“You’re making me nervous,” Krissa said. “I’ll have to put some thought into it. Just a straw hat and suspenders won’t make me a farmer. That’s what I’ve done the last few years when we dress up at school for Halloween!”
“I was going to be Cleopatra this year,” Dana said, “but that outfit shows way too much tummy. Maybe a Hawaiian mumu will do for me! But you’ll have to come up with something memorable as this is your first time. You’d best wow everyone and set up your reputation.”
“Funny or sexy?”
“You choose, my dear, but go for it.”
Krissa looked doubtful.
“Oh, it is all in good fun, don’t worry! There’s a silent auction and all the proceeds go to a foster children’s charity fund this year. It helps a lot. Please do come.”
“Sure, of course,” Krissa said and tried to smile.
As she drove home, Krissa absently rubbed her hand up and down her pants’ leg. Costume parties always made her anxious. Just a silly byproduct of a tenth grade party gone bad, but nonetheless, she couldn’t shake the notion that this one would be just as disastrous. But, if everyone in town really did go to the Mid-Summer’s Ball, she really ought to go too. This was her new home, and word would spread quickly that she wasn’t sociable.
* * * *
With a satisfying snap, Krissa closed up her laptop, pulled out her phone, and pressed the speed dial icon for Ginny. With her online students settled for the day, it was high time her bestie was updated on all of her adventures. Krissa cocked her head to the side. Perhaps not all the details. Maybe she’d gloss over a few of the things about Nick. Like the lake plunge and the ensuing wet T-shirt contest.
No. She definitely didn’t want to feed Ginny’s obsession. Bless her heart, Ginny’s mission in life seemed to be pushing Krissa back into the dating market. Krissa shook her head. Nope. She’d stick to the bare facts and minimize any mention of the heart-stopping good looks of Nick Olin, the boss man of Wescott Springs.
With Krissa curled up on the couch and Shasta sprawled on the floor in a peaceful siesta, she waited as the phone rang; she couldn’t wait to let the girl talk roll.
“Hey, Gin!”
“Krissa, darling! It’s about time! I was ready to call 911 and get a missing person’s report going,” Ginny said. “How’s Colorado? And is that cabin as adorable as the pictures?”
Forty minutes later, Krissa stretched her legs, wiggled her toes, and leaned down to stroke Shasta’s soft ears. The dog raised his head for a moment of bliss before flopping back down in a deep slumber. Krissa grinned.
“Well, what’s the scenery like up there?” Ginny said. Krissa grinned at the suggestive emphasis in her voice.
“The aspens and the mountains are divine,” Krissa said at her most innocent.
“Duh! You know what I meant.”
Krissa laughed but said nothing.
“Seriously, girl,” Ginny said, “you need to get out. What about your landlord? I’m guessing by all the details you left out that he must be gorgeous. Am I right?”
Krissa’s smile faded and a tiny crease formed between her eyebrows.
“Noooo…” Krissa said. “He’s not a troll, I suppose.”
“Oh ho!”
Krissa knew there was a satisfied smirk on Ginny’s face.
“Tell me more about him,” Ginny said. “I know he lives next door, but you saw him at the grocery store and he showed up at that BBQ.”
“It’s a small town,” Krissa said, “and it’s merely a coincidence that he’s the uncle to one of my students. Of course I’m going to see lots of him.”
“Ha! I knew there was something going on!” Ginny’s tone was smug, and Krissa imagined her pumping her fist and arm in victory.
“There’s nothing to tell!” Krissa didn’t know whether to laugh or change the subject. “Nick’s a nice guy, but he doesn’t really live here. He just has a house here and lives in Denver.”
“Nice guy, indeed!” Ginny said with a snort. “I hear lots of excuses, my dear. Now, tell me what he looks like. I need the rest of the story.”
Krissa rattled off a description as Ginny giggled like a tween at a boy band concert. Krissa tried not to linger on thoughts of Nick’s brown curls or broad shoulders. An uncomfortable flutter tickled under her breast bone.
“This Nick guy is definitely not a toad,” Ginny said after a moment of silence. “I think you should give him a chance. You know you can’t live like a monk forever.”
