by Cheri Allan
“Oh God, are you swelling?” Kate touched his lip gingerly, staring at his mouth in a clinical, non-sensual way. He much preferred the look she’d given him a few moments before. “Are you allergic? Let me get you some antihistamine just the same. Are you feeling okay? Light-headed? Do you think we should take you to the ER?”
He shook his head and touched his lip, surprised at how tender it had grown in such a short time. But he’d never had a reaction to any sting before. He’d never been stung in the face before, either.
She chewed her own sweetly full lip and shooed Liam out the door ahead of them. “Come with me. Before it gets any worse.”
Before long, he found himself on the couch clutching a bag of ice to his face. Kate brought him a bottle of antihistamine and a glass of water. “It says one to two every four hours.” She peered worriedly over the top of the bottle at him. “Better take two.”
He took the little pink pills, washed them down, and handed back the glass. “Bedda in no time,” he predicted. Half his face felt numb and a bit stiff. He attempted a smile with the other half.
Liam sidled up beside him and peered intently at his face with all the subtlety of a three year-old. “Mommy’s kiss not work?”
Despite his condition, Jim laughed and ruffled Liam’s hair. “She ca thwy agin waher,” he suggested, giving Kate what he hoped was a friendly, albeit suggestive, leer.
Kate shook her head. “Incorrigible,” she murmured, although Jim saw her eyes crinkle with humor.
“What’s incorrbigible?” Liam wanted to know.
“Unable to be corrbidged,” Kate replied. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make fun of you.”
“I wath twyin to hep,” Jim said hoping for brownie points for being cutely pathetic. “Oh! Almoth forgot. Pitha on the porth.”
Kate stared at him blankly for a few moments before comprehension dawned.
He rested his head on the bank of the couch and closed his eyes. Not being a hero was tough on a guy.
“YOU ALIVE?”
Jim blinked at the face peering over the back of the couch and wrestled himself into a sitting position. The room was dim, the windows dark beyond the curtains. He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.
“He’s alive!”
How long had that antihistamine knocked him out for? A decade? Jim yawned widely. “I’m what?”
“Liam, hush! Jim’s resting.” Kate hurried down the stairs, grabbed her son, and told him he needed to go brush teeth before Jim could ask again what the kid had said. “I’m sorry. I was on the phone or I would have kept him out of here. Was he bothering you?”
“No.” Jim yawned again. “No. He—” He shook his head to clear away the cobwebs, ran a hand over his face. “How long was I out?”
“A couple hours.”
“A couple—?” He peered at his watch. “Those little pills pack a big wallop, don’t they?”
“The good news is—the swelling’s gone.”
He touched his lip tentatively. “You’re right.” He tested a half smile. “Guess that kiss did the trick after all.”
Kate’s cheeks grew pink as she perched on the end of the sofa. She picked at the fringe on an afghan that lay over the back of the couch.
He ran another hand over his face and swung his legs to the floor. “I can’t believe I fell asleep on your couch.”
“It’s okay. You were injured in the line of duty. Now that you’re awake, would you like some pizza?”
“Pizza? Oh, yeah. Sure.”
“I’ll get it started then I’ve got to get Liam to bed. He was waiting for you to wake up. He’s been worried about you.”
Jim turned toward Liam’s giant eyes. The kid hadn’t even been gone long enough to wet his toothbrush, but his concern was touching nonetheless. “I’m okay, Bud. Takes more than a hornet and a couple pink pills to keep me down.”
“You just like Snow White,” Liam said gravely.
“Snow White, eh?”
“He likes the dwarves,” Kate said.
Jim pushed his hand through his hair. “I don’t know how much I’m like Snow White. I got knocked out, but a kiss didn’t wake me, now did it?”
“Yes, it did!” Liam said.
Confused, Jim looked to Kate for clarification.
She stood abruptly, her cheeks blazing. “I’ll get that pizza warming,” she said before shooing Liam out of the room to get into his pajamas.
