by LuAnn McLane
Digger looked at Trish and seemed to do a confused doggie frown, as if sensing something was terribly wrong. He sat by Trish’s side.
“Are you for real, Digger?”
“You have been gone so much . . . we kind of . . . bonded.”
In his anger about the restaurant, Tony had forgotten to be pissed about Digger. “That didn’t give you the right to open my door and let my dog out. Did you go inside my place too? Snoop around?”
“Of course not! Look, I couldn’t find the lease papers and I didn’t have your phone number. He was whining one day and my heart went out to him.”
“You realize what you did could be in violation of my lease.” He just came up with that one on the spur of the moment.
“You . . . you want to move out?” Her eyes widened and she rubbed her lips together. “Seriously?”
No, not really, and he actually hated the stricken expression on her pretty face. He knew his reaction was knee-jerk and a product of his pent-up anger at so many things that was making him react this way. “Maybe.” He motioned for Digger. “Let’s go.” When Digger sat there on his haunches as if in protest, Tony shook his head and started walking toward his side of the house.
“Tony?”
He kept walking, taking large steps, knowing it would be hard for Trish to keep up.
“Look, I can understand your anger with me.”
Tony stopped, but the emotion in her voice wouldn’t allow him to face her. He wanted to hold on to his anger, not forgive her.
“I really am sorry.”
He didn’t want her apology. Her kindness. He didn’t want to feel that pull of attraction, the need for a woman in his arms . . . or in his bed.
“But I would like your permission to let Digger out to play.”
“No.”
“You’re being unfair. He’s a good dog and needs to get out and exercise. Why deny me . . . I mean him that?”
Tony tried to ignore the twinge he felt at her small admission. “We’ve hired more staff,” he answered tightly. “I’ll try to get home more often.”
“And if you can’t? Do I have your okay?”
“I’ll think about it,” Tony said, unwilling to give in so easily. That’s what he’d done with Gloria. Looked the other way; extended forgiveness when he should have walked out. And where had that gotten him? She’d stripped him of his business and his pride, turning him into an unhappy shell of his former robust lifestyle. The first time he’d felt anywhere near his old self was when he flirted with Trish. And that could be dangerous. After his divorce he vowed never to give a woman the power to bring him to his knees ever again.
No, he’d stay as far away as he could from Trish Daniels, which was going to be difficult since she lived next door. Digger stared at him with those big brown eyes and Tony sighed. “Don’t look at me like that. I’ll come home more often. I promise.”
But as he took Digger on a long run through the woods, he couldn’t stop thinking about Trish. It pissed him off! She was making him feel things he didn’t want to feel. God, he remembered the touch of her skin, the scent of her hair, the sound of her laughter. Although Trish would probably never believe it, he’d been a romantic guy, bringing flowers for no reason. He loved holding hands, kissing . . .
And sex. Amazingly hot sex. When he made love to a woman he did it slowly, thoroughly, exploring every inch of skin, getting as much pleasure out of giving as receiving. He’d given his all and then some to Gloria, but it wasn’t enough. Her betrayal cut him to the quick, stripping him of his pride, his confidence. But even worse was the fear of trying again. Tony saw the same fear in the eyes of his sweet sister. How could people be so cruel . . . so callous, heartless?
Anger exploded in his head like fireworks and he pushed harder until his breath came in ragged gasps and his lungs burned. His calves protested, but he ran through the pain, even welcomed it.
Tony refused to slow down until he neared the clearing that led back to the house. He veered off the worn path to cross the narrow part of the creek, using rocks for stepping stones. When Digger stopped to lap up some water from the creek, he pushed on. Not knowing if the water was safe for Digger to drink, Tony turned to call to him, tripping when he failed to see a tree root in his path. Twisting his ankle, he went down with a grunt followed by a curse.
Pushing up to his feet, Tony gingerly put weight on his foot, only to curse a blue streak. Digger looked at him with worried eyes. “It’s okay, Dig. I don’t think it’s broken, only sprained.” But when he tried to walk it hurt like hell.
“Well, isn’t this just great?” Tony hobbled around hoping he could find a sturdy stick that he could use as a damned cane but came up empty. With another curse he sat down on a fallen tree and looked at his ankle that had already begun to swell. He knew from experience that he needed to get ice on it pronto or he was going to have a helluva time working. “Damn it all to hell and back.”
Digger looked at him and then, as if hit with sudden inspiration, took off toward the house, pulling a Lassie. If Tony hadn’t been in so much pain he might have laughed. Just as he thought, about fifteen minutes later Trish came into sight. She spotted him sitting on the fallen tree.
“Oh my gosh, what happened?”
“I tripped. Sprained my ankle,” he answered sullenly.
“Can you walk?”
“Does it look like it?”
She fisted her hands on her hips. “You don’t have to be an ass.”
Yes, he did, or he would give in to the feeling of being glad to see her and the concern in her eyes. “I’ll be able to hobble home in a few minutes. You can go back to writing something mean.”
“Okay,” she said, and to his horror she turned on her heel. Digger barked as if trying to tell her this wasn’t the drill. She was supposed to help!
