by Mia Caldwell
The booming fireworks receded off into the distance; she only had ears for the passionate song playing between her and Kent. She strained against him.
His hold on her waist and neck become more fierce as they sought to get ever closer to one another, as if melding themselves into one body wasn’t only possible, but inevitable.
When Kent finally broke the kiss, he held her tightly against his solid chest. She trembled, uncertain but aroused, wanting him as much as ever, if not even more than before.
“You’re so incredibly sweet,” he said in a shaky voice. “I can’t let you go, Phae. I think I’m falling in love with you.”
She jerked, thunderstruck by his declaration. In love with her? No, he didn’t actually say that. He said he thought he was falling in love with her. Key difference there.
Regardless, did she return the sentiment? Her temples throbbed, she was so confused. Why could she never think clearly when he was nearby? It was irritating. And sexy. Always sexy as hell.
She leaned her head back to look up at him. “I don’t want to let you go, either, Kent. But the other night, everything that happened … what was said … I don’t see how we can—”
“Shh. We both said things we didn’t mean. We’ll take it back and forget it ever happened.” He smoothed her hair away from her face.
“Can we really do that?”
“Yes, right now. It’s forgotten. You?”
“I don’t know. I’m confused. I get that way when you hold me.”
He bent down, scooping her up in his strong arms like she weighed nothing. She wrapped her own arms around his thick neck as he carried her away, a triumphant smile on his achingly handsome face.
Phae dropped her head on his shoulder. “Everybody’s going to see us. What will they think?”
“They’ll think I’m taking you home to make wild, passionate love to you. And I don’t care what they think about it. Do you?”
“No, can’t say I do.” She closed her eyes and let him carry her away.
They were probably falling in love, she thought, drifting on thoughts of how safe she felt in his arms, knowing that when he held her, the rest of the world simply didn’t matter. Neither the past nor the future had a claim on her. It was all about him and her, together.
So yeah, they were probably falling in love.
Right now, she didn’t care if she was making a mistake. She could forget the other night, chalk it up to misunderstanding. He’d said he was sorry, and that should be enough for anyone, shouldn’t it?
And his body felt so perfectly right that all she wanted to do was snuggle in closer.
She told him where her car was parked and when they reached it, Kent gently released her, groaning as she slid down the length of his muscled form. He hugged her and caressed her back, both their hearts booming nearly as loudly as the fireworks.
“I think I was going crazy without you,” Kent said as he explored the soft planes of her back. “You’re all I’ve thought about since the first moment I saw you. I’ve got to warn you, Phae. Now that you’re in my arms again, I’m not letting you go.”
He softly cupped her face. The nearby streetlight shone brightly on his face, revealing a fierce expression as they locked gazes.
“From the moment we met, some part of me knew you’re the one,” he said. “I know we have issues to work out, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll work it out because there’s nothing else to be done.”
She nodded. “We will.”
“All that matters,” he said, “is that I never lose you. Come to Phoenix with me. I won’t sell Kenrik. We’ll run it together.”
Phae blinked. Her fogged-in brain attempted to make sense of what he’d just said. He wasn’t about to ruin everything again, was he? Don’t ruin this, please.
“I know this is fast, Phae,” he continued, “and I’m not asking you to agree with me right now. We’ve got time. Once I get you into that bed of yours, we’re not getting out again until I’ve thoroughly explored every square inch of that exquisite body, and that could take weeks. I want you to know my intentions up front. This isn’t a brief hookup affair, like you worried about. When I tell you I have feelings for you, I mean it.”
She didn’t like the direction this one-sided conversation had taken. She moved her hands from his chest, grasped his wrists and began to speak. But he quickly cut her off.
“No. Don’t say anything right now. I’m probably scaring you, but I need to assure you that I see a future for us. In time, you’ll see that I’m right about Phoenix. You’ll be fulfilled and we’ll be together. You’ll forget about Captain Nice Guy. You can run the business side of Kenrik. It’s a huge job that you’re well-suited for—”
“Wait a minute.” She pulled his hands away from her face. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
She prayed that she’d misunderstood him, but she knew deep down that she hadn’t. She almost wished he wouldn’t answer so she could fall into bed with him and not think about tomorrow.
As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, she knew that he was, indeed, going to ruin everything … again.
“Look,” he said, reaching for her shoulder, “I know you’re sensitive about Captain Nice Guy.”
Phae recoiled. “I’m not sensitive about it. I thought that you’d taken back all those ugly things you said about it.”
“I do and I’m sorry for sneering at what you’ve been trying to do for this town. But still, Phae, surely you can see it’s not normal. I realize you believe that it’s important to you, but that’s because …well, never mind that. You were meant for greater things and you know it. I want to give you those things.”
Phae squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her hands into fists at her sides. She breathed deeply, trying to remain calm, to stem the tidal wave of anger that was threatening to swamp her. When Kent touched her arm, her eyes flew open and she took a step backwards.
“Don’t touch me,” she snapped.
“Calm down. I’m sorry. I moved too fast. We can talk about this later. Let’s get in your car and—”
“I’m not going anywhere with you, let alone to my home and bed. And if you take one more step toward me I’m going to … well let’s say that I’ll stop you using any means necessary.” She took several deep breaths.
