Crashing Into You (Paragon Series Book 3)

by Juliana Stevens

  Sometimes she felt like she was still in the haze she fell under after Benny died. She sold the house they loved so much in Dallas a few months after his funeral, even though all her friends and family tried to talk her out of it. She loaded up all the artwork she'd done over the years and boxed up their pictures together, storing them in her dad's garage in Dallas. Every memento of their life together lived in that garage, and she hadn't seen any of it since. Hell, she hadn't been back to Dallas since.

  After the house sold, she left, not sure where she was going. At some point, she must have remembered the town she and Benny fell in love with once, on a spontaneous road trip. Rockford was a hundred miles outside of Dallas, in the hill country. It was mostly known for its quarry and great shopping for tourists, but it also had the pretty Lake Somerset she and Benny spent the day at, a day she always remembered fondly. On a whim, she'd driven there, thinking she would go to remember him and all the time they shared. As she drove through the town, she fell in love with it all over again because of all the houses that had character and the eclectic shops downtown. It felt like home to her. She stayed at a hotel for a few weeks before finding her house and, almost as suddenly as she left Dallas, she was calling Rockford home.

  Before she knew what she was doing, Denise was taking down all the dull curtains and folding up the rugs throughout her house, putting them in the guest bedroom. She knew it was time to make a change in her life. She didn't think placing pictures on the walls and hanging up new curtains would suddenly make her happy, but it had to make a small difference in her mood. She didn't want to feel so numb anymore, and she couldn't pretend her life was over because his ended. But, when she went to bed that night, she thought of a day long before, swimming and barbecuing with the man she loved, feeling free and happy.

  Chapter Five

  On Wednesday morning, Denise was especially tired and for once Sandra's Bookstore wasn't where she wanted to be. She spent the last couple nights deep cleaning her house and she didn't sleep well the night before. Luckily, Shelly saved the day by coming in with a cup of coffee for her and a bright smile.

  "How's my girl? You look exhausted."

  "Just what everyone wants to hear," Denise smirked.

  "Sorry, but those bags under your eyes don't lie. Drink your coffee," Shelly said, and Denise obeyed.

  "Thanks," she said, savoring the drink. "I didn't get enough sleep last night."

  "Hopefully it's because after all these years, you took my advice and got a man in that bed of yours."

  "I hate to disappoint you, but it's not the case."

  "I'm sorry to hear that. It's the only thing worth having those bags for."

  "You're going to give me a complex. Tell me you have concealer or something in your purse."

  "Sure do!" Shelly smiled, walking behind the counter to stand in front of Denise. "I'll fix you right up. I always say makeup isn't for you, but a little can't hurt. Hey, I like this! With you sitting, I'm taller than you."

  "Ha," Denise said, closing her eyes. She felt Shelly rubbing concealer under her eyes, then eye shadow going on her lids.

  "A little mascara now, look up," Shelly said in a soothing voice, and Denise did as she was told. "Whoa is me!"

  "Huh?" Denise asked, eyeing her friend who held onto the mascara while looking out the big glass window of the shop. Denise groaned when she realized it was Alex outside the bookstore that had Shelly flustered.

  "That is a beautiful man! You're going to have to hold me back, girl, remind me I'm engaged!" Shelly dramatically held her hand to her heart, taking deep breaths.

  Denise laughed. "You don't want him," she said right before Alex walked in.

  "You are wrong about that," Shelly muttered, looking him up and down shamelessly.

  "Hello, ladies," he said in amusement. "Is this beauty hour?"

  "Why? Do you want to be next? I can fix you right up," Shelly said enthusiastically.

  "I came in for a book, but I'm a little oily today. Got anything for that?" he asked, and Denise rolled her eyes.

  "Actually, I do," Shelly said, smiling wide. "Come around here, I'll take care of all your problem areas."

  "You shouldn't even be back here, Shelly, so scoot," Denise said, pushing her away.

  "No need to shove, I'm leaving," Shelly said, throwing the lip gloss at her. "Put this on, honey," she added. Denise felt her face flush but did as she was told, if only to keep her hands busy.

