The Tick-Tock Between You and Me

by Kristy Tate

  “Maybe yours?”

  “My wedding is years away.” She faced him.

  “How come?” He blocked the aisle.

  “My latest foray scarred me.”

  “With Brit-boy?”

  “Benji, yes.” She moved to pass him, but in doing so, she brushed against him.

  He let her pass. “So, you made one mistake. And you learned from it.”

  “Yes, I learned that I fell too quickly and too hard.” She didn’t look over her shoulder at him.

  “But you shouldn’t let one bad relationship scar you. A girl like you should be in a relationship.”

  “A girl like me? You don’t even know me.”

  “I know that you’re from a large, loving family. That suits you. That suits you more than being an accountant. Which I know doesn’t make sense, since I’ve never seen you around your family, and I’ve seen you acting like an accountant.”

  “I don’t act like an accountant? I am an accountant!” She heard the frustration in her own voice but didn’t try to mask it. “I’m very good at what I do!”

  “I’m sure you are. You’re probably great at whatever you do, but it’s just not how I see you.”

  She thought about kicking him but decided against it. With a huff, she strode away.

  He trailed after her. “How much would a wedding venue rent for?”

  His appeal to her practical side halted her. “It would depend.… If we converted your outbuildings into cottages so that the wedding guests had a place to stay as well… I’d have to look into it, but my sister is paying what I think is a lot for the use of the chapel in Shell Beach and it’s…nothing like this.” Excitement gripped Darby again. She tried to remind herself that Sloane’s wedding was in less than a month, and invitations had already been sent. It was completely impossible, and yet…

  “Do you think you could get someone to clean this place up?” She glanced at the cobwebs dangling from the open ceiling beams and hanging candelabra. “And could someone trim back the trees and mow the lawn?”

  Chad nodded.

  “That’s all it would take.” Darby ran her fingers across the top of a pew and frowned at the streak she’d made in the dust. “We’d need to make fliers and take out advertisements. Maybe we could ask some of Blaine’s Hollywood friends to take a video for us.”

  “Us?” Chad raised an eyebrow and stepped closer.

  Darby realized she’d gotten way ahead of herself. “It would be fun,” she said in a weak voice. Chad’s nearness made her consider other things that would be fun…His lips were full, nothing like Benji’s. Why would she be thinking about Benjamin when she wanted Chad to kiss her?

  But it was wrong to kiss someone with a girlfriend. Even if his girlfriend wanted to make his ancestral home into a day spa or a place where women could recover from having their fat sucked out of their thighs or poisons injected into their cheeks.

  He leaned in. She inhaled his warm scent. She wondered if he wanted to kiss her as badly as she wanted to kiss him. A wren swooped in through the open door with a flutter of wings and broke the spell.

  Darby licked her lips and stepped away. “We should get back. Your grandfather is probably awake by now.”

  Chad nodded and looked at his shoes. “Darby,” he said in a tight voice.

  “Yes?”

  He hesitated and then gave a small shake of his head. “Thanks,” he said.

  “For what?”

  “For, um, really seeing this place.” He shrugged. “That doesn’t make sense. I’m not explaining myself.”

  She touched his hand. “I think I get it.” But did she, really?

  #

  When she woke the following morning, Darby looked around the low ceiling room with its dark wooden rafters and mullioned windows and tried to remember where she was. Then she remembered. Bern—Mr. George, senior—and Jessica had both insisted that she stay in the main house. Darby suspected that they had different reasons for their objections to the bunkhouse, but she hadn’t minded moving to an attic room. Above her, a large ceiling fan whirred, stirring the crisp morning air. She tucked the quilt up around her chin and for just a moment indulged in the fantasy of living on the ranch.

  Something pinged off her window. She climbed from her bed to investigate. Chad stood in the yard beside an ancient Jaguar convertible, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt that set off his eyes and tanned skin, and a pair of sandals. He looked absolutely much too delicious to belong to someone else.

  “I’m going into town to pick up breakfast,” he called out. “Want to come?”

