by Viragh, Brea
Hands deep in the rich soil, my thoughts inexorably turned toward Duncan. Inner romantic flicked the on switch to my mind and proceeded to tick off a number of convincing reasons why I should see him again.
Oh, man. Sitting back on my heels, I took a moment to center myself and break away from those desires. The nasty, kinky desires of a woman who hadn’t had sex in a good six months. I took the plumes of heat rising from my core as a sign it was time to stop focusing on intimacy and start finding practical baking experience I could sink my teeth into. If anything was better than sex, it was chocolate.
Rising from my knees, I grabbed the shovel and bit in deep, leaving a groove in its wake. The day would heat soon, warming until it was too hot for strenuous activities. The cloud buffer would last only so long before burning away.
There’s no problem, I told myself. None at all.
Every few seconds I circled back to Duncan. I rubbed my hands over the frayed strands of browning iris, ignoring the irritation pinching my insides.
Standing in the fresh dirt, drawing in a lungful of air filled with the scents of earth and living things, I hadn’t a care in the world. And certainly didn’t expect the palm on my back.
“Yow!”
I jumped a mile and came back swinging. Fists balled, I rounded on the intruder and socked August in the face before I recognized him.
My gloved hands slapped over my mouth. “I’m sorry!” I reached out to comfort him but he stepped back. “I’m so sorry. You frightened me.”
He rubbed the red spot near his lips, wiggling his jaw and taking another step in the opposite direction. “Remind me to never sneak up on you again.”
I pulled off the gloves and wiped my hands on my old cutoff shorts. “Don’t surprise a woman when she’s weeding.” Adjusting the set of my wide-brimmed hat, I gestured for August to sit.
“Damn, woman. You pack a mean punch.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
August rubbed his face a final time. “Because I thought you’d hear the car pulling up.”
“I was stuck in my head. Can’t really hear anything. What brings you to town today?” I asked when my rear hit the garden bench.
“I had an idea and I wanted to run it by you.”
Today he wore a black t-shirt, with jeans riding low on his hips, dirty sneakers, and a wide, genuine smile.
I chuckled. “I’m not sure I want to hear any more of your ideas. I’ve had a busy morning.” I crossed my legs, aware of the close-cropped shorts and lack of a proper bra, although I needn’t have worried. August stared off into the distance, a million miles away from here.
“I was thinking about it, and I realized...Duncan sells insurance. You’re paying out the nose for your car and truck.”
In the hush of the garden, August’s voice was a melody. The cool tones rang through the air on a breeze. The man made instruments for a living, although in a different world he might have had a lucrative career as a singer.
“Yeah, I know I’m paying a lot, and it sucks. Oh!” I understood now. “He can find me a better policy.”
August sounded sure when he spoke. “It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know Duncan better, while saving you money too.”
“I’m sure you were thinking about me when you came up with this plan.”
“He’ll find you a good deal, I know it. Go over there, talk to him. I know for a fact your bills are coming due, because I sent my check out in the mail today.”
I shook my head and used the brim of the hat to hide my reaction. “Great. I really wasn’t planning on going out again.” Blinking rapidly, I smoothed my hands down the sides of my shorts. “I’ll have to shower.”
There was nothing wrong with wanting to see Duncan. Especially when I could save money—money to put toward my goals instead of a lousy insurance policy.
August leaned back against the bench and stared through maple branches toward the sky. “He’s already in the office.”
I watched his shoulders broaden and his muscles expand when he filled his lungs with air. “And what are your plans?”
“Isabel needs help at the house. I thought I would lend her my much-needed company and upper body strength while I’m between jobs.” He made a show of flexing his bicep.
There we were, the two of us enjoying the quietude of a perfect summer morning, with a solid plan in place. Despite my earlier interaction with Essie, I was grateful for the opportunities the day presented.
