by Sharon Sala
Amelia almost giggled with joy. He’d been serious! She wanted to cry. She wanted to laugh. But she couldn’t do anything but maintain a ladylike image because Aunt Witty was breathing down her neck.
“Some,” she said softly. “In fact, I have a problem that I think you might be able to help me with.”
He closed his eyes and groaned as his fingers clenched around the receiver. He had a problem, too, and it hurt like hell. Making love to Amelia for the next fifty years would just about solve his problem if she’d only…
“I’d be glad to help you in any way I can,” he said. “When can we meet to talk about your problems?”
“How about Saturday? That is, if you’re not busy.”
Honey, I’d plow under a whole damn crop if that’s what it took to see you. “That would be fine with me,” he said.
“Good. Then I’ll meet you….”
“No! I’ll come to your house. I’ll pick you up. You’re not meeting me anywhere, okay?”
In that moment, something familiar rang a bell, but she lost her train of thought when Wilhemina gasped and Rosemary clapped her hands in delight.
“Okay,” she said. “And thanks for calling.”
Thank you, lady, Tyler thought, and smiled as she disconnected.
“Just what is the meaning of this?” Wilhemina asked.
“Meaning of what, Aunt Witty?”
“Seeing a man like that? And don’t play innocent with me, missy. You know what I mean. Why did he call you? Have you been seeing him behind my back?” Wilhemina was full of indignation.
“For pity’s sake, Willy. She’s twenty-nine years old. She can see anyone she chooses, whether it’s behind your back or behind the barn.” Rosemary giggled at her own wit. “And I can’t see anything wrong with that boy. After all, his own mother was one of your friends in school.”
Wilhemina sniffed. “But he has a terrible reputation. Why, I remember when…”
“Pooh,” Rosemary said. “That was years ago. I’m sure he’s gentled. And besides, a man’s not a man unless he’s sown a few wild oats. Remember when Poppa got caught…”
Wilhemina didn’t want to hear that old story again. Momma had threatened to go back to New Orleans when it had happened. It had taken every ounce of persuasion her father’d had to stop her. Her voice got shrill.
“I don’t know why you can’t remember where you put your purse yesterday and you can remember everything that happened nearly seventy years ago. It makes no sense. No sense at all.”
“Yes it does,” Rosemary said. And for once, the poignancy of her answer silenced them all. “I remember the early years because they were the best. Nothing happened to us later except that we got old, Willy. Nothing happened—nothing at all.”
“One thing happened,” Amelia said. “You got me.”
The sisters stared at each other and then shared a rare smile. “That’s true,” they echoed. “We got you.”
For the time being Tyler’s call was forgotten. It was only later, when Wilhemina had started to drift off to sleep that she remembered it. And then it was too late to do anything about it. But there was always tomorrow. She’d deal with it then.
“He’s here!” Rosemary called, and then yanked open the front door before Tyler had a chance to knock.
“Good morning, Tyler Dean,” Rosemary said. “Do come in. Amelia will be right down.”
Tyler tried not to grin, but it was hopeless. Rosemary Beauchamp was wearing the most enchanting little smile. It went well with her pink organza dress and her tennis shoes.
“Been out for a walk?”
“Oh yes,” she said. “It’s quite healthy, you know.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Tyler said. “I do a bit of it myself.”
She beamed, pleased that they had so much in common. Pleased that he had such dark hair and flashing eyes. Pleased that there was a man in the house. It didn’t take much to please Rosemary, but Wilhemina wasn’t cut from the same cloth. There was little that satisfied her.
He watched as the elder sister entered the room and wondered how he would ever find common ground with her.
“Miss Wilhemina, it’s real good to see you again.”
She nodded. “Please, have a seat, Amelia should be here soon.”
“After you, ma’am,” he said, and quietly stood beside a chair until Wilhemina had taken a seat.
