Rough Edges (4 page)

“You know,” Allie spoke from behind, her voice quiet but firm.

Braden spun around to see her leaning against the doorframe, her arms folded across her chest.

“If you speak to me like an adult,” she continued, “I’m confident we can make a decent team here. I don’t mind you telling me I’ve crossed the boundaries or that I’m doing something you don’t want me to do. But what you said – and the way you said it – bordered on chauvinistic if you ask me, and that’s something I won’t put up with.”

Chauvinistic?
Now she’d gone too far. “Hold up. Just what was chauvinistic about it?” He couldn’t help but ask. Never once had he been accused of such a thing.

Allie tilted her head as her eyes narrowed. “Phone calls and filing?”

Braden coughed out a humorless laugh. “Isn’t that what secretaries do?”

“Sure. But they can do a whole lot more.”

“Well how about we just start out with the basics?”

Allie straightened her shoulders, sped right past Braden, and snatched her list off the table. “Fine. I’ll get started.” 

“Fine.” With a wordless nod, Braden rounded the corner and strode back toward the work area. “Let me know if you need anything,” he added reluctantly over his shoulder. He slowed his pace then, straining to hear if she’d say anything more. She didn’t.
Jeez.
Would there be even one part of this situation that wasn’t complicated? Once at the workbench, he pulled the bandana back over his face, shaking his head in frustration. How would he ever focus on his work? Having Allie Emerson there was going to be a whole lot harder than he’d thought.

“Wow. I can’t believe it.”

Allie hid a smile, trying to pretend she didn’t know exactly why her friend, Reese, was so surprised. “You can’t believe what?” she asked.

Reese’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe this is the same guy you were telling me about all those years ago.” Her southern accent was always stronger when she spoke about something big. And right now her drawl was unmistakable. “The one you said you had feelings for back in high school.” Reese sunk into another round of sit-ups, grunting as she continued. “Now Terrance is out of your life, and here you are, working for this guy you’ve always wondered about.”

“I wasn’t wondering so much about him while I was married, of course,” Allie said. She hadn’t really allowed herself to fantasize about what it might have been like had she married Braden instead of Terrance. Of course the question popped in her mind from time to time, mostly when Terrance was complicating things the way he did. But Allie had given her marriage all she had. “I guess I’ve just thought about the fact that he was still single. Wondered why he was and hoped he would marry someday. I always hoped that for him.”

Reese pulled into a final sit-up and nodded. “That makes sense. And I know you were faithful, Allie. We all know how hard you tried to make that marriage work.”

Allie appreciated her comment; Reese was family after all, having married her cousin years back. Of course they’d shown plenty of support throughout the divorce as well.

“We lost count somewhere along the way,” Allie said, “but I’m pretty sure you’ve done well over fifty.”

“Whether I have or not, I’ve done my last sit-up for the morning, that’s for sure.” Reese eyed Allie. “You want to go another round?”

“No, thanks. I barely made it through the last set.” Allie pressed off the ground and followed Reese into the kitchen, admiring the photos on the wall. Pictures of Reese’s twin boys. “Does it feel strange, having them in school all day?”

“Very. If I didn’t stay as busy as I do I might get depressed.” Reese pulled a couple of water bottles from the fridge, handed one to Allie.

“Too bad Jade’s not feeling well,” Allie said, thinking of Reese’s sister-in-law. Married to another one of Allie’s cousins, Jade had been in the family for about a year now. As close to her cousins as Allie was, it had been like gaining two sisters, one after the other. And boy did she love it.

“I know. Jade was really bummed out this morning. She made me promise to dish the dirt once we’re through.”

“How’d she even know I had any dirt to dish?”

Reese gave her a smile. “Well you mentioned working for a carpenter.” She shrugged. “Jade and I were hoping there was a story behind it, though I didn’t know it’d be this good.”

Allie shook her head before cracking a smile.

“So,” Reese said, “you’ve been working for him for a week. How has it been? And how’d you get today off?”

“He wasn’t going to be in the office today,” Allie said, toying with the lid of her water bottle. “And I’m not sure how it’s been. He’s friendly enough, I guess, but it’s like he’s holding back or something. I go in and we talk for a minute or two, mostly about work. He does his job while I do mine, and then I leave.”

“You go home around lunch time?” Reese asked.

“Yeah. At twelve.”

“So then why don’t you invite him to lunch? Man’s gotta eat.” She’d made it sound so easy. And for Reese, things like that probably were. She was a different type of woman. Reese seemed to sense her hesitation. “You know,” she said, “my daddy gave me some good advice while I was growing up. He’d say: never underestimate your ability to make good things happen. Life is three percent luck, seven percent circumstance, and ninety percent gumption.” She let out a laugh that made Allie smile. Reese did have a whole lot of gumption, that was sure.

