Small-Town Girl

by Jessica Keller

  Kendall grinned. “How can a girl argue with that answer?” She hit the button that unlocked the doors to her car and he reached around her, his fingers skimming her waist in order to hold open the door for her. Kendall froze for a heartbeat and then turned around and wrapped him in a hug. It was unexpected, so much so that his hand still held the door handle.

  Pressing up onto her toes, she lifted her lips so they were near his ear and whispered, “You’re a good man, Brice Daniels.” Then she kissed his cheek. Before he could react she quickly folded herself into the car and shoved it into Reverse.

  Brice lifted his fingers to trace over the skin she’d kissed as he turned and watched her brake lights disappear down his driveway.

  Chapter Seven

  Kendall could do it. She had to.

  Pick up the phone and call him.

  She’d spent the morning finalizing the details of the hot air balloon date and also exchanged a few last-minute phone calls with Kellen Ashby about the cruise for tonight. Everything was set. All that was left was to call Brice about the time.

  She drummed her fingers on her desk.

  What had come over her last night? She’d kissed him. Sure, it was a simple peck on the cheek, but it still complicated things between them. A woman shouldn’t go around dropping kisses onto the cheeks of every business partner she encountered, and she definitely shouldn’t be whispering sweet, encouraging words into their ears either.

  She could only imagine what Brice must think of her. Kendall dropped her head into her hands. She’d gone and made the easygoing friendship they’d shared into something messy. After all her steps to prevent that, it had been she who had crossed the line. Brice had always been a perfect gentleman. This was squarely her fault, leading him on like she had. Going forward, she needed to treat him professionally. She’d miss their friendship, but it was the only way to stem the not-so-friendship feelings that swirled around in her chest at the sound of his voice.

  Kendall smoothed her hand over her new day planner. It would be better this way. She’d grown too dependent on Brice in the past week and didn’t want to be dependent on anyone. Least of all a man. Had a man ever taken care of her? No. She’d taken care of herself, and she would continue to do so.

  As she scanned the notes she’d tacked to the wall behind her computer, her eyes landed on the card from Claire and the verse she’d written down.

  Isaiah 43:19. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

  Doing a new thing? Hardly. By letting her mind go instantly to a relationship, it looked as if she’d failed at that already. Kendall snatched the verse card off the wall and crumpled it into a ball. Why had she even allowed the verse—a word from God—to bring her any hope? So foolish. God didn’t care about her any more than her father had and look how long he’d stayed around. God wasn’t doing a new thing in her life—she was. She had taken the risks. She had found Sesser and made a deal. If God had cared to take care of her, He would have stopped her mother from ruining her credit. He would have stopped her father from walking away from them.

  Life was easier—so much safer—when she acted superficially. Kept everyone at acquaintance level and never knew them deeper and didn’t allow them to really know her. When she didn’t learn things about people, like that Brice’s dad had abused him as a child. Because when she started to get to know people, she started to care, and someday Brice would walk out of her life. Just like her father, just like God and everyone else.

  She wasn’t someone worth sticking around for. Not worth fighting for.

  Being alone by choice was much better than finding out she’d been left alone.

  Chatter from customers in the woodworking shop next door filtered through the wall. She hadn’t even realized her CD had stopped playing on the computer until now. It had been a sound track of a string orchestra, supposedly meant to soothe a person’s stress away. Kendall rolled her shoulders. So much for that.

  Kendall tossed the verse card into the waste can and ran her fingers under her eyes, hoping her makeup wasn’t a mess from the couple tears that had slipped out. At the same moment the phone rang. She summoned a breath and answered it.

  “Love on a Dime.”

  “Am I speaking with Kendall Mayes?”

  “You are.”

  “Oh, good. This is Jason Moss. I believe Claire told you I’d be calling?”

  The reporter.

  The bell above her door jingled and she held up a finger, letting whomever it was know she’d be with them in a moment. But her already jarred emotions took a nosedive when her mom plopped down in the chair across from hers. She couldn’t deal with her now. Not without risking her chance at an interview, so she put a finger to her lips to let her mother know not to speak.

  But Kendall would have to be careful about what she said out loud. When it came to information, everything was ammunition, as far as her mother was concerned.

  She summoned her professional persona and silently commanded her voice not to waver. “Yes, Claire mentioned you would be contacting me.”

  Her mother’s eyebrows rose. Kendall shouldn’t have mentioned Claire’s name.

  “Great. I was wondering if you had some time available to sit down with me on Monday. Would eleven work?”

  “That would work perfectly.” Instead of writing the appointment into her planner where her mother could see it, Kendall jotted it on her palm. She’d transfer the date and time over later when prying eyes weren’t nearby. She ended the call with the reporter and took a deep breath as she faced her mother.

  Her mother swiveled around in her chair. “Snazzy place you got yourself here, Kenny. I wonder who is paying the bills.”

  “What does it matter?” Kendall jammed the cap onto her pen.

  Mom braced her arm on the edge of the desk. “It matters when you’re living like a movie star and your mom is making do spending the night in a homeless shelter.”