August left a couple minutes later. After a cool shower and a change of clothes, I headed toward the stoplight once more swung a left at the insurance building. Though I hadn’t made any arrangements with Duncan, I doubted he’d mind the intrusion. He seemed an amiable man. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d talked to a live person while dealing with this sort of thing. With automated systems, companies enjoyed less hassle while customers ached for human interaction.
There was little space to park on the street. Flipping the blinker, I swiveled around to the back of the lot and the tiny grass knoll where the rest of the employees parked before walking around front to the main entrance. My hand clasped the old brass knob and pushed, the hinges squealing. An empty desk greeted me. There were the ubiquitous tan carpet and diplomas hung on the wall. The main area wasn’t large, the rooms to the left unoccupied.
“Hello?” I called, wondering where the receptionist had disappeared.
“Just a minute!” The deep booming voice came from one of the corner offices and I grinned, ignoring the blush starting to creep up my neck and the way I blinked rapidly. The baritone vibration sang along the planes of my body and I came to life in seconds.
At last Duncan rounded the corner, wearing pressed slacks and a crisp button-up shirt. Though still lean from his bout with the flu, his face was on its way toward healthy fullness. His eyes lit when he saw me, increasing the warmth he radiated in my direction.
“Leda! What a pleasant surprise.”
There it was, my mouth had gone dry again. It seemed to happen every time I caught sight of him. I told inner romantic to get a grip when she woke, jumping up and down and causing a chain reaction inside of me.
“How wonderful to see you again. I hope you don’t mind my barging in on you,” I said, my voice small and tight as though I’d forgotten to draw breath.
He shook his head. “Not at all! How can I help you today?”
“August suggested I talk to you about my insurance.” I pointed down to my shoulder bag. “I’m paying crazy premiums for two vehicles and I think you’re just the man to help me.”
Duncan gestured toward his open office door, and I caught sight of a messy desk behind him. “I’d be happy to help. Come on in and have a seat. We can talk.”
He shifted to allow me room to walk, and when his fingers came down on my shoulder, my muscles tensed to the point where I thought they’d shatter. It was the barest of touches, light and sweet and...distressing.
A sure sign I was stepping into deep ocean waters without a life preserver.
Duncan was taller than I remembered, and I tipped my face up to meet his eyes. Sun streamed in through a four-paned window to illuminate the thick, golden halo of his hair.
“Quite a setup you have here.” I took a deep inhalation to steady my nerves and pointed to the walls. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
Duck-themed wallpaper lined the room, accompanied by a paint job of dull mushroom brown and an assortment of brass décor. I wondered at the decorative anchor nailed to the wall.
Duncan scowled before sitting behind the desk. “My predecessor’s choice, not mine. He had a thing for ‘classic design,’ or so I’m told. I’m working up the courage to start from scratch.”
“I think you’d do well with a book of matches instead.”
“I have a bit of a lull so it’s a good thing you caught me when you did. Let me see those files and I can figure out what we’re dealing with here.”
I dug into my bag and pulled
out the manila folder with my paperwork. Some people had a difficult time being organized. As luck would have it, I hadn’t inherited that trait. I was prepared.
“I’ve got a car and a pickup truck,” I told him. “I’m paying more than I think I should for a package deal, and haven’t had the time to search for a better policy. Who knows what I’d find anyway? I would love to have something lumping in the house insurance too, but I don’t know if it’s possible. One payment is much better than multiple.”
“Don’t you rent?” he questioned.
“Yes, but I’m in charge of the insurance. My landlord covers water and electric. Do you think you can find me a better policy?”
Duncan’s chocolate-brown eyes locked on mine. “Anything is possible. I have the magic touch. Trust me.”
Oh, I had no doubt about his magic touch. I spared a glance down at those hands the size of Thanksgiving turkeys and nodded. “You bet.”
Duncan pored over the papers I’d brought, licking his thumb each time he flipped to the next one. His mouth rounded when he took in my annual premiums. “This is ridiculous. How could you be paying this much?” He pointed down at the number. “My God.”
