Welcome To Redemption: Series Collection (Books 1-6)

by Donna Marie Rogers

  “Hi,” the curly-haired blonde cooed as her brunette friend clutched onto her arm, looking about ready to faint. Carrie rolled her eyes.

  Matt met her gaze, amusement dancing in his eyes, before shooting the girls a wink. “What can I get for you ladies?”

  “We were just wondering...what time does the library open?”

  “In about two minutes. Come on, I’ll walk you over.”

  He glanced at Carrie. “Same time tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be counting the minutes,” she muttered.

  Chapter Three

  “A limited liability partnership?” Carrie echoed as she held her back screen door open and waved her sister in.

  Tina took a seat at Carrie’s kitchen table, opened her briefcase, and pulled out a thin stack of papers. Her sharp blue gaze quickly moved over the papers in her hand. As always, she looked professional yet stylish, not to mention beautiful. Her espresso-brown plain weave pantsuit—no doubt Anne Klein—fit her slim frame to perfection, a cream silk scarf draped around her throat, and matching pointy-toe pumps peeked out from beneath her flared slacks. A gold clip held her long, dark brown waves up in a loose twist.

  “Yes. Limited liability means a person’s financial liability is limited to a fixed sum, usually the value of a person’s investment. A shareholder in a limited liability company isn’t personally liable for any of the company’s debts other than the value of their investment.

  “Limited liability partnerships are run like general partnerships and have a similar degree of management flexibility. Income, losses, and gains are passed through to the general partners according to the partnership agreement.

  “If there is no partnership agreement, income, losses, and gains will be allocated in proportion to the partnership interests of each partner. Partners can agree among themselves as to how income, losses, and gains are divided among the partners. The partners then report the amount allocated on their own income tax returns and pay tax accordingly.”

  Carrie sighed. “Layman terms, please.”

  Tina chuckled. “Trust me, this is the best way for both of you. Especially since you’re in desperate need of cash. A full partnership takes a long time to establish, and you need the help—not to mention the cash—right away. I can literally get the paperwork rolling tomorrow.”

  Although she certainly was in desperate need of cash, it somehow stung more hearing her sister say it. Carrie had always been sort of the black sheep of the family as far as careers were concerned. Both of her parents were prominent attorneys, as was their darling older daughter. Carrie’s big brother was a cop, and her baby brother a graphic designer.

  “If you’re sure. I’ll have Matt meet us at the shop around...?”

  “You know, it’s only seven thirty. Why don’t you give him a call and see if he can stop by now. You two can get the papers signed tonight.”

  Carrie’s heart flipped in her chest. “Please tell me this isn’t about you wanting to flirt with him.”

  “I could flirt with him in the morning, if that were my intention,” Tina pointed out, rising to her feet. “And I’d be fresh and perky instead of tired and cranky. Go on, give him a call while I put on a pot of coffee. Got any plain ol’ Maxwell House?”

  * * *

  Carrie pulled into the parking lot of Coffee To Chai For and let out a whopper of a sigh when she saw who stood at the front of the shop, waiting for her. Wasn’t it enough she’d dreamt about the man all night long, tossing and turning, getting very little sleep?

  He strode over and opened her car door. Carrie knew it was ridiculous to get angry over his gentlemanly behavior, but that didn’t stop her jaw from clenching when he reached for her hand.

  “Thanks, but I’m perfectly capable of getting out of my car all by myself.”

  “Sorry, forgot you’re not a morning person.” He stepped back and stuck his hands in his pockets.

  Great, now she felt like a class A witch. She grabbed her purse and climbed out. “Sorry. I, uh, didn’t sleep very well.”

  “Forget it.”

  “I’m just not used to having to talk so early in the morning.” She opened the door and flipped on the lights.

  Matt chuckled. “I swear I’ve never met another woman like you.”

  She cast him a quick glance over her shoulder as she headed into the back room. “Sounds like a cleverly veiled insult to me.”

