A Bride For Mr. Right (Redbud Romance Book 2)

by Carol Hutchens

  “That’s not going to get me very far. What then?”

  Laughter reflected in his eyes, adding a shield that protected his expression from her, but his tone sounded serious. She took a deep breath and struggled to respond. “Watch your partner if you are in doubt.”

  “What’s so hard about that?”

  Edee blinked at the teasing tone of his voice, but no retort came to her addled brain, so she reacted to the words, not his tone.

  “It isn’t hard. Just remember a few pointers. Start with the slow dances, and work your way to the more complicated steps.”

  Reaching for his water glass, J.T. shrugged. “No worries!”He took a drink and set the glass down. If the glass thumped the table with more force than necessary, Edee attributed it to the long-stemmed glasses and him not calculating for the added height of the glass. “It’s just like kindergarten.”

  Edee frowned. “How do you mean?”

  “You start on the outside, and work your way in…just like kindergarten.”

  “I’m not sure—”

  “It’s the story of my life, now that I think about it.”

  Her heart pounded at his tone as much as his words. Her mind formed pictures of a young J.T. standing alone, looking at a group of kids. The longing on the child’s face tore at her. She recognized the feelings his words described. Suddenly, she wanted him to think about happier times, anything to chase the shadows from his eyes.

  Clearing her throat, she asked. “How did you meet Mr. Jensen?”

  J.T. stared at his fork for long seconds. When his glance lifted, the shadows were gone. His eyes glowed a brilliant clear green. “He needed help on the farm…and I needed to get my life back on track.”

  Edee studied the expressions flitting across his face as her insides twisted. “How long did you work for him?”

  J.T. squinted. “It wasn’t so much work as it was a study in how to be a man.”

  “Sorry, I—”

  “Ole man Jensen taught me how to work, how to use my hands to make things, to fix things. He even taught me how to rebuild the engine on an old motorbike.”

  Edee swallowed. The flat tone of his voice brought a rush of emotion to her chest. She knew that tone, and suspected J.T.’s insides were churning. “Did-did you take it with you when you left town?”

  “No!” He shoved back against the chair. For a split second, Edee thought he was going to leave. Then he expelled a deep breath. “I left town too fast to think about excess baggage.”

  Moistening dry lips, she said. “What—”

  “Do you know, he saved that bike?”

  Blinking against the startling light shining out of his eyes, Edee shook her head.

  “He kept it locked up in his shed. Showed it to me the day I came back.”

  The waiter arranged a plate in front of Edee. Somehow, she managed to swallow a few bites, between laughing at J.T.’s fringed ignorance of dancing when he knew the latest names in music. She finally caught on that he was very much at home on any topic.

  So, now the question was, why had J.T. pretended he needed dance lessons? By the time they started home, her head buzzed with questions. She wanted answers. She wanted…

  “I enjoyed dinner.”

  Edee blinked away the dreamy fog in her head. They were standing on her front porch. Her mind had operated on automatic since they left the restaurant and she didn’t remember a single detail of their trip home.

  But she would remember this part of the evening because J.T. took her arms in a gentle grip and pulled her against his chest. She knew he intended to kiss her, knew she should stop him, but for the life of her, she couldn’t find the strength to avoid the lips settling on hers.

  His familiar scent enveloped her as his lips claimed hers. He didn’t put his arms around her…but she was just as much his captive as if he had. His lips pressed hers in a kiss as gentle as a spring breeze, but she felt a surge of emotion as hot as molten lava.

  When J.T. lifted his head, ending the kiss, it was all she could do to stop her arms from wrapping around his neck and begging for more.

  What was wrong with her? She had learned very early in life not to pin her hopes and dreams on a man.

  She could not allow her response to J.T. to sway her emotions. Not if she wanted to achieve her dream of having a real family and living in Redbud. J.T. didn’t let people close enough to tie him down. She had seen that with her own eyes. He laughed and teased as he charmed them, but he never let them see the real man.

  She shared his reluctance to form attachments, but deep down, she knew she had always wanted a family and a home to love. J.T. avoided the ties that would make her dream a reality.