  "Hi, Shelly, I'm Alex," he said, holding out his hand when he realized Shelly was coming straight for him.

  "My goodness, you are tall!" Shelly exclaimed, not letting his hand go after shaking it. She looked him up and down slowly, and Denise stifled a sigh. Her friend really was shameless. "Tell me something, Alex."

  "What's that?" he asked as he tried to break free of her grasp.

  "Is this a gym body?" Shelly asked him, squeezing his arm. Denise wanted to disappear. The man was gorgeous to be sure, especially then, in a pair of blue jeans and a gray shirt. The casual look suited him well. Still, she couldn't imagine touching a perfect stranger, since that's what he was to both Shelly and herself.

  "Excuse me?" Alex was asking.

  "You work out, don't try to be modest here," Shelly cooed.

  "I wasn't," he said, and Denise smiled at him. "I don't go to a gym. No time to."

  "Mmm hmm. So, what? You run? Play basketball? Swim?" the ever-persistent Shelly asked.

  Denise rose from her chair, grabbing some books off the counter that needed to be put away. To her surprise, Alex broke from her friend's grasp and grabbed Denise's arm as she walked by.

  "Sorry," he said, pulling his hand away from her as quickly as he'd put it there. "Sorry. I came in for a book."

  Denise looked at Shelly, who was idly rummaging through her purse a few feet away. "You finished yours already?" she asked, looking back at him.

  "I'm halfway through mine. I'm here for my mom today, she's feeling sick-"

  "Oh, no, I hope everything is okay," she said, interrupting him before she could stop herself.

  "Definitely," he said, smiling. "She's a little under the weather, but she told me there's a book that should be here, part of a series she's been reading. She said you would know what it is because she thought I would forget, which I did."

  Denise smiled. "Yes. She's reading the Lanie Anderson series, and she's been excited about the newest addition to it. Unfortunately, there was an unexpected delay this week, but it will be here later today."

  "Okay, I can come back." He flashed an impressive smile, and she felt her face flush. She was thankful for Shelly walking over to them.

  "What are you two talking about over here?"

  "I have to go," Alex blurted, moving past Shelly.

  "That's too bad," Shelly sighed.

  "Sorry, I have some errands to run. It was nice to meet you, Shelly. I'll see you around three? Do you think that'll be a good time?" he asked, looking at Denise.

  "Yes. See you then."

  "What was that about?" Shelly asked with a sly smile as soon as he was out the door.

  "Nothing," Denise insisted. "A book, so get your mind out of the gutter."

  "How can your mind not be in the gutter when it comes to that man? Wowzah!" Shelly fanned herself, and Denise laughed.

  "I don't like him. Do I need to remind you of something?" she asked, grabbing Shelly's left hand and looking pointedly at her engagement ring.

  "Aww, Denise, you're no fun! I'm goofing around is all. You know it's harmless flirting, right? I would never cheat on Kyle."

  "I know," Denise said, then she remembered an idea she had. "Hey, can you do lunch later? There's something I need to talk with you about."

  "Sure, I'll be back at two for your late lunch," Shelly said, waving as she walked out the door.

  Denise headed to the romance section to return the books she still held in her hands when she heard the chime above the door. She turned, thinking it would be Shelly but was surprised to se
e a tall redhead instead. The woman was literally jaw-dropping, as Denise couldn't seem to get out a proper greeting. She was in actual awe of the woman standing before her in a flowy white dress, her long hair halfway pinned up in a flowered clip. Denise's first thought was that there was no way she could ever pull off the look, but the woman wore it effortlessly. If the lady had a halo over her head, Denise wouldn't have questioned it. Denise's second and more annoying thought was being glad Alex already left before glimpsing the woman.

  "That was a stupid thought," Denise said out loud, her face flushing when she realized it. She found her voice, at least.

  "Hello," the woman said to her, appearing unbothered by Denise's talking to herself. She flashed a dazzling smile that put her at ease.