“Okay, I’ve stopped. Calm down so we can talk about this rationally.”
His condescending tone and expression finally accomplished what all of Phae’s deep breathing could not. Her anger disappeared, and in its place came an empowering sense of purpose … cold, unemotional purpose.
“Rational, you say,” she said. “After that line of bullshit that you spewed out, you’ll have to excuse me if I find it amusing that you now wish to speak rationally.”
Kent ran his fingers through his short hair. “I shouldn’t have said anything. You weren’t ready to hear it. I got carried away.”
“I could be a thousand years old and I still wouldn’t be ready to accept what you said. The other night you went on about how crazy I am, but the truth is, you’re the crazy one.” Her voice was low and powerful, smooth from strength of will. “You stood here tonight and solved all my problems, didn’t you? In your wisdom, you decided what would be best for me and my life. Aren’t you amazing? How did you get so smart? I’d like to know because I am Captain Nice Guy, after all, and I believe it’s my job to do the good deeds around here.”
Kent sighed. “Look Phae—”
“No. I’m done. You said the other night that all I do for people is little things, nothing important. What you don’t understand is that I only do the little things because I would never presume to act on the bigger things. I would never dare to intrude in their lives in such a way, thinking I know what’s best for them. And I know these people far better than you know me, Kent. I think before I act. That’s the difference between me and you.”
He looked her squarely in the eyes. “You drugged your uncle. That’s not little.”
“Oh yeah?” She raised an eyebrow. “First of all, he’s family and I take license with them that I don’t with others. Secondly, I dissolved one over-the-counter sleeping pill in a non-alcoholic beer which I then poured into a regular beer bottle. Thirdly and lastly, Uncle Leon is highly susceptible to all drugs, and I didn’t want him unconscious, just asleep. Once again, you’ve made judgments with knowing the full story. That’s a habit with you, isn’t it?”
Kent’s frustration showed clearly on his face. He rubbed his dark, stubbled jaw.
Phae had no intention of backing down. “Socrates once said something to the effect of a man becomes wise when he realizes how little he knows. I guess that makes you an idiot, Kent Holmes. Now, don’t start getting angry. I’m not leaving myself out of this. I may not be an idiot since I happen to realize how little I know. And yet, I’m obviously not a candidate for the wisdom hall of fame either. For the record, let’s call me a crazy twit, shall we?”
“You’re getting carried away, Phae. Let’s get out of here. The fireworks won’t last much longer and this place is going to be over-run with people any minute.”
“Then I’ll make this fast.” She held up her right hand, palm facing out. “On this day of celebration of our great nation’s independence, I’m going to make a declaration of my own.”
Kent snorted. “I think I like it better when you’re mad.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Again. Anyway, back to my declaration. When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a person to dissolve the bonds of pure physical attraction which have connected them with one another, and to—”
“What are you talking about?” Kent interrupted.
“That’s the opening of the Declaration of Independence, except for that physical attraction part. It means that I’m getting ready to tell you why I’m declaring my independence from you.”
“I figured that out, for God’s sake. I want to know what you’re getting at.”
“I want you to know my intentions up front. There’s going to be no one night hookup or anything else involving a bedroom between us. When I tell you I’m letting you go, I mean it.”
“Your memory’s too good. I don’t like it.”
“Too bad,” she replied in an even voice. “So, jumping ahead a bit in the declaration, with necessary changes, I hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal, but that I have been endowed with more than my fair share of twit-like behavior. The history of our relationship is a history of repeated nonsense, all having the direct object of you establishing an absolute tyranny over me, Phae Jones, both physically and mentally.”
Kent groaned. “This is nuts. I can’t believe you think this means anything. I don’t want tyranny over you, except maybe in bed, and not even that all the time. I mean, you can tie me up if you want. I won’t complain as long as I get to do it back to you.”
“You can’t distract me with that sort of thing anymore.” She propped her hands on her hips then raised her right hand again. “I make a formal vow to you, Kent Holmes. No more will I be a twit who falls willingly into your arms every time you touch me. I’ll no longer allow that treacherous sexual fog of yours to hide the fact that you and I are totally incompatible. And no more will I defend my actions, or life choices to you, the idiot, Kent Holmes, who so blindly passes judgment on me.”
“Very funny, Phae,” he said. “Now let’s get serious. We’re not incompatible. We wouldn’t have such a strong connection if we were.”
She waved her hand in his face. “Enough. Here it is, the grand finale. I pledge that any connection between us is to be forthwith and hereafter dissolved. I am now a free and independent woman and grant myself the right to remain such. I pledge to myself, my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor. The end. See ya.”
As if on cue, the fireworks launched into an earth-shaking finale of their own. Ignoring the spectacle of light and sound, Phae attempted to brush past Kent but he grabbed her upper arm.
“It’s not that easy,” Kent shouted over the booms as he tried to maintain his hold. “You can’t void our attraction by making a flippant speech. It’s real and it won’t go away because you’re pissed. All I have to do is kiss you and it’ll be over. You know it.”