  “I don’t know about clever since you figured it right out.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I guess I’ll teach you how to use all the equipment today. The espresso machine can be especially ornery, so we’ll start with that.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  By the time nine o’clock rolled around, Carrie was ready to drop-kick Matt across the street to the library.

  “Why are you being so stubborn about this?” he demanded as he followed her around like a drill sergeant. “I thought you understood that in order to save this place you’d have to make certain changes.”

  “The only change I want to make is who I took on as a partner last night,” she groused. Matt had come right over the night before and listened as Tina explained about the limited liability partnership. He’d even agreed that it made the most sense. They’d had a cup of coffee, and she’d ushered him out the door the first time Tina batted her eyelashes at him. Okay, so maybe she’d overreacted, but frankly she hadn’t been in the mood to watch Matt fawn all over her perfect sister.

  The bell jangled and Carrie looked up in time to watch Charlie’s blonde goddess walk through the door, Charlie hot on her heels. Carrie gave a silent chuckle. ‘Not going to happen,’ huh, Blondie?

  Both were dressed in shorts and sweating, as if they’d just finished a major work out. Figured, the woman was a fitness buff on top of being gorgeous and funny. Just like Tina. Carrie glanced down at her overabundance of curves and cringed.

  Charlie joined them at the counter. “Morning, Carrie. Matt,” he said with a curious glance at her new partner.

  “Morning, Charlie.” She eyed Blondie again, wondering if Charlie would make the introductions.

  “This is Dana McClain, Allie’s cousin,” Charlie supplied, as if reading her mind.

  “Nice to officially meet you,” Dana said, a smile tugging at her lips.

  Her smile was genuine; Carrie liked her, despite the fact she was disgustingly perfect. Maybe she was even good enough for Charlie, one of the very few decent guys left in the world.

  Carrie chanced a quick glance over at Matt, expecting a foot-long string of drool to be hanging from his mouth. Oddly enough, he was glaring daggers at Charlie.

  Now what the heck could Charlie have done to warrant such a look?

  “Yeah, you, too. Nice to put a name to the face. This is Matt Jacobs, my new partner.”

  Charlie frowned. “New partner? No shit?”

  “No shit,” Matt confirmed, crossing his arms over his chest, his tone borderline hostile. Carrie exchanged looks with Dana, who seemed to be enjoying the surge of testosterone.

  “We signed the papers last night,” Carrie admitted. She knew exactly what Charlie was thinking—that hell had frozen over. “So, what can we get for you?”

  Dana looked up and studied the menu. “I think I’ll have...a Chai tea today. Large, please.”

  “And I’ll have my usual,” Charlie said, casting Matt one last curious look.

  Carrie turned to Matt. “Would you like to make the Chai tea?”

  “Since I have no friggin’ idea what Charlie’s ‘usual’ is, what else would I make?”

  Once Matt turned around to brew the tea, Carrie met Charlie’s amused gaze with an apologetic ‘I-have-no-idea-what-his-problem-is’ shrug before making his usual French roast with two sugars and one cream. Charlie winked at her as she slid his cup across the counter. Matt plunked Dana’s tea down beside it, steam practically blowing from his ears. He’d seen the wink…though why that should bother him was beyond her.

  Charlie paid for their
drinks, settling his tab in the process. Carrie had hoped they’d leave; she didn’t want any witnesses when she tore Matt’s arm off and used it to club him to death. But Charlie, the devil, escorted Dana over to one of tables.

  Carrie spun around and glowered at Matt, mystified by his Jekyll and Hyde behavior. “What the hell is your problem? Charlie is one of my dearest friends, and if you think I’m gonna let you take it out on him because you’re mad at me, you can think again.”

  Matt leaned forward and braced one hand on the wall behind her, his stormy gaze intense. Carrie’s breath caught. Lord, the man was sexy. Feelings long buried broke to the surface and every nerve in her body sizzled to life.

  “Are you in love with him?”

  Her eyes widened. She had to swallow down a bubble of hysterical laughter. “With Charlie? Have you lost your mind? That’s what all this macho crap was about?”

