She looked down and squeaked. “I look like a refugee from a wet T-shirt contest.”
He couldn’t help chuckling as she took the jacket and draped it over her torso. Although her breasts weren’t nearly the size of the women’s who entered such contests, they were still appealing. Not that he was looking. Much.
“What’s your name?”
The question really wasn’t that difficult, yet she hesitated as if trying to find the right answer. “It’s Arden... Arden W...West.”
“So, Arden, what brings you to North Carolina?”
She raised a suspicious eyebrow and leaned closer to her door. “How do you know I’m not from here?”
“No accent. You don’t have that Southern way of speaking.”
She nodded. “True.”
“And I saw your car, remember? Maryland plates.”
“Oh.” She heaved out a breath. A bit of remorse fell over her fine features and the stiffness left her spine.
“So, what brings you to our neck of the woods?”
“My car broke down here.” Arden had an impish smile on her face, which hit him in the center of his chest with unexpected force, momentarily making breathing hard.
“Sweet Briar is a small town. There’s a magnetic field that captures new people and won’t let them leave. Sort of like the Hotel California.”
“Where you can check out but never leave?”
Brandon nodded, pleased that she understood his reference to the classic Eagles song.
“Are you from here?”
“No.”
When he didn’t say anything more, she looked at him, her eyebrows raised in question.
“Chicago. I moved here three years ago.” A man who preferred to keep things on the surface, he didn’t normally volunteer information about himself. But being open seemed to put her at ease. So, as long as they kept to generalities, it was all good.
She tilted her head and looked him over, a mischievous expression on her face. “Did the magnet catch you or did you stay by choice?”
“Choice.” He hadn’t been able to leave Chicago and that lying Sylvia fast enough. When a friend mentioned his cousins loved living in Sweet Briar, Brandon had been on the first plane to North Carolina.
Arden nodded, then turned to look out the window. Lightning flashed, followed by loud, booming thunder. The rain was coming down too fast for the drainage system to keep up. At the rate water was beginning to flood the road, he wouldn’t be surprised if several streets in town were already closed.
After several frustrating minutes of inching down the highway and ten minutes spent sitting under an overpass when the downpour made driving too hazardous, they finally saw the sign welcoming them to Sweet Briar, population 1,976. He heard his passenger’s sigh of relief and wondered if maybe she was more nervous than she let on.
“Is there a hotel where you can drop me? Or, better yet, a garage where I can arrange a tow?”
“No hotel. We only have a couple of bed-and-breakfasts.” He wiped the condensation off the windshield and leaned forward for a better look. Just as he thought. There was close to three inches of water on the roads and the level was rising. “We have a garage, but I’m sure John has closed up for the night.”
She checked her watch, then glanced over at him, disbelief on her lovely face. “It’s only five o’clock.”
“He generally closes around four thirty or five. You know, small town.”
“I guess.” She agreed but still looked doubtful. “Is there another mechanic in town?”
“Nope. Just John. And, to be honest, the way the streets are flooding, he probably wouldn’t tow you now anyway.”
Arden considered a minute. “Okay. Then I guess you can just drop me at the B and B.”
“No problem. The Sunrise B and B is just a couple of blocks away. Call John in the morning. Let him know you’re in a hurry and he’ll have you back on the road in no time.”
“Thanks.”
“Kristina will be able to give you John’s number. She owns the B and B, by the way.”
“Speaking of calling.” Arden pulled out her phone and checked it. Grinning, she held it up to him. “Bars. I have bars. I’m out of the seventies.”
Brandon blinked. “What?”
She laughed. “I couldn’t get service where the car died.”
He nodded his understanding. “Ah. Gotcha. Cell service is spotty in this area. It takes some getting used to. But you shouldn’t have trouble in town.”
“That’s good to know.”
He pulled in front of an old Victorian mansion that Kristina Harrison had converted into a thriving business.
Arden peered out the window. At that moment, lightning streaked across the sky and thunder rolled. “You called this the Sunrise B and B?”
“Yeah.”
“It looks more like a haunted house.” She glanced at the building and then back at him. “You sure Herman and Lily don’t live here?”
He barked out a surprised laugh. So she liked the old sixties television show The Munsters. So did he. “I’m positive. Although the name of the street is Mockingbird Lane.”
“Are you kidding me? The Munsters lived at 1313 Mockingbird Lane.”
“Yeah. I’m kidding. This is Rose Street.”
She shook her small fist at him. “That’s so not funny.”
Brandon resisted the urge to laugh but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Yeah, it was.”
She grinned with him. “Okay, it was.”
“I know this place looks spooky in this storm, but it’s actually a well-kept building. And the inside is great. You’ll be comfortable.”
“Have you ever stayed here?”
“Well, no. I have a house in town. But trust me. Kristina Harrison has great taste. And she’s a nice person. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay.”
“Stay here. I’ll help you.” He was halfway around the front of the truck when the passenger door opened and Arden hopped out. A splash was followed by a squeal.
“I know. I know. Don’t say it.” She laughed as she stepped onto the curb. “I just thought I could get out and save you the trouble.”
