A polite cough echoed near the back of the theater. A blush spread across Carly’s cheeks and she dropped her hands away from Ross’s face. She peered over her shoulder, unable to stop herself. Asher was reclining on his elbows halfway down the balcony steps, grinning, his ankles crossed. He raised his hand and waved.
“Dammit,” Carly whispered. She whipped back around and slid down in her seat.
Marilyn’s booming laugh echoed through the building, and she swept down the front of stage steps, stopping before Carly. “You and I should take the break together, missy.”
Grateful for the chance to escape, Carly jumped up. “Asher, Marilyn and I are going to go hang out in the saloon for a few minutes,” she threw over her shoulder. Scrambling up on the stage, she headed for the backstage door.
“Hold on, Carly.” She stopped short at Asher’s outburst, but didn’t turn around. He was so irritating, but just the sound of his deep voice sent a shock wave of pleasure through her stomach. She wanted that voice near her ear … whispering. And those strong arms around her … it had been days since he had hugged her or even taken her hand in his. Had she really pissed him off to the point that he found her unattractive?
She had not been pleasant to him very much in the past few days. In fact, she had been downright rude, cutting him off when all he was trying to do was engage in friendly conversation. But she was afraid the subject would turn to Wheeler, and Carly Foster was not a good liar. The asshole’s warning to stay away from Asher was always at the front of her mind and if she broke down and told Asher about it, he’d go after Wheeler. And get hurt. And then Wheeler would turn his sights on Ruby Spring. She couldn’t let that happen. For now, she was stuck.
But one thing she could do was avoid people like a true champ. And that’s what she was going to do right this very minute, without Asher embarrassing her in the process.
Carly took a deep breath and turned to face Asher, who had jumped up on the stage and was walking toward her, frowning. She blocked his path and whispered, “We’re only going to be in there for a little bit. If you’d like, you could sit on the bench out in front of the saloon and work on the color scheme for the oleo curtain.”
Asher narrowed his eyes and glanced from Carly to Marilyn and back again. “I think you girls are up to something … but I guess so. Just let me check the saloon before you go in.”
“Sure,” Carly agreed quickly. She glanced down at Marilyn, who still stood in the front row, smirking up at them. “I’ll grab a couple of sodas from the cooler stage left and meet you there, Marilyn.” Grabbing Asher’s hand, she pulled him into the stage left wing. “Could you please keep your voice down? I don’t want the interns to know about … well … the sabotage. If they run away, I’m screwed,” she said in a low voice.
Asher pulled his hand free and raised his eyebrows. “Don’t worry, Carly. I wouldn’t dream of scaring decent people off my own property.” He glared and pushed past her, slamming open the backstage door and stomping down the old wooden steps to the dusty path behind the theater.
Carly stared after him and rolled her eyes. Who died and made him king of Ruby Spring? Oh, yeah, old “Aunt Ethel.” She sighed and followed him up the path. She should be feeling more relaxed, because Wheeler seemed to have vanished. Two weeks had gone by without an incident.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t seem to enjoy herself, despite the great strides she had made in the restoration. It was virtually completed, with the exception of a little paint here and there. She and Asher had finished the ceiling two days ago, and tomorrow she would set up her power tools in the saloon and turn it into a makeshift scene shop in order to build the set for the play. It wouldn’t be that difficult. All she had to do, with the help of her interns, was move the tables and chairs up to the balcony and cover the bar area with protective sheets of plastic. Heavy-duty extension cords would be run around the stable to the costume shop next door, which was the closest building that had electricity.
Everything was shaping up, and she had nothing to worry about. Except that as of this minute, she hadn’t come up with any realistic plan to beat Wheeler at his sick game. And she had to, soon. God knew when he would show up again. And if he did, it would be her fault.
Carly tried to shake off her apprehension as she scowled down at the dusty street. Unable to resist, she glanced up at Asher, who was walking ahead of her, his hands thrust in his pockets. Her expression softened. He was such a decent man. Infuriating and confusing and sometimes close to irresistible, but all in all, a really good man. Deep down, she knew that’s why she was so attracted to him. And it was different from the other “summer crushes” she had had in the past. Those had been focused on men with authority … or pure sex appeal.
Asher had those things, too, but she knew that he could have been less attractive and she still would have fallen. Because of his good heart. He might have been attracted to her once, too, but she had pushed him away. Although she knew Asher thought of himself as the great protector, it was up to Carly to keep Ruby Spring, and all the people she had come to care about … safe.
• • •
Cracking open her soda can, Marilyn plunked it down and wiggled her way onto a stool in the saloon. “I wish I had a little something special to put in this soda,” she declared, and winked at Carly. “Hey, is there any liquor back there?” She peered over the edge of the dusty bar.
Laughing, Carly wiped condensation from her soda and hopped up onto a stool next to her. “Nope. And if there really was … it would be over a hundred years old. Would you even want to touch it?”
“Damn straight I would. Well … I’d probably smell it first, but I think it would be a total kick to take a shot of authentic Wild West whiskey.” Marilyn sighed and held out her soda can, swirling it. “But this is all we have for today, so bottoms up, Carly.”
