Little Miss Lovesick (7 page)

The men hugged and kissed Patty goodbye, and shook hands with the other women. Ted’s handshake and smile conveyed a warmth I’d sensed in Matt. It must be a family trait. I added that to my mental list of what to look for in a man.

Don’t make that list too lon
g
, grumbled Sergeant Pride.

Gotta start somewhere, right?

When Matt shook my hand, I got that 9-volt-battery-on-your-tongue feeling again. That was definitely going on the list.

“I’m glad you enjoyed Abundance Creek,” he said. His dimple appeared as his smile widened. “Of course, you quite literally experienced the creek.” He squeezed my hand.

I laughed. “Thanks for saving me.”

He still had my hand in his, which was doing funny things to my insides. Heck, I was never going to see him again; I’d let him hold my hand as long as he wanted. His hands were rough and calloused, and his thumb traced little circles on my skin. When I got home, I was going to have to have tests done for nerve damage. ’Cause every nerve ending in my arm was firing.

Can we take him home with u
s
, asked Lovesick with a sigh.

I tried to think of something to say before I embarrassed myself. After all, there were ten other people standing around talking. Someone was going to notice Matt and I staring at each other wordlessly.

“Thanks for the lessons,” I said.

“If you wanted,” Matt paused, cleared his throat, continued, “we could exchange phone numbers.”

A thousand Voices created a cacophony of sound in my head, much like the sound of rushing wind. The sound people say they hear just before they pass out.

Logic prevailed — as it does so infrequently in my life, pretty much only when I’m working. “That sounds great. If you ever want to buy a house,” I dug through my purse looking for my cards, “give me a call.” I found a card and handed it over.

I couldn’t read his expression. “Right. Exactly,” he said as he squeezed my hand one last time and released it. He pulled a card out of his wallet and gave it to me. I was too nervous to do anything but shove it in my purse and smile.

As he walked away, I wished I knew what he was thinking. Emily sidled up next to me and whispered, “Oh. My. Gosh.”

“Shh!” I whispered. She giggled as we got in the van.

I tried to resist, but as we pulled away, I looked out the window. Matt and Ted stood watching us. Matt raised his hand and smiled. At me. I couldn’t help it. I grinned like the Cheshire cat and waved back.

“So, did you give Matt your phone number?” Patty turned in the front passenger seat to smile broadly at me.

I kept my tone light. “We exchanged business cards, but I came up here to learn to fish and I did. Now it’s back to the real world.”

Patty gave me a funny look. “I thought you two were getting along pretty well. Don’t you want to see him again?”

I laughed and shook my head. No need for matchmaking. I’d started a list of qualities I wanted to find in Mr. Right. Heartbreak had its moment. Now it was time for me to move on. When I got home, well, maybe I’d look around a little.

CHAPTER 7

WHEN Monday dawned, I was ready to go again. I came to work early, determined to catch up on anything on my desk by noon. My Starbucks iced mocha with whipped cream (yes, suga
r
an
d
caffeine) rested on a sandstone coaster as I booted up my computer and looked over my mail.

Carmen, the office manager, stopped by with my phone messages when she came in. “Okay, girl, tell me everything.” She leaned against my desk and sipped her coffee.

“Well, let’s see. I saw a bear, fell in the river, and found out I don’t like to fish.” I laughed at Carmen’s expression. Obviously not what she was expecting.

“Sounds terrible!”

I leaned back in my chair and sipped my coffee. “Actually, it was nice.” I licked whipped cream off the lid. “Unbelievably beautiful up there. Wish I could’ve stayed longer and done some hiking.” I thought about Matt. Definitely wish I could’ve stayed longer.

D
o
no
t
mention him to anyon
e
, said Pride.

“Emily kicked butt in the fish-catching department, though. Caught three, better than anyone else.”

“Good for her. Tell her I said ‘nice going’.”

“I will.” I sat up and set my drink back on the coaster.

Carmen started to return to her desk, then paused. “Any chance you met any fascinating men up there?”

