Читать книгу Fool's Gold Collection Part 1 - Susan Mallery - Страница 12

MARSHA WALKED INTO Charity’s office shaking her head. “I know, I know. I’m late. I was meeting with Tiffany.” Marsha sank into the chair opposite Charity’s desk and groaned. “I swear, that girl.” She waved a piece of paper. “All the people she wants to meet with, and she would love for me to make the introductions.”

Charity did her best not to laugh. “I know it’s difficult.”

“It’s beyond difficult. It’s humiliating to have our town’s problems featured in her thesis.”

“At least we’re only a chapter.”

“I know and I should be grateful, but there’s a part of me that wants to ask why we’re not good enough to be an entire book. Which is crazy. I must need medication.” She drew in a breath. “All right. Enough about Tiffany. How are you?”

“Better than you. I was going to get a bottle of water from the vending machine. Do you want something?”

“A martini. Which I happen to know we don’t stock. I’ll take an iced tea.” She raised her hand, then set it back on her lap. “I don’t have my purse with me.”

“My treat. I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you. I’ll sit here and practice my breathing in attempt to get my blood pressure below a thousand.”

Charity left her office and walked toward the vending machine. She hadn’t personally spent any time with Tiffany but she’d heard the grad student’s questions could be probing at best and a little annoying at worst.

She put the money into the vending machine and collected the drinks, then returned to her office.

“Thank you,” Marsha said gratefully as she took the bottle. “Is that outfit new? I really like the skirt.”

Charity told herself to simply accept the compliment without an explanation. Or at least not a detailed one. Her boss didn’t need to know about her realization that she’d spent the past couple of years totally ignoring her appearance.

“I drove to Sacramento and did some shopping over the weekend.”

The black pencil skirt was still professional, but it ended a couple of inches above her knees rather than five inches below. The pumps had a thinner heel and were about an inch higher than what she had been wearing. She’d had the white blouse for about a year, but it was fairly classic. Hanging on the back of her chair was the new cropped black-and-white pinstripe jacket. The tailored style emphasized her waist and made her feel both feminine and powerful.

“You look great. I’ve always had a fondness for clothing. I had a thing for leather for years, but I’m too old now. I would simply frighten people if I showed up in leather pants or, God forbid, fringe.”

Charity laughed as she sat down at her desk. “You could start a trend.”

“I’ll leave that to those of you still under thirty. Anyway, tell me how things are going. Do we have any new businesses moving here so I can tell Tiffany we’re no longer thesis worthy?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it. I’ve been in touch with the hospital committee and they were very impressed. They’ve dropped one site completely, so now it’s down to us and one other contender. They’ll want to send a few different people to explore the town and see what we have to offer. I’m already putting together different tours.”

“A hospital. That would be impressive.”

“It was on your to-do list.”

Marsha sipped her tea. “I love it when people listen to me.”

“I’m sure everyone does. From what I can tell, the biggest concern the hospital committee has is about community support, so I’ll be dealing with that directly.”

“Excellent.”

Charity passed over a second file. “I’ve been meeting with a software company. They’re in San Jose and while they’d keep their headquarters there, they need to expand. A lot of the staff have expressed a desire for small-town life. They want to stay in California and be relatively close to the main office. So I have high hopes we can convince them to come here.”

“Software, huh?”

“Most computer geeks are guys.”

“True and I’ve always liked that type of man. Computer guys, engineers. They’re usually stable and dependable. Important qualities when it comes to marriage.”

Charity glanced at the other woman’s left hand. There wasn’t a ring. She started to ask, then thought it might be a little too personal. But Marsha must have noticed.

“Like many women in my generation, I married young,” Marsha said. “John was a sweet man. Probably too good for me, but he loved me unconditionally. We were so happy together. We had a daughter.” She paused, as if remembering a moment in the past. “How that man loved his little girl. We had plans for a big family, but he was killed in a car accident when our little girl was only three. I was pregnant at the time and the shock of losing him caused me to miscarry.” Marsha pressed her lips together. “It was a difficult time.”

