Guy Next Door (9781460341179)

by Tippens, Missy

  Luke rarely got mad. And when he did, it blew over quickly. But this time he was more than angry. She’d hurt him right where he was most vulnerable.

  * * *

  On Sunday morning as the congregation rose for the closing hymn for morning worship, Luke glanced at his dad beside him. They were standing in their regular pew in the middle of the sanctuary. Granny stood on the other side of Burt, singing her heart out.

  All Luke could think about was that he needed to find a seasoned business partner—preferably his dad—and soon. He’d checked email that morning before leaving for the church and found a message from a client who had decided to leave the firm when he learned of Roger’s retirement, wanting a more experienced trial lawyer. And he wasn’t the first. Several others had already contacted Roger with concerns the past couple of days.

  Luke tried to force his mind back to the music, to words that should inspire him and prevent his mind from wandering.

  Staring at the hymnal, Luke recalled Darcy’s words from the night before. Did she truly think his business would fail? That he wasn’t capable of seeing it through the transition after Roger’s retirement?

  The thought stung, but with his lack of work experience, she could be right. He couldn’t control whether clients left the firm. But he could control whom he hired and how he ran his business.

  As Luke stared at the words on the page, the letters running together, he couldn’t help wondering what people would think of him asking his dad to come to Tennessee to join his practice. Would they think Luke hadn’t been able to succeed on his own?

  No, he would be offering Burt an opportunity to start over. Thanks to Roger, Luke would be the one bringing clients to their new partnership.

  As they filed out after the service, the elderly, squat gray-haired pastor of Appleton Community Church greeted parishioners at the door. Ever since Luke had moved to Nashville, he’d missed hearing sermons. Mainly because he spent Sundays at the office.

  That needed to change. He needed to put God first in his life. He should find a place he felt as comfortable as he did in his Appleton church and attend worship more faithfully.

  With light filtering through the stained glass windows, Luke inched along the carpeted center aisle with his dad and grandmother, greeting old friends. He hadn’t seen any of them since his mother’s funeral, and a few mentioned once again how sweet and fitting the service had been. Their comments made it difficult for Luke to speak.

  Each time someone said something about Joan, Luke glanced at his father, wondering how he managed to hold himself together. Burt simply shook their hands and agreed.

  Once they greeted the pastor and exited the church, Granny headed to speak with a friend.

  “Dad, has this talk about Mom been hard for you?” Luke asked.

  “It was tough when I first came back to church. In fact, I doubt I’d be back if it wasn’t for Noreen pushing me. Too many memories. That empty seat beside me.”

  “And now?”

  Burt stood straight and determined, chin held high. “I’m always going to miss your mother, but she wanted me to live my life. I’m pushing through, trying to keep going.”

  Glad his dad was doing better, Luke nodded. Yet Luke worried his dad could be trying so hard to move on that he was in denial, not truly dealing with the grief.

  “There’s Noreen now.” Burt waved to her and Darcy as they came out the door.

  The way Burt’s face lit up right before he bounded toward the women set off a warning signal in Luke’s brain. Dad and Noreen?

  No way.

  Noreen had been his mother’s best friend for decades. Their families had spent summers together at a lake house they first rented and then purchased together as co-owners. The adults had played Monopoly on Friday nights and went to movies together. The men had gone on fishing trips. The women swapped recipes and shopped.

  There was no way his dad and Noreen would get involved romantically. Like Luke and Darcy would never get involved.

  That had to be gratitude Luke had witnessed in Burt’s eyes. Gratitude for pulling him out of his isolation and depression.

  As Granny approached, she watched Burt. Grace was very perceptive. If anything were going on between Burt and Noreen, she would notice.

  Snapping her attention to Luke, she smiled. “Ready to go?”

  Apparently she hadn’t picked up on anything. Luke took his grandmother’s arm and led her to join the others.

  Burt waved them closer. “Luke, Darcy told me you’re helping pick up a basketball hoop for the auction.”

  Darcy’s face flushed. She looked breathtaking in her deep blue blouse that matched her eyes exactly. She also wore a slim-fitting, knee-length skirt, a far cry from her casual college attire.

  He liked this new, feminine look. Liked how the skirt showed off her slim legs, how—

  Cut it out, Jordan. He pulled his attention back to his father. “I’m actually going to be working with Darcy on the fund-raising committee for Food4Kids while I’m home.”

  “You are?” Dad asked, a broad smile forming. “Good to hear. Your mom would be pleased.”

  “That’s nice of you, Luke,” Noreen said. “Hey, why don’t y’all plan on coming back to the house this evening for dinner? Grace, you, too. And Burt, of course,” she added almost as if she’d forgotten him, her cheeks turning bright red.

  Once again, alarm bells clanged in Luke’s head. Since when did Noreen blush around anyone in his family? Had she developed a crush on his father?

  “We’d be delighted to come,” Dad said, totally oblivious to the undercurrents.

  Poor Dad. Letting Noreen down easy would be difficult. And not something Burt should have to deal with. Maybe Darcy could have a talk with her, gently suggest she be careful with her feelings.