Play it cool. I smiled and said, “Just the fishing guide and lodge owner.” Completely not a lie.

Carmen pointed her finger at me. “It’s time, girl. There’s plenty of good men out there. If you don’t know how to meet them, I’ll introduce you. Pretty Boy is gone, and I say good riddance.”

I grinned. It’s good to be loved. “Thanks, Carmen.”

She harrumphed and went back to her desk. I shook my head and went back to work.

Over the next couple of hours, people trickled in and out of the office, some stopping to ask about my fishing weekend. I repeated what I’d said to Carmen and got the same reactions. It was fun to be the center of attention for a few minutes.

“Hey, Sydney, how was your weekend?” Trent pulled up a chair and sat down.

I finished typing and turned away from my computer. “It was nice.” On the corner of my desk sat a bud vase with two fresh roses. I shook my head as I picked up the vase. “You’ve got to stop doing this.”

Trent had a habit of doing nice things for me sometimes like bringing me roses from the rosebush in front of his apartment complex. It was sweet. I always told him he should get a girlfriend and give the roses to her. He’d always laugh and say all the good ones were taken. Such a sweetie.

Trent laughed when I stuck my nose in the flowers. “I will when you stop enjoying them. Come on, tell me about the fishing trip.”

I grinned. “I saw a bear, fell in the river, and found out I don’t like to fish.”

“Well,” Trent raised his eyebrows, “you don’t believe in boring vacations, do you?”

I laughed. “I certainly didn’t plan it that way.”

“Speaking of vacations, what’re you doing over Fourth of July weekend? Going home?”

Something in Trent’s tone made me look up. Was he…
?
O
h
. Oh dear. I had a feeling he was about to ask me out. Before he did
,
i
f
he did, how should I reply? I know I said I was ready, but…am I? I did a quick comparison against the list I’d made in my head yesterday. Trent was kind, rather funny, good-natured. Not bad, I guess.

Yea
h
, piped up Little Miss Lovesick
,
but not like with Matt where you watch him and accidentally brush up against him and have dinner by firelight and—

Enough! Matt’s too far away to date. Trent is here.

But do I want to date him?

“My parents are going to Disney World, if you can believe it,” I told him. “Emily’s work is having a picnic on the beach before the fireworks, so we’re going to hang out there all day. Swim, eat, get a tan. What’re you doing?” I tried for a nonchalant tone. I didn’t want it to sound like I wanted him to invite me anywhere, but I didn’t want to sound like I hoped he wouldn’t, either.

“Some friends are going sailing, then we’ll watch the fireworks from the bay. Probably spend most of the time on the boat.” His eyes met mine and darted away. He fiddled with the vase I’d put down on my desk.

“Sounds fun.” Man, this flirting thing was so much easier this weekend.

“Let me know if you’d like to go out sometime — on the boat, I mean.” Trent got up to leave. “Remember, you owe me dinner.”

“What?” I snorted and wrinkled up my face. Humorous faces definitely lighten the mood.

“Last week you gave me a rain check.”

“No, I gave you a rain check for lunch.”

“Fine, what’s your schedule? I have to show a house today at 12:30.” Trent waited expectantly. Did I walk right into that or what?

“I’ll check.” I didn’t make any move to open my calendar on my laptop.

Trent cocked his head. “Tomorrow or Thursday?”

I chuckled. “I’ll check my calendar, I said.”

“Fine, Thursday then. Around one. The office may close up early and we could have the rest of the afternoon for a long lunch.” He smiled like he’d just checked my king.

I needed to learn to play a better game of chess. “If I’m free.” I shook my head at him. “Which I won’t be if you don’t let me get back to work. Go!”

He grinned and left. What was I going to do with him?

He likes yo
u
, said a Voice
.
You kind of like him. Maybe he’s The One.

I still like the other on
e
, said Lovesick.

The phone rang and saved me from having to think about it. It was the newlyweds. It’s possible I might have to kill myself if they don’t find a house soon. They kiss in every room. They stare at each other with googly eyes every moment they’re together. Once, I took her out alone and the only thing she talked about was him. They were so sweet, they were giving me cavities.

