Flirting With Forever

by Molly Cannon

  But she was far from finished. The remaining decorations still needed to be boxed up and stored. She’d have to strip the tablecloths and napkins from all the tables. She’d be facing a mountain of laundry tomorrow. The list was long and seemingly never ending, but she couldn’t help feeling a grand sense of satisfaction. The wedding had been wonderful. Everything had gone smoothly with only minor hiccups. But she’d handled them before they turned into major problems, and no one was the wiser. From what she could tell, everyone had a fine time, and most importantly, Marla Jean and Jake’s special day had gone off beautifully.

  “Excuse me, ma’am, but sitting down on the job is not allowed.”

  Irene looked up to see Theo grinning down at her. He’d taken his tuxedo jacket off and had his shirtsleeves rolled up, showing his bare forearms. He looked more handsome than ever if that was possible. She sighed. She didn’t have the energy to spar with him.

  “Hey, Theo, I thought you left as soon as Marla Jean and Jake rode off into the sunset.”

  “Nah, I was on tux and wedding gown duty. Have you ever wrestled a wedding dress into a dress bag?”

  “How in the world did you get that job?”

  “Actually, I was just helping Mrs. Jones. I happened to be passing by when I saw Marla Jean’s mother struggling with it, so I helped. It took both of us. I have to take Jake’s tux to their house, anyway. It just made sense to take her dress, too. I am happy to report they are now both safely tucked away in my car.”

  “See what I mean? No one truly appreciates all the tiny details that have to be handled behind the scenes.”

  “Hey, what did you think of the getaway car? It was pretty cool, huh? I was in charge of tying the tin cans and balloons to the back. Linc made the Just Married sign and handled the shaving cream.”

  She couldn’t keep from smiling. He was like a proud little boy. “The car was a work of pure art, and if it was up to me, you’d both win an award. I have to tell you the ‘Just Married’ decorations have been pretty feeble at some of the other weddings I’ve done.”

  “It’s an underappreciated part of the ceremony, but Marla Jean and Jake deserved to make a grand exit.”

  “Well, they did that, thanks to you and Lincoln. So, what are you still doing here now?”

  He glanced around at the reception area. “It looked like there was a lot of work to do. I consider it part of my best man duties to pitch in and help.”

  She hopped up from the chair, putting some distance between them. “That’s really not necessary, Theo. It’s all part of the service provided.”

  “I promised Jake, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me until everything is squared away. What can I do?”

  She grabbed a box and handed it to him. “Well, I’d be silly to turn down an extra pair of hands. If you’ll grab all the votive candles on the tables and put them in this box. I’ll come behind you and begin gathering up the tablecloths and napkins.”

  “Aye, aye, captain. We’ll have this done in no time.”

  He moved quickly clearing the tables almost before the request was out of her mouth. She expected him to hang around and try to flirt. She didn’t know why he would want to flirt with her of all people, but since he’d been back in town, his attitude toward her seemed to fluctuate. One minute he’d be working the charm, teasing her, trying to get under her skin. The next he was skirting the edge of hurling insults, not even trying to hide the resentment he still harbored about their shared past. Thankfully, right now he only seemed to be concentrating on the task of clearing the tables and didn’t seem to care about anything else.

  “Here you go. I’d say we make a good team, but I don’t want to stir up trouble.” He carried the box of candles over and stowed it on the floor out of the way. “What next?”

  She finished stuffing the last tablecloth into the laundry bag and set it on the floor by the box of candles. “Can you take these out to my van? It should be unlocked.” She’d pulled it up outside the pavilion once the wedding was over and had been loading it full of all the stuff that would go back with her to the I Do, I Do office.

  “I’m on it.” Without another word he picked up the box in one hand and the laundry bag in the other and hauled them outside.

