Everybody Knows (Sunnyside #1) (12 page)

“You’re very conscientious. Do you always keep
such long hours?”

“I’m on duty around the clock, but half the time
there’s nothing more interesting going on than school physicals, asthma
treatments, and a bean stuck up some kid’s nose.”

She rubbed her nose and winced. “Does that really
happen?”

“More often then you want to know.”

“Probably.” Her shoulders shimmied with a little
shudder.

“Usually, the highlight of my month is a digit
reattachment when someone slices off a thumb or finger in a farm equipment
accident.”

“Good times.” She grinned.

“You bet, but today is one of the days when
there’s more going on, the outcome is dicey, and it’s not so much fun.”

“My father’s a doctor.” Harper jumped up and
started clearing the table.

“Where does he live?”

“Baltimore.”

“What kind of doctor is he? Animals? Philosophy?
Rugs?”

Apparently, putting the plates in the dishwasher
couldn’t be delayed. “Cardiology. Excellent. Expensive. Obnoxious. Aloof.”

“I take you don’t get along.”

She slid him a sidelong glance. “It’s not that we don’t
get along. It’s that we don’t participate in on another’s lives very much. My
impressions of him are colored with a lot of mixed emotions.”

“I can imagine.” That explained the initial
resentment he got from her when she found out his profession. He wanted to take
her in his arms and comfort her, but that seemed too intimate. “That must have
been tough.”

“There are worse things,” She closed the
dishwasher door and straightened up, meeting his gaze. “You probably need to
get going if you’re hoping to get to bed before morning.”

Funny how that word “bed” seemed to hang in the
air. Sometimes a simple word like that, one that could be used a hundred times
a day in a hundred different ways, could suddenly take on a wealth of
unexpected meaning between two people who were hyper-aware of one another. He
was hyper-aware of her anyway. He wasn’t so sure where he scored on her
hyper-awareness meter.

But this morning, Lenore had pretty much announced
Zach was going with Kate, even though Harper had seemed skeptical. Today was
not the day to spill the details of that story. And he should probably rethink
his whole attraction to Harper when he wasn’t so bushed. And when she wasn’t
sitting right in front of him, tempting him to throw his scruples out the
window.

Getting involved with anyone right now, someone
who might be more casual about sex than any of the other women in town—even
someone who hadn’t been practicing writing
Mrs.
Zach Novak
on her math binder since fifth grade—might not be the best way
to go.

But watching Harper Simmons in his sister’s
kitchen, healthy and happy, smart and funny, beautiful and sexy, and he wasn’t
sure he could stop himself from trying.

It would have to be later, though.

Not tonight.

They’d only been acquainted one day. That didn’t
seem long enough to know someone before starting something with them. Not long
enough to be sure she wasn’t a manic-depressive, a serial killer, or a Cubs
fan—she had lived in Chicago after all—let alone long enough to commit to her
as long- or short-term lover material.

Since he was more familiar with Rachel’s kitchen
than Harper was, he began bagging the leftover pizza and salad, despite her
urging him to leave. This morning and tonight, too, he’d enjoyed the time he
spent with her. A peaceful break between responsibilities. Someplace without
the echoes of the past or the shadows of the future.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been able
to sit and talk with someone who didn’t have expectations about what he’d say
or do and who really listened to what he had to say. He liked that.

“Good night.” H stepped out onto the back steps,
and he waited for her to lock the door behind him. “Thanks for sharing a pizza
with me. I had a good time.”

She looked surprised. “I did, too. But it was just
pizza, not like, a date, right? All part of the welcoming service?”

“Right.” He finger-brushed his hair off his
forehead, not sure he agreed with her categorization of their time together as
not-a-date. Why he was fighting the urge to kiss her if the evening hadn’t been
a date?

“Harper,” he murmured, unsure of where to go from
here.

“Yes?” She looked perfect standing there, backlit
from the kitchen light, even if she failed to accept his assessment of her
stunning individual parts and features. Altogether, they added up to something
phenomenal. But maybe that was just his sleep-deprivation talking.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

After Harper locked the door behind Zach, she
considered his odd behavior.

Kind of like he thought the evening was a date
when she didn’t.

Kind of like he had something more to say but
decided against it.

Kind of like he was considering kissing her, but
changed his mind.

