Big Girls Don't Cry

by Linz, Cathie

  “You two can make out later,” Skye said. “We’ve got to get out to Angel’s farm.”

  Leena panicked, remembering all too well Skye’s sister Julia going into labor in front of her. “I don’t know anything about birthing llamas.”

  “That’s why you’re staying here,” Skye said.

  “At Cole’s house?” Leena asked.

  “Here in Rock Creek.”

  “Right. You’re right. I wouldn’t be any help at the farm. Not with a llama. Mindy can help you with that, right?”

  “Mindy is out of town this weekend.”

  Leena gulped and made a tentative offer. “If you need . . . I mean, if you really need help, I could . . .”

  “You can stay here in Rock Creek,” Skye said.

  Leena nodded so fast she got a crick in her neck. “Right.”

  Cole remained silent, gathering up a black vet bag and—much to Lenna’s surprise—showing virtually no sign that he’d had his tongue in her mouth and his hands all over her a few moments ago. How did he do that? How did he recover so quickly? Still, a quick glance at the enlarged placket of his jeans told Leena that she wasn’t the only one still throbbing with unsatisfied lust.

  He and Skye were gone before Leena could say another word.

  She’d leave too, as soon as she was sure her legs would support her long enough to walk to her car. She stood there, hanging on to the kitchen counter like a survivor of the Titanic clinging to the edges of a lifeboat.

  What had just happened here? Okay, besides the obvious physical stuff—which had been damn awesome.

  But what else was going on? What was she thinking, making out with her boss, on his kitchen counter, no less? Real classy.

  “Mrrow?” Leena looked down to find a gray cat winding around her leg. A three-legged gray cat.

  Did it need medical attention? She was familiar with cats, but not one with special needs. “Uh, the vet’s not here right now. Can you come back later?”

  The cat plopped onto its side. Leena quickly squatted down. “Are you okay? Can I get you something?”

  “Mrrrroooow.”

  “Do you want your tummy rubbed?” Not wanting to spook the kitty, Leena slowly reached out. The cat’s fur was surprisingly plush. And her purr was incredibly loud. “You like that, huh?”

  “Tripod loves having her tummy rubbed,” Sister Mary said as she walked into the kitchen. “Midnight and Buddy are the shy ones. And Elf the dog too.”

  If Sister Mary had come a few minutes earlier, she would have caught Leena and Cole making out like randy teenagers. Leena had been embarrassed at being caught by Skye, but that was definitely preferable to being caught by a nun. A nun who was Cole’s aunt.

  “What are you doing here with Tripod?” Sister Mary asked.

  “Petting her.”

  “Where’s Cole?”

  “He had to go treat a llama in labor.”

  “Lucy?”

  “Yes, I believe that was her name.”

  Sister Mary nodded. “And he left you here by yourself?”

  “I did offer to help, but he and Skye didn’t seem to need assistance.”

  “So how did Cole take his newfound fame?”

  Leena gave her a confused look.

  “Sexiest bachelor in Pennsylvania,” Sister Mary prompted her. “There’s a rumor going around town that you nominated him.”

  “I, uh . . .” Was it a sin to lie to a nun even if you weren’t Catholic? Probably. Time to change the subject, fast. “I, uh . . . I’ve been meaning to return your casserole dish to you.”

  “You should stop by the thrift shop sometime.”

  “Right. I’ve been meaning to do that too.” Pause, pause, pause. Awkward silence. “I, uh . . . Did you know that Bart Chumley, the guy who owns the Regency Mobile Home Park, is a retired clown?” Brilliant. What did that have to do with anything?

  Sister Mary showed no signs of thinking Leena was acting in a bizarre way. Instead she nodded calmly. “Yes, actually I did know that. Since coming back to town, he’s been visiting sick children at the hospital. They love seeing him in his clown costume and makeup. What have you done for the community since you came back to town? Aside from nominating my nephew for sexiest bachelor.”

  “I never said I did that.”

  “You never said you didn’t.”

