like she’s way more than someone from work.”
“You can stay,” Heath replied. He glanced behind. “But keep out of my personal life.”
His brother stared, unspeaking, for what became an uncomfortable amount of time. “Don’t worry. The last thing I’m interested in is a woman,” he said, at last. “But take my word for it when I say, they’re nothing but trouble.”
Sentimental Valentine Page 4
