Harlequin Special Edition September 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Maverick for Hire\A Match Made by Baby\Once Upon a Bride (8 page)

“What's wrong?” he asked. “Are you okay? Should I carry you the rest of the way?”

“No,” Cecelia said. “You'll frighten Melba. Just give me one minute,” she said and continued up the stairs. She made it to her bed and sank down on it.

“Don't lie down yet. You need to drink some water first,” he said and filled a glass in her tiny bathroom. He returned and placed the glass in her hand.

She drank, but swallowing hurt. She winced.

“Keep going,” he said.

“Hurts a little,” she confessed.

“Drink anyway,” he said. “If you get dehydrated, you could end up in the hospital.”

Staring at him in alarm, she forced the rest of the water down. She slid down on her bed and pulled the covers from one side over her. “I'm just going to rest for a minute,” she said.

“Don't you want to change clothes?” he asked.

“Too cold,” she said.

He sighed and removed her boots. “You're a terrible sick person.”

“I really don't get sick,” she said. “My parents had a lot of kids and not a lot of money. I wasn't really allowed to get sick. I'm going to close my eyes for a couple of minutes,” she said. “But I'm fine.”

Hours later, she awakened to a knock at the door. “Yes?” she called, but the sound was barely a whisper. She crawled out of bed and opened the door to find Beth Crowder holding a tray with a bowl of soup and a glass of water.

“Hi,” Cecelia said, but it was little more than a whisper.

“Oh, sweetie, you look terrible,” Beth said. “Get back in bed.”

“I'm fine,” Cecelia said, but returned to her bed.

“Nick told me to check on you and make sure you drank some liquids,” Beth said.

“You didn't have to do that,” Cecelia said.

“I wanted to,” Beth said and patted Cecelia's hand. “You eat the soup and drink that water. I'll be up later.”

“You don't—”

Beth sliced her hand through the air. “Rest,” she said. “Soup, water and rest.” She shook her head. “Nick said it was going to be hard to get you to stay down, and I'm afraid he may be right.”

“He's so bossy,” Cecelia said and swallowed a spoonful of the chicken noodle soup.

“He's just making sure you get well. That's what a good man should do,” Beth said. “We're all worried about you.”

“I'm really fine,” Cecelia said. “I'll probably be up and at it tomorrow.”

“I wouldn't count on it. You're a strong woman, but you need to give yourself time to fight off this bug.”

Cecelia was too tired to argue, but if she had her way she wouldn't be lying in bed all day tomorrow. She finished the soup and mustered the energy to change into pajamas and a sweatshirt. She still felt so cold.

Cecelia awakened later to the sight of Nick beside her along with two bouquets of flowers. “Oh, hi,” she said.

“Hi,” he said in return. “Two of your boyfriends sent flowers.”

“How nice,” she said, rising to look at the flowers.

“Yeah,” he said in a cranky voice. “Very nice.”

He frowned. “You still don't look good. You should take better care of yourself.”

Cecelia shrugged. “I didn't know I was sick. I'll get better soon.”

He reached over and slid his hand over her forehead. “You feel hot.”

“It's the fever,” she said. “It will go away soon.”

“Hmm.” He stroked her forehead again. “I'll check on you again in a few hours.”

Cecelia drank her water then sank back under the covers. She relaxed. Seeing Nick made her feel safer, better....

Cecelia awakened to the sensation of a dry, sore throat. She automatically reached for her cup of water and took a long swig. She choked and took a couple of breaths then drank a few more sips.

The water felt soothing on her raw throat. She inched up her pillow and glanced at the flowers smiling at her. She smiled back. How cool that someone had sent her flowers. She thought back to her childhood when she was one of several siblings. Her job had been to buck up and recover. In many ways she had felt invisible. Her parents would have cared for her if there'd been a catastrophe, but they wanted her to be okay, for her and for them. They'd had too much going on to deal with a sick kid.

Cecelia looked at the bouquets of flowers and inhaled, hoping to catch a whiff of the carnations in one of the arrangements.

A knock sounded on the door and Nick stepped inside with a tray of soup. “I brought you more soup.”

“Thanks,” she said. “It's the best.”

Nick set the tray on her legs and gave her a spoon.

She spooned the soup into her mouth and moaned at the soothing sensation down her throat. She took another sip of the soup and moaned again.

“Good?” Nick asked.

“You have no idea,” she said, sipping more of the soup.

“Is there anything else I can get for you?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I'm good. I don't get sick. I never did as a child.”

“What did your parents do when you were sick?” he asked.

