Ask Anyone (6 page)

The pastor's eyes brightened. “Then she
is
coming back? Good! I can hardly wait to meet her. Daisy and I will host a little get-together so she can get acquainted with a few people.”

Richard groaned. “You just want a chance to cross-examine her and see how she measures up as a candidate for Bobby's love life.”

“I most certainly do not,” Anna-Louise said indignantly. “I'm perfectly content to leave the matchmaking to King. Although the way I hear it, Jenna does look an awful lot like Ann-Marie. Is that so, Bobby?”

The observation seemed to suck the breath right out of him. He hadn't considered it consciously before, but it was true. Jenna did bear a remarkable resemblance to the woman who had broken his heart and humiliated him in the process. Maybe that was why he'd reacted so violently the first time he'd seen her. Maybe it had nothing to do with the commotion on his lawn at all.

“I refuse to answer,” he said blandly.

“Which must mean she does,” Anna-Louise said complacently. “King is going to be in hog heaven when he hears that little tidbit.”

“Not an especially reassuring thought,” Bobby noted. He glanced hopefully at Richard. “Can you stop this?”

“Not a chance. My wife is an independent woman. So is your sister. You don't have a prayer, my friend.”

Bobby scowled at Anna-Louise. “I could pray about this, couldn't I? And a benevolent God would take pity on me, right?”

She grinned. “Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on
what He has in mind for you. He might have sent Jenna down here in the first place just to shake you out of the doldrums.”

“If He did, it was a mean trick,” Bobby retorted.

“No, in that case, it was a divine plan,” she countered. “Pay attention to it.”

Bobby shot a commiserating look at Richard. “And you live with this kind of reasoning all the time? I feel for you.”

Richard chuckled and put an arm around his wife's waist as he steered her toward the door. “It has its compensations,” he said. “And since we're already married, she doesn't have to meddle in my love life.”

Bobby laughed as he watched them leave, but as soon as they were out of sight, his expression sobered. For all of his tart comments, he envied what they had. He truly did.

He just wasn't sure he was ready to take the risks involved in trying to find something like it for himself. And even if he were, Jenna Kennedy would be the last person on earth he'd choose. He liked serenity, and the way he felt around her was anything but serene.

 

As he always did when he was stressed, Bobby retreated to the kitchen at the yacht center. The dinner rush was only an hour away, and he'd been in the middle of preparations when Richard had come by, ostensibly to get information about the stolen carousel horse. Since he'd come with Anna-Louise in tow, Bobby was a little suspicious of his real motives. Precious little of their
time together had been spent talking about the theft. Once the conversation had veered off-course to the topic of Jenna, it had never gotten back on track again.

As he walked into the kitchen, he found the air thick with the spicy scent of steamed shrimp and crabs. The pungent aroma of garlic for the night's scampi special added to his sense of well-being. Based on the aromas alone, he was reassured that the food tonight would be incredible.

This was his milieu. There was nothing he liked better than experimenting with ingredients, adding a dash of this herb or a sprinkling of that one to bring out the flavor of a dish in a whole new way.

For a man who liked his life to be peaceful and calm, the commotion of a restaurant kitchen just before the crowds descended should have been disconcerting, but it suited him. He liked the bustle, the camaraderie, even the temperamental outbursts of his pastry chef, who was a perfectionist and tolerated nothing less from anyone coming into contact with the pies and cakes and light-as-air confections he created. The concept of great meals being orchestrated out of confusion was satisfying to him.

Bobby moved from counter to gleaming counter, from oven to oven, to check on the progress of the night's specials. Everything looked as delicious as it smelled. He clapped his hands and caught everyone's attention.

“We're booked to capacity tonight,” he announced. “Let's everybody stay calm and focused and make this a memorable evening all the way around.”

Suddenly the eyes that had been trained on him shifted their focus at the sound of a door opening.

“So, this is where you spend your time when you're not trying to bribe people into leaving town,” a honeyed voice said.

He'd discovered all too recently that only one person had a voice like that, only one had the capacity to make his blood pound, only one had the temerity to invade his space—Jenna. How could she possibly be back already? Bobby had been counting on having at least a few days to mentally prepare for her return. Her overnight return caught him totally off-guard.

As his entire staff feigned a sudden interest in the food preparation that was already under control, he turned slowly. “Back already, Jenna?”

“What can I say? I felt so welcome here, I rushed right back. Can we talk?”

“Not now,” he said emphatically. He tucked a hand under her elbow and escorted her back to the dining room. “No one besides staff is allowed back here.”

She peered around his shoulder for one last glimpse of the kitchen. “Don't want the customers to see what you're doing to their food? Are you using some preservative that will eventually kill them all?”

