by Kim Law
It gave him the chance to remind himself that whether she was cute or not, he was not in the market for a woman. Especially not someone like her. He preferred the more traditional. Not go-go boots, pink hair, and a cupcake van.
He shook his head, hoping to clear the idea from his mind.
His goal here was to further the connection with the brother he’d only recently learned about, and to hopefully find their still-missing third brother. He wanted to get to know them. They were his family now.
Then he could use his company as a reason to come back to visit on a regular basis.
And though he did enjoy a nice date with a fun woman, dating was not a priority. He had to remember that.
The order window in front of him popped open and Joanie’s smiling face beamed down at him. Her hair bounced around, doing its own thing, and he had the vague thought that if he wasn’t careful, his priorities could easily be shot to hell.
“What’ll you have?” she asked. Gone was her seeming fixation on him. She was now all about the cupcakes. She flipped out a menu of choices and it hung from a metal arm to the side of the open window. “Our special this week, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, is cherry chip. I’m calling it Cupid’s Love. You can get it with either pink…” one hand flicked the pink tips of her hair, “or red icing. We also have—”
“Pink.” The word shot out as if it had been yanked from the back of his throat, and her eyes locked with his for a brief moment. “I want pink,” he reiterated.
A slight smile danced across her lips and his blood inched up a degree.
He took in the pink in her hair and the matching sweater hugging her body, and his heart once again lost its rhythm. Yes, he wanted pink. And what the hell was that about?
He dated all the time, enjoyed going out with plenty of women. No one got him so flustered that he practically swallowed his tongue just from talking to her.
“Then pink it shall be.” She plucked out a fat cupcake with icing piled high and tiny red hearts sprinkled on top, grabbed a couple napkins, and handed it all to him. “It’s on the house, big guy. Now tell me, what brings you back to town so soon?”
He would have thought she’d heard from Lee Ann or Cody that he was coming.
Before he could answer, music blared from the speakers above him, making him take an involuntary step back. When he did, he glanced at the top of the van, the sign now flashing in lights. Apparently the teenager was trying to tell him something. Move on. Quit ogling the owner.
Joanie laughed with honest happiness, the sound warming him deep inside, and he decided that cupcakes were going to be one of his favorite things in the coming weeks.
“I’ll come out and we can talk,” she said, before turning to the girl. “There are customers heading this way. Can you handle them?”
“Sure thing, boss. Just take it outside.”
Another light trill of laughter came from Joanie, and Nick caught himself doing that stupid grin thing again. He really had to stop that.
She bounced out of the van as people trickled over from nearby stores to get their own dessert, and he followed until they stood a few feet to the side of the foot traffic.
“The first day of a new venture is pretty exciting,” she said. Her exuberance was contagious.
“So this is day one?” That must explain the outfit. She had to be freezing in that skirt.
“First day for the van, yes. The store’s been open for two weeks, though we didn’t do a big grand-opening thing.” She motioned to the store window behind her that matched the decor of the van. “I wanted to wait until the van was ready. Eat your cupcake, Nick.” She eyed the dessert he hadn’t yet tasted. “You’ll make my customers think it isn’t any good.”
He did as instructed, biting into the decadent cake, then shot her a look as his taste buds took hold. It was amazing. She laughed out loud again, and he couldn’t help but catch sight as several of the men who were in line turned to watch her, as well. That’s when he realized that nearly all the customers were men. One guess as to what had pulled them outside.
“So tell me what brings you back so soon,” she said. “Visiting Cody, I assume?”
He nodded and took another bite, pretty sure some of the pink icing had landed on his nose. Wiping at himself with a napkin, he swallowed and said, “I’m actually hoping to open a branch of my company here. And yeah, I want to spend time with Cody and the twins. So I took a few weeks—four, maybe six—to come check it out, see what I could get going.”
Captivating eyes, the color of storm clouds on a late-summer day, widened. “That’s a long visit. You staying with Cody?”
Nick nodded and thought about the cramped one-bedroom that wasn’t big enough for one of them, much less two. Wanting to set a good example for their teenagers, Cody and Lee Ann had agreed to maintain separate residences until they married. “Until the real estate agent can find me something else. She’d had a place lined up but I just found out that it fell through.”
Joanie gave him a teasing shake of her head. “You’re going to be walking all over each other.”
“Tell me about it. When Boss is there, we practically have to shuffle to the side just to walk through the same room.” His brother had a Great Dane who was as big as them. Boss stayed with Lee Ann and the girls most of the time now, but when Nick had visited before Christmas, it had been the two of them and the dog, all in the five-hundred-square-foot space. Not comfortable.
“So you just up and came here for a few weeks?” she asked. Her features took on an interesting gleam as she studied him. “Feels like a big change for somebody like you.”
Nick raised his eyebrows. “People change. Didn’t you own a salon two months ago?”
A gorgeous smile stole across her face. “Yes, but that’s me. It’s who I am. I flip businesses and move on. I never stick to one thing for long.” She reached out and swiped a bit of frosting from his cupcake. “I wouldn’t think you’d be comfortable not having your routine around. Weeks in a new place without so much as a place to stay?” She shook her head, making tsking noises with her teasing. “Seems out of character.”
