Sam, who loved every stem of hay, blade of grass and stalk of wheat that grew on the farm, had a very hard time adjusting to the fact that he could no longer do what he loved, which was farming. While Ken enjoyed farming, it was like a life force for Sam. It was all he ever wanted to do or be. And now he had to watch his dad and sister struggle along to do the best they could in the time they squeezed in before and after work and on the weekends.
Unable to stay in his apartment above the barn, Sam was forced to move back into his old boyhood bedroom, down the hall from Anna. He felt like his life had taken huge steps backward instead of moving forward. Just when he had about given up hope, his mom located a new therapist for him to try. Mel came to the house every day Monday through Thursday, and put him through hours of grueling exercises and massages. After two months of that, Sam could tell they were really making progress. Where the doctors had predicted a life bound to his wheelchair, Sam was now thinking there just might be something more in his future.
Since his sessions were going so well, Mel now had him come to his facility in Portland four times a week, where he had access to unlimited equipment and a therapy pool. Due to the huge settlement from the accident, Sam recently purchased a hand-controlled car with a seat that slid out and connected to wheels, doubling as a wheelchair. Just a simple thing like driving himself to his appointments gave him a wonderful sense of freedom.
He also recently ordered the monster truck of wheelchairs, guaranteed to go anywhere he wanted to go, complete with a camouflage seat cover. That, in particular, had enabled him to get around the farm a bit and he loved every minute of being outside in the fresh air and sunshine.
If Anna knew her brother, it would just be a matter of time before he could figure out a way to get back in the saddle or on a tractor.
Helping her mom finish preparing the meal, Anna handed the plates and cutlery to Sam so he could set the table. Her dad ran out to feed the livestock and came in just as they placed the last dish on the table.
“Perfect timing, as usual,” Ken grinned while he washed up at the sink. Once he sat down at the table, they all bowed their heads and Ken said grace.
Passing around the food, conversation was lively until Sue asked Anna about her day.
“It was fine, Mom,” Anna said, playing with her taco.
“It doesn’t sound like it was fine. What happened?” Sue asked, knowing she’d have to dig before Anna would tell them what was wrong.
Releasing a huge sigh, Anna continued moving the salsa around on her plate. “I made a complete fool of myself today.”
“You do that every day,” Sam teased, as only a brother can.
Anna looked up long enough to shoot him a glare. He didn’t notice since he was already receiving a warning look from his mother.
“What happened, Sugar?” Ken asked, curious to know what disaster Anna thought had befallen her this time. For some reason, things that most people would not be bothered by at all deeply affected Anna. Maybe it had to do with her self-confidence or her general fear of people. Whatever caused it, he wished he knew a cure for it.
“I was waiting for Daddy outside, reading a book and not paying attention, and the next thing I knew Jake Chandler bumped into me and the book went flying. I was so embarrassed,” Anna explained, still refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
“And?” Sue asked.
“Well, that’s it. He handed me the book and went on his merry way,” Anna said. How did her family not understand the magnitude of this chance encounter?
Sue looked at Ken confused. Sam reached for another taco. Anna sighed.
“How did that make you look foolish?” Sue asked. “I think you left out something, Anna.”
“Because I’m a big klutz and dropped my book and I could not have looked any worse today if I’d tried,” Anna said, exasperated.
“Oh, I see,” was all her mother said, then turned to Sam and asked him about his therapy session.
Anna finished her dinner with her temper set on a high boil. Obviously no one cared that she’d been humiliated today. That the one guy she had any interest in happened to be the one who bumped into her on a day when she looked like death warmed over. That same guy would never, in a million years, give her a second glance. It appeared her family didn’t seem to care at all.
As soon as the table was clean and the dishes done, Anna started out the back door but was stopped by her mom before she could escape.
“Anna, do you have a crush on this Jake Chandler. Is that the problem?” Sue asked, trying not to smile, as she held Anna by the shoulders, forcing her to look into her face.
“Mother,” Anna said, drawing out each letter until it sounded like a six syllable word. “Please!”
“Please what?” Sue said, giving Anna a side-ways squeeze. “I think you might just like this Jake person and that is what has you so upset. You know you didn’t do anything to look foolish. It sounds to me like it was an accident that he bumped into you. Was he rude to you? Did he say something to upset you?”
Anna released another long sigh. “No. He was very polite and apologized. He picked up the book and handed it to me and commented about what chapter he liked best, then apologized again and left. I guess I might like him just a little.”
Sue couldn’t help smiling. “Well, he sounds like a very nice young man, Anna. And he probably didn’t think a thing of it. You shouldn’t either. You’ve got to try not to be so sensitive, sweetie. You are a beautiful, intelligent, fun, hard-working girl and someday someone will come along who appreciates all you have to offer.”
“I don’t think that is ever going to happen, Mom.”
CHAPTER TWO
Anna looked up from the front desk at the library where she was placing returned books into a cart to be taken back to the appropriate shelves when she saw Jake saunter in. Ducking down, she watched him walk back to the section where they kept archives of the local newspaper and pull out a bound volume.
