Basic Attraction (16 page)

It had been since third grade that she’d gone this long without physical activity. She could feel her leg muscles starting to atrophy. Yet she couldn’t seem to find the energy to do anything.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

Kiri laughed as she missed kicking the rubber ball completely and landed on her behind in the grass.

Angel smiled. “Are you okay?”

“Yep.” Kiri dusted her shorts off.

Angel sighed. “I’m going to miss her. She leaves in less than a week. Then I start work the next day.”

“You nervous?” Sheri asked. Angel was a kindergarten teacher, and she was starting at a new school now that she had moved to Pigeon Forge.

“No, it’s just a lot of work setting a room up, especially since I don’t know what kind of supplies there are in the classroom. It will take a few weeks to sort it out."

A very real feeling of jealousy rose in Sheri. Angel’s life was complete and filled with people she loved. She had a job she cared about, a wonderful boyfriend, and a new home.

Sheri had potted plants, yoga, and kudzu.

Angel said, “But you’re changing the subject. Why won’t you tell me what happened with you and Luke? One minute, you were staring at each other moony-eyed. The next thing I know, he’s taken off and won’t say a word about you. And you’re holed up in your apartment half the time and look like you haven’t slept in weeks.”

Maybe she should tell Angel the truth. She had a feeling she wouldn’t let it drop until she did. Up until now she hadn’t wanted to say it aloud. She hadn’t wanted to admit to making such a huge mistake. But maybe she’d feel better if she told Angel. A little comfort might go a long way.

“When Luke came over to dinner, he asked me how I would feel about him coming down here on a regular basis. Starting a second business while we dated.”

Angel said, “And?”

“And I said that would be great. Then we started talking and we started to realize that we had different ideas about living together.” She swallowed hard and forced herself to continue. “And I’m not really sure what happened. I freaked out. He freaked out. He accused me of not liking him."

”What? Why would he say that?” Angel took a sip of her lemonade.

“No clue.” It sounded stupid to her even as she was saying it. Had they really argued about something as trivial as furniture and clothes? But it hadn’t been about any of that for either of them. It had been about her insecurities. She wasn’t sure what it was about for Luke and since she hadn’t heard boo from him in the meantime, she still didn’t know.

But what she did know was that with each day that went by, the ache in her chest didn’t get better. It got worse.

“So, it ended in an argument. He basically said I wanted to change him, make him into something he’s not.” Her face burned hot with shame as she remembered. “I asked him to open a T-shirt shop instead of a bar, Angel. It’s no wonder he got mad.”

This wasn’t therapeutic. This was painful.

“It just sounds like a misunderstanding, Sheri. I mean you were talking about a lot of decisions and planning. A lot of compromising. It’s natural for someone to feel slighted.”

She forced a laugh out. “He asked me if I liked him just the way he was, swear words on his shirt and everything and I just stood there, Angel. I didn’t say anything because I was terrified if I told him how I really feel, he would freak out. And he freaked out anyway.” Burying her head in her hands, she rubbed her temples vigorously. She was out of tears. She had cried enough to cause dehydration.

“Well, how do you feel?”

“I think I might actually be in love with him.” The answer came easily and she wondered why it hadn’t when she had needed it to.

“And does he love you just the way you are?”

Dropping her hands, she said, “He didn’t say love. He said he likes me, even though I wear ugly dresses.”

Angel let out startled laughter. “Men sure know how to be romantic, don’t they?” She sat up straighter and looked around her. “Where’s my phone?”

“Your phone?”

“Yes, we have to make some plans.” Angel reached for her cell on the round table a few feet away. “I’ve heard all I need to. You love each other. You had a misunderstanding. It’s time to fix things.”

“What are you going to do?” She stared in horror at her friend. “And I don’t think this is fixable.”

“Are you willing to try? What’s the worst that could happen? You don’t end up with Luke. That’s where you are now anyway.”

That was a very valid point. Hadn’t she just said she was left with nothing but plants and yoga? She crossed and uncrossed her legs nervously.

“If it works, you get married, have babies, and live happily ever after.”

Oh, that nearly killed her. The image of being married to Luke, having a baby with him, was so bittersweet that her mouth went dry.