“Well hopefully some of that has rubbed off on me over the years,” Allie said. “I’ll see if I can tap into it.”

“Oh, you can,” Reese said with a wink. “Trust me. And you’ve influenced me over the years too. The way you stuck through the tough times in your marriage. Always managing to put your kids first.”

Allie pulled in a deep breath, exhaling a drawn out sigh. “Thank you,” she said. “That means a lot. You know, I’m still trying to put the girls first. It’s hard though. They’re reacting to the whole divorce like polar opposites. Jillian, bless her, is trying to keep my spirits up. She’s full of compliments, always helping out around the house, and rarely complains about a thing. And then I have Paige who’s jaded and bitter, mopes around all day, doesn’t have a kind word to say.”

Reese smiled, understanding evident in her deep, green eyes. She reached over the counter and put a hand on Allie’s. “But you know Jillian’s hurting in her own way, too.”

Allie nodded. “Exactly. I know she worries for me and Paige both. Makes me think she’s growing up way too quickly. Like her last few years of carefree living were snatched away by the divorce.”

“Don’t you worry,” Reese said. “She’s strong like her mama. And Paige is too, you’ll see. Just keep doing what you’re doing. One of these days this’ll all be behind you, and you’ll be glad you survived it.” She straightened back up, moved toward the freezer and opened the door.

“Think we’ve burned off enough calories to eat…” She spun back around, showcasing a carton of low-fat ice cream. “This?” Reese’s smile was wide. Allie couldn’t help but mirror it. 

“Definitely,” she said.

After grabbing two spoons and joining Allie at the bar, Reese dug into the carton and passed it to Allie. With a heaping spoonful of
Caramel Crest Crinkle
just inches from her mouth, she uttered one last request. “So… tell me more about this carpenter.” 

Braden studied the drawing at his side as he sketched out its match on the plank of wood. The hutch Mrs. Carmichael ordered was nearly complete. Once he carved out the design, he’d be ready to finish the piece off with a nice cherry stain and fasten on the hardware.

On more than one occasion, Braden had wondered what it’d be like to create a custom piece for Allie. Something as lovely and unique as she was. He’d enjoy laboring on such a task, knowing it was something she’d enjoy, though admitting the fact sparked that pit of agitation within him. As far as he knew Allie wanted nothing to do with him, in that regard anyway. For a week straight she had come in, quietly done her job, and then said goodbye.

While she was there, Braden could barely focus. He stayed busy enough, always accomplished a task or two during the time, but his mind was far from his work. Until she left anyway. And when that time came, Allie seemed to take a bit of his world with her. A part he’d given her long ago. One he only thought he’d regained. Boy was he ever wrong.

And as strange as it was, he’d really missed her over the weekend. Not the usual way a person misses somebody. It was more complicated than that. He had missed Allie Emerson all these years. Missed her smile. Her wit. The way her cheeks warmed with color when his gaze lingered on hers. Seeing her again, day after day, had somehow revived the roots of desire he had for her. Filling him with a yearning for more.

He kept his pencil moving as he traced out the lines. Intricate curls with plush leaves. Tiny berries and clustered buds. The quiet nature of his task allowed him to hear her car as it pulled up. And then the door. He eased up on the lead tip and gulped, preparing himself for how she might look today. Would it be another business suit? A skirt that showed off those legs? Or…

“Hello?” Her voice was different today. Coated in a certainty he hadn’t detected before.

“Morning,” he called. With slow, almost tentative movements, Braden lifted his chin. He caught sight of her shoes first, the vision alone sending him back in time. A pair of red Converse, like the ones she used to wear back in high school. His gaze traveled up her denim-covered legs, moved over the snug, white T-shirt hugging her frame, and settled on the smile she wore on that lovely face. “Hi,” he blurted.

“How’s your morning going?” Allie strode further into the room than she normally did. And what was this? It seemed as if she was hurt. Wasn’t exactly a limp, but she was definitely favoring one leg over the other. He’d barely registered the fact as Allie came up along side him and glanced down at the sketch.

When he felt the warmth of her body near his, Braden straightened up. “It’s going pretty good.”

“Wow, Braden,” she said in a whisper. “Did you draw this?”

He shook his head. “Not the original. Mrs. Carmichael did that. I’m just preparing the wood so I can get it carved out.”

“But you’re the one who sketched it onto the wood? Just by looking at it?”

He nodded, embarrassed that she actually seemed impressed.

“Hmm. I remember now.” Allie ran a hand along the portion below it, the part he’d already carved out.

“Remember what?” he asked, entranced by the way her slender fingers traced over the wood.

