When Bruce Met Cyn (11 page)

He spent his time praising people who had done good deeds for the community. He never failed to say a few prayers for Scott Royal, the deputy, or men from the fire department, asking that they be kept safe in their duties.

He praised Joe Winston for hosting benefits at the lake, Shay for her donations, the children who had written letters to the president. He'd asked the congregation to remember a neighbor who was in the hospital, and after some discussion on that, they agreed to send a variety of flowers and cards to cheer the elderly man.

All in all, Bruce celebrated life and love with a wholesomeness she hadn't known existed. He didn't judge or condemn. He accepted and encouraged.

She hadn't known a man like him existed, much less that she'd ever meet him.

There was a lot of work still to be done before the church could open its doors to the membership. Construction was a messy business, so Cyn always had a reason to be there, helping out.

She'd been at Bruce's home since noon, but everyone had been so busy, she hadn't had much of a chance to talk to him. Sometimes it felt as if he avoided her.

But other times, when she had his undivided attention, she felt special. Like an average woman, with average problems and an average life. It was strange, and she was cautious about getting too close. But in the end, she knew she didn't really have a choice. She already cared far more for him than was wise.

She was sweeping up a pile of drywall chunks and dust, lost in thought, when she felt unwanted attention. Surreptitiously, she glanced toward the two rangy young men who had spoken with her earlier. They watched her with heated expressions and a lot of speculation, whispering, probably bragging. She'd been polite and they'd gotten the wrong idea.

Such infantile idiots.

Then Shay's laughter drew her gaze in another direction. Like a golden goddess, Shay stood in a ray of bright sunshine chatting with Luna Winston and discussing trim work. Cyn had met Luna a week ago, and she couldn't get over her. The woman changed her hair almost weekly, dressed in the most flamboyant clothing, and loved to laugh.

Shay held three pieces of crown molding, and she was very animated in her comparisons. Today, Luna had reddish hair that caught and held the sunlight as she tried to talk Shay into a different piece. Several men were eyeing them with prurient interest.

“If Bryan caught them, he'd be bashing heads.”

A smile already forming, Cyn turned to Bruce.

“I think Joe Winston would have something to say about it, too.”

“Naw. Joe just acts, he doesn't talk about it.”

Cyn laughed. “That's probably true.”

Bruce glared at the men, cleared his throat loudly, and with sheepish expressions, they began storing their tools.

Bruce might be the original “nice guy,” but no one wanted to get on his bad side. He didn't instill fear or issue physical threats. He didn't exude menace the way Joe Winston did, and he didn't have that aura of danger like his brother. But because he was so respected, no one messed with him.

It was one of the reasons Cyn found herself falling head over heels for him. “Sometimes guys are just idiots.”

Still watching the men, Bruce said in distraction, “It's hard to blame them for doing what comes naturally.”

“Oh?” She'd gotten used to the sometimes silly, sometimes profound things that came out of Bruce's mouth. “And that is?”

“Appreciating the sight of a beautiful woman.” The men were forgotten as he faced her, then touched the tip of her nose. “There's a reason God made you so different from us, and it sure wasn't to discourage interest.”

Pretending disgust, Cyn pulled in her chin. “Too bad He didn't give you a few more brains to go with the eyesight, because even a doofus knows it's rude to stare.”

Bruce accepted her insult with a smile. “They'll learn eventually.”

Cyn picked up her dustpan and walked toward the garbage can, aware of Bruce following on her heels. “I was thinking about that,” she told him. “Men watching women, I mean.”

“Oh?”

They were now out of hearing range of the others, and Cyn leaned the broom against the brick wall. “Some guys were watching me—”

“Who?”

His sharp tone had her lifting her brows. “It doesn't matter who—”

“They made you uneasy or you wouldn't have noticed.” His gaze scanned the area. “Who was it?”

