Where Two Hearts Meet (3 page)

Chapter Three

Allison hurried up the steps and unlocked her front door. Her Persian cat, Miss Priss, jumped down from the back of the couch to greet her.

“Hello, sweetie.” She gave Miss Priss a quick pat on the head and kissed her cold nose; then she hurried into the bathroom to brush her hair upside down, wash her face, and dab on some makeup. She changed twice before she finally settled on dark brown slacks, a white turtleneck, and a dark brown sweater with a snowflake pattern across the front.

Glancing in the mirror, Allison plastered on a smile and tried to think positive. But those last fifteen pounds she always intended to lose remained firmly attached in all the wrong places. She tugged at the bottom edge of her sweater, wishing it were a little longer. Why hadn’t she kept up her exercise routine this winter, or at least said no to all those desserts Tessa asked her to try?

Blowing out a resigned sigh, she turned and walked away from the mirror. It didn’t matter. This was not a date. They were simply going to look over his designs and discuss promotional ideas for Sweet Something.

R-i-i-ight.
She rolled her eyes and knew she hadn’t even fooled herself. She hurried into the kitchen and fixed a pot of coffee.

The doorbell rang. Her heart jumped. She hurried across the living room but then slowed and pulled in a deep breath.
Lord, help me calm down and not act like a complete idiot.
They were going to discuss business and that’s all. Relaxing a little, she pulled open the front door and greeted Tyler.

He smiled, looking as handsome as ever, his face flushed from the cold and his brown eyes glowing. A few snowflakes melted in his light brown hair and dusted the shoulders of his navy blue coat. She invited him in. He took off his coat, suit jacket, and scarf, and she hung them in the closet.

“This is very nice.” He looked around her living room with an appreciative glance. Tyler had always noticed color, texture, and style. She guessed it was part of his artistic nature. Allison liked that about him. He understood her need to use her creativity and be surrounded by beauty.

“How about some coffee?” she offered. “I just made a pot. Or I have tea or cocoa.”

“Coffee sounds great. Thanks. It’s freezing outside.” He rubbed his hands together and followed her into the kitchen. He slowed and slipped his hands into his pockets as he studied the painting on the wall near her kitchen table.

The painting featured a cozy living room setting, with two red wingback chairs pulled up by a stone fireplace where a welcoming fire glowed. A round table set for dessert stood between the chairs. A sleepy gray cat sat curled up in one of the chairs, and an open Bible lay on the footstool by the other.

He leaned closer, looking as though he wanted to take in every detail of the painting. “This is an original, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” She pulled two mugs from the cabinet.

“Who’s the artist?”

Allison looked up and met Tyler’s gaze. “I am.”

“I thought so.” He smiled at her for a brief moment then turned back to the painting. “Why no signature?”

“It’s there, but when I had it framed, the mat covered it.” She filled the mugs with steaming coffee and carried them over to the kitchen table.

He spun and looked at her with a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Do you have other paintings?”

She nodded, wondering why he was so interested. “I have two upstairs in my bedroom and probably a dozen or so stored in the hall closet.”

He sent her a baffled look. “In the closet?”

“Yes. It’s too expensive to have them all framed.”

“You know, there’s a huge market for paintings like this. I saw several artists advertising their limited-edition prints when I scanned some home-decorating magazines, looking for logo ideas for Sweet Something. None of those paintings were as good as yours. You should have prints made.”

A warm glow spread through her. Tyler was also an artist, making his compliment even more meaningful. They’d met in an art class in college. He had chosen to focus on graphic design and advertising, while she had decided on fine art and teaching, but their love of art had been a common thread woven through their two-year relationship.

She glanced at her painting, considering his idea. “That would probably take a big investment of time and money, and I need to focus on the shop right now.” She set the mugs on the table and offered him sugar and cream.

“Why don’t I look into it for you?” Tyler stirred a spoonful of sugar into his coffee. “It might not cost as much as you think.” She started to shake her head, but the hopeful look in his eyes stopped her. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”

“Great!” His smile spread wider. “I can see it now—original paintings and prints by Allison Bennett hanging in galleries all across the country. You’ll become famous, and before we know it, that’ll draw huge crowds to your teashop. That’s probably the best promotional idea we could ever come up with.”

