Heaven With You (12 page)

On Wednesday I reluctantly approached Renee at the hospital cafeteria.  She was sitting alone, eating a salad and flipping through a fashion magazine. I studied her a moment, thinking how pretty she was with her straight brown hair, big whiskey-colored eyes and lithe figure. She and Hunter would make a cute couple. Suddenly, I wanted to turn and run but Renee lifted her head and smiled at me.

“Hey, Isabelle. How’s it going?”

“Super. What about you?”

Renee shook her head. “This week is dragging.”

“Do you have any plans for the weekend?” I asked quickly, knowing I was close to changing my mind.

“No, nothing major. Just laundry, shopping, why what’s up?”

“I have this friend and I think you two might be perfect together. He’s a police captain, very sexy and fun to be around.”

“Whoa! Stop right there you had me at ‘perfect date’. What’s his name?”

“Hunter McAllister.”

“Hunter McAllister! Holy shit, are you serious?”

I hesitated, puzzled at her reaction. “Yes.” I frowned. “Do you know him?”

“My sister had the biggest crush on him in high school. He was a few years ahead of me, but I knew who he was. I can’t believe you want to set me up with him.”

I couldn’t believe it either. I wondered if it was too late to take back the offer.

“Is he divorced?”

“No, his wife died sixteen years ago.”

Sympathy filled her eyes and I could tell Renee would like to wrap Hunter in her arms and kiss away his pain. I felt like crying.

“I’d love to go out with Hunter McAllister.”

“Wonderful. Why don’t you text me your address and I’ll pass it along to him. We’re going to double if that’s okay.”

“Sounds fun,” Renee chirped excitedly. “I can’t wait. Thanks, Isabelle.”

“No problem.” Only I was lying through my teeth. It was definitely a problem, and it was only going to get worse when I had to witness Hunter and Renee’s date.

I was dying to talk to someone so I called Cora and she told me to meet her at a local coffee shop.

“So it was your idea to set him up with other women?” she asked with disbelief.

“I wanted to get his attention and spend time with him.”

Cora smirked. “FYI—taking your clothes off would have gotten his attention and you’d probably have spent some time with him—in bed.”

I smiled in spite of everything. “So you’re saying my plan sucked?”

“It’s insane. Isabelle, if you like a guy then you want to keep other women away from him not offer to help him find them.”

“I know but I wasn’t thinking straight and he told me that he didn’t think we should be more than friends.”

“Hmm. But he also said that he was attracted to you. Alright, the best thing to do now is go on the dates you’ve planned and try to make the best of it.”

“You’re right. I’ll try to have fun.”

“Tell me you’re setting him up with a chubby, frumpy woman with glasses or buckteeth.”

“No, I couldn’t do that to him. Renee is beautiful and interesting. He’ll like her.”

Cora rolled her eyes. “You don’t want him to like her.”

“You’re right. I want him to like me, but he’s not interested. I should probably just settle for being his friend.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Try to pay attention to Hunter when he thinks you’re not watching. He can’t keep his eyes off of you. This could get interesting.” She wagged her brows.

“I’ll let you know what happens.”

“Right. Call me.” Cora smiled. “Wear something super sexy and flirt with him. If anything interesting happens, call me ASAP.”

“Thanks Cora.”

When Saturday arrived I was anxious. I let my hair dry naturally and it fell in soft waves down my back. Taking Cora’s advice I slipped on the sexiest dress I owned, one with a halter-top and flared skirt. I paired it with my cowboy boots.

At seven o’clock someone knocked on my door. Taking a deep breath, I pulled open the door and faced my date. He was good-looking, looked to be in his mid-twenties and had a body-builder’s physique that boasted of many hours spent in the gym.

I smiled. “Hi, you must be Troy.”

His eyes traveled slowly down my body. “Wow. It’s nice to meet you Isabelle.”

“Same here. Would you like to come in?” My gaze landed on the package he carried in his hand.

He flashed a smile that would make his toothpaste maker proud.  “I was going to bring you flowers, but I figured this would be more practical.”

I took the package he handed me, opened it and pulled out a package of mace. “Thanks. I can always use another bottle.”

Troy looked worried. “You don’t like it.”

“I love it.”

“I hope you’re not offended. I saw where you lived and thought you’d get more use out of this than flowers.”

“You’re absolutely right,” I assured him. He seemed like a really nice guy, and I was determined to give him a chance. “Let me just put this up before you go.” My eyes widened at my blunder. “I meant before we go.”

I tried to like Troy, but after telling him at least a dozen times that I appreciated the mace, my mood started to wilt.

“If you want, I can stop and buy you some roses before we eat.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.”

We made it to the restaurant and sat down. A few minutes later Hunter and Renee walked in and my stomach dropped. I’d been right. They looked amazing together, and I wasn’t the only one watching them. Troy seemed as intrigued by the duo as I did, maybe even more so.

They even matched! Renee looked stunning in a black mini-skirt, boots and a blousy, blue, one-shouldered top. Her hair was a riot of curls loosely pulled back and fastened at her nape. Even beside Renee, Hunter was drawing the attention of women as they made their way through the crowd. Dressed in jeans, a blue plaid button-down shirt and boots, he was gorgeous.