  Clenching her hands in fists, she forced her body to remain rigid as he pulled away. J.T. looked down at her for long seconds. His eyes drifted to her mouth. She could tell he was thinking about kissing her again. And a voice inside her screamed, yes, yes, yes!

  But her head screamed, No, no, no!

  And she always listened to her head. No matter how much she enjoyed kissing him, she knew more shared kisses led to trouble. Holding her breath, she watched as he backed away. She saw the wounded look in his eyes and wanted to grab him, and hold him close. But comfort was all she could offer him, and J.T. needed more.

  J.T. needed more.

  How did she know that? Edee tossed and turned for hours as memories played and replayed in her head. One thing was certain…she was too close to J.T. for comfort.

  ***

  “How’s the work on your house coming?” Stella’s gum popped as she shoved the notepad in her apron pocket.

  Dropping her glance to the tall glass of Pepsi she held with both hands, Edee said. “Good, slow, but good.”

  “Men can drag out the simplest jobs. Now, you take Roy. The Festival committee asked him to come up with special appetizers for the big dance.” Stella put her hands on her hips, gum popping like a machine gun. “What do you think he picked?”

  “Something good, I hope. I’m looking forward to the refreshments.” J.T.’s deep laugh filled Edee’s head as he slid in the booth beside her.

  She scooted away from the heat of his body as her mind skipped to the last time she had been close to him. But it didn’t help. Memory of his kisses filled her head. Her lungs begged for air. Just when she was ready to turn on him, she noticed the speculative glance Stella aimed at first one of them and then the other.

  Edee lifted her chin. She would die before she let anyone know how J.T. affected her.

  Faking a smile in response to J.T.’s joking comment, she turned to Stella. “So, what did Roy pick?”

  “Quiche!” Gum popping faster than a pinball machine and her blue eyes shoot sparks like firecrackers, Stella said. “Can you believe it?”

  “Quiche?” Edee’s eyes widened.

  “Quiche?” J.T. growled, crossing his forearms on the table. “Real men don’t eat Quiche.”

  “Quiche!” Stella nodded like a queen viewing her subjects.

  Edee choked back a laugh as she studied the horrified look on her friend’s face. “Quiche?”

  “Mini quiche.” Stella’s face scrunched until her eyes were mere slits, and twisted her lips. “Can you imagine how long it’s going to take to make those tiny little shells for a big crowd? And fill them?” Pop! Pop! Pop!

  J.T.’s shoulders shook, jarring Edee because they were sitting close.

  Edee cut a glance in his direction. He dropped his head to his folded arms to hide his amusement. Giving him a swift jab with her elbow, she turned to Stella. “You mean, individual—”

  Stella nodded. Pop! Pop! Pop! Her gum sounded with each move of her head. “Individual quiche…for…five hundred—”

  “Five hundred!” J.T. exclaimed, sounding choked. “I’ve gotta go…” he gasped, his cheeks glowing red, “see a man…about a dog!”

  And he shot out of the booth before Edee could grab his arm. She was staring at him, lost in nasty thoughts about what she would
do to him if he didn’t stop laughing at Stella’s distress, when a firm feminine voice demanded.

  “How are the repairs coming?”

  Whipping her head around at the commanding tone, Edee sighed.

  “Hey, Ms. Pauline. Gotta run.” J.T.’s voice wobbled.

  Stella slipped out of the booth. “Have a seat, Pauline. I’ll bring coffee.” Gum popping she whirled away.

  The mayor’s wife took Stella’s seat and repeated with barely a blink. “How are the repairs coming on your house?”

  Taking a long sip of Pepsi, Edee finally felt calm enough to respond without grinding her teeth. “Good. J.T.’s working hard.”

  “Think he will stay around to see the job done?”

  “Of course he will.” Edee’s spine went rigid. Anger warmed her cheeks. “Why would you say a thing like that?”

  “I like J.T., don’t think I don’t.” Blue-gray curls bobbed as her floral shoulders heaved. “But the last time things got tough, he didn’t stay around to defend himself.”