  Grace patted Noreen’s arm. “Thank you, dear, but I’m helping cook supper for the youth group kids tonight. I’ll join you another time.”

  “Luke, I guess we need to head on over to the sporting goods store,” Darcy said.

  “Sure.”

  They said their goodbyes and walked to her small SUV.

  “I appreciate this. I know you’re probably still angry with me,” she said as she pulled out of the parking lot.

  “Angry with you?”

  “Oh, come on. It’s me here. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

  So much for blowing off her comment from the night before. “Yeah, well…”

  “I’m sorry. I really do believe in you. You’ve worked hard, accomplished so much.” She glanced over at him, her eyes begging him to believe her. “I know you won’t fail.”

  As long as he could remember, she had believed in him and never wavered. That support was one of the reasons her friendship was so important to him. How could he stay mad at her? Besides, he’d never been able to. All she ever had to do was smile or laugh and it set his world right. “Forget about it.”

  “Thanks.” She glanced over and gave him one of those smiles, soothing his bruised ego.

  “So what’s the deal with your mom liking my dad?” he asked.

  The car gave a lurch as she pushed the gas pedal too hard. “What?”

  “I think she may have a crush on him. He’s been talking about Noreen this and Noreen that, as if she’s been helping him through his grief. From the way she was blushing just now, I think maybe she’s got feelings for him.”

  Flipping on the blinker, Darcy glanced at him. “That’s crazy. They’re friends.”

  “Have they been spending more time together?”

  “I don’t really know. I’m not home much.”

  Which meant it was entirely possible. He chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered what all Burt and Noreen might have talked about, might have shared. �
��You know, Dad says he’s having second thoughts about moving out of the house. Could be that she’s discouraging it.”

  “I don’t see why she’d do that unless she thinks it’s too soon for him to make that type of decision. I remember her having fleeting thoughts about selling the house right after Dad died. Later, she said she was glad she hadn’t.”

  Which only made asking his dad to relocate more difficult. “Maybe that’s all it is, a friend advising a friend. Still, you might want to talk to her. I’m afraid she’ll end up getting hurt.”

  “You don’t need to worry. Remember, I think she may be seeing someone.” Darcy stopped at a stop sign and looked over, irritation drawing her mouth downward. “What if they did care for each other? Would that be a bad thing?”

  How could she even entertain the idea? “Oh, come on, you can’t be serious. That would be strange. She was my mom’s best friend.”

  “She’s been talking on the phone to someone a good bit, comes in late at night without explanation. Your dad would be a whole lot better than some stranger she’s apparently hiding from me.”

  “Remember Chloe,” he said, reminding her of the mantra they’d typically used when one of them kidded about dating the other. “Applies to our parents, as well.”

  She gave him an apologetic close-lipped smile. “Still, weird or not, I’d pick your dad over her dating someone I haven’t yet met.”

  He shook his head. Time to get back to the business at hand. “I made some calls yesterday to confirm donations. Have a pretty good-size list for us today, so we might want to drive through and grab lunch at some point.”

  She pulled into the sporting goods store lot and turned off the car. Held out her hand. “Show me the list. I can set up our route for efficiency.”

  Darcy had always been one to jump in any situation and get right to work. A trait he’d admired. A trait that would serve them well for the fund-raiser. He needed to set aside any difference of opinion over their parents.

  “We make a good team,” he said. “I appreciate you helping me.”

  When she gave him a self-satisfied smirk, it was as if the old Darcy had fully returned. A teasing glint lit her eyes as she leaned over the console and squeezed his biceps. “I suppose you do need my help with heavy items. Office work makes you soft.”

  “And microscope work is muscle-building?” Laughing, he returned the inspection, his hand easily wrapping around her slim upper arm. The delicate skin was so soft that he couldn’t resist rubbing his thumb over the underside.

  She sucked in a breath, and it was as if the intake changed the electron composition of the air in the car. The space sizzled with tension as they stared into each other’s eyes. His heart began to thud, quick and strong.

  “Um, yeah, lifting all those test tubes and petri dishes is a real workout.” With a strained laugh, she pulled away from his grip and clenched her hands in her lap.

  Remember Chloe.

  “So. A portable basketball hoop, huh?” he choked out. “That should bring in quite a few bucks for the kids.”

  “Yes. Valued at one hundred seventy-nine dollars.”

  “Very nice, indeed.” He had to get out of the car before he said something stupid. He threw open his door, allowing all the awkwardness to escape the vehicle. “Come on. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

  * * *

  If Darcy didn’t get a grip, this working with Luke was going to be torture. Pure torture.

  She strengthened her resolve and somehow managed to get through the day. But it seemed as if every five minutes her mind would wander, and she’d recall his touch.

  At dinnertime, she pulled her SUV, full of the items they’d picked up that afternoon, into her driveway. You’re ridiculous, Darcy O’Malley. Ri-dic-u-lous. If not so embarrassing, she’d yell the word out loud.

  Their awkward moment earlier was totally her fault. She’d jokingly reached for his arm muscle, and then spazzed at the bizarre connection. She absolutely could not let her old crush come roaring back, or it would be impossible to work with him. Impossible to act normal around him.