Wilhemina sat, judging his behavior and finding no fault. Well, he has manners, I’ll give him that, she thought. It’s been years since I’ve seen any man who knew the right way to treat a lady. Everyone knows a gentleman doesn’t seat himself until every woman in the room is sitting down.
Of course, if Wilhemina had been honest with herself, she would have had to admit that she hadn’t been around a man—any man—in so many years that it hardly counted.
“Just what is your business here?” she asked.
Tyler tried not to flinch. He wondered how long it would take her to haul out the gun if he told her the truth. It wouldn’t do to admit he wanted to bed her niece in the world’s worst way. What the hell could he say that wouldn’t get him in trouble? As he was searching for an answer, Amelia walked into the room.
“Why, Amelia, don’t you look pretty!”
Rosemary’s statement was echoed by Tyler but it was hardly as eloquent. His sounded more like a grunt. And that was because he felt like he’d just been kicked in the stomach. Muscles he hadn’t used in months came alive, including some that had no business doing so. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and counted to ten, then added another five for good measure before he opened them and tried not to stare.
She had on a new dress. It was a shirtwaist. But it was sleeveless…and shorter than usual…and the most beautiful shade of peach he’d ever seen. The tight, ugly knot she normally made of her hair was gone. It was hanging loose and tied at the back of her neck with a slip of matching peach ribbon. Tiny wisps of baby-size curls fluffed around her face, framing it to perfection.
She hadn’t had the nerve to wear her contacts. It would have been the end of their beginning if he’d recognized her as Amber. So, the owl-rimmed glasses hung precariously on the bridge of her nose just as they did every day at the library. She was still Amelia, but she’d let just the least little bit of Amber shine through.
Wilhemina tried not to fidget. She didn’t like this new turn of events. In fact, she didn’t like anything new. If it had been good enough for Poppa, it was still good enough for her. Trusting men would constitute a change. She would have none of it.
“Where do you plan to go?” she asked sharply.
Amelia leaned over and kissed her aunts on their cheeks.
“It’s a surprise,” she said. “When I come back, then you’ll see.”
Tyler was just as mystified as the aunts. He didn’t know what Amelia had in mind, and quite frankly didn’t give a damn. As long as he could spend the day with this woman, he’d give just about anything a try.
“I’m ready,” she announced.
Tyler jumped to his feet, waved goodbye to the two elderly women and tried not to sweat as he watched Amelia’s hips swaying gently from side to side as she walked down the front porch steps ahead of him.
“Where are you taking me, Amelia?” he asked, trying to tease that serious expression from her face. Her answer couldn’t have come as more of a shock if she’d asked him to bed Miss Effie just as a personal favor.
“I have need of your services, Tyler.”
Ooh, darlin’, I have need of yours, too. “I’m at your disposal.”
“Good! Then take me to Savannah. I want to buy a car.”
Hiding his relief at the news, he nodded solemnly, seated her in the truck, and then slid behind the wheel, trying not to laugh from the joy. The reason for the extra job! She hadn’t been working there because she wanted to meet men. It hadn’t been because she liked the nightlife and flashy clothes. She wanted to buy a car! And then another thought occurred, one that wasn’t so cheer
ful.
The dark, brooding look he gave her was unintentional. But his reason for concern soon became evident.
“I’d be most happy to help,” he said quietly. “At least, I would if you’re not planning to leave Tulip just as soon as you get it.”
“Oh, my no! I just want to be able to travel around a little before I’m too old to see what’s out there. I have no intention of going anywhere. I wouldn’t leave my aunts, or Tulip.” She blushed and paused. “Or anyone else, not for all the cars and money in the world.”
Tyler smiled. He’d never wanted to kiss anyone this desperately in his entire life. He was pinning all his hopes on her “or anyone else.” He had to be the “else.” It was all that got him through a day.
“Okay then, did you have a particular model picked out, or are you flexible?”
“Whatever $12,000 dollars will buy, and as long as it’s a fairly late model and red. I like red.”