“Wait . . . um . . . I guess I could use some . . . uh . . .”
“Help?” She whipped around to face him. “Is it so hard to ask, Tony?”
“Apparently.” He inhaled a deep breath and used the edge of his T-shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“Well, then, don’t ask. I’m offering.” She knelt down and gently examined his ankle. “You need to ice it, pronto.”
“I know,” he answered tartly, but when she looked at him with sympathy in her blue eyes he softened.
“I realize it’s going to be hard for you to swallow, but you’re going to have to lean on me, you big beast.” She glowered at him and as long as he kept her pissed at him he felt safe.
“You mean sexy beast, right?”
“No.”
He eased up to his feet. “But you were thinking it.”
“I was not! But I do have to tell you that I ate your pizza.”
“And?”
“You were right. It was killer. The salad dressing was perfection. I tasted the cheesecake and it was divine. I’ll finish it later in small, guilty bites.”
“So now you’re eating crow.”
Trish gave him a deadpan stare. “Just when I think I could like you . . .” She sighed. “Now put your arm over my shoulder.”
“I’m sorry I’m really sweaty.”
“I don’t think you are sorry at all. I think it will give you great pleasure to drip your sweat all over me,” she grumbled, but then suddenly fell silent, making him wonder if her comment conjured up the same visual as it did for him.
Tony swallowed hard. “You’re right about that.” He knew he needed to stay pissed at her and to keep his guard up, but she was making it so damned difficult. “So, what are you going to do about the fact that you gave River Row Pizza and Pasta a bad review?” he asked, trying to remind himself that his sexy little landlord was the enemy.
“You’ll see,” she replied.
“That’s it? All you’re gonna say?”
“Yep.”
When she failed to elaborate Tony fell silent, partly because he was starting to warm up to her all over again and partly because his ankle hurt like hell. He was never so glad to see the house come into view.
Once he hobbled inside, Trish helped him over to the sofa. She gently propped his foot on pillows and then examined it once more. “It looks pretty bad. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the emergency room?”
“I’m sure.” Tony nodded, wincing when she slowly unlaced his running shoe.
“Sorry, but I’m going to have to tug it off.”
“I’m tougher than I look,” he tried to joke, but couldn’t suppress a hiss of pain when she removed his shoe.
“I’m sorry, Tony!”
“Sure you are,” he joked, but when she pressed her lips together in sympathy he managed a small smile. The thought ran through his head that Gloria had never been this compassionate or caring, but he shoved it aside. He’d been fooled by a woman once. He wasn’t going to allow that to happen again.
“I’ll go get a bag of ice,” she said, and then hurried into the kitchen. Digger trotted after her like a shadow, and in truth Tony was glad that she’d taken it upon herself to let him out. She filled his water bowl before getting the bag of ice. While he wasn’t about to get involved with her, Tony knew he should give her permission to hang out with Digger.
After placing the bag over his ankle she also handed him a bottle of water and asked, “Need anything else before I go?”
“No, I’ll just find something on television and try not to think about how I’m going to work with this damned injury.”
“Where’s your cell phone?”
“On my dresser in my bedroom.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll go get it.”
Tony nodded, but the thought of her in his bedroom had his brain sliding into dangerous territory. When she handed the phone to him their fingers brushed and Tony was shocked at his reaction to a slight touch. He scowled to hide his feelings. “Okay, you’re off duty now,” he said in the grumpiest voice he could muster.
Something akin to hurt slid into her eyes and he felt like an ass. She swallowed, blinked.
“Sorry. I’m just pissed that this happened at the worst of times. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
“Don’t worry. I’m used to it,” she responded in a false breezy tone.
Somehow Tony didn’t think she was talking about him and then he recalled Maggie saying that she was divorced from Steve and wondered if she was referring to her ex. The thought of anyone talking to her in a nasty tone suddenly bothered him and he shook his head. “Seriously, I’m sorry, Trish.”
His quiet, sincere tone surprised him as much as it did her and she shrugged slightly. “It’s okay,” she murmured, but there was suddenly a haunted quality in her expressive eyes and it hit him that she was most likely as damaged from her divorce as he was from his. “I’ll give you my number in case you need anything,” she offered, and waited until he nodded before rattling it off.
“Hey, seriously, I’m really sorry,” he repeated, and she gave him a nod.
“Yeah, me too,” she said. “Believe me.”
Tony wasn’t sure what she meant, but he could feel her withdrawal. Something in him wanted to bring her easy smile back, but warning bells rang in his head and so he remained silent, though when she turned to leave he stopped her. “Hey.”
She turned around slowly.
“You have my permission to hang out with Digger.”
She rewarded him with a small but bright smile. “Thank you,” she said softly, and then walked away.
After she was gone Tony felt strangely alone but pushed the feeling aside with an angry edge. Being alone was way better than hurt and betrayal.
But when he closed his eyes and tried to doze he thought how amazing it felt to have Trish in his arms if only by accident. What would it be like to have her in his life?
In his bed?
