Orchard Hill Volume One

by Kara Lynn Russell

  “Just the usual.” He walked up to the counter and set down a stack of envelopes.

  “It’s a cold day. Can I get you a cup of herbal tea?”

  “No, I just had a cup of coffee at Grace’s. I think it’s a good thing she didn’t marry Steve. She and Riley seem perfect for each other. I wonder how long it will be before we hear an announcement from them?”

  Misty’s smile froze on her face. “I’m sure I wouldn’t know.”

  “Well, I’ve got to keep moving. Thanks for the offer of the tea, though.”

  “You’re welcome, Fred. Anytime.”

  Once the postal carrier left, Misty allowed her smile to disintegrate into a scowl. Her rival in matchmaking, Pansy Parker, had recently claimed the first match of the year, Grace Randall and Riley O’Neil. Now, Misty found herself O-and-one in the contest she and Pansy were having to see who could make the most matches in a year.

  Well, what kind of challenge was that, anyway. Grace and Riley had been friends since kindergarten. Anyone could see they were perfect for each other. Once her fiancé, Steve, was out of the picture, the two were bound to get together.

  Now, Misty was the type of person who enjoyed a challenge. And that was just what she had in mind when she invited her cousin’s daughter, Angel, to visit. Once Misty had found out that Angel’s brother, Tony, had been the college roommate of Jeff, the new real estate agent in town, Misty had started thinking. And what she had come up with, was that Angel and Jeff would be perfect together.

  “Let’s see if you can top that, Mrs. Pansy Parker,” mumbled Misty to herself as she sorted the mail that Fred had handed her.

  There was a letter from her father. He had moved to Florida years ago after he’d retired from his teaching job. Misty looked forward to his long letters.

  She opened it and began to read. By the time she reached the end of the letter, her scowl had returned. “He’s coming for a visit. Why now?” She re-read part of the letter, and noted with relief that he wouldn’t be here until next month. That would give her plenty of time to wrap things up with Angel and Jeff.

  Although Misty truly loved and admired her father, she preferred a long distance relationship with him. She was sure he’d frown on her hobby of making matches and try to discourage it. He had a tendency to meddle in her life, and if it was one thing she hated, it was a person who interfered in other people’s lives.

  Misty shrugged. Her father never stayed long. She’d have plenty of time to visit with him and still beat the pants off Pansy Parker at matchmaking.

  TITLE

  Chapter One

  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

  —Hebrews 13:2 NIV

  “Please Jeff, I’m begging you.”

  Jeff Bradley swiveled in his office chair so he could gaze out of his window at Blossom Street. Across the street, Riley O’Neil was going into The Grace Place where Grace Randall was waiting for him with a steamy mug of coffee and an equally steamy kiss. Jeff sighed and turned away from the window.

  “Jeff, are you there?”

  “Yeah, Tony, I hear you. Why exactly does your twenty-two year old sister need a baby sitter?”

  “Angel is… Well, she’s a bit inexperienced in the ways of the world. You know my Dad died when I was a kid, and my mom got sick when Angel was still in high school. Instead of going on to college like we did, she stayed home and took care of my mom until she died.”

  “I see,” said Jeff, mostly to assure Tony he was still listening. Which he was, sort of.

  “So Angel’s life has been a little…sheltered. She’s awfully naïve for a woman of her age. And now that Mom’s passed away, she has this idea about starting her own business. Dad’s cousin, Misty, convinced her that there was a market for her stuff in Orchard Hill.”

  “If she’s visiting Misty, can’t Misty keep an eye on her?”

  “Misty has to work.”

  “And I don’t?” Jeff drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently.

  “You’re a real estate agent. Your hours are…flexible.”

  Jeff snorted in answer to that. “Listen, Tony, I don’t have time to entertain your sister right now.”

  “You wouldn’t have to entertain her. In fact, remembering how you were with the girls in college, don’t ‘entertain’ her—please. Just…just check in on her, and make sure she’s okay.”

  “I would, but I’m so busy right now—”

  “All right, I know I’m asking a lot,” Tony pleaded. “But frankly, I’ve always thought Misty was a little flakey. I’d feel much better if I knew you were keeping an eye on my little sister.”

  Jeff did not want to deal with this right now. His plate was too full as it was, with starting his own real estate office. He needed to work hard to establish himself, and all the while his very successful parents were looking over his shoulder. But Tony was a good friend, and Jeff didn’t want to let him down.

  “Fine. I’ll check up on Angie for you while she’s here.”

  “Angel. Her name is Angel.”

  “Right. Angel.”

  “Thanks, Jeff. You’re the best.”

  Jeff relaxed. This wasn’t going to be so bad.

