by Lori Wilde
No, she hadn’t been. But that still didn’t give Jared the right to butt in.
“Why are you following me?” she asked.
He glanced around. “I’m not following. I’m walking next to you. It’s entirely different. If I were following you, I’d wear a trench coat, maybe some dark glasses, and definitely a hat.”
Grrr. “You know what I mean, so don’t play dumb. You keep showing up wherever I am. The wedding. The homecoming thing. Now dinner.” She narrowed her eyes. “What are you up to?”
His expression was completely sincere as he said, “Not one thing. Guess it’s fate or something.”
Leigh snorted. “As if. You’re up to something as sure as a pig likes to roll in mud.”
Jared grinned. “Interesting analogy.”
“Appropriate. And just so you know, sooner or later, I’ll figure out what you’re up to.”
He bumped her arm yet again. “Leigh, no offense, but we live in a town the size of a postage stamp. How can we avoid seeing each other?”
His explanation sounded reasonable enough, but she couldn’t shake the feeling there was more going on here. But what? And more importantly, why? What possible motivation could Jared have?
“Besides, we’re friends now,” he said. “We should be happy to see each other. And since we’re friends, if you want me to go talk to Billy, I will. I’m sure he’d love to go out with you again.”
“That’s okay. I don’t think Billy’s what I’m looking for after all.” She kept walking, wishing he’d leave her alone.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said after they’d walked for a few minutes in silence.
She glanced at him. “Which one? You ask so many it’s hard to keep track.”
He stopped walking. “You weren’t really going to ask Billy home, were you?”
“Just because you weren’t interested in me doesn’t mean no man is interested. For your information, there were many, many times back in high school when I had to pry Billy off me. He may be more interested in dessert than in wild sex these days, but he’s not the only fish in the sea. Nor is he the only guy in Honey.”
“Hey, I know you’ll have no trouble finding a whole string of guys to show your decorating to,” he said. “Heck, I know quite a few from my rodeo days who’d jump at the chance.”
“Kendrick, you’re being deliberately obtuse.”
Jared scratched his jaw. “Is that anything like being oblique, ’cause I’m sure I’ve been that a couple of times as well.”
Leigh snorted. “You’re confusing oblique with elongated.”
Jared hooted a laugh. “Dang, Leigh, I can’t believe you said that.”
Well, she couldn’t, either. And the more he laughed, the harder she had to try not to laugh, too. But he wasn’t going to do this to her. He wasn’t going to make her forgive him for butting into her life.
Once she’d finally gotten herself under control, she said, “I’m not looking for a bunch of meaningless affairs. But I would like to enjoy my freedom. For my entire life, I’ve had one brother or the other breathing down my neck. Now that they’re all happily settled, I’d like to enjoy myself. Go out, have some fun.”
In the fading evening light, she couldn’t quite see him clearly. It made it difficult to tell what he was thinking, since Jared didn’t always say exactly what was on his mind.
“But wasn’t that why you hit on me? Just to have sex?” he asked.
She shrugged and gave the only explanation she had, “You got my brothers in a lather, and besides, you’re cute.”
“Ah. Nice to know I’m cute.” He started walking again.
She groaned loud and long. “Don’t pretend to be insulted. You are cute, and you know it.”
“So does that mean you’re going to ask me out again, now that you have your freedom?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I’m still not interested in something serious, which is what I gather you want.”
“What makes you think that?” he asked.
“You told me.”
“When?”
“When I tried to kiss you on our last date. You said you weren’t going to have sex with me just so I could make my brothers mad. You also said you were at a different point in your life than I’m at, and that you weren’t looking for a fling.”
He nodded. “I meant that. I still do.”
“Fine, I understand.” Her headache now felt like there were football players holding a scrimmage in her brain. She rubbed her left temple. “Good luck finding what you’re looking for.”
“Thanks. Hey, maybe you can help. Know any women in town looking for a serious relationship who might go out with me?”
Leigh stared at him. Hello? What universe was she in? Jared wanted her to fix him up with other women?
When she finally recovered enough to speak, she asked, “You’re kidding, right? Ha, ha. Very funny.”
Jared shook his head. “Of course, I’m not kidding. Your brothers told me what a great job you did finding the perfect women for them. I thought that since we’re friends, you might be willing to help me out, too.”
Leigh continued to stare at him, trying to figure out how she hadn’t noticed until now that the man was flat-out crazy.
“You’re kidding, right?” she repeated when she realized he was waiting for her answer.
Jared laughed and assured her, “Don’t be so surprised. Since we’re friends, naturally I’d ask for your help. And hey, like I said, if you want me to hook you up with some of the rowdier boys from the rodeo circuit, just say the word.”
“No,” she told him firmly.
“No to which part? No, you don’t want to help me or no, you don’t want me to hook you up with some of the guys?”
How aggravating could one man be? Scratch that. She knew how aggravating a man could be because she had the world’s most aggravating one standing right in front of her.
“No to both ideas,” she said.
Jared sighed. “I’m sure sorry to hear that. I was hoping you’d help me.” He leaned closer and said softly, “I’m not exactly the most popular person in town. A lot of women may be reluctant to go out with me, considering the kinds of things I got up to as a kid.”