  “Are you sure your mom won’t mind us storing the auction items here?” Luke asked as he opened the back of her vehicle.

  “There’s less storage space at the church. The items will be safe here until we can set up right before the auction.”

  Darcy propped the front door of the house open and began to carry small items into the wood paneled study. The room still reminded her of her dad, though her mom had pretty much taken over his desk. His books still filled the shelves, and his framed photos remained on the desk.

  “Is that you, Darcy?” Noreen called from the kitchen.

  “Yes. We’re going to unload the car.”

  “Dinner will be ready soon. Burt is already here.”

  Someone in her mom’s life had put a bounce back in her step and a chronic smile on her face. Could that person actually be Burt?

  As Darcy trudged back outside, Luke’s cell phone rang.

  He signaled for her to hold up. “Yes, I appreciate you calling me back.”

  He listened to the caller for another moment. “I see.” Nodded. Frowned. “Yes, I understand. Please don’t worry about it. We’ll talk soon.”

  Rubbing his forehead as if trying to smooth away a headache, he tucked the phone in his pocket. “That was Mr. Haley. They aren’t going to be able to donate the trip to their ski chalet after all.”

  “You mean they can’t pay the travel expenses?”

  “I mean they can’t donate any of it—travel, use of the chalet or the lift tickets. We’ve lost the whole vacation package.”

  He had to be kidding. She waited for him to break into laughter and say so, but his serious expression squashed her hope.

  She groaned. “That skiing package was supposed to raise the majority of our money. We’ve been advertising it on the church website for weeks. What happened?”

  “He said unexpected financial obligations. Looks like we’re going to have to knock on doors to come up with more donations, and hopefully a big one.”

  Which would take more of Darcy’s nonexistent time. That, coupled with the strain from being around Luke, was simply too much. “I can’t do this,” she said under her breath as she lifted a large painting out of the car.

  He grabbed hold of the frame. “I’ll get that. It’s too heavy.”

  He didn’t get it. She couldn’t handle the fund-raiser commitment—or him. “If Chloe comes to dinner this evening, I’m going to ask her to help round up donations.”

  “Sure, do what you need to do.” He didn’t look thrilled by the prospect as he picked up a framed mirror and headed inside.

  Having another committee member still wouldn’t solve the problem of Darcy handling her feelings for Luke. She’d had enough disappointment where he was concerned. She didn’t need to bring more on herself.

  After two more loads of items, they carried the carton holding the basketball hoop to the garage, then headed to the kitchen.

  Steam rose from a boiling pot on the stove. A freshly baked pound cake sat on the granite countertop, the smell of vanilla and sweetness filling the air.

  Was it Darcy’s imagination, or were Burt and her mom standing awfully close? Could he be the mystery man? They looked kind of cute together and acted comfortable around each other. How could that be a bad thing? After watching her mother suffer through a year of sadness and withdrawal, followed by another year of merely getting by, Darcy liked seeing her happy.

  And the affection didn’t appear one-sided like Luke had suggested.

  “Oh, hi, you two.” Noreen’s eyes were bright, her smile perky. “Now I can put the garlic bread under the broiler. It’ll be ready in two minutes.”

  “Is Chloe coming for dinner?” Darcy asked.


  Burt opened the drawer and pulled out a serving spoon. “She called to say she was running late. We’re to go ahead and eat.”

  Darcy looked back and forth between her mom and Burt, which wasn’t much of a trip. They were practically joined at the hip as they finished dinner preparations together. As if they’d cooked together many times before.

  “Is something going on here?” Darcy asked before she’d had time to consider the question.

  A glance at Luke, whose eyes narrowed as he took in the homey scene, showed she’d probably made an error.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” Mom said, opening the refrigerator, staring inside.

  Burt shoved his hands in his pockets and focused his attention out the window.

  Neither of them would make eye contact.

  Darcy chewed her lip, trying not to laugh. Something was definitely up. Then she realized the mistake of unearthing that something in front of Luke, who stood on the other side of the counter with hurt in his eyes.

  “Yeah, Dad. Is there something you need to tell me?”

  Burt squared off with his son. “Maybe there is.”

  “Burt.” Noreen hurried over from the fridge, laid her hand on his arm and shook her head imperceptibly. The tiniest warning, so tiny Darcy almost missed it.

  “We’re not children,” Burt said, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

  Luke ran a hand through his hair. “Oh, man. This isn’t one-sided. You care about her, too?”

  Burt put his arm around her mother’s shoulder and pulled her close beside him. “We have feelings for each other.”

  “Six months.” Luke paced across the kitchen toward the breakfast nook. “Six measly months. Mom’s barely in the grave, and her best friend and widowed husband are acting like a couple of teenagers, having feelings for each other.”

  Noreen went to him and reached out. “Please, Luke. Try to understand. We didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  Following on Noreen’s heels, Burt stopped inches from his son’s face. “No need to be disrespectful,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “How could you? It’s not decent. When word gets out, Granny will be devastated.”