by LuAnn McLane
“Hey, it’s the only action I’m getting right now, so don’t knock it.”
“No! Just stop!” He put his hands over his ears and shook his head. “On that note I think I’m heading over to the Bass Pro Shop and get some lures. Let me know when you can go fishing.”
“I will. And I’ll catch more than you and Danny put together.”
Mason stood up. “Ha, we’ll see about that. Hey, you up for a bonfire soon?”
“Sure, let’s do it.”
“I’ll make some calls.”
“Sweet.”
“Catch ya later, little sis.”
Mattie grinned as she watched her brother walk away. When he opened the doors Rusty came back and flopped back down next to her. She did on rare occasion outfish them but not too often. It sure would be a treat to get out on the water if only she could find the time. With a sigh Mattie went back to reading her book.
“Mattie? Yoo-hoo, are you here, girlie?”
“Back by the books, Laura Lee.” Mattie grinned when she looked up and saw her mother’s best friend. Laura Lee Carter was one of her favorite people in the whole world. “Get over here and pick out a book.” She patted the space on the opposite side of where Rusty snored.
Laura Lee angled her head to check out the cover of the book. “Ah, pirates. Good choice.”
“Well, you’re the one who turned me on to romance novels when I was in high school. If my mama had known what I was reading, she would have thrown a hissy fit,” Mattie said with a giggle.
Laura Lee put a fingertip to her lips. “Shhh, don’t tell on me.”
“Never,” Mattie whispered, and Laura Lee laughed. She was such a wonderful person and had been put through so much. But through it all she’d managed to keep a smile on her face and her chin up.
Laura Lee picked up a book with a handsome Highlander on the cover. “Give me a man in a kilt,” she said, and wiggled her eyebrows.
“Aren’t you going to read the back?”
“I don’t need to,” Laura Lee replied, and hugged the book to her chest. She reached over and patted Mattie’s thigh. “So, how are you doing?”
“Fine.” Mattie was a little startled by the question. “Why do you ask?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Laura Lee tilted her head to the side. “I haven’t seen that pretty smile of yours as often as I’d like. Anything bothering you, sweetie?”
“Well . . .” Mattie ran her fingers over the glossy cover for a moment and finally said, “I’d like to have a man in my life other than book boyfriends, I guess.” She knew she could tell Laura Lee anything and she wouldn’t breathe a word of it. “And I suppose I get kinda lonely for girl talk,” she added with a little shrug. Mattie wasn’t high on feeling sorry for herself, but when Laura Lee gave her a quick hug Mattie felt tightness in her chest.
“You know you can call me any time of the day or night with anything you need to talk about, Mattie.”
“I sure do know that, Laura Lee.” Mattie gave a smile, but it wobbled just a bit at the corners. She wasn’t much of a crier either, but she had to swallow sudden hot emotion in her throat. “It’s just that so many of my girlfriends are getting married and starting families. I mean, I’m in no hurry for that, but they don’t get out as much and when they come over for bonfires down by the river, it seems that everybody’s got somebody but me.”
Laura Lee shook her head slowly. “Quite honestly I’m flabbergasted that nobody has snatched you up already.”
“Ha . . .”
“Oh, would you just stop?” She gave Mattie’s leg a shove, making Rusty groan in protest of the sudden movement. He yawned wide enough to crack his jaw and laid his head back down. “You’re a catch and then some.”
“I know . . . right?” Mattie said with a little grin. “Hey, I’m good at fishing and play a mean shortstop in softball.” She gestured toward the kitchen. “And I make melt-in-your-mouth biscuits.”
“And you’re gorgeous.”
“Of course there’s that too.” Mattie nodded and then laughed, but in truth she often wondered if guys did find her to be pretty. “Do you think we’ll find our real-life hero? Our happily ever after?”
“Of course you will.” Laura Lee’s smile faltered just a bit, but Mattie noticed.
“Um, I said we.”
