Stacey Joy Netzel Boxed Set

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  Once I’d gained my footing and stood straight, I gave her a grin. “You can’t walk through the mud in those shoes.”

  She didn’t say another word, but she didn’t protest, either. I took that as a good sign. Coming up with something to say on the way to my truck was impossible with her in my arms. She wasn’t skin and bones, nor was she heavy. No, she was just about perfect. The wind swept her spicy-sweet scent past my nose and whipped her long, dark hair across my face.

  Man, I should’ve thought this through for more than a second. Heat built with each increased beat of my pulse, every breath I took. Snowflakes melted on my face so fast I half expected the moisture to turn into steam and my grip tightened as I fought the urge to rub my fingers along the soft skin of her legs.

  There you go…make up for the Snowball dance with sexual harassment. Jackass.

  I helped her inside my truck before quickly shutting the door on my lusty thoughts. A quick trip back across the road netted her coat and then I locked up her car. Dave’s shop was on the way to the reunion location, so we could drop off the keys on the way.

  One deep breath fortified me to face the temptation in my truck. Once behind the wheel, I started the engine and reached to shift into first. It hit me how surreal my current situation was and I paused to cast a bemused, sideways look at my passenger.

  “Summer Clark.”

  She lifted her eyebrows and smiled. “Josh Nelsen.”

  Smiled. Why hadn’t she told me to go to hell the moment she saw me? Now or the day after the Snowball dance? The coward in me stuffed those questions down my throat as I checked my mirrors before pulling out onto the highway. It was only a few miles to my house, so when she asked what I’d been doing since graduation, I told her about my management position at my uncle’s trucking company. You know, real scintillating conversation.

  “I run into Jenna from time to time if I fill in on a delivery to where she works,” I said. “She told me you’re doing well for yourself with your own business as a copywriter?”

  “Yes, and I’m the best boss I’ve ever had,” she told me with a laugh. “I never get mad when I’m late to work and I get vacation whenever I ask.”

  “Sound’s ideal.”

  I pulled into the garage, but before I could get around the front of the truck to help her, she’d already stepped down off the running board. So I unlocked the inside house door and stood aside for her to go first. Nerves got me all of a sudden. What would she think of the home I’d designed and built myself? Would she notice it was just me? That there was no ring on my left hand?

  Because I’d definitely noticed there wasn’t one on hers. Once again, thank you, Meg.

  I pointed past the open kitchen. “Living room’s through there. Can I get you anything? A drink or something?”

  “No, thanks.”

  Her heels clicked across the ceramic kitchen tile and I took one step inside before Meg’s threats broke through the spell Summer had cast. A glance down at the mud caking my boots confirmed I’d better not chance it. I side-stepped to remove them in the mudroom right off the kitchen and I hung up my jacket on a hook instead of tossing it across the kitchen counter.

  Was that where Meg and Tony—

  Nope. Refocus.

  Summer was standing near the couch when I hurried past the island counter in the kitchen and crossed into the living room.

  “I just need about fifteen minutes to shower and change, so make yourself at home,” I told her.

  At the entrance to the hallway, I caught the corner of the wall with one hand and paused. She faced me without her jacket on and I got a good look at her short black dress, with its clingy, curve-hugging material, those long legs and the black sandals I’d saved from the mud.

  Hell, yeah, Summer looked great.

  Realizing how blatant my appraisal had become, I swept my gaze up. “Sure I can’t get you anything?” I repeated like an idiot.

  Despite heightened color in her cheeks, she gave me a cool smile. “I’m good.”

  Move your ass man. I gave an abrupt nod and quick-tapped the wall. “Right. I’ll be back.”

  I hurried through my shower, trying not to think of her in the other room or my sister’s comments about the unused condoms in my bedside drawer. After toweling my hair, a quick inspection confirmed I could get away without shaving and I headed into my room to dress. I grabbed a dark pair of jeans, belt and a white button-up shirt as I wondered again about Summer’s bare left hand.