“I’ve dated!” Krissa scowled at the injustice of Ginny’s remark.
“Huh. Barely. And never more than one date with any guy,” Ginny said with a scornful huff. “One date per dude is not giving it the old college try. Blind dates may not be the best, but you don’t give anyone a chance. What’s the worst that can happen? Come on. Maybe you’ll have a little bit of fun.”
Krissa jumped off the couch and stalked to the kitchen. What was the worst that could happen? The worst was that was her heart could be broken into a million little pieces again. She rummaged behind a stack of frozen dinners for a bright cherry Popsicle.
“Get your head out of the fridge,” Ginny said in an all-knowing tone, “and go for it! You might like it.”
Krissa wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue as if she could shoo off her friend.
“We’ll see,” Krissa said. She tried to make her tone as lofty and dismissive as possible.
Chapter 10
NICK and his buddy strolled through the Andersons’ front door to the sounds of whooping and hollering erupting from the back family room. The two men grinned at each other, and it promised to be a fun Sunday dinner with Dana’s family.
They followed the noise and saw everyone gathered around the TV and a video game.
“C’mon, Krissa,” nine-year-old Isabella encouraged. “Throw your best stuff. Cream him!”
Eli pretended to adjust his batting helmet and Krissa squinted her eyes and tried to look tough. She wiggled her hips back and forth, wound up her pitch, and tried to disguise her curve ball.
Eli swung too soon. Isabella squealed, “You’re out!” Eli moaned in disgust and then suddenly yelled, “Uncle Nick!”
Krissa spun around and stared at Nick and then his friend. Nick detected a blush creeping up her cheeks. He felt the room get warm and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. That was some little wiggle and shake-it move she had. Tonight was going to be interesting.
He watched a welcoming smile cross Krissa’s face, but just as quickly that smile went back into hiding.
“Mom, Mom!” Isabella cried. “Nick and Tony are here.”
Logan dashed into the kitchen and got his mom’s attention while toddler Tanner leapt at Nick and smothered him with a hug. Isabella pulled his head down and gave him a smooch on the cheek.
“Glad you could join us,” Dana said as she entered the room while wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Good to see you, Tony. Did you both come ready for some competition? The kids are going nuts with the baseball game.”
Nick gave out a round of hugs to his exuberant niece and nephew and kept trying to catch Krissa’s eye.
Dana kissed her brother’s cheek and gave Tony a big hug. “I haven’t seen you in months!” She eyed the grocery sacks in their hands. “What did you guys bring this time?”
Nick laughed and said, “Garlic bread, fresh from the store.”
“Cookies,” Tony added, “fresh from Filene’s Pastries.” He then pretended to look ashamed. “Just store bought ones.”
“Perfect! You’re so lucky to have that shop right next to your ski shop. I’m surprised you don’t plump up like an éclair.”
Tony rubbed his rock-hard stomach as he said, “I’d just ski it right off!”
Tony handed over his goodies and kissed Dana on the cheek. “I always look forward to coming to family dinners with you guys. It’s just like those Sunday dinners when we were kids when we all lived in Denver.”
“There’s always plen
ty of food to go around,” Dana said.
“And then some!” Nick added. “You’re just like Mom.”
Dana flushed and looked pleased.
“Where are my manners?” Dana exclaimed. “Krissa, have you met Tony? Anthony Baldino’s been Nick’s best friend since fourth grade, and they’ve both been teasing me ever since!”
Dana tried to look pathetic and picked on, but nobody was buying her act. Krissa laughed and exchanged smiles and greetings with Tony. Nick watched Krissa scope out his friend and wondered if Tony’s slighter build and olive coloring were more to her liking. He felt a funny flutter and wondered if he was jealous. He tried to read Krissa’s expression, but she quickly turned her gaze back to Dana.
“About forty minutes ’til dinner time,” Dana said.
“What can I help with?” Krissa asked quickly and led Dana to the kitchen.
As Dana and Krissa disappeared to the kitchen, Nick watched Krissa’s hips sway and let his eyes wander over the perky curves of her backside. He glanced at Tony and saw him staring too.