Leigh was trying to follow what he was saying, but it was darn near impossible with him standing this close. The man smelled like heaven, like sandalwood and the outdoors. And when he spoke softly, like he was now, a woman couldn’t help thinking about satin sheets and warm nights and wild sex.
For a nanosecond, she allowed herself the luxury of simply enjoying the experience. Then she gave herself a good, hard mental whack upside her head.
“I’m positive you won’t have any trouble getting the ladies in this town to go out with you,” she said, cringing when her voice came out sounding breathless and squeaky.
“Yeah, but they’ll be like you. Only wanting to find out if all the stories of my sexual escapades are true. I want to go out with nice women interested in a relationship,” he said. “So will you help me?”
Leigh held up one hand. She needed a minute to get her brain to let go of that whole sexual escapades idea he’d brought up.
She wasn’t having much luck, what with him using his soft voice and all, and Jared was obviously getting impatient.
“Leigh, stop staring at me like you’re picturing me swinging naked from a chandelier. I’m asking you for help.”
Now why’d he go and say that part about the chandelier? More importantly, why’d he go and say that part about being naked? She was only human.
“You’re not going to help me,” he said finally. “I can tell.”
Leigh snapped. “Fine. Fine. Don’t pout. I’ll help you. But I still think you’re being silly. No one is going to hold what you did in high school against you.”
“You did. You brought up all that stuff during the meeting with Gavin.”
Oops. Okay, he had her there. But still, he was wrong. “But other people won’t.”
“Yeah, well he also ate both our desserts. No one who’s not crazy will.”
Jared chuckled. “I’ll let it slide that you just put yourself in that crazy category.”
Based on everything that had happened during the last couple of days, that seemed to be where she belonged. They’d reached her house, so she headed up the walkway. “Have a nice night.”
He put one hand on her arm. “Hey, wait a minute. So you will help me, right? Any ideas who I should ask out first?”
Leigh blew out a breath of disgust. When she’d agreed earlier, she’d only said yes to close the subject. She hadn’t actually intended on finding him dates, maybe just make it appear that she was finding him dates.
But now she realized he actually expected her to find real dates for him. What to do, what to do.
She always tried to be a good friend and help out other people. And it really wasn’t Jared’s fault that the two of them didn’t want the same things out of life. Both of those were great reasons for her to agree to help.
Of course, on the other hand, she’d rather slow dance with a grizzly bear than set Jared up with other women. She wanted him to want her. Naked, with or without the chandelier.
Jared waved one hand in front of her face. “Hello, Leigh, are you still with me?”
Leigh gave him a narrow-eyed look. “Give me a sec. I’m thinking.”
Jared started whistling. “Let me know when you’re done thinking.”
“Cute.”
He winked. “You already told me that, but thanks again.”
When he started whistling again, Leigh opened her mouth to tell him to cut it out, when suddenly, a blast of inspiration hit her. If she got to pick the women he dated, she could make certain they were completely wrong for him.
Ooooh. Now this was a plan with possibility. “Sure. I have an idea,” she said. “Ask out Maureen Sturham. She moved to town a couple of months ago. She’s single and very nice.”
To her complete amazement, Jared hugged her. Really hugged her, not one of those quick friend hugs. Nope, this was a full-body contact hug with lots of oomph.
Never one to miss a chance, Leigh hugged him back. Yep, this friend thing could definitely work to her advantage.
“Thanks,” Jared told her when he moved to release her. “I appreciate it.”
Then, even more amazingly, he kissed her left cheek, and slowly, carefully, slid his mouth across her lips, lingering there a long, long time, before he finally dropped another kiss on her right cheek.
When he finally moved away from her, Leigh gaped at him.
“Excuse me, but what was that?” Leigh could feel her lips tingling, her heart racing in her chest. She wasn’t complaining, not by a long shot, just confused. “You. Kissed. Me.”
Jared shrugged. “On the cheeks. Nothing wrong with that. We’re friends.”
“Oh, no. That wasn’t a kiss between friends. You kissed my lips, too,” she pointed out, not sure whether she was accusing him or congratulating him but baffled all the same.
He shrugged. “By accident. I was only trying to get from one cheek to the other. Seemed like the best way to go about it.”
With a wave, he headed back up her walkway. “Anyway, I’ll see you Wednesday night at the parade-planning meeting. And thanks again for your help. I’ll give Maureen a call.”
“I must be crazy,” Leigh muttered under her breath as she watched him leave.
When he reached the sidewalk in front of her house, he turned briefly and said, “Oh, and for the record, I don’t think you’re crazy.”
Then he walked away.
For the longest time, Leigh just looked after him. Then she snorted and said to herself, “I’m going to help the man I want to have an affair with find the woman of his dreams. If that’s not crazy, I don’t know what is.”
4
Jared entered the high school gym exactly eight minutes late for the parade committee meeting. That should give Leigh enough time to get aggravated, and nothing was more fun than an aggravated Leigh. Plus, it guaranteed he was in the forefront of her mind.
That fit perfectly in his plan. So far, he’d gotten Leigh to agree to be his friend. Now, he was going to make certain he was the only man she thought about.