She still reeled from his earlier comment about
her being
beautiful
. That was a joke,
or she thought so, even if he hadn’t laughed when he said it.

Or more than likely, he was just tired and trying
to think of a way to get out of there gracefully. Nah, he had the graceful
thing down no matter what.

Breaking into her thoughts, her phone buzzed on
the table behind her buzzed, and she saw the caller was her boss.

“Andrew!” Relief flooded through her. She needed
his input on what was going on in this, well, all she could call it was odd
place. “Thanks for calling.”

“No problem.” His low baritone immediately soothed
her frazzled nerves. “It sounds like things have gotten a little cloudy there
in Sunnyside.”

On Harper’s second morning
in Sunnyside, she skipped her morning run. Again.

Granted, she’d gotten plenty of exercise between
working at the library yesterday and walking around town, but random activity
wasn’t the same thing as a dedicated workout that got the juices flowing, the
heart pumping, and the maximum number of calories burning.

And she’d had pizza for supper! Lots of it. Those
calories would land with a big fat splat on her ass and wouldn’t just disappear
with hopeful plans about settling into a regular exercise routine sometime
soon.

She vowed to start eating healthier meals again,
too—once she was in her own house, yippee! But right now, meals seemed to be on
the catch-as-catch-can plan.

Descending the stairs to put out fresh food and
water for Cleo, she thanked the Gods above that the cat hadn’t tortured her
during the night.

Before taking a seat at the kitchen table to check
her phone and email messages while she waited for Zach, she searched hopefully
for breakfast food in the refrigerator.

Surprise, surprise! Apparently the food pixies had
visited and left behind a few sensible, edible treats. Fresh milk and yogurt
graced the shelves along with a couple of peaches in the fruit drawer. Heaven!
She didn’t know if she had Zach or the suspicious Kate to thank for this feast,
but she didn’t care.

If it had been Kate, the food probably had been
left for Rachel, not Harper. But she’d replace it as soon as she figured out
where the nearest grocery store was located and found time to go there.

Taking the last bite of the sweetest, juiciest
peach she’d ever tasted, she closed her eyes while she allowed the flavor to
roll around insider her mouth. She tossed the pit into the trash just as Zach
came through the backdoor. He had on what she classified as doctor
clothes—khaki pants and a light blue oxford-cloth, button-down shirt. But more
intriguing, he carried a square white box.

The flavor of the fruit lingered on her tongue and
trickles of juice ran down her chin as he stopped in front of her. “I know. I
have peach drizzle on my chin, but I almost don’t want to wipe it off and waste
it.” She circled her index finger in the general area of her mouth. “It tastes
so fabulous I almost—Oh, never mind.” She stopped herself from mentioning her
nearly orgasmic state. “It brought me close to a religious experience, it was
so heavenly.”

He deposited the pastry box on the table. “I could
take care of that for you.” He leaned in toward her, heat flaring in his eyes,
surrounding her with his warmth.

“Um.” She should be able to think of a response
but was so distracted by his nearness that she could barely manage to breathe.

She didn’t resist when he took her hand and pulled
her to her feet until just inches separated them. Holding his gaze, she inhaled
his minty fresh breath and all-around clean scent.

He leaned closer, overwhelming her with his
presence. Heat and desire held her enthralled. When he put his hands on her
shoulders, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Her nipples perked up in
anticipation. She tried to smile and failed.

Desperately wanting to melt into him, the memory
surfaced from the other day when he’d pushed her away. Her eyes dared him to
reject her, but the corners of his lips lifted in a smile. A small one, just
enough to reveal he didn’t plan to set her aside again.

Dropping his head to her level, he aligned their
mouths. She could see herself reflected in his eyes, could feel herself being
absorbed by him. It felt good. Good enough to clang warning bells in her head,
but she ignored them. She wanted him. Wanted his attention. Wanted his mouth on
hers. Wanted
him
.

Desire sizzled around them, hot and sharp. Like
the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, it heightened the mood and
the moment.

His body fairly hummed with intensity. His tongue
darted out, licking peach nectar from her lips. One quick tempting and
tantalizing swipe before he replaced his tongue with a napkin he’d picked up
from the table. He dabbed her chin. “Juicy.” He whispered the word between
them, implying so much more. “Delicious.” Straightening, he moved back a
fraction. “It’s good to see a girl enjoy what she eats and not mind admitting
it.