“I would settle for just monogamously dating him right now. I have no idea what to say to him though. I feel like I should explain, apologize.”

“Just say it all wearing a sexy outfit and a come hither look and he won’t be able to resist.” Angel grinned wickedly.

“It can’t be that simple.”

“Sure it can.” She held out her arms as Kiri came running over to them.

Kiri jumped into her lap and snuggled in. “Whattcha talking ‘bout?”

“Uncle Luke.”

Sheri frowned. Did she have to say that so cheerfully? Like they hadn’t just been discussing the rest of her life?

“Tell him I said hi,” Kiri said in one of those weird voices kids randomly used. She sounded like a zombie.

“Will do,” Angel said. “But first I have to call Aunt Hannah and Aunt Dixie.”

Sheri pictured Angel’s younger sisters the way she’d seen them last—dirty dancing with Rick’s friends at the wedding reception. She was suddenly scared. “Why?”

“You’ll need a place to stay when you’re in Chicago.”

“Chicago?” Oh, Lord. Angel wanted her to do the very thing she’d vow to stop doing—chase after a man.

Angel bounced Kiri on her knees until she laughed. “Of course. You can’t win Luke back sitting here. And Hannah and Dixie can help you with your wardrobe. They can also take you to the bar to catch Luke by surprise.”

Somehow that wasn’t what she’d pictured when Angel had said that there was a chance to still work things out. She had pictured a phone call. Not showing up in person wearing a Wonder bra.

It could be an epic failure. But she’d thrown herself at idiots who didn’t deserve her, so didn’t Luke at least deserve the same amount of effort?

Rick stepped out the back door and smiled broadly at Angel and Kiri. “Hey, how are my favorite girls?”

If Luke would smile at her like that, she would be one very happy woman. She would do it. Look out, Chicago.

“So are you going to let me come behind that counter and see how everything works?”

Luke blinked and pulled his thoughts back to the present. Debating driving down to Tennessee in khaki pants with a haircut and begging Sheri for a second chance was not a good use of his time. Especially since he didn’t even own khaki pants.

A woman was leaning on the bar, smiling at him. She was about his age, with long black hair and a tight red dress. Her manner was flirtatious, if that cleavage was any indication. He smiled back uneasily.

Maybe working around the clock had made him stupid. He hadn’t worked this much since he’d first opened for business four years ago. But could lack of sleep explain why he felt no urge whatsoever to flirt back?

“Sorry. Employees only.”

A throaty laugh emerged. Apparently Miss Red Hot wasn’t prepared to accept defeat just yet. “Oh, come on. How about a little private show later then?”

“What exactly is it you want to see back here?”

Her red lips parted. “All your…bottles and things.”

His bottles were staying tucked away behind the bar, thank you very much. He said, “I think maybe my brother can arrange a tour for you.” He turned back to the doorway that lead to the kitchen and called loudly, “Jake! Come here.”

She frowned as if she expected his brother to be a geek or a teenager. But she perked right up when Jake came out, his broad shoulders straining against his T-shirt. Jake was the tallest of the three brothers and arguably the ladies’ man.

“What do you want, Luke?” He scowled at him. “I’m busy back there.”

Since it was nine o’clock at night and most customers were sticking strictly with drinks or french fries, he didn’t see what Jake was so busy doing, but he let it pass.

Before he could speak, Jake had noticed Red Dress. “Well, hello.”

“Hi.” She wiggled her fingers in a wave.

“My brother taking care of you all right?” Jake smiled at her. “How about a drink on the house?”

How about a drink out of Jake’s pocket instead of Luke’s paycheck? He turned away in disgust, helping a man who’d just stepped up to the bar.

As he pulled a beer on draft for him, he heard his brother and the woman flirting relentlessly, both obviously enjoying themselves. He felt nothing but a deep loneliness and a desire to wake up next to the same woman every day for the rest of his life—Sheri.

A familiar stab shot through him. Work wasn’t helping. Every woman who walked through the door paled in comparison. He watched Jake lead the woman around the counter and back into the kitchen. To satisfy her curiosity on the workings of a bar kitchen, no doubt.