She hadn’t realized just exactly how much time Jake Chandler spent at the library. He seemed to do a great deal of research. A couple of times a week he would come in and search through some of the old maps and history books in the special collections or look through the newspaper archives for articles. Anna asked Mrs. Baxter, the head librarian, what type of information Jake was researching and she informed her it was none of their business, but went on to tell her that he looked up water rights, past ownership of properties, well placements and ditches.
Fortunately for Anna, the specific type of research Jake needed was not available online. Some of it was available at the county courthouse, but it was easier for him to walk across the street rather than drive across town.
Anna made short work of shelving the returned books and came back to the front desk. She decided to go gather the books from the collection box outside and get them processed to return to the shelves as well. Quietly pushing the small cart outside and down the side ramp, she unlocked the collection box and found it completely full.
Grabbing an armful of books, she loaded it on the cart when she heard Jake talking to his friend, Dave. Keeping her head down, she continued quietly emptying out the box.
“Hey, have a good evening, man,” Dave said as he walked toward the parking lot. Jake turned to wave at him and took a blind step back right into Anna, knocking the armful of books she just dug out of the box into the air and her to the ground.
Startled, Jake turned around, surprised at what he had done. He should have known it would be the library mouse. Only she could empty the collection box so quietly no one would know she was there. When the other librarians did it, it sounded like a hammer on a tin drum as they emptied the box and loaded the cart.
“I’m so sorry, miss,” he said, extending a hand toward her to help her up.
Anna refused his hand and stood up, tugging on her oversized gray jacket before brushing at the seat of her baggy gray pants. Jake supposed it was probably a very nice suit for someone ab
out four sizes bigger than the timid little library mouse. Now it hung on her frame like a billowing tent. At least today she wasn’t wearing those hideous glasses. He was beginning to wonder how a female could have no sense of style at all. He’d yet to encounter one who had such a complete and total lack of interest in their appearance.
“I’m really very sorry,” he said, picking up the books and stacking them on the cart. “I didn’t see you there.”
Anna wondered how anyone could possibly overlook a cart full of books, a tall woman and an open collection box door, but apparently Jake could.
“It’s fine,” she said, not making eye contact as she gathered up the last of the books and quietly relocked the collection box.
“If we’re going to keep bumping into each other, I should at least know your name,” Jake said. He never had a problem charming anyone and he was sure this timid girl wouldn’t be an exception. Giving her the full power of his smile, he extended his hand, “I’m Jake. Jake Chandler. I work across the street at the extension office.”
“Nice to meet you,” Anna said, looking him square in the eye and shaking his hand. She already knew all about Jake Chandler. It probably wasn’t the most ethical thing she’d ever done, but it was easy enough to pull his library card information and find out his address, age and name. Apparently, he had been a long-time patron of the library, starting when he was in the third grade. She could picture him then, light blue eyes, winning smile, tousled hair and trouble following him everywhere. A shock of that thick hair was currently holding her attention as it fell across his tanned forehead. Normally he had on his black Stetson but today his hatless head of sable hair was glistening under the afternoon sun. Anna had the most intense desire to run her fingers through it.
Grabbing the cart handles more firmly, she doubted that someone like Jake Chandler would ever be interested in someone like her. Starting to turn the cart back toward the ramp, Jake apologized again.
“I’m really very sorry. I hope I didn’t hurt you. Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
“I’m fine, Mr. Chandler. Thank you,” she said, looking at him once again.
“Please call me Jake,” he said. “All my friends do.” For whatever reason, Jake sincerely hoped that this librarian would let him be a friend. He was mesmerized looking into those lovely violet eyes of hers. They looked back at the world like a sponge – bright, moist, absorbing everything around them. A man could get lost in eyes like that.
Unless, of course, he remembered the rest of the package.
Looking over this girl from head to toe, he noticed her hair was in another bun today, though not quite as severe as the one from the other day. She had long bangs swept to the side and a few tendrils escaping around her ears. Without those hideous glasses, her face was actually quite attractive. He’d really like to know what kind of figure hid behind the baggy colorless clothes. The way she slouched, it was hard to envision much shape to her. But somehow, despite his better judgment, Jake was more than a little curious as to who this girl was, what made her tick.
It looked like he wasn’t going to get a chance to find out. At least not today.
“Thank you, Jake,” Anna said as she turned and quickly wheeled the cart up the ramp and back inside.
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Anna had finally recovered from her run-in with Jake by the collection box. She’d managed to avoid speaking to him for nearly two weeks. Why did he tie her tongue up in knots and make her feel like a gangly oaf?
The vibration of her cell phone interrupted her musings. “Miss Zimmerman? This is Dr. Turey’s office. I hate to tell you this, but the frames you wanted for your new glasses are still on back order. It’s going to be another week or so before we have them in. I do have your prescription sunglasses ready, though. You can pick them up anytime.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in tomorrow to pick them up,” Anna said, hanging up with a sigh. Oh, she wanted those new glasses so badly. On a whim, she’d decided to have a new pair of sunglasses made as well. She could see fine up close without her glasses on and they gave her a headache if she wore them to do computer work, but to see anything at a distance greater than six feet, she had to have them. Since her prescription hadn’t changed, she had a couple of pairs of old glasses at home that she had been wearing as well as her old sunglasses. She’d avoided wearing her glasses inside the library most of the time, afraid that Jake would come in and see her with the out-of-date things on.
