by Linz, Cathie
“We’re very protective of him.”
“He seems perfectly capable of looking after himself.”
“He is.”
“Then there’s no problem.” What a lie. Leena had more problems than she could count. Including her too-sexy boss. But she also had a plan and a time line on her BlackJack. She simply had to follow it and she’d be back on the road to success. Never underestimate the power of a woman with a plan . . .
Of course, she’d had a plan back in Chicago too, and that had blown up in her face.
Maybe she should have stayed in Chicago and gotten a job as a barista at the local Starbucks, but the thought of someone she knew seeing her handing out skinny espresso macchiato solos had sent her into a blind panic.
Far better to hide out in Rock Creek until she was back on her feet.
It was just that Leena had gone from up-and-coming to down-and-out so fast she still found it hard to accept.
Okay, so she wasn’t a young ingénue, not some fresh-faced sixteen-year-old. And yes, twenty-eight was considered old in the modeling business. But dammit, she wasn’t ready to quit yet.
So she’d stick to her plan. And remember that Julie Andrews quote: “Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.”
Sue Ellen wondered why the coach wanted to speak to her privately. He’d told her to call him Russ, which she did in public, but privately she thought of him as “the coach.” Or the manly man. A manly man respected by the entire community.
Finally Sue Ellen had a chance at something she’d never attained. Respectability. Not that she’d ever admit that desire to her friends.
Sue Ellen was no dummy. She realized what some people thought of her. What most people thought of her. That she was outlandish. Strange. But they didn’t know her. Not even Skye. Not really.
Sue Ellen knew that Skye didn’t care what anyone else thought of her. Sometimes Sue Ellen wished she could be more like that. Because caring could hurt big-time.
No, Skye and Lulu wouldn’t understand. Neither would Leena.
But that didn’t matter because Sue Ellen knew what she wanted and she wanted it so much that it made her downright nervous. She’d never been this nervous. Not since her divorce ages ago. She’d been stupid to marry Earl as a teenager, but at least she’d been smart enough to dump him.
She never thought about the divorce or Earl these days. So why now? What was up with that? Sue Ellen wiped her damp palms on the knees of her daisy-printed cropped pants, pausing to admire the tiny yellow daisies painted on her acrylic nails.
She could do this. She could snag the coach. She would snag the coach.
“Did you hear what I just said?” Russ asked.
“Sure I did.” Sue Ellen hated admitting otherwise.
“And what’s your answer?”
She stalled. “What do you want my answer to be?”
“Yes.”
“Well then my answer is yes.”
“Great. So you can have four dozen cupcakes baked by tomorrow morning and ready to bring to the high school bake sale by 7 a.m., right?”
Bake? That required an oven, didn’t it? Sue Ellen stored her scrapbooking materials in the oven. She hadn’t turned it on since moving in. Even so, she said, “Sure. No problem.”
“Thanks, Susie. I appreciate it.”
She didn’t have the heart to tell him that she hated the nickname Susie. Instead she smiled as he kissed her cheek right there in front of everyone at Angelo’s Pizza. Which was only about eight people, but still . . .
Smiling dreamily, she watched him walk out before turning back to her friends and sister.
“Four dozen cupcakes?” Leena had wondered why Sue Ellen had followed her home instead of letting her retreat to her own space. “Are you crazy? You don’t bake.”
“This oven is empty.” Sue Ellen slammed it shut.
“Yeah, so?”
“So we can bake in it.”
“There’s no we here. There’s only you. You can go home and bake in your own oven.”
“I can’t. I’ve got stuff stored in there.”
“Then take it out.”
Sue Ellen shook her head. “No time. We need to get started.”
“No. I need to go to bed. I’ve had a long day and I’ve got another one tomorrow.”
“So do I. I have to have these cupcakes done by tomorrow morning.” Sue Ellen reached into her huge purse, pulled out a laptop computer, and turned it on.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, I forgot. This place isn’t wired for DSL Internet connections.”
