Authors: Deborah Hughes
Trisha laughed. "As each season occurs, you always claim it's your favorite."
Alyssa smiled. "Well, there's something to appreciate in all of them." She stared out at the surrounding yard and felt a moment of sorrow that her grandparents were gone. They'd loved it here and had taken great care in planning the presentation of their property "I feel closer to them when I sit out here. Nana loved this room the most, especially after Grampy died."
Nodding in sympathetic understanding, Trisha patted her hand. “They are angels in heaven and happy to be together again I am sure." She gave her hand a squeeze then gently changed the subject. "So tell me who you are bringing as a date on Friday.”
Alyssa tried really hard not to show her annoyance as she met her friend’s steady gaze and shrugged off the question. “You’ll find out on Friday.”
Surprised by that answer, Trisha’s eyes widened in question then narrowed with intent. Honestly, the girl was like a dog searching for a buried bone when it came to sniffing out information. “Someone special then?”
“What? Al couldn't possibly have a special friend and not tell you, Trisha.” Cole's eyes held steady on Alyssa and no matter how hard she tried not to do it, she found herself meeting his disturbing gaze. “You wouldn’t hide someone special from your best friend would you?”
Although his face was relaxed, she noticed his tension in the way he held himself and wondered what was going through his mind. Perhaps he didn’t like thinking that she had been kissing him only moments ago when her heart was already engaged with someone else. But then he was also probably wondering where the heck Jerry fit into the scheme of things. And while he was at it, did he give his own girlfriend any thought? “As I said, you’ll meet him on Friday and that is all I’m going to say on the matter.” Panic was beginning to course through her because she had no clue who the heck to invite and if they kept at her, they might guess as much. Damn it all anyway. Why did Cole have to be dating someone?
“Why so secretive, Al?” Trisha frowned in obvious annoyance, letting Alyssa know she wasn’t too keen on her tight-lipped determination to stay mum on the subject.
“Yeah, why so secretive?” Cole lifted a brow with exaggerated interest and once again their gazes collided, mutual accusation pinging between them.
“Plan on doing a background check on him, Cole? I assure you, it’s not necessary.” The reference to something he did when she had dated Marshall Kendell her senior year in college rekindled an old resentment and she welcomed the feelings. It would help combat her panic on being dateless for Friday’s party.
"I was right in that instance if you recall. He was out for information on that company you were working for at the time and nothing more." Cole folded his arms in a cocky "I'm always right" manner and waited for her response.
Perhaps she shouldn't have used that example. Though it pained her to admit it, she managed to avert a nasty situation thanks to his meddling. Still, it irked her to no end that he was the one to figure out what was going on. She probably should have been grateful to Cole for exposing the man but her shock, hurt and embarrassment had instead made her resent him more. It seemed logical to take out her disappointment on the very man who had brought it all to light.
“You thought he was an honest, upstanding citizen thoroughly smitten with you if I recall. So this new guy...what do you suppose he's after? Does he know you've been dating on the side?” Although his tone was quite mild, his eyes told a different story. He wanted to know where Jerry fit in with what was essentially a non-existent date. Not that he knew that and not that it was any of his damn business. Furious that he brought Jerry into the conversation, it was all she could do not to toss what was left of her tea into his smug face.
Knowing Trisha was watching her closely and needing something to do with her hands besides wrap them around Cole's neck, Alyssa pulled out her tangled ponytail and made an effort to put it back into some semblance of order. “He knows where he stands. I don't have to explain anything."
Cole’s eyes narrowed and his firm jaw hardened. He was as annoyed as she was and that flabbergasted her. What on earth did he have to be annoyed about anyway? He’s the one kissing other girls when he has a damned girlfriend waiting in the wings.
Giving a curt nod, he stood and moved around to his sister, bending to drop a quick kiss on her cheek before heading for the door. “Guess I best get going since you have no more need of me, Al. See you on Friday.” And then he was gone.