She laughed. “Nothing. Too many kids. They just wanted me to be okay. I was pretty much invisible.”

Nick looked at her for a long moment. “Invisible?”

Uncomfortable under his scrutiny, she shrugged and took a few more sips of soup then set the tray aside and lay back down. She hated how weak she felt, but she couldn't fight it. “Or not demanding. They did the best they could.”

“Okay,” he said and stroked her forehead. The gesture was so soothing she couldn't help but close her eyes.

“That feels so good,” she whispered.

Nick continued to stroke her and she sighed.

“What else do you need?” he asked.

“Just keep doing what you're doing,” she murmured and fell asleep

Sometime later, Cecelia awakened feeling somewhat normal. Gingerly, she lifted herself to a sitting position and grabbed her water. She took several sips.

A moment later, she noticed Nick sitting in a chair across the room.

“Hi,” she managed, surprised by his presence. Her stomach took a little dip of awareness.

“Hi to you,” he said.

“How long have you been there?” she asked, feeling vulnerable yet taken care of at the same time. She knew Nick had plenty to do without sitting with her when she was sick. The fact that he had chosen to do so made her feel a little soft and squishy inside.

“Long enough. How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she said and took another sip of water. “Much better.”

“Glad to hear it.”

She thought about how he had stroked her forehead earlier. She wasn't accustomed to such tenderness from him. It confused and bothered her. She took a deep breath and reassured herself it wouldn't last. She would get well and he would go back to being his regular self.

But she wondered how she was going to forget his touch.

Chapter Seven

T
wo days later, Cecelia felt almost normal and she went back to work. Melba, Beth and Nick clucked over her, but Cecelia knew she could not spend one more day in bed. Her fever was gone and she was not contagious. She worked a full day, but felt a bit tired.

On her way home, Tim called her and invited her to join him at the doughnut shop. “I need a rain check,” she said. “Can we meet tomorrow night?”

“Sure,” he said.

“Thank you for the flowers,” she added. “They were beautiful.”

“I'm glad you liked them,” he said. “I heard you had a rough time. I knew you and Nick Pritchett were friends, but I didn't know you were quite so close.”

“Oh, he's like a bossy older brother. I've known him since I was a kid,” she told him.

“Oh,” he said, but he didn't sound quite sure. “So tomorrow night at the doughnut shop. What time?”

“Seven?” she asked.

“Sounds good,” he said. “See you then.”

Cecelia disconnected the call and walked into the rooming house. Melba immediately greeted her. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” Cecelia said. “A little tired. I think I'll make an early night of it.”

Melba gave an approving nod. “Good girl. Beth dropped off some chicken and dumplings for you. She was afraid you would be hungry but have nothing to eat.”

Cecelia pressed her lips together. “She's been so sweet to me.”

“She's a good woman who's had a hard life,” Melba said.

“I hope she and Will Duncan will end up together,” Cecelia said in a low voice.

“I'm hoping for the same thing,” Melba said. “Beth can't seem to stop talking about him.”

“I saw them together,” Cecelia said. “He looked at her as if he would do anything for her.”

“That's the kind of man you want,” Melba told her. “That's why I chose Eugene over Bill Barbor.”

“Bill Barbor?” Cecelia echoed. She'd never heard the name before.

“Bill Barbor spent a summer in Rust Creek Falls and he asked me to go with him to Kansas City, but I knew Gene was the better man, so I stuck with him.”

“I'm not surprised there were two men vying for you,” Cecelia said.

Melba laughed. “You're a spark plug. Just like I was,” she said.

“That's the biggest compliment you could pay me,” Cecelia said. “Now, show me to the chicken and dumplings,” she said as she headed toward the kitchen. “Have you seen Nick?”

Melba cleared her throat. “I think he may have a date tonight.”

Cecelia felt an odd unwelcome twinge and avoided Melba's gaze as she surveyed the refrigerator. “Oh, well, he usually does,” she said. Locating the small casserole dish of chicken and dumplings, she pulled it out. “The girls are crazy for him and he'd be crazy to turn them away.”

Melba nodded slowly. “If you say so.”

Cecelia turned to look at Melba. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you and Nick should be together,” she said.

Cecelia's stomach fell to her feet. She shook her head. “Oh, no, Melba,” she said. “He's like my big brother. He's trying to find a man for me.”

“Hmm,” Melba said. “Seems to me he's the right man for you.”

“Never,” Cecelia said, closing her eyes.

“Never say never,” Melba said. “Now, let's heat up those chicken and dumplings from Beth.”