Charity was shocked to hear about the tragedy. “I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago. Now I just have good memories, but for a while I didn’t think I could survive the double loss. My baby girl helped pull me through, just by needing me. And I had the town.”

Marsha smiled at her. “John and I had both been born here, so when I lost him, so did the community. They rallied. About a year later, someone put me on the ballot for the city council. I think it was to shock me out of my depression. I never campaigned, but somehow I won. I went to my first meeting with the idea that I would resign, but somehow I got sucked into it all. Here I am, some forty years later, still working in city government.”

“I’m glad you are. You do a terrific job.”

“You’re kind to say that.”

Charity wanted to ask about Marsha’s daughter, but as she’d never heard her mentioned, she didn’t. She was a little afraid something bad had happened to her, too.

“I have a lot of friends,” Marsha continued. “This has always been my home. So even with John gone, I belonged. I hope you’re getting a sense of that belonging yourself.”

“I’m really enjoying myself, getting to know people.”

“Making friends?”

“I am. I went over to Jo’s the other night to hang out with Pia and her friends. I met Crystal.”

Marsha shook her head. “A lovely girl. So desperately sad. When she lost her husband, I completely understood what she was going through. We were all so excited when she decided to have their embryos implanted. But then they discovered she was sick. It’s just not fair.”

“I know. I was thinking that when Jo told me about her situation. That it would help Crystal to have a child, but if she’s sick…”

“I know what you mean. Losing both parents would be so difficult. I sometimes wonder what God was thinking when He put all this in motion. We all hope she makes a full recovery. It’s just the doctors seem to think that’s unlikely.”

Marsha smiled at her. “And this is the part of small-town life that is difficult. We know each other’s joys, but we also know each other’s sorrows.” She shook her head. “And now let’s talk about something more cheerful. I couldn’t help but notice you had dinner with Robert the other night. Was that fun?”

Charity wasn’t used to discussing her personal life with her boss. She knew that Marsha was just being friendly, but she honestly didn’t know what to say, what with Robert being the town treasurer and all.

“He’s a great guy.”

“Very eligible.”

“It’s a little early to be marrying me off.”

“True, but I can’t help it. I have a matchmaker’s heart. I love watching people fall in love. Robert seems very steady.” She laughed. “Which sounds awful, but you know what I mean. It’s the dependable thing. He’s not flashy.”

Not like Josh, Charity thought, doing her best not to remember the brief but incredible kiss she and Josh had shared. No point in belaboring the impossible, not to mention improbable.

Marsha sipped her tea again. “Although something could be said for a man who will always surprise you.”

Charity blinked. “Excuse me? What happened to steady?”

“I suppose I’m biased. I’ve known Josh a long time. He’s like a son to me. I’d like to see him settle down with someone special.”

Charity would like to see him naked, but she wasn’t going to mention that. “Wasn’t he married before?”

“Yes, but she was all wrong for him. Talk about flashy. I tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t listen. He was thinking with the wrong part of his anatomy, if you get my meaning.”

Charity grinned. “I do.”

“He’s so much more than people give him credit for. I still remember the first time I saw him. He and his mother had moved here from Arizona. Josh had been in a horrible accident. He’d been hiking with his mother and fallen down the side of a mountain. He was battered and still healing. He could barely walk—his poor legs were so twisted.”

Charity tried to compare that image with the man she knew. It was impossible. “He’s so perfect.”

“Oh, he’s many things, but perfect isn’t one of them. But I know what you mean. He has that face and that body. But when he was a boy, it was a different story. She left him.”

“His mother?”

“Yes. She abandoned him about four months after they moved here. Just walked out one afternoon. Got in her car and drove away. I found Josh standing outside their motel room, waiting for her. At first we all assumed she would come back. But she didn’t. We looked for her, of course, but if a person doesn’t want to be found, hiding isn’t that hard.”

Charity had grown up moving from place to place. She’d hated always having to be the new girl, but she’d never been abandoned. Sandra had been flakey and selfish, but she’d never considered leaving Charity behind. It was one thing to lose a parent through an accident or illness, but to be discarded…How did anyone recover from that?

“What happened?” she asked.