The comment felt insulting, maybe because it was so true. This quick move was very much unlike him. He was used to his life. He liked it. He’d worked hard for it.
But he wanted to get to know his family.
Opening a new office wasn’t unheard of. He already had one just outside of Jackson and another in Columbia. But yeah, normally he moved a little slower before hanging a shingle. Took a longer time researching. He made sure he had all the facts, and then he pounced. Then he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.
He wasn’t about to tell Joanie she’d pegged him so quickly, though. “You’ve met me for all of one day, sweetness. Not sure you could know from that what does and doesn’t fit me.”
She snorted then, her glorious laughter once again pulling the other men’s attention, and he had the urge to step in between them and her. Before he could, she reached up and wiped at his nose—yes, he’d been wearing pink icing—and he couldn’t help but turn a smug look to all eyes watching them. He may be wearing icing, but the hottie in the go-go boots who smelled like cherry pie had just touched him.
“I met you for only one day, yes,” she began as she wiped her fingers off on one of his napkins, then tossed a wave at the latest arrival to her van. “But you were wearing an apron and baking cookies when I first saw you. That strikes me more as someone who’s settled nicely into his life. Has a routine and probably a dog or two. Won’t you miss it?”
Joanie grinned again at the giant of a man in front of her who was trying hard to look as if she hadn’t nailed him so perfectly. Standing there, pretending he had no issues stepping outside his comfort zone. He was a homebody if ever she’d seen one. A routine, a pattern. He likely took every woman he asked out to the same restaurant for their first dates. The man didn’t take weeks-long trips away from his life.
Getting here and realizing his re
ntal plans had been thwarted had to be twisting his stomach into knots. But he did a good job of hiding it.
“I don’t have dogs,” he finally answered. “And I’m perfectly fine spending a few weeks here. It’s a great town.”
The cold wind whipped up her skirt and she fought a shiver, but heated up as she watched his long-enough-to-dig-your-fingers-into hair whip in the gust of air. She couldn’t help but think he grew cuter the more he denied her charges.
“As long as you can find a place to stay, right? That change in plans must be bugging you.”
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and she almost giggled at the perturbed look. He was fun to tease.
“Wait.” She held up a hand, a thought hitting her like a lightning bolt, then glanced down the road at his truck and the magnetic sign she now noticed slapped on the side of the door: DALTON CONSTRUCTION. “You’re looking for work here? You don’t have anything lined up already?”
He shook his head. “Just got into town last night. Once I get settled I’ll begin checking out the potential. We specialize in renovations, but we do new construction and general contractor work, too. The latter, mostly out of our two branch offices. I’m hoping a mix of work might be available here.”
Could the solution be that simple? It almost seemed too easy.
But she had to ask.
“How about if I give you a job?” she carefully suggested, mentally crossing her fingers. “And a place to live?”
It wouldn’t be the best place in the world to live, but it would be free. Surely that would get her a nice discount on the work.
“What… exactly did you have in mind?” He spoke the words carefully, and Joanie couldn’t help but picture the big man moving into her small space in the house she rented two streets over. That hadn’t been the idea, but at his slow-worded question, the picture popped to the forefront. The way he seemed to take in her whole body at once gave her the notion he was thinking the same thing.
She tried to laugh off the thought, but the sound got stuck in her throat. The man was still making her nervous, and the sudden idea of him being so close, even living at her grandmother’s house, set her body on edge. Did she really want him underfoot as she cleaned out years’ worth of living?
But what other choice did she have?
If she didn’t come up with the money, GiGi would move in with her. Then she’d be forced to spend more time taking care of the woman than she did her own business.
As harsh as that felt, Joanie had no apologies for her feelings. Her relationship with GiGi had been cemented years ago. They were family, but pretty much in name only. The two of them simply could not get along.
She pushed the thoughts away, refusing to dwell on the past. She may not want GiGi to move in with her, but she could make sure the woman was taken care of.
“My grandmother’s house needs some renovations and I can’t afford the full cost of the work,” she finally said, then shrugged one shoulder and glanced toward the customers waiting in line, shame overtaking her that she was asking a virtual stranger for what felt like a favor. “I can get a loan from the bank, but not for the full amount. I thought…”
She paused, grateful when he lessened her embarrassment by finishing her sentence. “You thought I could live there and do the work for you?” he asked.
When she looked back at him and nodded, his solid, brown eyes drilled into hers.
“It’s not out of the question,” he confirmed. “What terms were you thinking?”
A trade of the occasional roll in the hay came to mind but she quickly pushed the idea away. He might light her fuse, but it stopped there.
“I was thinking… rent for labor?” No way would he go for that, his labor alone would be worth far more than the cost of a rental in the small town. But she was a businesswoman if nothing else. Might as well shoot for the moon.
“Congrats on your new business, Jo.” Brian Marshall, an old friend who was part owner of the Sugar Springs Diner, stepped over and interrupted the conversation. He held up half of a chocolate cupcake as he scrutinized Nick. “Though with the way these taste, you’re going to fatten us all up.”
