He leaned against the door to the bathroom and folded his arms across his chest. “Now, don’t go knocking those flannel gowns. My grand mom had eight children and she wore those every night of her life. Some men just find women irresistible no matter what they wear. Kind of like you.”
“Whatever, Payton.” She shut the door and talked through it while she changed clothes. “What brings you here this early anyway? And how did you get past my dad? There’s no way he’d let you up here.”
“Wow, you’re crankier than I remember you being in the mornings. Need a little caffeine before you’re nice, don’t you?” She opened the door back up as she slipped a pair of cotton socks on her feet. “And to answer your question, you’d be surprised Lizzie. You haven’t been here in a while, remember? Seems that Edenville’s former football hero and most winning football coach can get away with more than you think.”
“And you’re here because?”
“Because I found a nice wrapper from a twenty-four pack of Quilted Northern double roll toilet paper in my trash can and apparently twenty –four of those rolls just happened to land in my Oak and Pecan trees. I thought maybe you’d like to help me track down the culprits. I’m thinking one has dark hair and the other has flame red. What’s your guess?”
Lizzie tucked her shirt into her jeans and began to pull her hair into a ponytail, then into a baseball cap.
“Haven’t the foggiest clue what you’re talking about.” But she smiled as she walked out her bedroom door and down the stairs and straight to the refrigerator. “Care for something to drink? Whiskey perhaps?” She giggled as his face turned a little green.
“No, thanks. I’ll take a coke if you’ve got it. Then we’ve got to go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“Uh-uh. Where’s the fun in telling you?”
“Right. Well, unfortunately the wedding is a week away now, and I don’t think my father would appreciate me skipping out on my fair share of the work.”
Payton popped the top on the can of soda and grinned at Lizzie’s back. “Oh, I don’t think he’ll mind too much. Will you Mr. Benford?”
“Nope.”
Lizzie spun from the counter where she’d been pouring a bowl of Cheerios to find her dad grinning at her. “Sorry, sweetie. A deal’s a deal.” He winked at her daughter and left the room.
“But, daddy…” She let out an exasperated sigh when she realized he wasn’t listening. She frowned at Payton and tossed her bowl on the kitchen table, slumped down into a chair, and shoveled a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.
“Why is my daddy being so cooperative with you?” She eyed him curiously. “He knows that you’re an evil four letter word around this place.”
Payton propped a booted foot on his knee and crossed his arms behind his head. “You’re dad and I had a nice little chat this morning and he and I see eye to eye on certain things. He’s a most agreeable man when you get on his good side.”
Lizzie grunted. “If I find out your mom’s pecan pie had anything to do with you and his good side getting together, and I didn’t get any, there’s gonna be hell to pay.”
He laughed and stood. “Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll be in my truck sleeping off the hangover.”
“Oh, I’ll let you know. Don’t you worry.” She gave him her best fake smile, and pretended she didn’t feel her heart spin into overtime when he winked at her just before letting the screen door slam behind him. She also pretended she didn’t find his butt way too adorably sexy in the pair of jeans that hugged his body.
Then the screen door slapped closed and her mind snapped with it. Something wasn’t right about this situation. Didn’t her dad realize she was getting married in a week to a guy named Josh? And speaking of Josh, what was he going to say when he realized Payton had somehow finagled a way for her to get out of wedding duties so she could go off someplace with Payton? What, was she living in the twilight zone? Did no one understand the situation she was currently living in?
Apparently not, because just then her mother came buzzing through the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee and kissed her daughter on the head. She breezed back out humming, and said nonchalantly, “Have fun with Payton today.” What the hell was going on around here?
Payton. They were talking about Payton Cartwright for crying out loud. Granted, no one but Grace knew that Payton had written her the love letter of a lifetime, but still. Her parents knew all that had happened in their past. How could they possibly think it was okay for she and him to be anywhere in the same vicinity of each other? Something just wasn’t right about this.
It put her in a bad mood just thinking about it, so she focused on her Cheerios instead.
She took her time eating her cereal and then sipped her cup of coffee like she had no place else to go. Like she wasn’t the least bit curious as to where exactly Mr. A-Deal’s-a-Deal was taking her. Finally, when she felt satisfied that she’d wasted enough of his morning, Lizzie pulled on her tennis shoes and headed out the kitchen door to Payton’s truck.
She slammed the door extra hard when she climbed in just to watch him jolt awake with a wince.
“Oops, sorry,” she said, and smiled an innocent little smile.
Payton merely glanced at her. “Did you get enough breakfast? I could always drop you off at IHOP and come back later when you’ve had a full serving there as well.”
“Ha, ha very funny. Just thought you might need a little extra time to sleep off those twenty shots of whiskey you had.” She clicked her seatbelt into position. “How many did you really have anyway?”
“More than I’ve had in a long time that’s for sure.” He started the truck and pulled out of her drive.
“New truck?” She sniffed the air and closed her eyes, enjoying the new car scent.
“Yep. Bought it a few months ago. Do you like it?”