  “Let me give you her flight number, so you can pick her up at the airport.”

  Jeff stifled a groan. He should have known he wasn’t going to get off that easy.

  ****

  Angel Marcel stepped from the plane into the Green Bay airport. Her stomach was still feeling a little queasy, but she attributed that more to nerves than to motion sickness.

  At the ripe old age of twenty-two, she was finally out on her own. Angel hoisted the strap of her portfolio to her shoulder and followed the sign to the baggage carousel.

  As she approached it, she noticed a man standing nearby. It was hard not to notice him. He was on the short side, but that was no disadvantage to a pipsqueak like her. Beneath his well cut suit, he seemed fit and muscular. Add in the slightly shaggy light brown hair and the stormy grey eyes and—well, you had quite a package.

  Angel sighed. That didn’t concern her. This was a business trip. She found a spot at the end of the carousel and planted herself. She’d get her luggage and then rent a car to drive out to Misty’s place in Orchard Hill. She focused her eyes on the door her luggage would come through, determined not to give one more glance to Mr. Stormy Eyes.

  Pointedly not looking his way, she focused on the carousel, and pulled off her bag.

  “You must be Angel. I’m here to meet you.”

  The smooth baritone voice so close to her ear surprised her. Caught off guard, she swung around a bit too quickly and caught the man she’d been admiring squarely in the gut with her suitcase.

  He grunted and then doubled over. Angel dropped the bag at her side, mortified at her clumsiness. “I’m so sorry. You startled me. Are you all right?”

  He straightened and nodded. After a second he said, “Just knocked the wind out of me.”

  “Do you want to sit down?”

  The man shook his head. “No. I’m fine. Are you Angel Marcel?”

  “Why?”

  “Your brother, Tony, asked me to meet you. I’m Jeff Bradley.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say, so she just stood there blinking like an owl. She couldn’t believe Tony would do this to her.

  “So are you?”

  “Am I what?”

  “Angel Marcel.”

  “Oh. Yes, that’s me, but I’m fine. I don’t need a ride. I have everything under control. Thank you anyway.” She turned, planning to make a smooth exit to cover her embarrassment, but Angel had forgotten that she’d dropped her suitcase and promptly tripped over it.

  The handsome stranger—Jeff Bradley—caught her arm and saved her from taking an ungraceful dive all the way to the floor.

  “I see you have everything under control,” he said, his tone filled with impatience and sarcasm, “but since I’m alr
eady here why don’t you just ride back with me?”

  “I am perfectly capable of getting myself to Orchard Grove,” she insisted.

  “Um, that’s Orchard Hill.”

  Angel smacked her head. “Of course. I knew that. I’m just flustered right now. I didn’t expect to be met and…and… .”

  Jeff picked up her suitcase. “Look, I’m here. I’m driving back to Orchard Hill anyway. It would be a waste for you to rent a car.”

  Angel felt her face heat and knew she probably resembled a tomato. “How do I know my brother even sent you?”

  “Do you want to call and talk to him?” He held up a cell phone.

  Did she ever want to talk to him. But she couldn’t say what she wanted to say in front of an audience. “No thank you. I’ll ride with you.” This sounded too much like Tony for her to doubt it.

  But it was humiliating, absolutely humiliating, that her brother had called someone to watch over her. She was an adult for heaven’s sake. It said so on her driver’s license.

  ****

  Jeff examined his passenger out of the corner of his eye. What word had she used? Flustered? He was feeling a little flustered himself. He knew Tony’s sister was an adult, but from the way Tony had talked about her, somehow Jeff had been expecting a kid. This diminutive beauty with feminine curves everywhere and riotous red curls was clearly all grown up. He had a feeling she might need a bodyguard more than a babysitter once Orchard Hill’s single men got a look at her. Maybe Tony was right to be worried.

  “So you’re staying with Misty Green?” Even small talk was better than the silence they’d had so far.

  “Do you live far from her?”

  “No, I live right in town. I have a real estate agency on the same street as her health food store.”

  “Oh, good. You can drop me off there. I have an appointment this afternoon with someone named Grace Randall. Misty said it was close by.”

  “Grace? She owns the coffee shop across from my office. Are you selling coffee?”

  Angel gave a short laugh. “Hardly. I’m an artist. I’ve developed my own line of greeting cards and stationary.”

  “Oh right. Grace does have a gift section to her place. She has knick knacks and stuff there.” Jeff dismissed that as “girl stuff” for which he had no need. “So how long will you be in town?”

  “I think for about a week, but it depends on how things go. Don’t worry, you won’t be called into service again. I’m sure you have more important things to do than to chauffeur me around.”

  Jeff shrugged. “I don’t mind.” Now why had he said that? He certainly did mind.

