by Cindy Kirk
“I don’t know much about domino tournaments.” Eliza lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug. “Other than it appears they take a while. Katherine said she’ll have Lolo home by ten.”
Kyle rocked back on the heels of his boots. “It’s barely six. You said they left shortly after four? Why so early?”
“Dinner at four thirty, followed by the tournament.” Eliza flicked her wrist, and her watch flashed the time. “I need to scoot.”
“Where are you going?” The second he’d walked through the front door and seen her, Kyle had noticed she was dressed to go out.
Eliza shot him a rueful smile. “Muddy Boots is hosting a singles event tonight.”
When he grinned, she lifted a hand, palm out. “I don’t want to hear the jokes.”
With great regret, Kyle reined in the one poised on the tip of his tongue. “I thought the singles event was on Sundays after church.”
“That’s an informal get-together.” Eliza fluffed her hair with her fingers. “The one tonight is planned and co-sponsored by the Rotary and the Cherries.”
Reaching into the small bag that sat on a burl side table, Eliza pulled out a mirror and carefully touched up her red lipstick before continuing.
Kyle couldn’t take his eyes off her lips. He should say something, he told himself. Act interested. Which wasn’t hard, because he was interested. But only because she would be there.
When he tried to think of a question, all he could think about were her red lips.
Thankfully, Eliza didn’t appear to notice. “In the off-season, there aren’t many opportunities for singles to mingle. The Cherries came up with the idea of themed mixers. Tonight, it’s Pretend We’ve Never Met/Try Some Lame Pickup Line night.”
Despite himself, Kyle was intrigued. “Let me see if I’ve got this. If I go and see someone I know, I act like I don’t know them and they act as if I’m a stranger.”
“Exactly.” Eliza dropped the tube of lipstick into her purse.
“I also deliberately weave a cheesy pickup line into the conversation.”
“You got it.” She turned toward the hallway.
Kyle stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Will there be food and drinks?”
“No alcohol.” Eliza made a face. “Muddy Boots doesn’t have a liquor license. Next event is at the Bayshore Hotel. They’ll have a cash bar. Tonight, it’s appetizers, coffee and tea.”
“Are you supervising this evening?”
“Katie Ruth has that duty. Originally, it was supposed to be Lynn Chapin.” Eliza’s expression remained nonchalant. “But she’s attending Fin and Jeremy’s prenuptial dinner this evening.”
Kyle wondered if the thought of Jeremy marrying Fin still bothered her.
“You’re not in charge, but you’re going anyway.”
“I feel duty-bound as executive director of the Cherries to support the activity.” She flicked her wrist and winced at the time. “Speaking of which, I need to get moving. I thought I’d show up early and help Katie Ruth get everything set up.”
“Have fun.” Kyle felt strangely bereft as he watched her walk toward the door.
Eliza turned in the doorway. “You are single, Mr. Kendrick. If you get bored, come join us. Just remember, you don’t know me.”
Eliza smiled in satisfaction at the crowded café. People she’d never expected to see had shown up. Like Lindsay, who now stood by her side, munching on a tiny quiche.
“Remind me again where Dan is this evening.”
Lindsay took a second to swallow, then dabbed at her lips with a tiny paper napkin. Her friend, dressed in a plaid skirt and a blue cashmere sweater, looked fresh as a daisy. Her blond hair, dull this winter, sported new highlights.
Yes, Eliza thought, Lindsay would make a beautiful bride.
“Dan is at Fin and Jeremy’s prenuptial dinner.”
Eliza frowned. “Weren’t you invited?”
“It’s customary for the minister’s wife to be included, but Dan and I aren’t married yet.”
Did Lindsay realize she hadn’t answered the question? Eliza knew the Bloom family would have included Lindsay, so not attending must have been her friend’s choice. But with wall-to-wall people, any further digging on the subject would have to wait.
As Eliza scanned the room, she was surprised to see Owen walk into the café. She turned to ask Lindsay if she’d seen him, but swallowed the question.