“I do believe that ship has sailed for me.” She leaned against the bookshelf and chuckled. “Or sank might be a better way of putting it.”
“What? Why would you say such a fool thing?”
“Well . . .” Laura Lee rubbed her thumb over the edge of her book, making a flapping noise. “I’m fifty-five years old for one thing.”
“So? Why does that matter?” Mattie sat up straighter. “I mean, what does age have to do with anything at all? Look at Kate and Ben at Whisper’s Edge. They’re, like, in their sixties and I’ve seen them holding hands, walking down Main Street. Ha! And what about Clyde and Miss Patty? They were having breakfast here earlier. I swear they were glowing and they’re as old as the hills.” She tapped her cheek for a second. “Oh, and Pete and Maria Sully? They’re older than you and they rekindled a love that refused to die.” Mattie shook her head. “When Maria came back from Nashville, everybody in town was rooting for those two to get back together, you included.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Yeah, but what?” She pointed a finger at Laura Lee and continued. “And how about Myra at Wine and Diner? Myra and Owen are up there in age too. That man worships the ground she walks on.”
“How do you know this?”
Mattie chuckled. “Because Myra says so all the time. Owen just nods and laughs in agreement. I can give you about another dozen examples if you want me to, not that you don’t already know these people.”
“You know what?” Laura Lee gave Mattie’s leg another shove. “You walk around like a tough little cookie and you’re nothing but a big old mushy romantic. Well, make that cute, young little romantic. You’re no bigger than a minute.”
“I know.” Mattie didn’t even try to dispute it because Laura Lee knew her inside out. “That’s why I love reading these books. It’s like there’s always hope against all odds, ya know? I like the opposites-attract scenario when the hero and heroine are the two least likely people to fall for each other.”
“And they banter back and forth until you’re dying for them to just kiss and get it over with already.”
“Exactly! What’s your favorite?” Mattie asked, but before Laura Lee could answer they heard someone come through the front door.
“Hello? Mattie? Are you here?”
“Back here by the books,” Mattie called out.
“Well, by the sound of him he’s certainly not from around these parts.” Laura Lee gave Mattie a curious look. “Who is it?”
“Garret Ruleman, Rick Ruleman’s son,” Mattie whispered just before he walked up to them.
“Ah, there you are.” When they both started to scramble to their feet he shook his shaggy head. Rusty groaned in complaint and flopped down onto the floor. “No, stay seated and carry on. I just came back to browse through the books. I forgot to earlier.” He leaned down and extended his hand to Laura Lee. “Hello there, I’m Garret Ruleman.”
“Laura Lee Carter,” she said, and Mattie noticed that she seemed to be charmed.
“Nice to meet you.” Garret pointed down at Rusty. “The ham bandit, I’m guessing?”
“Yes. Add three biscuits to the growing list.”
“Can’t say that I blame him. Your biscuits were even better than your promise, Mattie. I’m going to have to add another mile to my evening run, but well worth the effort, I might add.”
“Thanks.” Mattie couldn’t help smiling. She noted that he had changed into a blue oxford shirt tucked into khaki pants. Business casual, but her brothers would consider Garret’s clothes
as dressing up. The subtle scent of his spicy aftershave slid her way, making her want to move closer. She almost did.
Garret looked down at the book in her hand. “What are you reading?”
Mattie held the book up. She fully expected a raised eyebrow or snide comment and braced herself.
“Ah, a romance novel. My mother adores them.” He grinned and put one hand to the side of his mouth. “I have a confession,” he said in a hushed tone.
Laura Lee and Mattie looked at him expectantly.
“I used to read Mum’s books when she wasn’t around.” He pointed to the cover. “Lots of good information about women in there.”
Laura Lee laughed. “More men should think like you.”
“I’d say you’re right.” Garret shot her a crooked grin. “Mind if I have a look around?”
“Not at all,” Mattie replied. “Mysteries and suspense are located at the back with some Westerns mixed in. Horror is to the right.”
