The man had her flushed and flustered. Not to mention hot and bothered. She picked up a pair of the honeysuckle cheeky boy shorts she’d been folding in size medium, and rang it up quickly to get him out of here. She threw in an extra-large condom.
“Thank you for shopping with us. Please come…I mean, see you later.”
“Thanks,” Liam said, holding up the bag. “Never know when this will come in handy. Saves me a trip.”
She would have wished him luck, but the guy wouldn’t need any.
2
The sunset over the California horizon burst in a splash of orange and red. Liam stood on the courtyard patio overlooking his cousin Billy Turlock’s vineyard. Quiet. Calm. In this moment, he believed that the mini-vacation in Starlight Hill could be the one thing to make him feel human again. After two deployments in a row, and his required four years, his contract with the United States Army was over. Now, he only had to decide if he’d extend his contract and re-up. He’d been close to signing away another four years when his mother had begged him to take a couple of weeks in wine country and get his head screwed on straight.
In a way, she’d been right. There hadn’t been as many cars backfiring here in wine country and startling him. Slowly, he’d been coming down from his high alert levels every time a stranger approached. He’d gotten to the point where he didn’t scan his surroundings every minute of every day. But truthfully, he’d been roped into this visit. Could have found plenty of trouble to get into in his Colorado hometown to chew up the time. Even in late summer, though he much preferred the winters, where he could take up his previous occupation of full time ski bum.
He also had one other option to consider. His childhood buddy Quinn wanted him to go into the ski resort business with him.
Billy joined him, handing him a goblet of wine filled with some of the red stuff. Liam wouldn’t know a Sauvignon from a Merlot from a grape. He was a beer guy.
He held up his glass in a toast to his cousin. “You’re a lucky man, Billy.”
“Brooke tells me that every day.”
“Well, yeah.” Liam’s hand swept the view in front of him. “I meant this. But her, too. And, you know, all the kids.”
“Yeah, sure.” Billy chuckled.
“How many kids you have now?”
Billy seemed to be counting in his head. “Three.”
“Hey, marriage and family life look good on you. I mean it.”
“Thanks, I think so.” Billy leaned against the balcony. “But it’s not for everybody. I get it.”
“You’re the only one who does.”
“The ladies are having their fun. It isn’t often they get a single Turlock male around here. You’re fresh meat.”
“Yeah, well, a woman would be nice. But I’m not looking for forever. And I’m thinking this is not the place for temporary. Catch my drift?”
“Yep. I hear you loud and clear.”
“They’re not going to stop until I have a date to the Grape Festival. Brooke gave me a phone number, too.”
“She doesn’t want to be the odd one out. And honestly? Let’s not make this into a contest, or Brooke won’t stop until she wins.” Billy took a sip of wine. “Who have they tried to fix you up with so far?”
“Jen Williams, for one. Sophia gave me her phone number. Said she’s very sweet and very available.”
Billy groaned. “She’s sweet, but what is she? Nineteen?”
“Jesus!”
“Who else you got?”
“Laura Watson. That’s the number Brooke gave me.”
“Ah, well. Not to sound like I’m playing favorites, but she is definitely over eighteen. And very pretty.”
“The point is I’m not looking.”
And if he were looking, he’d be interested in one Mallory Gilham. She’d hit him hard today with the feminine curves and the ribbed condoms. One look at her diligently searching for his size, serious as a heart attack about it, and he already knew who he wanted to use it on. Not that he would because she was…vulnerable. He saw it clear as a bell in her hesitancy when he’d first locked gazes with hers. She’d backed up two steps. Fear. And if it was easy for him to recognize the signs of someone in full-on protective mode, it should come as no big shock to anyone.
It takes one to know one.
“I’d have a name from Diana, too, but I ducked into Tatas and she lost me.”
Billy coughed and hit his chest. “Tata’s?”
“Who would think to look for me in there?”
“Right again. Who’s working at Tatas filling in for my mother? Sophia find someone new?”
“Her name is Mallory.”
“Baby’s back working there, huh? Well, that’s interesting, though not surprising. My mother said she’d give her another chance. Besides, she wanted Baby to be the hired sex.”
“The what?”
“Not literally.” Billy laughed. “She hired Baby to bring in the right clientele. She’s quite…attractive. Not that I noticed.”
“No, of course you didn’t.” He’d defy any man with a pulse not to notice her stripper-like body. Big green eyes. Long and wavy blonde hair. His cousin Billy would have to be dead not to notice. “And why do you keep calling her Baby? Is Brooke cool with that?”
“Everybody calls her that.”
Liam squinted. “Why?”
“I honestly don’t know. She first landed here six months ago. Used to be a cheerleader, I think. A few months ago, there was a little incident.”
“What kind of incident?”
“Dude, I don’t like gossiping. That’s not a Turlock thing. Feels like we’re two little old ladies now sitting in a knitting circle. Ask the women.”
There was a reason Billy was Liam’s favorite cousin. He took the high road every damn time.
“Guys, dinner is ready.” Brooke called from just inside the sliding glass door leading the courtyard. “The kids are starving.”