  “Defend himself from what?” Edee’s voice rose. She had been a first hand witness to the ridiculing J.T. had received for evicting her from the office, but this was going too far. J.T. was an honorable man. A warm hearted human being…the kind of man any woman would be proud…

  Oops! Get off that track!

  “What are you talking about, Ms. Pauline?”

  Shrewd blue eyes squinting, Pauline held her stare. “When word gets out that he owns that construction company everyone thinks he works for, folks are going to want an explanation!”

  J.T. owns the construction company?

  Of course! Everything suddenly clicked, J.T.’s knowledge, his quick solutions to the problems at her house, and purchase of the office building. Why hadn’t she guessed?

  Because J.T. didn’t want her…or anyone to know. He wanted to fit in, and be accepted in his hometown, without using his success as a free pass!

  Her admiration for him grew stronger. She felt connected to this man who just wanted to be accepted by his hometown. Wasn’t that what she wanted? To belong in a community she could call home.

  But why was J.T. making things so difficult? He seemed to hold people off…

  “He’s a fine fellow,” Pauline’s keen gaze noted Edee’s distraction, but she didn’t pause, “and he never takes credit for his good deeds.”

  “Good deeds?” Edee remembered the dog he had rescued from the street, and visions of him putting a roof on Mr. Jensen’s house flashed through her head.

  “Here, ya go!” Stella plopped a cup and saucer down in front of Pauline and filled it with coffee. “More Pepsi, Edee?” But she turned to Pauline without waiting for a reply. “It’s high time this town gave J.T. a chance.”

  Edee held her breath as both blue pairs of blue eyes locked in a battle. Finally, Pauline’s sliver head gave a nod. Stella’s bottle blonde curls bobbed in satisfaction and her gum popped loudly. Edee’s breath escaped on a sigh of relief as the tensions eased.

  “I couldn’t agree more.” Pauline reached for the cream as if the suggestion had come from her.

  “Good!” Stella darted away, content with her win.

  “Wh-what deeds?” Edee’s shoulders slumped against the booth as the strain of the last minutes drained away.

  “When he was a teenager, I was out driving on Surry Line road and had a flat tire.” Pauline sipped coffee. “You don’t know the area, but that road doesn’t have a lot of traffic. It wasn’t even paved, back then.” Holding her palms up helplessly, she looked down at her dress. “There I was, wearing a dress, and gloves like usual…and that tire was as flat as a flitter.”

  Edee bit her lip to keep from smiling. She could see it now. Pauline dressed for church, and standing on a dusty dirt road staring at a flat tire. “What happened?”

  “This scrawny, long legged teen came by on a ramshackle motor bike.” Pauline leaned close and lowered her voice to a whisper. “There he was, looking like he wasn’t strong enough to lift the jack, much less change the tire. But he had that tire changed before my best patent leather heels got dusty.” She nodded, smiling. “I tell you, I’ve never been so happy to see a teenager in my life.” She dabbed her lips with the napkin. “Why, I was barely late for choir practice.”

  Smiling, Edee said. “I guess—”

  “Gave him a job, right then and there,” Pauline continued, her piercing blue eyes boring into Edee. “From that day on, he mowed my lawn faithfully until the day he left town.”

  Edee blinked back a surge of emotion as she realized what the steady job must have meant to J.T. back then. “Ummm, I guess you missed him?”

  “You’re right about that.” Pauline frowned as she stared into her cup. “You could do a lot worse for a date for the ball.”

  Heat rushed to Edee’s face. “Why…but…I mean, I’m not looking for a date.”

  Pauline’s lips pursed as she studied Edee’s flushed face. “Well, some folks are planning to match you up…so you had better start thinking about one.”

  “But, I—“

  “That reminds me, what were you thinking with that newspaper ad, girl?”

  “Excuse me?” Edee blinked, trying to keep up with Pauline’s change of topic.

  Pauline folded the paper napkin as if it were made of the finest linen. “In yesterday’s paper, you had a new ad. Have skills, need exposure? ”

  Edee had experienced the razor keenness of Pauline’s glance before, but this time she felt sliced and diced. “Those ads are intended to be taken with a grain of salt, you know.”

