by Gerri Hill
“Told you,” Leah said. “We need to have some fake kissing or something.”
“It should not be this stressful. Or this complicated,” she said as she filled the margarita glasses. “Hang on.” She took the drinks over to Eileen, then grabbed an empty beer mug from the bar. “Another?” she asked the young man who nodded without stopping his conversation with his companion.
“What we should do is this,” Leah said. “After closing, you should come over to my place instead of going home. Hang out for an hour or so.”
“Even though we stop serving food at nine, the bar stays open until ten. By the time we close and get out of here tonight, it’ll be eleven, at least.” She crossed the bar and set the fresh beer down. “If I go to your place, I’ll fall asleep on the sofa.”
“That’s okay too,” Leah said. “No one will know. I’ll even let you park right in front of the store.”
Megan grinned. “Finally! Parking is the only reason I’m going out with you, you know.”
“I figured as much.”
Megan nodded. “Okay. I guess going to your apartment is as good as we’re going to get right now.” She leaned closer. “I told you this whole thing was a bad idea.”
Leah smiled. “Why do you keep forgetting that this was your idea?”
“No, no, no. You brought it up to begin with.” She pulled a cold mug from the freezer. “You want a beer?”
Leah nodded. “Yes, please. And a good girlfriend would offer dinner too.”
Megan laughed teasingly. “What makes you think I’m a good girlfriend?” Then her smile faded. “But I guess I’m really not. Maybe that’s why I get cheated on.”
Leah’s smile faded too. “Megan, people who cheat on their partners don’t need a reason. That’s just what they do…they’re serial cheaters. Maybe it’s some sort of a thrill for them to see if they can get away with it.” She smiled again. “Normal people—if you’re a bad girlfriend—would simply break up with you and go on about their business.”
Megan sighed. “I suppose. But when this is over with, can I please be the one to break up with you?”
“Of course. Just as long as you don’t announce you’re switching to men.”
“Oh…gross,” Megan said with an exaggerated shudder, causing Leah to laugh.
* * *
Leah had to admit that she was enjoying this little game she and Megan were playing. When she’d first mentioned it, it had seemed like the perfect solution. She was new in town and she was single—she had no desire to be chased by every available woman in the county. Megan’s situation was a little more dismal. At least Leah didn’t have a crazy woman stalking her. But still, she tended to agree with Megan when she doubted that they’d be able to pull it off. The main reason being…they didn’t really like each other. She’d perceived Megan as grumpy and argumentative, and Megan had perceived her as arrogant and annoying. And a bully, because she took away her parking spot.
But now? Now she found Megan’s slight grumpiness endearing. And arguing was kinda fun. And she hoped Megan no longer thought of her as arrogant and annoying, two words she would have never used to describe herself. As shocking as it was—especially considering how things started out with them—she felt like they were becoming friends. When she left California, she left behind a handful of good friends but none that she would consider close friends or best friends. One of her goals when she moved here was to try to build some meaningful relationships. Of the few locals she’d met so far, Nancy and Megan Phenix were the only two she could envision becoming good friends with, even though Nancy was still a little cool to her.
She slid her gaze over to Megan, lingering on her face as she slept. Megan was on her side, curled into the corner of the leather sofa, a throw pillow under her cheek, her hands tucked under her chin. Her lips were parted slightly, her eyelids fluttering as she dreamed. True to her word, Megan had settled on the sofa as soon as she got there, accepting a bottle of water from Leah. They’d talked only a little before Megan’s yawns became more pronounced. Leah had turned the TV on, telling Megan to get comfortable. Five minutes later, she was asleep.
As she watched Megan sleep, she couldn’t help but think about the pictures that Mary Beth had posted. It didn’t take much imagination for her to recall every smooth curve that Mary Beth had revealed. She pulled her eyes away guiltily, glancing back toward the TV. It was an old Seinfeld rerun that she’d seen a dozen times already so she turned the sound down even further, letting her gaze slowly drift back to Megan.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Megan yawned as she watched coffee drip into her cup. Nancy was leaning against the counter, sipping her own.
