Far from Perfect (Perfect, Indiana: Book One)

by Longley, Barbara

  Ceejay lit up from the inside out as she launched into her plans to find a little heart took a nosedive. k. His house for her and Lucinda to rent. “I’m going to try to find a place that will let us have Sweet Pea.”

  “You’ll have to get some horse-sized tranquilizers to move him.” Noah shot her a wry look. “Make sure the landlord doesn’t see him before you sign the lease.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. Good idea.” Her brow creased. “It would break Lucinda’s heart if we couldn’t have him with us.”

  “I can always bring him with me for visits.”

  “You’d do that?”

  “Which, visit or bring Sweet Pea?”

  “Both.” She turned to look out the window at the passing countryside. “Of course, it’s all contingent on my getting the job.”

  “Haven’t heard yet?”

  “Nope.”

  “Don’t worry. You have skills and experience. If you don’t get this job, you’ll get the next.” The pleased expression she turned his way made his head spin. He’d best focus on getting them to New Harmony in one piece.

  By the time he pulled into the Red Geranium parking lot, he’d regained his equilibrium enough to shut the engine off and scramble out of his truck so he could help Ceejay out. He ushered her along the redbrick sidewalk leading to the crimson-colored doors.

  “Oh, it’s so charming.” She stopped to look around at the garden surrounding the rustic country inn. “I’ve never been here before.”

  “Your aunt recommended it. Did you know her husband proposed to her here?”

  “I’ve heard the story.” Her eyes sparkled as she glanced at him. “Several times, and it’s very romantic.”

  The happy smile on her face sent his heart soaring. “I reserved a table inside in case it was really hot out. I hope that’s OK. If you prefer, we can ask for a patio table.”

  “No, inside is fine.”

  He opened the door and followed her to the hostess stand. Noah couldn’t take his eyes off Ceejay. She’d lit up with excitement the moment they’d parked the truck, and he loved watching her take it all in. They were led to a table by a window overlooking the garden. Potted red geraniums filled the windowsill, and the table was covered in a red-checkered cloth topped with white linen. A large candle burned in the center.

  Noah pulled her chair out for her before taking the seat in the corner, the seat facing out with his back to the wall. A busboy immediately brought water, and their server greeted them and set menus and the extensive wine list on the table. “Shall we get a bottle of wine?”

  “That would be nice.” Ceejay opened her menu, started reading, and frowned.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s so expensive,” she whispered.

  “I don’t want you to worry about it. I’m not.” Noah reached across the table and lowered her menu until she looked at him. “Tonight is for us, Ceejay. Order whatever you want, and don’t give the cost a second thought.” He watched her bite her lower lip, her brow still creased while she thought it over. Adorable. Sexy as hell, and so damn charming. “I mean it, Ceejay.”%; text-align:justify; } . c pi

  She glanced at him, all shy and sweet, and his heart nearly stopped.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” His chest swelled. He could do this for her, make her feel like a princess for the evening.

  She sighed, and all the tension left her body. The smile was back, and she looked like a kid in a candy store. “All right, if you aren’t going to worry about it, neither am I. I’m thinking seafood, the jumbo sea scallops with the ginger cream sauce. What are you going to have?”

  “The rib eye steak.”

  “Hmm.” She touched her chin. “You’d want red wine with that, and I’d want white with the seafood. Shall we compromise and have a blush?”

  “Perfect. How about the Maryland-style crab cakes for an appetizer?”

  “You sure know what to say to get to a girl’s heart,” she teased.

  What would the establishment think if he lifted Ceejay out of her chair and held her in his lap for the entire meal? What would they think if he fed her one bite of her meal at a time from his hand to her luscious mouth? Noah spread the linen napkin over his lap, trying to hide the evidence of where his thoughts were taking him. “Save room for dessert.”

  The meal was a blur to him. Maybe the rib eye was good, but he hardly tasted it. All his attention had been riveted on the morsels going into Ceejay’s mouth, and the warmth lighting her eyes as he attempted to keep a coherent conversation going. She leaned back and put her hand on her stomach. He followed the movement, wishing it were his hand there.

