Her nerves were still on edge when she left the safety of the car. Shadows caused the darkness to close in until she neared the single light over the back door. Breathing deeply, she focused on the shiniest key on the chain before inserting it into the lock — it didn’t work. She swallowed the rising panic and stepped back to look at her surroundings.
“I know it’s the right house,” she said, for the sake of hearing her own voice. “There’s Kimmie’s car, and the awful hedge…”
“Do you always talk to yourself?”
Charlotte screamed, but nothing came out. Her head cried run, only her feet weren’t listening. The fight instinct tried to kick in, but all she could do was whimper like a scared pup.
“Are you okay?” Jake came out of the shadows. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She slugged him with her purse. “Jake! I nearly had a heart attack, thanks to you!”
“I said I was sorry,” he replied, rubbing his arm. “No need to beat me to death.”
“Oh, I didn’t hurt you.”
“Did too! Your bag weighs a ton.”
Charlotte took a deep breath, clutching her chest to slow her heart rate. “What are you doing out here, pouncing on me in the middle of the night?”
“It’s only nine o’clock. I’d hardly call it the middle of the night.”
Her knees crumpled, and she eased down on the top step to keep from falling. “You would if you were as tired as I am.”
Jake sat beside her. “Bad day?”
“Parts of it.”
“I’d ask if you want to talk about it, but I already know the answer.”
“Uh-huh.” She maneuvered her hot feet out of the work shoes, followed by her socks. Her toes wiggled on the cold cement. “Mmm. Feels good.”
Jake caught her ankles, swirling her around so her feet landed on his knee. “I’ll be neighborly and rub the pain away.”
She would have objected, but he began kneading the balls of her feet, and the protest died instantly. Goose bumps raced up her spine when his thumbs pressed against her arches and rubbed backward toward the heels.
He sniffed, holding her ankles at arm’s length with one hand. “Shoo-wee, your feet stink!”
“Oh, shut up and rub. You volunteered for the job.”
“Well, yeah… but I didn’t know these dogs were allergic to soap and water.”
She jerked her feet. “If you’re going to gripe…”
“Be still,” he said, resuming his job. “My fingers are already dirty.”
The large, callused hands moved gently, giving her the sensation of melting chocolate, dripping slowly down the steps like syrup on hot fudge cake. Each toe got its share of attention, including the little pig that went to market.
She imagined his hands on her aching back. “I’ll bet you were a masseur in your younger days.”
He stopped. “You think I’m old?”
“Of course not.” She tried to gauge his reaction in the dim light.
He chuckled. “Just saying I’m past my prime?”
Bright light flooded the steps when Kimmie opened the door, saving Charlotte from replying. “I thought I heard voices.”
“Are my girls asleep?”
“Fed, bathed, and out for the night.”
“Did they give you any trouble?”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle, and I left your supper in the oven to keep warm.”
To Charlotte’s surprise, Jake slid closer to her side, giving the sitter a clear pathway down the steps. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep the girl’s book bag from bouncing off his head.
“Goodnight, Kimmie,” he said, rubbing his new bump. “Say hello to your dad for me.”
The girl’s car sprang to life, and she reversed out of the yard in a spray of gravel. The dust settled, leaving the night quiet again, except for Charlotte’s growling stomach, which reminded her of the time. “Want some supper?”
“No, I ate about an hour ago.” He relaxed against the steps. His arm had somehow managed to wrap around her waist, while his fingers did a gentle tap dance against her ribs. It was much too close for her peace of mind, but he seemed not to notice. “Mom dropped off a chicken casserole. Not much meat, but you should have tasted it… best she’s ever made.”
“You don’t say? I cooked the same thing.” Charlotte stood, gathering her shoes and socks, while putting what she hoped was a safe distance between them. It was time to put this day to rest.
Jake reached into his pocket as he unfolded his lanky frame. “I almost forgot to give you these.”
“More keys? Why would I need those? The ones I’ve got won’t even work.”
A sheepish grin tugged at his mouth. “I sort of changed your locks after I got home tonight.”
Her eyes flashed. “You did what?”
“Now wait,” he said. “I know it sounds a bit high-handed, but I thought it was the least I could do under the circumstances.”
A day she thought couldn’t get any worse — just had. “What is it with your family and keys?”
“I knew you’d be hopping mad, but Jeremy gave your key to one of his buddies to make the copies. You could have a dozen keys floating around out there.”
“Oh, my stars!” The implications of what could have happened sank into her tired brain. “What’s up with your boys? Why are they out to get me?”
“They like you.”
“Like me?”
“Sure.”
Charlotte dodged a moth headed for the porch light and sure death. “I’d hate to imagine what they’d do if they disliked me!”
Using the utmost care, he placed the new keys in her open palm then closed her fingers around them. “You’re holding the only keys to these locks, so guard them with your life.”
“You can count on it.”
