"Friends? By God, woman! Do you think I could stand living this close to you and settle for just being friends? I'm leaving because I can't stay here and just be friends. That would be the kindest and best thing for you. Mark was right. You are too good for me. I'm just a burned-out has-been of a newspaperman. I'm selling that newspaper so that you won't live your live with regrets. You can't know what you've missing out there, Tam.” Kendall lunged from his chair and paused only long enough to lay a gentle hand on either side of her face.
"I know what I'd be missing in here if you left.” Tamryn took one of his large hands and pressed the palm over her heart. “All I've ever really wanted is you. You're here now. If I left you, that would be my lifelong regret. Not the newspaper."
Kendall lowered his lips to hers in the briefest of kisses before he set her away from him and strode down the stairs away from her.
"You deserve better. And I'm going to make sure you get it."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tamryn stood with the phone receiver dangling from her numb fingers. Shock held her still while her mind grappled with the news Mark had just delivered.
Four days had passed since her last run-in with Kendall. He'd proven himself more in touch with his country boy roots than she'd realized, as he'd disappeared down the country roads as easily as a jackrabbit fled from a coyote.
Not exactly flattering to compare herself to a four-footed predator, but as she brooded and milled around Pops’ Diner, she had to admit the truth. And Mark's phone call proved it.
Wave after wave of shock and heartache reverberated through her. She gripped the wall for support, only to have her despair double her over. She wished she could cry—let the tears wash away her hurt, frustration and fears, but after four days, she had no tears left. Only a heart frozen in agony.
Kendall Reed had effectively shut her out of his life.
"He said he knows now that I won't leave. So, he's leaving. And he is giving the business to me. Giving it to me. He came home to rest and rebuild his life and I guess I put so much pressure on him over this damned newspaper that he feels he has to flee his own hometown. He can't do that. I-it's not what I wanted,” Tamryn stammered through frozen lips. “Oh, Momma! What do I do now? I don't care about the paper. I just want him to be happy."
"Tarnation. That boy is spinning around like a demented weather vane,” Pops exclaimed as he stood behind the counter next to his wife.
"Hush, you old geezer.” Momma flapped her hands at him and wielded a spatula in warning. “You have to ask yourself why a man would just walk away. Give away his inheritance with such ease. Why do you think, dear?"
"I don't know what to think."
"That man loves you, Tam. He is trying to show it as best he knows how. He'd give you that business, because he thinks that's all he has worth giving. Gal, if ever there was a time for you to put the P in persistence, I reckon this is it. Get your behind moving, or I'll spank it with Momma's favorite spatula.” Pops hitched up the waistband of his sagging trousers and puffed out his chest in his best tough-guy imitation. An imitation, which Momma ruined with her fits of giggles, and quick smacking kisses she laid across his forehead.
"I love it when he gets this way. Now, run along Tamryn. Go get your man."
* * * *
Tamryn headed off on foot towards Sada Mae's little wood frame house a few blocks behind Pops’ Diner. Her heart pounded in her chest as she half-jogged towards Kendall and the possibility of realizing her real life's dream: Kendall Reed, her man.
"Dadburnit! Mr. Poke is heading for Sissy Peters’ vegetable garden and that blamed boy hasn't got a clue a what's needing done.” Big Earl Stutts trotted up to Tamryn and leaned over to brace his hands on his knees. Huge, wheezing gasps of air obscured the remainder of his words, but his frantic gestures drew the clear picture.
She sped up. At least Kendall didn't seem to be fleeing from her approach. Her heart jumped and sighed when she took in his appearance. Gone were the faded jeans and t-shirts he'd been favoring. A crisp white business shirt and sharply creased khakis had taken those places.
Tamryn felt the emotional distance between them widening. With her eye on the prize, she crossed her fingers and made the leap over the chasm he'd determined to keep between them.
"You'd better get to talking, City Boy. Mr. Poke is on a rampage towards Sissy Peter's garden,” Tamryn called out to Kendall as he leaned against the peeling white porch railing, drinking his morning coffee.
