by Parin, Sonia
Elizabeth couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. She drew in a deep breath and let her gaze rest on Mitch. It steadied her and zapped her out of her unfortunate encounter stupor. “Oh… you brought the car… Thank you. And I need to give you a lift back.”
He dangled the keys and smiled. “I could call someone to come and collect me. If you’re not up to—”
“Mitch, I need to do this.” To get on with her life.
“For you.”
For us, she wanted to say, but held the words back because they smacked of desperation. Of wanting to anchor herself to the first available man. Also, she didn’t think Mitch would want to hear her staking a claim on him. He’d said everyone he’d been involved with was now happily married... to someone else, obviously. He could not have been clearer. He didn’t do long-term or permanent relationships. Last night had been impulsive and while she wanted to believe she’d been responding to a mutual attraction, she couldn’t expect someone like Mitch Faydon to do a complete overhaul of his life and suddenly become the settling down type. She shook her head and tried to disperse all doubt from her mind.
“Come on, I’ll drive you back.”
“Um...”
“Are you worried about me driving? I know some men are not comfortable with women drivers.”
“I’m all for equality.”
“So you’ve never entertained negative opinions about women drivers?”
“I might have the occasional fleeting thought.” He opened the driver’s door and smiling, handed her the car keys, then he strode around to the passenger side and settled into his seat, his legs stretched out, his smile still in place.
She started the car, put it into gear and then stopped to look at him. “There’s something you should know… about last night. Something I need to tell you.”
* * *
She’d made a mistake. She’d had two drinks too many. Mitch’s mind filled with all possible explanations. What else would she have to say about last night? She’d wanted to sever all connections to her past and she’d only known one way to go about it, by having sex with the town bad boy. Did she even know that’s how everyone thought of him?
“Should I brace myself?”
“You’re going to do that once I start driving anyway.”
“Have some faith. I actually taught Eddie to drive.” Because Markus and Matthew had been at their wits’ end and in fear of suffering nervous breakdowns.
“Last night has to stay between us.”
He could deal with that. “No shouting it from the rooftops?”
“Is that what you were going to do?”
He saw a tiny frown line appear between her eyebrows. Then it disappeared and she laughed.
“You were kidding.”
“No one needs to know what goes on between us.” Which left it all open ended. Or at least, he thought it did. “Are you worried people will talk?”
“I’m actually a little concerned about you.”
“Me?”
“I’ve heard about your… break… from women.”
He shrugged. “Nothing’s written in stone.”
“Well, I feel a little guilty. After all, I didn’t really give you much of a choice.”
“I’d like to think you responded to something that was… in the air.”
She sighed and sat back. “I’m so glad you said that. I thought I’d imagined it.”
He reached out and brushed his fingers along her cheek. Their gazes held. He allowed himself to enjoy the moment, without thinking too much about what it meant or even if it meant anything.
Smiling, she turned her attention to pulling out of the parking space.
“Elizabeth.”
“Yes?”
“Am I going to be happy at the end of this drive?”
Chapter Nine
“I’ll meet you inside. There’s something I… need to pick up at the grocery store.”
If he didn’t know better, he’d think Elizabeth didn’t want to be seen walking into Joyce’s with him. One night… and now one by-the-roadside kiss didn’t make them a couple. Not yet, he thought, catching himself by surprise.
Reluctantly, he agreed. For the time being, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to fend off curious onlookers. It would only take one person to join the dots and see there was something going on between them. Once they went public, they would become fair game to open scrutiny. Money would no doubt exchange hands, bets raised on how long they could last together, Mitch thought. Then again, why hide? Mitch growled under his breath. Elizabeth was focused on getting through this trying time, closing the door on one relationship...
Had she chosen him to bridge the gap and help her move on? He cursed at the stray thought.
“Elizabeth, hang on,” he called out.
Elizabeth stopped and turned, her hair brushing along her shoulders, her smile a mixture of happiness and concern. She was wearing her hair loose, and he’d only now noticed. Talk about being in a post-sex-under-the-stars-by-the-roadside haze.
She took a step toward him.
Mitch almost forgot what he wanted to say... ask.
Was she using him?
He shoved his hands inside his pockets.
Why ruin a perfect moment with unnecessary questions? In fact, why worry about what she might or might not want from him? He never had in the past. Women had been hovering around him since... well, always. They came, they enjoyed, they moved on. Until recently, that had never worried him. Felicia had a lot to answer for...
“Don’t worry.” He’d let her call the shots. After the conversation he’d walked into that morning, he had the feeling she needed to take hold of the reins, to set her own pace.
With a wave, she turned and headed toward the bookstore.
Hadn’t she said she’d wanted to go to the grocery store?
Don’t go there, Mitch. He’d only do his head in.
At least they were back on track, the one he’d pictured earlier. She’d surprised him by pulling up by the side of the road and kissing him. Smiling, he pushed the door to the café open and strode in.
“Table for one?” Joyce asked.
