LOVE in a Small Town

by Janet Eaves

  “So I wanted a baby and he didn’t,” she finally told him. “And he died before I could change his mind. Thanks a whole helluva lot for bringing that memory back to life.”

  Goddamn.

  “Kate, hell…” he whispered. “I am so sorry.”

  Her eyes closed and she sighed. “Oh…don’t worry. It’s okay. I’ve come to terms with it.” When she opened them again, she added, “But you can apologize by coming over here and holding me.”

  She didn’t have to ask twice.

  He pulled her to him, needing to feel her body against his. She whimpered and clung tight. All he wanted was to hold her close, make her feel safe, wanted. All he meant to do was kiss her, but when his lips touched the hot coals of hers, his passion quickly reined out of control.

  ****

  Kate tried to fight the overwhelming desire that overtook her as Michael’s hands touched her body. She tried, and soon realized she was losing the battle. Her pulse raced as he drew nearer; the skin of his bare chest seared through her blouse as if it wasn’t there. His lips descended and she was lost. His hands firmly encircled her waist, one dropping lower, hauling her closer still; the other tracing lazy circles on her back, her neck. He angled his lips to hers, his tongue probed between them.

  Everything was a passionate contradiction. The kiss was urgent, but slow and thorough; his lips were cool, but warm and tender.

  Michael guided her backwards toward the bed and they fell into it.

  A surge of passion built within, her head dizzying, and her body willing. Her fingers lost themselves in the dark mass of curly chest hair, then smoothed upward to his neck, weaving her nails into the short hair at his nape. Her body arched and she absorbed his throbbing sexuality against her abdomen. All presence of time lost, all consciousness gone, needing him, and only him, she pressed tightly up against his body.

  Kate slanted her gaze lower and watched his fingers play with the buttons of her shirt. He opened her blouse and the front closure of her bra, cupped a swollen breast, and breathed a heavy, moist sigh against her chest. The act sent a twitter of sensation over her nipples causing her to shiver. His eyes met hers then, and she ached at the pure emotion within. As he captured and massaged one pebbled nipple, pinching it, giving her pause to beg for more, he dove for her lips and gently nipped and sucked.

  Her head fell back and his mouth trailed down her neck; his fingers flicking and toying with her nipples in a game of sensual arousal. He moved to the hollow of her neck, raking his teeth along her delicate skin; she sighed and clutched his biceps.

  While easing in a slow and delicious breath, Kate raised her head to meet his gaze. The afternoon sun beaming in her window, glinted off something behind Michael’s head.

  She froze.

  Jerking upright, her stare rested on her dresser and the wedding portrait. Bile bit at the back of her throat. Michael stopped the feathery sensations he was making on her chest when she wrenched away.

  Her abruptness left Michael cold and empty, like a sudden thrust into a vat of icy nothingness. He peered into her eyes and noticed they were no longer focused on him. Turning to see what held her attention, he saw the portrait. And he knew. Returning to her gently tearing gaze, he tried to make sense of the situation.

  Obviously, he had gone too far. Pushed it.

  And dammit, this was not where he needed to be. In her bed. For a thousand reasons.

  But he was.

  With his thumb, he caressed her damp cheek. Taking her face into his hands, he kissed her lightly on the forehead.

  “He’s gone, Kate,” he whispered, drinking in the essence of her. He couldn’t bring himself to say the word dead. “I’m sorry that it happened, but it did. He’s gone…but I’m not.”

  “It’s not that simple, Michael.”

  “I can make it simple.”

  “How?”

  “You’re not ready. And I need to be patient. That’s about as simple as I can make it.”

  The timer screamed out from the laundry below. “See, even the washer agrees. I’ll put my patience to the test by leaving you and putting the shirt in the dryer. Come down when you’re ready.”

  “Michael…”

  He pushed off the bed and looked to the picture, lingering over it for a few seconds. Then he swiveled back. “Kate, I am patient. I can wait as long as I need to. The only thing I ask is that you make some effort to let him go.”