“Why do you want to get on the Internet?”
“They have recipes there. I’ve seen them. Even copied and pasted them. Never used any, but I might someday.” She frantically hit several keys. “But I don’t have any for cupcakes in my recipe file here. I don’t know where to start.”
“By going to Gas4Less Mini-Mart and buying cupcakes.”
“They only have doughnuts. I already called them on my cell to ask.”
“Why do you need four dozen cupcakes by tomorrow?”
“Because Russ needs them for the bake sale.”
“Then let him make them.”
“I can’t. I promised him I’d do it.”
“That was dumb.”
“Like you’ve never done a dumb thing in your life.”
“I’ve done plenty.” Coming home to Rock Creek was beginning to look like dumb mistake numero uno.
“Do you know how to make cupcakes?” Sue Ellen asked her.
“No, but there’s probably a recipe on a cake-mix box.”
“Great.” Sue Ellen started opening kitchen cabinets.
“What are you looking for?”
“Cake-mix boxes.”
“I don’t travel with cake mix. You have to go buy some.”
“Come with me.”
“Why?”
“For moral support.”
“Since when do you need moral support to buy cake mix?”
“Since right now.” Sue Ellen manacled Leena’s wrist and yanked her out to the car. The giant pink car. A castoff of some Mary Kay salesperson, no doubt.
“I can tell that you don’t like the pink Batmobile any more than you liked my Elvises,” Sue Ellen said as she peeled out of the trailer park. “But that doesn’t matter.
What matters is that I don’t let Russ down. He’s counting on me. He needs to know that I’m dependable. Reliable. I recycle, you know.”
“Which is relevant because . . . ?”
“Because it proves I’m a responsible person.”
Leena was concerned at how much her sister cared about Russ’s opinion. She was also concerned at how fast her sister was driving. They made it to the mini-mart in record time.
“Cake mix. Remember we’re looking for cake mix.” Sue Ellen sounded like a drill sergeant barking out orders. “Don’t get distracted by the Doritos or the Twinkies. Twinkies aren’t cupcakes. Tastykake chocolate cupcakes are cupcakes, but they don’t have any. Let’s fan out. I’ll take this side of the store, you take the other. Run, run, run!”
Leena didn’t have the energy to run, but she walked at a brisk pace past plastic-wrapped packages of bread, cans of ravioli, and boxes of frozen burritos.
Oooh, they had the low-fat Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt. Good find. She opened the freezer door and almost smacked Cole in the face with it.
“Sorry.” She quickly closed the door. “Did I hurt you?”
“Were you trying to?”
“Of course not! What kind of question is that?”
“You had a rough day at the office today. I wouldn’t blame you if you came out of the situation with a little unresolved anger.”
“At the parakeet maybe. Not at you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She tore her wandering gaze from the solitary carton of Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt still inside the freezer and focused on Cole. He was wearin
g a white T-shirt beneath a light blue shirt and jeans. He had a sexy stubble thing going on. It worked well for him. Gave him a more dangerous bedroom look and made her forget about the Cherry Garcia. Until he opened the freezer door and reached for it.
She put her hand on his arm. “Mine.”
“Only in town a few days and you’re staking your claim on me already?”
“I meant the Cherry Garcia. It’s mine. I was reaching for it when you interrupted me.”
He held the carton in his hand. “Possession is nine-tenths of the law.”
His reference to law reminded her of lawyer Johnny and how all men were dirtbags beneath the outward charm.
“How much do you want this Cherry Garcia?” He held it just out of her reach.
“Not enough to do whatever you have in mind.”
“How do you know what I have in mind?”
“I can read you like a book, Pet Boy.”
“Is that so, Princess?” He shifted so that her back was up against the glass front of the closed freezer door beside them. “Then what am I thinking right now?”