“Be right there, Bungee.” Billy clapped a hand to Liam’s shoulder. “You know how to fix this, don’t you?”
“How?”
“Tell everyone you’re already seeing someone. She doesn’t even have to be real. Someone back home. Around here, everyone would respect that.”
He’d already thought of that. Aunt Eileen would be on the phone to his mother to confirm, and his mother knew very well he hadn’t been seeing anyone. He’d just been back stateside a few weeks. But what if he pretended to date someone here?
What if, for instance, he told everyone he was already dating Mallory? First, he’d clear it with her and make sure she understood it was all a ruse to throw the matchmakers off the trail of his scent. He’d have to be careful, but he wouldn’t mind spending a little more time with her. She could help him, and he could help her. Maybe get everyone to start calling her Mallory instead of “baby.” Only one man should call her baby, and that would be the man who got to sleep with her.
He didn’t know if this could work, but he’d be willing to try it. He was more than a little intrigued by Mallory ‘Baby’ Gilham.
“Billy? Have I ever told you that you’re a damned genius?”
*
“Watch now, Sugar. This is your favorite part. When they put the crown on her head. It weighs like, twenty pounds, maybe. You have to have a big, strong head to wear it well. And Elizabeth does, yes, she does.”
“Yip! Yark! Yark!” Sugar said, which meant that yes, she agreed, and that crown was some of the best bling she’d ever seen on the face of the earth.
Mallory reached for more popcorn and threw a kernel in Sugar’s direction, which she easily caught. It was day two of binging on season one of The Crown. Friday she’d blown through six episodes and finished the season this morning. Now they were starting over, watching the best ones. Tomorrow, she’d do her grocery shopping and Monday she taught children tap dancing at Break a Leg. Tuesday, she taught the senior citizens, which was always fun.
If her life seemed a little boring and routine
these days, and a far cry from her days as a sorority sister at Kappa Delta, it was the way it would have to be from now on. She wanted a moratorium from men. Needed one. They always did nothing but cause her grief, heartache, and break her fool heart. Her fault, too, for thinking she had only one thing to offer a man. That was how she’d gotten into trouble in the first place.
“And I’m not doing that anymore.” Mallory said out loud.
“Yark! Yark! Yark!” Sugar hopped off the couch and ran to the front door where she began to sniff around the edge.
“What is it?” A moment later, there was a knock on the door. “Oh my god, Sugar, are you psychic?”
She wasn’t expecting anyone, and neither she nor her neighbor in the Victorian duplex she rented downtown ever had much company. When she peeked through the wink hole, her heart nearly stopped.
Liam Turlock.
“What does he want?” She hissed.
Sugar wagged her tail, panting in excitement, but one thing Mallory had determined early on was that Sugar was far too trusting.
“He wants you to open the door,” Liam said from the other side.
Damn these thin doors. “Why?”
There were no words for a beat.
“Because it would be neighborly.”
She supposed he was right about that. She swung it open. “I opened the door. Now what?”
He stood there, big and badass and giving her a wicked smile. “Now let me in. “
She folded her arms. “Why?”
“I guess neighborly isn’t going to work for me again.”
“No.”
“I brought you some cookies.” He pulled out a Sweet Southern Buns paper bag from behind his back.
Now the man was speaking her language. “Well…okay then.”
She moved aside and he strode in, filling the room with his huge presence.
He bent down to pet Sugar, who rolled over for him, the hussy. “You busy?”
She didn’t answer his question and eyed the bag. “What kind of cookies are in there?”
He hadn’t handed them over. Maybe there weren’t cookies in there at all. She shouldn’t trust this man. He looked…dangerous. And now she was alone in her house with a sexy and dangerous man. Why had she let him inside? Her only sanctuary? Answer: still stupid, apparently. She took a step back and stood behind the couch.
His expression quickly went from playful to concerned. “I’m not going to hurt you, Mallory.”
“I know you won’t. I won’t let you.”
He moved toward the kitchen table. “I’m just going to set these right here.”
Great. Now he thought she was scared spitless of him. Treating her like a beaten and scared shelter puppy. She was so not afraid of him. More like scared of who she might become around him. He wasn’t the kind of guy who made it easy to remember she was off men. When she followed him into the kitchen and took a glance inside the bag, the cookies were Death by Chocolate Chip. Her favorite.
“Thank you for these.” She took one out and ate while she studied him. “And I’m not afraid of you. Why would I be when I know Kung-Fu?”
She did not know Kung-Fu, but let him think that she did. Anyway, she had a powerful kick from years of dancing. Good enough.
He cocked his head. “You know that stuff? I don’t. The Army didn’t teach me, though I wish they would have ‘cause it’s pretty cool.”
“Why are you delivering me cookies? Are you feeling guilty about yesterday? Because you should.”
He kicked out a chair with his foot and took a seat. “I probably shouldn’t have teased you. Sorry about that.”
“You’re forgiven.” She took another cookie.
Sugar yipped.
“You can’t have any,” Mallory said. “Chocolate isn’t good for you.”
As if she understood, Sugar went back to snoozing on the couch.