  "I'm sorry," Denise said, setting the books on a random shelf. "Can I help you?"

  "Did you see the man that just left here?" the woman asked. "He's a treat for the eyes, don't you think? Oh, pardon me! I'm Grace."

  "Hi," Denise said, unfazed that Alex must've seen her if she'd seen him. There was something about the woman that gave her a warm fuzziness that felt familiar and long since lost to her. Denise laughed at the thought and shook her head. She was being ridiculous.

  "Who is he?" Grace asked, smiling innocently at her.

  "A customer," Denise said, feeling an immediate friendship with the woman. "I barely know him."

  "What a shame that is. He really is something."

  "He was rude to me the other day," Denise said, almost as if she couldn't stop the words from escaping.

  "I see." Grace walked through the bookstore, her green eyes seeming to notice everything around her.

  "He apologized for it," Denise said, pulling her eyes from Grace. She found her beloved seat behind the counter and sat down.

  "That's wonderful!" Grace exclaimed, walking to the door, looking happy as could be. "That's a great start."

  "I'm sorry?" Denise questioned, more curious than ever by the woman. "Can I help you find something?"

  "You've helped me more than you know," Grace said, flashing a mega-watt smile before leaving the store. Denise hardly knew what to think, but she felt better than she had in a long time, so she wasn't about to question the oddness of it all.

  ******

  Lake Somerset was a big reason Alex missed Rockford. He had many fond memories of the place growing up, coming with his mom on rare days she got a day off. They would spend those days fishing and swimming, sometimes barbecuing with her work friends and their kids. He sighed, sitting on a bench and eating his deli sub. He was trying to get Denise out of his head, to no avail. He still couldn't believe the woman he had a run in at the restaurant was the same one from the bookstore. The difference in appearance was astounding.

  He'd seen her walk into Claudine's with a couple the week before, recognizing her friend Shelly as one half of that couple. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off Denise as she walked to the table across the room from his. Damn, that dress! It clung to her body in all the right places, but there was something else that caught his attention, something in her demeanor when she walked to her table. She was nervous, maybe, unsure of herself in that dress, though she had no reason to be. She was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. Later, when she bumped into him outside the restrooms, he was struck again by her beauty. Unfortunately for her, he'd been having a rough few months and took his anger out on her. He only meant to excuse himself and keep walking, but their eyes had locked on each other for a second, and he could sense she was as attracted to him as he was to her. His idiotic brain chose that moment to let some of the anger he felt over the past few months burst out. He felt guilty about it all weekend, even though he never thought he would see her again. He assumed she would always be a woman in a little black dress he was rude to once outside a bathroom.

  But he'd seen her twice at the bookstore by then, and he knew the way she dressed there was more the norm for her. Both times, she wore an oversized sweater and if he hadn't seen her in that dress, he wouldn't have known what a great figure she had.

  He remembered the way she looked at him only an hour before, when he grabbed her arm trying to escape her friend. He regretted it instantly. Something about the way her dark eyes looked up at him in surprise, he knew she didn't want him touching her. Even though he knew she must hate him, he wondered if she had someone in her life.

  He shook his head, trying to erase her from his thoughts. The last thing in the world he needed to be thinking about was a shy woman from a bookstore. He started thinking about her petite friend then, Shelly. Her small appearance reminded him of Wendy, his girlfriend of the past two years. His ex-girlfriend now.

  Damn it, Wendy! he thought, not for the first time since everything happened. He couldn't believe he had to resort to running back home to his mother. Wendy Clark had been the woman of his dreams when he met her two years earlier. She was petite and pretty, with dark blonde hair and big green eyes. He'd been so attracted to her that he followed her around anywhere she wanted. When she decided they should move in together six months after they met, he was happy about it. Six months after that, when she thought he should get his own apartment and give her the space she needed to focus on her dancing, he agreed. It was a hassle but he loved her, and he did whatever it took to prove that to her. She still let him come over some nights after he got off work from Sam's Bistro, where he was an executive chef. He was always happy to give her the space she needed, he knew she worked hard. He dealt with all her moods, all the ups and downs of being in the competitive world of dance. He fully supported her when she became a dance instructor, even through her mood swings that came from the decision. She eventually realized teaching was what she wanted to do in life, and he was the one who held her hand through it all, yet...

