“Exactly.” He quirked one corner of his lip. “Yeah, there are a few women, even here in Haven, who want to see what it’s like to screw the freak. Been there. Done that. Not wearing the T-shirt.”
“That isn’t what I meant.” Fury welled in her throat at the heartless witches who would use such a lovely man. “I meant that you’re a great guy. Surely there are some women out there who see that, regardless of the scars.”
Sig shrugged. “If there are, I haven’t found them. Honestly, after the first few months I was home, I quit trying. Most of my friends from high school have left town or are already married. The ones left—well, I don’t want to go there. My mom’s on a cruise with her boyfriend and my sister’s baby is due any minute. So I figured I might ask a friend to sit beside me and boost my confidence. I do think of you as a friend, you know. I don’t have so many of those anymore.” He gave her a sad smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to make you do something you’re not comfortable with, and I’m not going hold it against you, Elsie. My cowardice isn’t your problem.”
She stood there, still clutching the bag of fish food in one hand and his in the other. “I’ll go.” She’d blurted out the words before her brain had even registered them. She paused, testing the idea, then decided it would be all right. Drawing in a deep breath, she nodded. “As a friend, I mean. Not as a real date, or anything.”
“No, no, I totally respect that.” His dark eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Thank you so much. Will you come to the parade, too, or just the dinner?”
Elsie took a deep breath. “In for a penny, in for a pound. At least that’s what my Scottish grandmother used to say. I have Andrea coming in Tuesday afternoon anyway. She can handle the place on her own for a few hours.” She pulled her hand away from his and scuffed the toe of her tennis shoe on the ceramic tile floor. “You realize this means people will think we’re actually dating.”
“Huh.” Sig crossed his arms over his chest, making his black leather jacket stretch around the muscles of his arms. Elsie had to force herself not to drool. “I guess I hadn’t thought about that. No worries. I’m a big boy. I can suck it up and go alone—or maybe get one of my cousins from Grand Rapids.”
“No.” She set her jaw. “I said I’d go, and I will, as long as you don’t mind the gossip. It will actually make my life easier if people think there’s something between us. You’re not the only one who asks me out. You’re the nicest, though. But if they think I’m with you, maybe the others will back off.” Neither of her two so-called admirers would have the guts to take Sig on. This could be a real boon if they could pull it off.
His face hardened. “Has someone been bothering you? Who?”
“Nobody. Nothing serious.” Her heart skipped a beat at the idea of him defending her. “I think they see the poor lonely pet shop girl as an easy mark. There’s no one who’s stepped out of line.”
“If anyone does, you tell me.” He winked. “Especially if the town thinks you’re my girlfriend.”
Elsie grinned like a giddy sixteen year old asked to the prom. “You got it. Now how formal is this dinner thing? And how many of the clownfish do you want?”
“All of them,” he said, nodding at the tank. His eyebrows furrowed. “And how the hell am I supposed to know? All I have to do is wear my uniform.”
Chapter Two
The following Tuesday, Elsie stood in front of the sales counter looking at her part-time assistant, a young woman working her way through the local community college.
“You’re sure you’ll be all right here by yourself?” Elsie twirled a strand of her hair, fighting not to chew off the red polish she’d applied to her fingernails to match her blouse. “I can cancel if you need me.”
Andrea Rossiter laughed, making the stud in her tongue sparkle and her purple hair fly about her shoulders. “Go. Have a good time. I’ll be fine. Nobody will be in anyway—the whole town will be at the parade.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Elsie looked down at her plain navy suit, one of the few remnants of her accounting days. She’d had to run out the night before and buy pantyhose. At least the weather was warm for November. She wouldn’t be freezing to death in the grandstand. “Everyone is going to think we’re a couple.”
“Are you?” Andrea smirked. “If not, you should think about it. I’ve seen the way you look at him when he comes in. It’s like you want to eat him with a spoon. And he watches your ass like it had a blinking neon sign on it. I’ve even caught him adjusting himself when you bend over bottom-shelf tanks to scoop a fish out.”
