by Molly Cannon
Nell took a drink of her beer and said coyly, “Hey, I’m not actually accusing her of anything.”
“Aren’t you? It sort of sounded like you were.” The words came out harsher than he’d intended, and she recoiled.
Crossing her arms across her chest, she said, “Just forget I said anything. I just thought you’d want to know.”
“Oh, I do, darlin’. How many other dead husbands do you think she’s hiding?” Theo smiled like they were on the same side, and he could see her begin to relax again.
Nell grinned, getting back into the spirit of things. “Who knows? That’s just it. No one knew anything about her before she moved here, and so people have good reason to be leery of a woman like that. She obviously married Sven Cornwell to get her hands on his money.”
Theo nodded toward the man she was dancing with and the others who seemed lined up ready to take his place. “The men in this place don’t seem all that leery. In fact, they seem anxious to ask her to dance.”
Nell pursed her lips in disgust. “A bunch of old fools. That’s Arnie Douglas dancing with her now. He gets all dopey when she barely smiles at him. The men around here are completely blinded by her beauty.”
“I can see how there might be a lot of truth in what you’re saying, Nell. Men can be plumb crazy when it comes to a good-looking woman. And beauty can hide any number of character flaws. So thank you.” He reached over and tucked a loose curl behind her ear.
“You’re welcome, Theo.” She beamed like she was happy to be the provider of such a service.
His barb went right over her head. “I have something else you can add to that story when you’re spreading it around the old rumor mill.”
She showed no shame at his implication, but eagerly prodded, “Oh, really? What’s that? I’m all ears.”
He leaned closer. “Well, Nell, after hearing your tale, I guess I’m one lucky guy.”
She smiled in anticipation. “You are?”
He nodded and added gravely, “Yep. By all accounts, I narrowly escaped a horrible fate.”
Her eyes got wider. “You did? Oh my gosh. What do you mean?”
He leaned in and confessed, “Because I almost married that woman.”
“What?” Nell pulled back, looking appalled.
He stood up. “That’s right. Irene and I used to be engaged. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go ask my ex-fiancée to dance.”
Chapter Four
May I cut in?” Theo’s deep voice cut through the noisy din inside Lu Lu’s, interrupting Arnie, who was offering to make his brand-new serenading service available for her wedding planning business at a reasonable fee, of course. He’d just started his spiel, and she hadn’t quite gotten the gist of what he was talking about when Theo barged up and planted himself beside them like he belonged there.
Irene didn’t do a very good job of hiding her utter dismay at Theo’s audacity. She shook her head at him and narrowed her eyes. “No thank you. I’m dancing with Arnie right now.” Irene recovered enough to smile at her dance partner. Then she took control of the situation and whirled herself and Arnie away from the spot where Theo stood rooted to the floor. What in the world was he doing? If he wanted to ask her to dance, that was one thing. He could just wait his turn. Not that she planned on saying yes if he asked.
But from the looks of it, he didn’t seem put off in the least by her refusal. He sidestepped and danced his way around Agnes May French and Norbert Anderson, and then with a few “excuse me’s” he made it past Benny and Lois Miller and continued stalking them around the floor. He tapped Arnie on the shoulder again.
Arnie shot him an apologetic glance since it went against ballroom etiquette not to surrender your partner when asked, but with Irene’s encouragement he kept her in his grasp and danced away again. Stubborn as ever, she thought, as Theo tracked them down once more. When he caught up with them, he said, “Okay, I won’t try to cut in anymore, but Ree I’m claiming the next dance. It’s important we talk, and this time I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Is it about the wedding?”
“No, but—”
Irene cut him off, declaring, “Then I’m afraid you’ll have to, Theo. After this I’m dancing with Mick Ponder, and after that I promised Dan Ford. In fact, I seem to be booked all the way until closing time.” She smiled at Arnie, and they waltzed away before he could say anything else. What could he possibly have to say that was so important? She didn’t buy that tactic for a minute.
Important, my ass.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known he was here at Lu Lu’s even before he’d waved hello. She’d seen him come in with Nell Harcourt, and that tingling she’d been suffering from all day had multiplied by a thousandfold. Her first instinct had been panic. Maybe she could go hide in the bathroom and then sneak out when he wasn’t looking.
Sure, she’d put on a brave face when she’d seen him at the Hazelnut Inn. But that was a relatively private meeting, and since he was part of the wedding party it couldn’t be avoided. She’d been prepared for that. But if it didn’t involve the wedding she didn’t plan to give him the time of day. So after a swift mental lecture, she pulled herself together and reminded herself that hiding wasn’t her style. Lu Lu’s was her stomping ground. Dammit. Not his. If anyone was going to leave, it would be Theo and Nell. She’d come to dance, and by golly, that’s what she intended to do.
But of course she’d watched the way he held Nell on the dance floor, watched the way he’d thrown back his head and laughed at something clever Nell said. And it was clear to see that Nell thought she’d hit the jackpot being held in Theo’s arms.
So Irene laughed harder than anyone in the room, and danced with whoever asked her, and decided she was absolutely without a doubt having the best time of anyone in the whole damn place.