"Tamryn. Let's not fight about this. I've given the paper to you. I don't want it, and you do. I'll be leaving as soon as I can get all the paperwork signed,” Kendall rasped out the words. “Who the hell is Mr. Poke? You're not making sense. I'm too weary to verbally fence with you."
"Mr. Poke is—was—Sada Mae's pot bellied pig. Now he is your pig. Biggest porker I've ever seen. Huge appetite for vegetables. Apparently, Sissy Peters’ veggies. The only thing that stands between Mr. Poke and Sissy's vegetable garden is Big Earl Stutts. If he doesn't hold back Mr. Poke, Sissy's garden fence will go down and there will be solid heckadoodle to pay. Since he belongs to you, this calamity will be all on you. This is blackmail. It's all up to you."
"Blackmail? You're crazy talking. Hon, just be kind to me and walk away. Please, Tamryn."
"No, Kendall. I'm not walking away. Let me understand this. You're taking a job that you don't want, and walking away from a chance for both of our happiness? I forget. What is your reasoning behind all this? Talk fast because Big Earl can only hold off Mr. Poke for so long."
From between gritted teeth, Kendall replied, “I'm doing this because it's for your own good. I'm no good for you, Tamryn. You're too good to stay here, buried in this town. As friendly and good-natured as the townsfolk might be, it's not enough, but I can't make you go. This is the only thing I can offer you. This damned paper."
"Yesterday you offered me more. You were poised to give me everything I've ever wanted, Kendall. Not the newspaper. You. You made be believe that you'd make my dreams come true and love me as much as I've always loved you. And I've loved you forever. I love you enough to leave with you. Sell the paper to whomever you want. Unless this is all because you realized that you don't care for me the same way."
"Tamryn, I love you. First, as that tough little kid, and then over the years, for the shining person that you are. I came back to this town to lick my wounds, I thought. But I know I really came back for you. To you."
"Then why in all that is good and just are you trying to wreck everything?” Tamryn threw up her hands in sorrow and despair. “Why?"
"You deserve to be happy. I'll leave, you'll have the newspaper. It will all work out."
"Oh, one way or another I'm going to be happy. Fine. I'll take the newspaper business alright, as a wedding present."
"Wedding present? Like hell! You're not marrying that damned attorney, Tamryn. I didn't go through all of this, only to have you settle for less than you deserve."
"Tell me what I deserve."
Kendall leapt down from the porch to yank her into his arms. “By God, Tamryn, you deserve better than me. I only know that I need you. Want you. I love you."
"Well for pity's sake, Kendall, then shut up and kiss me,” Tamryn demanded as she pressed herself against him. She felt his lips tenderly kiss away the tears that her over-full heart had finally released.
Then he kissed her. A kiss made up of thousands of days and nights of mutual longing; a kiss to wash away the hurt and loneliness they'd both felt for too long.
A kiss of such raw passion that all she could do was cling to Kendall, handfuls of his shirt gripped between her fingers. The thin cotton of the material formed both a barrier and a lifeline. Their tongues tangled, his taste mingled with hers, her tears lent a salty essence.
He pulled her so tightly against his chest that she could feel their heartbeats thudding in rhythm. A rhythm that she felt lower where their bodies met again, his strong, muscled thigh pressed between hers. Her
body ached with a need that only Kendall could extinguish.
Just as her fingers began to tug at the back of his shirt, her need to touch his warm bare skin driving her, Kendall drew back. She tried to focus on his face, but his lips still held her in thrall.
"Tell me, why is it that the thing you need most in your life is always to be found in your own backyard? I'm only sorry it took me so long to realize it and find my way back home. To you, Tamryn. I've traveled all over the world only to find that all my roads lead back to you."
"Welcome home, Kendall. You sure took the long way to get here, but now that you're back, I'm never letting you go. Take a picture of this, Mr. Future Photographer. You can hang it on the wall next to our wedding picture."
Just before he could lower his lips to hers, Big Earl charged up to them.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Poke is on the move, Tam. Hurry!” Big Earl grabbed Kendall's arm and charged towards the garden, while Tamryn sprang towards Sada's garage.
She emerged from the building and sprinted in the men's path only to see Kendall facing Mr. Poke, clearly at a loss.