  “What happened to Josh?” When Kendall had left Kentucky, her mother was dating a new man who’d been letting her live with him and was paying for her expenses.

  Her mom pulled a cigarette out of her sleeve, but Kendall shook her head.

  She tucked the cigarette behind her ear. “Josh found out about Thomas.”

  “Mom.”

  “Don’t Mom me.”

  Kendall sank her fingers into the armrest of her chair. “Then what about Thomas?”

  One of her eyebrows arched. “Unfortunately Thomas isn’t going to leave his wife.”

  Her nails bit even harder into the fabric. “Wait. You were dating a married man?”

  “Welcome to the new millennia, Kenny.” Her mother lifted her hands and spun in her chair once.

  Kendall worked her jaw back and forth. “I don’t care what year we’re living in. It’s still wrong.”

  “Wrong is relative.” She shrugged.

  “Actually—”

  “For example, what are you doing to get money from that rich tycoon?”

  Kendall’s heart kicked against her ribs. Her mother couldn’t know about Sesser Atwood...could she? There was a chance she was bluffing, waiting for Kendall to slip up and confirm information. Which she wasn’t about to do.

  Kendall lifted her chin and gathered her paperwork. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  “Not until you give me enough money to make it through the weekend. Come on—help your mother out.” She held out her hand. “You wouldn’t want me to start begging your rich buddy, now, would you?”

  If her mother did know about Sesser, then Kendall was doomed either way. Her mother would either blow the secret of their partnership so Sesser would call in his loan and it would ruin Kendall financially, or would stop by for money e
very week, bleeding Kendall’s savings dry under the threat of telling.

  Kendall could give her mom money or not. Which was the right path? Neither. But those were the only options she had.

  * * *

  Brice watched the paper lanterns sway along the ceiling of the paddle wheeler as he punched the engine up a notch. Their movement splayed trails of light across the boat’s floor, like giant fireflies in the evening air.

  Kendall wrung her hands a few feet away from him, looking on as Kellen Ashby stepped up behind Maggie West on the far side of the boat and wrapped his arms around her. Kellen tugged his girlfriend against his chest and nuzzled his chin into her curly hair. The man had agreed to pay a decent sum to rent out the boat for the evening.

  Brice positioned the boat far into Lake Michigan right before the sunset. Kendall had turned off the lights, using only the lanterns and some strands she called twinkle lights to illuminate the area. Beforehand they’d set up a table with fancy linens and a centerpiece. Kendall had catered in a four-course meal, and she served as waitress for Kellen and Maggie. They ate until the sun dipped below the horizon. She’d hung back, allowing them to enjoy their romantic evening, but she’d also steered clear of Brice.

  Because of the kiss? They’d yet to discuss it. And he wouldn’t bring it up unless she started hinting about it. Women could be strange that way.

  But...no, she was only worried about making certain everything was perfect tonight. For Kellen’s proposal, of course, but also because this was her first big planned date for her company. So nerves were understandable. Brice knew he tended to clam up under stress; perhaps Kendall did too. Well, clam up usually meant Brice took off into the wilds on his property and camped under the stars until his head cleared, often for days. But thankfully it had been a long time since he needed to do that.

  He shifted his weight, gaining the courage to break the silence between them. He would whisper something encouraging, something to coax a smile from her serious expression. Let her know that she was doing a great job and didn’t need to be anxious.

  Kendall stepped away before he could get a word out and crossed over to the audio controls. She slowly raised the level of music until it was loud enough for everyone on board to hear and enjoy, but not too loud to disturb people in other boats or for the sound to carry over the water.

  Brice recognized the voice right away. It was Kellen Ashby singing. Kellen had recently volunteered to function as the worship leader at the newly built church in town because a young pastor had been hired on and had instantly become overwhelmed. Having been the lead singer of a touring band before he became a Christian, Kellen was well suited to be the worship pastor and had the heart to match his talent.

  But this didn’t sound like one of Kellen’s worship songs.

  Kendall appeared at Brice’s elbow. “It’s a love song,” she whispered. “He wrote it for her. Isn’t it beautiful?” She used a tissue she held scrunched in her hand to dab at her eyes.

  Kellen turned Maggie around in his arms and they started to sway to the music. Maggie’s hands crawled up Kellen’s back until they found a safe harbor, hooked on his shoulders. Brice started to look away to give them privacy, but his gaze darted back when Maggie screamed.

  “Is this...? Am I hearing the words right?” Maggie yelled as she let go of Kellen and started jumping up and down.

  Kellen dropped to one knee and pulled a small box from his pocket. Whatever Kellen said was drowned out by the music and the lap of the water against the edge of the boat, but a moment later Maggie launched herself into the man’s arms, sending Kellen backward with a hard thud onto the floor. They laughed, neither obviously hurt. Kellen pulled Maggie to her feet, wrapped his arms around her and sealed the moment with a long kiss that neither seemed to want to end.

  Kendall whispered, “I think she said yes.”

  “I’d say so.” Brice chuckled.

  They stayed out on the water for another hour as the couple held hands, watched stars together and swayed to music. Finally Brice pulled the paddle wheeler back to the shore and helped everyone off at the dock.