“I don’t know. Somehow I’ve managed to scrounge up the payments because I refuse to be caught on the road without at least liability. The police officers around here love to pounce on the unsuspecting.”
“Business must be good, then, if you can afford these prices and still go out for dinner. I can tell you have a knack for what you do.” Duncan gestured toward my hair. “It’s stunning. Do you cut it yourself? I meant to ask you the other day but I got distracted.”
I fingered the strands, pleased at his compliment. “I have someone else handle it. I don’t trust myself.”
“Well, I can tell you right now, whoever it is does a wonderful job.”
Was I blushing? No, impossible. My fingers touched my cheeks and came away singed. “Thanks.”
Duncan turned to the computer, his fingers zooming over the keyboard as he typed in my information. “I’m glad you came to see me today.”
My eyes widened. “You are?”
“Sure! I’ve been thinking about you since dinner the other night.”
I quirked a brow and my blush deepened. “You sure know how to please a lady, sir. You must have a gilded tongue along with the magic touch.”
Duncan seemed to catch his unintentional innuendo and sputtered a response. “I-I’ve been thinking about how I can save you money on car insurance.”
Oh, well, duh. “Now you sound like a commercial,” I teased.
“It’s true.” He clicked a button before turning the screen to face me. “I’ve pulled up a list of other options for you. With your clean driving record, we should be able to cut your annual rates in half. How do these savings sound?”
“You do know what to say to get a girl excited.” My fingers drummed on my thigh. “If I’d known I could save so much, I would have talked to someone sooner. Why did I wait this long?”
“Let’s answer a few questions and we’ll get you switched over.”
Fifteen minutes later, with paperwork signed and a handshake to seal the deal, I stood and worked the kinks out of my body. Gardening used to be easier. Now even fifteen minutes on my knees without padding meant the rest of me went out of whack.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate you—I mean, this.” I gestured toward the computer. “What you’ve done for me today...it’s like an unexpected gift.”
“It’s not only my job, it’s my pleasure,” Duncan commented casually.
We’d shaken hands a moment ago, and I felt it now—a sliver of electricity coursing through my limbs and lighting up senses I’d forgotten existed. Had assumed would be dark forever. I’d been with multiple boyfriends and never felt a fifth of what I’d felt when Duncan had taken my hand.
Did he hear the crackling between us? Hear the rush and roar of wind in his ears each time we stood in the same space? Or was it just me?
I shuffled from foot to foot, feeling gawkier than I had in years. My hand dropped back to my side and I took a step closer to him. Not knowing why I suddenly needed to make the gesture. “What are you doing after this?”
Duncan glanced down at his wristwatch. “I have a lunch break coming up. As you can see, my co-workers and I stagger breaks. Would you like to grab something to eat and we can continue our conversation?”
Tilting my head, I speculated at his asking and was pleased beyond words at the offer.
Understanding my confusion, Duncan continued, “I told you the other night, I’m new in town and I don’t have a lot of friends yet. I enjoy your company and I’d like the opportunity to get to know you a little better. Thus, lunch.”
I was happier than I had any right to admit. Forgetting about the insurance savings, the arrangement with August, and the weeding, I said, “You poor thing. I would love to have lunch with you. Let’s head over to the coffee shop.”
“This town has a coffee shop?”
“Yes, and they have a great range of goodies.”
Duncan returned to his desk to grab his wallet from the drawer. He stuffed it in his back pocket. “I haven’t been there before but I have to say I would kill for a latte. I haven’t been able to get a decent cup of coffee since we moved. I’m jones-ing for one.”
Purse flung over my shoulder, I accepted the offered elbow and allowed Duncan to accompany me out. Together we walked from the office into the harsh glare of summer sunlight. Just as I’d predicted, the clouds hadn’t lasted for long. We tread along the sidewalk, passing brick buildings looking more like well-appointed private homes than store fronts. The sky was beginning to turn from a deep gray to an airy blue, towering masses of clouds swept aside under the sun’s watchful gaze.