“So what time did you get home last night?”
“It was…late,” she said vaguely.
Actually, it was barely after one when she’d crept silently into the house, but she would let Nancy think what she would. When Leah had awakened her, she’d been sleeping so soundly, she could barely open her eyes. But finding those smoky gray ones looking back at her had startled her so badly, she’d nearly jumped off the sofa.
“Late like two or three? Or what?”
Megan paused to add sugar to her coffee, trying to decide if she should lie or not. After all, this was her sister. Yes, her sister who was friends with Mary Beth Sturgeon. She should lie. But then Nancy would assume that since she’d stayed that long at Leah’s apartment, they had most certainly entertained themselves in a more intimate fashion than watching TV. Was she ready to answer questions like that? She sighed.
“It wasn’t quite that late,” she conceded.
Nancy’s smile was teasing. “So? Are you going to give me details?”
“Details?”
“Well, you’re not glowing, so I’ll assume you didn’t have sex.”
“Oh, my God! I’ve had two dates with her. I barely know her. Why in the world would I sleep with her?”
“Umm…because she’s cute, for one. And two, you’re getting older and grumpier by the minute. Sex would do you good.”
“Okay…for one, I am not grumpy. And two…the last time you suggested sex would do me good, I ended up with Erin.” She glared at her. “And I think your reasoning was the same—she was cute.”
“Erin was cute, but practically a child. Leah is a mature, attractive woman who apparently likes you for some crazy reason. My advice to you…don’t screw this one up.”
Nancy was being serious and very sweet, and Megan felt a twinge of guilt for lying to her. But only a twinge. And as soon as this mess with Mary Beth was over with, she’d come clean. But in the meantime…
“Well, I’ll be mindful of your advice,” she said. “But as far as sex…we’re not there yet.”
Nancy seemed to study her for a moment, then she pushed off the counter.
“I should shower. I’m going by Susie’s this morning,” she said. “I’m about out of coffee and I’m down to my last muffin for breakfast.”
Megan nodded. “Okay. I’m going to hit the treadmill.”
Which was the last thing she felt like doing this morning. Six hours of sleep had left her feeling sluggish, but she knew a run would make her feel better. And after that, maybe she’d take time for a real breakfast as her stomach reminded her that the turkey sandwich she’d shared with Nancy last night wasn’t enough to be considered dinner.
She was slipping on her running shoes when her phone rang. It was a California number, and she assumed it was a telemarketer. She was about to end the call, then remembered she had given Leah her number.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hey…I wanted to make sure you didn’t oversleep. You were a little out of it when I woke you.”
Megan smiled. “Thank you. Actually, I was about to hit the treadmill.” She glanced around her, making sure Nancy wasn’t near. “And I should apologize for falling asleep on you, but it was a busy night.”
“Well, you did warn me in advance,” Leah said. “Enjoy your run. I’ll talk t
o you later.”
She was gone before Megan could say more, and she sighed, wondering at the budding friendship between them. Considering how rude she’d been when they first met—and yes, she would admit that she had been a tad snarky to Leah—she was surprised at how easily Leah seemed to forget that. Megan had been neither nice nor friendly to her, yet Leah was being both of those things now.
Megan sighed again, trying to remind herself that she wasn’t even sure if she liked Leah. They might be on friendly terms now, but she was still the arrogant, parking-space hoarder she’d been when they met.
She turned on the treadmill and started out slow to warm up, her thoughts still on Leah. Maybe arrogant was too strong a word. Leah was simply confident, sure of herself. No need to call her arrogant. A hoarder of parking spaces? Megan smiled and nodded. Yeah, she was still that.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Megan had just finished writing out the day’s lunch special on the board—meatloaf and mashed potatoes—when the door opened. She turned, smiling automatically in greeting. Her smile faltered, however, as Mary Beth Sturgeon stood there. Megan looked around frantically, hoping Nancy was near, but she was apparently still in the kitchen. So instead of running and hiding—which is what she wanted to do—Megan squared her shoulders and nodded curtly at her.
