by Annie Rains
She watched him go and then set about to turning off all the lights. She grabbed her things and locked up behind her as she left, noticing Paris and his motorcycle beside her car in the parking lot.
“If I didn’t know you were a nice guy, I might be a little scared by the fact that you’re waiting beside my car in an empty parking lot.”
“I’m harmless.” He hugged his helmet against him. “You looked a little rattled in there. I wanted to make sure you got home safely. I’ll follow you.”
Lacy folded her arms over her chest. “Maybe I don’t want you to know where I live.”
“The end of Pine Cone Lane. This is a small town, and I get around with business.”
“I see. Well, you don’t need to follow me home. Really, I’m fine.”
“I’d feel better if I did.”
Lacy held out her arms. “Suit yourself. Good night, Paris.” She stepped inside her vehicle, closed the door behind her, and cranked her engine. It rolled and flopped. She turned the key again. This time it didn’t even roll. “Crap.” This day just kept getting better.
After a few more attempts, Paris tapped on her driver’s side window.
She opened the door. “The battery is dead. I think I left my lights on this morning.” It’d been raining, and she’d had them on to navigate through the storm. She’d forgotten her umbrella, so she’d turned off her engine, gotten out of her car, and had darted toward the library. In her rush, she must’ve forgotten to turn off her lights.
“I’ll call Jere’s Shop. He can jump your battery or tow it back to your house,” Paris said.
Lacy considered the plan. “I can just wait here for him and drive it back myself.”
“Jere is dependable but slow. You don’t need to be out here waiting for him all evening. Leave your keys in the ignition, and I’ll take you home.”
Lacy looked at the helmet that Paris now extended toward her, her brain searching for another option. She didn’t want to be here all night. She could call one of her sisters, but they would then follow her inside, and she didn’t want to deal with them after the day she’d had either.
She got out of the car and took the helmet. “Okay,” she said, shaking her head no.
This made Paris laugh as he led her to his bike. “You are one big contradiction, Lacy Shaw.”
* * *
Paris straddled his bike and waited for Lacy to take the seat behind him. He glanced over his shoulder as she wrung her hands nervously. She seemed to be giving herself a pep talk, and then she lunged, as if forcing herself, and straddled the seat behind him.
Paris grinned and waited for another long second. “You know, you’re going to have to wrap your arms around my waist for the ride.”
“Right,” he heard her say in a muffled voice. Her arms embraced him, clinging more tightly as he put the motorcycle in motion. Before he was even down the road, Lacy’s grasp on him was so tight that her head rested on his back. He kind of liked the feel of her body hugging his, even if it was because she was scared for her life.
He knew the way to her house, but at the last second, he decided to take a different route. Lacy didn’t speak up, so he guessed her eyes were shut tightly, blocking out the streets that zipped past.
Instead of taking her home, he drove her to the park, where the hot spring was. There were hiking trails and a hot dog vendor too. On her profile, Lacy had said those were among her favorite things, and after this afternoon, she deserved a few guilty pleasures.
He pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. Slowly, Lacy peeled her body away from him. He felt her shift as she looked around.
She removed her helmet. “Why are we at the park?”
Paris glanced back. “Surprise. I thought I’d take your mind off things before I took you home.”
She stared at him, a dumbfounded expression creasing her brow. “Why the park?”
“Because you love to take long hikes. And hot dogs, so I thought we’d grab a couple afterward. I didn’t wear my hiking boots, but these will work for a quick half mile down the trail. Your profile mentioned that you love the hot spring here.”
Lacy blinked. “You read my dating profile?”
“Great late-night reading.” He winked.
She drew her hand to her forehead and shook her head. Something told him this time the head shake wasn’t a yes. “Most of the information on my profile was exaggerated by the ladies’ group. Apparently, they didn’t think the real Lacy Shaw was interesting enough.”
“You don’t like hiking?”
“I like leisurely walks.”
“Dogs?” he asked.
“Cats are my preference.”
Paris let his gaze roam around them briefly before looking back at her. “What do you like?”
“In general?” she asked.
“Let’s start with food. I’m starving.”
She gave him a hesitant look. “Well, the hot dog part was true, but only because I added that part after they left.”
Paris grinned, finding her adorable and sexy at the same time. “I happen to love a good chili dog. And there’s a stand at the far side of the park.” He waited for her to get off the bike and then he climbed off as well. “Let’s go eat, shall we?”
“Saving someone’s life works up an appetite, I guess.”
“I didn’t save Mrs. Townsend’s life,” he said as they walked. “I just kept her alive so someone else could do that.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Lacy fidgeting.
He reached for her hand to stop the motion. “I brought you here to take your mind off that situation. Let’s talk about something light.”
“Like?”
“You? Why did you let the Ladies’ Day Out group make you a dating profile if you don’t want to be on the site?”
Lacy laughed softly as they stepped into a short line for hot dogs. “Have you met the Ladies’ Day Out group? They are determined and persistent. When they want something, they don’t take no for an answer.”
“You’re part of the LDO,” he pointed out.
“Well, I don’t share that same quality.”
“You were persistent in getting me to agree to teach a class at the library.”