“Not gonna happen,” he grumbled. He reminded himself that he needed to stay focused on his restaurant. He had way too much on the line, and the two people he cared about the most were depending on him. Getting involved with Trish would be a distraction that he didn’t need or want.
13
Raise Your Glass
“WHY SUCH A LONG FACE, CHILD?”
Gabby tied the raffia onto the Mason jar and then looked over to where Joy was sweeping up leaves that were scattered on the floor. “I didn’t realize I appeared so sad,” Gabby admitted.
Joy walked over to the craft table and sat down. “Are you wishing you hadn’t turned down that handsome young Drew again? I’ll watch over the shop if you really want to go to the Cougars baseball game. It’s such a nice night for it. If you turn him down once more he might stop asking, you know.”
“I know.” Drew had been in the shop three times in the past week, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say yes to a date.
“Gabby, Drew Gibbons is the most eligible bachelor in Cricket Creek and he’s obviously set his sights on you. Aren’t you interested?”
“I thought so . . . but I don’t know.” Gabby shrugged. “I should finish this arrangement and get it over to Addison.”
“I can take it to her.”
“That’s okay.”
Joy put her hand over Gabby’s. “Sweetie, you need to get out and have some fun. It’s Friday night, for goodness’ sake. I don’t understand. Listen, if you want to talk to me about something . . . anything, I promise I won’t breathe a word to anybody.” She made a show of crossing her heart.
Gabby smiled. “Thank you, Joy.” Her mother had been her only real confidante, and it wasn’t easy sharing her innermost thoughts with anyone else, although she’d recently become closer to Addison now that wedding season was in full swing. She didn’t find it easy to open up with her personal problems, but the earnest look in Joy’s eyes had Gabby wanting to confide in her.
“Talk to me, child.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think perhaps doing the flowers for several weddings has me wondering if I’ll ever find someone and get married.”
“Oh, Gabby, you’re a lovely, vivacious young woman. If the right man hasn’t come along, he will.”
Gabby hesitated and then asked, “How do you know if he’s the right one?”
Joy tilted her silver head to the side. “I’m guessing this has something to do with Reese Marino?”
“How did you know?”
“I’m seventy-five years old and I’ve done some living. The way your eyes light up when he stops by tells the story. He gives you butterflies, doesn’t he?”
Gabby nodded.
“And Drew doesn’t.”
Gabby sighed and then nodded. “No, not really. I mean, he’s nice and everything, but . . .” She shrugged.
“So you want to be attracted to the young mayor rather than the resident hellion.”
“He says he’s put those days behind him.”
“Ah, but reputations die hard in a small town, don’t they? And maybe you’re not so sure?”
Gabby nodded again.
“And it doesn’t help that young Reese still looks the part. He’s a hottie, that one.”
“The kind my mama fell for and it never worked out,” Gabby admitted. “It wasn’t always easy growing up in Riverbend Trailer Park. We used to be called river rats by some. When Drew finally took notice of me, well . . . it made me feel validated. Accepted rather than looked down upon.”
Joy’s chin came up. “Anybody who ever looked down upon you because of where you’re from isn’t worth your time of day.”
“I know you’re right.” Gabby tapped the side of her head. “Up here. But sometimes I still feel a little bit on the outside looking in. Forgive me, I don’t mean to sound shallow.”
Joy shook her head
. “Honesty is never shallow, Gabby. We all have our stories, our fears. I know I sure do. Fear is a necessary form of protection from doing something foolish, but don’t allow fear to rule your life. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I hope you’ll share some of your life with me while we work together. I’ll soak up your wisdom like a sponge.”
Joy tossed her head back and laughed. “You mean learn from my mistakes?”
“Oh, I’m sure you made mostly good choices.”
Joy gave her a soft smile and her eyes appeared misty. “Yes, mostly.”
Gabby was hit with sudden inspiration. “Joy, did you walk to work?”
“Surely did. What’s that got to do with the price of tea in China?”
Gabby arched an eyebrow. “Well, I’m thinking about running upstairs and getting a bottle of wine. Are you interested?”
“Is the pope Catholic?”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Gabby laughed, already feeling better.
A moment later Addison entered the flower shop. “What’s up, girls?”
“We were just talking about you,” Gabby said. “I have the tabletop arrangement ready for you to show your client.”
Addison sighed. “That’s why I came over. She’s changed her mind about the colors . . . again. I brought swatches.”
“No big deal,” Gabby said with a shrug. “If it were my wedding, I’d want everything to be perfect too. Hey, Joy and I were about to open a bottle of wine. Would you like to join us?”
“I’d love it,” Addison answered brightly. “Reid went to the baseball game with Braden and his dad, so I have the night free. Hanging out with the girls sounds like fun. Hey, do you mind if I go grab Maggie? She’s about to close up and I know that Rick is at the studio in a recording session.”
“The more the merrier!” Gabby announced, and Joy nodded her agreement.
“Sweet. I’ll stop by my apartment and get a couple more bottles of wine. I have some hummus and pita chips if you want me to bring a snack?”
“Sure, hey, why don’t we move this to my back deck?” Gabby offered. “I think I can round up some munchies too. I’ll lock up down here, so come around the back entrance, okay?”