  If I were to believe Jenna’s information from awhile back, Summer should’ve been sporting a big rock on her finger. Either Jenna had lied, which wouldn’t surprise me, or Summer was no longer planning a wedding. Easy deductions, because Jenna still hated me, and even I knew engaged women took every opportunity to show off their diamond rings. No way she’d leave that puppy in the jewelry box for our class reunion when the rest of her was dressed to impress.

  I finished tying the laces on my black boots and returned to the living room with a suit jacket in hand. From behind the couch, I peeked over her shoulder to see the TV Guide listing for Friday night. “Anything good on?”

  She jumped and swiveled to face me with a small embarrassed laugh.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “Quite the carpet you’ve got.”

  She set the magazine back on the table and stood. I had to consciously keep my gaze from shifting downward. Only in doing so, I caught her giving me the once-over. I felt a definite up-tick in my pulse at the possibility she might be interested.

  “Hope I wasn’t too long.”

  She waved her hand, silver bracelets clinking together on her wrist. “Barely noticed you were gone. So, is it just you here?”

  The moment she asked that, she spun on her heel and headed for the kitchen. I ignored the insult about barely noticing my absence and focused on the question. Because it sounded to me she’d asked outright if I was available.

  “Yep, just me.”

  I followed her toward the garage. Hope flickered when she gave me a smile over her shoulder. “Cleaner around here than I’d expect for a bachelor.”

  My flicker of hope took root and grew with my smile as I locked the door. To think I’d almost ditched the entire evening.

  “My older sister Meg cleans houses for a living.”

  “Lucky you.”

  “Not really. She’s not cheap and she’s bossy about me picking up after myself.”

  I hurried past her and opened the passenger side door of my truck. I helped her inside with a slight feeling of déjàvu. I’d driven my dad’s truck to the Snowball dance all those years ago. So strange that we hadn’t spoken after that night—not the rest of our junior year or all of senior year, and then she’d left right after graduation. I’d obviously hurt her and to go from that to joking with her now…

  I pushed the guilty thoughts aside to concentrate on making the most of my unexpected second chance.

  At the supper club, Jenna spotted us the instant we walked in. While her cousin bee-lined in our direction, I took Summer’s coat. “I’ll hang these up.”

  “Thanks.”

  I escaped so I wouldn’t have to face Jenna’s glare. Then I stood there wondering what the heck they were whispering to each other. Actually, I could probably guess, but didn’t really want to.

  “Gosh, Summer, I’m so glad you came!” Jenna exclaimed the moment I stepped back out of the coat room. “You look amazing in that dress!”

  Jenna’s lack of subtly confirmed the subject of their hushed exchange. Me.

  “How’s Brad?” she continued. “You two set a date for the wedding yet?”

  That hope that’d been gaining ground? It died.

  “Considering I gave him the ring back six months ago, no, we didn’t set a date,” Summer said.

  And flared back twice as strong.

  “I’d hoped the two of you would patch things up,” Jenna said with a pout. “I was looking forward to heading to Florida fo
r your wedding.”

  “You’re always welcome to visit.” Summer linked her arm with Jenna’s and led her back to the bar where our other classmates were gathered. In between hellos and hugs with friends, I touched Summer on the shoulder and asked what she’d like to drink.

  After I’d placed an order at the bar for her soda and my beer, Dave joined me with a slap on the back. “Joshua.”

  “Hey, man. How come you’re not out towing cars?” I asked.

  “Heather wasn’t missing this for anything. She’s got a whole network on Facebook to update in the morning. Plus she’ll probably tweet all about it tonight,” Dave said.

  I shook my head about Dave’s wife’s social media obsession and tossed a twenty on the bar for the drinks. Heather had been one year behind us in school, but involved in everything and knew everyone. I knew all about Facebook, but only vaguely knew what a tweet was. I didn’t want to know more.

  Dave leaned one elbow onto the bar and grinned at me. “But I have to say it’s totally worth it just to see you show up with Summer Clark.”