They touched their cans together and took long drinks, as if throwing back a shot. Marilyn promptly belched and plunked her can down on the bar in satisfaction. “OK, down to business, Carly. I want you to tell me exactly what’s going on with this Wheeler fella.”
Carly winced at the name and looked over her shoulder toward the dusty windows in the front of the saloon. Asher sat on the porch outside, a colored rendering of the oleo curtain spread out on his lap. “Do you think he can hear us?” she asked.
“I doubt it, but let’s be as quiet as possible. If he gets wind of what I’m about to suggest, he won’t like it.” Marilyn replied.
“What do you mean?” Carly’s eyes widened.
“Let me get this straight. When you first got to Ruby Spring, you had car trouble. A hot and sexy sheriff stopped and helped you, then came on to you. Am I right so far?”
Carly blushed and took a swig of her soda. “Pretty much.”
“Then, he took you out on a date that same night, and he turned out to be a total loser. You kicked him in the balls and he took off. A few days later, Daniel broke his leg on a ladder … and then a costume was vandalized. But no one has reported anything because you all know it’s Wheeler, and it wouldn’t do any good because his boss is his best friend. Still correct?”
Carly nodded. “How did you know?”
“Ross and I had a talk.”
Carly frowned.
Marilyn folded her arms and stared. “And there’s more. So ’fess up … I want to help you nail this jerk.”
Carly began to shake her head. “Oh, no … that’s pretty much it. Really, I think he’s not going to do anything more … it’s been a couple of weeks … and I think it’s going to be OK, because … ” She trailed off and looked at Marilyn. “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”
“Not dreaming. Delusional, if you think Wheeler has just suddenly decided to turn into Mister Nice Guy. What else happened, Carly?”
Sighing, Carly relented and told her about the incident at the paint store.
Marilyn listened in silence, frowning. When Carly stopped talking, she reached over suddenly and pulled her in for a hug.
“You poor girl. Although … I really think you should have told someone. But we can’t change that now. What we can do is figure out how to trap that cowardly son of a bitch. If we catch him red-handed, we have proof. Do you have a video camera?”
“No,” Carly said, “but the college does. Remember, they’re using one for that on-camera class.”
Marilyn snapped her fingers. “That’s it. I think Nicky has a new job, in addition to being an acting teacher. He is now my personal private investigator … and a super-hot one, at that.” She waggled her eyebrows and belched again.
Carly grinned and looked at Marilyn, who raised a manicured index finger and took another drink.
Marilyn’s eyes sparkled as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and held the soda can out with a grand gesture. “Attention, please. I will now, for your listening pleasure, perform the entire alphabet.”
Carly giggled and saluted Marilyn with a soda can. The door creaked open just as Marilyn ripped out an impressive “A.”
• • •
“Are you two drinking something other than generic cherry cola?”
Both women looked at each other and then back at Asher. “No, Handsome, we don’t drink on the job,” replied Marilyn, all innocence.
Asher glanced at Carly. She was beaming, her pretty face lit up with happiness. It was a relief to see her this way. She had been beyond cranky for the better part of two weeks, and so cool to him that he had almost decided that she wasn’t attracted to him anymore.
Well, who could blame her? He was, by general observation, a non-working artist, and a grumpy one at that. The only job he had right now was to follow after her, and sleep at her feet at night like a faithful dog. At least he had stuck to that plan. And it had almost kept him busy enough to keep his mind off of painting. Which, incredibly, he had actually wanted to do more and more of.
He had an idea for a new painting … an abstract of an angelic face. It first came from the cherubs on the theater ceiling, but soon turned to a likeness of a familiar woman. With soft gray eyes and a sweet smile. He wanted to paint Carly, but he was afraid. Of what, he couldn’t tell, but that was reason enough to leave the canvas blank for now.
Asher smiled to cover his disturbing thoughts and walked over to the two women. Placing his hands on the bar between them, he joked, “I think you ladies have had enough. Last call is over. Now move it on out of here, before I have to throw you out.”
“Mmm, that sounds tempting, but I have to go back to work now,” replied Marilyn as she slipped off her stool. She left the saloon, closing the door behind her.
Carly’s smile washed over Asher like a welcome sunbeam. “We should get back too, I guess. My busy little helpers will wonder where we are.” She hesitated and then slipped her hand in his.
He paused for a brief second, and then squeezed it, a small smile playing around the corners of his mouth. “We wouldn’t want that. May I have the honor of escorting you back?”
Carly gazed into his eyes with relief. “Of course. And Asher? I’m really sorry if I’ve been … well … ”
He placed a palm on her cheek. “No explanation needed, Carly. To be honest, I know something’s going on … but I’m not completely sure I want to hear about it just yet. And you wouldn’t tell me anyway. Am I right?”
“You’re right,” she agreed. “I’m aware that we’ve only known each other a few weeks … and I know I’ve been awfully cranky. But could you just trust me on this? I’ll get it sorted out.” She gazed at him and reached up to curl her fingers around his warm hand.
Asher cleared his throat. “Yeah. But don’t think that it’s an excuse to wiggle away from me. You still need me, Carly.”