“Mary Beth. Table for one?”
A grin that would rival that of the Cheshire Cat lit Mary Beth’s face. “Hello, my angel,” she said, her raspy voice echoing in the lobby.
Megan squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds. God! When she opened them, Mary Beth was still there, still grinning. She had something up her sleeve, Megan could tell. She apparently wasn’t there for lunch.
“Is there something…I can help you with?” she choked out.
“Now that is a loaded question.”
Megan refused to return her smile. “The lunch crowd will be here soon. Or would you like a table?” she tried again.
Mary Beth walked closer. “I’d like to chat, if you have a moment.”
Megan shook her head. “I’m really, really busy,” she said. “Really busy.”
Mary Beth looked around slowly, then brought her gaze back to Megan. There were only three other people in the grill. Megan sighed.
“Fine. What do you want?” she asked bluntly.
“I wanted to discuss your…well, your social life.”
Megan narrowed her eyes. “My social life is none of your business.”
“I beg to differ.”
Megan balled her hands into fists, afraid she might smack the grin right off Mary Beth’s face.
“What is it you want to know?”
“You and this Leah person…what exactly is happening here?”
Megan was suddenly very nervous as Mary Beth’s eyes bored into hers. “What do you mean?”
“Well, some say you’re dating.” Mary Beth shook her head. “I, for one, don’t believe it.”
“Of course we’re dating. Why would you think we’re not?”
“For starters, I can’t see you with someone that old,” Mary Beth said.
Megan laughed. “You do realize that she is younger than you are, right?”
Mary Beth looked shocked. “She’s totally gray! At least I have the good sense to color my hair so I don’t look like I’m in my fifties!”
Megan’s gaze traveled over Mary Beth, taking in her slightly plump figure and her conservative clothes, noting that her shoulder-length light brown hair could stand to be clipped. Leah looked at least ten years younger than Mary Beth. Her short, stylish hair and trim, athletic body gave her a youthful appearance. Of course, she wasn’t about to share her thoughts with Mary Beth.
“Anyway, after seeing you at breakfast last week, well, I wouldn’t consider you two dating. I just don’t see it.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’ve heard a rumor that you might be faking this. That your nighttime trips to her apartment are, well, let’s just say…platonic.”
Megan gasped in mock surprise, pretending to be offended. “Like…like we’re fake dating? Really? You think I would stoop that low?”
Mary Beth gave her a sly grin. “If I find out you’re doing this just to try to throw me off your trail, there will be no mercy.”
Megan stared at her. “Throw you off my trail? I wasn’t aware I had a trail.” She put her hands on her hips. “And are you threatening me? Really? You already have pictures of me on your Facebook page. What else can you possibly do?”
The sly grin turned smug as Mary Beth pulled out her phone. Megan watched as she flipped through several images before stopping. She held the phone up for Megan to see.
Megan shrieked as her eyes widened. “Oh. My. Freakin’. God.” She pulled her gaze from the phone and glared at Mary Beth. “Youhaveanakedpictureofmeonyourphone!” she said in a rush, her voice two octaves higher than normal. She pulled Mary Beth to the side. “Why do you have a naked picture of me on your phone? Jesus…who all have you shown this to?” she demanded.
“I haven’t shown this to anyone,” Mary Beth said. “What happens in my bed, stays in my bed.”
Megan was shocked speechless for several seconds before she found her voice. “Nothing happened in your bed!” she snapped.
Mary Beth touched her arm. “But we were so close, angel. So close.”
Megan held her hands up. “Stop. Just…just stop. You’re making me crazy.”
“Yes,” Mary Beth drawled. “I’ve been told I do that to women.”
Oh, God, Megan groaned silently.
