Sparks & Cabin Fever (3 page)

She glanced at her wristwatch. Harper was thirty minutes late. She texted her and waited for a few minutes, then sent another text. No response. That was par for the course with Harper. She had a bad habit of turning off her cell phone or putting it into her purse where it was impossible to hear it, especially if she had it on vibrate, which she usually did. Harper had a pager to notify her of any problems with her elderly parents, though. She never went anywhere without it and kept it within hearing range at all times. Harper often got on Stefani's nerves, but she had to admit that Harper was a loving and dutiful daughter to her elderly parents. Her parents came first in Harper's life. She'd drop everything the minute her pager went off.

Stefani ordered a glass of wine then sat on a bar stool, positioning her body so that she faced the crowded room. The bar's décor was plain. Actually, the building used to be an old barn. The younger crowd always packed the place on weekends, especially Friday nights. Stefani didn't come here often, but when she did, she noticed how the crowd seemed to get younger and younger, and then realized that it was because she was getting older. She waved to a few people when they called out to her. There were a few others her age or older, but she still felt out of place. Especially sitting at the bar alone. She thought that it made her look desperate.

She sighed heavily. Still no sign of Harper. She'd wait until ten, and if Harper didn't show by then she'd head home. She wished she wouldn't have come in the first place. She was growing increasingly more uncomfortable as she watched the happy couples dancing and enjoying themselves. She didn't belong here. She belonged at home curled up with a good novel.

The Dusty Road was packed to capacity since there was the usual Friday night band. Occasionally a band also played Saturday nights, but never a Friday night went by that a band wasn't present. Garden Grove didn't have much else to offer in the way of entertainment. There wasn't even a movie theater anymore.

Garden Grove at one time had been a small, but thriving community. Until the town's only manufacturing plant, which had employed a good portion of the citizens, had closed its doors after operating in Garden Grove for almost one hundred years. The closing of the plant had signaled a death knell for the small town that used to boast a large department store, movie theater, three restaurants, a hotel, and numerous shops. Stefani longed for those days when she had to go no farther than Main Street to find anything she was in need of. She missed the old drug store with the lunch counter and the snack shack where the kids would hang out after school. She'd spent many long lazy afternoons there as a teen. Now it was boarded up along with many of her other once familiar haunts.

She sighed. She'd never liked change, but there was nothing she could do about the economic downturn of Garden Grove. It was only one of many small communities that was rapidly turning into a ghost town. Harper worked at a hair and nail salon, and Stefani knew she only stayed in Garden Grove because of her elderly parents. They were in declining health and lived in Garden Grove's assisted living facility.

She wondered what had brought Deacon Travis here. He'd listed his address as the old Browning house. The Browning's had moved away a couple of years ago and their house had been on the market almost as long. She was surprised that anyone would buy it. Not because of the property, but because of the price. It was the most beautiful and expensive home in town with lavish rolling lawns and the most elaborate and striking gardens Stefani had ever set eyes on. It sat on several acres and had been in the Browning family for generations. But it, too, had succumbed to the times. The heir to the Browning fortune had been young and foolish, squandering away most of his inheritance. The last Stefani had heard, he'd set off for California with dreams of making it in the film industry. Only someone financially well off could afford the home. It must have been a very quick and private sale or else she, as well as the rest of the town, would have heard about it.

If Deacon had a wife, he hadn't listed her name on the post office box application. Could he actually be single? Her heart fluttered. Her initial reaction to Deacon Travis surprised her. She'd never had such a reaction to a man before him. But, instinctively, she sensed he was different from the men around here. Maybe that was the reason. He wasn't from around here and she knew nothing about him. But she'd also never seen a man with such refined good looks. She scolded herself. She'd never been one to judge a person just on their looks and now realized she was acting like Harper. Well, it didn't matter. Even if he were single, he'd never be interested in someone like her. No, he'd be more drawn to sexy and vivacious Harper. But then again, just maybe he'd be interested in someone who could hold her own when it came to discussions on world events. Harper wasn't much of a conversationalist unless the topic involved the latest fashions, hairstyles, or shopping.

