The Calendar Brides (7 page)

“What brings you to Chandelier?” she asked them both. “Visiting?”

“Actually,” Chet answered, “I’ve been assigned to a school here. Chandelier High. So has Brad.”

Claire caught Brad’s eyes on her and warmed beneath his perusal. “What will you be teaching?” she asked the pair.

“History,” Chet said.

Brad smiled softly. “I’m a science guy.”

“Claire was always good at science, too.”

“Not that good,” she demurred, blushing.

“Can’t get much better than straight A’s,” Chet returned.

“Did I hear Chet call you a weather girl?”
 

“I’m a meteorologist.” She examined the shells in her bucket, then, seeing none were broken, redirected the conversation. “Where were you before?”

“Student teaching in the city,” Brad said. “But I have a feeling I’m going to like it a lot better here.” He held her gaze for a fraction of a second too long and Claire’s pulse raced. At once her palm felt sweaty, and the bucket handle slid in her grasp. She shifted it to her other hand, and dragged the slick one across her pants leg.

“Yeah, well! That’s great!” she said a little too brightly. “Welcome to town.” Claire was mortified to realize she wore a dopey smile, like one of those women in toothpaste commercials. She backed up an inch but Brad stepped toward her.

“Wait!” He held up a hand, then bent low with a flourish, lifting a perfect mollusk shell off the sand. “Forgot one.” He placed it carefully in her bucket atop the pile of others. “I think that one’s my favorite.”

“Oh, why?”

“It’s exquisite.” He grinned and met her eyes. “Just like you.”

Claire’s heart thudded harder as she watched the men walk away, the Weimaraner bounding between them. That Brad Estep was an incorrigible flirt. Incorrigible, yet attractive. She couldn’t help but notice that part. She’d just bet those poor high school girls would have crushes. Claire couldn’t imagine the torture of sitting through his class for an entire semester. Young hearts soon would be breaking in Chandelier.

Brad glanced over his shoulder to spy her standing there staring, and waved. She quickly turned away but not quickly enough. Fire burned in her cheeks as the wind raked her hair. Claire retraced her own footsteps in the sand, walking in the direction from which she’d come. It wasn’t often new people moved to Chandelier. And most often, when they did, none of them looked like Brad. She wondered if she’d have occasion to see him again, then hoped that she would. Her busy schedule at the station didn’t afford many dating opportunities. Her male colleagues were married, and besides, she was against mixing business with pleasure. Not that Claire had a lot of leisure time. In addition to her weekday schedule, she often covered weekends for her fellow anchor, who had two kids and a husband—in other words, an actual life. Outside of the support provided by her extended family, Claire’s life was pretty solitary. She went to work, came home, and collected seashells. Not that there was anything wrong with those exploits. It’s just that sometimes, late at night when she was out on her porch gazing up at the stars, she wished that there was something more.

“I’m going to marry that girl,” Brad told Chet, as they walked away.

“Claire?”

Brad’s heart warmed at the sound of it.
Claire.
It was beautiful, just like her. “Is that her name?”

Chet laughed with incredulity. “You mean, you were going to marry her without even knowing?”

“No, I would have asked first.”

“You’re crazy, man.”

“You might say that today, but you won’t a year from now.”

“What happens a year from now?”

“You play best man at my wedding.”

“Shut up!” Chet pulled in the lead, bringing his dog closer as a pair of joggers pounded by.
 

But Brad scarcely saw them. His mind was caught up in a fantasy involving a lovely brunette in a long white gown. This was insane! Here he was having marital visions, and he’d never had them before. Though it would be very cool to see her sometime, maybe ask her out for stargazing. Brad could name all the constellations, every one.

When the joggers had passed, Chet turned to him. “Whoa. Look at
you.
”

“What about me?” Brad tried to keep a straight face.

“You really
are
smitten.”

“Not seriously, you know. I’m just in ‘like.’”

“Sure you are. You’re
in like
with a beautiful, brainy brunette, who just happens to be single.”

“Is she now?” A grin tugged at the corners of Brad’s mouth. “Not even a boyfriend?”

“Not even.”

“I thought you hadn’t seen her in forever?”

“You haven’t been in Chandelier very long.”

“What’s that mean?”

“You’ll see.”

“You asked after her, didn’t you?”

“Maybe.”

“You still have a thing?”

“I gave up on that long ago. Besides, I’m with April now.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

They walked a moment in silence, gulls soaring overhead.

“Happy?” Brad finally asked.

Chet shared a genuine smile. “Yeah, we are.”

“It’s good to be happy.”

Chet glanced at Brad. “If you want, I can get you her number?”

“Thanks, pal,” Brad said with a wink. “But I’ll handle this on my own.”

Two weeks later, Brad regretted his decision to resist Chet’s help, and now he was too proud to ask for it. He hadn’t wanted to call and startle her, or worse, scare her off. It seemed much better to let things unfold naturally. Chandelier was a small town. They were bound to run into each other eventually. Brad frowned and cranked his ignition thinking
eventually
was taking its sweet time getting here. This was great, just great. His engine wouldn’t even turn over.

It was late September and the autumn leaves held their first hints of gold. Some rustled in the trees above him as he angled forward giving it one more try. Something thumped on the roof of his car and he stared out his driver’s side window. There, not six inches away, stood a woman’s blue cardigan sweater. He assumed there was a body attached to it somewhere. He just didn’t expect to see those gorgeous brown eyes peering down at him. “Car trouble?” Claire asked when he lowered his window.

