INNOCENCE AND ARROGANCE

by Kimberley Reeves

  Mina felt a strange twinge in her stomach when Scott took her hand and led her to his friend’s shop. His hand was so big compared to hers, but it felt warm and strong and she liked it much more than she cared to admit. She was instantly overwhelmed by the richness of the shop as soon as they walked in. Scott had to keep tugging at her hand when she’d stop to look around until finally he just put his arm around her waist and guided her to a private room.

  “I don’t understand,” she said after he door closed. “How can I look for dresses from back here?”

  Scott felt a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. How could such a highly educated woman still be so sweet and innocent? “Honey, in this store, they come to you. Now have a seat on the sofa over there while I let them know we’re here. I’ll need to know what size you are so they can start bringing the clothes in.”

  “I don’t really know. I’ve lost weight since moving here and haven’t bought anything since.”

  Scott stood back, letting his eyes move slowly over her figure. She looked to be about eight inches shorter than he was.

  “Five foot eight, a hundred and twenty-five pounds, 34D on the bust line.”

  He paused, studying her hips for a moment before eyeing her mid section. He stepped forward and put his hands around her waist and was surprised to find how little it was. The baggy clothes she wore were incredibly deceptive.

  “Twenty-three inch waist. I’d say you’re probably a size or six or seven…” Scott lifted his head and sucked in air between his teeth. Those eyes of hers were going to get him into serious trouble.

  Mina stood perfectly still. As soon as Scott’s hands spanned her waist, she felt her heart start to race. They stared into each other’s eyes for a few moments and she had to fight the urge to lean into him. Her eyes moved to his lips and she wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by Scott Travis. Mina blushed profusely when those lips turned up into a cocky grin because she had the unsettling feeling he knew exactly what she’d been thinking.

  Mina stepped away from him and sat down on the sofa. “You’re very good, Scott. Does that mean you’re used to buying clothes for your girlfriends?”

  “Actually, this is a first for me.”

  He slipped out the door to avoid having to tell a little while lie. He could only imagine how she’d react to the truth; that the reason he had so easily guessed her body measurements was because he’d keeping a close eye on it. Scott hurried out to the front of the shop and was immediately greeted by his good friend and owner of the shop, Janette Carey. He’d dated her briefly several years before and was glad they’d remained close friends, especially now when he needed her help.

  “Jan, you look as beautiful as ever.”

  Jan patted her rounded stomach. “You’re full of beans, Scott. I’m big as a barn door and still have two months left to go.”

  “Maybe I have a thing for pregnant women,” he winked.

  “Should I ask about the woman in the back room?”

  “Bite your tongue, Jan, I’m extremely cautious in that department. When I do decide to have children, I’ll do it right and have a ring on her finger first. The young lady is my new assistant. She’s a very sweet person, but doesn’t have a clue about what will look good on her.”

  Jan smiled. “I saw her coming in. Definitely a size six, but her bust size will eliminate some of the dresses I originally had in mind. We’ll have to go with dresses that offer a little more room on top. Have a quick look around while I distract her and pull out the ones you want me to bring back.”

  “Thanks Jan. Just put the difference in cost on my card.”

  “Oh I will, along with a sizeable tip.” She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “Are you sure she’s just your assistant?”

  Scott kept his face expressionless. “Of course, why would you ask that?”

  “Because the only time you’ve ever come in here was to buy something for your sisters or mother. Maybe she is your assistant, but I think you’re kind of sweet on her too.”

  Scott turned his back to her and pretended to be looking at the dresses. “That’s ridiculous. She’s had a rough time of it lately and I wanted to do something nice for her. The problem is she’s just too proud to accept anything from me. Now go chat with her for a few minutes before she decides to come looking for me.”

  After Jan left to occupy Mina, he worked his way around the shop, pulling out the clothes he thought she’d look good in. Of course, Jan would pick out some of her own, but he was searching for something very specific. Scott finally found what he was looking for near the back of the shop; an emerald green dress to match Mina’s beautiful eyes. He left the dresses, slacks and blouses he’d chosen on the counter and went back to join Mina.

  “Scott,” Jan smiled as if she hadn’t just talked to him. “I was explaining to Mina why we can’t return the clothes to the distributors. It’s just not cost effective so we sell them for the cost of the material and shipping so we can at least recoup something.” Jan played her part wonderfully. “She’s lucky her size is in such high demand in my shop because she’ll have a much bigger selection than Jenna gets.”

  She told them both to have a seat while her ladies brought the dresses in then left to attend to her other customers. Scott sat down next to Mina, casually draping his arm over the back of the sofa. As the women came in to display the clothes, his heart melted every time her face lit up when she discovered she’d be able to afford the ones she liked.

  When they carried in the green dress he’d chosen, Mina reached out and touched the soft fabric. She laughed with delight when they told her the dress was marked down to thirty-five dollars.