She glared at Cole. Or meant to. Instead she was unexpectedly sidetracked by his eyes. Maybe it was the blinking florescent overhead lighting in the back aisle of the mini-mart. Maybe it was the intensity of his gaze. Or maybe it was his proximity. But there was something new in his eyes. She could handle the wicked twinkle in his baby blues, but this was hot and seductive.
Her breath caught. Her knees wobbled. Her entire body buzzed like that defective florescent light humming overhead.
“Come on.” His voice was low and more potent than the thickest hot fudge. She could feel it vibrating through her when he spoke. “Come on.”
Leena was very close to coming, right there in the frozen-food section of the mini-mart, Cole’s body pressed tightly against hers.
“What am I thinking?”
Thinking? Who could think at a moment like this?
“Do you want me?”
Oh yeah. Big-time. She shifted her legs against his denim-clad thighs. Very, very big-time.
“Want me to . . . tell you?” His warm lips hovered just above hers. “What I’m thinking?”
She licked her lips, her tongue almost touching his mouth. She was melting. Not in a wicked-witch-of-the-west kind of way, but in a swirling-ice-cream-in-the-summer-sun kind of way. Totally melting.
“What are you two doing back here?”
Leena was so far gone that it took her a second or two to register her sister’s voice. Not that Sue Ellen was speaking quietly. Her sister had only two levels: loud and louder.
The question was delivered in her louder voice.
Leena didn’t even realize she’d raised her hands and placed them on the middle of Cole’s chest until she lowered them and banged her elbow on the door handle to the freezer.
Swearing under her breath, she was released from the spell. Okay, the fact that Cole stepped away from her probably helped her free-fall return to reality.
Not one to overlook an opportunity, Leena grabbed the carton of Cherry Garcia from his hand. “Here’s what I’m thinking,” she said. “That this frozen yogurt is mine.”
“Did you find the cake mix?” Sue Ellen demanded.
Leena shook her head.
“Come on. We’re moving out.” Sue Ellen had returned to drill-sergeant mode. “We’ve got to hit the Wal-Mart up by the interstate. The clerk told me they’ve got plenty of Tastykake chocolate cupcakes there. Easier than cake mix. No ovens involved.”
“I’ve got to pay for this first.” She held up her Cherry Garcia, holding on tight just in case Cole tried any sudden trick moves to swipe it from her.
“Well, hurry up.” Sue Ellen impatiently tapped her foot, which was clad in a nice pair of knockoff Jimmy Choos now that Leena took a look. Normally she noticed things like another woman’s footwear. But things hadn’t been normal in her world for several days now.
That had to be why Leena had that momentary wild reaction to Cole. Even now, she was still somewhat under the influence, thinking he looked entirely too sexy for her peace of mind.
She worked for the guy. Sex and bosses never mixed well. Sex with bosses was a definite no-no and a rule she’d never broken. Never been tempted to. Until now . . .
Chapter Five
“What’s taking you so long?” Sue Ellen’s question was accompanied by a pounding on Leena’s bathroom door. “We’re losing light outside.”
They’d survived the cupcake incident and had now moved on to Sunday and the modeling incident. Leena wasn’t sure she’d survive this one. She called through the door, “What kind of costume is this supposed to be?”
“You’re supposed to be a Regency miss. You know, like in those movies. Bride of Prejudice.
“Do you mean Pride and Prejudice?”
“Whatever.”
Leena stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror nailed to the back of the bathroom door. The dress was . . . She lacked words.
“What’s wrong?” Sue Ellen pounded again, making the mirror wobble. “Do you need help with the costume? Is it too small?”
Leena yanked open the bathroom door. “What do you think?”
“Wow.” Sue Ellen was clearly impressed. “Did you get new boobs?”
“No, I just can’t get them to stay in this dress.” Leena tugged the bodice up.
“You look great. Sex sells,” Sue Ellen said. “Come on. The photographer is legally blind in one eye so he won’t notice if one of your boobs slips out. Just pull the dress up again. I’ll let you know if too much is showing. We need to get the ad in the local papers, so the photo can’t be too revealing. I’m sure you’ve done ads showing more than this. What about Victoria’s Secret?”