Cecelia stuffed herself with the dinner Beth had provided then went up to her bedroom for an early night. Despite her busy day, however, she couldn't help thinking about Nick and whomever he was with tonight.

Frustrated with her obsession with him, she took a shower and drank a cup of herbal tea that claimed it was calming. She turned on the television to watch real estate deals conducted throughout the world.

She must have drifted off because sometime later she heard the television click off. Glancing up, she saw a male figure in her room. Nick. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Just checking on you,” he said. “I thought I would turn off the TV so you could sleep better.”

“How was your date?” she couldn't resist asking.

“The usual. Rubber chicken. Woman who doesn't belong in Montana. Needed a couple of repairs. She was nice enough. Why do you ask?”

She swallowed over a strange lump in her throat. “No reason. I'm feeling better, so I'll get back to my busy social life as soon as possible,” she joked.

He paused then nodded. “Don't rush yourself,” he said.

“I won't,” she said. “Thank you for helping me when I was sick.”

“I wouldn't have it any other way. You need anything now?”

Would you touch my forehead again like you did that first night I was sick?
she thought. She bit her tongue to keep from asking such a thing.

“You're quiet,” he said, moving close to the bed. “Are you sure you're okay?”

She inhaled and caught a whiff of perfume. “I'm fine. I just want to sleep.”

“Okay,” he said. “Get some rest,” he said and opened the door.

“You smell like strong, icky perfume,” she said because she couldn't stop herself from saying it.

He paused at the door and gave a faint chuckle. “I can always count on the truth from you.”

“One of my charms,” she said.

“Yeah. Good night,” he said and closed the door.

* * *

The next night, Cecelia decided she wanted to give this time with Tim her best effort. She washed her face, put on lipstick and mascara and pulled her hair loose from its ponytail. She dressed in a skirt, boots and one of her nicest sweaters and scarves.

Glancing in the mirror, she gave a duck lips face. “About as good as it's going to get,” she said and grabbed her jacket and skipped down the stairs.

“Well, don't you look nice,” Melba called from the den.

“I tried,” Cecelia said and smiled at the older woman, who sat on the sofa watching television.

“What's the occasion?” Melba asked.

“Tim Gordon asked me to meet him at the doughnut shop. I'm not that hungry, but it's good to get out.”

“Does Nick know about this?” Melba asked.

Cecelia frowned. “Yes, but Nick doesn't need to know everything I'm doing. Just like I don't need to know everything he's doing.”

“Of course not,” Melba said, but Cecelia heard something in the woman's tone that didn't match her words. “Well, you have fun tonight. You are due.”

Cecelia felt her ruffled feathers smooth down at her landlord's encouragement. “Thanks, Miss Melba. You're the best.”

* * *

Nick had met Kenzie outside the Ace in the Hole bar when she'd tripped on the uneven walkway. He'd helped her to her feet and she'd suggested they get together sometime. Might as well, he thought and escorted her to the doughnut shop. Kenzie seemed like a nice enough addition to the town, though he wasn't sure she would make it in Rust Creek Falls. It took a special kind of woman to be happy in such a small town.

Opening the door for her, he was surprised to spot Cecelia sitting on the other side of the bakery with a man. He felt a sour sensation in his gut and pushed it aside. That must be Tim, he realized. It was good that Cecelia was getting out. He noticed she was wearing a skirt and that her hair looked almost sexy hanging down to her shoulders.

Sexy,
he thought. That was why he'd been coaching her. So she would seem a little more sexy.

“Anything wrong?” Kenzie asked. “You're frowning.”

“Uh, no,” he said, deliberately turning around toward the doughnut case. “What are you in the mood for?”

“They all look delicious,” she said and wiggled her shoulders. “But I hate to ruin my figure.”

Nick sighed. He was so sick of hearing girls talk about their diets or their figures he thought he might scream. “I think they have fat-free hot chocolate,” he suggested. “I'm getting that Boston cream pie doughnut. When you come to a doughnut shop, I say either go big or go home.”

They collected their orders and sat down at a table.

She shot him an admiring glance. “You must work out a lot. Being able to eat like that and still have such a good body.”

He should have been flattered. Instead he felt irritated. “I
work
a lot,” he corrected. “I don't have to hit a gym, and anyway, Rust Creek Falls doesn't have one.”

“Yes, I've noticed that. Not that much to do here. Thank goodness for Kalispell,” she said.

He nodded and took a bite of his doughnut and couldn't resist glancing again in Cecelia's direction. She didn't look as if she were having a good time. Come to think of it, he wasn't having a great time either.