I whipped sunglasses out of my bag and slipped them over my eyes, needing the protection even on cloudy days. “I imagine you miss the variety available in California.”
“I do, yes.”
“But I wasn’t lying the other night. I do know a few great places around here. Some of them are hole-in-the-wall joints but with a spread like you wouldn’t believe. I’m an emotional eater, so I know all about these things.”
“I can’t wait to try them,” Duncan said. “And don’t try to pull my leg. I can’t imagine you being a woman who stuffs her face for comfort. You have too much control.”
Maybe not for comfort, but for everything else, yes. My mouth didn’t know when to stop. “I appreciate a good meal,” I replied with a grin.
He slowed his great stride to match my own until we fell into an easy rhythm. Even with my heels on, he had a good seven inches on me. His massive shoulders and height were enough to have any woman quivering. Like a hero of old, a Viking god come to pillage and plunder.
Nope nope nope. I focused ahead and shifted the conversation toward a safe subject.
“Do you miss the west coast?” I asked. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful, with mountains falling to the sea.”
“I do. The weather was always perfect, and the ocean was a stone’s throw away,” he answered. “There were times during the year when the air smelled like nothing but eucalyptus.”
“I’d like to see it for myself one day.”
Duncan turned to study me with dark eyes, the intensity in his gaze almost tangible. “I wish I could show you, Leda. There are so many things to do and places to see. Awesome restaurants around every corner, new ones popping up all the time. You can swim in the sea and hike the cliffs in the same day.”
“Heartwood is pretty different, then.” I listened to the beat of my shoes as we ambled down the sidewalk. “Some of the people would have a heart attack if we so much as put a sign out of place. How funny to see how they’d react to businesses multiplying like rabbits. Heaven forbid another fast food restaurant tries to come within the county limits.”
“What did they do when the French bistro opened? I heard it was relatively new.”
“They ate at
home until they felt safe to step foot outside again.” I used the small talk to keep from making eye contact again. “Heartwood isn’t a bad place, despite the reluctance. You’ll come to see that the people are approachable, and it doesn’t bother you much to drive almost an hour for entertainment.”
It had been a good change for me, leaving the city limits of Florence and my father’s meager quarter of an acre behind. There had been a line of trees on either side to block the neighbors’ view, but little else in terms of privacy. Especially with busy roads to the front and rear of the property.
“I’m sure I’ll get used to it,” Duncan replied.
I caught the yearning there. The hint of sadness for the action he’d left behind. I’d felt the same way too. The first few months after I landed in Heartwood were a dull, monotonous affair and I wondered at the mistake I’d made in coming. Now I appreciated the laid-back way of thinking and moving and doing.
“It grows on you,” I assured him.
“As long as I have people like you around to keep me company, I’ll be fine.” He nudged me with his shoulder and I bit my lip, a little breathless.
“Come on.” I gestured. “The coffee shop is one block over.”
We traveled the rest of the way in companionable silence. I glanced behind us a time or two, wondering if Isabel was out there now, oblivious. Doubtless she was working her tail off at the General Store, slapping mayo on bread and catering to the locals. I did not envy her on this fine day. Especially considering I was out with her fiancé.
Nope nope nope.
“Here it is.”
I stepped up the slate path toward the quaint refurbished stone cottage half a minute’s walk from the town center. Duncan held the door open for me, and I caught my enormously visible smile in the reflection from the window glass.
“After you,” he offered.
For some reason, my cheeks continued to burn and I kept my back to him to hide the reaction. What the hell was wrong with me? I needed to get a handle on myself! I was a grown woman; I had no reason to get all limp-kneed because Duncan turned out to be a gentleman. A charming and good-looking gentleman who fit my type to a T.