Not His Type (An Opposites Attract Romance)

by Lisa Crane

  “So what’s your poison?” he asked, reaching for the remote. “You strike me as a…hmm…romantic comedy girl, right?”

  “Meh,” Brooke answered. “I like some, I guess. You choose. I’m usually working this time of the evening, so I don’t watch much television.”

  Travis turned to a local station for the nine o’clock news. Brooke shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position for her leg. She was trying to be still, but when she shifted again a moment later, Travis leaned over and grabbed her ankle. He eased her leg up until it was stretched across his lap and pushed Brooke gently until she was leaning against the arm of the sofa; it seemed to do the trick as the pressure Brooke had been feeling in her leg eased up. Now though, she found she had a whole new problem to deal with: nervousness at the touch of a strange man’s strong, warm hands on her leg. She had to admit, the warmth of Travis’ big hands felt wonderful against her injured leg, almost like a heating pad they were so warm!

  “Better?” Travis asked.

  “Y-yes,” Brooke answered.

  They watched the news in silence. When the news was over, Brooke looked over at Travis and smiled.

  “I hate to be a bad guest,” she said. “But I think I’m going to have to go to bed. I’m beat.”

  “Oh!” Travis said. He eased Brooke’s leg to the floor and stood. “Of course, come on. I think you should have everything you need in the guest room.”

  “Oh, I don’t need anything,” Brooke said quickly. “Really. Just a pillow and a blanket. I can even sleep here on the sofa.”

  “Brooke, come on, don’t be silly. I can see the wheels turning in your head, thinking you’re putting me to all kinds of trouble. Right? Isn’t that what you’re thinking, Brooke?” She remained silent as she followed Travis to the guest room. “I knew it. Never mind, just come on.”

  In the guest room, Travis gestured around the room, saying, “Bed, bathroom…anything else you think you might need?” She shook her head. “All right, I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to get you a glass of milk so you can take two more pain pills, okay? I’ll be right back.”

  Travis left Brooke alone in the guest room. She folded the sheets back on the bed, noting as she did the precise corners; they were indicative of someone who’d worked in a hospital or perhaps a military man.

  “Here you go,” Travis said as he returned to the room.

  “Were you in the military?” Brooke asked him.

  “What gave me away?” he asked, smiling.

  “The bed,” she answered, returning his smile. “Those are military corners.”

  “Ah. Yes, they are.”

  “It was either that or you were a hospital orderly,” Brooke said. “You don’t look like any of the orderlies I saw when I was in the hospital, so….”

  Brooke’s voice trailed off. She blushed as she realized what her words must have sounded like. Travis simply grinned at her and held out the little glass of milk.

  “Here ya go,” he said. He began backing toward the door. “If you need anything, I’m down the hall, okay? Just yell. I’m a pretty light sleeper.” Travis nearly tripped over Boo. “Oh, it’s you, you big baby.” He glanced up at Brooke. “Do you want me to put him in another room?”

  “No, I’ve missed him, too,” she answered. “He can stay.”

  “All right, just be careful. ‘Night, Brooke.”

  “Good night, Travis. And thank you again.”

  Travis pulled the door shut as he left. Brooke took the two pain pills. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. Just before she turned out the lights, she set an alarm on her phone. Boo was already lying on the bed, and Brooke eased in beside him, careful of her leg. She was asleep within a few minutes.

  Chapter 8

  Travis woke later than usual on Saturdays; even as his “late” morning, however, he was still up and in the shower by seven. After showering he pulled on jeans and a blue pull-over shirt, followed by black cowboy boots. He headed to the kitchen for coffee, but paused at the open door to the guest room.

  The room was empty! The comforter on the bed was turned back neatly. The sheets on which Brooke had slept had been removed. Travis immediately turned and headed toward the kitchen. The door to his laundry room was slightly ajar and he could hear the sound of the washing machine. He pushed open the laundry door and lifted the lid on the washer; the sheets from the guest room, along with a couple of towels from the guest bath, were spinning. So where was his guest this morning? Travis turned back to the kitchen frowning.