  And then, he left.

  Kate stayed upstairs for a while longer just to ponder and gather her wits. She had to get a grip. She’d bet her bottom dollar that his patience wouldn’t last forever.

  She rose and straightened her clothes about her, fixed her bra and buttons. As she ambled toward the hallway, she stopped at the dresser and stared at the wedding portrait.

  Decision time. Right now. No looking back.

  With a shaking hand, she grasped the frame and turned it face down on the dresser. Maybe tomorrow, she could put it in a drawer.

  A brrrring! shrilled from the night stand. She let the phone ring once more before she moved and picked up the receiver.

  “I told you. Stay away from Lehmann. Listen to me, Kate, or….”

  Click!

  With a gasp, she replaced the receiver. Hard.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The carnival crowd swarmed around them as Kate and Michael meandered toward the midway. Once his shirt was dry, they’d decided to head back toward the school booth. The incident in the bedroom—on the bed—was not forgotten, lingering between the two of them. With a warm embrace and a kiss to her forehead, Michael had assured Kate once more of his patience. Still, Kate knew she had work to do—work to let Rob go—so she could move on with her life.

  And quite possibly, a life with Michael.

  It was the second issue in the bedroom that she could not get out of her head, however.

  The phone call warning nagged like a blister on her toe. So much so that as they wound their way through the midway, Kate stopped short. She wanted to go home, where she could go into her cave and contemplate the phone call, the voice, and why…

  “Michael, I am kind of tired. Maybe I’ll just beg out for the evening. I’m sure I can get Patti to work my shift.”

  His eyes twinkled. “Tired? You?” He kept walking.

  She watched his slim hips and denim-clad legs move away from her. He turned and grinned. Crooked a finger.

  She followed. Straight to the Ferris Wheel.

  Ugh. Not the Ferris Wheel.

  “Michael…”

  They stood before the giant wheel, watching its vertical rotations, each seat swinging freely back and forth with the weight of its occupants; each spoke of the wheel containing blinking lights of navy, white, and crimson against the powder blue afternoon sky. Every squeak, squeak, squeak grated on Kate’s nerves as it made its rounds.

  “This is not a great idea,” she said, looking up at the contraption.

  Michael cocked a brow. “Why not?”

  “I… It doesn’t look safe. You know how these carnival rides are. Every summer you hear of someone getting hurt or killed on one.” She wrinkled her nose. “Looks pretty rickety.”

  She had to stop biting her lip. Bad habit lately.

  He looked at her appreciatively, still obviously not moved by her concern. He tugged her forward. “It’s perfectly safe, I promise you. You’ll see.”

  “But what about Danny?” He was her last hope. “I was supposed to meet him. And I have to work my shift at the booth soon.”

  “I’m sure he’s long gone by now and Ms Patti Jo Baker will forgive you if you’re late. Come on.”

  He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. With another glance at the thing, she sighed. “Oh, crap. All right.”

  Michael bought the tickets from a young woman in the booth and they proceeded to the line. One by one the Ferris Wheel seats were emptied and refilled. Soon it was their turn.

  She swallowed hard as the wheel screeched to a stop. Pa
nicky fingers gripped her stomach with each step she took up the shaky, wooden platform. For a second, she stood looking at Michael, glanced up at the swinging seats above her head, and grew lightheaded. Carnival music rang in her ears; a sense of vertigo enveloped her body. From a distance, she heard the operator tell her to step up. Her feet moved over the edge of the footrest and then she sat. Michael followed, sitting to her left.

  Waves of panic traveled to her throat; her heart beat wildly. She winced as the operator slammed and latched the bar smartly across their laps.

  She closed her eyes as the grinding gears and churning metal forced the seat into an upward thrust. Swinging back and forth in a rocking motion, they traveled up and over. A warm breath of breeze blew against her face as they ascended.

  Nausea rose in her throat.

  They stopped.

  Opening her eyes, she realized they were at the top. Looking out over the menagerie of people, booths, and food stands below, she peered into the tree tops then glanced at her lily-white knuckles gripping the bar in front of her.