“No one knew what to do. There was the foster care system, which we weren’t enthused about, but it wasn’t as if the town could adopt a boy. He needed stability. The city council met to make a decision when Denise Hendrix walked in. She already had six children of her own, including triplet girls, if you can imagine. Her oldest, Ethan, was Josh’s age. She said one more child wouldn’t matter. So Josh moved in with them. He and Ethan became good friends. Best friends. They used to ride bikes together.”

“I’ve heard the name. Doesn’t Ethan own a windmill manufacturing company? He’s on my list of people to visit.”

“Yes, that’s him. He also has the construction firm he inherited from his father. You’ll like Ethan.” Marsha’s eyes twinkled. “He’s single, too. A widower.”

Charity laughed. “You’ve got to stop trying to fix me up. I’ll figure it out on my own. My first order of business is to get settled and get Fool’s Gold new businesses. My love life can wait.”

“It seems to me you could do both. You’re still thinking of buying a house?”

“Yes. I’m going to some open houses this weekend.”

“You’ll have a good time. There’s a lot to choose from in town. You should talk to Josh. He always knows when a new property is coming on the market.”

Charity raised her eyebrows.

Marsha shook her head. “I mean that in the real estate sense, I’m not trying to fix you up.”

“I don’t think I believe you.”

Marsha winked. “You probably shouldn’t. I can be wily.”

Once again Charity was delighted she’d taken this job. Working for Marsha was a pleasure and she hoped she and the mayor could become good friends. Marsha was easy to be with.

There was a knock on her open door. She looked up and saw Robert walking toward them.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said, handing Marsha a legal-looking letter. “This couldn’t wait.”

Marsha scanned the letter. “It’s from the State of California.”

“They’re following up on money they sent. It was earmarked for road repair. They want confirmation that it was used correctly.”

“Road repair. I don’t know anything about this.”

“None of us do,” Robert said. “The money was never received by my office. It’s missing.”

Charity shifted her gaze to Marsha, who looked stunned.

“How much are we talking about?” the mayor asked.

“Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

“THANKS FOR TAKING CRYSTAL’S place on the committee,” Pia said as she and Charity walked to the recreation center by the park.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Charity said. “I want to get involved with town activities.”

“Uh-huh. You say that now. But let me be clear—you’ve agreed so there’s no backing out. Don’t come whining to me later.”

Charity laughed. “How bad could it be?”

“Ask me that again in three months when you’re signing in fifteen hundred racers.”

“There’s an actual race?” Charity said, pretending surprise.

“Very funny.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You’d better be. You’re new and have energy. I plan to use you shamelessly.” Pia shifted her tote to her other shoulder. “Love the jacket, by the way. Red is so your color.”

“Thanks. I did some shopping.” The black pants were new, too. Boot cut and long, which worked as she was in high-heeled boots. The black short-sleeved sweater provided a simple backdrop for the deep Red Riding-inspired jacket.

Pia slowed, then stopped. “Oh, God. I’m having a weird out-of-body experience. The other night, at Jo’s, did I say something about your clothes?”

“You mentioned they were a little out of date.”

Pia winced. “I was so drunk. I’m sorry. At Jo’s place—I was hideous, wasn’t I? Can you forgive me?”

Charity touched her arm. “There’s nothing to forgive. You weren’t wrong. I was dressing too conservatively. Hiding from my life. It’s not like I need therapy or anything. You were a good wake-up call.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. Stop apologizing. I needed to hear the truth about my clothes. You were right—I was dressing like someone a lot older.”

Pia winced. “Note to self. Never have alcohol again.”

“How long will that last?”

Pia grinned. “At least a week.”

They walked into the recreation center. There was a small snack bar with a few dozen tables, then a long, wide hallway with classrooms on either side. As they walked, Charity saw a group of older women scrap-booking, while across the way, grade school kids did some kind of martial arts.

“You can learn just about anything here,” Pia said. “Last year, someone flew up from L.A. and did a class on Feng Shui. It was interesting. I shifted my entire bedroom to draw in love and power. It didn’t work. Maybe I should have worked on my money center instead.”

“Um, probably not in your bedroom,” Charity told her.