He scowled at her. “That isn't even mildly amusing. No one is allowed back here, first, because I say so, and, second, because it's dangerous. They get in the way. They can get burned. Fair warning, Ms. Kennedy.”

“Duly noted,” she said, not looking the least bit chastened. “When can we talk?”

“Where are you staying? I'll call you tomorrow.”

“I meant tonight,” she said.

“I'm sure you did. Tomorrow will have to do.”

Her gaze met his. “Is everything between us going to be a battle?”

“Pretty much,” he said unrepentantly. “It's your choice to be here. I can't ban you from the town, but I don't have to deal with you on your terms.”

“But you
do
have to deal with me,” she said just as emphatically. “I'm not going away until you do. What time do you close?”

“On a weeknight, the last of the customers are gone by ten, except at the bar. I'm finished cleaning up in the kitchen about an hour later.”

“I'll be here,” she said, her gaze unflinching.

Bobby had to admire her grit. Most people would have wilted and accepted his terms. Most would have seen the sense in giving him a tiny, albeit meaningless, victory. Jenna apparently didn't intend to give an inch.

“Whatever,” he said, resigned. He headed for the kitchen.

“And don't try sneaking out the back door,” she called after him.

Bobby flushed guiltily at that. It was exactly what he had been contemplating. He turned back slowly and, as if the thought had never crossed his mind, said, “I wouldn't dream of it.”

She laughed. “Then you aren't half as sneaky as you've wanted me to believe. I'll see you around eleven.”

“I wish I could say I'll be looking forward to it,”
Bobby retorted, then pushed open the kitchen door and retreated.

Safely inside, he leaned for a moment against the counter, drew in a deep breath and prayed for patience.

While he was at it, he added a little prayer for help in resisting temptation, because for the last ten minutes—ever since Jenna Kennedy had appeared in his kitchen—all he'd been able to think about was kissing the annoying woman senseless.

J
enna felt triumphant as she went back to the table where Darcy was waiting, her expression sullen.

“There's nothing on this menu I like,” Darcy complained as Jenna sat down.

“You love crabcakes,” Jenna said, refusing to be goaded into an argument. “And hamburgers and French fries.”

“Not anymore,” Darcy insisted in the lofty tone of someone twice her age.

“Then sit there while
I
eat.”

Darcy stared at Jenna with a shocked expression. “You're going to let me starve?”

“You won't starve if you miss one meal,” Jenna said, holding firm for once. “Besides, it's your decision not to eat, not mine.”

Her daughter seemed taken aback. “Mommy, what's happened to you? You never used to be like this.”

“I developed a backbone,” Jenna said, realizing that it was true. For too long she had catered to Darcy's every whim—to say nothing of Randall Pennington's—out of guilt over divorcing Nick. She had paid and paid and paid.
Well, no more. It hadn't done any good that she could see, anyway.

Astonishingly, the shift in her thinking had happened after she'd had her first encounter with the impossible Bobby Spencer. He had solidified every ounce of resolve she'd ever possessed. Someday, when he stopped annoying her, she would thank him for that.

“I don't like it,” Darcy said, pouting.

Jenna grinned at her. “No, I imagine you don't, but get used to it, because this is the way it's going to be from now on. We're turning over a new leaf while we're in Trinity Harbor.”

“What does that mean?” Darcy asked suspiciously.

“It means you don't run the show, I do,” Jenna told her. “It'll be a new experience for both of us.”

Just then a waitress approached and asked to take their orders. Jenna looked at Darcy. “Are you just having water, or have you reconsidered?”

“I'll have a hamburger,” Darcy said meekly. “And French fries.”

Jenna hid a smile, then ordered the shrimp scampi for herself along with a salad of arugula, endive, blue cheese and walnuts. “I'll have water to drink for now and coffee after dinner.” She glanced at Darcy. “What would you like to drink?”

“A soda,” Darcy said at once, regarding Jenna with a defiant look.

Since she'd won the earlier battle over the food, Jenna gave in on the soda. Normally, she restricted her daughter's intake of sodas to one a day, and Darcy was
already well over that limit; she'd begged to stop for a drink three times en route to Trinity Harbor.

“Since this is the first night of our vacation, you can have it,” Jenna agreed. “But don't press your luck tomorrow.”

As soon as the waitress had brought the drinks, Jenna spotted a woman heading straight toward them, a man and boy in tow. Belatedly she realized the man was the same sheriff's deputy she'd met on Sunday at Bobby Spencer's. He nodded at Jenna.

“Ms. Kennedy, I don't know if you remember me,” he said.

“Of course, I do. It's Walker Ames, isn't it?”

“Good memory.”

“It was a memorable occasion,” she said dryly.

His grin transformed his somber face. “That it was. The impatient woman beside me is my wife, Daisy. And this is our son, Tommy.”

