Virtually Yours: A Virtual Match Anthology

by Kait Nolan

  “But that’s your porch and your home. If you want to sit out there, it’s your decision. Here it’s just bad manners.”

  Jacintha pursed her lips. Her cheeks sucked in with great offense. She looked as if any moment she might blow an aneurysm. “If you will excuse me.”

  “Good night, Miss Jacintha.”

  “Dallas.”

  When Jacintha had gone inside and the percussion from the slammed door faded, Dallas rubbed his hands together. “You ready?”

  “What did she want?”

  “Nothing much. Mostly just suggested if you were to stay in Florida, it would be because of me.” He walked Shelby down the porch stairs and to his truck. “She seems to think I have some influence with you.”

  Shelby stopped at the passenger door waiting for Dallas to open it. She looked up at him. “She’s right about that.”

  Too stunned to open the door, Dallas watched Shelby do the honors. She jumped up onto the seat, showing off a good bit of leg from under her sun dress as she did.

  She gave a little giggle as he closed the door.

  Dallas went around to the driver’s side.

  “You know, she already tried to bribe me with money.” Shelby looked over at him and smiled. “It makes sense she’d try to use you as well. I can’t imagine what else she’s going to come up with. But that’s two family members in the space of a day.”

  Shelby had an entire life up in New York. She owned a freaking restaurant for shit’s sake. Having a dream of being a business owner himself, he’d understand if she didn’t want to leave behind a full life in New York. It would suck, but he’d understand. And he was smart enough to know putting pressure on her wasn’t going to help.

  He took her to Archibald’s, a fancy restaurant out on the river. After she’d made a point of sampling half the menu then talking with the chef and the owner, she declared herself stuffed.

  “I don’t know where you put it all.” Dallas walked her back to his truck, shaking his head.

  “Well, I only took a few bites. It’s not like they gave me the entire dish.” It was a weak defense.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I like a woman with a healthy appetite. I just don’t know how you’re not in pain.”

  “Who said I wasn’t?” She climbed up into his truck, slower this time. “This is worse than the night you, Asa, and I got those ginormous pizzas from Razzo’s and ate every bite.”

  Dallas held up his hand. “I can’t even hear that name anymore without feeling sick.”

  “I have to admit it curbed my love of pizza. At least until I was introduced to authentic New York pizza.” She gave him a cheeky smile.

  He shook his head and closed the door. When he settled into the driver’s seat he turned to her. “I want to take you someplace you’ve probably not seen since you’ve been home. At least I hope you haven’t.”

  “Sounds intriguing. Let’s go.”

  Dallas drove them to River Row, a line of shops, restaurants, theaters, bars, arcades, and at the end an amusement park that ran along the meandering path of the river. He hadn’t brought her here for dinner because the restaurants had a casual atmosphere, and he’d wanted a more upscale dining experience. God knew when he’d see her again, and he wanted to do this right.

  He parked at the far end of the promenade so Shelby would get the full effect of the tour. From their vantage point the Ferris wheel stood in prominent display against the dark backdrop of the river bend.

  “Wow! What is this place?” She looked out of the windshield. “Wait. It’s River Row, right?”

  “Yeah. I thought you might enjoy seeing it at night when it’s all lit up.”

  “I’d heard of it, but didn’t know where to find it. Not that I’d looked too hard for it under the circumstances. I’m glad I’ll have a few good experiences to take back with me.” She said it simply and without fanfare, but the words stuck him like the splinter of a broken bat.

  No matter what he did or what he showed her, she was going to leave. Intellectually he knew this, but he’d thought…No, perhaps he hadn’t been thinking. He’d been working on wishes.

  Dallas helped her out of the truck then took her hand in his. “Let’s go explore.”

  Shelby fell into step beside him, and he breathed a sigh of relief when she kept her fingers entwined with his.

  They stepped up onto the wooden boardwalk. Every so often arched footbridges crossed over to grant access to businesses on the other bank. Below, gondolas took tourists on romantic rides up and down the river.