Pia grinned. “You’re right. That would be illegal.”

They walked into the large auditorium at the far end of the building. There were already about twenty people standing around talking.

“I know we don’t need a space this big now,” Pia said, “but we will later, and I’ve learned to grab the big space early or someone else will claim it. Do you know everyone here?”

“I think so.”

Charity saw several familiar faces, including Morgan, who waved at her. There was one of the women on the city council and a—

The hair on the back of her neck stood up. She felt a ripple of awareness tiptoe down her spine and without turning she knew Josh was in the room.

Ever since the kiss, she’d done her best to avoid him, and so far it had worked. Looked like her luck had run out.

She turned slowly and saw him talking to several people. Even in the crummy fluorescent lighting, he looked amazing. His gold-blond hair needed cutting, but that only added to his appeal. He was tall, built and had a face that would make an angel want to sin. Worse, he kissed with a fiery passion that left her past weak and nearly to begging. How was anything about the situation fair?

Just then he glanced up and saw her. Although he didn’t greet her in any way, she saw something very close to a twinkle in his eyes. As if they shared a private joke. She turned away.

Pia glanced between them. “Wow. You really hate him.”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“You were glaring. I can’t believe the old charm isn’t working on you.”

Yikes. The last thing Charity needed was for Pia to start asking questions. “No. It’s not like that. I barely know him. I was thinking about something else. There’s, um, there’s a problem with some stuff at work.”

“Oh.” Pia lowered her voice. “The missing three-quarters of a million dollars. Marsha told me about that. Don’t worry. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone. Sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed you were pissed at Josh. I’m just so used to everyone adoring him that it was really strange.”

“Not a problem.”

“Are you looking for fun? Because Josh is available. At least I think he is. He has so many women, it’s hard to tell.”

“I’m not into crowd control.”

“He’d be worth it. Trust me. I went to high school with him. I was a few years behind, but we all totally adored him. Even back then he was special.”

“Did you ever…” Charity paused, not sure how to ask the question. “Were you ever involved?”

“No, but I wanted to be. In a generic, he’s-a-god sort of way. I didn’t actually know him that well.” She glanced at her watch. “I should probably call this meeting to order.”

Pia raised her voice. “All right, people. Let’s take a seat and get going. The sooner we start, the sooner we can all get home to watch American Idol.”

Charity moved toward the table. In an effort to keep anyone from thinking there was a problem, she did her best not to notice Josh at all. Which turned out to be a mistake when she ended up standing by an empty chair next to him.

“Shall we?” he asked, holding out the chair.

Not knowing what else to do, she sank into it, then wished she hadn’t when he settled next to her.

Not that she objected to the proximity or the view. He was, as always, totally gorgeous. But she was tired and therefore less able to fight her attraction. Maybe she should try an energy drink before her next encounter with Josh.

“How’d you get roped into this?” he asked, leaning toward her.

Her gaze seemed to focus on his mouth—the mouth that had kissed hers so deliberately just a few days before. It was a kiss she’d been trying to forget, only to realize that spending all her time not thinking about it was the same as spending all her time thinking about it.

“Crystal asked me to take her place.”

His expression tightened. “Poor kid. She’s had it hard.”

“I don’t know her very well, but she seems really sweet. She said she wasn’t feeling well enough to continue.”

Charity returned her attention to Pia and tried not to notice when Josh leaned back in his chair. The movement brought his forearm perilously close to her own, which made her wonder if she should simply leave things as they were or casually shift away from him.

Talk about having it bad, she thought with a sigh.

“The race is a one-day event,” Pia was saying. “Which means minimal heads in bed. You all know how I hate that. We need the heads in beds, people.”

“We could make the race longer,” one guy yelled.

“Not helpful.” But Pia was smiling as she spoke.

“What’s heads in beds?” Josh asked Charity.

“People spending the night in town or nearby. An overnight event. Like a weekend festival. The race is just part of a day.”

“Aah. Thanks.”

Pia went through her list. Charity found herself agreeing to work on the advertising committee, as well.

“I’m on advertising, too,” Josh told her when the meeting wrapped up. “It’s easy. Just get a few businesses to sponsor.”