As Jenna was about to acknowledge the introduction, Walker held up a silencing hand. “And just so you know, Daisy is a Spencer. She's Bobby's sister.”

Daisy frowned at her husband. “You didn't have to say that like she needs to be warned.”

“Oh, yes, I did,” Walker said with a sympathetic look at Jenna. “Prepare yourself. Daisy has questions.”

“A million of them,” Daisy agreed. “Will you be in town long?”

“For as long as it takes,” Jenna told her.

“Have you considered buying a house and thinking ahead toward retirement?” Daisy said wryly. “My brother can be difficult.”

“So I've gathered,” Jenna said, her tone just as dry.

Tommy was eyeing Darcy with evident fascination. “Cool haircut,” he said admiringly.

“Don't even think about it,” Walker said emphatically.

Daisy rolled her eyes. “Long story, but Tommy is actually Walker's nephew. Walker is still adapting to his new role as Tommy's father. He hasn't quite grasped the concept that forbidding something only makes it more alluring.”

Jenna laughed and gestured at Darcy. “Sweetheart, tell Deputy Ames what I told you right before you dyed your hair green.”

“She told me I couldn't dye it purple,” Darcy said, then added with a proud lift of her chin, “and I didn't.”

Daisy bit back a smile. “Ah, the loophole defense. I'm a teacher. I hear that one quite often.” She tucked an arm around Tommy's shoulders, then added pointedly, “It doesn't work with me.”

Tommy shrugged. “I've figured that out.” His gaze went back to Darcy. “You want to come by and see my boat sometime? Walker and me have been working on it for a really long time. It's almost ready to go in the water.”

Darcy nodded at once, her sullen expression vanishing at the prospect of finding a friend and having an adventure. “Sure. Mom, would it be okay?”

“Please,” Daisy said at once. “Jenna, you and I could chat.”

Walker groaned. “Agree at your own peril,” he warned Jenna. “My wife is not known for the subtlety of her grilling.”

Jenna was undaunted by that. “Neither am I,” she said at once.

Daisy laughed. “You and I are going to get along very well,” she said. “What about tomorrow at noon? We can have lunch.”

“I'd love it,” Jenna said, already envisioning the million and one tips she could get on handling Daisy's brother. “We'll be there.”

“I don't suppose there's any chance at all that Bobby's name won't come up,” Walker said in one last display of masculine loyalty.

“None,” Jenna and Daisy agreed in chorus.

“Then I'd better go in the kitchen and warn him he might want to consider abandoning any thought of developing the riverfront and concentrate on leaving town,” Walker said, heading off in that direction.

Tommy looked up at Daisy. “Why would Uncle Bobby want to leave town?”

“That's just Walker's way of being a smart aleck,” Daisy told him. “It is not an attractive quality. Don't even think about emulating him.”

Tommy stared at her with a puzzled look. “I don't even know what that means.”

Daisy winked at Jenna. “I'll explain it to you back at our table. Nice meeting you, Jenna. You, too, Darcy. I'll look forward to tomorrow.”

“Me, too,” Jenna responded. Especially if, as Walker had implied, her visiting Daisy was going to drive Bobby Spencer up a wall.

 

“They're out there, right now, together?” Bobby repeated, staring at Walker with dismay. “Jenna Kennedy and Daisy?”

“Oh, yeah. And they're making plans, big ones from the sound of it,” his brother-in-law warned him. “Some sort of get-together tomorrow for lunch. Just so you know, it was actually Tommy's idea. I don't think he realized what he was setting in motion.”

“I'm surprised Daisy let you loose to warn me.”

“Oh, I think that's part of her strategy. She wants you nervous.”

“Why?”

“Because it will be proof that she's right about Jenna being the woman who can shake you out of your complacency,” Walker said. “I'm only beginning to grasp just how devious your sister's mind truly is. If I'd known a few months ago, I might not have been so quick to jump into marriage.”

Bobby laughed at that. “As if you had any choice in the matter! You were a goner from the minute you hit town to meet Tommy and try to take him away from her. She had no intention of letting that boy leave with you, even if it meant luring you into falling in love with her.”

Walker shrugged. “Let that be a lesson to you. The circumstances might be different, but Daisy sees the same fate befalling you.”

“Not a snowball's chance in hell,” Bobby insisted, though his denials—which should have been improving
with practice—were beginning to lose a little steam instead. Even he could hear the change. He didn't need Walker's prompt grin to point it out.

“Well, consider yourself duly warned,” Walker said. “I've done my bit in terms of family loyalty. You know the score. I'm sure you can handle things from here on out.”

Bobby sighed. “I wish I were half as confident of that as you are.” He picked up the orders that had been prepared for Walker, Daisy and Tommy and handed them to Walker. “Take these with you.”

