Home to Stay (19 page)

“Don’t blow a gasket, woman. I’m almost done.” Sid extended her measuring tape, only to let it snap shut as she took notes once again. She repeated the process over and over, moving Will forward and back. “A couple from the ends and we’re done.”

“Explain this to me again,” Will said. “How am I a boat?”

“Your height and arm span work perfectly as a stand-in for the smaller boats in the harbor.” The tape snapped again. “I want to make sure all the tools that require a cord or that will be attached to the walls will extend far enough for me to work the smaller crafts.”

Great. First Rebecca the reporter had pointed out the expanse of Will’s hips, and now she was considered comparable to a small water vessel. Nothing like a boost to the old self-esteem.

“My arms are about to fall off,” Will said, dropping them to her sides. “When do all these phantom tools arrive?” The garage looked a thousand times better than it had when Sid bought the place, but was still mostly empty.

“Middle of May,” Sid answered, without looking up from her clipboard. Biting her bottom lip, she measured between beams on the far wall, then quickly scribbled something down. “I want the layout set and ready to go when the shipment comes in.”

Sid was talking faster than normal, fidgeting with the ink pen, and staring at the wall as if it might talk to her. From the looks of things, these tools must be the last step to getting the shop open for business.

“Sid.”

“Huh?” she said, measuring the same two beams again.

“Sid!” Will said louder, finally gaining her attention. “The place is going to be great. Stop worrying.”

“You really think so?” she asked, dropping the clipboard on the counter and plopping onto the stool beside it. Her gaze took in the garage from top to bottom. “If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do.” Meeting Will’s eyes, she said, “This is the only dream I’ve ever had besides Lucas. Maybe getting both is asking too much.”

Will was always taken off guard by Sid’s cute moments. The woman was 99 percent confidence, so when that 1 percent of vulnerability peeked through, it was like watching a baby panda waddle for the first time.

Taking the stool beside Sid’s, Will perused the room much as Sid had. “You have a solid reputation in this area, and you have an incredible support group behind you. The business will be great. There are no limits on how many dreams we get to have. Not as long as we’re willing to work for them when they come.” With a smile, she added, “And you’re the hardest working woman I know, second only to myself.”

Sid gave Will an elbow that nearly shoved her off the stool. So much for cute.

After a moment of silence, Sid asked, “So what’s your dream?”

The question took her by surprise. What
was
her dream? Once upon a time she’d wanted to get married and have a family. Settle into her own home, where she would live for years. No more moving around. She would spend her weekends at the ball field cheering on her kids in soccer or baseball or whatever they chose to pursue.

And she’d come so close to realizing it. Or thought she had. In truth, she’d dodged a bullet, if not the fist. And now she was further from her dream than ever.

“Gee,” Sid said, pulling Will from her far-off thoughts. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

She hadn’t even realized the tears were falling until Sid pointed them out. “I’m sorry. I have no idea where these came from.”

“There’s some serious shit in your past, isn’t there?” This was as close to a personal question as Sid had ever asked.

“Yeah,” she said, letting some honesty creep in. “Serious shit. But that’s depressing and I’d rather talk about how awesome this place is going to be. Or the wedding. Anything more cheerful.”

“Right. The wedding.” Sid sounded disappointed.

“What’s that about? You aren’t happy about the wedding?”

Sid shrugged. “It’s not that I’m not happy; it’s that I’m not really a part of it.”

“What do you mean?” Will asked. “You’re the maid of honor. Outside of being the bride, that’s as involved as you can get.”

“So I get to hold her flowers and make a toast, which I’m dreading since Lucas says I have to keep it clean, but I’m not helping at all. Shouldn’t I be doing more? Patty said that the maid of honor has all these duties and responsibilities, but I’m not doing squat.”

It hadn’t occurred to Will that Sid would want to do more. She was like the anti-girl. But there was that bit about her reading romance novels. And she did go all goopy when Lucas was around. Maybe there was estrogen in there somewhere. Under the motor oil and f-bombs.

“We still have the wedding shower to work out. I was going to talk to Beth about it, but if you want to take charge, then go for it.”

“Really?” Sid said, perking up as if she’d been given free rein over a parts store.

“Why not?” Will tried not to answer that question in her mind. “We were shooting for next Saturday afternoon, with the bachelorette party to follow.”

Sid hopped off the stool. “I can handle that. Leave it all to me.”

Will was happy to see Sid so enthusiastic, but not looking forward to telling Beth what she’d just done.

CHAPTER 19

R
andy spent the entire day smiling. Between the activities of the previous night and his meeting with Sam, everything seemed to be falling into place. He must have looked goofier than usual since no fewer than three people had asked what he was so happy about.

He’d answered each with a wink and a grin, then went about his business. Not that he could keep his focus on anything other than memories of Will’s little red panties. Or the way her hair danced across his chest as she rode him. Then there was the way she’d clung to him as they said good-bye at his door.

If she hadn’t been so determined to leave, he’d have coaxed her back to bed. But there would be no leaving tonight. He had a plan.