“Don’t you own several businesses in town?” she asked.

“Uh huh, and I promise to be generous.”

“Lucky me.”

“I’d say so.” He walked out with her. “You started looking for your own place yet?” he asked.

“I’m going to a few open houses this weekend to get a feel for the real estate market. I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking for.”

“More of a ‘I’ll know it when I find it’ shopper?”

“Something like that. I’ve never actually owned my own home before,” she admitted. “When I got out of college, I was focused on paying off my student loans and saving money. I moved to Henderson right at the peak of the real estate bubble, so I couldn’t afford anything I wanted. Then the market started to flatten and I wanted to wait until it was closer to the bottom. By then…”

Why had she started this detailed discussion of real estate?

Josh stood, waiting, looking at her. She could feel the intensity of his gaze and while she was sure he didn’t mean it to be smoldering, it felt hot to her.

“By then I was involved with someone,” she admitted, hoping she didn’t blush, despite feeling foolish.

“You wanted to wait and see if the two of you would be buying a place together,” he finished. “Makes sense. I’ll guess that you being here means it wasn’t a slam dunk?”

Despite the faint warmth on her cheeks, she laughed. “You men do love a good sports metaphor.”

“It’s in our blood.”

“No, it wasn’t a slam dunk. We broke up a few months ago. I found out about the job here and made the move. So this will be the first house I buy myself.”

“You were born to own a home.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You’re responsible, you want to be settled and you’d look great on a porch swing.” His gaze wandered down her body before returning to her eyes. “In shorts.”

The warmth in her cheeks deepened. “If that was a compliment, then thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Not that you don’t look great tonight. I like the red.”

He put his hand on the small of her back and led her out of the room. She tried not to notice the contact, even when it burned through to her skin.

“By the way, I know of a house coming on the market. It’s in a great part of town. Builtaround 1910, but fully remodeled. The electrical and plumbing have been brought up to code. It’s not huge, but I think you’d like it. I, ah, know the owner and could get the key. Want me to show it to you?”

“Sure.”

She told herself she was only interested in the house, but she knew she was lying. What she was hoping was that in the quiet of an empty house, Josh would try to have his way with her. Not that she would give in, but she was sure looking forward to the discussion.

SATURDAY MORNING CHARITY met Josh at the Starbucks on the corner. She ordered her nonfat latte, then splurged with a couple of pumps of mocha flavoring. Josh stood talking to a couple of women who were obviously trying to convince him of something. She waited until the other women walked off before joining him.

“That was intense,” she said as she followed him outside.

“They want me to open a training camp here in town. A place for kids to take their riding to the next level. There are a few of them in the country.”

She thought about what she knew about his past. “And?”

“It’s an idea.”

“Not one you want to take on?”

“Not today.”

They started down the sidewalk.

“We’re walking?” she asked.

“It’s about a mile. Want to drive?”

“No. I like to walk. Living here will cut down on tire wear and tear.”

They passed a couple of women jogging. They waved at them. Charity saw the woman on the left whisper something to her friend and point. She grimaced.

“We’re a couple, aren’t we?” she asked with a sigh. “I totally forgot about the consequences of people seeing us together.”

“Do you mind the gossip?”

“Not if no one asks for details.”

“They’ll expect you to tell them I’m a god in bed.”

Probably, she thought, grinning. “Are you?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Want references?”

“So you have them?”

“I could get a couple.”

“Thanks, but I’ll wing it if anyone asks.”

“It’s no trouble.”

“I’m sure it isn’t,” she murmured, then sipped her coffee.

A god in bed. If anyone could meet that criterion, she had a feeling it would be Josh. He was a complete and total temptation, but one she planned to resist. He was practically worshipped everywhere he went and she was just a regular person. She’d studied mythology in school. She knew what happened to mere mortals who dared to stray into the realm of gods.

Of course, a couple of days ago, she was hoping he would make a pass at her. When it came to Josh, she simply couldn’t decide if it was better to be good or be bad. Although she knew which option would be more fun.