Her eyes uncrossed and focused. She nearly groaned
with disappointment before she remembered to pull air unto her lungs. “I know
what I like.” Licking her lips, she watched his eyes darken. “I know what I
want.” Harper issued the words as a challenge. She lifted her eyebrows. Their
words were meaningless. The real conversation was happening on another level.
“Unlike some people.”

He watched her attentively. Was he fighting the
urge to lean over and lick her again? His expression changed to one of resolve.
Shoving the napkin into her hand, he stepped purposely to the other side of the
room and leaned against the counter.

“No?” She gestured between the two of them with
her hand, unhappy with this repeat rejection from him.

Regretfully, he shook his head. “Not today.” Apparently,
he expected her to be willing and available anytime he wanted.

“Then what
was
that? Testing the new girl?”

His crossed his arms. “I’m the one being tested,
and I almost gave in to the temptation. I usually have more control than that.”

“Is there a reason you don’t want to give in?”

“Many, but none we can discuss this morning.”

“Another time then?”

“No doubt about it.”

His admission left her speechless, but the chill
of his rejection seeped away. He’d thrown her off-balance again, and she needed
to get on firmer ground quickly. “I’ve never had a peach that tasted so...
so... so
peachy
,” she finished for
want of a better word and topic. “Where did it come from?”

Zach blinked and cleared his throat. “Kate
probably left them. Someone either gave them to her yesterday or she picked
them up at the Farmers Market.”

“There’s a Farmers Market?” Harper beamed at the
thought of purchasing all kinds of fruits and vegetables as fresh as the one
she’d just finished. “Now that’s the kind of food I was hoping to find here.”

“Clearly, I took you to the wrong place for
breakfast yesterday.” He gestured to the box he’d brought in with him. It had a
blue swirling logo that spelled out Marty’s Tasty Treats across the top.
 
“And went to the wrong place today.”

“Maybe not.” She took the box from him.
 
“Let’s see what you brought.” She flipped
open the lid and got her first whiff of the pastries inside. One of her true
weaknesses. “Ooooh, yes, sweet baby.”

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought a
sampling of, well, everything.” He shook his head at the amount of
deliciousness he’d purchased. “We can take the leftovers to the library for the
workers when we go.”

Maybe
.
If there were any left when she got through with them. “What should I try
first?”

“It’s all good. Marty’s a genius with pastry.”

Harper scooped up a cinnamon roll with caramel
icing and a liberal sprinkling of pecans. “I can see that.” Harper breathed in
the fresh baked good and took her first bite. “Cinnamon as a true aphrodisiac.
I read that somewhere. Whoever she is, I’m making Marty my new best friend. I
can’t decide if the peach or this sweet roll is better, but they’re different
categories. Like apples and oranges. Still, these are amazing. Although the
pizza last night was incredible too.”

She stopped chattering long enough to polish off
the roll and purposely licked the cinnamon and icing from her fingers. Zach’s
eyes darkened with lust, but he didn’t make a move.
Worst luck
. “Oh, yes,” she said to herself. “I’ve definitely got to
get back into running or I’ll need a whole new wardrobe.”

“You run?” His quick visual exam traveled from tip
to toe, accessing her fitness.

“Usually. Is there a gym I can join or a public
running track somewhere? I’ll be in desperate need of both if I keep eating
like this.”

He considered her request. She liked it that he
always took his time to give her real answers instead of just opening his mouth
and spouting something he thought she might like to hear.

“There’s not much organized exercising, but some
people run on the track at the high school or through the park by the library.
And Liam’s been fixing up an old barn to use as a gym near the str—uh, near
where he’s working.”

Amused, Harper lifted her eyebrows. “You mean at
the strip club? He mentioned that, but not the gym.”

“It’s about finished. He’ll let me know when he’s
ready to take on members, and I’ll tell him you’re interested, too.”

“I run early in the morning most of the time, but
it would be good to go someplace inside during bad weather.”

“I’ll talk to him about it.”

“Or I can.” The delicious sweetness of a vanilla
cruller she polished off next danced in her mouth like a pastry party.