  He stood up to throw his sandwich wrapper in the trash. He wouldn't let his mind go there again. He'd wasted too much time on it already, wondering if there was anything he could've done differently. None of it mattered. What's done was done. And here he was, back in his hometown, back at the lake he loved as a child. He'd run away from it all, and he knew he couldn't stay here forever, no matter how much he loved Rockford or missed his mom. Soon, he would have to go back to Chicago and fix his broken life.

  Chapter Six

  "Are you serious?" Shelly squealed, clapping her hands excitedly. "You're going shopping? I'm so thrilled, you have no idea."

  Denise had locked up the bookstore for her lunch break, and she and Shelly were sitting on the bean bag chairs in the kid's section at the back of the store. They'd already eaten tuna sandwiches Shelly brought over from the deli down the street and had time before Denise needed to reopen. "Okay," Denise laughed. "Try not to get too excited, remember I said I want to do this on a budget. I don't want to go too crazy, but I realized you were right and I want to make my place homier."

  "Believe me, everything in my house was on a budget. I'm not rich either, honey."

  "Do you know where I can go? I want to make it nice, but I want something that's still me."

  "For sure. You've seen Chic and Cozy, right, in the strip mall?"

  "Mmm," Denise nodded. "Never been inside, though."

  "If you let me take you shopping more often, you would have. I swear, if it's not groceries, you just don't do it. It's supposed to be in a woman's blood to want to shop."

  Denise laughed. "Not everyone can enjoy shopping as much as you do. Besides, I haven't had any reason to lately."

  "You had reason, believe me!"

  "Thanks," Denise said sarcastically.

  "I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean it to come out like that," Shelly said, leaning over in her bean bag chair to pat Denise's arm.

  "I'm ok," Denise said, smiling. "You're right, it's why I agreed to do this. We can meet at the strip mall when I get off, right?"

  "Sounds good. Hey, listen," Shelly said, turning serious. "There's something I wanted to ask you, but it might be a little awkward."

  "W
hat's up?"

  "I wondered if all my talk of the wedding... I was hoping it hasn't been making you uncomfortable."

  "What?" Denise asked, suddenly nervous.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

  "It's okay," Denise said, shaking off her nerves. "I cut you off the other night on the subject of Benny, so I understand. Shelly, I'm happy for you. Love might be lost for me, but I'm glad you found your guy. You can talk and plan the wedding as much as you want around me, I'm fine with it. More than fine."

  "Do you really mean it?"

  "I do," Denise said, smiling.

  "I'm asking because I want you to be my maid of honor. I figured it would be implied, but I had to ask to be on the safe side," Shelly said expectantly.

  "I would love to!" Denise exclaimed, getting misty-eyed. They both leaned over in their funny little chairs to hug, laughing.

  "I'm so happy, you have no idea. I want you to be happy, too," Shelly said as they pulled away from each other. "Love doesn't have to be lost to you, you can have it again. I know you can."

  Denise shook her head. "I can't go through it all again. Besides, it's not like I have any prospects."

  "You might have at least one," Shelly said with a knowing smile.

  "What are you talking about?" Denise asked, confused.

  "I think you know. That cutie that was in here before, Alex."

  "Ha! You really are crazy," Denise said as she got out of the bean bag chair, ignoring the flip flop of her stomach at the mention of Alex. The thought of Grace earlier came unbidden. For whatever reason, she seemed to like the idea of her with Alex. She didn't exactly say those words, but that was the impression she'd left on Denise. She briefly wondered if she would ever see the intriguing woman again. "It's time for me to open the store back up."

  "Don't think you're getting out of this conversation," Shelly laughed, rising from her chair. "I saw the way you two were looking at each other before."