In fact, she’d been having such a good time she hadn’t noticed Theo approaching her on the dance floor until it was too late to avoid him. And now that she’d brushed him off, instead of going back to sit at the table where he’d been earlier with Nell, he was sitting at the bar. Waiting and watching her. She couldn’t prevent him from doing that. It was a free country, but his gaze scraped across her skin like a razor, sharp and stinging.
The man still had the power to unsettle her, and she couldn’t deny it.
The song ended and Arnie guided her to the edge of the dance floor. “Thanks for the dance, Irene. We can talk about Arnie’s Serenades later, okay?”
“Sure, Arnie. I didn’t know you sang.”
“I don’t, but I play the guitar and make the guy proposing do the singing. How do you think Donny Joe Ledbetter won Etta Green’s heart?”
“I heard something about that. Okay. We can talk about it. Come by my office this week if you’d like. And thanks for not letting that rude man cut in. I appreciate it.”
Arnie looked over where Theo sat at the bar staring at them. “Isn’t that Jake’s brother? I remember when he was visiting last summer.”
“Yes, that’s Jake’s brother, Theo, and he’s just irritated because I told him throwing firecrackers instead of rice at the wedding was a dumb idea.” She was shoveling BS now, but when it came to Theo, she wasn’t willing to delve into anything resembling the truth.
Arnie nodded slowly like he didn’t really buy her explanation. “You don’t say. I guess it makes sense he’d be back home for the wedding. If he bothers you again, just let me know.”
She smiled at Arnie Douglas who weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet. He’d never manage to lay a hand on Theo if there was any kind of confrontation, but she appreciated the offer just the same.
“Thanks, Arnie, but I can handle Theo. I just didn’t like him being so pushy. Besides, I wanted to dance with you.”
Happy to accept her flattery, he smiled and floated away as Mick Ponder came up to claim his turn. Closing her eyes, she heaved a weary sigh. She was going to hate herself. She really, truly was, but she patted her new dance partner on
the arm and against her better judgment asked, “Mick, do you mind if I sit this one out? I have some business I need to handle first.”
Mick stuck his thumbs in his belt loops and leaned back on his bootheels. “Sure thing, Irene. You go ahead. I’ll catch you later.”
With a pat on his arm, she said, “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Mick left to find another dance partner while she fumed. It would serve Theo right if she left him sitting on that barstool all night until his bony ass went numb. She sighed while admitting he’d piqued her curiosity. What in the world had gotten him so riled up that he was willing to make a spectacle of himself by stalking her around the dance floor? The sooner she talked to him, the sooner they could settle this supposed “important” issue, and she could go back to having fun.
She turned and found he hadn’t moved. He was still watching her. How those cool blue eyes could transmit so much heat had always baffled her. It was disturbing to discover she wasn’t immune to the thrill of being the center of his focus. The arousal that swept through her was just as devastating as it had been all those years ago. She made her way to the bar and stopped in front of him.
“Where’s your date, Theodore? Did you manage to run her off already?”
He stood up as she approached. “Who, Nell? She got a ride home with someone else.”
Irene took the barstool next to his. “Still charming as ever, I see.”
He sat back down beside her. “You know, I’d sort of hoped Nell and I could have some fun while I was here in Everson, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to work out.”
“So, it’s true then. Your mother told me you had a woman in every port. She also said you’d broken hearts all over the world.”
He looked at her sharply. “I’m afraid my mother likes to embellish. And when exactly did you talk to my mother?”
Irene had meant to keep that information to herself. He didn’t need to know she’d kept tabs on him over the years. “I haven’t spoken to her since she moved to Colorado with husband number three.”
Theo raised an eyebrow. “Colorado is husband number four, but who’s counting?”
She decided she might as well come clean. “Your mother used to give me updates on where you were and what you were doing.”
He harrumphed. “As if you cared.”
Of course she cared. That had always been the problem. “We used to be friends, Theo.”
“Ree, you have the strangest way of treating your friends. Last time I was in town you acted like I didn’t exist.”
“Don’t call me Ree,” she insisted.
He ignored her and kept talking. “And we used to be engaged.”
She turned her stool to face him. “We were engaged for about five minutes.”
He laughed. “We were engaged for the better part of a year, and you know it.”
She sighed. “Well, it was a mistake, and we both know that. And by the way, I think ignoring you worked out pretty good last time. If it weren’t for your brother’s wedding, I’d be ignoring you this time, too.”
“Whatever you say.” He leaned in closer and said in a confidential tone, “But here’s the thing. That so-called mistake is what I wanted to warn you about.”
She sat up straighter, easing away from the heat radiating from his big body. “Warn me about what? You’ve completely lost me, Theo.”
He grinned sheepishly like a kid about to confess he’d thrown a rock through a plate glass window. “Don’t get mad, Ree, but I’m afraid I let the truth about our old relationship slip.”
She turned to face him more fully. “You did what? Who did you tell? And what exactly did you tell them?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Hmm. You didn’t call me Theodore, but still, you seem mad.”
She grabbed his arm as the truth hit her. “Oh my gosh. You told Nell, didn’t you?”