“Sure.” She paused and thought for a moment then added, “It fits you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Your welcome.” Lizzie rolled down the window and let the cool morning air brush against her bare arms. It felt good to be out in the country air, and surprisingly, it felt good to be with Payton. It felt right somehow, and she knew that was exactly what she didn’t need to be thinking considering the wedding was in a week.
“Are you going to tell me now where we’re going?”
He laughed. “You don’t know?”
“Nope.” She waved her arm out the window like a bird in flight and leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes and enjoying the ride.
“Well, for starters we’re going to wake that red headed devil from her alcohol induced sleep, and after that we’re headed to my house to do a little clean up detail.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I thought I told you I didn’t have a clue who the guilty party is.”
“Sure. Fine. But unfortunately the rollers left their mark on the project and it just so happens to be the same one that you two left at my parent’s house quite a few times in high school.”
“You’re kidding.” Lizzie managed to come out with a look of shock and disgust. “Some of your football flunkies must’ve figured out our mark and stole it. They’re probably just playing games on the coach.” The look he shot her told Lizzie he wasn’t buying that crap of a story for a minute. “Yeah well, then again maybe it was just too much fun to resist.” She smiled as she turned her attention back out the window.
“That’s exactly what I thought you’d say.” Payton pulled into Grace’s drive and turned off the truck. “Now, are you going to wake the rest of the rolling party or do I need to do the honors?”
Lizzie smiled. “Oh, no, by all means be my guest.” Lizzie had learned long ago not to wake that she-devil before at least noon unless she wanted to lose a body part in the process. “I’ll wait right here for you guys.”
Payton knew better than that. “Oh, you will?” He waited for her to nod then slowly unfolded
himself from the driver’s seat. Lizzie got a little nervous when he rounded the front of the truck and pulled open her door as well. She wanted to cry when he grabbed her arm and pulled her out. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’ve seen what that mop of red hair does to Grace before she’s awake. You’re going in as my bodyguard.”
They marched to the door, Lizzie being propelled by Payton’s strong body. “Surely a big strong man like yourself doesn’t need a little girl like me to protect you. What are you, chicken?”
“Are you kidding? Of course I am when it comes to her.” And with that he pushed her through Grace’s front door and up the stairs to the wicked witch’s evil lair.
Lizzie tip-toed across the hard wood floor and eased up next to Grace lying in the Queen bed. She gently cleared her throat and said a silent prayer that she wouldn’t die a brutal death, then she looked over at Payton waiting outside the open bedroom door and gave him an evil glare. He merely smiled that adorable smile and winked at her before disappearing behind the door again.
He left her stranded, alone, with the crazy monster snoring lightly beside her. Great. She was a goner for sure. She cleared her throat again, this time a little harder and thought about crossing herself, but figured that was somehow sacrilegious seeing as she was Baptist instead of Catholic.
Here goes. She reached down and gently shook Grace. Grace merely rolled in the bed and snuggled deeper in the covers.
She shook her again. “Uh, Grace. Good morning, sweetie.”
Nothing.
This time a little louder. “Gracie, it’s time to wake up.”
A slight stir and a mumble. Lizzie whimpered to herself.
Finally she worked up the courage to just go for it. “GRACE! WAKE UP!”
Oh, Lord. That definitely did it. Grace was out of that bed, yelling every obscenity that came to mind and doing her best to kill what she apparently thought was an intruder standing in her bedroom.
“Grace! Grace! Jeez, ease up, Carrot. It’s just me. Remember? Your best friend?” Finally Grace came to her senses and at least eased up on the trying to kill Lizzie part.
“Lizzie. What in the hell are you doing in my bedroom at seven thirty in the morning? Don’t you remember how late we were out last night?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
Grace flung herself back on the bed and ran her hands through her flame red mop. Then she giggled. Amazing. How did the woman go from spitting mad to laughing in a matter of seconds? “What do you think Payton did when he woke up from that hangover and saw his front yard?”
Lizzie didn’t laugh. Well, not that loud at any rate. “Why don’t you ask him?”
“Huh?” Grace sat up. Then she winced when she saw Payton poke his head around the corner.
“Yep. You guessed it. Time for clean up detail, pal.” Payton shot her a broad, white toothed grin to which Grace groaned and crawled back under the covers.
“That’s nice. You guys go ahead without me. I’ll be over in a while to check the progress.”
“Oh, no you don’t. If I have to, you have to. Now get up.” Lizzie flipped off Grace’s covers and headed to the closet to pick out clothes for her friend. She knew Grace too well. If she didn’t help her get moving they’d be there for hours trying to prod her out of the bed. “Now, put on these and brush your teeth. We’ll meet you in the truck in ten minutes.”
“Sure thing.” Grace yawned and flipped the covers back. “I’ll be there.”
Fifteen minutes later Grace sleepily plugged out her front door, letting the storm door slap closed behind her. A tall silver mug of coffee rested in her hand as if it were a life line keeping her from falling dead asleep on her feet. Lizzie didn’t doubt that that could potentially happen.
Grace finally made it to the truck and stood outside the door she had ruthlessly thrown open waiting for Lizzie to move over to the middle seat.
When Lizzie didn’t take the nonverbal hint, she added, “Over, Bean. I’m not crawling over you.”
