I scanned the store. “How did you guess without any evidence of a whirlwind?”
Bo laughed and rang up the order, frowning when I held my phone against the screen to pay. “Before you moved to town, I was gonna get rid of that thing, but now it seems everybody uses it. Doesn’t seem safe to me.”
Her dislike of technology was no secret, and it always made me laugh. “I’ll let you know when I get robbed, Bo.”
“It’s only a matter of time,” she confirmed, holding the door open so I could exit the store. “But I hope not, of course.”
I grinned at her. “Enjoy your day, Bo.”
“You too, Nina. Holler if you need anything else.” I nodded and waved like I would do that, but I think we both knew it wasn’t my thing.
The afternoon passed slow as hell. The three hours of virtual assistanting felt like nine hours, but knowing there would be $150 deposited into my account before the day was over helped.
The only thing that gave me any real relief was that envelope from Janey, staring at me. Taunting me. As soon as I was dressed for my appointment with Dr. Cahill, I opened the envelope and read while I waited for my Uber driver, Gary, to arrive.
The salary wasn’t much, but if I kept my job with Buddy I’d be able to save plenty of money. The health and dental plan was what really appealed to me — I was sick of spending a week’s worth of tips on insurance. It seemed like a good deal. Really good.
Almost too good, which was why I hadn’t taken my name off the virtual assistant availability list. Yet. I had two choices: trust Janey and this envelope, or not.
A knock sounded on the door and, without thinking, I pulled it open, expecting to see Gary’s crop of blond curls. Instead, it was a petite older woman with a dark brown braid and jade green eyes. “You’re not Gary.”
She laughed and it was a good laugh, one that sounded like she used it often. “Nope. Betty Kemp.” She held out her hand and I accepted it, shocked by how strong those delicate fingers were. “Ry’s mother, and Preston’s adopted mom. He’s the one who asked me to pick you up for your appointment.”
He did what? “I didn’t even tell him I had an appointment.” I was all set to be good and angry about this overreach but, dammit, it was kind of sweet.
“Sorry, thanks Betty. Come on in. Or should I call you Mrs. Kemp?” I never knew the rules about this kind of thing, but it was the south and formality was sometimes a sign of respect.
“Betty’s fine. How’s that ankle feeling?”
“Not terrible, but I wouldn’t recommend this particular injury. Makes getting around a bitch.”
Panicked, I’d worried I might have offended Betty, but she chuckled again. “I imagine it does. I broke my arm once, decades ago. Taking care of four rambunctious kids with one arm is not an experience I’d wish on anyone. Let’s get a move on.”
Betty was strong and capable, but I sensed she didn’t take crap from anyone. So I had no problem letting her help me down the stairs and into her little sedan.
“Thanks for this. I owe you.”
“No, Preston owes me,” Betty corrected. “But you must be pretty important for him to ask me for such a personal favor. He usually keeps his cards close to his chest when it comes to the fairer sex.”
“We’ve sort of become friends.”
That might be understating the relationship a little, but it was close enough to the truth.
“Yeah, well, all the single girls of Tulip are envious of your friendship with the most eligible bachelor in town.”
That. Again. “Why is he the most eligible? Because of his name or his family’s wealth? There are plenty of other hot bachelors in town. Believe me, it’s now my job to track them down and get them to say yes to this calendar.”
“Tough job.” Betty snorted good-naturedly. “And you’re gettin’ paid? Sounds like you picked up a four-leaf clover.”
“Did you forget about the sprained ankle?”
She scoffed and waved at me dismissively. “Wounds heal, but that’s a good job. And, from what I hear, you’ve got Preston’s attention.”
“For now. I’m not holding my breath.”
“Why not? I mean, it seems like you don’t care about his name or his money — don’t you like him?”
“What’s not to like? He’s handsome and kind and sweet, but he’s also arrogant and bossy as hell.” And I only liked the bossy thing when we were naked, which I was not going to confess to his best friend’s mother. “We’re too different, that’s all.”