“Any self-help?” he asked. “I need a stack of those babies.”
“Mixed in with the rack of other nonfiction,” Mattie answered, and then realized he was joking. “All the books are one dollar and you just drop the buck in the fishbowl by the register. The money goes to a local charity for literacy, so feel free to be generous. Oh, and if you have any books you want to donate we will be grateful. And although you don’t have to return anything, it helps the cause if you do.”
“I’ll remember that.” Garret inhaled deeply. “Ah, I just love the smell of books, don’t you?”
“I sure do,” Mattie admitted, thinking that her brothers probably wouldn’t admit to something like that. Of course none of them were big readers unless you counted Fish and Stream or Sports Illustrated. “So you’re a book lover.”
“Some might be surprised by that fact, but I always have a stack of books on hand. My mother is responsible for my love of reading.”
“Me too. I refused to go to bed until she read at least two or three books to me.”
“You were better than me. I would always be obsessed with one particular book that I would beg for Mum to read over and over.” He shook his head. “Annoying little chap.”
“No, I think that’s cute.” Mattie imagined him as a little boy begging with that sweet accent and had to smile.
“Well, I had so many books memorized that Mum’s friends thought I could read at the tender age of three, so she got some satisfaction out of it, I suppose.”
“That’s funny.” Reading had always been Mattie’s escape and she’d often dreamed of actually visiting some of the settings in her favorite historical romances. “Take your time browsing. I’m done for the day, but I’ll be here for a while.”
“All right, then, I’m going to go have a look. Good to meet you, Laura Lee. Mattie, always a pleasure.”
Laura Lee gave Mattie a wow-he’s-cute little nod, but she rolled her eyes.
When Garret disappeared around the corner, Laura Lee whispered, “What a charmer. I could listen to him talk all day long. Couldn’t you?”
“I guess,” Mattie conceded with a small nod. Although she did feel a pull of attraction, it kind of oddly felt as if she were cheating on Colby, so she pushed it aside. She could hear Garret pulling books from the shelves and moving about. With all the stories in the tabloids about his wild ways, Mattie wouldn’t have pegged him as a big reader. She kind of wanted to stand up and peek over the middle shelf to see what he was looking through.
“Hey . . .” Laura Lee put her hand on Mattie’s arm. “I have some news.”
Mattie took one look at Laura Lee’s eyes and knew this was going to be juicy. “Don’t keep me hanging.”
“Shane McCray just hired me as his housekeeper, cook, and personal assistant,” she said in a low but excited tone.
“Shane McCray?” Mattie drew in a sharp breath. “For real?”
“I know it’s pretty hard to believe. I’m still thinking it’s all a dream and I’ll wake up soon and be super pissed.”
Mattie reached over and pinched her.
“Ouch!” she said with a laugh.
“You’re awake.”
“Mattie, I have to admit that I’m nervous. I know I can handle the cleaning part, but get real, what do I know about handling the affairs of a country music superstar? And what if he doesn’t like my cooking?” She bit her bottom lip, clearly concerned. “I’m sure in the past he’s had professional chefs slicing and dicing all sorts of fancy dishes. My meat loaf and mashed potatoes will seem so . . .” She looked up at the ceiling.
“So delicious? And are you kidding? You are the most organized person I know, hands down. Everything in your doggone house is labeled and in its place.”
“Not everything.”
“Oh, come on. Even your garage is nice and neat.” It was her turn to give Laura Lee a shove. “And your cooking? Are you serious? You’re an amazing cook. You taught me every bit as much as Mama. My biscuits would still be hard as bricks if you hadn’t told me not to play with the dough too much. You’re perfect for all three jobs.”
“I hope you’re right. I guess the whole celebrity thing is just throwing me for a loop.”
“As my daddy would say, we all put our pants on one leg at a time.”
“I know . . . but still.”
Mattie thought about how Garret made her sort of nervous for that very reason. “Hey, but what about your other clients?”