She laughed. “Tyler, you always were a dreamer.”

He took a sip and gazed at her over the rim of his mug. “I’ve always known you had a special gift.” He nodded toward her artwork. “That painting proves it. It draws you in, makes you feel like you could step right into that room.” He focused on the cozy scene. “You’ve invited a good friend over for the evening. You light the fire, put on the coffee, slice the pie, and get out your Bible so you can sit down and talk about what you’ve been learning.”

She sent him a curious glance. “That’s exactly what I had in mind.” Most people who’d looked at the painting didn’t even realize the open book on the footstool was a Bible. But Tyler had.

He nodded, looking pleased, and took another sip of coffee. “So, are you ready to take a look at my designs for Sweet Something?”

She agreed, picked up her cup, and led the way to the living room.

Tyler opened his portfolio and spread out his designs on the coffee table, then took a seat beside her on the couch. “I worked with several different concepts, but these three are the strongest. Of course we can always combine ideas and change things around.”

Allison was suddenly very conscious of Tyler’s nearness. His shoulder brushed against hers as he reached to pick up the first design, and the warm spicy scent of his aftershave tickled her nose. She clasped her hands and forced herself to focus.

Tyler explained how he came up with the logos. Then he showed her each one on menus, business cards, a new outdoor sign, a newspaper ad, even gift certificates and discount coupons. “So what do you think? Which do you like best?” Confidence and expectation glowed in his eyes. He seemed to have no doubt she’d like his work.

“They’re all beautiful. I’m not sure how to choose one.”

“Go with your feelings. Which one stands out to you?”

“Well . . . I guess I’d say this one.” She pointed to the logo featuring a delicate teacup and a soft pink rose in full bloom. The swirling green type and soft pastel colors in the rose and cup looked sophisticated yet fresh and inviting—just the image she wanted to project.

“That’s actually my favorite, too.” He turned to her and smiled. His expression softened, and tenderness filled his eyes as his gaze traveled over her face and hair.

Allison felt certain he wasn’t thinking about logo designs anymore. Her heartbeat sped up, and she held her breath, waiting to hear what he would say next.

The doorbell rang. Allison jumped as if someone had poked her with a sharp stick. “Sorry. Excuse me a minute. I’ll see who that is.” She crossed the living room, pulled opened the door, and stared in stunned silence.

“Hello, Allison.” Peter Hillinger leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

How could she have forgotten she had a dinner date with Peter? Her mind whirled back to the day she had received the anonymous check. Right after Tyler had walked out the door of her shop, Peter had come in. When he’d invited her out to dinner, she’d been so flustered she’d said yes without thinking it through or writing it down.

“May I come in?”

“Yes, of course . . . I’m sorry.” She stepped back and darted a glance at Tyler. He stood and looked Peter over warily.

A slight frown creased Peter’s high forehead when he saw Tyler. He sent Allison a questioning glance.

She forced a tight smile. “Peter, this is Tyler Lawrence. He’s . . . an old friend, and he’s offered to do some promotional work for the teashop.” She turned to Tyler, her mind spinning as she tried to come up with an explanation. “This is Peter Hillinger. He owns Princeton Interiors, the shop next to ours.”

The two men shook hands, a challenge obvious in both their eyes.

Peter turned back to Allison. “Our dinner reservations are for eight o’clock, but I think they’ll hold them for a few minutes if you’d like to change.”

She glanced down at her outfit. “Oh . . . yes, I guess I should.” She turned to Tyler, wishing she could explain. “I’m sorry. It looks like we’ll have to finish this another time.”

“No problem. I’ll call you.” He smiled, but disappointment clouded his eyes. At least she hoped it was disappointment and not irritation because she’d cut their evening short.

* * * *

Tyler watched Allie walk down the hall and slip into the first room on the right. Regret burned in his throat. There would be no more opportunity to talk to her tonight.

He felt Peter’s haughty glare even before he turned to face him. Peter wore an expensive-looking black wool overcoat, white silk scarf, and leather gloves. Tyler had spent less than two minutes with the man, but that was long enough to know he didn’t like him. His puffed-up attitude was bad enough, but the way he’d kissed Allie and walked into her house like he owned it, bothered him even more.