Her laugh came honest and easy, her nerves lifting. She and Brian had hung out together over the years, fun only, and he never made her nervous. He was a good friend. She teasingly ran her gaze over his fine form. “That would be a real shame, Brian.” She winked. “I’ll be sure to cut you off if I see things getting out of hand.”
She caught a glimpse of a woman farther on down the sidewalk, checking Nick out. Gina Gregory. Gina had been a customer of Joanie’s when she’d owned the salon. The woman always scouted out any new man potential who showed up in town.
“I guess that’s all I can ask,” Brian said, pulling Joanie’s attention back. A heavy arm came around her and scooped her to his side, and she slid her own around his waist. The tight hold and the way he was staring down Nick made her wonder what was going on inside his head. She had no thoughts that Brian could be jealous. It was more like a big brother checking out the man currently holding her attention captive.
He gave a jerk of his chin in greeting. “Brian Marshall. You must be Dalton’s brother.”
“Must be.” The two eyed each other but Nick didn’t bother introducing himself. There was zero chance Brian didn’t know his name anyway since the last time Nick had been in town he’d gotten mixed up in gossip involving Brian’s sister. The two had apparently hung out at the local honky-tonk, the Bungalow, one night and had gotten quite friendly on the dance floor.
“How do you know our Joanie, here?” Brian asked, his arm remaining tight around her shoulders. He was beginning to get on her nerves. She could take care of herself. Always had.
Nick smiled. It was not the friendly look of a man pleased to meet another. “She and I just made a deal.” His voice took on a deeper, somewhat challenging tone. “I’ll be moving into her house just as soon as we finalize the time.”
Chapter Two
Joanie walked through the musty living room of GiGi’s house and sneezed as dust wafted up and tickled her nose. She really should have come over and cleaned before Nick moved in, but after the testosterone thumping between Brian and him the afternoon before, he’d convinced her to let him move in this morning, leaving her no time to spruce up the place. Not that she’d wanted to clean anyway.
And certainly not at this ungodly hour.
She smacked a hand against the back of a cushioned chair, then grimaced as a puff of dust rose in the air. She groaned. What kind of person let someone move into a place like this? Not to mention the two of them had yet to discuss the work that needed to be done. Nick would probably take one look and bolt.
At the sound of his truck crunching across the gravel driveway, she headed to the front porch and stepped out. The early-morning sun hit his windshield just perfectly to keep her from being able to see him through the glass, but she could make out something fuzzy and orange filling up the passenger’s side dash. What in the world?
He turned the truck off and silence settled over the quiet country setting, putting her in an even worse mood. All this quiet made her remember how much she’d once hated living outside the city limits. There had never been anyone around to play with and nothing to do. She’d lived there with her grandparents and mother. Pepaw had run off when she’d been eight, her mother when she’d been thirteen.
The driver’s side door of the truck opened and two booted feet stepped out. Then the orange thing moved and in the next instant a huge cat plopped down on the ground beside him.
The man came with a cat?
She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. Of course he came with a cat. He was a nester.
Having a cat was even worse than a dog.
He shoved the door closed as she headed off the porch and moved in his direction, fighting the yawn trying to escape. She’d give an arm for a good cup of coffee.
“I see you found the place.” She attempted to make her voic
e polite, but it was barely seven in the morning. She should still be in bed sleeping.
As her feet left the last step, she finally caught full sight of him, and as it had yesterday, her breath stuck in her throat. Geez, the man wasn’t subtle in his looks.
A long-sleeved flannel shirt covered his wide chest and shoulders this morning, and his hair looked as if it’d just come from the shower. Her fingers itched to mess it up. After she got more sleep.
In his left hand was a large insulated cup. The kind that routinely held coffee. She might have to beg.
“Your directions were good.” His deep voice set her lower stomach on agitation. “Plus, it’s not like there’s much around here that would be hard to find.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” she grumbled. She actually loved Sugar Springs, but before ten in the morning, she rarely loved anything. She turned and headed back to the house. “Let me show you the place.”
The cat streaked past her and she jumped, then muttered an unladylike word under her breath. Nick came up behind her and put a hand on her elbow. He leaned in, one side of his mouth lifting slightly. “Not a morning person, Jo?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Who wants to move into a place at this ungodly hour?”
His partial smile went to full bloom and her head went a little light. “I’ve been up since five, darlin’. I drove up into the mountains. It was a beautiful sunrise.”
“Oh my God. You’re one of those people.”
His perkiness, along with the tempting aroma of the coffee, made her head throb. She turned and headed into the house. When she opened the door, the orange fluff shot in before her.
“And I can’t believe you come with a cat,” she said.
He chuckled behind her. “I can’t believe you’re the same person who was charming half the town into cupcakes yesterday afternoon.”
She turned loose the screen door and it smacked shut behind her, leaving him to find his own way in. Once he did, he stopped in the middle of the dingy-brown carpeted floor and simply stared. She turned from him, not wanting to see the expression on his face. He was going to back out of their deal, she was certain of it. Who could blame him? The place hadn’t been livable when GiGi had last been there, and it certainly wasn’t now.