  He walked through the house a second time, calling for Brooke. Then he called for Boo. Brooke didn’t answer, and her dog didn’t come bounding to meet Travis. Travis returned to the kitchen and went out the back door, across the yard and up to Brooke’s front porch. He knocked on the door. He could hear Boo barking excitedly inside the house, but the door remained firmly closed. Then Travis realized Brooke’s car was not in the driveway. Where had she gone, and how had she managed to get out of his house without waking him, Travis wondered.

  Brooke walked out of the diner, her last paycheck clutched in her hand. It wasn’t even eight o’clock, and she was already slightly discouraged. Brooke had been so certain she’d be able to convince Joe to give her back her job! Instead, he’d only promised to call her if the new girl didn’t work out; then he’d proceeded to tell Brooke how great the new girl was.

  So now Brooke walked slowly down the sidewalk, wondering where she might find another job. As she walked, she decided to stop at a little bakery for a cup of coffee. She knew she could’ve gotten a free cup at the diner, but she just couldn’t bring herself to ask for one. So now she walked into Babycakes, immediately breathing in the warm, sweet smell of baked goods. As she approached the counter, her eyes fell on a small sign next to the register.

  “Good morning, may I help you?” a handsome man asked her.

  “I’d like a cup of coffee, please,” Brooke said. She pointed at the sign. “And um, what kind of help are you looking for?”

  “Do you have any experience baking?” the man asked, his blue eyes twinkling.

  “Oh,” Brooke said. “No. Not really. Just in my own kitchen. I’m pretty good, but not…bakery good.”

  “Hang on just a minute,” he said. He called over his shoulder toward the kitchen door. “Jazz! Honey, can you come out here a minute?” He turned back to Brooke and extended his hand over the counter to her. “Riley Parker. My wife, Jasmine owns Babycakes.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Parker,” Brooke said. “I’m Brooke Valentine.”

  “Hey, babe, what’s up?”

  A lovely woman came out of the kitchen; she had a long black braid, and dark brown eyes that sparkled merrily at her husband. She glanced from Riley to Brooke, smiling.

  “Miss Valentine here is looking for work,” Riley said.

  “Oh!” The woman motioned for Brooke to come around the counter. “Let’s go back to my office where we can talk. Bring your coffee.”

  Brooke followed the woman to a small office. The other woman, presumably Riley Parker’s wife, sat down behind the desk, giving a little sigh. She leaned back, smoothing her tunic top down over a round belly. She smiled at Brooke.

  “As you can see, I don’t have too much longer before this little one makes his appearance,” she said. “I’m Jasmine Valenzuela, by the way.”

  “I thought…did I misunderstand?” Brooke asked. “I thought Mr. Parker said his wife…?”

  “If you had a perfectly lovely name like Valenzuela, would you change it to Parker?” the other woman laughed. “No, I still use my maiden name for business. But yes, Riley is my husband.” She smiled again. “So do you have any experience, Brooke? Cooking, baking, restaurant or anything?”

  “No, I’m afraid not. Not really. Well, I have worked the past two years at Joe’s Diner down the street, but that’s it.”

  Jazz Valenzuela seemed to perk up. “Joe’s?” She narrowed her dark eyes. “I don’t suppose you know how
he makes that coconut pie, do you? The one with the habanera and jalapeño in it? He won’t give me the recipe!”

  “Actually, um…that’s my recipe,” Brooke answered.

  “You’re hired!”

  “What?” Brooke asked, startled. “But you haven’t even asked me anything else? You didn’t even ask why I left Joe’s!”

  “Okay, why did you leave Joe’s?” Jazz asked.

  “Oh…well, I had an accident on my motorcycle last week,” Brooke answered. “I missed a couple of shifts while I was in the hospital.”

  “You got fired while you were in the hospital?” Jazz asked disbelievingly.

  “Well, I wasn’t so much fired as I was replaced.”

  “Well, Joe’s idiocy is my blessing, isn’t it?”

  The conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Brooke’s cell phone. She pulled it from her pocket and quickly silenced it. Jazz tilted her head.

  “You can answer it if you need to,” she said.