Only because you desperately wish that was your lif
e
, said a Voice.

Today they’d called to discuss the pros and cons of buying a “fixer-upper.” I gave them my opinion and they were off the phone in a flash to “conference.” That’s what they always said when they wanted to discuss something and get back to me. “We have to conference. We’ll call you back.” Don’t they know “conference” is a noun, not a verb?

The fact that you could be a happy newlywed right now if things had turned out differently is making you crank
y
, said Little Miss Lovesick.

No, the issu
e
, said Sergeant Pride
,
is that Dirk’s a jerk an
d
that’
s
why you aren’t a happy newlywed right now.

That’s enough. Remember, I’ve decided to feel better now. Focus. I choose to be happy. I choose to feel peaceful. I choose to stop thinking about Dirk.

Asshol
e
, said another Voice softly.

The phone rang again. Thank you, God! If I don’t have some distraction from all this noise in my head, I’m going to need some medication.

“By the Bay Properties, Syd Riley speaking.”

“Darlin’ Sydney! How are you, sweetheart? It’s GT!” I put my hand over the mouthpiece and groaned. I hit my forehead on the desk twice. It didn’t help.

“Are you there, darlin’? This is Gerald Turkelbain. You remember me, don’t you? You helped me buy my cottage last winter.”

Oh, I remembered him all right. Remembered every touchy-feely, Southern charming detail about him. He’d gotten a reputation for being a difficult-to-please client (in three months, he’d gone through seven realtors in four agencies without buying anything), and I had the reputation of being able to work with anyone. Of course, I ended up with a massive commission check when I found him a house. But I swore to myself and to Perry that I would never
,
eve
r
work with the man again.

“Good morning, Mr. Turkelbain.” I tried to smile as I said it.

“Oh, come on now, darlin’. It’s GT between friends. Listen, I’m looking to buy another house, one for Merci’s mama, and I was hoping I could sweet-talk you into helping me out. You’re about the nicest realtor I’ve worked with. What do you say?”

I ran one hand through my hair. I didn’t want to say yes. He was a pain in the patootie. But I wasn’t really the kind of person to say no. Which is why I was often banging my head against hard surfaces.

“Uh, let me check my calendar. Did you have anything specific in mind?” I brought up the calendar on my laptop. Not even a dental appointment. Darn!

“I sure did! I figured you come pick me up at the cottage — I’ll show you around and let you see the renovations — then we’ll have lunch at the Boathouse.” GT loved the best in everything, especially the best food. The Boathouse was arguably the nicest restaurant in town.

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I meant, did you have a specific kind of property in mind?”

“Now, that’s what we’re going to discuss over lunch, darlin’. Merci’s mama i
s
ve
r
-ry pa
r
ti
c
ular. I love her, but I’d rather get her her own cottage than have her here with me and Merci. Lawd!” GT made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like he was having an attack.

“Well, we could discuss it now, on the phone. Then I can get started that much sooner.” I hoped my voice conveyed polite enthusiasm, not a deep-seated desire to spend as little time in his company as possible. Apparently, it conveyed both.

“Aw, Sydney, honey. Ain’t you something? You’re safe from me.” He laughed again. “I’m a reformed man! Didn’t I tell you I got married? Mercedes Tobias. Well, Mercedes Turkelbain now. But I just call her Merci. Oh-h
,
Me
r
-ci!”

“You’re married?” I inhaled a deep breath of relief. Well, that changed things. I hoped. “Congratulations, GT. You sound very happy.” I hoped I didn’t sound too relieved. “I’m not available during lunch today, but tomorrow looks open.”

“I’ve got another lunch tomorrow. Hang on now.” I heard papers rustling, then GT talking to someone else. “Oh, here’s the contractor now. Can’t keep him waiting. He’s making my dreams come true with these renovations. I’ll call you back and we’ll schedule a time ASAP. Maybe a dinner meeting would work better for me. All right now, darlin’.” And he hung up.

I opened my mouth to agree, but dial tone was all that remained.