Harper warned Stefani that getting herself so worked up over politics and everything else happening in the world was a turn off for most men. Harper had no interest in world events. She only cared about what was happening in her own little corner of the world. But those were the topics that interested Stefani. She liked to keep abreast of what was going on in the world outside of Garden Grove. She craved lively intellectual conversations with the occasional debate thrown in for good measure. She also loved art museums and the theater, but Harper thought those were dull pass-times and a waste of her time. Even a walk or hike in nature couldn't stimulate Harper. She was content to while away her hours reading fashion magazines and watching reality television. Stefani loved to read, and in the winter months preferred curling up with a good book instead of watching television.

Stefani took a swallow of wine. She glanced at her wristwatch again and then checked her cell phone. She gritted her teeth. Her body tensed and she bristled. She shoved her phone back into her pocket. She was lost in thought and didn't notice someone had come up to the bar and was standing next to her.

“Is this seat taken?” a deep voice with a familiar Texas drawl asked.

Stefani, startled, almost lost her grip on her wine glass. She turned her head and looked up into the dreamy dark eyes of Deacon Travis.

“No…no, please sit.” She steadied her nerves as he sat on the bar stool next to hers. As he shifted his weight on the bar stool, his rock hard thigh brushed against her and a hot searing spark shot through her. She stiffened and looked down into her wineglass. She realized that she'd succumb to him in a heartbeat if he asked. That shocked her. The emotions flowing through her were foreign to her, but definitely pleasurable. As she glanced at him, she let her imagination run wild, imagining Deacon's magnificent body pressed up against her own.

Her nipples hardened and strained against her bra. Her face flushed. Harper was right about one thing, Deacon Travis definitely was gorgeous. Tonight he was wearing black jeans, an olive green short-sleeved shirt opened at the neck, and black boots. She wished she'd worn a skirt, but had settled for a pair of blue jeans and a long-sleeved pale pink blouse. She wore a pair of flats on her feet. Her neck and ears were adorned with a simple gold chain with matching earrings. Most of the people here dressed casually. Very few of the women were dressed in skirts or dresses, but it would have been a way to impress Deacon with her best asset—her long shapely legs.

“It looks like the entire town is here tonight,” Deacon observed as he held up his empty beer bottle, catching the bartender's eye when he looked their way. “Is it always this packed?”

It dawned on Stefani that he must have been here for a while since he'd already finished a beer. She hadn't seen him as she'd scanned the crowd looking for Harper. It didn't matter. All she cared about was that he'd noticed her and wanted to sit with her. She noticed a lot of single women in the crowd and felt a sense of satisfaction that she'd been the one he'd chosen to spend time with. Her insides quivered and now she silently prayed that Harper had bailed on her. She would certainly forgive her if she had.

“You'll soon find out that The Dusty Road is about the only entertainment in town on Friday and Saturday nights, especially with the Friday night band.” She smiled at him. “Unless you prefer the weekly game of bingo over at the community center.”

The bartender quickly retrieved another bottle of beer, opened it, and set it on the bar in front of Deacon.

Deacon picked up the bottle and took a long swallow. His eyes crinkled with laughter as he looked at her. “I think I'll pass on the bingo. Is there a movie theater? I didn't see one.”

She shook her head. “We don't have one anymore. We used to have a pretty decent one until Garden Grove went belly up.”

He nodded. “It's happening all over. Hopefully things will turn around again soon.” He shifted his weight on the barstool. “Do you come here often?” he asked peering intently at her.

His eyes were so penetrating she thought he could read her mind. If he could, he would see that she was imagining his naked body caressing her own as she spread herself wide, pleading with him to still the burning ache within her. “No, only once in a while. I'm meeting Harper. She's running late.” She'd debated mentioning Harper's name, but didn't want him to think this was a regular hangout of hers.