Though it was entirely foreign to her, Cyn appreciated his protective nature. Still, she'd sooner put up with a groping, never mind a simple stare, than have Bruce arguing with his friends and neighbors on her behalf. “Will you let me finish?”

She could tell he didn't want to, but he subsided. “Go on.”

Now that she had his attention, she felt self-conscious. “It, well, it still makes me wonder if they somehow know me.”

The bright afternoon sun added golden flecks to his brown eyes as he stared at her. “You've worked with us almost every single day. Of course they know you.”

“I don't mean that.”

Dark brows lowered in grim warning. “Then what?”

Her temper sparked. “I have to spell it out?”

Stubbornness could be his middle name. “Yes, I think you do.”

Cyn gave up. “I always wonder if they know I was a hooker, if they can somehow see the things I've done, like the reverend said—”

Bruce turned away with a muffled curse.

Surprised, Cyn blinked. Bruce
never
cursed. “What was that?”

He whipped back around to face off with her. “You're beautiful. Stunning, in fact. My brother just pointed it out to me, as if I didn't already know it. And yes, Cyn, you're sexy.”

His ire left her breathless. “You sound awfully mad about it.”

Ready to explode, Bruce jutted his chin toward her. “You're also smart, and you have a great smile and the work ethic of a mule. No non-blind man with a pulse is going to be able to ignore you. Not because they know your private business, but because you're you, a very noticeable woman.”

Trying for a little aplomb, Cyn propped her shoulder against a tree. For early May, the weather was unseasonably warm and today she wore only a T-shirt with jeans. “Your sweet-talking abilities could use some work.”

His face went blank. “What?”

“Shouting compliments at a woman is a new approach, but hey, I'm up for new things.”

Bruce appeared confused for a second, then he scrubbed his hands over his face and groaned. “Okay.” His arms fell to his sides and he said, “I admit, I overdid it. It's been a rough day. But I want you to like yourself, and to realize that other people like you, too.”

He could be so darn sweet. “Well, if
someone
would let me finish.”

He pretended to zip his lips, making her laugh.

“That's what I was trying to tell you before you did your Tarzan impression. I saw those men staring at me and felt exposed, but then I saw more men staring at Shay and Luna, and I just knew they weren't thinking dirty thoughts about them.”

“Depends on what your idea of
dirty
is. If you think they're exempt from male attention, you're wrong.”

Cyn nodded. “They were admiring the women, because they're so attractive. And I thought, well, maybe they were just looking at me the same way.”

Very slowly, Bruce's expression changed until he looked downright smug. “Eureka! I think she has it.”

Cyn playfully punched him in the chest. “Smartass.”

He caught her fist and tugged her closer. “Want to take a ride with me?”

His voice was low, somehow intimate and, to her hopeful ears, suggestive. “To where?”

“We need more window blocks. A box got dropped and several pieces were broken. It's about an hour's drive.”

Her heartbeat sped up. “I'd love that.”

“Julie and I were going to have dinner, too. There's a really wonderful Italian restaurant near the building supply store.”

Her brain sputtered, then stalled. No, he hadn't just done that to her, hadn't made her think…

“Julie?” Had she really thought he was sweet? Well, he was a jerk. Her mouth felt too tight to form a smile. Why did she have to continue being a gullible idiot around him?

“She's got some errands to run, too.”

At that moment, Julie called Bruce's name and then started toward them.

She was smiling, as usual.

She wore a dowdy, very proper outfit, as usual.

She picked her way across the debris-filled yard with prim determination.

Cyn knew it was wrong to dislike the woman, but she couldn't seem to help herself.

Julie shamed her by gifting her with a bright smile. “Hello, Cyn. How have you been?”

Cyn blushed—and tugged her hand away from Bruce. “Great. And yourself?”

“I just broke the engagement to my fiancé.”

Cyn's mouth fell open. Talk about dropping a bomb. “You were engaged?”

“Yes, but that's over now.” She beamed at Bruce.

“Thank heavens.”

Bruce nodded in satisfaction. “So you finally did it, huh?”

