Harlequin Superromance November 2013 - Bundle 1 of 2

by Mary Brady

  On the other hand, Jillian hadn’t attained the office of mayor—and every other title in town, from Little Miss Fall Festival on up—by leaving anything to chance. Maybe Lyddie should take a lesson from her. Jillian would never find herself breathless and foundering while her building was sold out from beneath her, that was for sure.

  “How about a blueberry muffin, Your Worship?” Nadine was in fine form. “Mmm, look at that brown sugar streusel.”

  Jillian, queen of the Thighmaster, shuddered visibly. “No. Just coffee. No food.”

  On the other hand, there had to be a more positive role model than an anorexic power slut.

  “I need music,” Lyddie announced, and scooted around the counter to reach the long-outdated CD player. Usually she didn’t start the tunes until the morning rush had cleared and conversation had dwindled. But today she needed all the distraction she could get.

  She thumbed through the CDs and shook her head. Gregorian chants, harp music, the sounds of relaxation... None of those felt right. She needed in-your-face vocals that would give her a socially acceptable outlet for the frustration perking inside her. She needed—

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Bonnie Raitt’s greatest hits slid into place. In a moment, assertive guitar chords punctured the atmosphere, mingling with the warm smell of coffee and the casual ambience. It was almost enough to make her relax.

  She boogied her way behind the counter where Nadine waited with her arms crossed and eyes rolling.

  “Lydia, it’s bad enough you make me work at this hour. Force me to listen to that and I’ll report you to the labor board.”

  “Stop. This is good. People like it.”

  “It has a beat, I’ll give you that.” Nadine scanned the room, pausing briefly at the opening door. “But I think you need to try something... Oh, my God.”

  “What?” Lyddie looked up, more worried by the sudden drop in Nadine’s volume than her words. Then she realized that the entire room had gone suddenly, eerily still. If it hadn’t been for Bonnie belting from the CD, asking if she was ready for the thing called love, there would have been dead silence.

  “Nadine?”

  A nod toward the door was the only answer.

  Lyddie glanced in the direction indicated and saw that a man had entered the shop. Dark hair. Slightest hint of stubble on the chin. Electric blue T-shirt over black biker shorts. The most remarkable thing about him was the Rollerblades on his feet, and even Comeback Cove had progressed enough to handle those.

  On closer inspection, this guy didn’t need anything remarkable to stand out. He wasn’t what she’d call drop-dead gorgeous, though he certainly was making the second look worth the effort. It was something about the way he held himself. The set of his shoulders, the slight quirk at the corner of his mouth, the calm and purposeful way he scanned the room sent a clear message that this was a man who knew exactly who and what he was, and nothing would change him.

  So why did she get the feeling he was braced for attack?

  “It’s him,” Nadine whispered. “J. T. Delaney.”

  Ooooooooh.

  The quirk spread into a cocky grin. “Nice to see I still know how to make an entrance.”

  The room echoed with the sound of about a dozen throats being cleared.

  His gaze settled on Lyddie. Something like recognition flashed in his eyes, confusing her. “Okay to wear these in here?” he called over the coughing and harrumphing.

  “Uh...” Somewhere in her brain she understood he was referring to the skates. She wanted to toss off a casual reply, but something—anger?—had started curling low in her belly, interfering with her thought process.

  It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t had time to think, no chance to determine her plan of attack. Why was he here already?

  And why did he have to look so...interesting? Despite what Nadine and Tracy had said, Lyddie had expected a middle-aged version of his late father: sober and responsible, slightly balding, wearing sensible loafers and madras plaid shirts. That kind of man she could handle. What was she supposed to do with James Dean the Second?

  His grin widened. “If you’d rather I didn’t, could we pretend this is a drive-through?”

  From the corner of her eye she saw a flash of red. Oh, no. Jillian was moving in for the kill.

  “Well, well, well. So much for that line about being adults.” Jillian crossed her arms and looked him up and down with—in Lyddie’s opinion—a bit too much interest. If Ted heard about this, there would be hell to pay. “You’re still as crazy as ever.”

  “Only when I’m here, Jelly.”

  Behind Lyddie, Nadine snickered back to life. “Jelly?”

  Lyddie had much the same thought. She’d never met anyone who could put Her Worship in place with five little words. When the mayor clamped her lips together and hustled out the door, Lyddie had to remind herself that this was the potential bad guy in front of her.

  But bad guy or not, she couldn’t leave him standing in the doorway. She waved to let him know the blades were acceptable but couldn’t keep from adding, “After all, it’s your place, Mr. Delaney.”

  The soft whir of wheels across slate marked his progress. That and the swiveling of every head in the room. He moved slowly, as if making sure everyone had a chance to size him up.

  “Morning, Mrs. Krupnick.”

  “Morning, J.T.” Nadine spoke far more cautiously than Lyddie would have expected. “What can I get for you?”

  “A cup of French roast.” There was a slight pause before he added, “Please.”

  Lyddie stifled a groan. Just what she needed. A landlord with a God’s-greatest-gift complex.