As he bent to kiss her, Phae stomped on the insole of his foot with all her strength. He yowled and jumped backward. While he hopped around on his good foot, Phae jumped into her car and locked the door.
She dug the keys out of her pocket, inserted them in the ignition, then rolled her window down about an inch.
Kent hobbled over to the window. “You could have broken my toes.”
Phae smiled. “No. If I’d wanted to break your toes, they’d be broken. You’ll be fine. Give Miss Eugenia a thrill and let her ice your foot.”
“When I get my hands on you …”
“Don’t threaten me. Besides, I’m not completely finished.” With her index finger, she wrote on the window.
Kent pulled off his shoe and rubbed his sore insole. “What are you doing?”
“I’m signing my declaration, silly. I’ve sealed it and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Kent grimaced. “If my foot didn’t hurt so bad, I’d be laughing my ass off right now.”
She shrugged indifferently then started the car. As she backed out of the parking space, she called out, “Don’t follow me home, Kent. I won’t let you in my house.”
He limped over to the moving car and stuck his fingers in the window crack. She considered rolling up the window a little to give him a scare, then toyed with the idea of peeling out and leaving him tottering in the dust. Instead, she pressed on the brake and viewed him with an expression of supreme boredom.
“What do you want now?” she asked. “This is tiresome.”
“I wanted to remind you of something,” he said. “Have you forgotten that the Declaration of Independence was also a declaration of war?”
“So?”
“So we’re at war now, a war of your making. I told you I wasn’t going to let you go. You may be crazy and you may be a twit, not that I ever said that, but you are my crazy twit, and you can’t end this and expect me not to fight for it.”
Phae held her finger over the window button, her threat obvious. Kent yanked his fingers out of the crack. She smiled benevolently then finished backing out.
“It’s war, Phae,” Kent yelled after her as she drove away. “And I’m going to win!”
She rolled her window down all the way, stuck out her arm and waved a queen’s wave at the big man who grew smaller and smaller in her rear view mirror. She turned out of the lot just as the last firework faded in the sky.
She laughed out loud at the absurd notion that Kent thought he could win. Never. She finally knew exactly what she was doing, and he didn’t stand a chance.
This battle belonged to her, and so would all the others should he dare to follow through on his threat. He’d soon learn that she was an implacable enemy.
If this was war, it was hers to win. No doubt about it.
Chapter 19
TEN MEASLY DAYS LATER, PHAE no longer felt so good about her chances. In fact, she thought as she lethargically scrubbed her Aunt Meg’s head, she was downright battle weary. When Kent waged war, he played to win, no matter how low he had to sink to do it.
When the bells on the shop door tinkled, Phae checked the wall clock. Ten o’clock. Oh no. Time for another delivery.
“Come on in, Hal,” Sylvie said gaily. “Oooh, tulips! Look, Phae, he sent beautiful tulips today. And at this time of year. Must have cost a fortune.”
Phae refused to look, but Meg shoved her hands away then leaned up out of the bowl. Phae quickly wrapped a towel around her dripping head.
“Look at them, Phae-phae. They’re simply gorgeous. Where did you find them at this time of year, Hal?”
“Special order, ma’am,” the young deliveryman said. “Where would you like me to put them, Miz Jones? I mean, Miz Ph
ae Jones.”
Phae scowled. “In the dumpster out back.”
Sylvie waggled a finger. “Don’t be mean to Hal. He’s only doing his job. Here, Hal. I’ll shove these ones over there so those will fit here. Yes, there you go. Perfect.”
Phae’s scowl didn’t waver as she surveyed her once tidy shop. She’d been receiving two floral arrangements a day since the Fourth of July, one at ten o’clock and one at three. Every stinking day.
Flowers covered the display window, some hanging and some majestically arranged in vases. Baskets upon baskets of flowers covered every other bit of free space in the small room.
If Kent didn’t cease and desist soon, Phae wouldn’t have any room left for customers.
Sylvie slipped some money to Hal who speedily removed himself from the shop with a mumbled thanks.
“These tulips are my favorite,” Meg said. “There must be at least fifty of them. And they’re arranged beautifully.”
Sylvie sniffed the flowers then glanced over the other floral offerings. “I don’t know. They are beautiful, but I think my favorite is still the one with the birds of paradise and all the different orchids. It’s so unusual. But those roses in all the pretty colors … and the mums … the giant daisies. Oh, I don’t know. It’s too hard to pick. Which one is your favorite, Phae?”
Phae plopped down into one of the dryer chairs. “None of them. I want them all out of here and the sooner the better.” She snapped off a stray branch of baby’s breath that had been tickling her ear.
Sylvie ran over and grabbed the twig out of her hand. “Quit defacing the flowers! If you throw these out, I’m going with them. They’re beautiful and they shouldn’t be wasted.” She poked the twig back into its spray.
“Read the card, Sylvie,” Meg said.
Phae didn’t try to stop her. She’d seen Sylvie snatch the card out of the basket before Hal set it down. Sylvie had done the same thing yesterday and the day before, and so on. Phae had tried to stop her in the beginning but had only managed to pocket a few of them before Sylvie began her interception game. Phae had tired of the fight.