  She thought about asking about Jessica, but grinned when she saw the car only had two seats. “Sure. Give me a second.”

  She jumped into her clothes, ran a comb through her hair, brushed her teeth in the small sink, and slipped on her shoes. Moments later, she was basking in Chad’s smile and bouncing down the driveway in the Jaguar.

  She slid him a glance. It’s okay to have a crush, she told herself. Tomorrow she would have to go back to her real world. She’d patch some holes in Bernard George’s financial crisis and show him—and Chad, since he was the only other person interested in maintaining the ranch as is—how to keep the ranch afloat for the time being. Until…

  But she didn’t want to think about Bern George dying. The sun was shining through the oak’s thick canopy as they sped along the dirt road leading to the one lane road that would take them to the highway that would eventually carry them into Oak Hollow.

  It’s fine to have a crush, she told herself again. He has a girlfriend. He’s safe.

  All around her, tall golden grass waved over rolling hills. Horses huddled in the shade of the oak trees. The car zoomed through the gates, past a small stucco cottage and Darby caught sight of Maria tending a patch of towering sunflowers.

  “Maria!” Darby called out, waving as they passed. “Buenos Dios!”

  Maria looked up, smiled, and waved back.

  Chad laughed.

  She skated him a glance. “What’s so funny?”

  “You.”

  “Why?”

  “I think you meant buenos dias.”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “No, you said buenos Dios, which means good God.”

  “Oh well, that works, too.”

  His smile told her he agreed.

  They rushed through the countryside, but slowed as they entered the town of Oak Hollow. A large metal sign arched above Main Street, welcoming them. White stucco buildings with clay-tiled roofs lined the road. Red geraniums spilled from wooden flower boxes, and scarlet bougainvillea climbed over the walls and fences. “I love it here!” Darby felt like she’d stepped back in time.

  Chad slid her a glance. “I’m guessing you’re the sort of person who loves life no matter where you are, but I also think you’re really going to love where we’re headed.” He pulled into a parking spot in front of a quaint little shop with a window full of luscious desserts. A hand-painted floral design surrounding the words Magnolia’s Bakery was painted above the hunter green door. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted toward them. Chad cut the engine and grinned at Darby with a look that said I knew you were going to love it here.

  They climbed out and were about to go inside when an elderly woman popped out of the neighboring antique store. “Chad!”

  Chad ducked into the bakery, leaving Darby on the sidewalk for a stunned beat of silence. The woman took possession of Darby’s wrist. “You must be Chad’s special friend!” She winked at Darby.

  “Oh no, I’m just an accountant.” Darby nodded at the bakery. “Chad’s inside if you wanted to speak to him.”

  The woman frowned at her. “I heard Chad was engaged.”

  Engaged? It was Darby’s turn to frown. “I didn’t know they were engaged.”

  The woman made a harrumphing noise and scurried into the bakery. She attacked Chad with a torrent of Spanish.

  He smiled and nodded, fending the woman off as best he could while
a pretty thirty-something woman with the name Maggie embroidered on her apron, bagged a half-dozen freshly baked croissants.

  A man with dirt smeared on his overalls stormed through the door. He carried papers in his hands, and he shook them at the woman behind the counter. “What’s this?”

  Darby stared at the man. He would have been handsome if not for the smudge of mud on his cheek and the angry fire in his eyes.

  The woman’s eyes snapped. “Since I’m not a mind-reader, I can’t say for sure, but given your reaction, I’m guessing you’re talking about my newly signed lease.”

  The man slammed the papers down on the counter. “You can’t do this! You can’t bat your pretty little eyelashes and wrap Mayor Giles around your finger. You might be able to woo and fool the rest of the town with your honey-dripped croissants, but Rusty promised me that shop!”

  The argument hushed the elderly woman haranguing Chad.

  Maggie placed her hands on the counter and leaned forward, causing her bodice to gape open. Darby gave Chad credit for not looking down her blouse. The man in overalls did, but the sight didn’t soften his mood. If anything, his anger seemed to rise a notch.