  They walked for a while. Shelby stopped a few times and looked in shop windows, or listened to a song a band played at a bar. Dallas let her set the pace, enjoying just being in her company.

  After a while she shook her head, her gaze full of wonder and amazement. “If I didn’t drive through town myself, I would swear this isn’t Suwannee Grove.”

  “It’s definitely changed.”

  “You don’t approve?”

  “I never said that, but it’s not the same small Southern town you left.” Time to inch toward the subject he really wanted to broach. “The growth is good for the town. It’s a good time to start my business.”

  “So why haven’t you?”

  “Money. I’ve been trying to sock it away by doing a part time job and taking on extra side projects.” He gave a shrug. “As soon as I make any money, something happens and it slips through my fingers.”

  “I hear you.” Shelby walked up to the railing and looked over the river.

  Lights sparkled off the flowing water. From below came the gentle plunk of paddles, moving the gondolas along.

  “How did you get the money to buy your restaurant?”

  “Had someone who believed in me enough to take a chance. It made all the difference in the timetable.” She gave a shrug. “If I’d had to work my way through it, I’d probably still be working for someone else.”

  “The only people I’m going to get to believe in me are satisfied customers. Word of mouth is still the best advertising.”

  “Yes and no. What have you done so far to make your dream come true?”

  “Well, like I said, I took some odd jobs. Some I’m not proud of in retrospect.”

  Shelby bumped his shoulder. “Nothing illegal I hope.”

  “No. Phone work.”

  She let out a bark of laughter. “Did you work a phone sex line?”

  Dallas held up his hands in defense. “No. Texts only. No sex involved.”

  “Texts? What kind of texts?”

  Ok. Now it was getting too close to the source of his guilt that he wanted to choke. Confessions were supposed to be good for the soul, but he doubted this was going to go well.

  “Just an app. Not a big deal. It’s to make people think you have a boyfriend or girlfriend.”

  Shelby nodded. “I read about that someplace. So you work for one of those app companies?”

  “Yes, but I’m thinking of quitting.”

  “Doesn’t it pay well?”

  “The pay is all right and I can take it with me, so I’m not tied down. But not worth the hassle or risk. I don’t need someone’s real boyfriend coming after me because they decided to try and make someone jealous.”

  “Is that what happened to make you quit?”

  Dallas turned away. He couldn’t look at her. “No. Worse.”

  ~*~

  An odd feeling settled over Shelby. Her pulse pounded in her temple. Sure she was about to have a stroke, she shook her head. “Please don’t tell me anything bad. Tonight has been so perfect. I don’t want to ruin it.”

  Dallas placed his hand behind her neck, pulling her close. He rested his chin on the top of her head. “All right.”

  They stood that way for a few moments before he kissed the top of her head and pulled away. “So, you want to ride the Ferris wheel?”

  No. She wanted to go and stick her head in the river and drown herself for being such a selfish bitch. Obviously Dallas had something he wante
d to get off his chest and she’d pretty much shut him down. What kind of friend did that?

  And yet, she let him turn and walk her toward the amusement park. He said there had been no sex involved so it wasn’t as if he’d found out he had a secret baby with one of his clients. Perhaps it was a stalker. Maybe one of his clients had become infatuated with him and ended up boiling a bunny on his stove.

  Shelby turned to him, placing a hand on Dallas’s chest. “You aren’t in any danger, are you?”

  His look of surprise said he thought she’d lost her mind. “From what?”

  “Crazed client turned stalker.”

  “No.”

  “But she is the reason you quit.” Fear opened a pit in Shelby’s stomach. Not that he’d done anything wrong, but that he might have fallen for his client—that things may have gotten out of control. “Did you love her?”

  Dallas squeezed her hand. “No.”

  They walked past a few more shops. Dallas stopped. “You’re awfully curious for someone who didn’t want to know the reason for my possible quitting.”