“Mighty fine,” Tony mouthed silently.
“Keep away,” Nick mouthed back and gave Tony a mock threatening look. “I spotted her first.”
Tony shrugged but looked disappointed.
“Logan, where’s your dad, little buddy?” Nick asked.
“Out on the deck,” Logan replied.
“Grilling a great big turkey,” Isabella added.
“Let’s see how he’s doing,” Nick said.
Isabella grabbed Tanner’s hand, and Eli and Logan led the way.
* * * *
Dana bustled into the kitchen with Krissa following in her wake. Krissa paused and let her eyes roam. She was bowled over.
The kitchen was charming with white shaker-style cabinets, dark quartz counters, rustic ceiling beams, and a massive walnut-stained center island. But it was the dazzling vistas that stole the show. There was an enormous wall of picture windows that framed magnificent views of the soaring mountain peaks, and a green and gold meadow dotted with luscious blue and red wildflowers.
“How lovely,” Krissa said.
“Isn’t it amazing?” Dana said. “The view alone convinced us to buy this property, and we made sure we positioned the house precisely so we could maximize the view from the living room and the kitchen.”
Krissa let her eyes drift from peak to peak, and a smile played at the corners of her mouth. It was so peaceful. Almost zen-like. A clatter of a bowl on the counter broke her reverie. She moved over to the island.
“I’m ready to help. What needs doing?” Krissa said with her hands resting on a barn red barstool that had an intricate lattice-work back.
“I think I’ve got everything under control,” Dana said with an airy wave of the spatula in her hand. “The salads are ready and the rice is keeping nicely in the Crock-Pot.”
Dana’s gaze slid around the kitchen as if she was looking for something for Krissa to do. “How about if I chop up some melon and grapes and you can deliver some beers to the boys?”
Krissa smiled.
“See the tin pail on the counter next to the freezer? Beers are on the bottom shelf in the fridge. Don’t be shy about using up the ice; we’ve got plenty in the garage freezer if we need more.”
Krissa smiled at Dana and set to her task. She loaded up almost a dozen long neck bottles and covered them with ice. The bucket was stuffed and she lifted it gingerly with the thin metal handle to make sure it wasn’t too tippy. It seemed solid, so she sauntered out of the kitchen through the single French door that lead straight onto the wood deck.
The kids were playing on the jungle gym on the grass below the deck area, and Krissa faced the trio of Nick, Brett, and Tony without any youthful chaperones. With a sideways glance at the slides and swings below, Krissa squished all thoughts of retreating to the playground. It looked much safer down with the kiddy set. She grimaced.
Ginny was probably right. Maybe a little fun was a good idea. A teeny bit of flirting wouldn’t be the end of the world, right?
Nick wasn’t a beast, and she had no reason to be afraid of him. Or Tony. Tony was a good-looking guy. He had that smooth, Latin lover look…but that didn’t make her heart go thump.
Without looking up from her ice bucket balancing act, Krissa sensed Nick’s eyes on her. A pack of butterflies sprung to flight in her midriff and a wave of heat seeped through her body. No, it was Nick who kicked her pulse into hyperdrive.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Brett said. “I’ve been slaving over this smoky BBQ for hours and I’m desperate for a beer.”
“Hardly!” Krissa said as she let him pick a chilled bottle from the bucket and handed him an opener. “You told me yourself that you barely have to do anything as the rotisserie does all the heavy lifting.”
Brett laughed as he tossed back a long swig of golden lager. With a dramatic twist of her wrist and a queenly bow of her head, Krissa presented the tin bucket to Nick and Tony, who promptly plucked out their own bottles.
“Thanks,” Tony said with a cheerful grin.
“One for you too?” Nick asked with his hand poised to filch a second brew.
Krissa flicked her glance up at Nick’s. It was all friendliness, smiles, and twinkling eyes. Krissa couldn’t breathe or move. What was wrong with her? Nick’s smile deepened, and a flame of heat and recognition flared in his impossibly deep azure eyes. Krissa bit the bottom of her lip and dropped her gaze.