Randy spotted Will the second he stepped through the front door of Dempsey’s. It was a stroke of luck that Joe had asked him if he wanted to grab a beer. Otherwise, he’d have had to come up with some other excuse to come see her.

“Hey there,” he said, taking up residence on the stool a tourist had vacated. “Good crowd.”

“It is,” Will said, keeping her eyes on the drink she was making. “Especially for a month before Memorial Day.” She finished off the drink with a cherry and disappeared down the bar without another word. Or even making eye contact.

We’re keeping things a secret, remember?

Randy really didn’t like that part. He knew the reason wasn’t because they were doing anything to be ashamed of, but there was only so long she could use Sid as her excuse. There was no doubt Will wouldn’t want to hurt Sid in any way, but there was more to this secrecy stuff. If no one knew what they were doing, then it was all in fun. No pressure. No commitment.

Then Randy remembered he’d spent more than ten years avoiding commitment like the clap. So why was he suddenly all gung ho about diving into one?

“You want a tea?” Will asked, snagging his attention.

“Sure.”

After removing the cap and flinging it into the garbage, she lowered her voice as she passed over the bottle. “What are you doing here?”

He considered saying
to see you
in order to get a reaction. Instead he said, “I’m here to have a drink with Joe. Is he in here somewhere?”

If she could play their relationship off, then so could he. In fact, he
should
be as adamant about the no commitment thing. Commitment meant more than fun in bed. More than enjoying the other person’s company and wanting to see her all the time, if only to catch a smile.

Wait, what?

“He’s back in the poolroom, where else would he be?” Will moved on to the next customer before Randy could respond. Maybe that was for the best.

Carrying his bottle high to squeeze through the crowd, Randy found Joe at a cocktail table near the front corner. “This place is crazy,” he said, taking a seat. “I guess this is what we’ve been hoping for, but I hate that they all seem to show up overnight.”

Joe stopped with his beer bottle halfway to his lips, then set it back on the table. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” Randy muttered, watching Phil Mohler, his least favorite Anchorite, sink a seven ball on the other side of the room.

“Bullshit. You don’t bitch often, so it’s easy to spot.” Joe crossed his arms on the table. “Spill.”

So much for keeping secrets. Maybe that’s what had him all tense. Having to act like he had something to hide. Joe wouldn’t tell anyone, not if Randy asked him not to.

“It’s Will,” he said, ignoring the guilt that came with the admission. He’d promised, but damn it, this crap was messing with his head.

“You two finally stop dancing around each other?” Joe asked, looking less than surprised.

“Dancing around each other?”

“I didn’t see it,” he said. “Beth had to point it out to me. But once she did, I couldn’t believe I’d missed it.”

Randy sat up straighter. “Missed what?”

Joe sipped his beer, then said, “The way you two look at each other. Like someone told you to eat your vegetables and you can’t help eyeing the fried chicken.” Randy raised a brow and Joe added, “Okay, that’s not the right way to put it when you’re involved, but you know what I mean. I get wanting something you don’t think you can have. Not the greatest experience, is it?”

“It’s not as if Will is engaged to someone else. I mean, there’s no reason we couldn’t do something. If we wanted.”

That wasn’t really telling Joe anything. He hadn’t admitted they’d had sex.

“Your innocent face needs work, bro.” Joe laughed. “So why are you two still acting like you barely like each other?”

Randy caved. “That’s the way Will wants it. Says Sid’s got it in her head I need a wife, and if she knows what we’re doing, she’ll cast Will in the role. That is apparently out of the question, though I’m still not sure why, so we have to keep everyone in the dark to keep Sid in the dark.”

“Whoa.” Joe sat back. “Did you hear what you just said?”

“I know it’s convoluted, but I don’t know how else to explain it.”

“Man, you said you’d be fine with Will becoming your wife.”

“What? I did not.” Randy replayed his explanation, catching what Joe referred to. “I only meant that there’s no reason we can’t make this more permanent…” Well, hell.

“How did we get from making googly eyes at each other to till death do us part?” For some reason, Joe was finding this conversation hysterical.

Randy felt nauseated.

“Nobody is taking any vows here. We’ve only spent one night together.”

Joe exhaled and patted Randy on the back. “I fell for Beth long before we had sex. As Patty would say, you’re smitten, dude. Good luck with that. Will seems like a tough nut to pin down.”

An hour ago, Randy hadn’t even wanted to pin her down. Well, maybe in a different context.

“If she even suspects what I’m thinking, this will all be over before it goes anywhere.”

Joe snorted. “If you’ve spent one night together, then it’s already gone somewhere.”

Randy ignored his friend. “I’ll bide my time. Wait until she thinks it’s all her idea.” That might work. He had time. It wasn’t as if either of them were going anywhere. “When she’s ready, I’ll be there.”

“You do that.” Joe finished off his beer. “Now I’m going to grab another beer and we can talk about what I wanted to talk about.”

“What’s that?” Randy asked.

“The bachelor party.”

Randy felt the sudden urge to tell Will something. “Let me get the beer. I need to see Will for a second.”