Elsie stared at the younger woman in shock. “My ass is huge. Why would he stare at that?” Her boobs weren’t much to speak of, but genetics had compensated for the oversight by giving her extra in the hips and butt department. Her ex-husband had reminded her on a daily basis, but no amount of obsessive exercise or diet could make it go away. Since coming here, she’d quit worrying about it—until today.
Andrea shrugged. “That’s how it is. Some guys are breast men, others like legs. Seems like your guy is into curvy rear ends. I say run with it. You haven’t gotten laid in the year I’ve been working for you. I get the feeling he hasn’t gotten much action either, given how self-conscious he is. Might do you both a world of good.”
Elsie shook her head. “I do not need a pity fuck, thank you very much.”
The bell above the door tinkled as Sig walked in. Elsie’s face flamed. The phrase “pity fuck” rang in her ears. Thank heavens he hadn’t been a few seconds earlier.
“Hey, Sarge. Looking good.” Andrea sashayed over and fist-bumped Sig.
Bluebell squawked his agreement as Sig leaned over to scratch his head.
“Thanks.” Sig smiled at Andrea before he turned to Elsie. “Wow. You look amazing.”
Elsie shook her head. “No, I look boring. I wish I’d taken the time to shop for something new.” Why hadn’t she? Her past was gone. There was no reason to make herself disappear into the background any more. She wore bright T-shirts and sweatshirts to work. Why couldn’t she have some pretty new dress clothes as well? She’d really be a mouse today, next to Sig, who looked like a martial god in his dress uniform, loaded with medals. Even his scars only made him look stronger and more courageous. Going with him had been such a bad idea.
“Conservative and warm. Not boring.” He winked. “And thank you so much for doing this. You have no idea how nervous I am. It will be a real boost to have you standing next to me.”
“Okay, kids. Time to hit the road before this gets mushy.” Andrea shooed them toward the door. “Have the boss home before she turns into a pumpkin.”
“I’ll do my best.” Sig said.
“Don’t forget to lock both doors.” Elsie snatched her purse off the counter as the momentum of Sig and Andrea swept her toward the door. “Text me if you need anything.”
“We’ll be fine.” Andrea held the door while Sig took Elsie’s elbow to lead her out. “Won’t we, Bluebell?”
The rotten bird cooed. Elsie stopped dead. Usually, only Sig rated that response from the grumpy parrot.
Sig’s big hand caught hers as he nudged her out the door and let Andrea pull it shut. “Are you all right with this?” His whisper was soft against her ear, sending a tremor of heat all the way to her toes.
Elsie glanced around. Her shop was right off Main Street, which meant there were crowds already, people who’d come out early to get a good spot to view the parade. She forced a bright smile on her face and curled her fingers around Sig’s. His were big and warm. Holding hands felt good, even if she did notice his missing pinkie. Notice—not give a damn. She tightened her grip and spoke loudly enough to be heard by passers-by. “What a beautiful day. We’d better get moving. Can’t have the grand marshal be late.”
He grinned back. “Nope. And wait until you see what we get to ride in.” His long strides pulled her forward until she was practically running on her sensible heels to keep up. The crowd parted with whispers as they m
oved toward the start of the parade. Eventually, he cut through the barricade on Main Street and walked right down the empty road, holding her hand like they were teenage sweethearts.
Yep. It’s gonna be all over town tomorrow that we’re a couple—hell, some of them will practically have us married. Elsie smothered a laugh at the thought—and then smiled for real. It was the first time she’d even been able to joke about being married without hyperventilating. Maybe having a fake hot boyfriend was doing her good.
They reached the bank parking lot where the parade was to begin, and Sig pulled her to the first in a long line of convertibles queued behind an antique fire engine and the mounted Sheriff’s patrol. Elsie wasn’t much of a car buff, but even she had to stop and gape at the vehicle awaiting them. Sleekly curved, the classic car gleamed glossy black in the autumn sunlight. At the wheel, garbed in a tweed suit and vintage driving cap, Sig’s brother-in-law, Ray Lawrence, grinned.
