by Cathie Linz
Her gaze moved higher. The edge of his dog tags lay between the silky-brown coins of his nipples. She wanted to lay her tongue against his flesh, to taste him, to lick him.
He shifted position so that less of his body was covered by the cabinet and more was displayed to her avid gaze.
How could she resist?
She had to do it.
She reached out…
“Hand me that wrench, would you?”
His words made her snatch her hand back, as if she’d almost gotten burned.
“Serena? The wrench?” He waggled his fingers.
She efficiently slapped the tool into his hand.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” She had to keep talking or she’d jump him right there on her kitchen floor. “So your dad taught you all about home repairs, huh? Did he do other guy stuff, like teach you how to fish?”
“My Texas grandfather did that. That’s one of the few things he taught me. We weren’t very close. He didn’t approve of my mom marrying a Marine named Kozlowski.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, well, that’s life. Can you hand me some of that Teflon tape?”
“Sure.”
“I told you that I fixed the front door to your apartment already, right? You don’t have to worry about it not latching all the way now.”
No, she only had to worry about falling in love with a tough Marine who had a body to die for.
“Your total is $30.08.” Serena reached for a plastic bag while flashing the customer one of her best sales smiles. “Did you get a copy of our Novel Newsletter? It features upcoming events and new releases. No? Then I’ll put in a copy for you. There you go.” She handed over the bag and the woman’s change. “I hope you enjoy your books.”
Another smile, another customer.
And so it went for most of Saturday, their busiest day of the week. Business was unusually brisk today.
Which was why Serena was especially glad when Kalinda finally arrived.
“Sorry I’m late. Where’s Clay? I called him to come cover for me until I got here.”
“He’s in the back room, unpacking the latest order shipments.”
Serena could tell by Kalinda’s strained expression that something was wrong, but there was no time to ask her about it as a steady stream of customers kept them both busy.
Finally, a little after four, there was a lull in the traffic. “Everything okay?” Serena asked.
“No. It’s my father again. He’s driving me crazy.”
“What’s the matter?”
“The same old thing.” Kalinda sipped the cappuccino she’d made earlier, but hadn’t had a chance to drink much of yet. “He only wants me dating Indian boys. I thought I’d finally come up with the perfect plan—going out with an Indian boy who’s a friend of mine, nothing romantic, and then hooking up with my real date. But that backfired when the platonic guy suddenly started getting ideas despite the fact that he’d agreed to the entire thing beforehand.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Yeah. Major bummer. You know, it’s not that I’m not proud of my Indian culture. I am. And when Wanda comes in and tells me about her Polish heritage, I tell her about my heritage. We’ve even exchanged recipes. She gave me one for kolachkis and I gave her one for kheer. She’s told me about Dyngus Day and I told her about Diwali.”
Serena wondered how she could have missed all this going on. Oh, she realized that Wanda often stopped by, but she hadn’t realized how close Kalinda and the older woman had become. But then Serena had been consumed by her own situation with Rad.
“Diwali is the Festival of Lights, right?” At least Serena knew something. She remembered Kalinda had told her about it last year.
“That’s right. It’s going on now and it’s the one Hindu festival that unites all of India. It’s also celebrated by Indians all over the world. We light small oil lamps called diyas and place them around our homes and gardens. Candles can be substituted for diyas. The celebrations include exchanging special sweets and gifts and then ends in fireworks. Diwali is meant to be an occasion for cheerfulness and togetherness. But the only fireworks at my house this year are between my father and me.”
“Does he know about you using your Indian friend as a cover for going out with someone else?”
“He suspects. That’s what we were arguing about before I left for work.”
“Do you want to go home and talk…?”
“Why? My father is much too stubborn to listen to me. And my mother is no help.”
Serena could relate.
“They just don’t understand me.”
Again, Serena could empathize.
“I only want a little freedom. That doesn’t seem like much to ask, does it?”
Serena shook her head.
“Anyway, Wanda has been really cool about all this heritage sharing stuff. It’s kind of cosmic that October is both Polish Heritage Month and it’s also usually the month we celebrate Diwali. India has a solar calendar so the date varies each year, but it’s always late fall.”
“Have you talked to Wanda about your dad?”
“No, not really. I figured she’d be into obeying parents and all that. Listen, let’s change the subject, okay?” Kalinda tucked her long black hair behind her ears and smiled, albeit half-heartedly. “Hey, have you noticed that Clay seems a lot happier lately?”
“I had noticed that, yes.” When Serena had asked him to work on the incoming shipments in the back, he’d offered to do some additional computer work while he was there. Clay was a good part-timer, but he rarely offered to do extra work in the past.
“Given that Clay is often in a world of his own, it’s sometimes hard to tell how he’s feeling, but he actually smiled at me yesterday.” Kalinda shook her head as if still surprised by the memory. “I think he’s met someone.”
“Someone?”
“A girl.”
“Has he said anything to you?” Serena asked her.
“Are you kidding? Clay never talks about his private life.”
“Like another guy I know,” Serena muttered.
“You mean Rad?”