“She makes quite a first impression,” he said with a chuckle as he lifted what Stefani interpreted as a suggestive eyebrow. “I take it you two are close friends.”

She nodded. “Since kindergarten.” Here goes, she thought. He'll want to find out all he can about Harper. For a few fleeting moments she'd almost convinced herself that he might be interested in her. She should have known better. Next to Harper, she was plain. Hell, almost every woman she knew looked plain next to Harper. She bent her head and swallowed hard. She didn't want him to see how hurt she was. She should excuse herself and leave, but for some reason she couldn't get her body off the barstool. She took a deep breath and raised her eyes. Harper wasn't here, she was. Maybe she could think of something to say that would pique his interest and take his focus off of Harper, if only for a few minutes.

Deacon took another swallow of beer. Stefani liked his easy smile and his warm eyes. She was comfortable with his closeness. Too comfortable. She could definitely get used to this. It surprised her how quickly her nervousness had left her. Usually she became tongue tied around men until she got to know them, but Deacon put her at ease as though she'd known him forever. She couldn't deny the strong urges bubbling inside of her and knew that she desperately ached for him. She'd never felt that way about any other man before.

All of those dormant emotions came soaring to the surface. As her eyes drifted over Deacon's body, while his gaze had turned to the dance floor, her mind continued to imagine their entwined bodies as he plunged deep inside of her, thrusting slowly in and out while she dug her nails into his strong back, screaming out his name. In her fantasies, as her passion exploded, she would experience the climax she yearned for. She squirmed on the stool as surges of searing desire shot through her and made her wet.

Deacon moved his eyes back to her. “If you don't come here often, have no movie theater, and obviously don't enjoy playing bingo, then tell me what do you do when you're not working at the post office?” he asked with his wide infectious grin.

She grinned. “I have many interests. I garden, and take long walks, but I especially love to hike. I enjoy most outdoor activities.” She shrugged. “It doesn't matter the season, I would rather be outside than inside any time.”

“Really?” He flashed that amazing smile again. “I spend the majority of my time outdoors too…when I can.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “I need to find a good fishing spot.” He raised his eyebrows. “Do you know of any or are you going to tell me that you also like to fish?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Stefani grinned. “There are plenty of good spots around here.”

“Just what I was hoping to hear.” He propped an elbow on the bar as he continued staring at her. “Maybe you can show me some of those fishing spots some time.”

Stefani's heart lurched. Harper had no interest in outdoor activities. Maybe there was a chance for her. “Just let me know when you'd like to go.”

“I will.” He leaned back against the bar and turned his head, peering at her. “I remember when I was a boy I used to love going camping every summer. I'd be lying peacefully in my sleeping bag listening to nature and just drifting off to sleep when my older brother would sneak around the side of the tent and make noises. I thought a bear was outside of the tent. I'd scream so loud I probably could have been heard for miles, but those camping trips were the highlight of my summers for as far back as I can remember.”

“My parents and I used to camp a lot, too. I got my love of nature from them,” Stefani said. “Hiking, fishing, you name it and we did it.”

He took another swallow of beer. “Those were the good old days.”

She nodded. “They sure were. I haven't been camping in years, but I do go fishing quite a bit.”

“I'm looking forward to fishing again. It's been a while.”

She smiled. “So, what brings you to Garden Grove? We don't usually get too many newcomers.”

“My company purchased the former Ware Factory. I have to meet with the contractors next week to see how much work needs to be done.” He shifted his weight on the barstool. “We've bought up the abandoned properties next to it and hope to expand the plant.”

“So, you're going to reopen the factory?” Stefani asked hopefully. “It would be nice to have the factory running again. It was devastating when Ware went under.”

“If everything goes according to plan we'll have more than enough available jobs in every capacity to employ anyone in town who's looking for work, from teenagers to seniors.” He took another swallow of beer. “It'll draw new businesses to town, too. And maybe reopen some of those that have closed.”