It happened so fast that Alyssa sat in stunned surprise. What on earth was his problem now? Was he feeling guilty for his behavior with her up in the attic? Something told her, though, that Cole was imagining himself the injured party and it puzzled her beyond measure. If anyone had a right to be angry, it was her.
“Something up, Al?” Trisha’s voice had gone cautious, as if she expected an explosion, and Alyssa turned to smile at her.
“No, nothing is up.”
Trisha nodded toward the door. “Do you want me to help you finish the attic organization?”
“I most certainly do not.” She waved away the suggestion with the swipe of her hand then leaned on folded arms and changed the subject. “So tell me about the wedding plans. What have you done so far?”
Trisha stayed for just over an hour and in that time, Alyssa managed to calm down. She wasn’t sure what Cole had been up to by coming here but she didn't think their kiss was planned on his part. Given the fact he had a girlfriend, though, he shouldn't have let things go on as long as it did or become as involved as it had. Honest guys, a trait for which Cole prided himself, did not date one girl and kiss another. It just wasn’t done.
The moment Trisha closed the door behind her, Alyssa headed to her room with the intention of throwing herself on the bed to think. But she was halted at the door by the surprise waiting there. The rocking chair she'd been after all morning sat in the middle of the room. How Cole managed to get it down the ladder on his own without their hearing him, she had no clue. Her face colored at the thought of him being in her bedroom and her eyes flew about to insure nothing embarrassing like a pair of underwear or a bra was lying about. Although her bed wasn't made, her room was in relatively good order.
Pleased by this unexpected surprise, Alyssa examined the chair and made mental notes on what needed to be done while at the same time brainstorming candidates of possible dates for Friday. There was no way she was going to show up without a man by her side, especially if Cole was going to be there with his girlfriend. His blonde, busty bombshell. She could have done it if he hadn’t shown up today and kissed her. Thanks to that huge, passionate mistake, she couldn't possibly show up on her own now.
Letting out a groan of despair, she fought to erase the memory of their kisses. It was hard enough keeping the other one in the nether regions of her mind. Thoughts of it were always hovering at the edge of her consciousness, waiting to torture her with images that left her feeling … funny. Strange. Hot. So how was she going to deal with the memories of this second kiss? Her body was already squirming with unfulfilled need just thinking about it!
The problem here was that darned truce. It left her feeling defenseless and after that passionate interlude in her attic she needed a defense now more than ever. Their hatred of each other had gone on so long that she wasn’t really sure how to act around him now that she couldn’t let those feelings show. The best way to handle being in his company was to have someone she could put her focus on and use as a buffer between them.
So who in the hell was she going to bring with her to that party? Thanks to Cole's meddling, Jerry was out of the question and that caused her resentment to rise in swift, sharp annoyance. Although she believed those feelings were justified, she'd promised Trisha there would be no more fighting and so she forced herself to let it go. She might be comfortable with those feelings for Cole but she was no longer going to indulge in them. A promise was a promise.
And there was the problem. Since they couldn’t fight, they were now kissing. And they couldn’t kiss because, well, because one does not kiss someone who is consistently annoying. Being a great kisser did not make him any less so and besides, she still didn’t like him. And since she had to maintain the peace between them, she would just have to remind herself that she didn’t like him and that he annoyed her. But then those moments in the attic flashed in her mind and a flush of heat washed over her. Alyssa forcibly pushed the memory away by replacing it with images of a few nights before when she was ready to murder him. She was not going to allow herself to think about the attic and what happened there. Such thoughts were to be forever banished from her memory. Yeah, and pigs could fricken fly.
Heaving an annoyed sigh, she stood and paced the room. After several restless moments she sank down onto the bed and sprawled across the mattress. The situation was such that if she didn't come up with someone then she wasn't going. That's all there was to it. If the kisses had been bad, even mediocre, she would have been able to handle that. She could have amused herself at the party thinking his poor busty girlfriend had to deal with them on her own. But no, it wasn't like that at all because his kisses were amazing and she was jealous that they were going to be wasted on someone who probably didn't deserve them.