And based on her choice of date for him, she wasn’t exactly trying to fix him up, either.
Sooner or later, he was certain she’d come to realize they were perfect for each other. He knew she was the right one for him. And she’d soon figure out she needed someone in her life who could go toe-to-toe with her.
The town might not like him signing himself up for the job, but he was determined to be the man Leigh needed and deserved. No matter what it took.
As soon as he walked into the gym, he spotted Leigh. She stood in the middle of a group of people who were all talking at the same time. When she noticed him, she put a couple of fingers in her mouth and let out an ear-deafening whistle.
“Okay, now listen up. I need all those people who are interested in walking in the parade, regardless of what they want to be dressed like, to go to the left side of the gym.”
A couple of people started to argue, but she quelled them with a stern look. “I know, I know, the Mime Society wants to go before the clowns, but the people dressed like panthers think they should go before everyone. I got it.”
She turned her back and looked at the rest of the group. “Those of you wanting to create floats go to the right side of the gym, and for goodness’ sake, do a reality check. You can’t drive a float down the street if you can’t see out of the windows. Period. No negotiations. I’m not having you run over the crowd just so you can fulfill your artistic vision.”
Once again, a few people started to argue, but Leigh made a kind of growling noise, and everyone wandered off in the direction she’d indicated.
Then she turned her attention to him. She crossed the room and when she was a couple of feet from him, said, “You’re late.”
“Sorry. I was on the phone with Maureen. She wanted to talk about our date last night.”
Leigh’s expression made it clear she was surprised he’d moved so quickly. “I gave you her name on Monday, and you went out with her on Tuesday. You don’t waste any time.”
“Neither does Maureen.” He took a step closer to her. “And I guess it comes as a total surprise to you that Maureen is sixty-two. She’s a delightful woman with two sons who are both older than I am.”
Leigh bit her bottom lip, and he knew she was trying not to laugh. “She’s sixty-two? I had no idea. Well, don’t worry. Women reach their sexual peak later than men. I’m sure you two will hit it off.”
“Afraid we won’t. She called me right before I came over here to tell me that her sons disapprove of her dating me, so we’d better not go out again.”
Leigh made a sputtering sound. “Really? You poor thing.”
“Mmm. Yes, well I agreed it was for the best.” He took another step closer to her. “I thought you were going to help me find someone right for me.”
Tears were forming in Leigh’s eyes, obviously from trying not to laugh. “I am.”
He made the snorting noise she liked so much and said, “As if.”
Like a dam giving way, laughter burst out of Leigh. Long, loud laughter. Jared stood patiently while she laughed. And laughed. Wheezed a little. Then laughed some more.
Although he’d do his best to pretend to be mad, he was thrilled she’d set him up with a bogus date. That meant Leigh didn’t want him to find Ms. Right any more than he wanted her to enjoy her freedom with any other guy.
His plan was percolating along nicely.
After a couple of minutes, he sighed. “Okay, okay. Enjoy laughing. And from now on, I expect you to fix me up with women my age.”
Leigh bobbed her head. “Sure. Okay. Sorry.”
“Sorry my—” He glanced around the gym. Everyone was watching them, and no doubt listening to every word they said. “App
aloosa.”
Leigh must have also noticed they were the center of attention because she took a deep breath and said, “Let’s get started with this meeting. Go find Tommy and Kate.”
He nodded toward the crowd. “First, tell me, why are most of the store owners here? Usually only a few enter the parade.”
“Not this year. This year, seems like almost everyone wants to either walk in the parade or enter floats. Apparently Billy has been going around town bragging that he’s going to drive a cow, and so now they want to do the same thing.”
Jared studied the group, many of whom were shooting dirty looks his way. Man. Memories died hard in this town. “They want to decorate their cars like something you milk?”
“At this point, truthfully, I’d settle for more cows,” she said. “Based on a couple of the ideas I’ve already heard, Billy’s cow may be the tamest one in the whole parade. Did you know Pete Tunney wants to enter a giant toilet to represent his plumbing company? And Lilah Pearson wants to enter a coffin to represent the funeral home.”
“Yuck.”
“Exactly.” She sighed. “Billy’s cow is looking better and better. Now will you go find Tommy and Kate so we can start this meeting?”
Jared stood quietly waiting for Leigh to remember that he still had no idea who Tommy and Kate were, let alone where to look for them. Leigh was scanning items scribbled on a piece of paper, and it took a while for her to realize he was still standing in front of her. When she finally looked up, he smiled.
“What’s a Tommy-and-Kate?” he asked sweetly.
She sighed. “The student volunteers on this committee. I sent them to get a flip chart, but so far, they’re about as much help as...”
“Udders on Billy’s car?” Jared suggested.
Leigh groaned. “Yes. About as helpful as that. Can you go find them? They should be the only teenagers wandering around this time of night.”
Before he could say anything else, a disagreement broke out on the left-hand side of the gym. Two of the store owners had the same idea of dressing all their employees up as panthers, and apparently they were willing to fight for the right.
“My ladies will make wonderful panthers,” maintained Patty Stanley of Patty’s Powder and Primp.