“You don’t have any of those,” he said distracted by the thought of Elizabeth’s lips. She hadn’t lost any of her fire. Strangely, the kiss hadn’t been an unleashing of passion. She’d leaned in as if seeking comfort, and then her lips had brushed against his...
“Do you need me to guide you? You look… dazed.”
“Don’t you have someone else to terrorize? What’s Bradford up to?”
Joyce pursed her lips. “I suppose you want a cup of coffee.”
“Yes, I do. And do some chanting or take a few deep breaths before you grind the beans. I don’t want a cup full of your angst.”
He settled down with a newspaper, reading the headlines but not paying much attention. Moments later, he heard the café doorbell tingling. Without turning he knew it was Elizabeth. He’d swear his body temperature rose by several notches. Then he heard her chatting with Joyce. He considered trying to catch her attention. Joyce knew he’d given Elizabeth a ride home the night before, so asking her to join him wouldn’t look entirely suspicious. Mitch picked up the newspaper and forced himself to read the latest grumblings about cattle prices.
“Mind if I join you?” Elizabeth asked, her tone confident but with an edge of uncertainty.
A good act, or was that really how she felt?
“Pull up a chair.” An encounter like any other, he thought trying to avoid looking over his shoulder to see if Joyce was watching.
“I can’t remember the last time I read a newspaper. What am I missing?”
“This is a local paper. The Country Women’s Association is up in arms about losing their meeting place at the Scout Hall. They need a new place to meet.”
Her gaze strayed to the street opposite.
“There’s also something about the heiress.” He flipped over several pages. “Here it is. According to the latest gossip,
she’s been sighted in nearby Bright.”
“Is there a photo of her?” She leaned in to look at the page, the light fragrance she wore reaching out to him.
“There’s a cartoon. She’s dressed in an Elvis costume.”
“Let me guess, no one’s really taking the possibility of her visiting seriously?”
“She hails from New York. Eden has a pub, a café and a restaurant. It’s hardly the capital of entertainment.”
“Yes, but what about the town? How do the locals feel about half the main street standing vacant? It’s a dreadful eyesore,” Elizabeth said looking up as Joyce set their coffees down on the table. “What do you think, Joyce?”
“I think we should take up a petition. Demand that she make up her mind about the Wilde side of Eden. Either commit to doing something about it or sell it.”
“You don’t agree, Mitch?” Elizabeth asked, her smile beaming up at him.
He could live on that smile. “I’m thinking that Eden is close to being overrun by women. I’m going to start counting down the days to the annual rodeo.”
“What are you complaining about now, Mitch?” Eddie asked as she approached their table.
Mitch sighed. “When’s Theo coming back? You seem to be at a loose end.”
“In a few days, which means I have tonight to kick back and party. Girls’ night in,” Eddie said. “Pizza, who cares dress code, a feel good movie… Although, you all know my preference is for either a scary movie or an action packed one. Are you in?” she asked Elizabeth and Joyce.
Mitch made a point of stirring his coffee. If Elizabeth accepted the invitation, then that would be that. He drew the cup to his lips and almost dropped it when her foot brushed against his leg. Not by accident, he realized as he caught her impish smile. It had been deliberate, but was she flirting with him? Teasing him with a promise that would keep him tossing and turning all night?
“And how’s Elizabeth getting home after your girls’ only soiree?” he asked hoping to at least snatch a moment with her.
“She can stay the night. I’ll let the others know. Maybe Hannah can join us too.”
Mitch frowned. “You’re being more sociable than usual.”
“It’s fun having new people around. We don’t want to lose them. I feel it’s my duty to be welcoming.”
“How did Hannah ever end up coming to Eden?” He gave Joyce a slanted gaze full of suspicion.
Joyce swung on her heels. “You guys are so distracting. I should get back to work.”
“And I need to go shop for tonight,” Eddie said helping herself to Mitch’s coffee before taking off.
Mitch smiled at Elizabeth. He was about to suggest a clandestine meeting around the corner when his phone beeped a message. Reading it, he sighed. “Matthew’s cracking the whip. I guess I should get back too.”
* * *
Elizabeth knew she had to be pragmatic. For the time being, the best she could hope for was playing it be ear, taking one day at a time. She forced herself to smile. Whatever happened between her and Mitch, from now on they’d have to play a game of discretion.
Joyce had asked her if she’d enjoyed her drive home the night before. Clearly she’d been fishing for information about Mitch. Elizabeth had never shared intimate details with friends and she didn’t feel like starting now. She wouldn’t know how. The little she’d told them about her unhealthy relationship with Andrew had been divulged only after she’d consumed a couple of glasses of wine. Belatedly, she wished she hadn’t said anything. What if they now thought she was desperate to grab the first opportunity that came her way? To use Mitch as a rebound…
She frowned. They wouldn’t judge her.
As for not seeing Mitch tonight…
It would do her good to step back and let everything sink in before she got too carried away. She enjoyed Mitch’s company and it looked like she was going to be around for a long time. Last night could either fade into their past and never be spoken of again, or...
This was all so new to her. Falling for someone so quickly… She had no idea what came next?