  “Summer’s the one with the car in the ditch,” I explained to Dave. “I just gave her a ride.”

  “Ah.” Dave glanced over his shoulder. “So…you two are friends again?”

  “It appears so.” I shrugged, left a tip, and pocketed my change from the bartender. “I mean, she’s talking to me anyway. That’s progress after ten years.”

  “Eleven if you count senior year.”

  “I was rounding off, but you’re right, eleven sounds better.”

  Dave laughed as we joined Summer’s group with Jenna and her husband, Doug, Randy Knutson and a couple others who’d remained local. Dave’s reminder was forgotten with Summer’s smile of thanks when I handed over her glass. She and Dave said hello, and then Heather joined us.

  Putting an arm around his wife, Dave said, “You remember, Heather, right?”

  “Of course.” Summer smiled and the two hugged. “When did you two get together?”

  “Dave and I married a couple years after high school. We’ve got four kids now.”

  That kick-started a round of everyone talking about if they were married or not, and if they had any kids. I did my best to keep a smile on my face as pictures were passed, and was very relieved when my buddy Randy shifted the subject by announcing he’d just gotten engaged the night before.

  His fiancé, a cute little blond named Beth, extended her left hand and all the women oohed and aahed over her ring. Had I called that one, or what?

  My attention switched to the fact that Summer was definitely not engaged—her decision, by the sound of it. In fact, I heard her tell more than one person she wasn’t in a relationship at all at the moment. Just her and her dog, Jenga, down there in Florida.

  Florida. Pretty damn far away from Wisconsin, so why should it matter to me if she was engaged or not? I tried to keep that fact in the forefront of my thoughts.

  Over dinner, conversation ebbed and flowed from where we all worked these days to places we’d travelled since graduation. Heather provided a wealth of information from her Facebook page about anyone who wasn’t at the reunion. It was interesting to hear what others had gone on to do and after having almost stayed home, I was really glad things had worked out the way they had.

  Sitting next to Summer, I admit she was more than half the draw. Never part of the popular crowd even though she’d always gotten along with people at school, the past ten years had really brought her out of her shell. Self confidence replaced her shyness in a way that set her miles above the couple of cliquey girls at the opposite end of the table who’d obviously only attended to show everyone they were still pretty and skinny.

  Dinner was great and hell at the same time. I had a hard time keeping my eyes off Summer, and more than once she caught my gaze. I did my best to smile and be cool, but still felt my neck grow warm. Then again, the rest of me warmed whenever she laughed, or her knee brushed mine under the close confines of the table. Occasionally she’d lean forward to say something to Randy’s fiancé on my other side and I’d catch a whiff of the scent from when I’d carried her out of the ditch. Every time I had to stop myself from sucking in a long, deep breath of sugar and spice.

  Shortly after the waitress removed our plates, I heard Jenna tell Summer she’d be back in a little bit. Considering I’d seen Doug head toward the door minutes earlier, and the two hadn’t been able to keep their hands to themselves all night, my curious gaze followed her departure. Sure enough, she slipped out the door with her coat seconds later.

  Hmm…bet Doug was getting some tonight. Lucky bastard.

  With the next round of drinks, Summer ordered another soda and I switched as well. I wasn’t sure how long people would hang around, and drinking and driving had never been my thing, snow or no snow. And even though a few more beers might make it easier, I had another reason for staying sober…at some point before the end of the night I needed to apologize to Summer.

  Just the thought of dredging up the past in the wake of our new friendship made my stomach bottom out.

  Across the table, Dave’s cell phone beeped from a text message.

  “Do you really need that on?” Heather asked.

  “Um, yeah,” Dave said as he read the message. Then he looked at Summer. “Your front right tire is flat and the alignment is all out of whack. You want my guy to tow it to M & M’s?”

  “Aaron’s still running the shop,” I told her.

  “I guess that’ll work,” she said. “My rental insurance should cover it and tonight I’ll catch a ride with Jenna and Doug.”