“When I moved here, I knew Rust Creek Falls was a small town, but I didn't think about the lack of shopping,” she said.

“Yep, we don't have a lot of time for shopping around here. This is a working town,” he said.

“But there aren't a lot of jobs either,” she said. “Thank goodness I telecommute or I don't know how I'd be able to make it.” She shot him a coy look. “I do get lonely sometimes.”

“Have you thought about volunteering?” he asked.

She blinked. “Uh, no.”

“You can meet a lot of people that way,” he suggested and fell silent as he finished his doughnut.

Kenzie took a few more sips of her diet hot chocolate and sighed. “Well, uh, I should probably go,” she said.

He glanced at her in surprise. “You have some other plans?”

“Yes, I do. I really do. I need to stop by the general store and pick up a few things, so maybe we can talk some other time,” she said.

“I'll walk you to your car,” he said and rose. Nick was still thinking about Cecelia, so he didn't have much to say as he escorted her to her car. “You take care now, you hear?” he said as she climbed in, then gave a halfhearted wave as she drove off.

He glanced toward the doughnut shop and saw Tim leaving. Wondering if Cecelia was all right, he walked toward the shop. She stepped outside and he met her gaze.

“How'd it go?” he asked.

“Not that great,” she said and pursed her lips. “I was so uncomfortable with him.”

“What do you mean
uncomfortable?
” he asked.

She lifted her shoulders. “I don't know. It just didn't feel right. I wanted it to feel great, but it didn't.”

“When did it seem to go wrong?” he asked.

“I don't know,” she said. “It didn't seem to go right at any time. I walked into the shop and waved at him.”

“How?” he asked.

“What do you mean
how?
” she asked. “I just...waved.”

“Well, show me,” he said as they took a short walk.

“I did this,” she said, lifting her hand then putting it in her pocket.

“Hmm,” he said.

“What do you mean
hmm?
” she asked.

“Putting your hands in your pockets exhibits closed body language. It means you're not open, not friendly.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah, really. What else did you do?”

“Well, I didn't order a doughnut because I wasn't hungry. I don't have my appetite back. I ordered a hot tea,” she said.

“Okay, that can go either way. The woman I was with was all worried about her body and weight gain,” Nick said.

“That's not my issue,” she said. “I'm not trying to be a supermodel.”

“Good, because she couldn't stop talking about diets and spas. I was ready to poke out my eye,” he said.

“Poor girl,” she said. “She was probably hoping you were her dream cowboy.”

Nick frowned. “She was wrong. What else did you do?”

“I don't know,” she said.

“Well, sit here on this bench and try to remember,” he said.

Cecelia sat down and crossed her arms over her chest. “I tried to make conversation.”

“Did you do that?” he asked. “Did you cross your arms over your chest?”

“I guess,” she said. “I was feeling chilly.”

“Then wear more clothes,” he said.

“You told me to wear less,” she said.

Nick groaned. “Not so much that it makes you shiver.”

She shrugged. “I didn't know it would make me shiver. I'm not used to wearing a skirt. Plus I just had that fever....”

“Okay,” Nick said. “Let's replay this. Body Language 101. Practice what I'm saying. When you want to show a man you're interested, face him.” He paused. “Face me.”

“Oh,” she said and turned her body toward his.

“Good,” he said. “Now lean in.”

“Toward you,” she said and leaned in his direction with her arms crossed over her chest.

“With your hands and arms open,” he said.

“Open?” she repeated, confused. “How can I make them open?”

“Put your hands on top of the table,” he said.

“There's no table,” she said. “I don't know what to do with my hands. This is weird.”

“Flip your hair,” he said.

“You're kidding.”

“I'm not. Guys like it when you mess with your hair,” he said.

Cecelia twirled a stand of her hair. “Is this okay?”

Nick felt a weird tug of attraction. He'd never quite noticed the highlights in her hair before. A forbidden image of Cecelia lying on a bed with her hair spilled over a pillow flashed through his mind. Nick gulped and gave a mental shake of his head. Back to the lesson, he reminded himself.

“Yeah, that's good. Remember to lean in and look like you're listening to everything your date is saying,” he said.

Cecelia leaned in and twisted her hair again. “Like this?”

“Yeah,” he said and met her gaze. Something strange flashed between them. He felt drawn to her in a way he'd never felt before. He lowered his head. “Yeah,” he repeated and pressed his mouth against hers. Her lips were so soft, so sweet, and he wanted so much more.