“Movie night with the girls,” she mused.
He folded the newspaper and smiled at her. “We’ll figure something out.”
Had he been entertaining the same thoughts, wondering when they would next meet?
“Meanwhile, consider yourself thoroughly kissed,” he said, his eyes dancing around her face, then lingering on her mouth, sweeping along her bottom lip...
Heat poured into her cheeks then fluttered down to the rest of her body.
“Right back at you,” she whispered.
He took a deep swallow. “That’s going to make getting up a little difficult for me. I might have to use the newspaper as a camouflage.”
Elizabeth watched him leave and gave herself a few minutes to enjoy the mental kiss they’d shared. Earlier he’d asked if he could expect to be happy by the end of the ride. She hadn’t been able to focus on driving, so she’d pulled up by the side of the road...
The fact she’d thought of kissing him as a way of making him happy defined their connection as something purely physical. She was fine with that.
“The end of the ride?” she said under her breath. Had he been referring to the drive into town, or this rollercoaster ride they were on?
Did he need some sort of assurance from her?
Who was she kidding? Last night had been... a hook up? Joyce and Eddie knew how he went about choosing his playmates and if that’s all she’d been...
She shook her head. The thought of her being a playmate made her smile. Her timid, under the covers sex with Andrew had not exactly prepared her for wild sex in a car.
All her life, she’d been starved for attention. Not to mention sex... Now that she’d enjoyed a little bit of it, she wanted more. A daily dose. She smiled and thought about having Mitch on tap.
“Are you right there?” Joyce asked. “Your cheeks are all flushed. Did Mitch say something to you?”
Elizabeth pressed her fingers to her temples. “I think I need to walk off some of this caffeine. I’m a little bit buzzy.” She looked up at Joyce. “In a good way. I love your coffee. In fact, it’s the best I’ve ever had... I should go now. Things to do...”
“Okay, I’ll see you tonight.”
That morning’s unfortunate visit from Andrew meant she now had to put some sort of plan into action. Keeping the car had been a huge oversight. Once again, her pride was on the line and she couldn’t afford to let anything drag her down. Earlier, she’d gone into the bookstore to check out the notice board and had found what she’d been looking for. She pulled out her cell phone and made a quick call using the number she’d jotted down.
“Hi, I’m calling about the car you have listed for sale…”
Several hours later she stood on the front steps of Rosebud Cottage, her lips stretched into a wide smile.
“It’s mine. Lock, stock and barrel.”
Glenda frowned. “Are you sure it runs? Sorry, I’m just thinking it’s a huge jump from driving a luxury sedan to this...”
Elizabeth shrugged. “As much as I hate to admit it, I’m on a budget.”
“I’m sure three years of living with that man entitles you to something…”
“I don’t want anything from him... Andrew. I’ve already sent him a message. He’ll either organize to have his car collected or I’ll dump it by the side of the road.” She gave a firm nod. “So, be honest. What do you think?”
Glenda laughed. “It reminds me of a smiley face.”
“Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“It’s… it’s so yellow.”
“It’s a happy car.”
“You’ll have to have it checked out.”
“These old Volkswagens were built to last. Besides, it’s only had one owner and she only used it to get to church on Sundays. She sold it because she’s worried people will think she’s being too flirty for her age. Personally, I don’t think there’s an age limit to driving
a VW convertible.” She wiped a smudge off the bonnet with her sleeve. “You know what… you might be right about having it checked out. Do you think one of the Faydon brothers will know something about cars?” She could think of one in particular who could at least pretend. “I might drive in to town and see if they can spare a few minutes to look under the hood.”
One quick call to Eddie with a brief explanation of why she needed a man’s help and she’d secured Mitch’s cell number. Half an hour later she was parked outside The Gloriana waiting for Mitch to respond to her ‘having man related trouble, please help’ text message.
“If anybody asks,” she said under her breath, “I’m blaming it on the coffee.” She’d gone three hours without seeing Mitch and in all that time, her mind had been working overtime trying to figure out a way to contrive another encounter with him, without raising too much suspicion.
* * *
Mitch burst out of the pub, his brothers on his heels.
“Whatever you do, don’t throw the first punch. Going by what you said about the guy, he’s the type to have a lawyer on retainer.”
Mitch checked his cell phone again. Still no response to his request for more info, r u ok?
Man related trouble.
What the hell had she meant by that?
Had Andrew returned?
He looked up and nearly tripped over his own feet.
“Hi,” Elizabeth called out and gave him a small wave of her hand, “You brought the cavalry.”
“No laughing,” he threw over his shoulder at his brothers. Easing out a breath, he relaxed and sent his gaze on a swift survey of Elizabeth. She looked fine. Well, better than fine.
She gave him a megawatt smile and spread her arms out. “What do you think?”
He looked past her and focused on the car parked behind her. “What is it?”
“It’s my new car.”
“New?” Maybe way back in the 1960’s.
“The local mechanic’s closed for the day, and Glenda suggested it might be a good idea to check... things.”