  She had to meet him eventually, so she straightened her shoulders and prayed that she would come off as an efficient businesswoman instead of the brain-dead twit she was currently channeling. Though how she was supposed to do that when he’d dropped in on her out of the blue like this...

  “Hi.” She thrust out a hand, well aware that it was more challenge than greeting. “Welcome to River Joe’s. I’m Lydia Brewster.”

  “J. T. Delaney.” He took her hand, palms meshing in a perfect fit. An unanticipated fog rolled through her brain. All she could think was that he sure didn’t look like a landlord. Nor, to be honest, did he resemble her idea of a wild arsonist. She wasn’t sure why. He certainly had the “wild” part down. Maybe it was his teeth. They seemed far too straight and white for someone with a juvenile past.

  Nadine slid a full mug in his direction. He lifted it and inhaled like a drowning man who’d just found an oxygen tank.

  “God, that smells good.”

  Okay, he appreciated good coffee. That was a plus. But looking at him made something bubble inside Lyddie. She couldn’t put a finger on it. She was irritated and intrigued and frustrated and fascinated, all at the same time, but none of those emotions seemed to capture exactly what she was feeling.

  All that was certain was that she needed to know the truth—not through a rumor, but from him.

  She gave him a moment to swallow before saying, as casually as possible, “I hear you’re selling the building.”

  The room echoed with a dozen sudden inhalations.

  J.T., however, showed no reaction other than a slight quirk of an eyebrow. “Word travels fast as ever, I see.”

  She nodded. Crossed her arms. Settled her hip against the corner of the counter so he’d know she was in no hurry.

  A slow smile spread across his face. No surprise. It was the brief hint of some other emotion flashing in his eyes that made her pay attention. Was that guilt she spied?

  But his next words laid to rest her brief hope that J. T. Delaney was having second thoughts.

  “That’s right.” He spoke clearly, slowly. She had the impression he wanted to make sure everyone in t
he room caught every word. “I’m selling this and every other building my father owned. I want it done quickly and easily so I can leave at the end of summer. The sooner I can get back to Tucson, the better.”

  A chorus of whispers filled the room. Lyddie was glad for the solid wood against her hip. It compensated for the weakness in her knees.

  He looked straight at her, but again the words were meant for the crowd. “This is prime waterfront property, Mrs. Brewster. I won’t have any trouble selling.” He fished in his pocket, tossed money on the counter. “I’ll stop by at closing time to discuss the details.”

  He saluted her with his mug and took another long swallow before setting it on the counter with what looked like regret. Without another word, he skated out the door.

  Silence filled the shop.

  “Damn that boy.” Nadine’s words were soft but heartfelt.

  “Ditto.” It was the only word Lyddie could manage. Too many thoughts vied for attention in her head, pushing her toward panic mode. The rumors were true. Could she buy? Would she get a new landlord? Was her rent going to jump? Would she have to move? Would he—

  “He never was any good at math.” Nadine whisked the coins off the counter, shaking her head, and Lyddie finally clued in.

  Not only had J. T. Delaney stolen her piece of mind and upset her business for the morning, but he’d also shorted her on the price of the coffee.

  * * *

  WELL, THAT HAD definitely not been one of his finer moments.

  J.T. sauntered down Main Street that afternoon on his way back to River Joe’s, hoping no one could see that beneath the outer confidence, he was beating himself up. He kept a practiced, slightly patronizing smile in place as he observed the street, never once letting on that he was actually impressed with what he saw.

  Last night he’d been so intent on searching out familiar landmarks that he hadn’t noticed the changes. How was that for irony? He had locked up his perception of the town just the way the town had frozen its opinion of him.

  But today, after cursing himself for the way he’d behaved in the coffee shop, he could see the bigger picture. The Cove was still no crowded tourist hotspot, but it had grown and even thrived over the years. He remembered a sad downtown in which there were three empty storefronts for every one business clinging to life. Now there wasn’t an empty space to be seen. Pizza and doughnuts, T-shirts and antiques, even a natural food and vitamin shop—all seemed to be bustling between the standard grocery, post office and hardware store.

  No wonder Lydia Brewster got that deer-in-the-headlights look when he said he was selling. There was no place for her to go.

  The load of guilt on his shoulders got a little heavier—again—at the memory. She hadn’t deserved to get drawn into his give-’em-what-they’re-expecting joyride. She hadn’t done anything to him, and he had no right to assume she would condemn him like the rest of the town. He couldn’t let himself get ticked off at the way he’d been treated and then turn around and do the same thing to someone else.

  Even at his worst, he’d never been heartless—yet he had a lousy feeling that he’d been exactly that this morning.

  It hadn’t helped that when he walked in and recognized her as his mystery woman, his first thought was of the way she’d looked when she stretched the night before—long and curvy and inviting. That had knocked his carefully prepared words flat out of his mind. By the time he realized what he was saying, he’d already messed up.

  It was all he could do to keep a determined spring in his step as he pulled open the door to River Joe’s, setting bells tinkling. He hoped to God he could get everything sold quickly. The kick he’d got from resurrecting his long-ago persona was fading fast.