“Yes, and I feel much better. You were so right about that.”

“Wonderful.” He took both her hands. “We can celebrate at dinner.”

No way did Cyn want to be part of their little party. She waited in strained silence. She felt invisible. She felt mean—until Julie declined.

“Thank you, but no. I've decided to put off my errands for now. I want to make some new plans, have some fun.”

“Celebrate in your own way?”

“Exactly.”

Julie leaned forward and hugged Bruce, and damn him, he hugged her right back. Her head fit into the hollow of his shoulder and his big hands moved over her back.

Cyn's eyes nearly crossed.

“You've been such a good friend,” Julie told him. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

Cyn wanted to puke. “Look, I've got work to do—”

Julie didn't take offense. She pushed back from Bruce, and her smile now made her
almost
look pretty. “Then I'll let you get back to it. Have fun today.” And she was off.

Bruce, the sap, smiled after her. But just before Cyn could march off in a huff of annoyance, he turned to her as if that whole private exchange hadn't occurred. His smile strained, he said, “Looks like it's just us, then.”

Cyn seriously considered hitting him with her broom. Not that she'd ever expected Bruce to get moony-eyed over her, but damn it, he'd let her think…Or had he? He was so nice to everyone,
always
smiling,
always
welcoming. He made a great preacher.

While she was just learning how to make it in normal society.

“I should stick around and help Shay.” It'd be less fun, but safer for her heart. “It wouldn't be right to go off and leave her alone.”

“Shay is never alone, you know that. And I already spoke to her about it.”

He'd asked Shay before he even asked her? “Oh, really?”

As obtuse as a man could be, he grinned. “She sends you off with her blessing.”

“Well.” Cyn was back to feeling mean. “As long as it's okay with Shay, how could I possibly refuse?”

Bruce eyed her warily. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to take my head off. Don't you want to take a drive?”

Damn it, she did. But more than that, she wanted to know if he had something serious going with Julie Rose. And deep in her heart, she knew it didn't matter either way. “I don't know.”

He suddenly turned resolute. “Come with me. I won't take no for an answer. It'll be fun. And now that I don't have to worry about Julie, I'll be better company.”

“Why would you worry about Julie?”

He took Cyn's broom and started her toward the house. “She wasn't happy.”

“Why not?”

They stepped into the kitchen. “Her uncle wanted her to marry, but she's not ready, and she definitely wasn't in love with her fiancé.” Bruce leaned back against the sink while Cyn washed her hands. “Don't you think people should be in love before they get married?”

She shrugged. “I never figured on getting married, so I never gave it much thought.”

“You don't want to marry someday?”

She'd made it a point not to daydream about the impossible. As a kid, she'd wanted to fly. As a hooker, she'd wanted to win the lottery. Wishing had never done her much good. “Do you?”

He showed no hesitation. “Yes.” He looked at her mouth, sending a shiver of excitement down her spine. “The idea of spending my life with the right woman, having children and setting up house, is very appealing.”

Oh. That did sound so nice…

Then, as if he realized what he was doing and what they were discussing, Bruce shook his head. “Tell me you'll keep me company.”

Cyn was still reeling over his impassioned “right woman” speech, so she said without thinking, “Yeah, okay,” then she stared at him, appalled at herself and wanting to renege.

He didn't give her a chance. “Great. Let's get going.” He pulled her away from the sink before she'd even finished drying her hands. She grabbed her windbreaker and readjusted her purse.

She still kept it on her at all times, and more than one person had remarked on it. Sooner or later, someone would realize she had something of value inside.

Maybe it was time to open a savings account. Maybe it was time to take the next step toward blending into normal society. Her salary from Mary was small, but it was still a salary.

Before long, they were alone in Bruce's station wagon, suffering through a heavy silence and driving along the road that would lead right out of Visitation.

 

Bruce allowed Cyn to brood for all of five minutes. “Why don't you like Julie?”