  The nun was good. Hard to slip anything past this sister. “Bart is interested in improving Rock Creek and making it more like Serenity Falls.”

  “Why would he want to do that?”

  “Because Serenity Falls is listed as one of the best small towns in America.”

  “That town is ruled with an iron fist by a mayor obsessed with the height of the grass on people’s lawns.”

  “Well, half the houses here don’t even have any grass left in their front yards.”

  “So?”

  “So you’re saying Rock Creek doesn’t have problems?”

  “I’m saying they can’t be solved with a few cosmetic improvements.”

  “Why not? A coat of lipstick, some eyeshadow, and a little mascara work wonders on a girl’s confidence.” Wait, did nuns wear lipstick? Or eyeshadow?

  “Confidence comes from within.”

  “Not all the time. Sometimes you have to fake it.”

  “Is that what you do? Fake it?”

  “Doesn’t everyone?” Leena countered.

  “No.” Sister Mary’s expression turned sad.

  Or was it pity Leena saw there on her face? That possibility totally freaked her. Had it come to this? She was so bad off that a nun was pitying her?

  “Well, I’d better get going,” Leena said briskly. “I’ll leave you to lock up or whatever.”

  As Leena hurried out, she reminded herself that she’d better keep her own inner emotions tightly locked up while back in town or the results could be disastrous, making her crumble like one of the dozen Pecan Sandies she’d eaten last night.

  She and Cole had absolutely nothing in common.

  Okay, they had lust in common. Sexual chemistry beyond anything she’d ever experienced. But that was it. They had different goals in life. Opposing goals. He wanted to stay in Rock Creek. She needed to leave. He was a charmer with commitment issues. She’d already had her heart stomped on a few months ago.

  Sounded like a recipe for happily never after.

  “Isn’t she just the cutest thing you ever saw?” Angel asked, gazing at the little cría. The fuzzy baby llama was nursing.

  “What about your new baby granddaughter?” Cole asked.

  “Julia’s baby is cute as well. Lucy, you did a great job,” Angel cooed to the momma llama. “You too, Cole. Good job.”

  “Thanks. Lucy here did all the hard work.”

  “The woman usually does,” Angel said.

  “What are you going to name the cría?”

  “Enya. Had she been a boy I would have named her Bob Dylan.”

  “Good thing she’s a girl then.”

  “You don’t like Dylan?”

  “I’m a country fan myself. You know, like Rascal Flats.”

  “No, I don’t know, but I don’t judge others’ taste in music,” Angel said. “Or in other things. Despite hearing rumors that concern me.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Leena. Your new receptionist. She has very stressed chakras. Her colors are powerful yet muddled. I know you’re not that into chakras, but I had to tell you. This one could break your heart.”

  “Do I seem like the kind of guy who gets his heart broken?”

  “You appear to have avoided that misfortune so far, but you can be lucky only so long.”

  “Luck has nothing to do with it.”

  “What do you mean? That you deliberately don’t open yourself up to a relationship?”

  Cole shifted uncomfortably. “Look, I know you like talking about this stuff, but I don’t.”

  “It’s not stuff. It’s the most basic element in the world.”


  “I thought oxygen was the most basic element. Or was it hydrogen? Where is my chemistry trivia when I need it?”

  Angel gave him a reproachful look. “I’m being serious here.”

  “I know you are. But trust me, there’s no need to worry about me. You keep your energy focused on Lucy here and her baby and this new business of yours. It really does seem to be taking off. And the farm looks great.”

  “I’m so glad we moved here. Tyler and I are much more comfortable in this location, closer to Mother Earth.”

  “It’s a nice place.” Cole looked around at the surrounding hills, alight with so many shades of spring green he couldn’t even count them all. Angel had bought the farm after her business, Angel Designs, had taken off. He didn’t know the details, just that she was a New Age entrepreneur more accustomed to failures than success and that she used yarn from the woof of her llamas and others to create scarves and stuff. Not something he’d ever think someone could make big bucks on, but apparently if Nicole Kidman wore it, then everyone who was anyone wanted it. And they didn’t care how much they paid for it.