The light in Lindsay’s eyes told Eliza that her friend had indeed spotted the mechanic.
Owen made his way through the crowd, stopping every few feet to speak to someone he knew.
When he reached them, Eliza extended her hand. “I’m Eliza Shaw. I run Hill’s General Store.”
Owen blinked. “We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
Lindsay placed a hand on his arm, stepped close and lowered her voice. “The rules of the event say we have to act as if we’re strangers meeting for the first time. And if you can toss in some lame pickup lines, that’s even better.”
The confusion in Owen’s eyes was quickly replaced with a twinkle. His gaze never left Lindsay. “Are you a magician?”
“No.” Lindsay slowly shook her head, a quizzical smile hovering on the edges of her lips. “Why do you ask?”
“Simple. You’re lovely. When I see you, everyone else in the room disappears.”
The laugh that burst from Lindsay’s throat was so joyful that Eliza had to smile. She patted Owen’s arm. “Looks like you’re a natural. I’m going to check—”
Suddenly, it struck her. Mindy was the flower girl in Fin and Jeremy’s wedding. “Shouldn’t you be at the prenuptial dinner?”
The light in Owen’s eyes dimmed. “Mindy went to the rehearsal, but we skipped the dinner.”
Lindsay stepped to him, her eyes filled with concern. “Is she—”
“Brynn Chapin was having a few girls over for pizza tonight. Since her mother split, David has been doing what he can to make Brynn happy. I understand what it’s like to want your child to be happy.” The bleakness on Owen’s face said it all. “Mindy begged to go. I nearly said no. I mean, if she felt well enough to go to someone’s house for pizza, she could have stayed for the prenuptial dinner. But when I mentioned the pizza party to Fin, she was all for Mindy attending.”
Owen looked away for a second, and when his gaze returned to them, his eyes were moist. “I want all her days to be happy ones.”
“If you or Mindy need anything,” Lindsay’s low voice shook with emotion, “you call me. Promise. Day or night.”
Eliza felt a tightness grip her chest. When she’d seen Mindy at the Seedling meeting, she’d understood how Fin and the child had bonded. There was something so sweet and innocent about children that age.
Mindy still had several years before things began to change. When friendships weren’t just about being a good sport but about what you wore and how you looked.
If Mindy had those years…
“Me, too.” Eliza cleared her throat. “If there’s anything I can do, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Owen offered a jerky nod.
Eliza was considering how best to lighten the mood when Lindsay cocked her head, her blue eyes focused on Owen. “Did you sit in a pile of sugar?”
Owen twisted, checked the back of his khakis. “No. I mean, I don’t think so. Why?”
Lindsay smiled full out. “Because you’ve got a pretty sweet ass.”
This time, it was Owen’s turn to laugh. Although the sadness and worry didn’t completely leave his eyes, he was now smiling.
“I think you two have passed Lame Pickup Lines 101.” Eliza smiled and wiggled her fingers. “I’m going to see if others are doing as well.”
Eliza wove through the crowded room, listening to snatches of conversation and observing the smiles and interested looks. She was making good progress when she hit an immovable object.
She lifted her gaze, and her breath lodged in her throat.
Kyle extended his h
and. “Hi, my name is Microsoft Windows.”
Though her heart hammered against her ribs, Eliza simply arched a brow and waited.
“Can I crash at your place tonight?”
Try as she might, Eliza couldn’t suppress the chuckle. “That’s extremely lame.”
He grinned. “Don’t you have something to say to me?”
Eliza cocked her head. Frowned. “I haven’t heard from Katherine, but I assume Lolo is fine. I can call and—”
“Forget my sister. We both know she’s in good hands.” Kyle’s gaze roamed her face. A hint of a smile lifted his lips. “You told me this was a singles event with lame pickup lines.”
Now she understood. Eliza searched for something clever and lame, but her mind had gone blank.
After a few seconds, his hand rose and his fingers massaged her shoulder. “Relax, E. You’re trying too hard.”
