The Perfect Blend (5 page)

Devastated, Carrie’s face burned with humiliation as she watched the scene before her. Matt pulled back and grinned down at the gorgeous twit—he’d certainly never looked at her like that.

With a heavy heart, Carrie turned away and headed back into the shop. She had no desire to watch Matt fawn all over another woman. God, what a fool she’d been. She’d actually started to believe there was something between them, that he was as crazy for her as she was him. What a joke. Men didn’t want a woman with a little extra meat on her bones. They wanted the skinny supermodel types. Men...maybe she should just switch teams and become a lesbian.

* * *

“What are you doing here, Lindy?” Matt stepped back and scowled at his impulsive baby sister. “I told you not to come. I can’t afford to have the paparazzi swoop in and screw everything up.”

“Settle down, I was careful. Besides, I don’t plan to stay long. Just until you’ve had a chance to pack your bags. I’m taking you home.” Lindy glanced around, her disdain for the small Midwest town clear. “You don’t belong here any more than I do.”

Before Matt could respond, Drew strode up, a firm grip on Bo’s collar. He was dressed in his navy blue mechanic’s uniform, his gaze for Lindy and Lindy alone. Matt had to swallow a chuckle. Maybe his sister would discover a reason to stay in Redemption after all.

Lindy pulled her sunglasses down on her nose and turned to face him. “Is there something I can do for you?”

Drew grinned and gave her an insulting once-over. “I can think of lots of things, Hot Stuff, but I’m too much of a gentleman to say them out loud.”

“This horse ran in front of my car and forced me off the road.” She pointed an accusing, red-enameled nail at Bo, who started to shimmy and whine with excitement. “It’s a miracle I didn’t lose control and crash.” Lindy put on her “pout face”, the one she’d perfected to bring men to their knees. Men she was interested in, that is. And while Drew Porter had a bit of a wild reputation, Caleb seemed to think pretty highly of him, and that held a lot of weight with Matt. Besides, Lindy was twenty-five years old and plenty capable of taking care of herself.

“Look, I said I was sorry. Let’s go take a look and see if you have any damage.”

“If there’s even so much as a scratch, I want it fixed. This car isn’t even three months old.”

Drew dragged Bo over to Lindy’s car, muttering something under his breath about spoiled blonde brats. Well, Matt couldn’t argue with him there. While there was much more to Lindy than met the eye, baby sister sure did enjoy the finer things in life. The fact she was even toying with a small-town, blue-collar guy would make front page news in LA.

“See? Not a scratch. You kicked up a little dust is all. If you want your car washed, bring it by. I have a drive-thru car wash on the lot.”

Drew stared at Lindy for a moment, no doubt trying to decide if she was joking or not. “Whatever. Listen, I have a business to get back to. Have a nice life, Hot Stuff. If you change your mind about the car wash, Matt knows where to find me.”

Once Drew was out of earshot, Lindy snarked, “I can see why you’re so drawn to this place. The locals are quite charming.”

Matt gave his head an exasperated shake. “You know I’m trying to keep a low profile, yet you drive a two-hundred-thousand dollar sports car into town. What the hell were you thinking? And don’t bother with the pout, Lindy.”

She crossed her arms defensively. “I was thinking that I missed my big brother who I haven’t seen in months.”

He gazed at her, feeling her pain and uncertainty. They’d always been close, so when he’d decided to drop out of sight and go into hiding, she’d taken it pretty hard. And truthfully, he’d never intended to stay away forever. He’d just needed some time to heal after everything that had happened. Time without paparazzi cameras constantly flashing in his face. “I know, and I’m sorry. But as crazy as it may sound, this place has become my home. I feel alive here in a way I never did in LA.”

She tried to joke his declaration away. “Must have something to do with this Carrie person. Maybe it’s time I met her.”

“Christ, I forgot about Carrie. Lord only knows what her mind cooked up over you throwing yourself into my arms.” He took off for the coffee shop.

Carrie was in the process of refilling the sugar shakers when he and Lindy walked in, Lindy clinging possessively to his arm. Mr. Krawczyk, who worked at the Laundromat, gave him a quick nod on his way out, coffee in hand. Carrie flicked him a glance, her gaze moving down to where Lindy clung to his arm before dismissing them both.

Carrie crossed her arms, her expression somewhat sheepish. “Well, how was I supposed to know? Some rich, beautiful woman arrives in town and...” Her brow creased as she looked from Lindy back to him. “Are you guys rich or something?”

Matt wanted to drop-kick Lindy back to L.A. Couldn’t she have at least driven an inconspicuous car rental into town? Damn it, he wasn’t ready for this yet. He could lose Carrie if she found out the truth—when she found out the truth—which was inevitable, he knew. But he’d hoped to have more time for Carrie to develop feelings for him so that she didn’t bolt when she learned his true identity.

“No,” Lindy replied, drumming her nails on the counter. “That’s my boss’s car. He has a thing for me.” She shrugged, as if that said it all, then glanced up at the menu. “So, how are the iced cappuccinos in this place?”

Much to his surprise, Carrie chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I have a sister, too.” She made Lindy’s drink, and then set it on the counter with a self-satisfied grin. “Lindy, prepare to eat your words.”

Lindy met her gaze in silent challenge as she picked it up, stuffed in a straw, and took a sip. She made a classic “not bad” face and took a few more sips. “Definitely better than Dairy Queen.”

“The ‘Queen’ of all compliments,” Carrie replied with a roll of her eyes. “Thanks.”