  That didn’t make much sense to a Levi’s guy like him. Now Leena . . . she was into that kind of stuff. He might not know the name of the designers who made her clothes, but he sure wanted her out of them fast. Only years of practice at separating himself from his emotions in order to do his job as a veterinarian kept him focused on the task at hand and not on Leena’s lush body. But now that his work here was done . . .

  “Nice here?” Angel belatedly said. “It’s nirvana here.” That’s what she’d named her farm.

  “Catchy name.”

  “Are you ever serious?”

  “I’m serious about the animals I care for.”

  “And that’s it?”

  “It’s enough.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yeah. I haven’t exactly led a hermit’s existence, you know. I’ve had a number of relationships with members of the opposite sex. And while it’s true they all ended, they ended well and most of the women still consider me their friend.”

  “While I’m glad that you haven’t hurt anyone, I’m sad that you haven’t found what you’re looking for.”

  “The only thing I’m looking for at the moment are my keys. Ah, here they are.” He gathered his bag and headed for his red Ford F-150 truck.

  Angel followed him. “If you’d like, I could read the runes for you and let you know if this Leena is going to cause trouble for you.”

  Cole already knew she was going to cause trouble. The only question was, how much.

  Leena was driving over to the mini-mart for Cool Ranch Doritos when she got the call from Sue Ellen.

  “You have to come over here right away.”

  “Over where?” Leena asked,

  “The Broken Creek Trailer Park.”

  “Why?”

  “Just come. It’s important.” She rattled off an address and hung up.

  Leena was tempted to ignore the call, but there was no telling what was going on. Maybe it actually was something important. She couldn’t imagine how, but it could happen.

  Broken Creek Trailer Park hadn’t changed much in the past decade. No lawn art here. Instead, a pair of rusty lawn chairs sat beside a discarded washing machine. Torn window screens were lined with Christmas lights that had never been taken down. Broken-down beater cars on their last gasoline gasp sat beside several trailers.

  The address Sue Ellen had given led her to a trailer that was tidier than most. When she knocked, Lulu answered the door. “Welcome to our domain. Come in.”

  Leena hesitated. Not because of the I SEE DUMB PEOPLE T-shirt Lulu was wearing along with a black-studded dog collar and black cargo pants, but because of the fact that Sue Ellen was standing behind Lulu and grinning like a maniac. That grin was never a good sign.

  “Get in here.” Sue Ellen yanked her inside. “Don’t worry, Jerry isn’t home.”

  “Jerry?”

  “Lulu’s granddad. His nickname is Animal. He’s covered in tats.”

  “Tats?”

  “Tattoos.”

  “I know.” Leena was still trying to gather her thoughts. “I think I met him my first day in town. He was bringing someone’s parrot in to the animal clinic.”

  “He loves animals. That’s why he got the nickname of Animal. That and the fact that he was pretty wild in his younger years,” Lulu said proudly.

  “What was so important that I had to come right over?” Leena asked.

  “This.” Sue Ellen went to the Formica kitchen table and picked something up.

  “What is it?”

  “The Remote-Control MegaMax.”

  Leena frowned. “It looks like a vibrator.”

  “No, it’s much more than just a vibrator. It’s your new best friend. Tell her, Lulu.”

  “It’s wicked awesome.”

  “What’s going on here?” Leena said.

  Lulu snapped her gum before answering. “You’ve heard of Tupperware parties, right? Well this is a Sexware party. To introduce you to Sexware’s wonderful line of adult sex toys.”

  Leena laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Look, I don’t name the product,” Lulu said.

  Sue Ellen threw her arm around Lulu. “She’s just starting out in this new business venture and I said we’d help her.”

  “Skye was with us earlier,” Lulu added, “but she had to go because Lucy was in a labor.”

  “Yeah, so I heard.”