The suicidal moth bounced off the light a couple of times before floating to the ground, its landing made softer by a cool breeze rising from the south. Using her free hand, she raised her hair to feel the wind on her neck and sensed Jake had moved closer. The tiny laugh lines feathering his eyes and the black stubble on his face reminded her it’d been a long day for him also. A warm, almost forgotten longing skittered through her body. He was waiting, and all she had to do was meet him halfway, but she couldn’t do it.
“Good night, Jake.”
The longing mirrored in his royal blue eyes faded along with his smile, banking his desire for the moment. He released her hand. “Night, Charlotte.”
She mentally straightened her spine, shoving aside the regret she felt for turning him down. The plans for her future were set, and they didn’t include him… or did they? His arms reached out, and she felt herself leaning toward his lean body. Struggling never entered her mind when she gave in to his warm kiss. Control slid away as before, and she found herself clinging to him like a safe harbor in a violent storm. Being in his arms felt right, and as much as she wanted his kisses to continue, it was way too soon to get serious. It had to stop. Using every ounce of willpower she had, she pushed herself away.
“We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” He frowned, reluctant to let go.
“It’s not right.”
“Of course it’s right. We both feel it.”
“No.”
“Don’t lie to me, Charlotte. A minute ago you were all over me. You know you want me.”
“I want a lot of things I can’t have, so I’ll just have to add you to my list.”
Jake stepped back to fold his arms across his chest, his longing still evident in the dim light. “This is crazy, and you know it. We’re both adults.”
Without a word, she retreated to the top step. Maybe she was being unfair, but it made no difference. She wasn’t sure of what he was offering. “It’s not going to happen.”
“You’re right,” he said, man enough to admit defeat. “We hardly know each other. I’m not going to rush you, but if you change your mind, let me know.”
His words
hung in the air long after he’d disappeared through the overgrown hedges separating their yards. She didn’t trust herself, so she could only pray he was a man of his word.
****
Charlotte made it a point to avoid Jake the rest of the week, which wasn’t hard, considering how late he got home. Out of sight didn’t necessarily mean out of mind. She found it hard to concentrate at work, mostly because she figured his late nights were due to dumb-as-dirt Loretta.
While she was avoiding Jake, Ray seemed to be avoiding her, and rightly so. She’d made a point of talking to John Milner the following morning, and he’d assured her there’d be no more problems with the assistant manager.
When Thursday evening arrived, she was still tallying her bills in her head and trying to solve her Saturday night dilemma. Jeremy was fine for mornings and afternoons, but he wasn’t old enough for nights. Without a sitter, she had no choice but to miss the shift and let something slide.
Straightening shelves was a no-brainer, and by the time she reached her decision, she’d worked her way from canned goods to cereals. She jumped when Annabelle tapped her on the shoulder.
Her co-worker held up her watch. “You’ll have to cover the register. It’s time for me to go.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah, I’ve had all the fun I need for one day.”
“You call this fun?”
Annabelle laughed, straightening a cereal box Charlotte had missed. “It is, compared to my husband’s weekend, if I have to work Saturday morning. My sister and her kids are spending Friday night with us before heading to Disney World.”
“I’ll trade,” Charlotte said. “If you don’t mind working Saturday night?”
“Fine with me,” Annabelle agreed. “One to nine?”
Her friend was an angel. The McGregors would drop Becky and Maggie off around eleven, and she’d pay Jeremy to watch them until she could get home. She whispered a prayer of thanks on her way to the register and added an earnest amen when she discovered Ray was gone, and she would be closing with Mr. Milner. Good.
The rest of the day was busy, making it late when Charlotte arrived home, too tired to eat, but still curious enough to see if there was any soup left. To her dismay, only one small bowl, covered in aluminum foil, remained in the oven.
For the life of her, she couldn’t imagine how one skinny teenager could eat so much. Before the ninety-pound weakling began sitting with her girls, it wasn’t uncommon to have enough leftovers for an extra meal and some scraps for the cat. Now it seemed, regardless of what she cooked, only one serving remained for her supper. The week wasn’t over, but her cabinets were almost bare. At this rate, she’d have to rethink her entire budget, and she didn’t know where the extra money would come from.
CHAPTER TEN
When Friday afternoon rolled around, there was a courtesy call from the girls’ grandmother, saying she’d picked them up at school. As always, Ellen was punctual. Unless her itinerary changed, the girls would dress for a boring dinner in the formal dining room with both grandparents, followed by an unexciting bedtime story and lights out. To ease her conscience, Charlotte told herself the girls needed to spend more time with the McGregors.
With only herself to please, she opted for a relaxing bath and sandwich, provided there was something out of which to make one. She stirred a cup of hot cocoa, while the rising steam transformed the bathroom into her personal sauna.
The soothing sound of violins filled the air, and with her hair bunched into a make-shift mop atop her head using an old scarf, she was set. A night of pampering would be perfect… except for the constant pounding at the door.
“Okay, okay. I’m coming!” Irritated at the interruption, she shut off the tap before water reached the overflow valve. It didn’t sound as if they would leave, so she shoved the chain lock into place and opened the door a crack. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Let’s not show too much enthusiasm,” Jake said, pulling on the screen only to discover it too was locked.