He grinned. Red! She was just full of surprises.
“Red it is, darlin’. Now hang on. We’ve got to spend your money before the sun goes down.”
She caught his excitement and patted her purse to make sure her checkbook was inside. This day had been long in coming in more ways than one.
She snuck a quick peek at the man behind the wheel. There was one thing a woman could want from a man like that and it had nothing to do with money and red cars. She blushed just thinking about it and quickly stared out the window.
But Tyler had seen her look, and before she knew what had happened, he’d pulled her next to him. So close that when he shifted gears or applied the brake, their thighs brushed. She swallowed once and tried not to look down at the length of long, strong leg encased in denim, but it was no use. There was simply too much of him to ignore. And, she wondered, as they entered the outskirts of Savannah, why a woman would even want to try.
“You’re sure this is the one you want?” Tyler asked. They’d taken it out for the third test run and each time, he’d watched the smile in her eyes grow brighter.
“Oh yes! It’s small, economical and four-door so that my aunts can get in and out with ease, and best of all, it’s red!”
Tyler grinned. She was right on that count. It was truly the reddest car he’d seen in years. The salesman called it fire-engine red. He called it hell on wheels.
“Okay, then let me deal. I think I can get him to lower the price some more. It’ll save you at least a thousand. You can use what you save for the tax and title change. Wait here. I’ll see what I can do.”
She nodded and plopped down on the bench inside the dealership, trying not to let on how much she wanted the car. Tyler had already told her that if she appeared too eager, they might not come down on the price. She watched him walk away and tried not to think of how much she wanted the man. If she did, they’d know she wanted something bad. They just wouldn’t know it was the man, not the car, that had her all hot and bothered.
He was back before she had time to think about how she was going to tell her aunts.
“Okay, sweetheart. You’ve just bought yourself a car. Write him a check for $10,200.00 and let’s take her home.”
Amelia jumped to her feet and before she thought, had flung herself into his arms.
“Oh, Tyler. Thank you! Thank you! I could never have done it without you.”
He caught her in midflight and knew before she was through talking what he was going to do. Her mouth was slightly open. The last words had just slipped through. Her breath was short and light, peppermint-flavored from a mint he’d never seen her chew. His fingers threaded through the long length of hair caught at the back of her neck and tightened as he tasted Amelia Ann.
His mouth was firm and wide, engulfing, entreating. It coaxed and coerced until what good sense she had disappeared.
“Oh, Tyler.” She sighed as he reluctantly pulled back. She looked up through misty lenses to see him watching her. To her dismay, he lifted her glasses from her nose.
“Is that all you can say?” he teased.
“Give them to me,” she said quickly, grabbing her eyeglasses from his hands. She shoved them back on her nose. “I’ve got plenty to say, but now’s not the time or place.”
He grinned and watched her disappear behind those owlish rims. He did want this woman so. He just wasn’t real sure who was the real Amelia Ann and who was the imposter.
Effie Dettenberg was the first to see it coming down the street, but on her way to the window to gawk, she accidentally stepped on Maurice’s tail. He let out a wail and made for the stairs. Lost between the urge to console her one and only against the need to snoop, snooping won out.
She parted the lace panels and looked out as the little red compact wheeled into the driveway of the Beauchamp house, and then gasped as Amelia actually had the nerve to honk the horn.
Effie saw the aunts come out of the house, then witnessed the surprise on their faces. It was nothing to what they’d feel if they knew what she knew.
Now everything was suddenly clear. Amelia had herself a flashy new car and Effie knew good and well how she’d earned the money to get it. Why, she’d seen her consorting with Raelene Stringer with her own eyes. And everyone knew how Raelene made her money. Everyone knew that Raelene liked men—too much for her own good. It was scandalous that poor Wilhemina and poor Rosemary were so duped by that deceitful niece.
Effie sniffed and dropped the curtains. It was her duty to let them know. She just hadn’t quite decided how to go about it. But she knew what she had to do. Effie was big on duties.