“So you’re an old friend of Allison’s?” Peter pulled off his gloves.

“Yes, we’ve known each other since college.”

“That’s funny.” Peter sent him a slight smile. “I don’t remember her ever mentioning you.”

Those words cut deeply, and it took him a moment to recover. “Allie and I lost touch for a few years, but I’m back in Princeton now.”

Peter glanced at the designs on the table. He lifted his brows for a brief moment, looking impressed, then glanced back at Tyler. “Interesting. But I’m not sure Allison needs any of this.”

“I suppose that’s up to her, isn’t it?” Tyler gathered up his artwork, slid them back into his portfolio, and closed the flap.

“I appreciate your wanting to help Allison with her business, but I hope that’s all you have in mind.”

Tyler gripped the handles of the portfolio, wishing he could knock the pompous expression off Peter’s face. A verse he had memorized flew to the front of his thoughts.
A foolish man gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
He walked away from Peter and grabbed his jacket and coat from the closet.

Peter followed as though he were the host and intended to show Tyler out the door. “Allison has been through a lot over the past year, helping her sister through everything that’s happened, and she’s had a rather difficult time getting her business up and running. I’ve been there for her every step of the way.” He narrowed his steel gray eyes, looking as though he wanted to make sure Tyler understood the message behind his words. “We’ve grown very close. I wouldn’t want anyone to hurt her.” Tyler squared his shoulders and locked gazes with Peter. “Neither would I.” He turned and walked out the door.

* * * *

“You invited him over to your house?” Tessa turned from brushing crumbs off one of the tearoom tables and stared at Allison.

“Well, he wanted to show me his design ideas.” Allison straightened the stack of menus, trying to ignore the disapproval in her sister’s eyes.

“Right, I’m sure he had all kinds of
designs
he wanted to show you.”

“Tessa, nothing happened! We had coffee and looked at his promotional plans for about twenty minutes. Then Peter came to pick me up for dinner.” That thought left her feeling like a deflated balloon. After she’d changed and walked back into the living room, Peter was the only one waiting for her.

“So how was your date with Peter?”

“We went to Lambertville Station. The food was good. There was a jazz trio playing.”

“So things are progressing?”

“I suppose. Peter’s just so . . .” She squinted, trying to come up with the right word.

“Mature, confident, wealthy?”

Allison rolled her eyes. “Too bad you’re already married. You could date him!”

“We’re not talking about me. Were talking about you and Peter.”

“I know.” Confusion swirled through Allison. “I like him. He’s thoughtful and interesting, but there’s something missing. It’s like I have to try too hard with him. And I just don’t feel a connection with him like I do with Ty. . .” She swallowed the rest of her sentence and turned to push in the chairs at the nearest table.

“You’re not thinking about dating Tyler again, are you?” Tessa tapped her nails on the oak desk they used as a hostess podium.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Good. Remember what happened last time. He left town and broke your heart.”

She winced at her sister’s words. “I know. You don’t have to remind me.”

“Sorry.” Tessa softened her tone. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let Tyler talk me into anything more than a business relationship.” But as Allison turned and glanced across the quiet teashop, she remembered how Tyler had spent the previous afternoon greeting customers and clearing tables for her. He seemed different somehow—still charming and persuasive as ever, but there was a softening, a gentleness about him that was new . . . and very attractive.

“Allison?” Tessa tapped her on the shoulder. “Did you hear what I said?”

“No. Sorry, guess I was daydreaming.”

“About Peter or Tyler?”

“Tessa, stop! I am not interested in Tyler.” Allison huffed and strode toward the kitchen.

* * * *

Four days was long enough to wait. Allison slipped Tyler’s business card from her apron pocket and picked up the phone. She glanced at the clock by the front door, hoping she could make the call and connect with Tyler before her sister returned from the bank. The shop didn’t open until eleven, so she didn’t need to worry about taking care of customers for at least another hour. She quickly punched in his number and whispered a prayer. On the third ring the receptionist answered. Allison willed her voice to sound confident as she asked to speak to Tyler.