  “Hello?” He peered around the deserted dining room. No signs of life. Chairs were neatly upended on round tables, the counter was empty, lights dim. If it hadn’t been for the unlocked door he’d have thought she stood him up.

  He was about to make tracks for the kitchen when that door flew open. Out marched Nadine Krupnick. He recognized the scowl on her face. He’d seen it enough times back in school, when she was the lunch lady and he was the idiot who’d just yelled, “Food fight!”

  “Afternoon,” he said cautiously, turning so she couldn’t get between him and the exit.

  “Afternoon? Ha. More like, high time someone talked straight to you, Mister Delaney.”

  The bitter twist to her words told him precisely where Nadine’s loyalties rested. Before he could muster up an apology, Nadine was in his face, bobbing like a pissed-off bantam hen. The fact that he stood a good eight inches over her did nothing to dispel the feeling he’d just come between a mother bear and her cub.

  “Listen here, J.T.” She poked his chest. Hard. “Up until about nine o’clock this morning, I was ready and willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Then I heard what you’re doing. From your own lips, no less. And all I can say is, if you take this place away from that girl, then you might as well turn yourself in to the police right now, because you’ll be killing her just the same as that nutcase killed her husband.”

  She finished her words with another jab that barely avoided being a punch. It took all his effort to keep breathing in a seminormal manner.

  “You been working out, Mrs. Krupnick? I don’t remember you having such a mean right hook back in school.”

  “That’s because you still had some brains back then. And a heart. Now it seems you’ve got a rock in your chest. And as for what’s filling your head instead of brains, well—”

  “Nadine.”

  Lydia leaned against the counter the way she had earlier that day, but this time she seemed almost relaxed. Even with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, she seemed more amused than worried. Maybe it was the smile tugging at her lips. He’d spied it this morning, briefly, before Nadine had obviously told her who he was. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted to see her smile again.

  Too bad it was currently directed at Nadine, not him. When she glanced in his direction she frosted over. Wariness replaced the amusement that had encompassed her just a second earlier.

  I did that. His shoulders sagged.

  “Kick him out, Lyddie. Don’t talk to him until you call your lawyer.”

  But Lydia shook her head. “It’s his building, Nadine. Besides, I’m certain Mr. Delaney and I can come to some reasonable agreement.”

  Nadine muttered something under her breath. He wasn’t positive, but he was pretty sure that back in school, if she’d ever caught him saying what he thought she’d just said, he would have been carving yet another notch in his favorite chair in the principal’s office.

  “Absolutely.” He ducked his head, stepped back and opened the door with a show of politeness. Nadine flounced through the opening, looking from him to the river behind them so pointedly that he would have to be an idiot to miss her meaning.

  He allowed himself one lungful of the coolness coming off the water before turning back. Lydia stood by the set of love seats that flanked a coffee table at the fireplace end of the room.

  “No Rollerblades this afternoon?”

  He glanced at his sandals. “This is a business meeting. I thought I’d go formal.”

  Something like amusement twitched at her lips before quickly fleeing.

  “Shall we get started?” She gestured to one seat before sitting in the opposite one. She moved with a fluid grace that reminded him of the waves he’d spied on the water. But just like the water, he was pretty sure there was a lot more beneath the surface than she was going to show. At least to him.

  He sat, well aware that he had some atoning to do. He hoped he could get through this meeting without turning back into the rebel without a clue.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this place,” he said. “Even when I lived here, I usua
lly wasn’t allowed inside. My dad came here to hang out with his buddies. Your father-in-law was his best friend. Having me here would have cramped their style.”

  She nodded. “Your father never came back after...after I took over.”

  “Really?”

  Another nod. “I’m sorry you lost him.”

  “And I’m sorry, too. For your loss, I mean.”

  This time she merely pursed her lips, as if he’d said something unexpected. It took him a moment to realize that expressions of sympathy might not go with the image he had presented that morning.

  God, when he messed up, he did it big-time.

  After a moment of silence, she spoke again. “I don’t mean to be rude, Mr. Delaney, but my—”

  “J.T.”

  “Fine. I’m Lydia, and my children will be here soon so I can drive them home from school, so could we please skip the getting-to-know-you stage and get down to business?” She leaned forward slightly. “I want to buy the building.”

  He tried to answer. He really did. But when she leaned in, he got a glimpse of something purple and lacy beneath her no-nonsense polo shirt, and boom, his neurons went into some kind of overactive shock. Which, as a scientist, he knew wasn’t possible. But he also knew that science couldn’t explain everything.

  “Mr. Delaney? J.T.?”

  “Uh...sorry, I...long day yesterday. I’m still foggy.”

  “Then let me say it again. I want to buy the building. How much are you asking?”

  He wasn’t seeing the Realtor for a couple of days, but he knew the assessed value of the building. He added a few thousand for good measure and named the resulting figure.

  She blanched just a little.

  “That’s a bit more than I expected.”

  He reminded himself of the costs of moving his mother and establishing her in a new home in a country without subsidized medical care. “This is a good-sized building. It could probably be subdivided into two or three stores. Or it could stay as one large space, which I gather is what the other potential buyer plans to do with it.”