“Just a bit.”

She cracked a smile, lovely dark wisps of hair framing her face. “Pop the hood. I’ll take a look.”

He brought the window all the way down to study her. “Don’t tell me you’re good with cars?”

She evenly met his gaze. “My dad taught me a thing or two.”

Brad sat in his car considering his luck as she tinkered around up front. It was her! Claire! His weather girl. The one he’d gotten up early every morning before school to watch give her regular forecast. Didn’t matter if the day promised rain or if it threatened to be clear. All the words were like music coming from that beautiful mouth of hers.

“Try it now!” she called loudly. “And give it some gas!”

He did and the engine heaved.

“Again!” she instructed.

One more forceful
click
and—well, what do you know?—the engine engaged! The car bounced and shifted, jiggling slightly as it idled. Brad stepped from the car but left it running. “How did you do that?” he asked, amazed.

She shrugged like it was nothing. “Loose distributor cap.”

She was prettier than ever, wearing a tight knit cap patterned with snowflakes. Hair draped over her shoulders and cascaded down her back. Brad found himself longing to run his fingers through it and taste those luscious lips. The girl simply undid him.

“So, I guess you’re in business,” she said, turning to go. She stood outside the hardware store and was apparently headed inside.

Brad had let her get away once before. He wasn’t about to make that mistake twice. “Claire!”

She glanced over her shoulder.

“I wanted to say thanks, for the car.”

“It’s fine. I was glad to.”

“I mean, I’d like to repay—”

Her eyebrows arched.

“Not that. What I’m trying to say is, what are our chances?”

“Of what?”

“Grabbing a cup of coffee.”

Her cheeks tinged pink. “I’d say the chances are good.”

“Right now.”

Dark eyes widened in surprise. “Now?”

“No time like the present,” he said with a grin.

She surveyed him a long while. A little too long, in Brad’s estimation. Beneath his leather jacket, he broke into a sweat.

“Will there be doughnuts involved?”

“Anything your heart desires.”

She smiled sweetly. “Apple-cinnamon.”
 

The front door popped open and Brad’s voice sounded. “Claire? I’m home!”

“Back here, hon!”
 

Brad found her on her exercise bike, furiously pedaling while typing on her iPad.

“Multitasking, I see.”

She glanced up to find him holding a box of doughnuts. Even through the cardboard carton, the heavenly scent wafted in her direction. “You’re doing bad things for my figure,” she said weakly, knowing she would cave. She never could resist them when they were warm.

“You’ve got a dynamite figure,” he told her. “Always have.”

“I can’t believe we’ve been married four years!”

He strode over and gave her a firm peck on the lips. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

She stopped pedaling for a moment and dabbed her forehead with a towel. “How was school today?”

“The kids were evil as always, but I think they’re learning.”

“That’s the important thing.”

“Yeah.” He surveyed her iPad from a distance. “How’s the project coming?” Claire could tell he was dying to know the details, but didn’t want to let on how curious he was.

“I almost have my hundred and fifty words.”

“And the teaser?”

She looked at him and grinned. “It’s a surprise.”

“Hmm, yes. Well. Where do you want me to put your surprise box of doughnuts?”

“On the kitchen counter.”

He nodded but she stopped him before he could exit the room.

“Thank you.”

“I know they’re your favorites.”

“Not just for the doughnuts. For everything. For being here. For being mine.”

He set the doughnuts on a chest and crossed to pull her into his arms, the sweaty mess she was and all. She slid off the bicycle seat and into his embrace, delighting in the feel of him. So strong, so steady. Her Brad. He pressed his forehead to hers and spoke in a whisper. “There’s nobody’s guy I’d rather be.”

“I wouldn’t let anyone else have you. They’d have to fight me first.”

His warm laugh rumbled. “You’re going to make a beautiful calendar bride.”

“Thanks.”

“Just be sure you flash that wedding ring bold and bright, so everyone knows you’re one of the taken ones.”

She stared up in his eyes, captured in his loving gaze. “I’m taken, all right. I loved you from the very start.”

“Oh, yeah?” He pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss, then gave her another. “I was smitten from the beginning, too.”

“Tell me it will always be this way.”

“No.”

“No?”

“It’s only going to get better.”

“I’ll drink a cup of coffee to that.”

He stroked her cheek. “With a cinnamon doughnut?”

“Apple-cinnamon.”

“Yeah.”

Then he claimed her mouth with his, and her world melted away.

Chapter Five

Angie

Angie looked up from her computer screen. Her laptop rested on her knees as she sat on the sofa. She’d settled the girls with new coloring books and crayons at the small plastic table by the entertainment center, and all seemed eagerly engaged. “I was thinking we should put Clarissa in peewee soccer.”

Jason lowered the sports section of the newspaper. “She’s only four years old.”

“That’s why they call it ‘peewee,’ Jason.”

Jason had a nicely angled face with rugged cheekbones and a well-defined chin. It was sun-kissed from him working outdoors, his tawny complexion complementing his light brown eyes and hair. He glanced over at the kids, then back at her.
 

“When does it start?”

“Next week.”

“It’s still our busy season.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to take her.”

“No, but I’d want to be there.”

Hearing his voice, Clarissa looked up. “Do you want to play sports, Clarissa? Like your Aunt Haley?”