“True. I guess when there’s something I want, I go after it.” They reached the front of the line and ordered two sodas and two hot dogs. One with chili for him and one without for her.
Lacy opened the flap of her purse, and Paris stopped her. “I brought you here. This is my treat.”
“No, I couldn’t—”
She started to argue, but he laid a ten-dollar bill in front of the vendor. “It’s just sodas and hot dogs.” He glanced over. “You can treat me next time.”
Her lips parted. He was only teasing, but he saw the question in her eyes, and now it was in his mind too. Would there really be a next time? Would that be so bad?
After collecting the change, they carried their drinks and hot dogs to a nearby bench and sat down.
“I didn’t think I’d like teaching, but it’s actually kind of fun,” Paris confessed.
“Even Mr. Jenson?” she asked before taking a huge bite of her hot dog.
“Even him. But he didn’t show up today. Maybe he dropped out.” Paris shrugged. “I changed the syllabus just for him. I was planning to teach the class to Skype this afternoon.”
“You didn’t?”
He shook his head. “I went back to the lesson on Microsoft Word just in case Mr. Jenson showed up next time.”
“Maybe he didn’t feel well. He’s been to every other class this week, right?”
Paris shook his head. “But he’s made no secret that he doesn’t like my teaching. He’s even blasted his opinions all over Facebook.”
Lacy grimaced. “Oh my. He treats everyone that way. I wouldn’t take it personally. It’s just how he is.”
“He wasn’t always that way. He used to be really nice, if memory serves me correctly.”
Lacy narrowed her eye
s. “You knew him before the class?”
Paris looked down at his half-eaten hot dog. “He and Mrs. Jenson fostered me for a while, but he doesn’t seem to remember me.”
“You were in foster care?”
“Yep. The Jensons were my favorite family.”
Her jaw dropped. “That’s so interesting.”
Paris angled his body toward her. “Do you know what’s wrong with Mrs. Jenson?”
Lacy shrugged. “I’m not sure. All I know is she’s forgetful. She gets confused a lot. I’ve seen her get pretty agitated with Mr. Jenson too. They used to come into the library together.”
“Maybe that’s why he’s so bitter now,” Paris said, thinking out loud. He lifted his hot dog to his mouth and took another bite.
“Perhaps Mr. Jenson just needs someone to help him.”
Paris chewed and swallowed. “I’m not even sure how I could help Mr. Jenson. I’ve been reading up on how to make a rose garden, but that won’t make his wife well again.”
Lacy hummed thoughtfully. “I think Mr. Jenson just needs someone to treat him nicely, no matter how horrible he is. No matter what he says to me, I always offer him a big smile. I actually think he likes me, although he would never admit it.” She giggled to herself.
Paris looked at her. “You seem to really understand people.”
“I do a lot of people-watching. And I had years of being an outcast in school.” She swiped at a drop of ketchup at the corner of her mouth. “When you’re hiding in the back of the classroom, there’s not much else to do but watch everyone else. You can learn a lot about a person when they think no one is paying attention.”
“Why would you hide?” he asked, growing increasingly interested in Lacy Shaw.
She met his gaze, and he glimpsed something dark in her eyes for a moment. “Childhood scoliosis. I had to wear a back brace to straighten out my spine.”
His gaze dropped to her back. It was long and smooth now.
“I don’t wear it anymore,” she told him. “My back is fixed. High school is when you want to be sporting the latest fashion though, not a heavy brace.”
“I’m sure you were just as beautiful.”
She looked away shyly, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear with one hand. “Anyway, I guess that’s why I know human nature. Even the so-called nice kids were afraid to be associated with me. There were a handful of people who didn’t care. I’m still close with them.”
“Sounds like your childhood was less than desirable. Kind of like mine,” he said. “That’s something we have in common.”
She looked up. “Who’d have thought? The librarian and the bad boy biker.”
“Bad boy?” he repeated, finding this description humorous.
Her cheeks blossomed red just like the roses he’d studied in the library book. She didn’t look away, and he couldn’t, even if he wanted to. Despite himself, he felt the pull between them, the sexual tension winding around its gear, cranking tighter and tighter. “Perhaps we have a lot more in common.”
“Like what?” she asked softly.
“Well, we both like hot dogs.”
She smiled softly.
“And I want to kiss you right now. Not sure if you want to kiss me too but…” What was he doing? It was as if something else had taken control of his mind and mouth. He was saying exactly the opposite of what he intended.
Lacy’s lips parted, her pupils dilated, and unless he was reading her wrong, she wanted to kiss him too.
Leaning forward, he dropped his mouth and brushed his lips to hers. A little sigh tumbled out of her, and after a moment, she kissed him back.
Chapter Four
Sparks, tingles, the whole nine yards.
That was what this kiss with Paris was. He was an amazing kisser. He had a firm hand on her thigh and the other gently curled around the back of her neck. This was the Cadillac of kisses, not that Lacy had much experience recently. It’d been a while since she’d kissed anyone. The last guy she’d briefly dated had run the library in the town of River Oaks. They’d shared a love of books, but not much else.