He shook his head. How much trouble could it be to help her out of his truck and carry her across a few puddles? Apparently, she’d rather do that crazy hop-tiptoe step through several inches of cold water than wait for his assistance. He understood the need to be independent since he liked to do things for himself as well, so he resisted the urge to sweep her into his arms and carry her to the stairs, even though it meant getting drenched again. He did stay close by, ready to catch her if she stumbled.
She finally slip-slid her way to the stairs and grabbed a railing. Letting out a breath, he climbed the steps beside her, eager to reach the porch and get them both out of the driving rain. He rang the doorbell and in less than a minute the glass door swung open.
“Goodness. Get in here before you catch pneumonia,” Kristina said, motioning for them to enter.
“Thanks.” Brandon stepped aside to let Arden go before him.
* * *
Arden didn’t need to be told twice. She stepped inside the door held open by a pretty woman who looked to be in her midtwenties. Brandon closed the door behind them and made the introductions.
“I’ll grab some towels so you can dry off,” Kristina said. Arden hated the idea of tracking water across the gleaming marble floors, but when the woman gave her a gentle nudge, she moved toward the sitting room. Two comfy-looking sofas flanked a fireplace that Arden wished was lit. Kristina bustled out of the room.
“Brandon, what brings you and your friend out on such a horrible night?” she said as she hurried back, carrying two fluffy towels. She handed one to Arden, who blotted her face, then began drying h
er arms.
Brandon took the other towel and smiled at Kristina. For a split second illogical possessiveness and jealousy battled for dominance inside Arden, which didn’t make sense. Why should she care who Brandon smiled at? She’d only just met the man. Besides, men were snakes. Just because she hadn’t heard him rattle didn’t mean he didn’t bite. Arden definitely wasn’t interested in being bitten again.
As they dried themselves off, Brandon explained about Arden’s car breaking down on the highway.
“Oh, you poor thing. How awful,” Kristina said, shaking her head.
Brandon rubbed the towel over his face, his enormous chest muscles flexing. A jolt of awareness shot through her, and Arden suddenly went from chilled to overheated. She rubbed the towel over her hair, reminding herself that a beautiful body didn’t necessarily translate to a good heart. Though, to be fair, he had been more than kind so far. And he didn’t even know she was rich.
“I gave her a lift and brought her here. She needs a place to stay the night.”
“Oh, no. I’m booked. Carmen and Trent’s wedding is this weekend. People started arriving this afternoon.”
“So early? It’s only Monday.”
“Apparently, some of the guests are turning this trip into a vacation. Sweet Briar has become a popular destination in the past couple years. In fact, I’m filled for most of the summer.” Kristina turned to Arden to include her in the conversation. “Trent is our chief of police and a great guy. His first wife was killed in a car accident a few years back. How long ago was it, Brandon?”
He shrugged his massive shoulders. “It was before my time.”
Kristina turned back to Arden. “Anyway, Carmen was born here but moved to New York years ago. She came back for her mother’s funeral, God rest her soul. Anyhow, they fell in love and are getting married. Don’t you just love a happy ending?”
Kristina sighed. Arden sneezed.
“Bless you. I’m so sorry I don’t have a place for you to stay. I would suggest the Come On Inn, even though Reginald Thomas annoys me enough to make me swear, but they’re booked, too. Of course we were filled days before they were. They only got our overflow.”
Arden nodded and rubbed the towel over her legs. She really needed to get out of these wet clothes.
“So, what are you going to do?” Kristina asked. It was clear to Arden that the other woman was sincerely concerned, which surprised her, given that they were complete strangers.
“The only thing we can do. I’m taking her home with me.”
Chapter Two
“You’re taking me home with you?” Arden asked the minute they were alone in his truck. “There has to be somewhere else I can stay the night.”
Brandon glanced over at Arden. She was watching him almost as closely as she had when he’d picked her up on the highway. He could understand her unease although she had nothing to be afraid of. “You heard Kristina. Both bed-and-breakfasts are filled. There’s not another place in town. There are a couple of chain hotels twenty or so miles down the highway, but I’m not sure all the roads are passable. And, even if we make it, there’s no guarantee they’ll have rooms available.”
She nodded, but she didn’t appear pleased by his answer. Still, she couldn’t argue the facts. The rain showed no sign of letting up anytime soon. Truth be told, he wished there was somewhere else she could spend the night. He’d rather be done with the whole thing, too, but he had picked her up and now bore some responsibility for her welfare. He couldn’t just dump her on the side of the road in the middle of a storm and bid her adieu. He’d arrange for her to get her car towed to town first thing in the morning so she could go on her merry way. Surely that would be enough chivalry to satisfy even his parents.
He started the truck and drove down the street, passing the town’s lone gas station. The lights over the pumps were dim, casting odd shadows on the street. Not a soul was around. “You’ll be perfectly safe. My sister, Joni, lives with me.”
“And she’ll be there?”
He nodded and stopped at the corner. He grabbed his cell phone, punched in his home number and put the phone on speaker. Joni answered on the third ring.
“Hey, Brandon.”