She recognized the contradiction of eating close
to a thousand calories while only discussing a future plan for working out. She
also realized that her caloric indulgence might be an attempt to keep from
dragging Zach upstairs to test the chemistry between them. But it would have
been rude to refuse the pastries after he had been kind enough to bring them to
her and almost a sin not to eat such over-the-top delectableness.

Despite the calories she’d already consumed, she
had her eye on a bear claw. She wrestled with the temptation. Okay. Just one
more. Besides, she’d eaten a peach first. That was healthy.

She scooped up the bear claw and slammed down the
lid.

“Can we go see the house now?” she asked around a
big bite of bliss.

“This would be the perfect time.” He passed her
another napkin to wipe the sticky sugar off her lips and fingers. “Are you
ready? Where’s all the stuff you need to take with you?”

“Computer.” She zipped it into her carrier.
“Phone.” She slid it into her pocket. “Small tote.” She slung it over her
shoulder and looked around to see if she’d left anything vital behind. “Good to
go.”

“You don’t have anything else here?”

“Suitcase, upstairs, but I can come back and get
it after while, can’t I?”

“You can, but why?”

“Too much to carry at one time. And too heavy.”
She stepped toward the backdoor, but he looked steadily at her like she was
talking Swahili, and she finally relented. Silly to insist on carrying
everything herself when there was this able-bodied—more than able-bodied,
very
able-bodied—man standing right in
front of her, willing to show off his muscles. Expecting to help.

“That’s why I’m here.”

She was just so used to doing everything for
herself. “You’re right. Hang on. I’ll get it.”

By the time she collected her bag and turned to go
back down the stairs, she heard Kate in the kitchen fussing at Zach. And
probably eating one or two of the pastries. Harper hoped she hadn’t snagged the
jelly-filled one. She had her eye on that one for lunch.

Admitting only the lowest of the low would
eavesdrop on a private conversation, Harper hovered at the top of the stairs
and listened anyway.

“Did you spend the night here and go out for
pastries this morning? Or leave last night and return this morning?”

“Really?” Zach sounded incredulous. “You’re asking
me that? Don’t you think if I’d spent the night here about ten people would’ve
called and let you know about it before sunup?”

“Probably, but you’re not acting like yourself and
you have been spending a lot of time with this—”

“Watch yourself,” The warning tone in Zach’s voice
gave Harper a little thrill.

“—woman.“ Kate loaded the word with derision.

“I’m behaving exactly like myself. Helping out
where needed, attending meetings, seeing patients, and arranging for volunteers
at the library.” From her vantage point, Harper thought Zach sounded a little
bit fed up with all his duties. “If I’ve spent time with Harper, it’s because I
was asked to welcome the newcomer at the house and take her to see the library,
neither of which turned out to go as smoothly as expected. I’ve been helping
her with both while dealing with the results of the worst traffic accident
that’s occurred in this town since I’ve been a doctor.
None
of this is unusual for me.”

“But you seem like you’re enjoying it.”

“The accident?”

“Spending time with Ms.
Tits-Too-Big-And-Legs-Too-Long-to-Be-A-Librarian Simmons.”

“Really? You think her tits are too big?”

Harper cringed. She tilted her head down to look
at her chest and tried to see it the way they did. Just one of the many reasons
she hadn’t been cover-model material.

“Because if they’re not causing her backaches,
headaches, or any other health problems,” Zach continued, “they’re not too big.
And you’re definitely wrong about her legs. They’re exactly the right length to
draw the attention of every heterosexual guy in town.”

“So you have noticed!” Kate charged.

“Sure, and I guess you have, too.”

Kate drew in a sharp breath. “That was uncalled
for. You know I’m not interested in getting up-close and personal with that
Hoochie-mama.”

“Neither am I,” Zach said, and Harper wished she
could see his face. “But she’s an attractive woman and neither one of us is
blind. And despite what the town thinks about whatever fictitious relationship
you and I might have, it’s been awhile since I’ve stood between the legs of a
naked woman who wasn’t sprawled across my exam table waiting for a vaginal
exam.”

“That’s not funny, Zach.” Kate’s comment contained
a shade less accusation.

“Don’t I know it? It’s pretty damn pathetic.”

“But you can wait a little longer, can’t you? You
know you shouldn’t get involved with the librarian. She’s too pretty and too fancy
and too big-city for Sunnyside. And if you start paying her a lot of attention,
everyone will like her even less.”