With the barest of nods, Krissa accepted his offer and turned to deposit the ice bucket on a table. Nick offered the drink to her, and Krissa carefully slid her hand around the base of the bottle to make sure she avoided any skin to skin contact with Nick.
Brett lifted the lid on the barbecue pit, and Krissa retreated to his side and praised the golden and now browning bird. She kept her back firmly turned on Nick. When he finally shut the lid to let the turkey finish cooking, Krissa launched a line of chatter about the lovely scenery and his gorgeous home.
As Brett agreeably shared the story of how he built the house from scratch and that yes, indeed, he owned his own construction firm, Krissa made sure she kept one eye on Nick and Tony.
Nick never looked at her directly, but somehow she felt like a gazelle on the grassy savannah sensing that the eyes of a lion or panther were tracking her every move. The two men seemed deep in conversation, but Krissa’s neck prickled with a constant tingle of awareness.
Krissa tipped back the rest of her drink and stared at the empty bottle. Good grief, she’d polished that off too quickly. She sent a muffled curse Ginny’s southern direction. She was terrible at this flirt thing, and here she stood next to the turkey with a happily married Brett.
“Hey, ’nother one?” Nick asked. He dangled a cold brew in front of her.
“Um…no, I don’t think so,” Krissa said. “One’s my limit. I only like small doses of hops.”
With a quick smile, Brett left Krissa standing alone with Nick, and Krissa resisted the urge to grab Brett’s arm to keep him safely at her side. Tony cracked a joke, Brett laughed, and the pair forgot all about them.
“Can I get you something else?”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Krissa said and scrounged for anything else to say. “Your family is really terrific.” Krissa held back a sigh…what a brilliant conversational gambit. Ugh.
“I’m pretty fond of them. Dana’s about as close to perfect as you can get for a bossy older sister,” Nick said with laugh. “Brett’s a great guy and we all have fun whenever we get together.”
“You have another sister in Denver, right?”
“Yes, Brianna is the youngest,” Nick said. “She’s all work and no play. She’s a social media guru and is always solving some PR crisis or another. She’s still pretty junior at her firm, but she’ll go far, I think.”
“Sounds a lot like you,” Krissa said with a slight arch of her eyebrow.
Nick laughed. “True, I suppose. I’m a bit of a workaholic.”
<
br /> “They’re not missing you at your office in Denver?”
“We do everything electronically, so there aren’t too many in-person meetings to miss.” He shook his head. “I can’t even remember the last time I was in one place for over a week. I hadn’t even noticed that I’d been back in Wescott Springs for so long.”
Krissa took in the reflective look on his face. He seemed surprised and a bit puzzled.
“Feeling kind of comfortable at home?” Krissa said and tried to gauge his reaction. Had she guessed right?
“Hmm. I think that’s it,” Nick said and rubbed his hand idly across the back of his neck. “Wescott Springs is home.” He shook his head again and leaned back against the deck rail. “I’d never really thought about that before.” With a quick shrug, he added, “It’s just the cards that were dealt on this round. The meeting I came to town for ended up being postponed until this Wednesday…so here I am.”
Nick smiled at Krissa and a small laugh fell from between his lips. Krissa grinned back. She didn’t know what was so funny, but somehow, his laughter was comfortable and easy. It was inviting. A stiffness in her soul softened, and for a single, sweet moment…she was home.
“Hey! Is that turkey ever going to be ready?”
Dana was standing in the doorway with her hand on her hip and tapping a foot. At the same moment, a timer dinged and Brett declared that his wife had magical powers.
As the kids were called up from the play area and Nick helped Brett wrangle the bird off the rotisserie and onto a platter, Krissa watched the happy mayhem and almost shook her head at how different it was from how she’d grown up. She smiled at the jumble of activity and the shouts and jokes as everyone made their way back into the house.
“Come on,” Nick said and gestured with his head that she follow him. He stood in the doorway with one foot propping open the door and both hands grasping the bird-burdened platter.
Krissa laughed and scooted past him into the house.
* * * *
Last Resort Love Page 8