“Ah, now you’re just lying to yourself, honey.”
“Excuse me?” Maybe I ought to reconsider the whole ‘liking Betty’ thing.
“You heard me. You like him, and the fact that I’m here means he likes you. But you’re scared. A strong girl like you.” She smacked her lips and gave me the kind of disappointed look I vaguely remembered seeing before my parents died. “Can’t believe you’d rather stand with the hand you were dealt when you have the chance to get a few new cards and make something new.”
Her bizarre metaphor kind of made sense to me, which should have been my first warning that I was out of my mind. “Should I be sounding alarms about your poker problem?”
Betty laughed, but would not be deterred. She pulled into one of the visitor parking spaces and turned off the engine before turning to me. “I’m serious. Don’t look for reasons you can’t be together; if it’s not meant to be, it won’t.” With those words, she got out of the car and marched around the front, determination written all over her face.
Her words echoed exactly what I was already worried about — letting Preston get close and falling for him, only to have him realize I wasn’t what he wanted.
Or maybe Betty was right, and I was thinking about this all wrong.
* * *
“Give it to me straight, Doc.”
Dr. Cahill had spent the past five minutes reading every word of my chart and staring at my ankle for so long I thought he was either making a move or having a stroke.
He smiled briefly before a scowl darkened his handsome features. “You’ve been overdoing it.”
I shook my head and opened my mouth to deny the accusation with every fiber of my being, but he held up a hand and stopped me cold. “I’m not asking, Nina. I’ve seen you limping around town, carrying too much and doing too much walking. I can only imagine what you’ve been up to in private.”
Embarrassment rushed over me, and I willed my pale skin not to betray me in front of the already smirking doctor.
He was another one of those guys who was just too attractive for his own good, and a doctor to boot. Talk about unfair. Those dimples and black, Irish locks were model perfect — and I was struck with inspiration.
“How would you feel about being one the heroes in the Hometown Heroes calendar?”
It wasn’t the most elegant of requests and my timing couldn’t have been worse, but it’s not like he would agree to a meeting with me since the whole town already knew what I was doing. Everywhere I went, people stopped me to extoll the virtues of this nephew or that grandson. It was annoying. And kind of sweet, I had to admit.
“No.”
That was… unequivocal. “It’s for a good cause.”
“I know, and if you want me to pay for rental equipment or something, can do that. This? No.”
Why were all the men in this town so stubborn? Most guys not even half as good looking would be flattered to be part of a calendar that women would pay for just to see them in various states of undress.
“If you’re worried about it being tasteful, I’ll tell Janey it’s a condition of your participation. What’s the problem?”
Dr. Cahill crossed his arms and morphed into the good-time guy I’d seen plenty of at the Black Thumb. “I don’t want to pose for some calendar for women to drool over.”
I laughed; it had to be a joke. “Newsflash, Derek, women drool over you anyway. Every single day and everywhere you go.”
“Even you?”
/>
“I don’t drool, exactly, but I do appreciate pretty things.”
He snorted a half-laugh and looked back down at the stack in his hands. “You need to do more physical therapy if you don’t want to keep that thing on for another six weeks.”
“Another six weeks, are you out of your mind?”
“Take it easy, Nina. That’s an order.” I nodded my agreement because, let’s be honest, six more weeks of this freaking boot and I might opt for the perma-limp. “And I’ll think about the other stuff.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. See you in two weeks, Nina.”
“Or before, if we need to meet about the calendar,” I said hopefully, as the door slowly closed behind him. I was optimistic — but now, it was time to brave Betty’s blunt advice.
I took about a dozen deep breaths as the elevator carried me to the lobby, and I limped out into the overly sunny day.
I didn’t need to worry. Betty was nowhere to be found, and I didn’t have her number. Which meant I was stranded, sort of. I had options, but they all meant waiting. I glanced around for a place to sit while I tried to work out how I’d get home.