  She looked around deciding what to tackle next. Etta and Donny Joe had some twinkle lights they left up all year-round outside the pavillion, and that was fine for the entrance and the paths leading up to the structure, but Irene was discovering that brides had specific ideas about what they wanted in the way of lighting, so supplementing what was already provided was almost a given. Marla Jean liked the kind of string lights with the bigger bulbs. She said they made her think of Italy, though she’d never been. Irene didn’t mind making the investment as part of her wedding inventory. She knew she would use them in future weddings.

  She’d paid Oliver to hang them before the ceremony, but he’d already left to take the flower arrangements to the hospital, and she couldn’t spare the time waiting for him to get back. The lights weren’t going to jump down from the ceiling by themselves. Before she could talk herself out of it, she dragged the ladder over to the corner of the pavilion and climbed up the first two rungs. She needed to start with the string of lights that crisscrossed the ceiling. Heights weren’t her favorite thing in the world, but it wasn’t all that high, and she knew the ladder was sturdy. Telling herself not to be a wimp, she took a deep breath and climbed up high enough to reach the first strand of lights. She relaxed when they came off the hooks without a problem. This was going to be a cinch.

  She climbed up and down the ladder, moving it around the room, feeling more comfortable with each strand she pulled down. She’d moved to the last wall and reached for the last hook, even though it was a little out of reach. She leaned out further, hating the idea of getting down and moving the ladder for one last bulb. The ladder started to tip and she felt herself slipping.

  “Ree!” Theo’s panicked voice suddenly filled the space. “Dammit, woman, what do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

  Irene suppressed a scream and felt the ladder falling away. She felt herself falling, too. Before she could follow it down to the ground, strong arms grabbed her around the waist and plucked her out of midair. With a loud clatter the ladder hit the floor. But she didn’t. Theo cradled her in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all. As if she was light as a feather. Which she wasn’t.

  “Oh my Lord,” she whispered, holding on for dear life.

  “Are you okay?” Theo’s voice was shaking. “You scared the life out of me.”

  “I was doing fine until I decided to reach for that last bulb. Look. I almost had them all down.” She motioned to the light strands that rested on the floor.

  “Next time you want to climb a ladder, make sure you have a spotter. Or better yet just don’t do it. You could have broken your neck.” He didn’t loosen his hold on her but sat down in a chair holding her on his lap.

  Irene thought he looked a little pale. “Are you saying a woman can’t climb a ladder without help? For your information, Theo Jacobson, I’m as capable as any man, and if I want to climb a ladder, I’ll do just that.”

  “Don’t start with me, Ree. I’m saying you shouldn’t be climbing ladders at a time like this. And in that dress. Jeez. From what I can tell you’ve been working nonstop since yesterday morning at least. Did you get any sleep last night? You have to be exhausted. Where’s Oliver, anyway? I thought you were paying him to do this type of stuff.”

  The concern in his eyes was hypnotic. She shifted on his lap, but didn’t get up. It felt good having him hold her, even if it was for all the wrong reasons. “He’s taking care of other things, and I didn’t want to wait for him to get back. I thought I could finish everything up, and we could all go home.”

  “Why didn’t you ask me for help?” She could hear frustration in his voice.

  He was right, at least this time, but she didn’t like admitting it. “You were already h
elping, but you’re right, I was being stubborn. I’m just so tired, and I got impatient. If I’d moved the ladder over one more time, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Did you just say I was right?” His eyes twinkled with amusement and something more. Something dangerous and compelling.

  “I might have,” she whispered.

  His mouth moved toward hers, and she found herself moving closer as well. It couldn’t hurt to find out if his lips were as soft and as talented as she remembered, could it? He’d always kissed with a passion that knocked her off her feet. A passion that could also easily lay waste to her good sense all over again. She stopped herself in the nick of time. With a quick indrawn breath, she pushed herself off his lap, getting to her feet with effort, while her traitorous body woke up from a long wintry slumber. Reminding her that she was a woman. And that he was most definitely a man.

  He let her go.

  Disappointment warred with relief. Smoothing down the skirt of her dress, she declared with fake nonchalance, “Well, I suppose it’s a good thing you came in when you did.”