  “I signed the lease,” Maggie said through tight lips. “You did not. Get over it.”

  The man placed his hands alongside Maggie’s and leaned forward so his nose was practically touching hers. “Rusty. Promised. That. Shop. To. Me.”

  Maggie reared back. “It’s a restaurant! With a kitchen! What does your flower shop need a kitchen for?”

  “It’s not just a flower shop! I’m a landscape artist!” The man’s face became a dangerous shade of purple. “And I need the sink, the industrial fridge, and counters for my nursery!”

  Maggie folded her arms. “But you don’t need an oven and I do. And furthermore, Mayor Giles promised Rusty’s place to me.”

  The man shook his head. “Mayor Giles can’t promise you zilch! It’s not his! It belongs to Rusty.”

  “And Rusty is not here. He granted Mayor Giles power of attorney.”

  The man slammed his hand down on the counter. “We’re not done here. This isn’t over!” He stormed out and the door banged closed behind him.

  “Goodness!” The elderly woman looked shocked but pleased. “Now, Maggie, what’s all this about?”

  “Nothing, Mrs. Rodrìguez.” Maggie slipped off her plastic gloves and gave the elderly woman a trembling smile. “Is there something I can get for you? Maybe a nice cup of tea?”

  A scowl wrinkled Mrs. Rodrìguez’s forehead. “You’re the one who looks like you could use a cup of tea. Should I come back there and wrestle one up for you?”

  “No!” Maggie held up her hand as if to ward off demons. “I’ll be fine. Better than fine once I move into my new space.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea, dear?” Mrs. Rodrìguez’s gaze followed the man in the dirt-smudged overalls down the street. “Bradford seems awfully worked up. And he and Rusty were very close, you know.”

  Maggie sighed and said something inaudible beneath her breath.

  Darby wanted to stay and watch the drama, but Chad elbowed her. “We better get back. People will be waking soon and looking for their breakfast.” He faced Maggie. “Huh, Mags? I’m here for the croissants I ordered.”

  While Chad paid for the pastries, Darby watched Maggie, looking for chinks in her armor. With her thick curly dark hair and big brown eyes, the woman was beautiful. The apron tied over her floral sundress did little to disguise her curvy figure. She seemed upset, but not worried as she handed Chad the bag of croissants and accepted payment with a smile.

  Darby followed Chad to the car and slipped inside. “What do you think all that was about?” She nodded at the store.

  Chad chuckled. “I’m not sure. But I think that space has something to do with it.” He pointed at the empty store front beside Magnolia’s Bakery. Chad started the engine. “So, you’ll go home today?”

  Darby nodded.

  “And try to patch things up with Brit-Boy?”

  Patch things up? “Huh, no. I told you, he was a mistake.”

  “Good.” He put the car in gear and pulled away from Maggie’s bakery. Darby wanted to ask why he cared, but within moments they were zooming through the countryside with the wind blowing through their hair, making it difficult to talk. They roared down the highway until they reached the gravel road and Maria and Paco’s gatehouse. Here, Chad slowed, waiting for the gate to let them pass. After a moment, they bounced along the road and rounded a hill to where the ranch came into view.

  The sight took Darby’s breath. The rolling hills, the scattered oaks, the pastures dotted with dandelions: she understood why Chad and his grandfather loved it so much. The thought of selling it to a hotel or to a developer made her queasy.

  Chad pulled the car into the driveway and turned it off. He faced her and the sudden silence engulfed them. His hands gripped the steering wheel as if he were holding on to keep from reaching out to her. He leaned toward her, his lips inches from her nape. An electric pull ran between them. Darby felt it singing, encircling them. Or maybe it was just her imagination.

  After all, she had completely misread Benjamin, too.

  The door flew open and Cecelia burst out, her pink kimono fluttering around her. “There you are! I’m starving!” She bounced down the steps with outstretched hands and lunged for the Magnolia Bakery bag.