  “And you’ve never been the squeamish type, not when you were working toward something you really wanted.”

  Dallas’s expression turned tight, somber. “You want to know or not?”

  “Yes.” Shelby ran her hand up his chest in comfort. “But only if you want to tell me.”

  He let out a breath. “The short answer is that I had a client who died. One day she was texting me and the next…” he trailed off and looked to the amusement park. Lights from the rides reflected in his eyes.

  “Oh, that’s terrible. Did you ever find out what happened?”

  Dallas looked away, troubled.

  “Ok. I understand. We can drop it.”

  Shelby slid her arms around him, and rested her head against his chest. He must have cared somewhat for the woman to feel the need to quit after her death. But then, Dallas had always been more sensitive than anyone thought. Except her.

  They walked to the amusement park.

  “Are you going to be all right? Getting on rides after eating?” Dallas reached into his wallet for cash to pay the entrance fee.

  “A Ferris wheel, yes. If you want me on the tilt-a-whirl there is no way in hell we’ll be leaving without a scene.”

  “Got it. No tilt-a-whirl.”

  They passed through the turnstiles and into the park proper. It wasn’t large by any stretch of the imagination, but did contain the requisite rides for a fun and exciting diversion.

  They bought tickets for the Ferris wheel at a little booth on the midway. All the way to the ride they walked in fractured silence. His earlier confession set heavy on Shelby. He mourned for someone he’d only known through texts. Or had they gotten closer? Was that the part he wasn’t telling? Had he became infatuated with her, but not fallen in love? What if their relationship was at the precipice between flirtation and serious? Had he wanted to take the next step but ethics held him back?

  She was going to drive herself insane with the questions.

  Now here she was, coming back into his life through tragic circumstances and bad timing. When had it ever been good timing for them?

  When they were seated on the ride and the wheel began to move to the top, Shelby looked out over the river. Shining lights wove through the countryside in a golden serpentine. So much had changed over the years.

  She slid her arm through Dallas’s and leaned against his shoulder. “Why didn’t you ever ask me out in high school?”

  “The truth? I thought you had the hots for Asa.” He gazed down into her face, his concentration centered on her mouth. “I was afraid if I asked you out on a real date, you’d say you only wanted us to be friends. I kind of hate that phrase.”

  “The night of my going away party when you kissed me and asked me to stay, I was so mad at you. You’d waited so long to say it. I had wanted to hear it so bad, but my decision was made, and even that wasn’t going to get me to stay.”

  “I know. I wanted you to stay for selfish reasons. It took me years to realize that but better late than never.”

  The ride stopped with them at the top. Wind blew, shaking the structure. Shelby closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look if they plunged to their deaths. Yes, she’d agreed to get on the Ferris wheel when heights really weren’t her thing.

  Soft pressure teased her lips. She opened to Dallas’s kiss. They had kissed before but never in such a terrifying and romantic setting. Never when their hearts were raw and futures uncertain.

  This homecoming was more dangerous than anything she’d ever done. She knew that coming down here. Facing years of running away from problems hurt like hell. Uncertainty rose.

  Dallas’s lips were firm, warm and unhurried. He acted as if it was his life mission to kiss her fully, to make up for lost time.

  The ride started again. The jerk of the car sent Shelby deeper into Dallas’s embrace. His heart knocked against her palm. She curled her hand into his shirt, loving the feel of his solid chest beneath the fabric.

  He pulled away, placing small kisses at the corner of her lips on either side.

  “That just fulfilled a fantasy of mine,” he whispered.

  “Are all your fantasies so wholesome?”

  He laughed. “Not by a long shot.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about some of your more unwholesome ones?”

  Dallas ran a thumb along her cheek. “Maybe if I come up to New York, I’ll show you.”

  “Maybe?” Shelby ran a finger along the placket of his shirt. “You don’t want to make solid plans?”

  Dallas let out a moan and closed his eyes. “Solid was just the word I had in mind.”