  “I know.” Pauline tilted her head as she watched Edee. “But I think you’re sending the wrong message in those ads.”

  “I didn’t think so,” Stella put a fresh Pepsi in front of Edee. “It was a good ad. I’m thinking about having you do one for Roy’s cooking.”

  Pauline arched a brow as Stella dashed to another table. “Your intentions were good, child. Just don’t get your feathers singed in the process.”

  “But, I—”

  Edee’s words trailed off as Pauline wiggled out of the booth and the sound of her heels clicked toward the door. Had she gone too far? The editor hadn’t said anything about the ad. Surely, if Mr. Hale thought her advertisement was off he would tell her, wouldn’t he?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Edee stopped by the post office on her way to sewing circle.

  I promise to live in Redbud for a year.

  Her words to her grandmother echoed in her head as her strappy sandals clicked on the sidewalk. The warm May breeze blew her dress around her legs, reminding her of her change of clothing. She had decided to wear a dress to the sewing circle after thinking about Pauline’s comments on her ad in the paper.

  Had she made a major blunder with her wording in the ad?

  This was a small town. People looked at things differently. She should have been more careful, but honestly, she hadn’t expected half the people to read the ad. There had certainly been plenty of comments about her choice of clothing when she first arrived in town. Maybe she wanted people to see the ad as a challenge.

  Or maybe she wanted people to realize that things weren’t always what they seemed.

  It all went back to believing it was wrong to pass judgment on a person for what happened in the past. If they noticed the ad, maybe she would get some new clients. Or…not.

  “Hi, Edee,” Ellie called as the bell over the shop door announced her arrival. “You’re early.”

  Shoving away her doubts, Edee grinned. “I’m ready to fight a battle with those cows.”

  “You aren’t letting this project get you down, are you?” Ellie glanced at Edee’s dress and heels and frowned.

  “No, just arming myself for attack.” Edee laughed, jangling her bracelets as she pulled supplies out of her tote. “Looked at those cows in the craft shop. You did a wonderful job making them, Ellie.”

  “Sewing is my one claim to fame.” Ellie looked away from straightening bolt
s of fabric on a shelf. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my sewing.”

  “Really?” Brow wrinkled, Edee glanced up from threading the sewing machine. “How did sewing bring you to Redbud?”

  A dreamy smile spread over Ellie’s face. “I met—”

  “Ellie!” Sam called as he burst through the door. “You have a long distance call on my line.” He crossed the shop in quick strides. “Hurry, it’s from New York.”

  Edee watched as Ellie dashed out the door. “She won’t keep them waiting.”

  Sam shook his head as his gaze followed Ellie’s progress through the glass walls that separated the shop from his office. When she picked up the phone, he sighed. “How are things going, Edee?”

  “Good,” her brows arched, “do you trim many trees in the spring?”

  Sam slouched in a chair at another sewing machine. “Not many, this is our slow time.” He watched as she arranged her sewing supplies. “Are you staying busy?”

  Edee swallowed. Okay…here it comes…another lecture on her ‘hidden message’.

  “What do you think about my new ad?” May as well resolutely deal with the problem she thought, and stifled a giggle as she pulled stuffed cow horns out of her tote bag.

  “I’d say you grabbed people’s attention.” Sam crossed an ankle over his knee and settled back in the chair.

  “You think so?”

  Bright hazel eyes held her surprised glance. “I think you see through people’s shells. You make a good friend, Edee Cutt. I’m glad you came to Redbud.”

  Color rushed to her face as she grinned. “I appreciate that.” She studied him through her lashes for long seconds as she pulled the bobbin thread from the machine. “Tell me about your old friends, Sam.” Was she being obvious? She shrugged. “I met Susie at the craft shop. Have your classmates changed much over the years?”

  Would that question throw him off track? She wanted details, but she didn’t want him to read her mind. Releasing a deep breath, she tried to keep her hands from trembling as she worked.

  “Some people changed…some didn’t.” Sam leaned on his palm. “Take J.T. for instance. He’s a straight arrow now, just like he was as a kid.”