  “I’m so full I’m afraid I might fall asleep during the play.”

  “If you feel the need to nap, you can lean against me.” The server refilled their coffee cups and laid the leather case holding their bill on the table. Noah didn’t even look at the total. He would’ve paid three times whatever it was just to watch Ceejay enjoy herself. He reached for his wallet and slipped his credit card into the leather. “We have time to walk around the grounds before the play if you’d like.”

  “I’d love it. It’ll give me some time to digest the amazing meal I just had. Thank you, Noah. This was wonderful.”

  “The evening’s not over yet.”

  He should be watching the play. Instead, Noah’s concentration was riveted on the woman next to him. His eyes snagged on the rise and fall of Ceejay’s chest while she breathed. He wanted to hold her hand. What if she pulled away when he reached for her? Unpredictable. That’s what she was. Willing one minute, shoving him away the next. She’d been all warm honey during dinner, though. That had to count for something.

  Ceejay shifted in her seat and leaned closer. He caught a whiff of her perfume, and his pulse surged. Should he go for it, risk the rejection? He wanted her fingers twined in his. Hell, he wanted her naked and in his lap with his arms around her. Were they too old to make out in his truck? He inched his hand closer to where hers rested on her purse. She glanced at him with a half smile, looped her arm through the crook of his elbow, and slipped her hand into his.

  All the air left his lungs. He leaned back and held%; text-align:justify; } . c pi himself perfectly still, waiting for her to change her mind and pull away. She didn’t. His entire world narrowed down to one thing—her hand in his. Hers was soft, warm, and small, while his was large and callused. He twined their fingers. Even in the dim light the differences in their skin tones fascinated him.

  “Shouldn’t you be watching the play?” Ceejay leaned close to whisper.

  “I am.” The way she smelled made him weak in the knees. He tightened his hold on her fingers. Now that he had her skin next to his, he didn’t intend to let go.

  She shook her head, gave him another heart-stopping smile, and went back to watching the stage. He sank back into his fantasies about the good night kisses to come and tried to shift in his seat to relieve some of the pressure in his lap.

  After the curtain closed, they followed the crowd out of the theater and down the concrete stairs to the sidewalk. The night air had that velvety, still quality it sometimes took on during the summer. They moved along the sidewalk with the rest of the throng leaving the theater. Other than her brief visit to the restroom during intermission, Noah had managed to keep his hold on Ceejay’s hand for the entire production. Their bodies touched occasionally as they walked. He’d be heading for a cold shower once he put her safely behind the door to her house. He didn’t want to rush things with her. She’d bolt. “Did you enjoy the play?”

  “I did. Dinner was wonderful too. Thank you for a lovely evening.” Her free hand came to rest on his forearm. “You did really well in the theater.”

  Noah frowned. “Huh?”

  “You sat with your back to the wall at the restaurant like you always do, but you couldn’t do that at the theater. It didn’t seem to bother you, even though we were surrounded by strangers.”

  “O
h.” He relaxed. “That’s because...”

  “You were too occupied with other...things to pay attention?” She laughed. “So, tell me, Noah, did you enjoy the play?”

  “Sure.” Heat crept up his neck.

  “I don’t see how you could’ve. I don’t think your eyes were on the stage for more than sixty seconds for the entire performance.”

  “Shakespeare is all about the prose. I listened.”

  She laughed again. “Liar.”

  She had him. What was he supposed to say? I watched your breasts through most of the performance. I’d like to see them bare now, please. That would go over well. Wait. She didn’t sound annoyed or angry. Maybe...no. Not going to risk making a move on the first date. But they’d known each other for a few months, and that counted. Didn’t it?

  They’d reached his truck, and he opened the passenger door for her. He had to let go of her hand once she climbed in. Would she give it back? Knots. Ceejay Lovejoy had turned him into the human equivalent of a giant pretzel. A pretzel with aching, blue balls. He let his breath out slowly, slid into his seat, and started the engine.