Jim watched her retreat, a not unpleasant heat warming his own cheeks. Had Liam said what he thought he said?
Shaking off the residual grogginess, Jim went in search of the can of bug spray and a certain hornet’s nest he had a score to settle with.
By the time he was done, Kate had Liam down for the night. They met in the living room.
“I didn’t know if you’d want any, but I made some tea,” she said.
A plate and mug waited for Jim on the coffee table. “Sounds great. The hornet’s nest is taken care of.”
“Thank you.” Kate tucked her hair behind her ear, something she always seemed to do when she was uncertain. Funny how he already knew that about her.
“Hey, it’s the least I could do for passing out on your couch for two hours.” He sat down by the plate she’d set for him.
“It’s fine.” She sat down, too, and curled her feet under her on the opposite side of the couch, a mug of her own in hand. “Would you mind if I turned on the TV?”
“Go ahead.” He picked up his pizza for a bite. It felt strange, but pleasantly domestic, to be eating and watching TV with Kate. Nice. “Anything good on?”
She glanced at the clock over the fireplace. “Nine o’clock? I’ll see.” She made a face. “Some cops show. A documentary...” She flipped the channel again. “Oh! Happily Ever After. Do you mind?”
A smiling bachelor and a dozen glamorous women flashed by in the opening scenes of the popular reality matchmaking show.
Jim looked at her. “Seriously? This is what you want to watch?”
“You don’t?”
“Never seen it, to be honest, though Grams and Carter watch it religiously.”
“They do?”
He took another bite of pizza. “He watches for all the good-looking women, and she’s a hopeless romantic. Question is: why do you like it?”
“Who says I do?” she hedged.
He couldn’t help but smile. “Please. Liam’s in bed in under ten minutes flat? If you didn’t feel guilt-ridden to feed me, I’m guessing I’d be out the door, too.”
Her cheeks grew rosy as she sipped her tea. “Okay. Fine. I like it. I’m allowed one vice, aren’t I?”
He chuckled. “As vices go, I think it ranks pretty low. Still, I don’t see the draw. It’s not like you’re watching for the women unless you’ve forgotten to tell me something.”
She smiled shyly and shook her head, pulled her knees to her chest. “I don’t know. I guess I enjoy watching the dance of it all, you know? The thrill of getting to know someone new… the first time they say ‘I love you.’ I figure I can experience it vicariously through them.” She gave a little shrug. “Pathetic, huh?”
“No. Surprising.”
“I don’t see why. I mean, it’s not like it’s going to happen to me again. I’ve had my chance. So, now I watch other people fall in love.”
“You think that’s what’s going on? Who could possibly fall in love in such a short time?”
“You don’t believe it could happen?”
He shook his head. “The words are easy to say. Actually feeling it? I don’t buy it.”
Her head tilted. “You’re awfully young to be so jaded.”
“And you’re awfully young to feel your chances are all used up.”
She went silent, then, drank her tea.
“I’m not being jaded,” he said, not knowing why he felt the need to elaborate, but feeling a need to explain nonetheless, “just realistic. I’ve been in relationships that lasted a whole lot longer than a spring TV seri
es, and I can say from experience, it’s easy to say the words. Meaning them is something entirely different.”
She muted the TV and set the remote between them. “When did you know you meant them?”
He chewed his pizza thoughtfully, knowing he was on the spot, then shrugged. “I don’t know if I ever did.”
She nodded. They silently stared at the characters on the screen for a few minutes.
“The thing is,” he found himself saying, “she said it first and it was just automatic to say it back. I didn’t give it much thought.” He let out a sigh. “They seem meaningless now. I don’t know if I could say them again.”
Kate frowned, her knees held tight to her chest, as she worried her lower lip between her teeth. “I don’t remember who said it first with Randy and me. After a while, he never said the words. It was always, ‘you know I love you,’ which—now that I think about it—isn’t the same at all.”
She shrugged and dropped her feet to the floor. “Any surprise I like to lose myself in the non-reality of a reality show? Sometimes reality is too real.”