  And just like that, the moment, whatever it had been between Darby and Chad, disappeared.

  And the next day Darby resumed her real life in Shell Beach where she lived with her mom and dad and a house full of people and dogs and worked in an office with a boss who breathed down her back and micro-managed her every move.

  But it stopped short — never to go again —

  When the old man died.

  CHAPTER 7

  The next night, Darby’s phone buzzed and interrupted her sleep.

  “Did I wake you?” Nora asked when Darby finally picked up her phone.

  “It’s okay,” Darby slurred. “I’m awake now. What’s up?” She rolled over so she could gaze out the window at the star-studded sky.

  “I can’t sleep.”

  “So you decided misery loves company?”

  “Pretty much. How’s home?”

  “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

  Nora sighed. “It’s Cole.”

  “The hunky principal. Has he become mean?” Darby burrowed into her quilt.

  “No, he’s great. I really, really like him. That’s why I hate lying to him.”

  “When you say you really, really like him—”

  “I mean, as a brother.”

  “But what if he’s not?” Darby asked.

  “I know he is!”

  “We’re just going on Crystal’s word, right?”

  “I can’t explain it, but every time we’re together, I have this odd feeling of being home. Does that make sense?”

  “Hmm, I wonder what he’s feeling.”

  “Probably the same thing. There’s a connection. I know he can feel it, too, but I’m afraid he’s misreading it.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “He invited me to go horseback riding tomorrow.”

  “Sounds harmless enough.”

  “We’re bringing a picnic.”

  “Boy Scouts have had wilder excursions.”

  “I need to tell him.”

  “I know you don’t mean any harm to his mom, but he might not see things the same way. She probably won’t see things that way. In my experience, if someone isn’t easy to find, that means they don’t want to be found.”

  “You’re probably right,” Nora said in a small voice. “What should I do? Should I cancel the horseback ride and picnic?”

  “Do you think it’s a date? If you think it’s a date, then definitely.”

  “I know! I’ll make it clear that I’m uncomfortable dating my boss.”

  “At some point, you’re going to have to tell him and I
rena the truth.”

  “Maybe,” Nora conceded. “But not yet. And definitely not tomorrow. What about you? Have you told your family about Benji?”

  “Huh, no.” She felt sick even thinking about him. “I’ve managed to pretty much avoid them.”

  “Isn’t that hard to do in your house?”

  “Yeah, but it’s not impossible.”

  “You’re going to have to ‘fess up eventually.”

  “I need a date to my sister’s wedding,” Darby said glumly. “As long as I have a date, no one will bug me.”

  Nora’s silence told Darby she disagreed.

  #

  Five nights later, Nora called again.

  “I’m so into him,” Nora whispered into the phone.

  “Why are you whispering?” Darby tapped her pencil on the desk.

  Nora explained she had to make all of her calls on what the other teachers called Signal Hill—the one high spot on campus that got cell service. “I didn’t wake you again, did I?”

  Darby glanced at the clock. It was after midnight. She should be asleep, but instead she was knee-deep into her work. “No, I’m just finishing up some files.”

  “You need some balance.”

  Darby rolled her eyes, even though no one was around to see. “Did you seriously call me to deliver a lecture?”

  “No, I called to talk about Cole.” Nora paused. “Oh geez, even his name sends shivers down my back.”

  “Does he know how you feel?” Darby saved her files and shut down her computer, plunging the room into darkness. She’d started working in the daylight, but now without the computer’s glare, only the moon and stars shining through the window provided light. It took a moment for Darby’s eyes to adjust to the gloom and her mind to transition from her work to her friend.

  “Are you crazy?” Nora squeaked. “No one can know…it’s so twisted.”

  “He’s not your brother,” Darby insisted. She switched the phone to speaker so she could slip out of her clothes.

  “If he’s not my brother then Irena isn’t my mom…and that’s heartbreaking.”

  “Heartbreaking? Really?” Darby pressed as she stepped into her favorite pajamas.