“That you’re an artist. Makes sense – as good at your job as you are. And you were always sketching one thing or another back in the day.” She stopped there, pulling air through clenched teeth as she lifted her foot. Her face scrunched up too, as if she was covering a grimace.

“What is it?” He set down the pencil, cupped her elbow in one hand. “What’s wrong?”

Allie shook her head. “This morning I stubbed my stupid toe, and I bumped it again just now.” She straightened back up. “I thought I should cover it up so I changed out of my pumps and into these, but I think that’s making it worse.”

His eyes fell back to her shoes. “You thought you should cover it up?”

“Yeah. My toe looks all jacked up so I figured that’d be best.”

The smile that crept over his face was hard to stifle. “And who, exactly, was going to see your jacked up toe?”

When she only shrugged in reply, he scrutinized her through narrowed eyes. “C’mon,” he said, motioning to the house. “Let’s take a look, maybe get you some ice.”

“No,” she blurted. “You don’t have to do that. It’s fine, I swear.” She tried hobbling away but Braden seized her in place by grabbing her wrist.

“You can’t even walk.” Without another word Braden hunched down, swooped his hands beneath her body and scooped her into his arms. “My pa always said even mothers need motherin’. Your mother’s not here right now, so we can do one of two things.”

Braden turned to the side as he carried her down the hallway, careful not to bump her feet into the doorframe. Through his peripheral, he could see Allie’s rather shocked expression, but kept his eyes pasted on the door handle ahead. “Wanna get that for me?”

She sighed, leaned down to secure the knob, and then swung the door open.

“Thanks. As I was saying, we’ve got two choices here. Call your dear, sweet mother, who I’m sure will buzz right on over to take care of her baby.”

Allie shook her head, stifling a laugh.

“Or you can let dear ol’ Braden have a look at it.” The table in the dining area was free of clutter. He set her backside gently atop the thing before stepping back.

Her eyes were wide and questioning.

Braden tilted his head. “Well? What’s it going to be?”

The color in her cheeks grew a deeper shade of pink. She licked her lips, tucked a few strands of light brown hair behind her ear. Her shoulders drooped. “I still don’t think – ”

“Uh-uh,” he interrupted. “Two choices. Me, or mommy?”

This time she laughed. Her hand went to her face, preventing him from catching the full effects of her smile. “
You
, I guess. Jeez.”

The irritation in her tone made Braden smile. “Okay.”

Her legs dangled from the edge of the table. Braden took a step closer before tucking one hand behind her calf. He slid it down the back of her leg until he reached her ankle. “This foot?” he asked.

She gave him a wordless nod.

He grasped the heel of her shoe, gave it a slow and encouraging tug, and then slipped it off completely. A bright white sock covered her foot.

“I can get my own sock off,” she said, reaching for it.

Braden batted her hand away. “Stop. You’re the patient.” He gave her a stern look. “Your job is to be still and tell me if it hurts.”

“But I already know the part that’s injured.”

He furrowed his brows. “I am this close to calling Ms. Lilly Emerson and telling her to get on over here.”

Allie shook her head again, another laugh escaping those lips. “Okay, I’ll shut up.”

He gave her a satisfied nod before removing her sock. Her warm skin was like silk beneath his fingers. It wasn’t hard to guess which toe had been injured. The tiny pinky toe was all red and swollen. He moved his fingers to it, barely grazing the wounded area with his touch. “Does that hurt?”

She flinched. “No, but I’m scared it’s going to.”

“You did bang it up pretty well.” His hand seemed to move on its own free will, his fingers smoothing along the delicate arch of her foot. After rounding her heel, Braden circled her ankle with his thumb. Gently, softly, he repeated the action, pleased to see a trail of goosebumps rise over her forearm. When his gaze drifted back up to hers, Allie moistened her lips, glancing down at his as she did. She was so close. So warm. And if she didn’t want his kiss right then, she was very good at making him think she did. The thought was enough to wake him up.

At once he released her foot and strode on into the kitchen, clearing his throat while pulling open the freezer. “You want to know what this reminds me of?” He scanned the inside of the freezer door while waiting for a reply.

“What?” she asked.

After grabbing what he’d been looking for, Braden made his way back to her, bringing the small bag of frozen goods to her toe.

“Chocolate chips?” Allie asked.

Braden grinned. “I’m not much of a vegetable man.”

Allie brought her hand to the bag, holding it in place as Braden released his grip.

“So what did you say this reminded you of?”

“That time we went ice blocking.”

Allie lifted her chin. “Oh, yeah. Who were you with that night?”

Braden rolled his eyes. “Kayla.” He left it there, waiting to see if she’d get the connection.

“That’s right, and she totally sprained her ankle before even sliding down the hill.” Allie lifted the frozen bag off her toe before setting it back in place. “I felt so bad for her.”