Paris pulled back slightly. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
She blinked him into focus, a dreamlike feeling hanging over her.
“All I wanted to do tonight was take your mind off the afternoon.”
“The afternoon?” she repeated.
“Mrs. Townsend?”
“Oh.” She straightened a touch. Was that why he’d kissed her? Was he only taking her mind off the trauma of what happened at the library? “I definitely forgot about that for a moment.”
“Good.” Paris looked around the park. Then he stood and offered her his hand. “Want to take a walk to the hot spring before we leave?”
She allowed him to pull her to standing. “Okay.”
She followed him because he’d driven her here. Because he’d kissed her. Because she wasn’t sure what to think, but one thing she knew for sure was that she liked being around Paris. He was easy to talk to, and he made her feel good about herself.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked a couple of minutes later, walking alongside her.
She could hear the subtle sound of water as they drew closer to the hot spring. “Oh, I was just thinking what a nice night it is.”
Paris looked around. “I don’t think there’s a single season in this town that I don’t like. The air is easier to breathe here for some reason.” She watched him suck in a deep breath and shivered with her body’s response.
“I’ve always wanted to get in a hot spring,” Lacy admitted, turning her attention to the water that was now in view.
“You’ve never been in?” Paris asked.
Lacy shook her head. “No. That was another fabrication for the profile. I’ve read that a spring is supposed to help with so many things. Joint and muscle pain. Energy levels. Detoxification.”
“Do you need those benefits?” he asked.
Lacy looked up at him. “Not really.” All she really needed was to lean into him and press her lips to his once more.
Paris sighed as they walked. “So what should I do?”
A dozen thoughts rushed Lacy’s mind. “Hmm?”
“I want to help Mr. Jenson somehow, like you suggested.”
“Oh.” She looked away as she swallowed. “Well, he didn’t show up at today’s class. Maybe you could stop by and see him. Tomorrow is Saturday, so there’s no class anyway. You could check on him and make sure he’s okay.”
Paris stared at her. “I have to admit, that old man kind of scares me.”
Lacy giggled softly. “Me too.” She gasped as an idea rushed into her mind. She didn’t give herself time to think before sharing it with Paris. “But I’ll go with you. It’s my day off.”
He cocked his head. “You’d spend your day off helping me?”
“Yes, but there’s a condition.”
He raised a questioning brow. “What’s that?”
“I’ll go with you if you’ll be my date to my class reunion.” Seeing Mrs. Townsend at death’s door this afternoon had shaken her up more than she’d realized. “I don’t want to hide anymore. I want to go, have a blast, and show everyone who tried to break me that they didn’t succeed.” And for some reason, Paris made her feel more confident.
Paris grinned at her. “Are you asking me out, Lacy Shaw?”
She swallowed. “Yes. Kind of. I’m offering you a deal.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I guess Mr. Jenson might be less likely to slam the door on my face tomorrow if I have a beautiful woman by my side. You said he likes you, so…”
Her insides fluttered to life. “My old bullies might be less likely to pick on me if I have a hot graphic designer as my escort.”
This made him laugh. Then Paris stuck out his hand. “Want to shake on it?”
She would prefer to kiss on it, but that first kiss had come with an apology from him. This deal wasn’t romantic in natur
e. It was simply two people helping one another out.
* * *
Even though Paris worked for himself, he still loved a Saturday, especially this one. He and Lacy were spending the day together, and he hadn’t looked forward to something like this in a while. He got out of bed with the energy of a man who’d already had his coffee and headed down the hall to brew a pot. Then he dressed in a pair of light-colored jeans and a favorite T-shirt for a local band he loved.
As he sipped his coffee, he thought about last evening and the kiss that probably had a lot to do with his mood this morning. He hadn’t planned on kissing Lacy, but the feeling had engulfed him. And her signals were all a go, so he’d leaned in and gone for it.
Magic.
There’d be no kissing today though. He didn’t like starting things he couldn’t finish, and he wasn’t in the market for a relationship. He’d traveled that path, and his marriage had been anything but the happy ending he’d envisioned. He couldn’t do anything right for his ex, no matter how hard he’d tried. As soon as he’d realized she was having an affair, he’d left. He didn’t stick around where he wasn’t wanted.
Paris stood and grabbed his keys. Then he headed out the door to go get Lacy. He’d take his truck today so that he didn’t need to torture himself with the feel of her arms around his waist.
A short drive later, he pulled into her driveway on Pine Cone Lane, walked up the steps, and knocked. She opened the door, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. She wore her hair down, allowing it to spill softly over her shoulders just like in her profile picture. “You look, uh…well, you look nice,” he finally said.
She lifted a hand and smoothed her hair on one side. “Thanks. At the library, it’s easier to keep my hair pulled back,” she explained. “But since I’m off today, I thought I’d let loose.”
It was more than her hair. A touch of makeup accented her brown eyes, and she was wearing a soft pink top that brought out the colors in her skin. If he was a painter, he’d be running for his easel. If he was a writer, he’d grab a pen and paper, ignited by inspiration.
But he was just a guy who dabbled on computers. A guy who’d already decided he wasn’t going to act on his attraction to the woman standing in front of him.