  Scott could almost feel the warmth that radiated from her brilliant smile. It was worth every penny of the two-hundred and eighty dollars he’d have to throw in to supplement the cost.

  Chapter 3

  Mina spread all her new clothes out on her bed, practically delirious with happiness. Scott brought in the last of her purchases and laid them next to the others. She let her fingertips glide over the silky material of the green dress. “This one’s my favorite,” she said, then looked up at Scott. “Do you like it?”

  He smiled at the barely contained excitement in her voice. “I think you look beautiful in it.”

  Mina held it up to her and did a little pirouette. “How can I ever thank you,” she said, standing in front of her full-length mirror to admire the dress.

  “Ah, as I recall, you promised to prove your gratitude if you found even one dress.” He eyed the stack of dresses meaningfully.

  She turned back around and laid the dress carefully on the bed. “Okay, let’s hear it. What do I have to do, cook for you for a week? Clean your house? Give up my first born child?”

  Scott laughed softly. “All of that sounds very tempting, especially the home cooked meals. But I was thinking of something not quite so laborious.”

  Mina arched a brow. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to squirm and get nervous?”

  He moved closer to her. “Good God, you’re ornery. I can’t believe I ever thought you were timid as a mouse.”

  She smiled beguilingly at him. “I usually am. I think I know why Buster never went crazy when you came in the house.”

  “Really? Let’s hear your theory.”

  “We just feel…safe, I guess is the best word.”

  “Damn,” he teased. “There goes the night of wild sex I was going to demand for all my help.”

  Mina started laughing. “I hope you don’t say things like that at work. People might think you were serious.”

  Scott looked down at his sweet little Mina. If only he could, he thought with a regretful sigh. “Okay, I guess I’ll settle for a hug.”

  “That’s it?" She eyed him suspiciously. "No weekends of hard labor or spit shinning your shoes?”

  “No,” he grinned, “but I’ll keep those options in mind the next time I do you a favor.”

  Mina closed the
distance between them and folded her arms around his neck in a sincere hug. “Thank you, Scott. I really mean that.” She felt his arms tighten around her and suddenly found herself wanting to stay just where she was for awhile. Her face was close to his neck and for moment she closed her eyes, slowly inhaling the musky, male scent of him. God, he smelled good. She was thoroughly enjoying the feel of his corded, muscular chest against her breasts, then abruptly drew away from him when a heated throb rose deep in her abdomen.

  “Mina? Is something wrong?”

  She looked a little bewildered, her hand moving absently to her belly. “I…I don’t know. I just suddenly felt really strange.”

  Scott had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. The poor little thing didn’t have a clue that her body was reacting to sexual desire. He’d never wanted anything in his life as much as he wanted to bury himself in her sweet body right then. The softness of her body next to his had nearly driven him insane but he was playing a dangerous game and he knew it. He wanted to take Mina to bed, but he also needed her at his office and the truth of the matter was, he couldn’t have it both ways. If he didn't leave now, he wasn't sure he trusted himself not to seduce her.

  He leaned down and brushed her cheek with a soft kiss. “Enjoy your new clothes. I’ll see you tomorrow at eight o’clock.” He left Mina to admire her purchases and hurried to his car, regretting his decision all the way home.

  **

  Mina rose early Saturday morning, too excited about seeing Scott to sleep any longer. She loved how easy he was to talk to and that he found her sense of humor amusing. She felt proud being seen with him, but more than that, Scott seemed genuinely proud to be seen with her too. His eyes hadn’t wandered to other women as she suspected they would, though plenty of women had given him a double take. When he was with her, he gave all his attention to her and Mina found a great deal of happiness in that.

  She dressed quickly and grabbed Buster’s leash, giving him a stern talking to before they left about not turning into a traitor on her as he had whenever Scott came in the house. She usually started out at a slow walk, working it into a quick paced jog near the end of their route. She hadn’t really thought about it before, but she supposed it was part of the reason her body had trimmed up so much over the past few months. At home, she’d simply put Buster outside and let him run around the farm, but here she was responsible for his daily exercise.

  They were on their way back and only about two blocks from her house when she noticed a man pacing her on the opposite of the road. It wasn’t unusual for joggers to be out this time of morning, but it was definitely unusual for someone to jog in blue jeans and a jacket. She wasn’t oblivious to the furtive glances he kept giving her either and Mina was instantly incensed about it. It made her angry that she couldn’t even enjoy a morning run without some predator ruining it for her.

  She’d given Buster slack in the leash so he could run ahead of her, but the man wasn’t the only one casting furtive glances. Mina smiled to herself. When they’d first started taking their morning runs, she’d had to give Buster the command to heel when she felt there was a threat, but it hadn’t taken him long to correlate the two. Now as she continued to keep her pace, Buster dropped back beside her, positioning himself between the man and Mina. She wasn’t about to lead him right to her doorstep so when she got within a block of her house she slowed her pace. She could hardly keep from giggling for what she was about to do.