  “Cole wasn’t answering his phone so she went over there . . .” Sue Ellen’s eyes widened. “You were there. At Cole’s? You were. Don’t bother denying it. I can tell by the look on your face. Did Skye interrupt you two?”

  “Anyone ever tell you that you have an overactive imagination?” Leena said.

  “An overactive imagination is a good thing to have along with the Remote-Control MegaMax,” Lulu said. “Or the RCM as I like to call him.”

  Normally Leena would have walked out right then and there. But her body was still all wound up and humming with unfulfilled lust. Maybe this was fate’s way of stepping in and preventing her from doing something with Cole. Maybe she should use the RCM to satisfy her needs.

  “Satisfaction guaranteed,” Lulu said. “If you’re not happy, very happy, just return it within thirty days—”

  “I’ll take it.”

  Lulu blinked her black-lined eyes. “You will?”

  “Yes.” Leena gave Lulu an aggravated look. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “Yeah but . . . you don’t even know how much it is.”

  “How much is it?”

  “Only $19.99.”

  “Fine.” Considerably more than a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, but more effective hopefully at taking care of her sudden lust-fest for Cole.

  “Don’t you want to know how it works?” Lulu asked.

  “I can read the instructions. There are instructions, right?”

  Lulu nodded, still unable to believe she’d made a sale.

  “Here.” Leena handed her a twenty and took one of the RCM boxes.

  “Wait. Don’t you want to see the edible chocolate panties?” Sue Ellen asked.

  “No thanks.”

  “How about the vibrating panties?”

  “I’ll pass. Bye.” A minute later, Leena was in her car and driving away, the RCM on the seat beside her. “I got out of there pretty fast, huh?”

  Okay, talking to Cole’s cat was one thing. Speaking to a remote-control vibrator was something else again.

  Of all the times for Mrs. Schmidt to stop and chat, it had to be today. She’d lived in the Regency Mobile Home Park for as long as Leena could remember. She loved wigs and blush. Today the wig was red to match the twin circles on her tanned and wrinkled cheeks. “Yoohoo, Leena! I haven’t had to chance to talk to you since you got back home.”

  She couldn’t let Mrs. Schmidt see the MegaMax. Leena panicked and frantically looked around her car for something to cove
r the box with. Kleenex, too small. A roll of paper towels, grabbed and discarded. She searched the backseat and found a blanket she’d meant to take to the laundry. She quickly tossed it over the box just as Mrs. Schmidt came over to lean inside the open passenger-side window.

  “What have you got there?” the older woman asked.

  “I, uh . . . a sick animal. I’m taking care of it for Cole. Don’t come close. It might bite you.”

  “What is it?”

  “A cat.”

  “I like cats. Maybe I can help.”

  “No. It’s a dog.”

  “But you just said it was a cat.”

  “My mistake.” No, her mistake had been thinking she could return to Rock Creek and not have her life filled with embarrassing moments like this.

  “Well I like dogs too.”

  “Stay back.” Leena gathered the box closer, cradling it against her, making sure it was entirely covered.

  “It says Max.”

  “That’s the dog’s name. I really need to get him inside now. We’ll have to chat some other time.”

  “Come over for some of my tuna casserole.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that.” Leena waited for Mrs. Schmidt to back up and head on home, but she showed no sign of moving.

  “Want me to open the car door for you and Max?” Mrs. Schmidt asked.

  “No, I can do it.”

  “Nonsense. You’ve got your hands full there.”

  Leena clutched the MegaMax closer. Why hadn’t she thought to ask for a bag or something before leaving Lulu’s? A plain brown paper bag would have been ideal.

  “Have you spoken to your mother lately?” Mrs. Schmidt asked as she opened the car door for Leena.

  Leena shook her head and kept her attention focused on keeping the box covered.

  “Well, the next time you do, be sure to tell her I said hi.”

  “Will do.”

  “I heard Mrs. Petrocelli tried to sue you using Cole’s cousin Butch. He’s not a lawyer, you know. He’s attending culinary school.”

  “Uh-huh.” Fifteen more steps and Leena would be at the front door.