Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend (14 page)

behind her ear. “He’s coming tomorrow?”

Thomas picked up the coffee and sipped it though it had gotten cold, the

strong brew calmed him and dragged him back to his senses.

She wound the phone cord around her fingers. “Okay, I’ll see you both at

the coffee shop at noon.”

She hung up, gnawing on her lower lip.

“Something wrong?”

“N-no, my father’s coming to town with Suzanne tomorrow. We’re going to

t-talk to him about Grammy’s party.”

She was stuttering again. He wasn’t sure what that meant. Had she

realized how far they’d almost gone and regretted it?

“I’m sorry if I overstepped, Rebecca.” He backed away, afraid if he

touched her again, he’d start all over. And this time he wouldn’t be

able to stop. The force of his need stunned him.

She folded her arms across her chest. “I…you don’t have to apologize.”

“I’d better go.”

She simply watched him, then nodded. But when

she walked him to the door, he sensed she wanted to say more.

It didn’t matter. He could not seduce her, then ask her father for a

job. What kind of man would that make him?

“I-if you want to give me a key, I can do the painting at night,” she

said, filling the awkward silence.

He nodded this time. “Hannah and I will work it out.”

Her eyebrow rose at that, but he decided it might be better if Hannah

dealt with her and the paintings. Just look how her art and the

tantalizing scents in her apartment affected him now.

He grabbed his keys from his pocket and jangled them in his hand.

“Thanks for letting me unload on you, Rebecca.”

“Anytime.” A small smile curved her mouth. “And I meant what I said.

Sugar Hill is lucky to have you.”

That comment sparked a second of guilt for deceiving her, for allowing

her to think he was committed to staying here to practice. Still his

gaze caught a glimpse of the whisker burn on her neck, and he knew he

had to leave. Fast.

In fact, maybe he’d stop by the cafe tomorrow around lunchtime. Then he

could meet her father and he wouldn’t have to swing an invitation to

that family party.

Yes, that was a better plan.

Then he wouldn’t have to see Rebecca again.

Or be tempted to take her to bed, when he knew he would soon be gone.

Rebecca closed the door and locked the dead bolt, her head spinning.

What had just happened between her and Thomas?

One minute she’d been offering him comfort, the next minute he’d kissed

her hungrily. She touched her finger to her lips, the sizzle of his

touch still tormenting her. She had never experienced anything as

sensual as Thomas’s hot mouth on hers.

And, Lord help her, she wanted to experience it again. And much more.

So why had he pulled away?

Had she come across as inexperienced? She’d thought they were perfect….

Had he realized that he was holding shy, awkward Rebecca Hartwell in his

arms and decided he wanted something else? Something more?

Frustration gnawed at her. She’d actually sensed they shared an

emotional connection earlier, had thought those emotions had triggered

his desire for her. Could she have been wrong? Had he needed comfort so

badly he would have sought it from whomever was available?

Confused, she paced the den, then reheated her tea, and forced herself

to down it. Thomas had pulled away emotionally, just as her father had

so many years ago when her mother had died.

Her father had had no time for anyone but Suzanne. Rebecca didn’t

understand his reasons. But her father had no longer hugged her or

probed her about school-work or friends. In fact, when she’d walked into

a room, he’d looked at her with such sadness in his eyes that she

thought he blamed her for her mother’s death.

Then one day he’d finally stopped looking at her at all. It was as if

she’d become invisible to him.

She had to see him tomorrow.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the memories bombarded her. So many

nights she’d lain in her bed and wondered why her father didn’t love her

anymore. Had wondered what was wrong with her.

She picked up the antique hand mirror and gazed at her reflection,

frowning as her troubled expression stared back. Grammy’s words echoed

in her head. Believe in yourself. Follow your dream.

Thomas’s words chimed afterward. You are the sweetest thing. I’ve never

met anyone like you.

Suzanne and her cousins had assured her today she was beautiful.

So, why couldn’t Thomas love her?

Thomas hurried toward the bookstore, determined not to miss Bert

Hartwell. He would meet the man today, get a feel for his personality

and be better prepared for the interview he’d already scheduled.

Then he would avoid Rebecca.

No more dropping by her apartment late at night. No more mind-boggling

kisses or tantalizing touches that left him achy. No more seeking

comfort from her when he knew he’d be leaving town soon. She might have

claimed she didn’t want marriage, but he couldn’t fathom a nice girl

like her settling for anything less.

And he didn’t intend on marrying and settling down in this sleepy little

town.

Mary Anne Turner waved to him from across the square, and he offered her

a friendly wave back. But he saw Benita in front of the drugstore and

Karina Peterson exiting the bridal shop with a bridal magazine in her

hands and he picked up his pace. Pretending he didn’t see them, he

ducked inside the Hot Spot entrance, planning to use lunch and coffee as

his excuse.

He saw Rebecca the minute he entered, and his heart tripped in his chest.

She’d exchanged the loose-fitting dresses she normally wore for a

tailored suit in dark blue that hugged her figure. Instead of touching

her ankles, this skirt rode just above her knees, offering him a

tantalizing view of shapely calves. Her hair seemed blonder, her legs

longer, her eyes even more blue. And those pink lips even more kissable.