  “Glad to be of service.” He sat on that chair watching her with stormy blue eyes.

  She moved away from him, trying to ignore the flames of desire he’d stirred so easily. In an attempt to get things back on track, she asked, “Since you’re here now, would you mind climbing up there and getting that last string of lights down for me?”

  “Why not?” He stood up and walked over to where the ladder lay fallen on its side. He hoisted it back to an upright position and climbed up easily. Theo unhooked the stubborn strand without any problem, and before she knew it he was back on the ground. Together they wrapped the lights into coils and stashed them in a storage bin.

  She looked around and didn’t see anything else that needed to be taken care of. He’d unsettled her and she tried to sound unaffected. “Thanks for all your help, Theo. I think I’m ready to call it a day.”

  “That’s a good idea.” He picked up the bin. “Let me carry this to your van.”

  “I will be happy to let you do that without a single objection.” As much as she hated to admit it, his help had been a godsend. She made a note to hire more help for cleanup after the next wedding. “See, I’m not stubborn about everything all the time.”

  “I’m stunned. Falling off that ladder must have scrambled your brains. You’re usually stubborn about being stubborn.” He playfully jabbed her with his elbow.

  She grinned. “You used to say I’d argue if someone told me the world was round.”

  “And you told me your fourth-grade science teacher told you it was more of a pear shape.” He smiled and pushed the bin into the van’s back storage space. “I don’t think I ever won a single argument with you.”

  “Well, you won today. And thanks for catching me, in case I didn’t say it earlier.” They stood by the open van, staring at each other.

  “Anytime. I’m just glad I was there to break your fall.”

  “Me too.” She supposed she owed him now. At least a bit of gratitude. “Well then, I guess that’s it.”

  “Yep. Guess so.” A slight breeze ruffled his hair while the glow from the nearby Inn windows cast light and shadows across his face.

  His too-handsome face, she thought with mock irritation. Why couldn’t he have grown short and wrinkled and sloppy in the years they’d spent apart? “So, I’ll see you around then, I guess.”

  He nodded. “You’ll see me Monday morning. I’m starting the work at I Do, I Do. I’ll be there at nine o’clock, bright and early.”

  She had been so busy with the wedding, she’d managed to put that out of her mind. “Oh, I forgot. We haven’t even talked about this yet. Are you sure you want to do work for me? It won’t be awkward?”

  “Not unless we let it, and I don’t see why it should be. I promise to stay out of your way as much as possible. Besides, I’m not letting Jake down. I don’t want him to come home from his honeymoon and find any unfinished jobs. He told me your plans. Shelves, display cases, storage closets, that sort of thing. It doesn’t sound too complicated. I’ll have the work done before you have a chance to get tired of having me underfoot.”

  She figured she might as well resign herself to dealing with him a little longer. “Okay, then. If you’re sure. I guess I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.”

  He started to walk away but stopped and turned back to face her. “Hey, Ree. I know I gave you a hard time when I heard you’d become a wedding planner.”

  She lifted her eyebrows. “I’d say that’s a bit of an understatement. You intimated that I’d spread tears and marital blight far and wide.”

  “Well. I don’t think I went that far, but I want to apologize and say right now that I was obviously too quick to judge. You did an outstanding job today. Everyone is saying it was a wonderful wedding. And they are all right. On behalf of my big brother, I want to thank you.”

  She smiled as she closed the back of the van and walked around to the driver’s door. “Oh my goodness. I’m not sure I can handle the compliments. But thank you, Theo. That means a lot coming from you.”

  She got behind the steering wheel and started the van, easing across the uneven yard until she reached the pathway that led out to the street. It was insane, but she couldn’t stop smiling. What Theo said did mean a lot. Even though she shouldn’t care two flippin’ cents what he thought about her and her new career. But evidently she did. Otherwise her face wouldn’t be lit up like a dad gum Christmas tree. He still had the power to charm and unnerve her without even trying.