Serena nodded. “I still don’t know what he does in the Marine Corps. I mean, I know he’s a Captain. But I don’t know what he does.”
“Maybe it’s something top secret.”
“His grandmother told me that she thinks he’s saving the world from evil.”
Kalinda grinned. “Well then, that explains it. Does it really matter what he does?”
“He knows so much about my work, it would be nice to know something about his. A way of sharing.”
“You should be thankful he doesn’t talk about work all the time. My father does that. He’s an anesthesiologist you know, and he’s always talking about some patient. And he always does it while I’m trying to eat. It’s gross. I’ve told him so, but he doesn’t care. He’s the father.” Kalinda used her hands to place quote marks around her words. “He’s all knowing.”
“Kinda like my Mystical Magic Ball,” Clay noted, having walked in on the tail end of the conversation.
Kalinda leaned over the counter to get a better view. “Where did you get that?”
“A friend gave it to me.”
“I don’t know. It seems pretty simplistic for a techie like you,” Kalinda teased him.
“Let’s see what it says.” Clay turned it upside down. “What do you want to ask it?”
She immediately replied, “Will Kalinda outwit her father?”
“The outcome is too cloudy to predict,” Clay read.
“Ask it something about Serena.” Kalinda nodded toward her.
“Like what?”
“How about if the after-school program on Tuesday will go off okay?” Serena had arranged for drama students from the local high school to read aloud to at-risk kids. It was part of her overall strategy for the store—to make books come alive. She knew from her own experience that once you hooked a ki
d on reading, they’re usually hooked for life.
Clay turned over the ball and read, “Very likely.”
Kalinda shared a high-five with Serena. “Ask if she’ll keep getting flowers from her fiancé.” Rad had been sending them like clockwork every week. “And that yummy imported dark chocolate.”
“Most likely.”
Kalinda continued with her questions. “Ask it if I’ll get an A in my Advanced Calculus class.”
“Most likely.”
“Yes!” Kalinda did a little happy dance before saying, “Ask it if Serena and Rad will live happily ever after.”
“The outcome is too cloudy to predict,” Clay reluctantly read.
Yeah, that’s what Serena was afraid of.
“I think I’m finally getting the hang of this.” Serena smiled as Rad put a hand under her elbow to help her out of his Corvette. He had on a pair of charcoal-gray pants paired with a crisp white shirt and he looked good enough to eat.
But she was struck by more than just his good looks. She loved the way he made her feel all feminine and cherished by doing little things like opening doors for her. Rad didn’t do it as a way of controlling her, but as a way of showing her respect. The old-fashioned chivalry was incredibly endearing.
“What do you mean you’re getting the hang of this?”
She smoothed the jersey of her black dress. “I mean I think I’ve finally mastered the art of getting out of a low-slung sports car without making a fool of myself.”
“I have yet to see you make a fool of yourself. I, on the other hand, have done so several times.”
“Name one.”
“When you walked in on me lying spread-eagle on your living room floor yesterday.”
She grinned. “That was sweet, not foolish.” He’d been trying to coax her cats to come out from beneath the end table. It wasn’t the first time he’d tried to befriend them, but on that occasion he’d used the right bait—a fluffy pink feather toy with a long stick. That way he could lie in wait, getting down to their level so he didn’t tower over them.
Oshi had remained cautious, but Bella had gone for the toy.
Rad’s grin of satisfaction had been Serena’s downfall. She’d known then and there that she was in love with him. It was no longer a matter of falling in love, she was already there.
Since this revelation had come less than twenty-four hours ago, Serena still wasn’t sure what to do about it. Her concerns remained. And Rad hadn’t expressed his feelings for her.
But for now she resolved to live in the moment and just enjoy this evening.
More than one female head turned as they walked into the cozy harborside Italian restaurant. They’d come to Cacino Italia to meet Rad’s grandmother and Striker and Kate for dinner.
“Do you realize what’s coming up next week?” Rad asked her as they waited to be seated.
“Yes. Halloween. And the Harry Potter party at the store.”
“I was referring to our one-month anniversary. We’ll have to do something special to mark the occasion.”
Before Serena could react to his comment, the hostess gestured them to her side. “If you’ll follow me, please.”
Serena was very aware of Rad’s splayed fingers on her back as the hostess led them toward the back of the large restaurant. She was also aware of the fact that he’d taken note of their one-month anniversary. What did that mean? That he was too aware of the time dragging out? Or that he enjoyed every moment? Or someplace in between?
What did doing something special mean? Ordering another deep-dish pizza together? Making love? What?
She was so distracted by her thoughts that she didn’t even register the fact that they’d stepped into a very dimly lit room. It wasn’t until the lights were suddenly turned on and a crowd of people shouted “Surprise!” that she realized what had happened.
For one second Serena thought they must have walked into the wrong room.
Then she looked around and recognized the people standing around her.
But the biggest shock of all was caused by the two people who stayed apart from the rest. Two people she hadn’t seen in years, two people who were supposed to be a thousand miles away in Nevada, not here in North Carolina.
Her parents.