“Looks like you could use a ride. And lunch.”
Preston smiled at me from behind the steering wheel of his oversized car, which was idling next to the clinic’s entrance.
“Are you offering both?” I called out.
“Whatever you want, Nina.”
That boyish smile would be the death of me, but the way my name rolled off his tongue was an instant panty-wetter.
“That sounds promising.” Unsexily, I limped my way over to the SUV and scrambled inside like a newborn colt. “But it can’t be a long lunch. I still have ten months of men to nail down.”
“Then we’ll make it a working lunch. I’ll give you the inside scoop on how to get each guy to say yes.”
He was awfully cute, being all helpful and kind. It was something a girl could get used to.
A girl, but not me. “More first dates?” I groaned exaggeratedly and he frowned, grabbing my thigh and squeezing until I laughed.
“Very funny.”
“I thought so.” We rode to Big Mama’s Diner in a comfortable sort of quiet that was more than nice. It was easy. And a good way to lull a girl into a false sense of security, which Preston did as soon as we took our seats.
“So, Nina, what brought you to Tulip?”
I smiled. Every single person I’d come in contact with had asked the same question, so I told him the same story I told them.
“I threw a dart at the map and it landed on Tulip. Tulips are beautiful and strong, and it’s been a long time since I lived in a small town.”
Probably searching for a place that felt like the last time I’d had a home, I continued in my head. Figured that out on my own, without the help of a hundred-and-fifty-dollar-an-hour shrink, thank you very much.
“That’s cute, but I don’t think it’s the whole answer. I look forward to getting it out of you.” Even his flirty banter was adorable — and sexy as hell.
“There’s that Worthington confidence I’ve been hearing so much about.”
He flashed a mock frown. “Who’s been talking?”
The question was, who hadn’t been. Somehow, word had gotten around that we were spending time together, and in addition to people stopping to tell me who should be in the calendar, they were now also stopping to tell stories of a young, cocky Preston, good at everything he did from debate club to quarterback. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Something dirty was on the tip of his tongue, but the arrival of our server was a welcome relief. “What’ll it be for our resident heroes?”
“I just corral the heroes,” I assured her. “But I’ll have the fried chicken and waffles, the spicy blend. And peach tea, thanks.”
“Meatloaf. And those dill mashed potatoes sound amazing. With some corn on the cob, too.” Preston flashed that Worthington smile and the server blushed down to her toes. “I’ll have ice water to drink. Thanks.”
“Where do you put it all?”
“I run five miles nearly every day, and when I work, we do plenty of circuits of our designated areas. Miles and miles of circuits.” As he spoke, my mind wandered to images of him shirtless and sweaty, his golden chest heaving as he panted heavily. “I’d love to know where your mind went just now.”
“I’m sure you would, but I was promised a working lunch.”
He leaned forward with a laugh. “It’s already happening.”
I’d believe it when I saw it. “What’s going on?”
He shrugged. “Mandatory training for three straight days.”
I had to admit, it sounded terrible. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll imagine you wearing very short shorts while you’re traipsing through the wilderness.”
His deep laugh burst out, sending goosebumps skittering across my skin. “Oddly, that does make me feel better, Nina.”
“Good. I’m counting on those images getting me through my own boring weekend of scouting locations for the photo shoots. Got any ideas?”
A teasing grin played at the corners of his kissable mouth as he opened it to say something, before a shadow crossed the table. “Hey, love birds, what are we eating?” Ry slid in on my side of the booth and wrapped an arm around me, smiling wide with a gleam in his eyes.
“We are eating lunch,” Preston told him, lowering his voice in mock irritation. “You are here for a moment.”
Ry winked at me and turned to Preston with a frown. “You called and I came running, and this is the thanks I get? For shame, Preston.”
“Cut the crap, Ry.”
My side ached from laughing at their banter. I’d never seen two grown men so playful together. “Okay, boys, settle down. Ry, how would you feel about being one of Tulip’s Hometown Heroes?”