That’s me, Eliza thought. So darned serious about every little thing.
“It’s okay.” He spoke in a low tone for her ears only. “Whatever you say will be fine.”
As she relaxed, a line she’d heard during her college years popped into her head. It was silly, but wasn’t that the point?
As she inhaled the faint lime scent of his cologne, her heart skipped a beat. She rose up just a few inches and let her lips brush his ear. When she spoke, her voice came out low and sultry, just as she intended. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
Strong arms stole around her. “I’m not sure.”
This was more fun than she’d thought it could be. Gazing up at him, Eliza offered a coy smile. “Well, then, I guess I better walk by again.”
It took him a moment, but he got it. His chuckle was a deep rumble that warmed her heart. “Bravo.”
“I’m Eliza Shaw, by the way.”
His eyes went blank for only a second, then a twinkle filled those baby blues. “Kyle Kendrick.”
She supposed she should take a step back. After all, they’d just met. Go bold or go home. Eliza smiled at the thought. “Have you been in Good Hope long, Mr. Kendrick?”
“Call me Kyle.” His arms tightened around her. “I moved here last summer. You?”
“I grew up here.” Eliza’s lips curved. “Good Hope is home.”
“Ever thought of moving anywhere else?”
“Not really.”
“What keeps you here?”
It was a question her father had never asked. He’d merely assumed she stayed because of Jeremy and the hope they’d one day marry.
“I feel connected to the community in a way I don’t believe would be possible in any other town.” Eliza spoke from the heart. “I can travel and take vacations to places that interest me. But at the end of the day, this is my home.”
Kyle hadn’t known what to expect when he’d stepped into Muddy Boots. He’d been startled by the number of singles who’d shown up, including most of his crew. He wasn’t sure how they’d heard about the event.
Out of all the beautiful women in the café, only one caught his eye. She’d have captured his attention in any crowd. Now, at the end of the evening, she was headed home with him.
The fact that he and Eliza lived in the same house might have had something to do with her being by his side.
The café had barely disappeared from view when Kyle reached over and took Eliza’s hand. He expected her to pull away. To his surprise, her fingers curved around his.
“What’s this about?” She raised their joined hands, her tone mild, her expression merely curious.
“I’m escorting a beautiful woman home after a party.” He flashed a smile. “Holding hands is a given.”
A tiny smile played at the corners of those red lips. “Is a kiss at the door also a given?”
“Absolutely.” Going on impulse, Kyle paused on the sidewalk to bring their joined hands to his lips.
“I had fun tonight.”
What kind of response was that? Kyle kept her hand tucked in his as they continued to walk. “You sound surprised.”
“I wasn’t sure what to expect. I don’t attend many singles events.” She slanted him a questioning look. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Once I picked up a certain dark-haired beauty, I did.” He swung their hands between them as they strolled down the sidewalk. “Looking back, I believe it was my ultracool pickup line that convinced her to give me a chance.”
Eliza chuckled and didn’t dispute the claim.
“Will you invite me in?”
“Just to clarify.” Her dark lashes swept her cheeks. “Are you talking invite inside the house or inside my bedroom?”
His heart, which had been beating at a steady rhythm, took an erratic turn as the blood inside his veins surged.
“Both. Either.” Kyle met her gaze, wanting to make it clear he wouldn’t press for more than she was willing to give. “You caught my eye the first moment I saw you.”
While he wouldn’t go sappy and say it had been love at first sight, she definitely stirred something in him.
He remembered how she’d stride by the job site and, on the occasions when their eyes would meet, give him the cool-eyed stare she’d probably perfected before she was out of diapers. The few times they’d spoken, she’d been polite. Polite underscored by ice.
Kyle had never been drawn to women who treated him like dirt. But Eliza’s behavior toward him hadn’t felt personal. From what he’d observed, she treated every guy—except Jeremy—the same way.