“I know. I hate that part.” Laura Lee blew out a sigh. “I have to give them notice. And, Mattie, I won’t be able to help you clean the cabins up by the lake for the fishing tournaments. I’m so sorry.”
“No worries.” Mattie waved a dismissive hand at her. In truth she really didn’t need the help but knew that Laura Lee could use the work after her jerk of an ex-husband had left her high and dry. “I’ll make do.”
“Thank you, sweetie. Well, I’d better get going. I just wanted to pop in and tell you my exciting news.”
“I’m so glad you did! We’ll have to go to Sully’s soon to celebrate. I haven’t been out in a while.”
“Sure thing,” Laura Lee said, and then pushed up to her feet. “I’ll drop a buck in the jar on my way out.”
Mattie nodded and stood up as well. When Garret noticed Laura Lee leaving he said, “Lovely to meet you, Laura Lee.”
“It was nice to meet you too, Garret. Welcome to Cricket Creek. I hope you’ll enjoy living here.”
“I’m sure I will,” he replied, but Mattie had to wonder how he would fit in. When he turned a book over and read the back jacket she suddenly felt compelled to walk over to him.
“Find anything interesting?”
He held up a Stephen King novel. “I don’t think I’ve read this one.”
“It?” Mattie shivered. “Oh, that would give me nightmares. I’m already afraid of clowns.”
Garret laughed. “Me too.”
“Really?” She liked that he admitted to his fear rather than denying it.
Garret nodded. “Oh yeah. Creepy buggers if you ask me.” He circled his face with his index finger. “All that makeup gives me the willies. When I was a kid I couldn’t even handle Ronald McDonald. Just give me my cheeseburger, dude.”
“Dude?”
Garret laughed. “I lived in L.A., then Chicago for a bit and spent a lot of my life in London. My vocabulary is an odd combination of all three. I would imagine that I’ll soon be saying things like y’all with a Southern drawl.”
“I can’t imagine that.”
“What are y’all doin’ tonight?” he asked, making Mattie laugh.
“That sounded like a very bad impression of John Wayne.”
“Sorry, I’ll have to work on it. That’s how I have to talk to get Siri to give me directions on my phone or she can’t understand me. I’ve ended up in the wrong place more than
once,” he said, making Mattie laugh. “And now I have to learn what seems like a whole new language.”
“Southern-speak? Give me an example and maybe I can set you straight.”
He tapped his book for a second. “Okay, just what in the world does fixin’ mean? I keep hearing the term and it confuses me.”
“It means gettin’ ready. Like, I’m fixin’ to go to the store.”
“Ah . . . makes rather odd sense now.” Garret grinned at her. “How about best? It’s used in a strange manner that baffles me.”
“Best not?”
Garret nodded.
“It means don’t.”
“Oh, like you best not stick your hand in a catfish hole?”
“Did you just set me up for that?”
Garret laughed. “No, not that I wouldn’t. I really think I need one of those translating books.”
Mattie laughed. “A Southern-speak app on your phone would help.”
“All the extra syllables get in the way for me too. It’s like stretching a sentence like a rubber band. But I’m learning.”
“I’ll come up with a cheat sheet for ya.”
“I need one.” A moment passed and he looked down at his book. “I love to read horror into the night until every little noise in the house scares me.”
“Why would you do that to yourself? Are you crazy?”
He tilted his head to the side. “I think most people would say yes to that question.”
“I believe it.” Mattie eyed the book and shook her head. “I’ll stick to my romance novels, thank you very much.”
“And this is coming from the girl who is going to stick her hand in a catfish hole.” Garret thrust the novel toward her. “Give it a try.”
“No way!” Mattie took a step backward as if the clown might bite her.
“How about this? If you read Stephen King’s It, I’ll read that romance novel you’re holding so tightly.”
“No, you won’t,” she scoffed.
“I will too.”
“In public?”
“You’re pushing it just a bit,” Garret said with a grin.