Maybe she should offer Liam one, but there were only twelve in here and it was Saturday night. All she had going on was Netflix and she was pretty sure he was going to walk out of here and hit the bar. Find a woman. Hook up. Maybe he didn’t need her cookies. Unfortunately, her upbringing came back to haunt her. Mama was a southern belle who said if you had enough you should always share.
“Here,” she said and handed him a cookie.
“Thanks.” He took it and consumed it in two bites.
“You’re not getting another one.”
“They’re for you.” He stretched his long legs out. “Here’s the thing. I need a favor, and I wonder if you’re game.”
3
Mallory had a good idea of what kind of favor Liam Turlock wanted and she was most definitely not playing.
“Listen, just because I work in a lingerie store doesn’t mean that I’m ready to hook up with the first guy who takes an extra large condom from the pile.”
At that he quirked a brow and laughed. It was a deep rich laugh that almost pulled a smile out of her. Almost. “You’re funny.”
She wasn’t being funny at all. Dead serious. To make it clear, she pinched her lips and narrowed her eyes. “I’m serious, Mister.”
“Look, I’m not—okay, let me start over. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but every one of my cousins has made it their mission to fix me up with a woman while I’m here. A date to the Festival. They want to help me find the love of my life. Get married and settle down. I’m sure all of them are very nice girls, but I’m not interested.”
“What’s wrong with nice girls?”
She had his number. He didn’t want a nice girl because they didn’t hook up. And for some reason, she apparently had ‘not a nice girl’ tattooed on her forehead in invisible ink only men could see.
“Nothing at all. I don’t want to be fixed up with any woman. Nice or not nice.”
“Why? Are you gay and haven’t come out of the closet?”
Hmm. This she could work with. Someone to hang out with and watch The Crown with her and Sugar. A friend, for once. It had been so long since she’d had a real friend. Someone who had her back.
“Uh, no.” He grinned. “Definitely not gay.”
Darn. “Okay, well I don’t see how I can help you. I’d talk to them, but I don’t think they’ll listen to me anymore than they’d listen to you.”
“You don’t need to talk to them. I’m thinking that what I need is someone to date while I’m here. That way they’ll stop bothering me.”
“Good idea. I’m not sure what you want me to do.”
“You can be the woman I’m dating.”
“Me?”
Had the man not noticed her male repellant outfit? Yoga pants and an oversized Niners t-shirt. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she didn’t have a stitch of make-up on. Frankly, it was the only reason she’d let Mr. Sexy in the door. The repellant was usually quite effective.
“Why not you?”
“Believe me, you won’t impress the relatives by dating me.”
“I’m not looking to impress them. I want them to leave me alone. When I date someone, it’s my choice. My call.” He stood up. “Look, I promise not to ask anything of you other than holding my hand in public. I’m not looking to hook up, either. The point is I’m passing through and this could really help me. I don’t want or need any more names and phone numbers. I need a date and until I have one they’re never going to let up on me. What do you say, Mallory?”
I say you’ve chosen the wrong girl. You’ve chosen someone with a reputation to live down. But you don’t know that yet, do you?
“So…what do I get out of this?”
“Anything you want. But how about I get them to stop calling you ‘Baby’ for starters? They should call you Mallory.”
“I’d kinda like that.”
“I’m only here two weeks. It would be a great help to me. What do you say, Mallory? Would you be my temporary girl?”
*
Two things had happened when Liam walked inside Mallory’s apartment.
One, he’
d discovered that Mallory could probably dress in a paper sack and still turn him on. This he did not quite understand and quickly decided not to further examine.
Second, he was more intrigued than ever.
He knew he was large and tended to fill up a room, but her reactions were over the top protective. Someone had hurt her, and if that person happened to be in town and still able to fog up a mirror, he intended to fix that. He had less than two weeks to find the guy, and he was sure it was a guy.
“I don’t think you want me to be your temporary girl.” She took another cookie out of the bag. “Even though it would be great if everyone stopped calling me Baby. It’s a little old now.”
“I can get them to stop.”
“I guess it would also be nice for everyone to see that someone other than an SL would date me.”
“SL?”
“Stripper lover.”
He cleared his throat. She had a hell of a body, not that he could see much of it at the moment in that baggy shirt. “Actually, I don’t know how much I’ll help with that.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a Turlock, and Turlocks are respected around here. Respected everywhere. Don’t you know that?”
“Um, yeah. Sure I do.”
“You could maybe help clear up my reputation.” She moved a step closer to where he stood. “I got in a little bit of trouble a few months ago when I made a stupid decision. And now some people believe I’m not a nice girl. But I’m reformed. And off men.”
“That…doesn’t sound like it’s going to work out too well for me.”
“But I suppose I could fake-date you. That wouldn’t hurt.”
“How do we fake-date?”
“We go out together but it’s not really a date. Only we know that. Everyone else thinks it’s a date.”
“Right. Sounds good.” He was confused as to how this was much different from what he’d suggested but he understood it sounded a lot safer the way she’d put it. No expectations, in other words.
“So, okay. I’ll do it. I can be your temporary girl.”
THE STARLIGHT HILL COMPLETE COLLECTION: 1-8 Page 128