He’d noticed that even Beckett Cross, her attorney, rarely found himself on the receiving end of a warm smile.
Being under the same roof confirmed what he’d suspected—though well hidden, there existed a softer side to this woman. She cared deeply about the community and the people who called Good Hope home.
She simply kept a tight rein on her emotions, careful not to let any vulnerability show.
Eliza still hadn’t responded to his question by the time they reached the porch. Kyle tightened his fingers around her hand, determined to savor that connection as long as possible. As they climbed the steps, he noticed that, other than the porch light, the stately home was completely dark.
In the dim light, she met his gaze. A tiny smile hovered at the edges of her mouth. Her eyes shimmered like gray fog in the porch light’s glow.
Kyle finally released her hand, pushing back a stray lock of her hair that had fallen forward. “As silky as I imagined.” He let his fingers play with the strand as he gazed into her eyes. “Is that lame?”
She placed her hands on his shoulders. “I think it’s sweet.”
“I think you’re sweet.”
Those watchful gray eyes never left his. “I don’t believe anyone has ever called me sweet before.”
“They don’t know you like I do.” He brushed a kiss against her temple.
When she tipped her head back, giving him full access to her neck, his control nearly shattered. Kyle scattered kisses down the ivory skin and heard her breath quicken.
Kyle understood completely what she was feeling, what she wanted, because he wanted it, too. With his heart in full gallop, he found her lips.
Chapter 14
Even before Kyle’s mouth brushed hers, Eliza knew the feel of his lips, the softness, warmth and gentleness. She’d done her best to deny it, but from the very start, there was something familiar about him.
It was as if Kyle was someone she’d known forever, and known intimately. A man she could have picked out of a crowd in a dark room.
The feelings he stirred weren’t only sexual. Though Eliza had to admit that a couple of times, she’d found herself wondering what he looked like naked.
While they kissed, Eliza stroked the back of his neck, twining her fingers in his thick, soft hair. She hoped this didn’t end anytime soon.
It felt amazingly good to hold him. To taste him. When a smoldering heat began to build, she didn’t fight the sensation.
She loved the way he smelled, an enticing combination
of cologne and soap and maleness. Her skin prickled as his mouth skimmed the edge of her jaw and his hand flattened against her lower back, drawing her even more tightly against the length of his body.
They fit together perfectly. Where she was soft, he was hard. A hot riff of sensation traveled up her spine at the feel of his erection.
The air held a chill, but heat radiated from him, urgent and hungry. And still they kissed, deep kisses that stirred her senses and stoked the fire inside her.
Eliza heard herself groan, a low sound of want and need that astonished her with its intensity. Need erupted, and the frantic beating of her heart mingled with his.
She cursed the clothes that separated them. She longed to run her hands over his body, to feel the coiled strength of skin and muscle sliding under her fingers.
Lifting her hands to frame his face, she spoke in an urgent, husky whisper. “Let’s take this inside.”
Without giving him a chance to respond, she gave him a ferocious kiss as if to seal the deal.
“Yes.” His voice was a gruff rasp.
With fingers that trembled, Eliza fought to fit the key in the lock. The task was made more difficult when Kyle’s arms slipped around her from behind.
“Got it.” Eliza turned for another kiss just as headlights swept across the porch.
She and Kyle sprang apart like two guilty teenagers.
Kyle uttered a curse, a sentiment Eliza understood.
It took several erratic heartbeats before Eliza found her voice. “Saved by the headlights.”
Kyle thought about Eliza’s comment while feigning interest in the domino tournament. Lolo had won the grand prize, an oversized polka-dotted mug filled with cheese curds, chocolate-covered cherries and other goodies.
Listening to his sister relay every little detail gave Kyle’s mind—and body—a chance to settle. Eliza appeared unfazed by what had happened on the porch.
In fact, if his body hadn’t been still humming with desire, if he hadn’t recalled all too vividly how she felt pressed against him, and her throaty whisper to take things inside, he might have thought he’d imagined the whole encounter.