Annoyed at his reaction, he barely managed to pull himself together

before she glanced from the table where she stood and caught his eye. A

small spark of surprise lit the depths, then her mouth curved in a

smile. Before he could speak to her, a blustery man in an expensive suit

with balding hair and a short beard approached her, his hand placed on

Suzanne’s arm, which was tucked inside his. The man must be her father,

Bert. He walked with a worldly, sophisticated air that started with the

tilt of his chin and scrutinizing gaze and was magnified by his

conservative, expensive suit. He was the complete opposite of Wiley

Hartwell, in his bright lime-green suits. Now he understood why these

men might have problems.

Thomas joined the end of the sandwich line, listening to the Hartwells

with one ear while he ordered.

“Hi, Rebecca.” Bert barely glanced at her as he pulled out the chair

beside him for Suzanne. Rebecca moved to the opposite side, fidgeting

with her hands as she grabbed a menu.

His heart gave a funny tug. Thomas was tempted to take her hands in his

and still them, but he held himself in check. He couldn’t interfere with

the dynamics of a family he didn’t know, much less understand.

Suzanne dominated the conversation, chatting to fill the air while

Rebecca melted deeper into her chair.

Bert laughed and patted Suzanne’s hand, doting on her every word.

Why was Rebecca so uncomfortable around her father? And why did he seem

to be ignoring her?

“Thomas, what would you like today?” Mimi’s bright, cheery smile flashed

from behind the counter.

“Oh…the chicken sandwich, I guess. And coffee.”

“Comin’ right up,” Mimi chirped.

He forced a smile, wondering if he should approach the threesome or find

his own table. Although the cafe was packed, a couple of tables in the

far corner remained vacant, but sitting in the rear would make it

difficult to catch Bert if he decided to leave abruptly.

He paid for his food and accepted it from Mimi.

“Come on, Thomas, I want you to meet someone,” Mimi said.

Thomas squinted at her as she sauntered from behind the counter and

dragged him over to Rebecca’s table. “Uncle Bert, hey!” Mimi hugged her

uncle. “There’s someone I want you to meet. Our town OB-GYN, Dr. Thomas

Emerson. He works with Hannah.”

Rebecca and Suzanne both looked up in surprise while Bert stood and

pumped his hand. “Nice to meet you, son. Bert Hartwell. Why don’t you

join us?”

Thomas glanced at Rebecca to gauge her reaction but he couldn’t read it.

He vowed to thank Mimi if he wound up landing the job in Atlanta.

Mimi grabbed Hannah as soon as she entered the cafe and hauled her to

the corner. “Uncle Bert’s over there with Suzanne and Rebecca and

Thomas.” “Thomas?”

“Yes,” Mimi said, preening like a proud peacock. “You should have seen

him. He couldn’t take his eyes off Rebecca.”

“Really?” Hannah shot a look their way. “He hasn’t said anything.”

“Just give them some time. Maybe if we keep pushing them together,

something will happen.”

“I hope so,” Hannah said. “Because this matchmaking scheme of yours

could blow up in your face, and that might mean disaster for Rebecca.”

“That’s so not going to happen,” Mimi boasted. “They’re meant to be

together.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Come on, I promised Suzanne we’d provide backup

in case Uncle Bert balks at the idea of the party.”

“What are we supposed to say about Dad?”

Hannah motioned for Mimi to follow. “This time, you follow my lead.”

Rebecca Gave Thomas a quick hello, then toyed with her coffee stirrer.

His arm brushed hers as he sat down, and she remembered the feel of his

hands and mouth on her body the night before. Heat spread up her neck at

the sensations the memory triggered.

Why had Mimi dragged him over here? She knew they were having a family

meeting to talk their father into attending the party. A busy doctor

like Thomas certainly wouldn’t be interested in their family problems,

especially brotherly bickering.

Mimi and Hannah approached and claimed seats on the end.

“Now, what’s this little meeting all about?” Bert

asked. “I know you didn’t drag me all the way to Sugar Hill for nothing,

Suz.”

“You’re right, Dad.” Suzanne laughed lightly. “We’re planning a surprise

party for Grammy’s seventy-fifth birthday and you have to be there. The

whole family is coming.”

Bert cleared his throat, thick graying eyebrows narrowing. “You know I’m

not comfortable with these big family affairs. I’ll send a nice gift.”

“No,” Hannah said. “You need to come to the party.”

Mimi batted her incredibly long lashes. “You’re Grammy’s oldest son,

Uncle Bert, she’ll be disappointed if you don’t attend.”

“We’ve made all the arrangements,” Hannah added. “All you have to do is

show up.”

“And bring that present yourself,” Suzanne said, eliciting a round of

laughter.

Thomas dug into his sandwich, and Rebecca flashed him another smile. He

must be bored out of his mind.

Bert pulled at his tie, frowning. “What about Wiley? Will he be there, too?”

“Of course,” Mimi said. “Dad wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“And he knows I’m coming?” Bert glanced at Thomas. “My brother and I

don’t always see eye to eye.”

“Yes, Dad wants you there,” Hannah said.

“Right.” Bert huffed. “Probably thought I wouldn’t show up and he’d get

to be the good son.”

Rebecca frowned. “Showing Grammy you and Uncle Wiley can get along will

be the best surprise you can give her, Dad.”

“She’s right,” Hannah said.

Bert shrugged but still looked skeptical. “I suppose I should come.”

“Great. We’ll count on it.” Mimi hopped up. “Now I have to get back to

work.”

“Me, too,” Hannah said. Mimi and Hannah both hugged Rebecca’s father

goodbye and left, talking in hushed voices.

“So, young man,” Bert said, diverting the conversation toward Thomas.

“Tell me about your practice here in Sugar Hill.”

Rebecca watched silently as the two men delved into a discussion of the