Belle and Valentine

by Tressie Lockwood

  “I bet you’re excited,” one of their regulars said, an older woman Zuria had labeled a busybody. Zuria worked as quickly as she could to prepare the woman’s iced hazelnut macchiato so she could move on, but it didn’t stop the gossip. “Moving to a new bigger place for the coffee shop. That will mean more help, right? And I’ll bet Fane and Sam will consider serving hot food. There’s certainly space for it.”

  Zuria froze. “Excuse me?”

  The woman smiled. “The Wilkes place. Surely they told you, right? Widow Wilkes is going to lease the property to Fane and Sam.”

  Another woman stepped up beside the first. “I heard they’ll have the option to buy too, so the nonsense with this place doesn’t happen again.”

  The first woman winked at the second. “Oh we don’t have to worry about that, do we? After all, Dixie Ann and Fane—”

  “Ladies?” Fane interrupted as he strode up. “I hope you enjoy your coffee and your day.” He whipped the beverages Zuria had just finished making from her nerveless fingers and slid them across the counter to the waiting patrons. The two women offered weak smiles and turned to leave, whispering to each other. Zuria heard her name, as well as Dixie’s and Fane’s. She pivoted on her heel and headed to the kitchen.

  “Zuria,” Fane called behind her.

  She kept moving. What did it even matter anyway? They’d had an agreement, one that was over now. He broke the terms. Not like she loved him or could ever have. Not a big deal. Just move on.

  Fane appeared behind her and grabbed her hand in a tight hold. She blinked and realized she’d just butchered a lemon raspberry cake, which she had been very proud of. Fane carefully removed the sharp knife from her hand and set it on the counter out of reach. She glanced over her shoulder at him, figuring he thought she’d use it on him next.

  “Turn around, little rabbit,” he whispered.

  She gritted her teeth because he tempted her beyond reason. He smelled so good, even after a hectic morning. His thighs touched her ass, and she tried to press herself harder against the counter.

  “I’m busy, Fane.”

  “I saw.”

  She glared at him.

  He rested hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him against her will. She raised hands to push at his chest but froze. If she dared touch him, she’d be in trouble. Why did she have to want him? Even after knowing he’d been with that bitch Dixie, she ached for him to kiss her. No matter what her body desired, she would not compromise her self-esteem to accept things as they were. Let Dixie debase herself for the man, or any other woman in this town. They could all fight over him.

  Fane slid his hands to her arms and touched his forehead to hers. “I messed up.”

  She gasped. So he admitted it. “I’m not interested in hearing whatever else you have to say. We had fun. It’s done. Please leave me alone.”

  “Not happening.”

  “Fane—”

  He kissed her. She struggled to turn her head, but he followed, his mouth seeking, his tongue parting her lips. For an instant, she invited him in, savoring his flavor, the warmth and the shock of the yearning that lit her body on fire. Then she snatched away and punched him in the gut. Fane didn’t so much as wince. She turned to step out of reach, but he placed a hand on either side of her, trapping her within his embrace.

  “I messed but by giving you the impression something happened,” he said. “Nothing did. Well, Dixie Ann did spill wine on my shirt.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Please. That’s the oldest trick in the book.”

  He shrugged. “Widow Wilkes insisted Dixie Ann wash it. The shirt wasn’t finished drying when you called. I yanked it on and rushed over here when you called.”

  The explanation was too convenient and too flimsy an excuse, and if that was all that happened, why did Dixie look so happy? Zuria didn’t want to ask. She didn’t care to open herself up to more excuses. Richard’s thin stories during her marriage about why he couldn’t or wouldn’t make love to her had been more than enough. She and Fane could not build a relationship on distrust. Hell, she didn’t believe they could build a relationship period. That hadn’t been the original agreement anyway. The entire conversation was meaningless.

  “We have customers waiting,” she said, lowering her gaze to his chest.

  “Zuria,” he murmured, and he splayed one hand on her belly. His fingers thrust the apron she wore aside and curled over the band of her jeans. Her pussy clenched. She swallowed. He thumbed open the clasp and lowered the zipper.