Lizzie had claimed her seat on the passenger side of Payton’s truck closest to the window, fearing that if she somehow got stuck in the middle next to his warm, masculine body she would be thrown into a tail spin of emotions she just might not recover from. Grace paid no attention to Lizzie’s wide eyed signals she tried to throw at her friend. Instead she said, “Lizzie, I’m really not in the mood to interpret your lame-brained eye rolls this morning. Just move over already.”
And with that Lizzie begrudgingly moved to the center seat. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She felt like smacking herself in the head. Why didn’t she just get out of the truck so Grace could sit in the center seat she wondered to herself as Payton pulled out of the dirt drive and onto the road headed out to his house.
No one spoke during the drive. Even though it was only about a two minute drive out to the patch of land his house sat on, it seemed too much effort on any of their parts to fill that two minute void. Grace was still too asleep to care, Payton felt like death warmed over, and Lizzie was too preoccupied with not drowning in the scent of a man that had haunted her life for so many years now. Just keep thinking about Josh she reminded herself. So she occupied her thoughts with wedding information for the rest of the drive to his place.
The slamming of the driver’s door brought Lizzie back into reality.
“Huh? What?” She said, shaking her head to bring her out of the daze she was in.
“I said let’s get going, honey.” Payton leaned in through the open window of his door and gave her a quizzical stare, one eyebrow cocked higher than the other. “Are you feeling okay today? You’ve either spent the morning being the biggest smart ass this side of the Mississippi, or you’ve been in Zombie land.”
“Sorry.”
“That’s alright.” He opened the door again and held out his hand to help her out. She hesitated and then let him pull her out of the truck. “You just had one too many tequila shots. I understand.”
“No,” She stated emphatically. “Unlike some people, I know when to quit drinking. I’ve just got a lot on my brain.”
“Good. Hopefully one item in that brain of yours is how you plan to get that toilet paper,” he paused and pointed at a mess of white in the top of a tall Oak tree, “out of that tree.” And with that he left her and Grace in his front yard while he headed off into his house.
Lizzie rolled her eyes at his backside then flipped her gaze back to the white front yard. The job had been rather fun last night, in the dark, half drunk, laughing her ass off at the thought of what Payton’s face would look like when he saw his yard. But now, in the daylight, stone cold sober, she didn’t find the sight or the job quite so funny. She imagined that the trees had grown at least three feet during the night just to spite her.
Well, if the man of the house found himself too good to help in the project at least she had Grace here to help her. And with that they set to work undoing the mess they had created.
Almost thirty minutes into their cleanup campaign she watched as Payton easily strolled out the door and onto his front porch. He must have just finished a work out because he was wearing a pair of navy gym shorts and his bare chest was covered in a sheen of sweat that only served to enhance the muscles that rippled and bunched across his body. The muscles that she could remember so well from her youth had only become better with time, and she wondered before she could stop herself what it they would feel like underneath her hands.
Man, he looked good she thought before she could catch herself. She quickly tried to think of Josh but the image wouldn’t come. Lizzie forced herself not to drool. She swallowed hard and thought that it was next to impossible to look better than he had in high school, and yet, somehow, he managed to do it. His body had matured and the broad expanse of muscle across his chest that had been drool worthy in high school was now exquisitely polished and perfected. The rest of his body had grown right along with him, she had noticed, and she couldn’t help but admire the set of his face now that it too had matured and wizened a
s well.
Every time she had seen him since their tragic break up in high school she had either been spitting mad and ready to choke him, or she’d been too drunk to care that he was there. But now… she knew that was a different story.
Now she certainly wasn’t drunk. And she’d finally realized that she wasn’t all that mad anymore, either. Damn it. She still wanted to be angry with him. She wanted that really, really badly, but staying angry with him didn’t seem to be a possibility anymore. Certainly there were things she still hadn’t completely forgiven him for, but at least now she could stand the sight of him without seeing red.
How was it that this man could break her heart so completely and yet she was still fool enough to forgive him? That thought alone had her blood boiling all over again. She was a fool to think that he could ever really love her. He had just written that letter to throw her off, to fool her into calling off the wedding. Just so he could go and break her heart again.
It was so obvious that a man like him was used to women falling all over him all the time. He probably couldn’t handle that a woman who used to stop breathing when he walked into a room was moving on and getting married.
But then she looked back over at the porch and found him watching her with a look so powerful that it stole her breath. She didn’t want to know what he was thinking just then, she honestly didn’t, but she could see the depths of his green eyes clear across the yard as if he was standing right in front of her, and she could read the message written there. She could see clear as day that he was imagining what it would be like to make love to her- what it would feel like to run his hands over her naked body. And it wasn’t just raw, instinctual, animal sex that he envisioned, but pure, honest, heart and soul love making.
Heat coursed through Lizzie’s body from her head to the tips of her pinky toe.
Payton sipped a tall glass of lemonade and smiled a slow, sensual smile at Lizzie before she had the chance to look away, sending her yet one step closer to that ledge she so desperately was trying to avoid.
Do you believe in soul mates, Liz? I do.
The Heart Will Lead You Home Page 28