With a series of grunts, Mr. Poke lowered his head, his piggy eyes on the prize, which lay just beyond Sissy's freshly painted, white picket fence. Rows and rows of his favorite vegetables.
"I'm not chasing any gigantic pig,” Kendall bellowed at Tamryn, his confusion etched across his face.
"Not just any pig, your pig. Now, get in front of him."
Gamely, he dashed in front of the pig to head him off by waving his arms and yelling. Mr. Poke artfully dodged Kendall's best attempts, and just before Mr. Poke could push over Sissy's fence, the scent and site of the treat Tamryn carried in her silver bucket changed the pot-bellied swine's direction.
"Go open the pen behind the garage,” Tamryn instructed Kendall while she concentrated on luring the pig inside. “Jimmie must have left the gate unlocked after feeding yesterday. There. All safe and secured."
Tamryn gave a little smile to Kendall, before she called after Big Earl. “You're a peach, Big Earl! Don't you forget it,” Tamryn bellowed. The big man gave her a grunt and a wave before heading back to his house. Tamryn turned to face the man she'd loved for so long. He stood before her disheveled and dirt-smeared and a better, more heart-swelling sight she couldn't imagine. Or, maybe it was the way he looked at her, with a fierce love burning in his eyes. For her.
Long minutes later, kiss after soul-reaching kiss, Kendall raised his head to inquire, “Do we actually have to keep that pig after we're married?"
Snuggling against his side as they made their way back to Kendall's house, Tamryn laughed and shook her head. “Why, Mr. Poke is family, but I guess he'd be out of place in the big city."
"Forgive me. I'm but a simple man at heart, but how in God's green acres do you plan to run a newspaper from the big city? Woman, I can't do it. I'll be too busy photographing weddings and chasing down butterfly shots in the meadow. I'm only one man, you know. I have a career to build."
"What's say we head over to Pops’ and hash this out over some nice peach cobbler?"
"What say we go inside and make mad, passionate love instead?"
"Don't you think we should ponder the fate of Mr. Poke?"
"I'd rather eat stewed prunes."
Tamryn looked up into the smudged, yet still dapper face of the only man in the world for her. He'd traveled the globe, but had to come home to find his way in the world, and to her.
She took him by the hand and led him up the stairs into his house. “Welcome home, Country Boy."
Accidentally in Love
by
Meg Allison
CHAPTER ONE
"What's the problem, baby?"
The jingle-jangle of bells announced another customer for Pops’ Diner. Amelia Wojosowski glanced toward the door as she set a plate of peach cobbler a’ la mode on the counter in front of Big Earl.
"Thanks, Amy Jo,” the big man said as he picked up his fork and dug in with gusto. “I've been dreaming about this all day."
Amy smiled as she pretended not to watch the newest customer saunter up the aisle to a booth by the window. Thank goodness he picked Mildred's station this time.
"Don't you have better things to day dream about, Big Earl?” Pops asked from the kitchen window that spanned the wall behind her.
"Nah,” Earl replied, a forkful of cobbler poised near his mouth. “I'm too old and me and the missus have been married too damn long. My only pleasure in life is this here dessert."
Pops chuckled. “Don't let Martha hear you say that or you'll be sleeping on the porch tonight."
"Hell, I'd be sleeping under it!"
The whole town knew he doted on his wife of forty-plus years, but he did like to play the clown. Everyone in the diner laughed out loud at Earl's joke. Everyone, that is, except for a certain up-tight, pain-in-the-butt Doctor. The one Amy fought to ignore.
Fat chance of that happening. Those dark bedroom eyes and dark blonde hair that resembled burnished gold haunted her fantasies when she was alone. Saying he made her nervous whenever he came into the diner was an understatement. Even after working there for over a year, he made her hands shake and her cheeks turn red as a beet.
She still managed to douse him with ketchup, dump potatoes and gravy in his lap, or spill any handy beverage down his shirtfront on an almost daily basis. Made her wonder why he kept coming back—and why Pops and Momma hadn't fired her yet. The townsfolk kept a pool going as to what portion of the meal the good doctor would wind up wearing.