“Oh, my. I’ve never seen this beauty before.” Growing up in suburban Chicago, she hadn’t been as immersed in the car culture as most Michigan natives were, but this was a work of art no matter what.
“Meet my first love—Sylvia.” Ray came out and opened the back door for them, stepping back to allow Sig to help Elsie in. With the high running boards and her tight pencil skirt, it wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped. “First only because I’ve had her longer than I’ve been married to this lug’s sister. Isn’t she a beauty?”
“She is.” Elsie lightly touched the fabric of the seat. “I feel like I should wear gloves to touch her. What is she?”
“1929 Cadillac.” He doffed his cap and hopped back into the driver’s seat.
Sig sat down on the wide back seat next to Elsie. “We’ve been honored. Ray hasn’t brought Sylvia out for a few years for the parade. Usually she goes to only the ritziest antique car shows.”
Ray shrugged. It was clear the brothers-in-law were friends. “Well, can’t show the family riding in anything but the best. This’ll be her last outing for a while. No Sun Belt shows this winter.”
“Mindy and the baby are both doing all right? How about Buttons?” Elsie didn’t know Sig’s sister and her husband well, but she’d groomed their Lhasa Apso for the last year or so.
“All doing fine.” Ray beamed. “It’s getting close, though. Mindy’s pretty tired.”
“I’ll bet.” Elsie couldn’t even begin to imagine how exhausting it must be.
“Your mom sends her best from the Bahamas,” Ray told Sig. “She also said to thank Elsie for taking pity on your sorry ass, and she’s sorry she can’t be here.”
Sig rolled his eyes at Elsie. “Be glad she’s not. She’d drive you crazy.”
“Oh? I don’t think I’ve ever actually met your mother.” Which wasn’t impossible, even in such a small town, but it did strike her as rather odd. “Why would she drive me crazy?”
Ray laughed. “Because you’re with him. Mom Nowicki wants to see her angel married. Like, yesterday. She’d probably latch onto you like a lamprey.”
Sig grunted. “It’s all your fault. Yours and Mindy’s. Now that you’re having a baby, she’s decided she wants more grandchildren. All at once. You’ve turned her into a maniac.”
“Not my problem. I’m doing my part.” Ray faced forward as the fire truck and other emergency vehicles turned on their sirens to signal the beginning of the parade. He said something else over his shoulder, but Elsie couldn’t hear it.
“It must be nice to have a sibling,” Elsie said to Sig. “I’m an only child.”
He leaned close to be heard over the sirens. “I didn’t always think so when we were younger, but yeah. Mindy’s okay. I missed her a lot while I was in the Army, but she made out fine without me. I’m glad life is working out for her.”
There was absolutely no trace of envy in his fond tone. What must that be like, to love someone enough to not resent their happiness at all? Elsie had once thought she had that with Gary, until he’d started criticizing her every time she had a success or felt good about herself. “It’s good that she and your mom were there when you needed them.”
“Mostly.” The car started moving and Sig slid up to sit on the upholstered back of the seat before lending her a hand to do the same. “The only problem is that once they started taking care of me, they haven’t figured out how to stop. I’m as well as I’m going to get. It’s time for them to let things go. Thank heavens for Mindy’s baby—they’ll finally have someone else to focus all their fussing on.”
The car pulled onto the street and the parade officially began. Behind them, the high school band played a patriotic song and the crowds cheered as Sig waved at them. Several veterans snapped salutes. Sig returned them with easy grace. No one watching would see how uncomfortable he was with all this attention.
“Wave,” he said, nudging her. “Try not to look like I kidnapped you, all right? I don’t want to end the night in jail.”
Elsie laughed and let go of her thoughts. This was Sig’s hour. She could mull over her own poor life choices later. She put her game face on and waved.
Sig thanked his basic training sergeant for teaching him to stand—or in this case, sit—at attention no matter what. That ability got him through the parade, along with the morale boost he got from having Elsie waving and smiling beside him. He was so damn glad she’d taken pity on him and said yes. Too bad pity wasn’t what he wanted from her. He’d done the pity fuck thing and wasn’t ever going there again—not even for Elsie.