Charlotte closed the wooden door and removed the chain before opening it again. “I thought you were someone else.”
“Someone even less welcome than me?”
She’d felt uneasy about Ray, but as far as she knew, he still thought she lived at Hidden Hills. She flipped the latch on the screen and stepped back so Jake could enter.
“Where are the boys?”
“You should know by now my boys don’t knock.”
She laughed. “True, so where are they?”
“With Betty’s parents. You aren’t the only one needing a break.”
She understood completely. While debating on the amount of hospitality she should offer, he filled the coffeepot with fresh water and a filter, then added grounds and flipped the switch.
“Want some coffee?” she said.
A pink flush inched up his neck when he realized what he’d done. “I… this house is so much like mine, I sometimes forget I’m not at home.”
“It is homey,” she agreed, adding as an afterthought. “You’re welcome to wash the pile of dishes if you’d like.”
He declined. “Seems a little too much like home.”
“I like this house. It’s cozy, and I feel safe here.”
“Speaking of safe, you were trembling like a leaf when you got home the other night. Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s all taken care of. Will Jeremy be home in time to watch the girls tomorrow?”
“When there’s money involved, you can depend on him.”
She pulled two chairs from the table, sitting on one and propping her feet on the other, leaving Jake to find his own. “You shouldn’t talk about your boys like that. They’re good kids, and you know it.”
He pulled the chair from under her feet and proceeded to make himself comfortable by stretching his legs under the table. His slow mischievous grin mimicked her earlier words. “There’re out to get me!”
Not to be outdone, she hooked her toes on the edge of his seat. “Those days are in the past. Bruce and I had a long talk, and I think we’ll get along just fine now.”
His blue eyes danced with laughter. “Okay. Find out the hard way, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
After the coffee finished brewing, Charlotte took the opener from the drawer and reached for the last can in the cabinet. Tuna wasn’t what she wanted, but it was all she had, so there was no reason not to enjoy it with her coffee. “Have you eaten?”
When he didn’t reply, she thought he was ignoring her, but his attention was focused on the overhead cabinets. Leaving his chair behind, it took a total of three steps with his long legs to reach her side.
The doors swung open, and he dropped a confused gaze to her. “What happened to all the food I saw in there last weekend?”
“We ate it.”
“All of it?”
Charlotte chose to ignore him. She drained the tuna, confident Jake was the nosiest man she’d ever met. After adding mayonnaise and pickles, she reached into the bread box her dad built for her last birthday.
“Good grief, woman! Y’all eat like an army over here.”
Anger gushed through Charlotte like an artesian well. Her elbow flew back, catching him in his midsection, and she realized her mistake when the air whooshed from his lungs. Being on a diet was one thing, but she was hungry and broke.
“For your information, I haven’t eaten enough this week to keep a cat alive, so don’t talk about what I eat. Didn’t your mama teach you any manners?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed his midsection. “But she didn’t warn me about elbows.”
Frowning, she slapped mayonnaise on the last of her bread. She wasn’t sure why she was feeding him. Truth be told, she wanted to wring his neck and didn’t know why.
Jake propped against the counter a safe distance from her arm. “Guess I should be glad you’re slapping bread instead of my face. What’s wrong?”
She laughed in spite of herself. “Woul
d you shut up? I’m trying to stay mad at you.”
“Now why would you want to be mad at me?” His slow grin made her weak in the knees. The man had no idea how appealing he was, or did he? She’d bet money he was clueless.
“I’m not mad,” she said. “It’s just…”
“Because your cabinets are empty, and mine are full?”
“Now why would I care about your cabinets?”
“Well, I don’t know,” he said. “But you were fine until a moment ago. If it helps, I’ve been working late at the new store so Mom’s been bringing our supper.”
First his mother feeds him, and now here she was, strapping on the feedbag as if he was incapable of opening a can. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had actually cooked for her. “Lucky you… what store?”
“We’re opening in the Four Corner’s Mall.”
The knife clinked in the mayonnaise jar and Charlotte held it up to the light. Empty. She chunked the dirty knife into the sink and slid the jar into the plastic bread bag with the tuna can before tossing everything in the garbage.
“Oh yeah, the kids told me you own Bett’s. It’s a nice store. I can see why no one cared when we used the van.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Of course not,” she said. “You’ve been nosey enough about me. I’m just curious as to why you’ve never mentioned it?”
Jake bit a hunk out of his sandwich and began chewing at a snail’s pace. It was easy enough to see what he was up to. She’d seen his boys pull the same stunt with pancakes. The entire family were master procrastinators.
Charlotte grinned. “Oh, stop your dawdling. It’s not important. Besides, a good lie is hard to conjure up on the spur of the moment.”
He swallowed. “Now, would I lie to you?”
She slid him his coffee. “Probably. But what difference does it make if you own a store? We all have to work.”
He didn’t seem to mind she was out of milk. “This is good. We don’t usually eat as well as we have this week.”
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