  “Fane, don’t. We can’t do that here.”

  He leaned in and nuzzled her neck then nipped her ear. A tremor raced down her spine, and she sagged against him.

  No, Zuria, don’t give in.

  “After work,” he whispered in her ear. “I want you, Zuria—only you.”

  She shoved at him, catching him off guard, and moved out of his hold. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d signed a lease with Dixie’s grandmother? Why did I hear it from someone else? Not to mention you didn’t tell me you were going over there.”

  He leaned against the counter and folded his arms over his chest. He seemed too damned calm while she was an emotional wreck. “I knew you’d react like this.”

  “Don’t put it on me, Fane!”

  He sighed. “I admit I’m not good with—or rather used to—a relationship.”

  She blinked. “A relationship?”

  “Isn’t that what we were attempting?”

  She started to answer, but the door banged open. “What are you doing?” Dixie demanded. “It’s a mob out there. Tourists have figured out the nearest Starbucks is like an hour away. I can’t run this shop by myself!”

  “You’re hardly ‘running’ it, Dixie Ann.” Zuria thanked her lucky stars for the apron, which covered the fact that her pants gaped open. She righted her clothing and left Fane where he stood. Dixie cast Zuria a suspicious glance, but Zuria kept moving toward the front of the shop. She had to stay here while her brother was away, but as soon as he returned, she was gone.

  For the rest of the day, Fane didn’t try to approach her, but she did feel his gaze on her more than once. Unfortunately, she also felt Dixie’s scowl. When Fane had to visit the storeroom to bring in more cups, Dixie took the opportunity to reiterate her claim.

  “I’m only telling you this because you’re Sam’s sister, and he’s a nice guy,” Dixie said. “Leave Fane alone. He doesn’t want you.”

  Funny, his hand down my pants didn’t give me that impression.

  “Dixie, get out of my face,” Zuria said and started to walk away. Dixie grabbed her arm, and Zuria looked down at the hold and back to the woman’s face. Dixie reddened and let go.

  She tossed bottle-blonde hair over her shoulder and raised her chin. “Last night was just the start of us getting back together, and I’m not letting you get in the way of it.”

  Zuria glanced around the shop. Customers had dwindled with the nearing of closing time. One or two bent over laptops in corners, probably intent on shooting off a last email or two, or getting another chapter done on their great American novel.

  “I’m not interested in your manipulations, Dixie Ann. Nor am I interested in Fane’s.”

  “Liar,” the woman groused. “No woman would turn down Fane.”

  “I would and did.”

  “Then why does he keep looking at you, and why did he follow you into the kitchen?”

  Zuria almost burst out laughing. If Dixie felt she’d nabbed Fane so much, why did Zuria’s actions threaten her?

  “I suggest you ask Fane.”

  “Ask me what?” he said, coming back into the room.

  Dixie reddened even more, if that were possible. Zuria swung away and went to grab a broom and the dustpan. Her body was ready to give out, and if she didn’t work fast with cleanup, she would fall on the floor and sleep there. Behind her, Dixie whined in a low tone to Fane, and Fane’s deep voice rumbled as he answered. Zuria couldn’t make out what
he said, but she didn’t try. She kept her head down, eyes on the task. Come home, Sam. I can’t do this. Please come home.

  Chapter Six

  “I have to go,” Zuria said to her brother.

  Sam was looking strong and healthy, even tanned. She couldn’t believe how the few days he was gone had been so beneficial. He looked like a new man, most of all rested and strong. She never wanted to see him as he was, crumpled on the office floor. When he returned, he signed the paperwork for the new lease, and she understood from what he shared that he and Fane had saved the money they would have needed to buy the current property. So maybe that meant he had just a little she could borrow to start her life over.

  “Why?” he said in answer to her declaration.

  She frowned and faced him. He sat behind his desk as cool as a cucumber, like he couldn’t feel the stirrings in her stomach and the whirl in her mind. Of course he couldn’t, but it felt to her like the whole world should, it was so strong.