  “No, it’s just my neighbor.”

  “Okay.” Jazz smiled. “So when can you start?” She held up a hand. “Wait. Before you answer that, I have to tell you, you’ll be starting as low man. There may be days when all you do is wash pans and sweep floors. And starting out, you’ll be hourly at thirteen dollars. Prove yourself, and you’ll get a raise. Now how about it?”

  “Right now,” Brooke answered. “I can start now!”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes!”

  “Let me grab some paperwork for you to fill out,” Jazz said excitedly. She eyed Brooke speculatively. “I think I have an extra tunic that will fit you. Might be a little long, but I think it’ll work. After you’ve been here a week or so, I’ll order you some of your own.”

  Jazz rose and pulled some forms from a filing cabinet. She handed them to Brooke as Brooke’s phone rang again. Why was Travis Cooper calling her? Again. She silenced it again and slid the phone in her pocket. Jazz looked at her curiously.

  “Is your neighbor a crazy cat lady or something?” she asked, chuckling.

  “No, nothing like that,” Brooke answered, laughing a little nervously. “So I’ll just fill these out and start today?”

  “Yes!” Jazz’s husband, Riley, walked into the office. “Ry, honey, take the sign off the counter! Brooke is starting today!”

  “Really!” Riley said, smiling broadly. “Welcome aboard, Brooke!”

  Brooke’s phone rang again. Jazz rolled her eyes.

  “Please answer that!” she said, laughing. “Your neighbor clearly needs to talk to you about something! You can talk to her while you fill out forms. I’ll be in the kitchen. Riley will be out front. Just holler when you’re done and we’ll get you started, okay?”

  Riley and Jazz walked out of the small office. Brooke stabbed at the green “TALK” button on her phone.

  “Hello?” she said quietly.

  “Brooke!” Travis’ voice came through the phone, hard and angry. “Where are you? I’ve been calling you and calling you!”

  “Travis, I – I had things to do!” Brooke answered, surprised at his tone. “What – why – are you angry with me?”

  “Brooke, I had no idea where you went!” he said. “I woke up and you were just gone!”

  “I’m sorry….” Brooke was at a loss. Even while her grandfather was still alive, he’d been so ill the last couple of years that he hadn’t seemed to notice Brooke’s comings and goings; to have someone – a virtual stranger – keeping tabs and worrying about her was strange. “I just went to pick up my check and…well, I found a job!”

  “Where are you, Brooke?”

  “I’m at a bakery,” she answered. “It’s called Babycakes. I just got a job here this morning!” Silence met her words. “I thought you’d be glad to be rid of me, Travis.”

  “Why would you – never mind.” Travis blew out a sigh. “Look, I’m just glad you’re okay. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  Brooke hung up and stared at her phone for a minute before sliding it back into her pocket. She finished filling out all the paperwork Jazz had given her, then went to find Jazz or Riley.

  “I’ll take those,” Riley said as Brooke left the office. He looked them over quickly. “Everything looks good. You can go on in the kitchen now and see where she wants to get you started.”

  Brooke followed Riley’s gesture to the kitchen door. She pushed it open and found Jazz in the back rolling out cookie dough. Jazz waved Brooke over to the big stainless steel table where she was working.

  “Today I’m working on spice cookies,” Jazz said. “I’m also going to make about a ton of pumpkin bread.” She smiled. “We’re supposed to get a cold front this afternoon, and that always brings people in looking for those warm Autumn goodies, you know?”

  “What can I do to help?” Brooke asked. “I can roll dough and let you work on the pumpkin bread, if you’d like.”

  “Yeah, you can probably reach the table better than I can,” the other woman laughed, rubbing her belly. Brooke laughed with her and reached for the rolling pin. “Thanks. The oven’s already preheated, and those bake for about ten minutes. I’ll get started on the bread. Oh, I need Riley for this, or I’ll get in trouble.”

  Jazz went to the door and called for her husband. Riley immediately bounded into the kitchen, his blue eyes wide.

  “Everything okay?” he asked a little breathlessly.