“What about them?”
“They show more flesh than you’re showing now.”
“So?”
“So you must have modeled for them.”
“They don’t exactly cater to women my size.”
“Yeah, what’s with that? Why do they have tons of bras in those little sizes for women who could easily go without a bra?”
“Because they want to coax them into wearing one. Most of us don’t have the luxury of having a choice.”
“You haven’t commented on my boobs yet.” Sue Ellen thrust out her chest proudly. “Notice anything different?”
Leena shook her head, her gaze remaining focused on her own chest to check the status quo.
“I had a boob job done. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Who am I going to tell?”
“Gravity was starting to get me down. Not Gravity, Skye’s cat. I mean that invisible scientific thing that pulls everything to the ground, including breasts.” She quickly shoved Leena out the door ahead of her. “Ah, Bart.” She waved at an older man with a bald head waiting near the photographer. “Here she is. My sister, the model. Leena this is Bart Chumley, the owner of the mobile home park.”
“I’m glad to meet you, Leena.” Bart stuck out his hand.
Leena kept her own hands crossed and pressed against her breasts. “Excuse me if I don’t shake your hand.”
Bart frowned. “Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem,” Sue Ellen hurriedly stated. “Everything is fine.”
“Then why is your sister hugging herself like that?”
“She’s a little chilly. She’s keeping warm until you begin shooting. Are you ready? Is everything set up? Where do you want her to stand?”
“Let me just check,” Bart said before turning to the photographer.
While the two consulted, Leena heard a wolf whistle.
Turning, she found Cole standing nearby. It was bad enough that the man had tried to seduce her out of her carton of Cherry Garcia at the mini-mart, but this was too much.
Infuriated, she marched over to confront him.
“What are you looking at? These? They’re just breasts.” Leena lifted them together so Cole could get a better view, almost popping
her nipples from the confines of the low-cut bodice. “I’m sure you’ve seen more than your fair share. I happen to be working here and I don’t appreciate your sexist wolf whistle.”
“I wasn’t whistling at you.”
“Really?” She looked around, her body language indicating she didn’t believe a word he said. “Then who were you whistling at?”
“That bitch over there.”
“Hey!” Leena protested.
“Don’t go ballistic on me. I was referring to Mrs. Petrocelli’s Pekinese. She broke her leg. Mrs. Petrocelli, not her dog Misty, who just slipped outside, which is why I whistled for her. Misty isn’t eating so I said I’d come look at her. I didn’t come to look at your breasts. I didn’t know they’d be on display this way. But now that you’ve pointed them out to me, I have to say that while it’s true I have seen breasts before, yours are . . . very fine. Excellent cleavage.”
Leena was accustomed to men looking at her. But not like this. None of them had ever had this kind of powerful effect on her. Cole was touching her with his eyes. Not in a creepy kind of way, but in a very seductive erotic way. Like he had in the back of the mini-mart.
Suddenly Leena couldn’t breathe. She felt as if she’d swallowed an Altoid.
Wait—she had just swallowed her Altoid!
She didn’t dare cough, for fear he’d pound her on the back and her breasts would launch themselves at him, fleeing the confines of her Jane Austen Does Dallas dress.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked, perhaps noticing how her face was turning red. She’d soon be turning blue from lack of oxygen if she didn’t get some air . . . Thankfully the Altoid finally went down and cleared her air passages.
Stay calm and just breathe, she told herself while nodding in reply to Cole’s question. Of course she was okay.
Well, maybe okay was a stretch. If her life were truly okay she’d be back in Chicago working, not standing here in the Regency Mobile Home Park with a photographer who normally did wedding photos and could pass as Pee-wee Herman’s twin brother. And Leena certainly wouldn’t be standing here flaunting her cleavage at Cole.