  “I don’t hear you denying it.” He shot a quick look over to where Dana and Charlie were pretending not to listen in. Thank God Matt had been wise enough to speak in a low tone. Although she couldn’t be sure, it was a pretty safe bet Charlie would wipe the floor with him.

  “I don’t have to defend myself to you, and it’s none of your damn business who I date. But for the record, Charlie is a friend, nothing more.” She tried to shove him away from her, but the infuriating man didn’t budge. He was built a little more solidly than she’d thought. Resisting the urge to run her hands over his muscled chest, she propped them on her hips. “Ever hear the expression ‘personal space’?” she snapped.

  “Ever hear the expression ‘put you over my knee’?”

  She chanced a glance at Charlie and Dana, who both quickly looked away. And was Charlie...grinning? Traitorous idiot. “You put one hand on me and I’ll have you thrown in jail so fast it’ll make your head spin! My brother happens to be a cop.”

  Her raised voice seemed to do the trick. Matt muttered a curse and stepped back, swiping his fingers through his hair. “Look, I’m sorry. I had no right to go off on you like that. Blame it on stress...hell, I don’t know, blame it on the fact I’m crazy about—”

  “Oh, my God, did you see that?” Carrie couldn’t believe her eyes. Dana dumped her tea right in Charlie’s lap, then shot up and walked out of the shop with her head held high, like some regal queen. Charlie chased after her without so much as a glance in Carrie’s direction. Carrie had no idea what Charlie said to provoke Dana, but she had no doubt he deserved it. Friend or not, Charlie Russell was a man, and all men were idiots.

  She turned back to Matt. “Well, I have a mess to mop up, and you need to go open the library. Besides, I think the two of us have said enough for one day.”

  Matt stared at her for a tension-charged moment, then turned and strode out the door. Carrie watched him cross the street as his heat-filled question replayed in her mind. “Are you in love with him?”

  If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the guy was jealous. But that was impossible. Men weren’t attracted to full-figured women like her—at least not for anything serious. They went for the supermodel types like her neighbor Lauren, or her sister Tina, or Dana. Carrie had learned that the hard way three years ago.

  * * *

  “I guess you should congratulate me,” Matt muttered when Caleb walked into the library a couple hours later. “We signed the papers last night. Did you know her sister’s an attorney?”

  Caleb set his books down on the return pile and picked up one of the magazines Matt had just unpacked. “Yeah, Lauren mentioned it. Both her parents are as well. So congrats, man...I think. You don’t sound all that thrilled.”

  “Let’s just say I stuck my foot in my mouth earlier. Had a little visit from the green-eyed monster and acted like a jerk. I don’t suppose you know Charlie Russell?”

  Caleb chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I walked up just as Charlie was asking Lauren out last month at the fair. Yep, took me a while to warm up to ol’ Charlie. Why? I know he and Carrie are friends, but—”

  “They’re just friends, you’re sure?” Matt knew he must sound like a fool, but jealousy was a new emotion for him, and obviously he didn’t deal with it very well.

  “I’m sure, man, settle down. They’ve known each other since like high school, maybe before.”

  Matt gave a curt nod, not completely convinced. Christ, he had it bad. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been this gut-twisted over a woman. Maybe never.

  “So, is this partnership a done deal, or will it be a while before it’s legal?”

  Matt explained about the limited liability partnership, which his own attorney had suggested as well. “I gave my two-week notice this morning. Felt good, I have to admit. I wasn’t meant to work in a library.”

  Caleb tossed the magazine down and grinned. “Are you kidding? This place has become a regular hotspot since you started.” He flicked his chin toward the tables, which were filled with women of all ages, many of them blatantly staring at Matt instead of their books.

  Mrs. Langhart, Matt realized with a soft chuckle, had her book held upside down. He gestured for her to flip it right-side up. She sent him a sheepish grin and gave her silver bob a quick pat before righting the calculus textbook.

  Caleb gave him a thump on the back. “If that woman knows the difference between a product rule and a quotient rule, I’ll eat my boot. See you later, stud.”