He was brooding idly when Eddie came out of the kitchen wincing. “Damn, Luke. How come you never throw a woman like that my way?”

Because a woman like that would eat kindhearted Eddie alive, that’s why. “You don’t want a woman like that, Ed.” He peered through the door. “What’re they doing back there, anyway?”

“It’s not X-rated yet, but it’s getting there.”

Jake worked faster than he’d thought. He leaned back against the wood backbar that held his liquor bottles and sighed, surveying his place. It was small and not in a particularly fashionable neighborhood, but it was his. He was proud of it.

He’d gone to great pains to ensure that it didn’t have that seedy look that some neighborhood bars do, and it was filled with wood tables and brass fixtures, well lit while still being ambient. He’d be sorry to leave it, but he would have if Sheri had given him a thumbs up.

Damn. He was back to that again. He turned to Eddie. “Eddie, just what the hell do women want?”

His brother stared at him blankly. “Hell if I know. You don’t see me with a whole lot of women, do you?”

That was true. He suddenly wondered why. While Jake had them throwing themselves at him, Eddie was something of a loner. He wondered if that military bearing Eddie had about him scared women off.

“Now why’s that?”

“No women?” Eddie shrugged and grabbed a glass. He started pulling himself a beer. “I date just enough to keep me from going crazy, but not enough to make me crazy, you know what I mean?”

Unfortunately, Luke had surpassed that point. He was already certifiable. A tinkling laugh came to his ears. He knew that grating, flirtatious laugh. Dixie. Couldn’t he even get away from her on her day off?

She was wearing a tank top and shorts that rode way too low on her hips. She was smiling and laughing with a group of guys at the table closest to the door.

As she headed their way, he scowled. “What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too.” She breezed up to them and sat on a stool. “I came to check the schedule.”

He was instantly suspicious. “You couldn’t call or text?”

“I was in the neighborhood.” She flashed him a smile. “You closing tonight?”

That was a little too casual for his taste. “Yeah. Why?” Instead of answering, she leaned over and wiped at his cheek. Backing off, he said with annoyance, “What are you doing?”

“You had a fuzzy on your face.”

A fuzzy? Crying out loud. She smiled sweetly at him. She had to be one the most annoying people on the planet, but he had to admit that Dixie was a real sweetheart. She really cared about her brothers and sisters.

So did he. It just didn’t extend to letting his baby sister paw at his face while he was trying to act the part of tough guy bar owner. Neither did he find Eddie’s laugh amusing.

“Do you have a brush or something?” Now she was running her fingers through his hair, her nail getting caught over his ear.

Pulling hard, she extracted her finger from the knot while he winced. “What are you doing?” He batted ineffectually at her hands. She had lost her mind.

Even Eddie looked taken aback. “Why are you playing with his hair?”

“I’m trying to make him look presentable.” Frowning a little, she stepped back to scrutinize him. “Do you have another shirt you could change into?”

He backed up until he hit the counter, jostling a couple of bottles together. He steadied them without taking his eyes off her. “What is the matter with you?”

“I have a friend outside who’s
dying
to see you.”

“What? What friend?”

“She’s very nice. She thinks you’re very sexy, and she just loves tattoos.” She smiled innocently.

His life was so pathetic that his baby sister was fixing him up on blind dates? Panicked, he looked for an escape route. There was nowhere to go but out the front door or through the kitchen. Front door meant past Dixie’s friend. Back door went past Jake and Hot Pants, who were doing who knew what.

“Dixie.” He tried to sound threatening. “I don’t know what you’ve got planned, but forget it.”

“Too late. She’ll be walking in the door any minute. I just know you’re going to
adore
her.”

Something was seriously wrong here. What had Dixie done? He suddenly had the frightening idea that she had hired him a stripper. Of course, that could be good for business, but he wasn’t interested personally.

“Eddie.” He turned to his brother in desperation.

Eddie held his hands up. “Don’t look at me. I don’t anything about it.”

“Well, you take her for me, Ed.” He realized that wasn’t exactly polite, but he wasn’t getting stuck with some clinging woman for the rest of the night. “You’ll do it for me, won’t you?”

Dixie gasped. “No! She wants you, Luke.”

Eddie looked doubtful. “I don’t know.”