  Shelby laughed at the cheesy line. “Does that line ever work for you?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never used it before.” His smile was sideways and cheeky. “Did it work for you?”

  “By way of confession, yes.” She moved closer, sending the car to swing. She grabbed hold of Dallas. “Ok. No sudden moves up here.”

  Dallas narrowed his eyes then opened them wide. “Oh, shit. Shelby, I’m sorry. I forgot you’re afraid of heights. Why didn’t you say something? I would have never brought you up here.”

  She patted his arm. “What? I let you. I’m an adult. If I didn’t want to come on this death trap with you, I’d have stayed on the ground.”

  Dallas gave a pained laugh then shook his head. He threw his arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

  “You have superpowers now?”

  He nodded. “I do.”

  “What are they? Defying gravity? Air compression? Commanding the elements?”

  “I can’t tell you. The superhero credo forbids speaking of any superpowers to non-super humans.” He looked her up and down. “Though I have to admit, I’ve always thought you had the ability to make me crazy.”

  Shelby poked his ribs with her elbow. “Another cheesy line.”

  Dallas laughed. “What can I say? I’m not good with the lines. This is why I never asked you out in high school. If you think I’m bad now, you have to realize I’ve improved about a hundred percent since then.”

  “It’s not the lines you say, it’s what’s in your heart that counts.”

  “Oh, that’s just as bad,” Dallas teased.

  The ride came to an end and they were let off. Shelby tamped down the urge to cross herself and let Dallas take her hand once again. They walked along the midway, each of them taking turns playing some of the games.

  “Hit all five and win a prize!” The teenager working the concession called out to passersby.

  On impulse, Shelby turned and put some money up on the wall.

  “Five tries.”

  The young man, whose name tag read Jimbo, gave a nod to Dallas, one guy to another. “Are you going to let her show you up like that?”

  Dallas put his hands up. “Hey, she was always a better shot than me.”

  Shelby wa
rmed at the fact he remembered that small detail. Asa’s father had owned a firing range. Jacintha had believed it a very good idea for a young woman to know how to shoot and had paid Mr. Swan well to teach Shelby and Lana both how to shoot. Lana hadn’t enjoyed it, but Shelby had taken to it right away. She’d not kept up with it over the years, not having the time with starting her restaurant.

  Shelby stood behind one of the air rifles and looked down the long barrel to one of the targets. Without looking up, she shot and hit the target along with four others in quick succession. With the high pinging sound of the pellets still ringing on the air, Shelby straightened with a satisfied grin.

  “I believe you owe me a prize.” Shelby held out her hand, waiting for Jimbo to plop a cheap stuffed animal into her palm.

  “What would you like?” Jimbo indicated the wall of prizes with all the flair of a game show host. “The purple teddy bears are really popular.”

  Shelby made a face. “I don’t do popular. I do unique. How about the orange snake?”

  “Good choice.” Jimbo pulled the stuffed furry snake off the rack and handed it to Shelby.

  She wiggled it in Dallas’s face. “Here. Manly enough of a prize for you?”

  “Oh, gosh, Shelby you won this for me?” Faux excitement dripped from his words, even as his eyes lit with happiness.

  “Of course. What’s the use of having skills if you can’t show them off and win a prize every now and then?”

  Dallas took the stuffed snake and wrapped it around his neck.

  Down the midway was a fast pitch game. Shelby knocked her arm into him, goading him to give it a try.

  “After all the pitching I did today? Not going to happen. Besides, I was not on my game.” He reached up to pet the fake snake’s head. “If I don’t deliver, I’ll be seriously shamed.”

  Shelby let it drop. They left the amusement park and walked up the opposite side of River Row. Once again she looked in shop windows and stepped inside if she saw something that interested her.

  A for rent sign hung in the window of a vacant storefront, stopping Shelby mid-stride. She leaned in, shielding her eyes from the glare lights and looked in. The space was a nice size. Location perfect. Why was this one empty when all the other spaces were occupied?