  “You know why.” She drew up a chair and dropped into it. “Sam, I can’t do this. To tell you the truth, I want Fane like I’ve never wanted another man. I just don’t see a future with us.”

  She waited for Sam to respond, but he watched her with those eyes that were the reason she thought of him as an old soul. He seemed to say, “go on, I’m listening,” even if he didn’t articulate it.

  “If I’m honest with myself, I loved him, even back before I left Aves. I want to let go, but I can’t do that here. I have to move away, and this time, no matter what happens, I’m going to stay gone.” She raised her chin and straightened her back.

  Sam rose from his seat and came around the desk to sit on the side of it. “He will come for you this time.”

  She blinked. “What do you mean?”

  Instead of answering her question directly, he posed a new one of his own. “Do you know why I let Fane date you?”

  Zuria’s hand flew to her hip. “What do you mean let?”

  One side of her brother’s mouth quirked higher—his version of a smile. “The only reason I let him date you,” he repeated stubbornly, “is because I knew you were different to him than any of the others.”

  Zuria had no words for this ridiculous statement.

  “I knew once Fane got you, he would do everything in his power to keep you.”

  Zuria surged to her feet and scraped her chair back. “You’re crazy, Sam. Can I borrow the money or not?”

  “Of course.”

  ****

  A few hours later, Zuria stood inside the building where she would catch the bus out of town. Of course when service hadn’t been cut, the place had been used as a stop. Now it housed a Laundromat, but the bus still stopped outside. She had another hour’s wait after having refused Sam’s offer to drive her to Charlotte or at least to wait until morning. She had refused both suggestions, wanting to leave before she could change her mind or Fane could find out her plans.

  The Laundromat was open late for the bus and maybe those who didn’t want to wash clothes during the day. One of the few places open at this hour except for the bar, the Laundromat was empty. A dryer whirred in the back, and Zuria assumed whoever set it going would come back before long.

  She shifted her suitcase’s position with the toe of her sandal and started when the roar of a motorcycle engine sounded above the dryer. Her throat dried, and she pressed a hand to her chest in an effort to calm her racing heart. He wasn’t coming there. He was just passing through.

  A broad, black tire with silver spikes rolled into view and then a muscled thigh encased in black jeans. She licked her lips. The glass door opened, and Fane stepped inside. He glanced around and then pinned his gaze on her. She quaked and chided herself for it, raising her chin.

  “Why are you here, Fane?”

  He looked down at her suitcases, and a furrow appeared between his brows. “I didn’t think of that.”

  She blinked. “What are you talking about?”

  He grinned at her, and her heart skipped a beat. Damn the man.

  “I had this vision of us riding off down the highway. It didn’t include clunky luggage. I should have known better. One of them is probably your makeup bag.”

  “Haha, funny.” She rolled her eyes. “Wait, you said… Why would we ride off down the highway together?” The question came out breathless.

  He moved closer. She resisted stepping back, but her nipples hardened as if he’d touched her. “Because this time, you’re not leaving Aves without me. Where you go, I’m going.”

  Sam’s words came flooding back to her befuddled brain. “He will come for you.” They sounded like a line from a romance movie, stuff she didn’t even watch, but the impact was probably far worse. Her knees turned to jelly. Her only defense was anger.

  “Oh so you’re going to leave Sam high and dry just before a move and right after he had that collapse?”

  “Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

  Her teeth snapped together so fast they hurt.

  “You’re his business partner,” she tried again. “Your place is—”

  He closed the space between them in a long stride and placed a large hand behind her neck to pull her to him. She fell against his chest, her hands coming up in front of her automatically. “Don’t presume to tell me where my place is, Zuria.”

  “I—”

  His beautiful gaze burned into hers, sapping her of any strength she had left. “I let you go because I thought I was just this country small town boy who didn’t know anything. You had a better opportunity in that guy.”