Groaning loudly, Alyssa scolded herself for thinking that way but try as she might, she couldn't let her resentment go. It just wasn't fair that the blond bimbo had a right to his kisses and she did not. Rubbing a hand across her face, Alyssa forced herself to get back to the task at hand. A date. She needed a date.
The name came in a flash of surprise, making her sit up in delighted triumph. Paul! He would be perfect. She looked around for her cell phone and after a frantic search, located it in the kitchen on the counter. But before she let the call go through, she changed her mind and began another frantic search for her car keys. This was just too important, she needed to ask him in person.
* * *
Alyssa walked through the door of St. Mary’s rectory where Paul was staying and paused for a moment to enjoy the sensation of her anxiety melting away. A sense of peace filtered through her, the agitation of the past few days no longer an issue as she waited in the entry hall.
It didn't take long before Father Morgan appeared to greet her. “Alyssa, my dear. It is good to see you again.”
Alyssa gave him a hug. “Hello, Father Morgan. I came to see Paul if he’s here.”
“Yes, I believe he is in his room. Did he not know you were coming to see him?”
“I called his cell but it went straight to voicemail.”
“As you know, he’s here to help me out and I believe he’s preparing a sermon for Saturday’s service.”
Father Morgan was in remission for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and since Paul was his nephew, he agreed to stay with him through the summer break from his seminary classes in Boston to help him with church services and activities. It was a lucky break for Alyssa for it brought him here to her hometown. “I’m glad he was able to come. It’s nice to have him close enough to visit. I hope you are doing well?”
Father Morgan smiled and rubbed his head, making her notice his short, dark hair. “I’m doing so well my gray hair is gone and coming back in nice and dark.” He folded his hands as if in prayer. “I give thanks for the reprieve.” Giving her a wink, he turned away. “Have a seat and I’ll go fetch him.”
Alyssa made herself comfortable on one of several settees and refused to accept the possibility of Paul not being available for Friday's engagement party. Father Morgan mentioned him conducting services for Saturday so hopefully that meant he would be free on Friday. Although Paul was quite sociable and no doubt had invitations for every night of the week, she knew he liked to keep his options open to the last second. He said making commitments too far in advance didn't leave room for opportunity. She couldn’t help but smile at that and muttered under her breath. "Well, Paul, opportunity is now knocking!" He had expressed an interest in meeting her friends and family and now, finally, she was happy to oblige.
“Alyssa! It’s good to see you again.” Paul rushed into the room not five minutes later and drew her up for a hug.
“Hello, Paul. It’s always good to see you too.”
“So what brings you here?” He sat on the settee and pulled her down beside him.
“I came to ask you a favor.” Alyssa gave a rueful smile. “You aren’t going to believe it.”
Intrigued, Paul's brown eyes sparked with interest. “Try me.”
“Well, Trisha and Jack have decided to get married.” She paused for a moment wondering how he’d take her next bit of news. “Trisha is pregnant.”
Paul nodded slowly. “I see. That is wonderful that she and Jack are getting married
,
but I hope it’s not just because of the pregnancy.”
Alyssa shook her head. “No, they love each other very much. I think the pregnancy brought on a wedding sooner than they otherwise would have done but I have no doubt they would have married eventually anyway.”
“So then, what can I do? I’m not ordained yet, Alyssa, so if you want me to perform the ceremony, I’m afraid that is not possible.”
“No, no, that’s not it.” She met his eyes and when he saw the solemn intensity within her gaze, his blond brows rose in silent question. "I came to ask you on a date of sorts.”
Paul’s brows arched even higher. “A date of sorts? I think I need more clarification.”
Alyssa’s hands twisted nervously in her lap. “Trisha has forced Cole and me into a truce.”
“Bravo,” Paul cut in gently. “Good for her. This relationship you have with Cole is not healthy for either of you.”
Alyssa sighed. “I know that, Paul, but it’s complicated. Anyway, this Friday Trisha’s parents are having an engagement party for them and I need a date.” She grasped hold of his hands and squeezed them. “I’ve been wanting to introduce you to my family and friends and you've been wanting to meet them too. This would be a perfect opportunity to do just that.”