  Alarmed by her ridiculous reaction to the man, her sunny smile dissolved into a worried frown. Why exactly was he being so nice to her, anyway? Hell, it was probably just because they’d be working closely together for the next week or two. He was making nice to smooth the way. That was all. Glancing up at her rearview mirror, she could see him standing tall, arms crossed over his chest, watching her as she drove away. She’d be smart to remember to keep Theo firmly in her rearview mirror.

  Because that was exactly where he belonged.

  Chapter Seven

  Theo hardly got a wink of decent sleep during the rest of the weekend after Jake’s wedding. It was late by the time he’d taken the tux and the bridal gown and dropped them off at Marla Jean and Jake’s house. Then he’d loaded up Sadie, along with her bed, her food, and her toys, and driven over to the house on Overbrook Street. He’d spent a lazy day on Sunday getting settled into the house and playing with Sadie.

  The renovations on the house were nearly complete, and except for an old bed in the bedroom and a sagging couch in the living room, it was empty of furniture. The kitchen had a refrigerator, a stove, and a card table with a couple of folding chairs for eating, but that was about it. Marla Jean had loaded him up with dishes and utensils, not to mention a bunch of casseroles and a big basket of fruit. Theo didn’t mind the Spartan conditions. He needed to finish some painting and trim work in a couple of rooms, but this house was ready to go on the market as soon as Jake got home. No, an empty house and Sadie’s company suited him just fine. It was just a place to crash until it was time to move on to the next place he’d call home.

  Sunday night after he got Sadie settled in her dog bed, he climbed onto the lumpy mattress set up in the bedroom and tried to go to sleep. It had been a relaxing day, but shutting his brain down proved to be almost impossible. He turned onto his stomach and punched his pillow. He flipped over onto his back and kicked at his covers. Normally, he slept like a happy baby. Theo was an easygoing guy, laid-back, and he embraced whatever life brought his way. He wasn’t one to analyze every decision he made. He didn’t pick his life apart or second-guess his choices. But it seemed that coming back to Everson had changed all that. Tonight he was finding out that it was hard work fighting off the lost dreams of his youth, and at the same time suppressing a wild glimmer of hope for a different future.

  And it was all Irene Cornwell’s fault.

  Just
before she climbed into her van and drove away today, Ree had gone and smiled at him. A real, honest-to-goodness smile. Not one of those fake, insincere things she’d been pasting on her face for the last few days. He knew it was her attempt to keep him at arm’s length and, at the same time, keep the curious folks in Everson at bay.

  It had worked.

  But then she’d gone and blown the game wide open. With that simple act. That smile. The honest light shining from her bright eyes had sent him reeling back in time. Back to the very first time he’d seen Irene Cunningham. Cunningham was her name back in those days, not Cornwell. He’d just been hired to sack groceries at the Piggly Wiggly after high school and had been dreading the whole thing up until the moment he laid eyes on the girl behind the cash register. It was a girl from high school. He’d never had the nerve to talk to her before, but it was impossible not to notice her when he passed her in the halls. And now, here she was, wearing an ugly pale blue uniform. But it didn’t matter. She could have been wearing a burlap sack, and she still would have been the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.

  He tried to act cool. He tried not to act like the biggest nerd around, but he barely managed to introduce himself. She had a way of making him forget everything, including his own name.

  She had these big brown smiling eyes, and the impact of those eyes on a high school kid was like a punch in the stomach. He stared at her, barely able to answer her questions. But she pretended he wasn’t the biggest goofball to ever walk the planet, and instead she was nice and kind and helped him learn the ropes. Bread and eggs go on top. Don’t overload the bags, especially for older customers. And that more than anything helped him feel comfortable around this dazzling creature. Getting to the store to spend time with Irene became the high point of his day. Soon they were hanging out after work, sitting on the tailgate of her old pickup truck, talking for hours about their hopes and dreams.