  Maggie West shook both Kendall’s and Brice’s hands on the way out. “I want to thank both of you for this wonderful night. I feel like I’m in a dream. I can’t believe it. I’m getting married!” She wrapped her arm back around her fiancé.

  “No need to thank us.” Kendall grinned. “It was all Kellen.”

  “He’s basically wonderful.” Maggie rested her hand on Kellen’s chest. Even with the darkness cloaking the harbor, the uniquely cut diamond on Maggie’s ring glinted.

  Kellen curled his fingers over hers. “You both helped to make this a memorable night. Thank you for all you did.”

  “And you!” Maggie pointed at Kendall. “You rat! You knew about this at Bible study, didn’t you? And you didn’t say a word.”

  Kendall held up her hands in an exaggerated shrug. “I guess you’ll never know.”

  “I’ll weasel it out of him.” She poked Kellen in the ribs. “Thanks to my spies, also known as Kellen’s daughters, I know all his ticklish spots.”

  Their laughter followed them down the dock. Brice stood for a moment, watching them. Maybe he’d been wrong to hold back from dating for so long. He knew Maggie’s and Kellen’s stories; both of them had faced heartbreak and disappointment in prior relationships. If Brice was being honest, both Kellen and Maggie had borne far worse hurts than the rejected proposal that had made him give up on love. He ran his hand over his jaw. He’d missed out on life, hadn’t he? And it was his fault, his only, but he didn’t have to continue down that path. His gaze shifted to Kendall.

  After Kellen and Maggie left, Kendall stepped back onto the boat and grabbed the step stool from the on-deck closet. She positioned it to start taking down the twinkle lights. Brice followed her back onto the boat.

  “Ow!” She snatched her hand away from the ceiling and stuck a finger into her mouth.

  Brice steadied her by the elbow. “Are you okay?”

  Taking her finger out of her mouth, she shook her hand back and forth as if she was trying to shake away whatever hurt. “Just pinched my finger. I’ll live.”

  “How about you leave those where they are for now? It’s late.”

  “I need them for another event I’m planning.” She reached to unhook the strand of lights and almost lost her footing. Why was she balancing on a stepladder in heels anyway?

  Brice placed a hand on either side of her waist. The fabric of her dress was soft and warm. “I’ll take them down in the morning. I’d rather you not fall or twist your ankle on my boat.”

  Her head drooped, as if she was praying, and her hands came to rest on top of his. Almost as quickly, she snatched her hands away as if his skin had burned her.

  “Kendall,” he whispered. “You’re not acting like yourself right now. Tell me what’s going on in your head. I want to help.”

  Last night she’d been so open with him, talking about her past and listening to his dark memories. He wanted to rewind and find that Kendall again. Usually silence worked on Brice like a comfortable blanket on a cold night. Usually it soothed him, but tonight silence hurt.

  She descended the ladder, but he kept his hands resting on her waistline. “What we did—help make their special moment memorable—that was really great.”

  “I’m beginning to think we make an excellent team.” Brice tried to ease her closer, but Kendall shifted her weight and stepped out of his hold completely.

  “Correct. We’re a well-matched business team.” She nodded but didn’t meet his eyes with hers.

  He sidestepped and ducked his head to catch her gaze. “Just in business?”

  “It’s best if that’s how it is.” She studied the pointy toes of her shoes.

  Gently Brice tipped her chin up with two of his fin
gers. “Best for who?” His whisper died on a groan. She was so close and smelled like flowers and chocolate and he wanted to lean in and discover if her lips would meld to his. “Kendall?” He spoke her name like a question. Asking permission.

  She shook her head and turned her back on him. “I think you got the wrong idea last night. I’m not... You’re not... It’s not like that.”

  “I see.” Brice straightened his spine. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes. I think... I’m sure.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  Maybe a camping trip was in order. He had a lot to think through. He needed to line up all the reasons why being alone—why not trusting women—made sense so he wouldn’t fall into this situation again. This trap. That was what it felt like, and not the safe-release kind. No. Rejection bit through the heart like the metal teeth of a bear trap, severing.

  She started to turn back toward him. “Brice, I don’t want—”

  “Why don’t you head home?” He unlatched the entrance door and held it open for her. “I’d rather finish here alone.”

  She must have sensed that he would have argued with her, or she was simply relieved to leave. That could be it too. Because she didn’t fight him as usual. Instead she slipped out onto the pier. She hesitated. “Night and...I’m...I’m sorry.”

  He couldn’t make out her expression in the dark. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

  After she left he spent another hour on the boat, taking down the lights and thinking. She’d warned him that she was a serial dater. All but put up red flags, but like an idiot he’d charged ahead. At least she’d stopped him before he made a complete fool of himself, like what he’d done with Audra.

  Had anyone ever wanted him? Truly? Audra hadn’t.

  It’s your fault. If you hadn’t been born I wouldn’t be stuck with your father. His mother’s words roared through his mind.

  He hopped onto the pier and slammed the paddle wheeler’s door shut. Perhaps if he hightailed it home fast enough, he could outrun the voices in his mind. Push them aside.