  “Riley, honey,” Jazz said dryly. “Every time I call your name, it does not mean I’m in labor. I just need you to get those cans of pumpkin down from that shelf, babe.”

  “Oh.” He grinned, pressed a quick kiss to her forehead and pulled a stepladder over to the shelf. Brooke stepped over to take the heavy cans of pumpkin puree as Riley handed them down. Jazz stood back glaring at the two of them.

  “Oh, I see how this works,” she muttered. “Brooke’s gonna be just as bad as you are about letting me do things. She’s already taken over rolling out cookie dough, now she won’t let me take cans of pumpkin!”

  “Yep,” Riley teased, winking at Brooke. “Give the girl a raise!”

  “Ha! I just want you to let me do my job!”

  “Aren’t you the boss?” Brooke asked innocently. “Doesn’t that mean you get to just supervise?”

  “Oh, you’re good,” Riley laughed. He stepped off the ladder and set the last can on the big worktable. He smiled at Brooke. “Keep her out of trouble, will you? Trust me, that will be the toughest part of your job here, Brooke!”

  Chapter 9

  Two hours later, Brooke and Jazz were well into making cookies and breads when Riley pushed open the door to the kitchen. He stuck his head in, an odd expression on his face.

  “Hey, Brooke,” he said. “There’s someone out here asking for you.”

  “For me?”

  Riley nodded. Wiping her hands on a towel, Brooke followed him to the front of the bakery. Arms folded across his broad chest, an implacable look on his face, Travis Cooper stood on the other side of the display case full of baked goods. Brooke stared at him, her mouth gaping open for a moment. Riley stood beside her, his gaze going from her to the large man across the counter.

  “Can I have a minute with Brooke, please?” the big man asked, his voice deep.

  “Brooke?” Riley queried, his brows raised questioningly. When Brooke nodded, Riley pointed to the opposite end of the bakery. “I’ll be right over there.”

  Riley’s implication was clear. This big, muscular man didn’t appear very happy with Brooke, and Riley was letting Brooke know he wasn’t going to leave her alone with him. Riley admitted to himself with a little smirk that if the man wanted to haul Brooke Valentine out by her ponytail, there probably wouldn’t be much Riley could do to stop him. But at least he was lending moral support until he could find out what was going on.

  “Travis, what are you doing here?” Brooke hissed.

  “I just wanted to check on you,” he answered easily. “You know you s
houldn’t be driving when you’re taking pain pills.”

  “I didn’t take any this morning,” she argued.

  “So your leg’s probably hurting by now.”

  “I’m – okay.”

  “Uh-huh. Did you take your antibiotic?”

  “Yes, Mom, I did!” Brooke said mockingly.

  Riley had edged a little closer again. He smiled at Brooke’s words. She was holding her own with the guy, whoever he was.

  “Okay, I get it,” Travis said, holding up his hands. He reached across the counter and wiped a smudge of flour off Brooke’s cheek. “Just consider me the big brother you never had, okay? You just seem like you could use someone to watch out for you a little, Bunny-girl.”

  Brooke’s eyes widened slightly, both at the touch of his hand, and at the nickname Travis used for her. It always irritated Brooke when her mother called her Bunny; so why did it cause that funny little tickle in her stomach when Travis called her Bunny-girl?

  “I’m all right, Travis, really,” Brooke said after a moment. “I’m working here and I think it’s going to work out really well.” She gave him a pointed look. “But not if you get me fired on my first day.”

  “Not much danger of that,” Riley said, once again beside Brooke. He extended a hand across the counter. “Riley Parker. My wife owns Babycakes.”

  “Travis Cooper,” Travis replied, shaking Riley’s hand. “I’m Brooke’s neighbor.” He looked closely at Riley. “Are you related to Parker Financial?”

  “By blood only,” Riley said. “My family doesn’t have much to do with me these days.” He eyed Travis. “How do you know Parker Financial?”

  “I have a meeting with Rodger and Randall Monday afternoon,” Travis said. “I’m in security.”

  “Securities, as in stocks and trading?”

  “No, security, as in keeping undesirables out of offices and hackers out of computers. The protection on their server is pretty antiquated.”