“There’s honesty for you.”
Her lips tilted wryly. “I suppose so.” He watched as she let out a long, soft exhale and turned to him. “So, speaking of honesty, tell me... what are you doing? Here, I mean.”
“Watching TV.”
“Honestly?”
He set his plate on the coffee table. “Honestly? I haven’t a clue. Maybe I’m hoping to get lucky again.” At her shocked expression, he continued. “Can you blame me?”
“No.” Her expression grew pensive as she glanced away, her cheeks tinting pink. “I suppose not.”
“So you’ve thought about it, too?” She met his gaze. “Was this before or after you kissed me while I was asleep?”
Her face flamed, but he had to give her credit. She didn’t look away this time. “It was a medicinal kiss.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
She laughed and he felt himself returning her smile. “I just wanted to, okay? I thought Liam was in the kitchen, and you were so incredibly...”
“Yes?”
“...good-looking.”
“Wow. Last time I checked I was only cute.”
She laughed. “Yes, well, we’ve known each other nearly three episodes now. I’ve had time to reevaluate.”
“Very clever. If I scoff at you about your show now, my ego will have to admit you haven’t had time to judge my good looks either.”
She chuckled, but when she met his eyes, her smile faded.
“Hey,” he said, “I was only joking.”
“I know.”
“Why the frown?”
She let out a soft sigh. “Because I’m enjoying your company more than I should.”
“So we’re back to that.”
“Jim, you’ve just gotten out of a bad relationship—”
“Five months ago.”
“Still. You don’t want to get involved with—”
“Would you let me decide what I want?” He pushed a frustrated hand into his hair.
Kate pressed her lips together. Christ, he even found that sexy. “You deserve someone… uncomplicated. Someone who doesn’t have enough baggage to sink the Titanic without the iceberg.”
He stood up. “You mean I deserve someone who knows what she wants and doesn’t push me away with one hand and pull me toward her with the other?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
____________________
“SO, WERE YOU THINKING SOMETHING more serious or, um, relaxed?”
Two days later, Kate gripped her camera like a shield before her. What had she been thinking? Jeff Dayton—a guy she barely knew—was standing on her porch this very moment expecting—what? How had she become the local boudoir photographer anyway?
And, somehow, seeing Jeff in casual clothes instead of his usual uniform only stressed how little she knew about him. He wore a pair of old jeans, sneakers and a concert T-shirt from a heavy metal band you couldn’t pay her to see. Sure, he seemed more approachable now, but somehow more dangerous, like the clean-cut hitchhiker you aren’t supposed to pick up that turns into a serial killer. Maybe she shouldn’t have sent Liam off with Nana. It would have been nice to have backup. Or witnesses.
“Not sure,” he said in answer to her question. He shrugged. Wow. Those were broad shoulders. He could probably bury her in the back yard in under an hour with shoulders like that.
“Maybe we should just start with a few poses to get a feel for what might work,” she said, stepping away from the door.
He trailed her down the steps into the yard. Stopped. She glanced around. What next? “Why don’t we start here on the steps? The light’s good for now, and we can see what might work.”
“You want me to stand or sit?”
“Whatever feels comfortable.”
He sat on the top step, hands clasped between his knees. Kate snapped a couple pictures.
“So, how are you liking Sugar Falls?” he asked.
“It’s beautiful. Very relaxing. And everyone’s been so welcoming.”
He nodded and turned, presumably to give her another angle. Click. Click. “The Pearsons are good people,” he said.
“They’ve been very generous to me.” Kate stepped a little to her right and snapped another picture.
“I heard Rachel and Doug are thinking of moving back to town,” he said.
Kate winced as he crossed his arms across his chest. It was a look that would rattle a witness, but it wouldn’t sell many calendars. “Yes. They’re very excited.”
“Did she say that?” He grimaced. Kate made a mental note to delete that picture.