  She made a small noise of protest. Funny how she’d thought she was headed for something bigger and better, and even now, she had decided to leave because she wanted to start over, and that meant anywhere but Aves.

  “This time,” Fane said, stroking a thumb over her cheek, “when you leave, take the guy who loves you.”

  “The…guy…who…” she squeaked, breath in short supply.

  Fane grasped her around the waist and hoisted her to the top of a washing machine. He pressed between her legs and held her tight for a moment before raising his head and looking into her eyes.

  “I’m going to explain this to you once, and then if it doesn’t satisfy you, we’ll figure something else out to fix it.”

  She started to ask what he was talking about, but he laid a finger over her lips.

  “I was stupid not to tell you I was going to do everything I could to charm that old lady, including eating her dry pot roast.”

  “Widow Wilkes?”

  He nodded. “Still cooking at her age—badly. Anyway, I knew Dixie Ann would be there. I also knew I’d tell her about us and that I love you.”

  Zuria gaped. “You didn’t.”

  “I tried. She dumped wine down my shirt. Her grandmother insisted I let Dixie Ann wash my shirt for me. What a disaster, especially when you called to tell me about Sam. I know what you thought, Zuria, but nothing more than what I told you happened. Except, of course, that I got Widow Wilkes to agree to let us use her building. It wasn’t all that hard, actually.”

  Zuria wasn’t sure what to think. “But Dixie Ann came in to the shop all happy like she’d conquered you.”

  “Maybe she thought she had. Look what you thought afterward. She was probably convinced you would refuse to ever see me again. What she didn’t know was how stubborn I am and how I was determined to keep you. I’m not the boy I once was. I’m a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. I’m still a country small-town guy, and you belong to me, Zuria.”

  “Don’t I get a say in this?” He was killing her with all these confessions.

  His hand crept beneath her blouse, and the pad of one thumb brushed her nipple. She had a choice all right—to fall into his arms and beg him to take her.

  “Tell me you don’t want me,” he said.

  She captured his hand and pushed it away, her eyelids heavy. “Want is not the same as love.”

  “Then I will be patient. I’
ll show you how I feel and wait until you come to feel the same.”

  “Fane, I don’t think—”

  Air breaks squeaked outside, and Zuria looked through the picture window to see the bus pull up. Her heart skittered in her chest. She wanted Fane. To leave him after he had declared his love was preposterous, but what if it was just words to get her to stay? Fane left a line of broken hearts in his wake even when they were young, but no one had ever claimed he lied to them and made promises he didn’t intend to keep. No one had said Fane told them he loved them.

  She looked back at Fane. “What are you really saying?”

  He didn’t hesitate or seem unsure. “I’m saying I love you, Zuria Belle, and I want to be with you, whether it’s here in Aves or any place else.”

  With his hands resting on her thighs, she couldn’t think straight. This was crazy. She couldn’t let Fane leave Sam behind. Sam loved Aves. He wouldn’t in a million years think of leaving, and why should he? He had found success here, and so had Fane.

  “I can’t let you leave Aves or the coffee shop. I know how you love it. You’ve never dreamed of moving to the city, and I think you don’t like the thought of it now.”

  She gave him a push, and he stepped back to let her drop down from the washing machine. Unfortunately, he didn’t move enough for her body not to brush his on the descent. A shuffle toward the door brought her closer to her bags and farther from him, but the pain in her stomach said it was the wrong move.

  Fane moved up behind her and caressed her arms. “If it will help, I’ll take you to see Widow Wilkes. I think she has enough sense to tell you what really happened.”

  “It won’t help,” she said.

  She felt his disappointment and turned to face him.

  “Nothing will help how much I love you, Fane.”

  His eyes widened, and she smiled.

  “I’m going to stay…with you.”

  He jerked her off her feet and into his embrace to crush her mouth in a hungry, all-consuming kiss. Zuria wrapped her arms around his neck, parted her lips, and pushed her tongue into his mouth. At the same time, she opened her heart and let the fear, doubt, and foolish decisions melt away for good.