  Buster knew the routine and was getting anxious for the signal. She came to an abrupt halt, grabbing her side like she had a cramp and dropping Buster's leash at the same time. “Go get him, boy,” she whispered. Buster lit out after the man, snarling and snapping at his heels as the would-be attacker ran for all he was worth. She could hear the man cussing up a storm, but his voice was getting fainter and Mina knew he wouldn’t be coming back this way. She put her pinkies in the corners of her mouth and let out a shrill whistle. Within minutes, Buster came bounding back to her.

  “Good boy,” she praised, dropping down on one knee to give him a hug. “I think that earned you two biscuits this morning.”

  Mina checked the time when she got home and was a little worried she’d cut it too close. Scott was going to be at her house in twenty minutes and she still had to feed Buster and take a shower. Then she remembered the cell phone he’d given her the day before and dug it out of her purse.

  “I’m running late,” she told him. “I’ll leave the door unlocked in case I’m still in the shower when you show up.”

  “That’s too dangerous, Mina. I can wait outside until you’re done.”

  “Nonsense. Buster’s in the house so I’m perfectly safe. Besides, he’s already chased off someone this morning so he’s still on full alert.”

  “What do you mean he’s already chased someone off?” He felt his guts twist at the thought someone had tried to hurt her.

  “It happens,” she said indifferently. “Buster and I have it all worked out. He knows when I’m being followed and he has a hay day chasing them off.”

  Scott was surprised how quickly fear and anger mixed when Mina acted as if it was a game. “You shouldn’t be running around that neighborhood,” he said sharply. “It’s too dangerous and you’re so small it wouldn’t take anything for someone to overpower you.”

  “I have Buster,” she insisted.

  “Jesus, Mina, what if the man had a knife or a gun?”

  She didn’t know why he was getting so worked up. She wasn’t completely helpless. “Buster knows to go for the wrist if someone's got a weapon. He’s a lot more agile than he looks.”

  Scott’s heart seized in his chest. “Good God, are you telling me you’ve actually had to ward off someone with a weapon?”

  “It was just a little hunting knife. Why are you getting so upset?”

  “Because you act like it’s a game, Mina. If they did manage to take Buster down, you’d be totally at their mercy.”

  Her brows drew together. “I’ve taken self defense courses,” she said haughtily.

  “And you think that’s going to keep a man twice your weight from taking what he wants?”

  Mina caught a glimpse of her unruly hair and plain face. “I’m not really the type a man goes after.”

  Scott pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it as if it was personally responsible for the woman’s blindness to her own beauty. He took a deep breath and brought the phone back to his ear. “Mina,” he said with a forced patience, “I want you to give your notice at that house. If you insist on running in the morning, let’s at least get you into a safer neighborhood.”

  “We’ll talk about it later, I really need to get in the shower now. I don’t have a stitch of clothes on and it’s getting a bit chilly in here.”

  He told her good-bye and disconnected the call. Just the thought of Mina being totally naked while he was talking to her made the color drain from his face. He tried not to think of her sexy bottom or the fullness of her breasts, but the more he tried not to think of it, the more vivid his visions became. By the time he pulled up to her house, Scott had to sit the in the car and turn on the news channel to help rid himself of the aching throb in his loins.

  He’d barely known her for two days and already Mina was invading his every waking hour. He woke up thinking about her beautiful smile and the feel of her body next to his when she’d hugged him. When he’d hopped in the shower, which he had to make considerably cooler than normal, he’d pictured the way she looked when she tried on the green dress in Jan’s shop. She'd been absolutely breathtaking as she did a springy turn for him in it.

  He’d never gone so far out of his way to take care of a woman before, but Mina had almost immediately instilled in him the need to insure her comfort and safety. If things were different, Scott thought he would find it deeply satisfying spoiling her. He looked up at the house and prayed she was out of the shower and dressed by now. He got out of his car and climbed the stairs, ruffling the hair on Bu
ster’s head when he was greeted at the door. He could hear the shower still running and grimaced. If she came out in nothing but a towel, he’d probably go stark raving mad.

  ****

  Scott wandered into the kitchen to see if Mina had stocked her refrigerator and cupboards and was a little dismayed to see she had little more than what was in there the first night. Then he realized she really had no way to get more than a couple of bags of food at one time because she didn’t have a car. Well, he’d take care of her grocery situation before the end of the day too. He stood in the doorway of the kitchen and the living room. The door to the bathroom was a few steps to his left and just down from that was her bedroom.

  He recalled her indignant response about having taken self-defense courses and shook his head. Suddenly the idea of showing her just how helpless she was against an attacker seemed the only way he’d get her to agree not to run in this neighborhood anymore. Scott remained hidden just behind the doorframe and waited for her to emerge from the bathroom.