Not for the first time, he wondered who the hell had damaged her so badly. She never talked about her life in Chicago, but it didn’t take a shrink to figure out that she’d come here for a fresh start. It was also clear that she needed a support structure. He’d watched her interact with Andrea. It was clear that Sig wasn’t the only one Elsie had kept at arm’s length. It warmed him that the brave smile she kept on through the whole thing was for him. When they were seated in the grandstand watching the bands and floats go by, he took the time to admire the curve of her calves and the snug fit of her navy skirt. She’d left her wavy, shoulder-length hair loose today, held back from her face with a simple navy headband. Normally confined in a ponytail, her hair always looked soft and sexy, but down, it was downright irresistible. It took all Sig’s control to keep from sliding his fingers through the silky strands.
About five minutes after they settled in the stand, Elsie’s posture began to relax. Her smile brightened and lost the stiffness about the corners. Sig took note of what she was watching—ah, the animal shelter float. No big surprise there. Her furry and feathered friends were the only ones she let beneath her armor.
“You should get a dog,” he blurted. “They’re great security for a person living alone.”
Elsie watched the float with a wistful sigh. “I’ve thought about it. I’ve always wanted one. But there’s no yard to speak of behind the shop.”
Crap, he’d forgotten that. She lived in the flat upstairs. His blood surged as he imagined her there. What did it look like? All soft and feminine? He imagined her naked, spread out on a pink lace comforter.
With a stifled groan, he crossed his legs. Damn it, spending all this time with Elsie was dangerous.
“Is your leg bothering you?” She leaned close enough that he could feel her breath on his cheek, aggravating his erection.
“A little,” he said. “I’ll be fine.” That might have been the biggest load of shit he’d ever uttered. Fine wasn’t looking likely anywhere in his near future. Tolerable, he could manage. Not too bad, maybe. Fine would involve things like a productive job and Elsie naked beneath him.
Holy shit. He had to get his mind out of the gutter, or the whole town was going to see him, hard as a bayonet. He focused his gaze out to the street and tried to pay attention to the 4-H club’s equestrian team. He recognized a girl, about fourteen, as the daughter of one of his high school classmates. Great. Now he felt old as well as frustrated. Coming home reminded him daily that time was
passing him by, while others lived their lives—marriage, careers, families. I’m trying, damn it. At least I managed to get Elsie to go out with me. Yeah, it was lame, but it was the best defense he had against the despair that had hovered over him since his injury.
Before he could get any more caught up in that, Elsie’s soft fingers slid into his. Sig damn near swallowed his tongue as lust and something else swamped his system. He held her hand tightly as they watched the rest of the spectacle.
“That wasn’t too bad,” Elsie said as they walked from the grandstand to the chamber of commerce building, where there was a cocktail reception before the dinner. “I love this town. Everyone has been so friendly.”
“When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to get away.” Sig paused to shake hands every few yards, chatting briefly with people he’d known all his life. While it could be intrusive, he’d learned to appreciate the support—even when they started teasing him and Elsie about dating. “Sometimes I remember why.”
“It’s all right. We discussed this.” She tucked her arm in his. “Actually, I don’t mind. It takes a load off, having people think I’m out of circulation. Although I hope they don’t all turn on me at some point later, thinking I ditched the town hero.”
“So don’t ditch me.” Sig wished it was that easy.
“We’d have to have a relationship first anyway.” She sighed. “And you deserve someone way less broken than I am.”
Sig snorted. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got you beat in that category.”
“Only on the outside,” she muttered.
“The outside counts with a lot of people—and trust me, I’m not making up my stories about PTSD. I’ve got plenty of mess on the inside. Maybe we’re a matched set—chipped but functional, and perfect for each other.” God, that would be incredible if it were true. He wanted her more today than he’d ever wanted anything in his life again—maybe even to walk again after the grenade had smashed his hip.
Thankful for You Page 2