  She hated Ferris Wheels. They frightened her as a child. She could take the meanest roller coaster you could throw at her, she loved the fast movement, rocking and rolling over high hills and dipping into wood-sided valleys, but this—this contraption of seats on a giant wheel scared the wits out of her. Being suspended high in the air, overlooking everything, would turn her stomach her every time. And she did not relish the idea of throwing-up over the side of this one at the present time. Why in the world had she let him talk her into this?

  Another breeze rocked the seat back and forth.

  “Michael, make it stop.” He looked toward her. “Don’t make it move any more than it has to,” she said. He grasped one of her trembling hands, prying her fingers loose from the grip she had on the bar; his other arm lay comfortingly across her back.

  “Come here,” he said, cradling her close.

  Her gaze skidded across his face and she tried to tamp down the jitters. But his eyes captured hers and held and it was impossible for her to break away. If she could keep that connection, she could be brave. He tightened his grasp on her shoulders and lifted that hand to caress her cheek. With his fingertips, he stroked beneath her jaw line, setting her insides aflame. His touch was magic, magnifying her bravery. She leaned into him, leaving any doubt behind that she had feelings for Michael Lehmann.

  For she truly did.

  He tilted her face toward his with a hooked finger. Pressing his lips against hers, the touch was pure heaven. Soft and comforting. Safe. Warmth and security washed over her as he took her mouth quickly, reassuringly and then again, lingering over their softness.

  The wheel jerked and the kiss set the pit of her stomach into a wild spiral. They plummeted toward the earth. Lost in a dizzy gyration of colored lights, music, and his eyes, she clung to him.

  The panic she felt earlier, both in her bedroom and now on the Ferris Wheel, was gone. The uncertainty she felt for days, weeks, now, was gone.

  And in its place was something else.

  ****

  “I’m surprised we’ve not run into Danny again. He said he was hanging out here all day.”

  Kate sidled a glance to Michael as they made their way through the thickening crowd, his arm draped protectively around her shoulder. Admittedly, she liked it there. She had been fighting a battle of restraint lately when it came to him, but finally her mind, and her heart, had surrendered. She needed his touch, the sanctuary of his eyes.

  She needed him.

  “I saw him earlier by the Spider. I think he was learning how to operate that thing.”

  “I know.” She frowned. “He thinks the carnival life is glamorous. I think he’s kind of taken up with that guy. I hope he’s not getting any stupid ideas.”

  “Naw, I don’t think so. He seems to have everything together now. He’s a lot smarter than you think.”

  “I hope you’re right. He worries me.” She searched the crowd for the boy. A mass of people stood before her, but her eyes landed a dark-headed man who looked somehow familiar—too familiar. She froze. Blinked her eyes and shook her head.

  Gone.

  It frightened her to even think… No. It was impossible.

  “Kate?”

  The image left her. Tearing her gaze away from the crowd, she looked at Michael. “Hmm?”

  “I said, you worry too much about him. He’s strong. It’s tough, but he’s handling it. Let him be a kid tonight.”

  A niggle of trepidation swept over her. It had nothing to do with Danny.

  “What?”

  His brows knit. “He’s going to be fine. Don’t worry.”

  “Oh, I know. I’m being ridiculous. It’s just…” She glanced again at the crowd. Impossible. “I have a feeling about the other kid. I don’t trust him.” She tried to forget the dark-haired man.

  Ridiculous, Kate.

  “But you trust Danny?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Then you don’t have a thing to worry about. I promise you.”

  She looked straight into his eyes. “You’re right. It’s just that ever since…”

  Rob?

  She pivoted back toward where the man stood in the crowd. The man who looked exactly like Rob.

  “Kate?” Michael grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him; his hands stroked her upper arms. “Are you all right?”

  Slowly, she fixed her gaze on his face. “Uh, yes. I’m fine.”

  “You’re distracted. What is it?”