“Joni, I’ll be home in a couple of minutes. I’m bringing someone with me.”
Joni laughed. “I know. I just got off the phone with Kristina.”
“That woman is in the wrong business. She should be a reporter.”
Joni laughed again. “Can your friend hear me?”
“Yeah.”
Brandon looked at Arden, who smiled tentatively.
“Don’t worry. My brother is perfectly harmless. And I know you’re soaked to the skin. I have dry clothes ready for you to change into.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“Not a problem.”
Brandon ended the call and looked at Arden. “Better?”
She smiled and for a second the sun seemed to break through the clouds. He felt a stirring where his heart used to be and immediately quashed it.
“Much better. Thanks for calling her.”
“Sure. I can’t have you worried about your safety like some woman in a horror story.”
Arden glanced at the dark street. The wind was blowing the trees every which way, casting shadows that shifted so much they looked like arms reaching out to grab something. “It does look kind of creepy out here. Like some chainsaw-wielding maniac could jump from a dark corner and attack us. Well, me anyway. You’re kind of big for someone to mess with.”
Brandon continued driving. “Don’t worry. There’s no one hiding in the shadows or anywhere else. And if someone did try to hurt you, I’d protect you.”
The grateful look she sent him made his chest grow tight and warmed the cold bitterness in his soul. He rubbed his hand across the raised scar near his heart as a reminder to keep his emotional distance. The last time he’d gotten close to a woman he’d ended up in intensive care. It was okay to be friendly—Arden needed that to be at ease. But genial chatter was one thing; an emotional connection was something entirely different.
“My brothers always said I have a vivid imagination. Which is why I never watch scary movies.”
“Never?”
“Not ever. Afterward, I’d be so busy checking under my bed and jumping at every bump in the night that I’d never get any sleep.”
He nodded. “That’s our house right there. Third one on the left.”
Arden leaned back in her seat and sighed. “It looks normal from here.”
“We keep the dragon in the basement.”
“That’s good to know.” She leaned forward and peered out the window at the rising water. “What I really want to know is where you keep the rowboat.”
“Not interested in wading through the water again?”
“No.” She looked down at her ruined sandals. “Once was enough for me. I think I can cross that off my bucket list.”
“Walking through rainwater up to your ankles was on your bucket list?”
She lifted the corner of her mouth in a mischievous grin. “I want to have a wide range of experiences.”
“I’m glad we could oblige,” he said, pulling into the driveway.
* * *
Less than a minute later they were running through the large backyard and racing up a flight of stairs. A woman Arden assumed was Brandon’s sister opened the door and stepped back to let them inside. She had friendly eyes and introduced herself with a bright smile.
“It’s really coming down out there,” Joni said, closing the door against the wind. Arden slipped off her damp and muddy sandals and placed them beside the door so she wouldn’t track mud through the house. Joni led the way through the utility room and into the kitchen. The room was huge, with restaurant-qualit
y appliances. There were miles of glistening marble countertops. A solid wood farmhouse table sat near an unlit stone fireplace. Wonderful aromas floated in the air and Arden’s stomach growled.
“Sorry.” Cheeks burning, Arden placed a hand over her stomach, trying to muffle the sound.
Joni waved away Arden’s apology. “Don’t be. You’re not only soaked to the bone, you’re also hungry. If I were you I’d be grabbing food from the pots with my bare hands.”
Arden laughed, her embarrassment dissipating. She liked Joni.
“I’ve got some dry clothes for you that will fit better than my brother’s jacket. Come on, you can take a quick shower and get warm. You’ll feel a lot better. It’ll be a few minutes before dinner’s ready.”
Warm water and dry clothes sounded wonderful. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I don’t want to put you out.”
“Nonsense. It’s no bother.”
“Thanks.”
“The stairs are this way.”
Joni put her arm around Arden in a sisterly way and led her farther into the house. Although Arden had run as fast as she dared through the slippery yard, she’d still gotten drenched again. She hated dripping onto the beautiful hardwood floor, but she couldn’t strip in the kitchen.
Joni didn’t seem to mind about the mess, and seconds later they were climbing a flight of stairs. Brandon followed them in silence.
“You can use this room,” Joni said, opening a door to a bedroom and stepping through to the en suite. “Brandon had some renovations done to the house when we moved here. He turned a couple of tiny rooms into bathrooms. I didn’t agree with his decision at first, but I totally love it now.”
As she talked, Joni bustled about the room, pulling plush towels out of a linen closet, then stacking them on the marble counter. She grabbed bottles of shampoo and conditioner and several different types of body wash from a cabinet beside the sink. “I’ll be right back.”
Arden nodded, grateful when the other woman returned with a stack of dry clothes.
After Joni left, Arden took one look in the mirror and groaned. Her makeup was completely washed off, but her face was far from clean. Somehow mud had gotten spattered on her cheeks, with one long smear down the side of her face. Her wet hair was wind whipped and going in every direction. She ran her hand through it and discovered a leaf-covered twig had gotten tangled in her mane, completing the puppy-playing-in-a-mud-puddle look. She stripped and stepped into the shower.
The Waitress's Secret Page 2