Not that it mattered much. Mrs. Baxter had her working on special projects down in the basement most of the time. Anna was going through old books sorting through stacks and stacks of neglected volumes that had accumulated over the years, deciding which books could go, what ones needed repair and which ones could return to service.
Anna didn’t mind. She was content to work by herself and hiding in the basement there was no chance of running into Jake. It was both a torment and a relief. If she needed a Jake fix she could always be watching out the window at 5 p.m. sharp as he and his friend walked by to the parking lot as they left work.
He was still on her mind as she walked out the library’s door after work, put on her sunglasses and headed for her car. Normally, she would have gone out the back door and been steps away from her car, but Mrs. Baxter asked her to check and make sure Betty, one of the elderly librarians, had locked the collection box. The “poor dear” as Mrs. Baxter was prone to call her, was getting a bit forgetful. Anna checked the box and started across the parking lot when the pickup she was directly behind jumped into reverse and came straight for her.
Resigning herself to being hit, Anna stood her ground and threw up her hand in a futile effort of protection. Her fingers brushed the tailgate when the pickup stopped suddenly, pulled back into the parking space and the driver jumped out, hurrying toward her.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Jake yelled as she stood there, not completely sure what had happened. He thought he’d have heart failure when he looked in his rearview mirror and saw the library mouse standing right behind the pickup. It was a darn lucky thing he had good brakes, otherwise he’d be waiting for an ambulance to come get her right now. His heart was still pounding as he stood staring down at her.
Anna felt all the blood drain from her face and her legs start to buckle. Taking a step back, for the first time in her life she thought she might faint. And at the feet of Jake Chandler, of all places. Sucking in a deep breath, she tried to overcome the woozy feeling that was settling over her.
Jake gently took her arm and held her steady. “Easy, now,” he said in the soft voice he used to work with skittish colts. “You’re fine. Nothing happened. Just take a deep breath. Everything is okay.”
Anna was having a hard time doing anything with his hand on her arm and him standing so close. She could smell the spicy scent of his aftershave, see the muscle tighten in his jaw, feel the heat of his hand on her arm. She couldn’t, however, hear what he was saying.
Turning her head, she reached up to her hearing aid, adjusting the volume. Even though she was partially deaf, as long as she wore the hearing aid, she could usually make out just fine. She’d also learned to read lips over the years, but right now, she couldn’t concentrate enough to follow what Jake was saying. Watching his lips just created the overpowering desire to kiss them.
Jake watched her hand go to her ear and wondered what she was doing. When she turned her head toward him, he finally realized she wore a hearing aid. Well, no wonder she is such a timid thing. She’d already found a soft spot in his heart, and discovering her disability just made him treat her all the more considerately.
Speaking louder, he looked her in the face and said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you back there. Are you hurt?”
Taking another deep breath, Anna finally found her voice. “No, Mr. Chandler, I’m fine.”
“I thought you were going to call me Jake,” he teased, still holding on to her arm. “I really am very sorry. May I drive you somewhere o
r call someone?”
“No. That’s quite alright,” Anna said, feeling her woozy spell pass. Standing up a bit taller, she straightened her long beige skirt and jacket and took a step back, away from Jake. Away from her daydreams. She couldn’t think at all with him standing so close. “I’m sorry to have startled you as well.”
Turning toward her car, she quickly walked to the door and unlocked it. Jake took a few steps in her direction, unsure if she should be driving, and stopped. Speaking loudly he asked, “Will you at least tell me your name?”
Anna smiled at him then. A genuine, warm smile that showed off her even white teeth and accented her high cheekbones. She was truly beautiful when she smiled.
“Maybe next time we collide, Jake.” Then she laughed, a deep throaty laugh that caught Jake completely by surprise as she got in her car and left.
As Jake drove home, his heart was still pounding and he wasn’t sure if it was from the fact his little mouse, as he’d taken to calling her in his head, had scared five years off his life or because he was completely shocked to find himself more than a little bit attracted to her. He could still smell her fresh, tropical scent and see the freckles that skipped across her nose.
In a rush to leave work he couldn’t believe it when he looked in the rearview mirror to see her right behind him. Recalling what had happened, he realized he threw the pickup in reverse and started to back up without looking. Calling himself ten kinds of a fool, he was going to have to keep more focused.
At the time, he’d been wondering what the library mouse had been up to that day. He’d gone in twice that week and not seen her at all. She was fun to tease and it didn’t take much to make her blush. Dang it all, she had found a way to grab his interest by acting so uninterested in him. He cornered her long enough to have a few conversations. Once he got her talking, Jake discovered she was quite intelligent and well-spoken. He was most surprised by her quick wit and sense of humor. He realized he also enjoyed hearing her deep throaty voice. Not just the cadence of it, but the words she used. She knew more fancy and old-fashioned ways of saying something that just made everything sound better, nicer.
Not His Type Page 2