Joe shook his head. “You’ve got it bad, man.”

Fighting the crowd once more, Randy reached the end of the bar and waited for Will to notice him. She held up a finger to say she’d be with him in a minute, so he took the opportunity to watch her move. The jeans hugged her slim legs, disappearing into the black boots. Her trademark bangle bracelets slid up and down her arm as gracefully as Will moved behind the bar.

The loose-fitting Dempsey’s T-shirt was tucked into a waistband that hovered far below her naval. Randy imagined the ways he could get her out of the outfit.

“You drink the tea already?” she asked, leaning over the bar.

“Joe wants another beer,” he said, holding eye contact. “And I want to see you tonight.”

“I’m really tired—”

“I’ll come to you this time.” Randy would never force himself on a woman, and if she gave him a flat-out no, that would be it. But Will didn’t look like a woman about to say no.

“I won’t be home until after midnight.”

He slid the empty bottle her way. “Then I’ll see you after midnight.”

Will finally flashed him the smile he’d been craving all day. Now he had to make it to midnight without losing his mind.

Randy’s truck was nowhere to be seen when Will arrived home around twelve-thirty. She tried not to be disappointed that he hadn’t been willing to wait. If he was ever there at all. It wasn’t as if they couldn’t see each other the next day. Or that she couldn’t use a full night of sleep.

But he’d seemed so determined at the bar. Will never doubted for a second she had the final say. Still, the he-man thing was kind of cute. And she’d looked forward to not having to crawl out of his bed and drive home in the middle of the night. Now he wouldn’t be crawling out of her bed either. Damn it, she’d been looking forward to seeing him for the last four hours.

First he made her want to see him, which she didn’t want to do, then left her hanging.

Men sucked.

“Hello, gorgeous,” said a voice from the darkness. Will froze in the driveway, about ten feet from the edge of her small corner porch. “My truck’s under the house. Sorry if I scared you.”

And her gentle giant was back. But why had he parked under the house?

Stepping onto the worn boards, Will started to ask the question, but before she could speak, Randy pulled her into a long, intoxicating kiss that had her clinging to his shoulders and sucking on his bottom lip. The question drowned in the wave of lust.

“That was worth the wait,” Randy mumbled against her neck.

“I’m sorry,” Will panted, struggling to steady her breathing. “Have you been here long?”

“I pulled up at midnight in case you got off early.”

That was the sweetest thing she’d heard all night. Maybe all year.

Searching for her house key, she said, “We should probably go inside.” Where she could reward him properly for being so sweet. “I always forget to leave the light on.”

“Here,” he said, laying his hand over her trembling ones. “Show me which one it is.”

With as much focus as she could manage, Will flipped to the proper key and handed it over. “Thanks.”

They’d been together less than thirty seconds and he already had her a quivering mess. Good thing they were keeping this light or she might worry about his effect on her. Her heart was already more engaged than she liked.

Randy unlocked the door, then pushed it open for Will to step through first. Which made sense, since she knew where the light switches were. But it still felt like a chivalrous gesture.

In the seconds before turning on the light, Will tried to remember in what condition she’d left the place. In all the time she’d lived in this little surfer shack, she’d only ever entertained Sid, and that didn’t happen by choice. The first time Sid had shown up was an unexpected visit. Since then, she’d dropped by on occasion, always without warning.

Will had gotten used to it, and Sid didn’t seem to care about the presence or lack of a mess.

Will flipped the switch and let Randy follow her into the house. Since every surface, including the ceiling, was covered with wood paneling, the place never got all that bright. But it was cozy and came fully furnished and she’d come to think of it as home.

Albeit a temporary one.

Hanging her purse and keys on hooks by the door, Will stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “I have water and juice, but no green tea.” Moving a bowl of cold spaghetti, she searched the top shelf. “There’s a V8, but I have no idea how old it is.”

Will didn’t even remember buying a V8. Could that have been there when she moved in? Way to make yourself look like that gross person who never cleans out her fridge.

And why was she nervous and running this internal monologue like a woman who’d never had a man in her house before?

Because you haven’t had a man in your house in more than three years
.

“Water is fine,” Randy said, appearing behind her, making Will jump and slam her head on the freezer door.

“Mother…” She cut the word off, grabbing the back of her head with both hands. Now she looked like the idiot who never cleaned out her fridge
and
smacked her head on things. Perfect.

Wrapping an arm around her middle, Randy pulled her clear of the refrigerator and closed the door. “This night isn’t going to be nearly as much fun if you knock yourself out before I get you out of that T-shirt.”

The wicked grin combined with the concern in his eyes were her undoing. Will pressed her forehead into his shoulder. “Can I ask a really big favor?” she murmured into his shirt.

Randy tensed, but said, “Anything.”

She knew he assumed she would ask him to leave. And he would. For her.

Lifting her head, she met his eyes. “Would you give me ten minutes to take a shower? I’d be better at this if I could feel human again.”

His shoulders relaxed as he dropped a kiss on the end of her nose. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”