They crossed the street and walked into a residential neighborhood filled with beautiful old houses. A few had been completely updated, thereby losing their charm, but most retained elements of the original architecture. There were big trees that stretched across the street, touching branches and providing shade. Intricately carved fences surrounded lush gardens. He pointed to a white house with blue-gray trim.

“That’s it.”

She stared at the two-story structure, the wide front porch and big windows. Everything about the house welcomed her.

“I already love it,” she said.

“Wait until you see the inside.”

He pulled a key out of his jeans pocket and unlocked the front door. They stepped into the stillness.

Light spilled in the windows, illuminating the polished hardwood floors. The living room was large, with a fireplace and Craftsman style built-ins. There was a dining room, also with built-in storage and a small library with bookshelves that went up to the ceiling.

Everywhere she looked she spotted amazing details. The baseboards were at least eight inches high and crown molding emphasized the plaster ceiling. In the kitchen, the appliances were refurbished fifties style and blended perfectly with sleek new cabinets and a slate floor. There was an eat-in nook and French doors that led out into the garden.

A lot like Jo’s house, she thought with a happy sigh. Only better.

“I love it,” she said wistfully. “I don’t even have to see the upstairs. It’s beautiful, but I have a feeling it’s out of my price range.”

“I know the owner and he’ll deal.”

“Is there anyone in town you don’t know?”

“There might be a couple of babies I haven’t met yet.”

“Life in a small town,” she said.

“It works.”

She turned in the center of the kitchen, admiring the light fixtures, the original doors, the feeling of home and space.

“You’re not the least bit tempted to buy something like this for yourself?” she asked.

“I like where I live.”

“But it’s a hotel.”

“Exactly. No maintenance, cleaning service is provided and I get a break on pay-per-view movies.”

Because he owned the hotel, she thought, trying to keep her attention on the house rather than the man. She was alone with Josh in a quiet, empty space. If she didn’t keep her mind focused, she was in danger of throwing herself at him and begging to find out if he really was a god in bed.

“Don’t you get tired of the room service menu?”

“They take requests.”

“From you.” She shook her head. “A rock star in a small town. I can’t imagine.”

“It has its benefits.”

“And the downsides?”

His gaze locked with hers. “There are those, too.”

Something stirred deep in her belly. Determined to stay strong, she deliberately switched the conversation. “Still riding alone at night?”

He nodded.

“Have you talked to anyone about what happened? A sports psychologist?”

He glanced away. “When it first happened. I’ve seen the pictures, the TV coverage. I know there was nothing I could have done. But knowing and believing aren’t the same thing.”

There was something in his voice, a hopelessness. As if something important had been lost.

“You want to go back,” she said quietly.

“Every damn day. I miss being who I was. Not the fame, but the competition. Winning. The training. I ride here, but it’s not the same. I miss my teammates, the anticipation of the race.”

She suspected he missed the fame, as well. Who wouldn’t?

“You’ve tried riding with other people?” she asked.

He stiffened. “More than once.” He glanced at his watch in obvious dismissal. “We should see the upstairs.”

Without thinking, she crossed to him, then lightly touched his arm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. The past, I mean. It’s not my business.”

One corner of his mouth twisted into a smile. “I’m not delicate, Charity. You can say what you want.”

She seemed unable to look away from his mouth. The shape of his upper lip, the unexpected fullness of the bottom one. She remembered the feel of his kiss, how she’d wanted to surrender. He was a man with way too much power.

“I’m seeing someone.”

The words fell out of her without warning.

Josh looked more amused than put off. “Robert?”

“Uh-huh. We’ve been out to dinner.”

“I remember hearing something about that. He’s a good guy.”

Now she felt stupid. What had she expected? That Josh would get jealous and tell her to stop seeing Robert? That he would make a move on her?

“Yes, he is,” she said primly. “A very nice man.”

“I hope the two of you will be very happy together. The upstairs is that way.”

She moved toward the stairs, when in truth she felt like both crying and stomping her foot. She did neither. Instead she followed him to the second floor and tried to tell herself it was for the best. Wanting Josh was a one-way ticket to disasterville. A place where she’d already spent way too much time.