Chapter Ten
“Are you surprised?” Heidi asked Rad, taking him by the arm and drawing him aside.
“Affirmative.” His voice was curt. “Especially given the fact that I specifically told you that I didn’t want you throwing a party for us.”
Heidi waved his words away. “Like what girl wouldn’t love a surprise engagement party?”
This girl, Serena wanted to shout.
The dream world she’d been allowing herself to believe in was quickly coming unraveled. Reality was staring her in the face. Her father was staring her in the face. And she could tell he wasn’t happy with what he saw.
But then he rarely was. Not when he looked at her.
Can’t you do anything right? What were you thinking? You always were a troublemaker. Up to no good. Wild. Undisciplined. Trouble.
She’d heard the accusations so many times. Seen the look of disappointment. Heard the anger.
Serena Sunshine tried to find a silver lining here…but it was tough.
Maybe her father had mellowed over time.
Oh yeah? an inner voice taunted. You mean since last Christmas when he’d said you’d never amount to much and that opening a bookstore was the stupidest idea he’d ever heard of?
So much for her spirit-of-the-holiday-inspired idea of calling her parents last December to mend bridges.
Why were they here? Why had they come from Las Vegas instead of refusing? How had Heidi known how to contact them?
Serena had no answers. Instead she was filled with millions of questions and lots of dread.
“Looks like Serena has finally done something right,” her dad was telling Striker. “Getting herself hooked up with a jarhead. Maybe he’ll knock some sense into her. She was a total screwup, you know. I never could get her to toe the line. Your brother is going to have his hands full with this one, I can tell you.”
Serena stood there frozen, unable to think of a way to make this nightmare stop.
Striker did his part by walking away as quickly as he could. Which meant what? That he was disgusted with her father, or with her?
As the minutes slowly ticked by, things got worse. Her father always had had a booming voice, and it carried in the room despite the other conversations flowing on around him.
Looking at the large framed photographs of Rome and Venice decorating the walls, Serena desperately wished she could crawl into one of them and just disappear.
Serena jumped when someone touched her arm. “Are you okay?” Ellie asked her. “You look a little pale. Actually you’ve got a definite deer-in-the-headlights look.”
Serena grabbed Ellie as if she were a lifeline. “Listen to me, don’t let Wanda talk to my parents. Keep her away from them.”
Ellie nodded with the air of one who recognized sheer panic. “Okay. No easy task, but I’ll do my best.”
All Serena needed was for Wanda to ask her mom about her Polish heritage. Or for Wanda to hear about any of her escapades from her father.
The house of cards she and Rad had built was now precariously perched on the edge of a fault zone and the earthquake was only a matter of time.
Where was Rad? He’d left her side to go talk to his brother Ben. Maybe he was ordering him to clear the room?
“I can’t believe you let them do this.” Rad glared at Ben. “Whatever happened to watching my back? Leave no man behind, remember?”
“Listen, I was totally out of the loop. Ellie didn’t tell me what was going on until we got here about five minutes ago. I tried to call you but your cell phone was off.”
“What about Striker?”
“What about him?” Ben kept his voice low. “He doesn’t know that your engagement isn’t the real thing—unless you�
�ve told him?”
Rad shook his head. “The more people who know that piece of intel, the more likely the word will get out.”
“Agreed. Just consider yourself lucky that Mom and Dad couldn’t get here in time. Their RV broke down in some remote place in Maine so they were stuck there.”
“But Serena’s parents are here.”
“Yeah.”
Rad looked across the room, his attention focused on her father. This was the man who’d made Serena so gunshy about military men. He was average height and above-average width, the beginning of a beer belly stretching the material of his shirt. He had sandy hair and eyebrows and the look of a man who spent a lot of time out in the sun. And he had a wife who was gazing at him anxiously, but not doing anything to keep him quiet—unless you counted those nervous little touches to the arm that were clearly being ignored by the big guy.
He noticed that Serena had yet to actually greet them. But it didn’t look like that could be put off any longer. Her father was on the move.
Rad left his brother to return to Serena’s side for backup support. If there were any battles to be fought, he wasn’t about to let her fight them alone.
Serena spoke first. “Mom, Dad.” She smiled and nodded at them both. They nodded back. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
Her father did all the talking. “We were surprised to hear you got engaged without talking to us first. Not that we should have been. You never tell us what you’re doing until you’ve already done it and made a mess of things.” Frank turned his attention to Rad. “Since she didn’t bother to introduce us, I’ll do it myself. I’m Frank Anderson and this is my wife Iris. As I was telling your brother Striker earlier, I’m glad to see Serena here has hooked up with a jarhead. Maybe you can get her to toe the line. I sure never could.”
Rad took Serena’s hand in his. Her fingers were ice cold. “I don’t need anyone telling me to toe the line,” Serena stated.
“Sure you do,” Frank said. “To keep you out of trouble.”
“If you’ll excuse us, I see someone we need to speak to.” Rad efficiently whisked Serena away to the far corner of the room. Or he tried to, but they were stopped several times by well-wishers.