“I’m guessing she’s happy they’ll be closer to family and all once the baby is born. You heard she was expecting, right?” she asked.
“Yeah. Jim told me. Great news. She deserves to be happy. Both of them do.”
“How about we try some with you standing now?” Jeff rose to his feet and a hanging planter knocked him in the head. “Maybe you could stand near the bottom step for these.”
He brushed a couple flower petals from his hair. “Good idea.” He turned and posed, his chin tucked down, smile taut.
Kate reluctantly took the picture.
“Have you been friends with the Pearsons for long?” she asked.
“Went to school with Jim.” His mouth turned up at the corner slightly. “Dated Grace for a while, but that’s ancient history.”
“I guess I’d heard that.” Kate took another couple shots just so he’d think they were getting somewhere, but knowing none were worth keeping. She needed to get him to lighten up. But how? “Okay, enough on the porch. Let’s switch gears.”
He stood again, casual, relaxed, hands in pockets. She snapped a quick pic even though he wasn’t looking at her but longingly out over the water. “Let’s think of a different background. Do you like to swim? Go boating?”
“Not really. I fish.”
“Oh! Maybe we can work with that. Do have any poles or gear we could add to the shot?”
“In my truck.”
“Great.” This was turning out to be harder than she thought. She sighed with relief when another car pulled into the drive.
Rachel hopped out. “Hey, I was just killing some time while Doug was—oh. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.” Her eyes darted between Jeff and Kate.
“I’m helping Jeff do his picture for the calendar.”
Jeff waved with the tackle box he’d just pulled from his truck. “Hi, Rach.”
She nodded stiffly. “Jeff.”
“You’re welcome to—” Kate began, but Rachel was already backing toward her car.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want to get in the way. I’ll swing by another time.”
Kate’s cell phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket. “Hello?”
“Kate? It’s Doug. I’m looking for Ra
chel. Is she there?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact...” Kate paused as Rachel mouthed something and wildly waved her palms back and forth. “She was here, but she left.”
Rachel nodded vigorously.
“You want me down by the lake?” Jeff asked at Kate’s elbow.
“Who’s that?” Doug demanded.
“Jeff Dayton. I’m taking his—”
“Jeff’s there?”
Isn’t that what she’d just said? “Yes. I’m taking his calendar photo for—”
Doug blew out a long breath that whistled over the line. “If you see Rach, can you let her know I’m done early? She can pick me up any time.”
“Sure. If I see her, I’ll tell her.”
“Thanks. And Kate?”
“Yes?”
Another heavy sigh rattled over the line. “Can you tell her I love her?”
Kate bit her lip. “Sure.”
She slid her phone back in her pocket. “Your husband is done and wants to be picked up.”
“See?” Rachel chirped. “Can’t stay!”
“He also sends his love.”
Rachel stopped, her hand on the top of the car door. “He did?” She paused, her gaze traveling down to where Jeff stood by the shore. “If he calls again. Can you let him know I’ll be there in five minutes?”
“Anything else?”
Rachel’s eyes skittered back to Kate. “Yeah. Send him my love, too.”
“Sure thing.”
After Rachel pulled out, Kate walked down to shore to join Jeff. He cast out his line. Kate took a quick shot. Frowned. Wow. It actually looked good. Natural. Sexy, even, if she said so herself.
“I think this may work, but I hate to say, the T-shirt has to go. Whatever that thing is, it’s scary.”
He glanced down at his chest and genuinely smiled for the first time since arriving. “Scary? We drove all the way to Augusta in a snowstorm to see these guys.”
He set his pole down. “It was Grace’s first concert.” He smiled again, wider this time. “She had the lead singer sign her...” He paused to pull the faded shirt over his head, hiding his face for a moment. “...but I think that’s her story to tell.” He picked up his rod again and turned toward Kate.
Kate bit her lip and raised her camera. “Perfect. Now, cast again. That was a good pose before.” Click. “Okay, gently reel in. Yes. Yes. Like that.” Click. “By the way... nice tattoo.”