  “Smartass.”

  Matt waited until Mary showed up before taking his lunch break. Normally, he packed a cold lunch and ate it in the back room, but today he had a taste for something hot. And since he owed a certain gorgeous brunette a huge apology, he might as well start by buying her lunch. In fact—he glanced at his cell phone—she should be closing up shop right about now. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, blew out a here-goes-nothing breath, and made his way across the street.

  He arrived just as Carrie was locking up. “Hey, partner, care to join me for lunch? My treat.” She looked as beautiful as ever with the sun reflecting off the auburn highlights in her hair and those huge enigmatic blue eyes gazing up at him with uncertainty.

  She let out an exaggerated breath. He was no doubt the last person with whom she cared to share a meal, and with good reason. He’d really made an ass of himself earlier.

  “Come on, the least you can do is give me a chance to apologize for acting like a five-year-old this morning. We can just talk business...or not at all, if you prefer. Your choice.”

  “Fine. I’m not in the mood to cook anyway. Where are you taking me?”

  “Nino’s. I’ve had a taste for one of their Italian beef sandwiches all day. Sound good?”

  “Sounds great. Their antipasto salad is my favorite.

  “Hop in, I’ll drive.”

  The atmosphere inside Nino’s put Matt right at ease, with its checkered tablecloths and old-world ambiance. Reminded him of his favorite Italian restaurant in New York City’s West Village. And much to his delight, the food was even better.

  One of Nino’s sons showed them to a booth in the corner. “How’re you two doin’ today? Either of you need a menu?”

  “Thanks, but I think we both know what we want.” Matt gestured for Carrie to order first.

  “I’ll have a side antipasto salad, a cup of minestrone, and an iced tea, please.”

  When he finished writing, Matt said, “I’ll have an Italian beef sandwich, dipped, with sweet peppers, and a side of fried zucchini with extra ranch dressing. Oh, and a large Pepsi.”

  The kid nodded. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

  “So,” Matt said, drawing her attention back to him. “I turned in my resignation at the library today. Two more weeks and I’m all yours.”

  “I can hardly contain my excitement.”

  Matt grinned. “You’re hell on a man’s ego, you know that?”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, you and I get along about as well as Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner.” She glanced away and tucked a stray lo
ck of hair behind her ear. “Besides, with every woman in town between the ages of sixteen and sixty panting after you, I’m sure your ego will survive my indifference.”

  Hmm, did he sense a little jealousy there, or was it simply wishful thinking on his part? “You looked anything but indifferent yesterday when you thought I was going to kiss you.”

  “Do me a favor and get over yourself before we start to work together full-time. Coffee To Chai For is too small to fit you, me, and your inflated head.”

  He chuckled. “Good one. And you’re right. With your bad attitude taking up most of the back room, we’re pretty cramped for space.”

  Carrie rolled her eyes and shook her head, but she couldn’t quite hide the smile tugging at her lips. She plucked a bunch of sugar packets out of the tray a second before their drinks were set on the table. Matt watched with interest as she stirred the sugar into her iced tea, then gave the lemon wedge a squeeze before dropping it back in her glass. She licked the tart juice from her fingers, one after the other, almost as if in slow motion. He swallowed a groan, thankful to be seated. She cast him a quick glance, one finger still in her mouth, which was so damn sexy it had to have been perfected in the mirror.

  He cleared his throat. “Maybe we could talk about some of my ideas, if you don’t mind.”

  Her expression became guarded again, and Matt could’ve kicked himself. But there was no help for it. If this partnership was going to work, then little Miss Stubborn was going to have to give a little. Or a lot.

  “Fine, talk.”

  “I think the two most important things we’ll need to focus on are extending the hours and adding a lunch-slash-dinner menu. Since this town already has a fantastic diner and the best Italian food in the state, I think a more health-conscious menu would be a hit. Wraps and sandwiches, soups and salads. Juice blends, fruit smoothies, maybe a selection of bottled waters.”