  Summer’s gaze searched the supper club before I saw her pull out her cell phone. She sent a text message and put back in her purse. It was nearing ten when I saw her check the phone for the umpteenth time. We’d all moved to the bar and separated into smaller groups by this time, so I watched from the corner of my eye.

  This time, instead of frowning at the phone, she sent another text. After a few exchanges, she cast a quick glance around the bar and slipped off the stool. I turned to watch her go, hoping she wasn’t leaving before I had a chance to talk to her…though Jenna and Doug were still MIA.

  A sharp dig in the ribs turned out to be Dave’s elbow. “You ask her out yet?”

  “I haven’t even apologized yet.”

  “Are you kidding? Don’t bring that up. I say let bygones be bygones—sure seems like she has.”

  “She hasn’t, and she shouldn’t either.”

  Dave frowned, looking a little surprised. “Did she say something?”

  “Not directly.”

  “That’s a long time to hold a grudge. You sure you want to even go there?”

  I watched Summer across the room. Lines creased her forehead as she texted on her phone in what looked to be a heated discussion.

  “Yeah. I want to go there.” I needed to go there.

  “Good luck with that.”

  Dave shook his head, I gave him a shrug. Sticking my hands in my pockets, I moseyed across the floor toward Summer. She was so engrossed in her phone, I walked right up behind her and propped my chin on her shoulder.

  “Why the frown face?”

  She jumped and fumbled her phone. My quick reflexes nabbed it before it hit the floor. As I handed it back, I couldn’t help but flip it over in my hand and glance at the lit screen.

  Stay away from Josh Nelsen!

  I did my best to keep any reaction from my expression. That’s what you get for looking, dumbass. Then I realized Jenna was warning her away from me. Meaning Summer had been arguing for the opposite? I felt a smile tug at my mouth as Summer took the phone, her gaze searching mine before she gave a slight smile back.

  “Jenna and Doug snuck home for…well, I’m sure you can guess…but I never got a chance to tell them I no longer have a car tonight.”

  Yes, I could guess what—

  The rest of her words registered and my smile slipped away. “Ah. You have no ride home.”

>   She avoided my gaze, but I knew we were both thinking the same thing. No ride home. Talk about déjà vu.

  “Not only that,” she continued with a grimace, “but I’m supposed to stay there tonight. Now I feel like I’m intruding.”

  Before I could reply, her phone dinged a new message. She glanced down, but asked me, “Is the Silver Falls Motel still operating these days?”

  My turn to make a face. “Better to pretend it’s not.”

  “Darn it,” she muttered.

  And there it was, my second chance, staring me right in the face. I took a deep breath and prepared to face the music. “Considering I more than owe you one, I’m happy to offer a ride back to my place and the use of one of my guest rooms.”

  Not quite the apology I’d planned, but possibly better. And she didn’t say no right away. In fact, I swear I saw her gaze drop to my mouth. Made me think of kissing her.

  Seconds ticked by.

  Ding.

  We both looked down at her phone. She frowned and started texting like mad. I shifted, unsure what to say. Ask again? Don’t push?

  All of a sudden she flipped the phone shut and gave me a quick smile. “That would be great. Thanks.”

  Her phone dinged. She ignored it.

  The implied apology was turning out so much better than I’d expected. Slipping my hands back into my pockets, I hunched my shoulders, looked around the bar and asked, “How long do you want to stay?”

  She shrugged. “It’s up to you.”

  Her phone chimed yet again. Before Jenna could say something else to change Summer’s mind, I said, “Actually, I’m a little tired. I was up early and—”

  “Me, too,” she interrupted. “And after the flight, and the drive up from Milwaukee in the snow…”

  “And the ditch,” I added.

  “Exactly. I’m definitely looking forward to your bed.”

  I raised my eyebrows. Had she just said what I thought I heard? Or was my imagination projecting my thoughts?

  She laughed. “I mean, your guest bed—not your bed.”

  Okay, so I wasn’t going crazy. I smiled as her cheeks flushed bright red. A glimpse of Summer from high school, with a nice, modern twist.