  “You’re awfully quiet. Are you OK?” Ceejay slid her hand over his forearm.

  “Sure.” He concentrated on the traffic leaving the theater and tried to ignore the bolt of electric heat the contact caused. the house belongs to Jenny,anNoah

  “So, what were you doing while I watched the play?”

  “I was concentrating.”

  “On?”

  “I had to make sure you didn’t stop breathing during your first Shakespeare play.”

  She glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “How thoughtful.”

  “Yep.” He tried to swallow, but his mouth had gone dry. “I’m a thoughtful kind of guy.”

  “What would you have done if I’d...stopped breathing?”

  “Hmmm. Mouth-to-mouth, of course. Maybe a little massage.” Were they really having this conversation? All the signals she was sending flashed go. He gave the accelerator a nudge. He couldn’t get them parked in that dark driveway fast enough. Too bad he couldn’t drive right up to his front door.

  “It’s good to know my life is in such good hands this evening.” Her lips pursed like she was trying hard not to laugh.

  “Definitely.” He stared out the windshield. “Does this mean there might be a second date?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe?”

  She shrugged.

  Damn. And there it was, the push back after he’d gotten a little too close. Don’t back down, soldier. “How about something more casual next time? A movie might be nice.”

  “I hear you drove Lucinda over to the Offermeyers’ to see the new foals.” She changed the subject. “How’d that go?”

  “It went fine. Lucinda put her arms around one of them, and she wasn’t going to let go.” He chuckled at the memory. “Wanted to bring him home.”

  Ceejay sighed. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  “Couldn’t she have a pony? I mean, with so many of your relatives living on farms, isn’t there a place for one small horse?”

  “Horses are expensive.” She held up her hands and started ticking off the costs on her fingers. “Shoes, shots, worming, tack, feed, boarding fees, riding lessons. I can’t afford all that.”

  “I could help.”

  “One, it’s not your responsibility, and two, you don’t have a job.”

  “That again?” He glanced at her. “I have money.”

  “When you say that, do you mean your family has money? ’Cause I get that.”

  He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and bit down hard on the reply he knew better than to make. Where had he taken a wrong turn? Ah, yes. Asking for a second date. Noah racked his brain for a way to turn things around while his truck ate up the distance to her front door. Silence reigned in the cab for far too long. “Ted is doing a great job on your aunt’s house. He learns fast.”

  Ceejay glanced at him. “Good. It’s keeping him out of trouble.”

  “Does he get into trouble a lot?”

  “More than most of my cousins. He’s the wild one of the bunch.” She shook her head. “He’%; text-align:justify; } . c pis always been more like my pesky little brother than a cousin. He loves to torture me.”

  “You have lots of cousins?”

  “Tons. What about you?”

  “I have a bunch too. Nowhere near your clan, though.” His grip on the steering wheel eased, and the Lovejoys’ driveway came into view. Had he salvaged things enough to get her into his arms? He turned onto the gravel and inched his truck along, parking as far from the front door as he could without being too obvious. He unbuckled his seat belt and turned to face Ceejay—with no clue what to say.

  “I had a nice time tonight, Noah. Thank you.” She started to make moves to get out.

  Who the hell invented bucket seats? “Me too. Hold on to that thought.” He swung his door open and raced around the truck to get to her door. Helping her down put them in proximity. Noah drew her close, and shoved the door shut. Then he kissed her before she had time to object.

  He didn’t dare pull her too close, but, oh, man—her soft lips opened beneath his—he couldn’t get enough of her. She closed the gap between them, pressing her delectable body close, and encircled his neck with her arms.

  Take it slow. He broke the kiss and looked deep into her eyes, wanting to say...something, but what? All the blood in his brain had rushed to his groin hours ago. Speech was beyond him. Her gaze roamed over his face. Their eyes met and held, and he saw a need in her as great as his own. The hell with slow. He backed her up against the truck and took her mouth the way he wanted to take the rest of her.