• • •
Carly nodded and averted her gaze toward the doorway as his words hit home. Oh yes, she did need him. But not just for protection, that was abundantly clear. Her raging emotions were testament to that. She needed him for all the healthy reasons any woman needed a man she was in love with.
Her eyes widened in shock. In love with him. In love with him? No! She didn’t want to be in love with him. Not in the summertime. Summertime was a curse. Any other time … like if she had met him in Chicago, around Christmastime. That would have been nice. Or at a New Year’s Eve party. But not here. Not when she was leaving in a little over a month. Once the show was open, her job was over, and there would be no excuse to stay … even if her heart was bleeding all over the mountainside. It would be just like every other summer she’d driven away from a theater in tears.
Frustration seeped in. This wasn’t fair. Why did this have to happen to her? She’d made herself a summer promise. But no matter what she did, or how hard she tried, she just couldn’t seem to stop searching for love even though she failed every time. This summer, so quickly, so easily … love had sneaked in, finding her, not the other way around. She let out a ragged sigh.
“Carly?”
Asher’s deep, soothing voice broke through her thoughts and she blinked to push back the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t look him in the eyes. He would know … and that would be disaster. Taking a shaky breath, she forced a smile on her face, keeping her gaze fixed on the dusty window by the door. Quickly, she gave his shoulder a squeeze and stepped around him.
“Carly?” he asked again.
“I’m fine. I think I drank my soda too fast,” she muttered, reaching for the old brass doorknob.
Before she could open it, Asher’s arms slid around her middle and she felt her back bump against his broad chest. Goosebumps ran down her arms as his stubbly chin nestled in the crook of her bare neck.
“You’re all tense,” he whispered.
It was true. Her back was ramrod straight and her feet were planted as if she were on board a rocking ship in a storm. All she wanted was to not cry. All she wanted was to run like hell back to the hotel and lock herself in the tiny bathroom on the third floor, turn on the water and then cry. She had to force herself to relax, because she knew Asher would do everything he could to keep her from running off if he thought she was truly upset.
Upset. Ha. She was beyond upset. She was in love. And the most important man in the world was holding her close and safe, trying to comfort her. Oh, God. Why her? Why couldn’t she have realized it when she was alone?
Carly’s blurry eyes fluttered closed and she inhaled, drawing in Asher’s clean, male scent. A burning tear escaped and slipped down her cheek. Then another. And another. Then a flood. Trying to suppress it was making it worse, and Asher’s arms tightened around her as her body began to shake with sobs.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he whispered, turning her around.
At the endearment, her troubled gaze sought his. For a full minute, she stared into his eyes, tears rolling down her face unheeded. He barely blinked. She barely breathed. Finally, he broke the spell and reached for her, his hands on the back of her head. A plaintive sob ripped out of her throat and he pulled her close, rocking.
Carly reached up and locked her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. She barely registered it when Asher’s arms encircled her waist and lifted her off the ground.
Walking over to the bar, he lifted her higher and set her on top of it. Even though Carly was planted almost four feet off the ground, Asher was so tall that they were almost eye to eye. He cupped her tear-stained face. His gaze all compassion, he leaned closer, kissing her salty lips.
“You don’t cry like that very often, Carly, do you?”
“No,” she whispered, looking at her lap.
“I can tell.”
“I’ll bet you don’t either,” she countered.
“Almost never,” he agreed. He placed his hands on he
r knees and a smile formed at the corners of his sculpted lips. The sexy laugh lines in his cheeks widened into deep dimples and he tipped his head to the side, observing her.
She glanced at him, then back down at her lap.
“Crying sucks,” she declared.
“Yeah, sometimes it does. And sometimes it’s an essential component of sanity.”
The corners of her lips lifted and she blinked through the tears. She reached into a pocket, drew out a hair band, and then twisted her wavy hair quickly up and away from her face. She wiped the remainder of the tears away and shook her head at Asher, her smile growing.
“What?” he asked.
“I just think it’s pretty amusing that an artist would have such a scientific explanation for going on an emotional crying jag.”
Asher’s palms squeezed her knees and he feigned irritation. “What do you mean? I am an artist, not a scientist.”
“Crying is an essential component of sanity,” she echoed back to him.
His hands slid farther up. “Oh, that.”
“Yes, that,” she countered, placing her palms on the back of his hands to halt them. She was beginning to get delicious shivers and she just didn’t want to deal with them right now.
He looked to the rough-hewn ceiling, appearing to be in deep thought. “Well, now, here’s the beauty of that remark. It would seem to be scientific because it is logical … but actually it is artistic.” His hands wiggled under hers and gained a couple of inches.
“Oh, that’s a load of crap,” Carly retorted, pressing down on his roving hands.
“No, no … now hear me out. It clearly is a statement about emotions, and worded in a crafty way,” he mused, his palms sliding upward. “ … so the words in and of themselves are a creation … so they had to have come from an artist … therefore, my quote is artistic,” he finished, his hands now on her hips.
Carly sucked in a breath and narrowed her eyes. She clapped her small hands over his wandering large ones and raised them to a safe distance. “So, now it’s an actual quote? Like a Shakespeare quote? Or a Wordsworth quote?”
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