"Amy Jo?” Momma called from the register near the front door. “Would you please cover for Mildred? She was feeling poorly and went on break."
Amy bit her tongue. But she couldn't keep back the catty thoughts regarding Mildred and her ‘health issues'. All the woman really needed was a swift kick in the backside or a new job. Sure, waitressing was hard work. Amy learned that her first day after spending six hours straight on her feet. By the end of the day, she'd felt like a wrung-out mop.
"Amy Jo, Marty's waiting."
She cringed and wondered what bad thing she had done in her life to deserve this torture? Or maybe it was the doctor that had sinned, she thought, as she noticed his shoulders stiffen at Momma's suggestion.
Well, Amy didn't like him any more than he liked her. He could just take his disdain and...
"Amy?"
"Sure, just a sec,” she replied with a smile. No need to let the whole diner know just how nervous and cranky the man made her. It was ridiculous, anyhow, and very illogical. After all, it wasn't as if he'd actually done anything to her. There had been something in the air the moment they met. Of course an instant later she had spilled a large glass of chocolate milk down his shirtfront. Potentially cordial relations nosedived into chilly regard. The next day she dumped a bowl of hot sausage gravy in his lap. Chilly regard took a header right into obvious avoidance.
Their relationship went steadily downhill from that point.
Amy took a deep breath, whipped her pad and pencil out of her apron pocket and walked to the booth. Afternoon sun shone bright outside the large plate glass window and Amy wished she wasn't working so she could enjoy it.
"What can I get you?” she asked, her gaze focused on the pad instead of the doctor's handsome profile.
"I'll have a double cheddar bacon burger, onion rings, a salad with ranch dressing, and a large milk."
She couldn't help but gape at him for a moment. Where on earth did he put all that food? More importantly, how did he eat so much and never gain an ounce? The man didn't seem to have one fat cell on his lean, firm body. She had the guilty pleasure of watching him jog shirtless every morning past her aunt's occult shop.
Amy came to Glen Meadow to start over and found an open door at Aunt Norma's little shop. An open door, a family, and a very invigorating morning workout session thanks to Marty Winston.
"Anything for dessert?” she asked as she fought the urge to mentally undress him.
> "No, not today.” He placed the menu back in its metal holder and shifted his gaze out the window. Not once did he glance in her direction. So much for small town hospitality.
"Fine,” she snapped as her temper flared. She hated it when customers talked to her as if she were an automaton instead of a living, breathing, human being. “If you change your mind, let me know."
She had taken a step when his deep voice called her back. “Amy?"
"Yes?” She crossed her arms over her middle.
"Sorry,” he said then gave her a little half-smile that made her stomach somersault. “I didn't mean to be so rude. I've had a bad day—but I shouldn't take it out on you."
A little mollified and surprised by his sincere apology, all she could do was shrug. “That's okay."
"You forgive me?"
"Yes, I forgive you. This time.” She spun around and flipped her long braid back over her shoulder as she marched to the kitchen.
"Marty wants the usual,” she chimed as she stuck the ticket in the chrome carousel.
"Marty's going to get fat one of these days,” Pops joked.
"Not if he gets enough exercise,” Big Earl said with a grin. He spun around on his stool. “You getting enough exercise there, doc?"
Marty raised a brow. “Why do you ask?"
"Pops is worried about you getting fat."
"Only because it won't be good for business,” Pops replied as he tossed two patties onto the grill. They sizzled and steamed, the smell of grilled meat and onions wafted through the window.
"Yes, I exercise every day,” the doctor told them.
Amy had to fight back the urge to jump into the discussion. No need for the busiest gossips in town to know she spent her early mornings gawking at their half-naked physician. Though it did prove a better eye-opener than any form of caffeine she'd yet to discover.
"Ah, but do you get the right kind of exercise?” Earl continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Amy inched toward the swinging kitchen door, eager to be out of the crossfire. Big Earl was known for his bawdy sense of humor and she was instinctively afraid of where this conversation might be headed.
Pops' Diner, an Anthology [A Pops' Girls Anthology] Page 10