He grimaced and held his hands out as he confessed, “I’m afraid so.”
“Nell, of all people. Why didn’t you just take out a billboard on the highway?”
“Come on. Is she that bad?” He seemed to underestimate the fallout that could result from his big blabbermouth.
Irene wanted to throttle him. “Oh, come on, yourself. Her mother is Bertie Harcourt. The Rise-N-Shine Diner runs on gossip. It’s part of Nell’s DNA. Everyone and their next of kin will know by morning. What exactly did you tell her?”
He shrugged. “The truth. I told her we were engaged for a while before you up and married Sven Cornwell.”
She stared at him blankly, so he kept talking. She was having trouble processing his words.
“In a way I was defending you,” he said with a wink as if it let him off the hook. Now he was going to try to spin this so he came out looking noble. She groaned and laid her head on her crossed arms on the bar. He kept jabbering on. “She actually accused you of murdering all your old husbands, if you can believe that.”
She raised her head. “The black widow thing? I’ve heard it before. A million times. Good grief.” A frustrated growl escaped from her throat. “It’s old news, and around here people will believe what they want. But I’m not in jail, am I? Obviously, I don’t need to be defended, Theo.”
“All of those old protective instincts kicked in, I guess. Jeez, you can’t be mad because I stood up for you.” He had the nerve to act like she should thank him.
“Sure I can. Exactly how did this conversation go, anyway? Were you bragging? Or did you tell her for shock value? Give me a break. Why would you tell her of all people? Your brother doesn’t even know.”
His face screwed up in a pained expression. “That’s why I wanted to warn you. I don’t really care if the whole town knows, but after I let it slip, I realized I’m going to have to tell Jake. I should have just told him the whole story the other day, but I didn’t. And now…”
“And now?”
“And now I wanted you to know I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry. “And I’ll tell Jake tomorrow.”
“Wait. We’ll just deny it. I’ll tell everyone you were drunk and Nell misunderstood.” For a second that seemed like a real good option, but he started shaking his head as the words were still leaving her mouth.
“That sounds like more trouble than it’s worth, Ree. And why would we bother? It’s not like we did anything illegal or anything.”
“No, but the fact that we kept it secret makes it seem like there’s something to hide.” She jumped off the barstool and paced back and forth. “Crap, Theo. You fly into town and instantly complicate my life. Why couldn’t you just do your best man duties and be on your way?”
Theo twirled his stool around to face her. “Settle down, Ree. It doesn’t have to be complicated. I’m just an ex-boyfriend. End of story.”
She had her doubts that it would be so simple. She stopped and glared daggers at him. “I want to be there when you tell Jake.”
He grinned. “Why? Don’t you trust me?”
She put her hands on her hips. “I just want to make sure my side of the story is reported accurately. He may be your brother, but he’s also my client. We happen to be up to our ears in wedding plans at the moment, and I want to assure him this won’t be a problem.”
He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Let me give him a call. It’s not that late, and we can go give them the news now.”
She listened to the short conversation Theo carried on with his brother. When he ended the call, she opened her eyes and asked, “Well?”
“He said to come on over.”
“Okay,” she declared. “You can ride with me.” She walked to a corner table and grabbed her purse.
Theo followed her while protesting, “I’ve got a car, you know.”
She headed for Lu Lu’s front door. “I’ll bring you back to your car when we’re done. I don’t want you out of my sight until this mess is settled. You might stop at the town square and announce it to the world from the gazebo.”
“You are being overly dramatic as usual
, but fine. Do you still drive like a maniac?” he asked as they walked out to the parking lot.
She ignored his question, which wasn’t worth dignifying, and stopped at the Shelby. She unlocked the doors and started to climb behind the wheel.
He gave the car an admiring once-over. “Wow. Nice car. I don’t suppose you’d let me drive her?”
She patted the car fondly as she got behind the steering wheel. “Not a chance in hell, buddy. Get in and fasten your seat belt.”
She started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, spraying gravel beneath her tires. Her emotions were jumping around like cold water on a hot griddle. It was disconcerting having him sit so close. The heat from his body invaded her personal space. Theo was an impressive-looking man, the kind that turned heads and inspired fantasies. By tomorrow everyone and their grandpappy was going to know they’d once been involved and tongues would start wagging.
Theo had obviously never told a soul. Until tonight when he decided to share the information with a total stranger. Nell. Irene figured if she was really lucky the hubbub would die down about the same time Theo decided to pull up stakes and move on. She could hope, anyway. She glanced at his face illuminated by the dashboard lights and asked the question that had always bugged her.
“Why haven’t you ever told Jake about us? I thought you and Jake shared everything.” She’d wondered for years now, worrying over it like a knot she couldn’t unravel, never coming up with a satisfactory answer. The only conclusion she could reach was that the time they’d spent together didn’t matter much to him and wasn’t important enough to share. Even knowing how they’d parted, that idea made her sad. She would never be able to file their past away as unimportant.
He didn’t answer her question, but clutched the armrest as she sped around a curve and countered with a question of his own. “Why haven’t you told him? You’ve lived in the same town with Jake for years. After you moved here, you must have figured out pretty quickly that he was my brother.”