Returning her attention to Matt, Carrie crooked her neck and looked up at him with those big blue eyes, a mysterious twinkle hidden in their depths. It took quite a bit of effort not to leap across the counter and carry her off to the back room. She excited him like no other woman ever had. It amazed him that they’d yet to even share a kiss.

“I was wondering,” she said in a low tone. “How would you like to come to my place for supper tonight?”

Before Matt could open his mouth, Lindy said, “May I assume I’m included in the invitation? I mean, you don’t expect me to sit alone in some motel room on my first night in town, do you?”

“Of course not. The invitation was meant for both of you. I’m making cream of potato soup, ham soufflé, and fried zucchini.” She smiled up at him. “I bought an extra large bottle of ranch dressing.”

“Hidden Valley?” Jesus, the woman could make a bottle of salad dressing sound sexy.

“Yep. Only the best for my company.”

Lindy hooked her arm through his, and Matt didn’t need to look to imagine her pained expression. “Okay, well, I’m about five seconds away from going into sugar shock, so can you two continue this love fest later? I’d like to take a hot bath and wash my hair.”

Matt gave an apologetic shake of his head. “Sorry. Lindy’s just crabby because Drew Porter didn’t melt at her feet.”

“I am not!” Lindy hotly denied. “What would I want with that grease monkey?”

“Careful,” Carrie warned. “Drew’s a friend. He’s a hard worker and a good guy, too, so maybe you shouldn’t judge people by what they do for a living.”

“Whatever. Matt, I’ll be outside.”

He blew out an exasperated breath. “Again, sorry. I swear, she’s not—”

“Usually like that?” Carrie finished for him, waving off Lindy’s bad behavior. “Don’t worry about it. She obviously adores you, so a certain amount of resentment toward anyone she feels has kept you away is probably normal.”

He grinned. “How understanding of you.”

“Tell anybody and I’ll deny it.”

As soon as he stepped outside, Lindy rolled her eyes at him. “Well, the mystery is solved. Angelina Jolie eyes and Dolly Parton boobs. Matt, you’re so predictable.”

Chapter Five

Matt pulled into the driveway of his cottage and killed the engine. Lindy pulled the Ferrari up next to his Jeep and stepped out, following him up to the door. He waited until she’d had a chance to freshen up before asking the question he’d wanted to ask since the moment he raced out of the library and recognized her. “How’s Dad.”

“Took you long enough to ask.”

He opened the fridge and grabbed a can of soda. “Can you please not give me a hard time about this? I feel guilty enough without you adding to it.”

She seemed genuinely surprised by his admission. “Why would you feel guilty? Dad had a heart attack. How is that your fault?”

“Lindy...”

“He’s fine, Matt. Crabby that his days of bacon and Yum Yum Donuts are over, but if he changes his diet and makes use of the exercise room once in a while, he’ll be good as new in no time.”

“Thank God. And Mom?”

“Matt, why don’t you just give her a call? I mean, this is ridiculous. Mom asking me how you are, you asking me how mom is, both of you acting like it’s no big deal that you haven’t spoken in almost a year.”

Matt guzzled half his soda, hoping the lump in his throat would go down with it. “I have called,” he admitted, meeting her stunned gaze. “Several times. But she plays the phone tag game, not answering her cell, leaving messages on my home phone when she knows I’m at the library.”

“I had no idea. She asks about you constantly: how is he, do I think he’ll ever come home, etcetera. I just assumed...She’s never told me you’ve actually tried to call her. And you’ve never mentioned it either.”

Matt shrugged, not sure what to say. Truthfully, stubborn pride was the reason he’d never mentioned it, and no doubt the reason his mother hadn’t either. They were two peas in a pod, both as stubborn as the day was long. “Listen, I’ve got some work to do on the computer. Can you amuse yourself for a couple hours?”

“End of discussion, I get it.” She stood up and started searching through his cabinets. “Got any munchies?”

* * *

Matt nearly choked on his tongue when Carrie answered the door. The woman was beautiful, no doubt about it, but she rarely wore makeup, or jewelry, or flattering clothes—although the way she filled out a simple, baby-doll T-shirt, it was a miracle she hadn’t yet caused a riot.

Tonight she wore a skintight pair of boot-cut, stonewashed jeans and a sexy black tube blouse with a corset-type neckline that clung to her breasts and flared out over her hips. Big sexy gold hoops hung from her ears, her gorgeous shiny auburn hair hung down to her waist—

Matt loved long hair on a woman. To him, nothing was sexier. She wore shiny lip gloss that would have already needed reapplying if Lindy wasn’t standing beside him. But what really took his breath away were her eyes. Dark and sultry and heavy on the eyeliner. Maybe Lindy would fall into a food coma after supper so he and Carrie could finally have some alone time.

“You look beautiful.” Damn, did that sound lame? “I mean, you always look beautiful, but that blouse...wow.” Great, he’d turned into a babbling idiot who couldn’t quit looking at her boobs. He used every bit of self-control he had to keep his eyes from wandering down to her chest, but it was hard. Until Lindy gave him an elbow in the side.

“So, is dinner ready? I’m starving.”

Carrie smiled and gestured for them to enter. “Just about. I have the deep fryer on; I’ll fry the zucchini while we eat since they cook fast and taste so much better fresh out of the oil.”

“Amazing your skin is as clear as it is.”

Carrie shot Lindy a look, but didn’t bother with a reply. For that, Matt was grateful.

They followed Carrie through the house, and Matt glanced around, impressed with the simplicity of her décor. Her living room was done in earth tones; a dark beige couch and matching armchair, a coffee table with a few magazines neatly spread across the top, a gold-framed mirror over the couch. Several photos—of family, he assumed, since he recognized her sister Tina—covered the wall behind the chair.