  She ran her hands up his torso and across his chest. He groaned and slid his hands up her sides and around to cup her breasts. She didn’t push him away. God, they were a perfect fit in his hands. Her nipples hardened, and he ran his thumbs over the fabric covering them, catching her gasp with his mouth.

  Slow down. She’s not a one-night stand. She’s...

  The effort to rein himself in sent a shudder through him. He broke the kiss, drew her into his arms, and rested his chin on top of her head. The sound of their heavy breathing filled the air. Ceejay leaned against him and sighed.

  He had to say something, redirect his lustful thoughts. Now that she was all friendly, maybe this would be a good time...“I’ve been thinking.”

  Another sigh escaped her. “About what?”

  “Lucinda.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CEEJAY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT UPSET her more, the fact that Noah thought he should adopt her daughter, or that he’d taken her out on a date solely to further that harebrained scheme. He made her crazy. Once she was safely inside, she slipped the sandals off her feet and dropped them by the front door. Swiping at the tears dampening her cheeks, she headed upstairs to check on Lucinda.

  Disappointment ate at her. And embarrassment. The man could turn her into a quivering mass of sex-starved Jell-O with nothing more than a freaking look. The one that smoldered and said he wanted more than kisses. Had she imagined the heat? Was it all one-sided?

  Of course it was.

  He’d been softening her up for the big announcement. How’d he put it before? Oh, yeah. He’d been working up to it.

  Poor Little Bit, abandoned by her own mother...She closed her mind to the painful refrain echoing inside her eyes were riveted on heronjo, heart and balled her hands into fists. I’m not that little girl anymore. She was a grown woman with a great career and a bright future. This time, she’d be the one to walk away.

  Sweet Pea waited for her at the top of the stairs. “Hey big guy, you love me, don’t you?” She gave him a scratch behind one ear. His tail started to whip back and forth, and he followed her to Lucinda’s door. Ceejay opened it slowly and tiptoed in to stand next to the bed. She gazed at her little girl through the sheen of tears blurring her eyesight. Lucinda had Boo-Bear clutched to her ch
est. She slept on her side with her covers thrown off. Two fingers were firmly planted in her mouth, and her dark curls clung to her damp forehead. She looked like an angel. My angel.

  Getting through college had been an uphill struggle all the way. Being responsible for an infant, working at the diner, and taking a full load of credits—she’d had no time for herself. She’d never been able to go out and party or blow off steam like her friends. Her circumstances had set her apart and kept her isolated, but not once had she ever regretted her decision to keep Lucinda. Not once. A fierce love and the certainty that she’d walk through fire for her little girl filled her until she ached from the force of it.

  Ceejay disentangled the sheet twisted around Lucinda’s legs and pulled it up to her chin. She smoothed the ringlets from her forehead. Leaning down, she kissed her good night. The scent of baby shampoo and soap wafted up from her sleeping form. Lucinda never doubted being loved or wanted. Ceejay had made sure of that. She’d worked hard to be the kind of mother Lucinda deserved. She straightened and tiptoed toward the hall.

  Did Noah find her so lacking as a parent that he felt he had to step up to the daddy plate? What gave him the right to judge her, anyway? Damn him. Hot tears traced down her cheeks again. She slid out of the room, closed Lucinda’s bedroom door behind her, and leaned against it.

  She didn’t need the Langfords looking down their noses at her. The sooner she moved away the better.

  Ceejay finished drying their breakfast and lunch dishes just as her cell phone started ringing. She hurried to snatch it up off the kitchen table. “Riley Hospital” showed on the caller ID. Her heart raced. “Hello?”

  “Is this Ceejay Lovejoy?”

  “Yes, it is.” She ran a shaking hand through her curls.

  “This is Emily Larkins with the human resources department at Riley Children’s Hospital, Ms. Lovejoy. I’m calling to let you know that all of your references checked out, and we’d love to have you join our nursing staff.”

  Ceejay wanted to jump up and down and make a lot of noise. She didn’t. “I accept. I need to give Deaconess notice, find a place to live, and arrange the move. When do you need me to start?”