“Hey,” Walker protested. “I thought this place was renowned for its good service, as well as its excellent food.”

“Like you said, you're family. You can help out.”

“See if I ever give you fair warning about any schemes afoot again,” Walker grumbled as he left with their meals.

Once his brother-in-law had gone, Bobby went back to work with a vengeance, but nothing he did blocked out the image of his sister and Jenna conspiring behind his back. Just the thought of it made him shudder. The only thing worse would be King getting in on the act.

He could think of only one way to keep the two women apart. He could make Jenna a better offer—maybe dangle the prospect of a noontime tour of the waterfront before her. It was better than leaving her alone with Daisy. At least if
he
was with her, he'd know what she was up to.

He didn't wait until he'd cleaned up the kitchen to execute his plan. The second the last order had been sent to a table, he slipped into the dining room, glanced
around until he spotted Jenna and headed her way. His step faltered only when he saw the girl with her. A grin slipped across his face. Green, spiked hair. He had to admire the child's daring. Jenna must be an incredibly liberal mother, or the girl was being taught a lesson. He suspected the latter.

When Bobby reached their table, he pulled out a chair, turned it around and straddled it. “How was dinner?” he asked.

“Excellent,” Jenna conceded.

“It was okay,” the girl muttered, her scowl firmly in place.

“Darcy, don't be rude to Mr. Spencer,” Jenna chided. “By the way, Bobby, this is my daughter, Darcy.”

“I can see the resemblance,” he said with a pointed glance at the girl's hairdo.

“It was a little experiment that went awry,” Jenna explained.

“I like it,” Darcy insisted. She turned to Bobby. “Is there anything to do here?”

Bobby studied her with an assessing look. “How old are you? Ten? Twelve?”

“Nine,” Jenna said.

“Then at this hour of the night, there is nothing for you to do,” Bobby said.

“Normally she wouldn't be out this late,” Jenna said defensively. “But I couldn't leave her at the hotel by herself, and you were the one who refused to talk to me earlier in the evening.”

Bobby could have debated endlessly who was at fault
for the late meeting, but right now he needed to concentrate on preventing that meeting between Jenna and his sister. “Why don't we get together tomorrow?” he suggested. “Say, around noon. I'll take you on a tour of the waterfront area.”

Immediate interest sparked in Jenna's eyes, but faded almost as quickly. “You know I'm supposed to meet your sister at noon, don't you?”

He feigned ignorance. “Really?”

“Oh, don't try that with me. I know Walker couldn't wait to run into the kitchen to warn you.”

“So, what's it going to be? Are you more interested in lunch with Daisy or in seeing the land I'm planning to develop?”

“Why does it have to be an either/or proposition?” she asked.

He shrugged. “That's just the way it is. This is a onetime-only offer. Take it or leave it.”

Jenna's gaze clashed with his. “Then, unfortunately, I'll have to leave it. It would be impolite to back out on lunch with your sister, now that I've already accepted. Besides, Tommy and Darcy have made plans as well. He wants her to see his boat.”

“Your choice,” Bobby said, standing up. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“Hey,” Jenna called after him. “We need to talk.”

“We just did,” he pointed out.

“You know perfectly well what I mean.”

“Call Maggie. Maybe she'll be able to squeeze you in
later this month. My calendar's booked pretty tight. All those other developers, you know.”

He heard Jenna's gasp and hid a grin before turning back. “Yes?”

“I thought you weren't seeing anyone yet?”

“I hadn't intended to, but once you slipped through the door, I had no choice but to schedule the others. You'd be amazed how many people are anxious for a piece of this project.”

She frowned at him. “One o'clock,” she said tightly. “I'll cut short my visit with your sister.”

He shook his head. “Not good enough. Noon's my final offer.”

“Dammit, Bobby Spencer—”

“Careful,” he warned with a pointed look at Darcy. She'd been half-asleep, but her mother's muttered curse had gotten her attention. She seemed almost as surprised by it as Bobby was.

Jenna sighed. “Noon. Where shall we meet?”

As far away from Daisy's as possible, he thought. Aloud, he said, “Earlene's. I'll buy you both a sandwich before we head out on the tour.”

“Noon at Earlene's,” Jenna agreed with obvious reluctance. “But I think you ought to be the one to call your sister and apologize for spoiling our plans.”

“Not a chance,” Bobby said fervently. He wasn't going to listen to an hour-long lecture on his devious nature and lack of manners.

“I'm not sure you want her to hear my spin on this,” Jenna countered.

He frowned at that. “Fine. I'll call and express your regrets.”

“My
very deep
regrets,” Jenna emphasized. “And do it tonight, before she spends a lot of time preparing lunch.”