“Well,” he took his voice down to a whisper, “I’ve never told anybody this, but I think since we’re out of high school I’m safe to finally let out my secret.”

Amusement danced in Allie’s ocean blue eyes as she looked at him. A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. “What?”

“She was faking,” he said.

Allie swatted his arm. “How could you say that?”

“Saw it with my own eyes. She said she’d hurt her right ankle as she walked up the hill, but she was limping with her left later that night.” He chuckled. “Think she switched it to the right again on the way to her door.”

“No way.” Allie cupped her hand on Braden’s shoulder.

He nodded in return and smiled.

She pulled her hand away quickly, taking interest in her fingernails. “I’m not terribly surprised,” she said.

“You’re not?”

She shook her head. “You were very attentive that evening.”

Had Braden detected a hint of jealousy in the remark?

Allie gave him a light smile. “You carried her all the way to the truck. And you didn’t go down the hill even once that night. You just stayed by her side the whole time.”

Braden nodded, remembering the events for himself. Allie was always more adventuresome than the other gals. While his dates were hem hawing around the sometimes-wild activities they had planned, Allie was diving in feet-first. The sound of her contagious laughter a constant reminder of how he wished she were his.

“How come you never liked her?” Allie asked.

He glanced back at her. “Who?”

“Kayla. Or any of them, for that matter.”

An audible gulp slunk past Braden’s throat. He held her gaze, wanting her to read the answer in his eyes. After a quiet breath, Allie’s focus veered to trace over his face in a slow, caressing motion. Just as the tips of her fingers had moved over the wood. He took his chance to do the same. Admiring the high-set curve of her cheekbones. The slender bridge of her beautiful nose. And the flawless finish of her golden skin.

Their eyes met once more, and a shot of heat flooded his chest like a liquid bolt of lightening, forcing his pulse to rush. “I’ve missed you,” he blurted.

Her eyes widened in response, and Braden wondered if he’d been too bold. He’d hardly meant to speak it. It’d been more of a thought. A longing, really.

At last she nodded. “Yeah,” she said, her voice soft and low. “I … I’ve been wondering about you too. How you’ve been over the years. I kept asking Terrance who you were dating. If you were close to marrying anyone…” Her words drifted off for a breath, but then she spoke up again. “You admitted that you’d turned down our offers to come to dinner and catch up.” She studied him for a moment, a challenge presented in her gaze. “All those years. Why didn’t you just come?”

“You know why.” He’d nearly spoken over her, but he couldn’t help it.

“No, Braden, I don’t.”

He nodded adamantly, taking a step back and folding his arms. “Think about it, Allie.” He could feel the heat in his own glare, the effects of his tight-set jaw.

“I
have
thought about it –”

“Not nearly enough, apparently,” he snapped.

“I’ve thought about it all these years. It hurt my feelings. I thought we were friends.”

He couldn’t take another minute of looking at her – the way she sat there in those familiar clothes, her hair draped along her shoulders, loose strands framing her face. That image alone was a step back in time. A painful one. And here she was, reminding him once again that they were only friends. With the shake of his head, Braden bit back his words and broke into a pace.

“Braden,” she said, “I wanted you to stay a part of our lives. You were the best influence Terrance had and you just stopped being his friend? Why would you do that?”

Braden froze in place. “I was a better friend to him than you’ll ever know.” Or possibly the worst, he realized. He strode back, his gaze set on her. “And I didn’t want to be your
friend
, Allie. I wanted more than that and you know it.”

Her face fell flat. Her lips parted. But no words came. She cleared her throat, casting her eyes to the floor.

“Yeah,” he said. “Don’t pretend that you don’t know. I made it clear. And as soon as I did you started setting me up with every friend you had. Including Kayla.”

“That’s not…” Her face flushed red. Her lips tightened. “That’s not how it went, Braden.” The silence that followed was painful. The tension wedged in each passing second pressed at Braden’s last nerve.

“Well,” he said, “this has been a nice trip down memory lane, but if you don’t mind I’ve got to get back to work. Come on out when you’re ready.” He turned away from her in one quick jerk and walked out of the kitchen, one long stride after the next.

If Braden had a knack for anything it was messing things up. He shook his head, wishing he could take back the conversation and start over. They’d been connecting, after all. But he didn’t go back. Instead, Braden did something he’d done too many times before – walk away, leaving the woman he cared for behind.

~+~

Allie could hardly believe Braden Fox had said what he had. He had come out and said that he’d been interested in her. He’d said it. And Allie couldn’t stop the thrill that came over her at the thought. And for what? It wasn’t as if it mattered so much now. Obviously he didn’t feel that way anymore. In fact, she was starting to believe Braden secretly hated her. That he’d only hired her on as some cruel prank.