“Anyway,” Mary Beth said as she put her phone up. “I’m having a dinner party Tuesday evening. Nancy has already accepted. Julie and Sarah will be there too. I expect you and this Leah person to be there as well.” She took a step closer. “I’ll have my eyes on you.”
Megan shook her head. “Really…Nancy and I shouldn’t both be gone from the grill at the same time. Maybe—”
“Nancy already said it would be fine. Tuesdays are slow, she said.”
Megan tried to smile through her gritted teeth. “Of course she did,” she managed.
Mary Beth took another step closer, and Megan took one back. “You know, angel, I could cancel the whole thing and you and I could have a nice, quiet dinner…just the two of us. What do you say?”
“I am not going on a date with you. Besides…I’m dating Leah now.”
Mary Beth laughed quietly. “So you say.” She mercifully stepped away from her finally. “Well, I’ll see you Tuesday.”
“Look forward to it,” she lied with a smile on her face.
As soon as Mary Beth left, she spun on her heels and headed straight for the kitchen. Nancy was nowhere in sight.
“She went to the office,” Johnny said as he opened the oven door, revealing several pans of meatloaf.
“Smells great,” she said. “Need help with anything?” she asked, knowing he would say no.
“We got it.”
She nodded, then headed for the office, taking time to make sure there wasn’t anyone waiting to be seated. She had hostess duty until Pam arrived at two. She found Nancy at the window, guiltily shoving her phone into her pocket. Megan looked at her expectantly, raising both eyebrows.
“What?” Nancy asked as she sat down behind the desk.
“What are you up to?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nancy said as she pulled the laptop in front of her.
Megan put her hands on her hips. “Couldn’t warn me?”
“About what?”
“You know very well what I mean,” she said. “Mary Beth was just here.”
“Oh. You mean her dinner party.”
Megan narrowed her eyes. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were in cahoots with her.”
“Cahoots?” Nancy laughed. “Who says cahoots?”
Megan waved her hand in the air. “You know what I mean. What’s going on?”
“Nothing’s going on. S
he’s having a dinner party.”
“A dinner party that includes Sarah and Julie, the two other women—besides Mary Beth—who have asked me out the most. I hardly think that’s a coincidence, do you?”
“As usual, you’re reading too much into it.”
“Mary Beth insinuated that there are some people who don’t think Leah and I are really dating,” she said. “Wonder where she would have heard that from?”
“Are you accusing me?”
Megan blew out her breath and ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. I only know she’s driving me insane. She has a naked picture of me on her phone, for Christ’s sake!”
Nancy’s eyes widened. “Really? How naked?”
“Naked naked! She’s crazy!”
“Oh, Megan, she’s not crazy. She’s just—”
“Do I have to do everything around here?” Eileen said at the door. “It is lunchtime, you know.”
“Oh, God…I’m hostess today,” Megan said. “Sorry.” She turned to leave, then looked back at Nancy. “We’re not through.”
“Whatever,” Nancy said as she waved her away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Leah held up the chimes, her eyes watching as the sunlight bounced off the shiny aluminum tubes. As she’d done with the others, she lightly brushed the windcatcher, setting the chimes in motion. Their metallic tones were deeper, more earthy than the others. Instead of hanging it on the rack with the dozen or so she’d already unpacked, she set this one aside, thinking she would hang it near the door and let the breeze do its magic. During spring and fall, she envisioned leaving the front door open as she’d seen other shop owners do. It was much more inviting for customers than being met with a closed door, especially in a new, unknown shop such as hers.
She stood back and looked around. Her little shop was slowly filling up with merchandise. Soon she would be ready to open for business. The sign was up out front, the displays and shelves were all in place, and the inventory was coming in faster than she could catalog it and get it put up. All that was left was hanging the sign in the door stating the hours and the big “OPEN” sign she’d ordered for the front window. Truth was, she could open right now. She had enough stuff. But the real truth was, she was scared to death to actually put the sign in the window.