  Another uncomfortable silence settled over the car. He searched for something neutral to say, something that would keep them in safe territory, but she spoke first.

  “How do you know my brother?”

  He relaxed. This had to be a safe topic. “We went to college together in Madison. We roomed on the same floor in one of the dorms our freshman year. Later we got an apartment together with a few of the guys.”

  Recognition dawned on her face. “Oh, you’re one of the Fantastic Five.”

  “What?”

  She blushed. “That’s what my mom and I used to call Tony and his roommates. He brought home a lot of stories about you guys. Are you the one who, to quote my brother, ‘snores like a freight train?’”

  Jeff frowned. “No, that was Cameron.”

  “Surely you weren’t the slob, the one who wouldn’t do his laundry until he absolutely had to.”

  “Definitely not. That was Dirty Larry.”

  “I didn’t think that was you, since you look so nice. Oh. I didn’t mean... .”

  She was blushing again. Jeff loved women who blushed. They were so much fun to tease. He flashed her a smile. “That’s okay.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re not the computer geek.”

  “No, that was Garth.”

  “That means you must be…” She stopped abruptly.

  “What? What label did I get?”

  “Oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Obviously, she didn’t want to tell him.

  “You can’t leave me hanging like this.”

  “Is it much farther to Orchard Valley?”

  “Orchard Hill.” He took his foot off the accelerator. “And it could take all day to get there if you continue to withhold information.”

  Her hands flew to her mouth. “You wouldn’t.”

  The car slowed to a crawl. “I would. What did Tony say about me?”

  “I don’t remember.” By now her face was as brilliantly red as her hair. But he could see she hid a smile behind her hands.

  “Maybe I don’t remember the way to Orchardville.”

  “Orchard Hill.”

  “Come on, out with it.”

  She said something in a voice so small he couldn’t hear it. He leaned over. “What was that?”

  “Chick magnet,” she repeated louder. “Tony said that you were a real ladies’ man.”

  Jeff laughed as he sped up to their former pace. “He should talk. He dated a different girl almost every week back then.”

  “You should see him now.” Angel rolled her eyes. “He’s engaged. She’s a very nice girl, but he practically fawns on her. It’s disgusting.”

  “I don’t believe that. He didn’t say anything about it to me. I hope he invites me to the wedding. I’ve got to see this ‘fawning’ behavior.”

  “I’m sure he’ll invite you. What about you? Have you settled down with anyone yet?”

  “Yes, but not with a woman. I’m married to my work right now. However, the right girl could convince me to stray.” Jeff winked at her just to see her blush again.

  Then he realized what he was doing. He was flirting—with his friend’s little sister. The sister Tony had specifically told him was naïve and inexperienced. He had no business trying to make her blush—no matter how cute she looked.

  “Um. Just kidding there. I didn’t mean to… .”

  Now he had embarrassed her for real. She stared at her hands, clenched in her lap. “It’s okay. I knew you were joking.”

  That uncomfortable silence fell again like a heavy velvet curtain, but Jeff made no further attempts to lift it. A drive in uncomfortable silence was way better than having to explain certain things to Angel’s brother.

  TITLE

  Chapter Two

  Angel was drowsing by the time they reached the outskirts of Orchard Hill, so she was completely unprepared when Jeff slammed on the brakes.

  Her body pitched forward and, in spite of her secured seatbelt, she smacked the side of her head on the dashboard as the car abruptly stopped.

  She felt Jeff’s hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  Angel gingerly felt her head where she’d hit it. She winced. “What happened?”

  “There was a dog in the road—”

  “A dog!” No longer concerned about her own injury, Angel jumped out of the car, with Jeff right behind her. At the front of the car, she knelt by a small, brown dog, who whined and looked up at her with chocolate brown eyes.

  “Be careful. It might bite if it’s frightened,” warned Jeff.

  Slowly Angel extended her hand, and the dog licked it. “Where can we take her?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s hurt. Look, she’s bleeding. We have to take her to a vet.”

  Angel saw him look at the muddy, bloody dog and then at his spotless new sports car.

  “Jeff, she could die!”

  “I know, I know.” He took off his winter coat and then his suit jacket.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to wrap her up in my jacket.”

  “So she doesn’t get your upholstery dirty?”

  “No,” snapped Jeff. “In case she goes into shock.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” Angel took the jacket from him and wrapped up the dog. The dog yelped when Angel first touched her, but then relaxed.

  Jeff
opened the passenger side door and Angel slid in, cradling the dog. Instead of shutting the door, he asked, “Are you all right?” He cupped her chin and looked closer at her temple. “You’ve got quite a goose egg. Maybe we should go to the emergency room.”