“I’d love… to think about it,” he said, mischief in his eyes. “But I want to be July, it’s the hottest month. Or is it August?” His question was rhetorical. Preston and I sat back and enjoyed the show. “No, July. I want to be Mr. July.”
“Janey will expect Mr. July to be shirtless,” I clarified, “maybe on a gurney or something.”
Ry threw his head back and laughed, not giving a hoot that all the eyeballs in the diner were on our table. “I like you, Nina. Maybe some of that sass will rub off on pretty-boy Preston. And I have no problem being shirtless for you and Janey. Just say the word.”
I opened my mouth to thank him and Ry pointed at me. “My pants stay on.”
“What the hell kind of calendar do you think this is gonna be?” Both men burst out laughing, sending all the eyes our way. Again.
“Just putting my limits in early,” he said playfully, stroking his hair and pouting his lips like the perfect diva.
“I think November is still open,” I teased.
Ry stood, pretending to be appalled. “And to think, I thought we were friends.” With a wink, he rushed from the diner and caught up with a pretty blond with long legs standing outside.
“How are you two friends again?”
“A lifetime of mischief together,” Preston said, grinning as he watched his friend walk away.
“Now that I believe,” I told him with a smile. It quickly became a groan as my food was placed in front of me.
Preston leaned over the table with a sexy smile I could hardly resist. “Now that we’ve gotten some work out of the way, what do you say we get this food to go and head to my place to work up an appetite?”
It was the best offer I’d had all day. “Perhaps I could be persuaded.”
A grin split his handsome face, blue eyes deep and intoxicating. “I’m happy to persuade you, Nina. Even if it takes all afternoon.”
My hand flew in the air to call the waitress and ask her to box up our food. By the time she came back with our orders, Preston had my hand tucked in his as he tugged me out the door and back to his truck.
“Where’s the fire?” I asked him sarcastica
lly.
“All over,” he responded with a raw honesty that sent shivers down my spine and made heat spread through my body. As we drove the short distance to his place, the air was thick with tension and raw sexual need.
As it turns out, it did take all afternoon for him to convince me.
Preston
The downside to my newly-revived social life was that I forgot to do normal, everyday things, like stock my kitchen. Empty cupboards were hard enough to deal with, but a lack of coffee filters was just un-fucking-bearable.
Walking a block from the street where I’d found a parking spot to Bo’s General was worth it — she had good coffee, minimal gossip, and no chance of running into my mother’s latest daughter-in-law-in-training, Cynthia St. James. The woman was a clone of my own mother, right down to the plain, boring-yet-tasteful bun she wore twisted her blond hair into each day.
It was disconcerting as hell.
It was not at all an option.
I pulled open the door to Bo’s and froze, backtracking a few steps as my brain finally caught up to the image my eyes had just seen. A photo of me, at least three feet tall, smiling and wearing a plain white t-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Mr. January’ in black block letters. I recognized the photo, but not the shirt.
“Janey, no doubt,” I grumbled to myself, knowing Nina would have at least given me a heads up.
But I hadn’t seen or heard from Nina since our afternoon before my training, which was nearly a week ago. An insecure man might think it had something to do with her enjoyment of our time together, but I knew that wasn’t it. But it was something; she’d responded to my texts, but with a lot less sass than usual. I’d spent the training weekend worrying.
“You’re in luck today, Worthington — I got hazelnut and I got a super-dark roast.” Bo’s husky voice sounded from behind the rack of potato chips before her head appeared, high brown ponytail leading the way.
“I’ll try the super-dark roast. Maybe it’ll teach me a lesson about slacking on grocery shopping.” It probably wouldn’t, but at least the coffee would give me enough energy to get through the minefield that grocery shopping had become, ever since my mother had decided she now gave a damn about my life.
Mr. Savior: A Roommate Hero Romance Page 10