  Shaking her head, she forced herself to focus on Michael and not at the throng of people behind her. “Nothing. Just… I thought I saw Danny.” God help her, she lied. “I worry too much.”

  Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t. Danny can take care of himself.” Then taking her hand, they walked toward Main Street. “Let’s go check on your quilt. It’s almost five.”

  They wove their way about, stopping to chat with a couple of her students and a parent along the way. She used the time to rid herself of the eeriness she’d experienced earlier—the sensation that Rob was there.

  Or someone who looks like him. Yes, that was it.

  By the time they made it to the booth, it was ten minutes after five, and she had convinced herself it was only because of her feelings for Michael, that the ghostlike images of Rob invaded her mind.

  “You’re late!” Patti cried as they walked up to the booth.

  “And you didn’t show up at all this morning. Where were you?” Kate reminded. “If I were in my right mind, I’d make you work my shift this evening.” She was only kidding and Patti knew it and laughed

  She looked past her friend and did a double-take as she spied the naked two-by-fours behind the booth.

  “Where’s my quilt?”

  “We sold it! It didn’t even make it to the auction, which is more than I can say for some of the rest of this stuff.” She gestured at the remaining items. “Got a good price for it though. You should be pleased. Some little old lady bought it. Never saw her before. I don’t think she was from around here.”

  Kate swallowed hard. Her quilt was gone. She hoped she could buy it herself at the auction if the price didn’t go too high. Her eyes stung thinking that she would never again get to see the beautiful work her students had done.

  Michael touched her elbow. “You okay?”

  “Oh, sure. I guess I hate to see it go. I was going to take a picture of it but I’m too late. I really didn’t think it would sell until the auction.”

  “Well you should be glad,” Patti chimed in. “You never would have gotten the price for it that it sold for here.”

  “Really? How much?” She perked up thinking about the computer. After all, that was the goal, to sell the thing.

  “A thousand bucks!” Patti exclaimed.

  “What! You’ve got to be kidding! How would a little old lady come up with that kind of money?” Dumbfounded, she leaned against the table.
/>   “Must have been a rich little old lady,” Michael said.

  “I can’t believe it! I never would have dreamed. I can’t wait to tell the kids. I wish I knew who she was, though, so we could send her a thank-you card. Did she pay by check?”

  Patti’s eyes widened. “Um, no. It was a cash deal.”

  “No way. What little old lady carries a thousand dollars cash around to a carnival?”

  “Bingo.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Patti glanced from Kate to Michael. “I heard she won big at Bingo.”

  Shrugging, she turned to Michael. “Well, I guess I have to work now. Thanks for this afternoon.”

  His smile erased her misgivings about the quilt getting away from her. He fiddled with her elbows, drawing her closer.

  Patti coughed. “Kate, I was just thinking. Since you did everything this morning, I’ll take your shift this evening. There’s really no reason for you to hang around here any longer. Why don’t you two run along and have some fun.”

  Kate glanced at Michael. “I think I’ve had enough fun this afternoon. Really Patti, I don’t mind working.”

  “Nope. I’ve already made up my mind. I’ve got nothing better to do, now run along.” She shooed them away.

  She knew what Patti was doing and she really didn’t mind for once. There was nothing more that she wanted to do right now than spend some more time with Michael.

  “I am kind of hungry, Kate. Want to get something to eat?”

  “That settles it,” Patti said. “Now go find the man something to eat.” She did a two-hand shoo this time.

  “Well, if you’re sure…”

  “Get out of here.” Now, she swished violently. “Go!”

  Looking at Michael, who was grinning from ear to ear, she said, “Looks like I don’t have choice. Are you sure Patti?” She directed that to her friend, but it was Michael who held her attention. He leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips.

  “Sure as sunshine. Now go get that man a corn dog or something. He looks positively ravenous.”

  Kate smiled as her lips took his.

  ****

  The evening grew cool as Indian summer days are prone to do, and as a brisk breeze blew muted shades of crackling leaves across the thinning crowds, Michael possessively placed his arm around Kate and drew her close.