Seven
Amelia held her breath as the aunts came down the porch steps. Rosemary’s smile of delight was expected, as was Wilhemina’s frown. She got out of the car with trepidation.
“What is the meaning of this?” Wilhemina asked.
“It’s my surprise,” Amelia said. “I’ve been saving money for a long time now. It’s all bought and paid for. I don’t owe anyone a penny and it’ll be very economical on gas.”
“The Chrysler got good mileage,” Wilhemina muttered.
Rosemary was entranced. She’d always wanted something red. “That’s because it never got out of Tulip,” she argued.
Wilhemina had been fraught with nerves at the idea of losing Amelia and uneasy about Tyler’s appearance into their lives, but the appearance of the car settled part of her fears.
“So this is why you needed that man’s assistance.”
Amelia nodded. “It’s part of it, Aunt Witty. But I like him, as a friend. He’s a very kind and generous-hearted man.”
“Pooh!” It was all Wilhemina could manage. This had been a big day in their lives. For the first time in her life, Amelia had left home with a man. And now she’d come back in a new red car. Witty didn’t like upheavals.
“I think he’s handsome,” Rosemary announced. “And I want a ride. Can we go for a ride, Amelia? I get the front seat. After all, remember I suffer from motion sickness.”
“You don’t suffer from any such thing,” Wilhemina argued.
“But, Sister, I do. Remember when I got sick and threw up all over…”
“You’d just eaten three brownies and a bowl of ice cream at the church picnic, that’s why you got sick—not from riding in a car.”
Amelia stopped the argument before it went further. “Both of you get in. Aunt Rosie can ride in the front this time. Next time it’ll be Aunt Witty’s turn.”
It stopped the fuss as they settled inside.
Tyler watched from the corner. The smile on his face spread wider as he saw Amelia slowly but surely win Wilhemina over. As the two elderly women took their seats inside the new car, he shifted gears and drove away. Yet no matter how far he drove, he couldn’t get the memory of Amelia’s lips off his mind.
He shivered and ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling it even more. He hoped to God he survived this woman, because if he did, she’d be worth the years off his life that loving her was probably going to take.
M
iss Effie watched them load into the car and back out of the driveway. With a sniff of disdain, she changed her shoes, grabbed her handbag, and headed for the door with somebody else’s business on her mind.
Amelia put a box of raisins in her shopping cart and tried to ignore the smirk the box boy gave her as he continued to stock the grocery shelves. It was not the first time she’d experienced such behavior. And it had all started five days ago when she’d come home in her new car.
Ever since then she’d been getting these strange glances. At the gas station, the grocery store, even in the library she heard whispers that stopped when she got close, and received knowing smiles from men who’d never before given her the time of day.
She had a feeling that things were only going to get worse. And she knew just who to thank for the rumors that must be floating around Tulip about her. There was only one person other than Raelene who’d seen her out late at night. Miss Effie! And there was no other person in Tulip who had as loose a jaw.
She sighed, ignored the soft whistle that accompanied the boy’s smirk, and pushed her cart toward the checkout stand. Surely this would pass. She hadn’t done anything wrong. If the library board hadn’t been so stingy with her salary she would never have had to take the second job to begin with.
“Will that be all?” the clerk asked, and gave Amelia the once-over. She’d heard all about how this prissy librarian had raised the money for that flashy new car. Personally, she had a hard time believing that any man would pay good money to take out someone who looked like her. But it was true that men were fools. She guessed that they’d do a lot for their own pleasures.
Amelia nodded and reached for her purse. The young man sacked her groceries, carried them out to the car, and gave her a pat on the behind as he walked away. Amelia was so shocked she didn’t know whether to slap him or run. She did neither. Instead she sank behind the wheel of her car, rested her forehead on the steering wheel and fought back tears. Something as innocent as wanting a new car had turned into a nightmare.