Troy’s jaw dropped, and he gaped, unable to take his eyes off of Renee. “Renee?”

Hunter and Renee approached the table, but suddenly she stopped and stared, wide-eyed at Troy.

“
Troy.
”

Okay. So, apparently, we all knew each other. I looked at Hunter and saw he was as surprised as I was. He glanced back and forth between Troy and Renee.

Renee stepped closer to Hunter and looked up at him. “Troy is my ex-boyfriend.” She said ex-boyfriend in the same tone one might say ‘serial-killer’.

“What a coincidence.” I could not believe the irony. Renee was mouthing something to me.
Too Soon Troy
. My eyes widened. It wasn’t a nickname that he’d want getting out.

“You did not just mouth that to her.” Troy glanced down at me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. “I promise you don’t need to worry.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

Hunter, who hadn’t seen Renee mouth to me, shot me a quizzical look. I shook my head once. He didn’t want to know. The four of us sat down and ordered, trying to make small talk, which wasn’t easy considering that Troy and Renee clearly hated each other.

Renee sat close enough to Hunter that their bodies were pressed against each other. “So how do you know Troy?”

“We play golf together,” Hunter replied.

Troy glanced over at me. “How do you know Renee?”

“I work at the hospital with her. If the two of you would rather just call this off now, we’ll understand,” I said, speaking for Hunter and I. He didn’t look displeased.

“No!” They answered together.

“What do you do at the hospital?” Troy asked.

“I’m an entertainer. The clown I created, Izzy, tries to cheer up children in the hospital.”

“She does an amazing job,” Renee announced proudly. “Everyone loves Izzy and Ellie.” Reluctantly, she spoke to Troy. “Ellie is Hunter’s daughter.”

“I know Ellie,” Troy returned. “I’m sure they’re wonderful.”

“They are wonderful, amazing in fact,” Renee shot back as if Troy had contradicted her.

“I just said that Renee.”

“Well, you said it in a sarcastic tone. Didn’t he Isabelle?”

“I—I thought he was sincere.”

“I’d never say anything to offend Isabelle. She’s sweet and beautiful and nice.”

“Are you implying that I’m none of those things?” Renee snapped.

“Renee, you need to stop. We’re on a date.”

They continued their back-and-forth banter that was laced with a sexual tension that neither of them seemed aware of but was obvious to Hunter and I.

Across the table I felt Hunter’s eyes on me, and I lifted my chin and met his piercing blue gaze. He stood up and held out his hand. “Dance with me?”

My stomach dipped. I nodded.

He got up, came around to me and held out his hand. I let him lead me to the dance floor where the live band was starting a ballad. Pulling me into his arms, I melted against him as we fell into a two-step like we’d been doing it for years.

Lifting my chin, I saw Hunter looking down at me, his expression unreadable. “Think they’ll be okay alone?” I asked, nodding in the direction of Troy and Renee, who kept on arguing, not even noticing that we’d gone.

He smiled. “I think they’ll end up going home together.”

“I’ll bet you’re right. What’re the odds?”

“Because of us, they’re talking again. We’re not bad at this matchmaking business.”

I inched closer, loving the feel of his body pressed against mine. “Hunter, our dates are going home with each other. Not us.” I tried not to laugh at that.

He glanced down at me. “Did you like Troy?”

“Sure. He’s a nice guy, but obviously still hung up on Renee. Are you upset at how things worked out?”

“No.”

I breathed in. Lord, he smelled delicious. I hadn’t realized I’d said it aloud until I saw the heat kindle in his eyes.

He pulled me closer. “So do you, like cinnamon rolls.”

“You like cinnamon rolls?”

“Love ‘em.”

His hand brushed my cheek and I quivered.

“Hunter, the music stopped.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Has it?”

Hunter grinned and we left the dance floor. I don’t even think he realized he was still holding my hand. Renee and Troy had already left.

“Looks like it’s just the two of us.”

“Yeah, that’s too bad.” I tried to sound disappointed.

We ended up having dinner together and I thought that it was one of the best dates I’d ever been on. When someone announced it was time for karaoke I turned toward the stage where volunteers were signing up.

I must have looked deep in thought because Hunter said to me, “Your ex isn’t still bothering you, is he?”

“What? Oh no. I’m sure he’s forgotten all about me by now.”

“I’m sure that he hasn’t.”

“He’d replaced me before we broke up. I walked in on him having sex with his secretary. He never thought I’d break up with him, and his ego is bruised. I’m sure that’s what the calls were about.”

Hunter glanced toward the stage. “If you’re not frowning because of a text, then what is it? You don’t like karaoke?”

“I love karaoke.”

“Thinking of signing up?”

“No!” I answered a little too quickly, too forcefully to be believable.

Interest glinted in his eyes. “You do want to sign up. Can you sing?”

“I’ve never sung in front of anyone.” This was the truth. Not even Reed knew that I’d once dreamed of being a famous country singer.

“It’s obvious that you want to.” He got up and took my hand. “Come on.”

“I don’t want to make a fool of myself,” I told him, shaking my head.

“It’s okay to make a fool of yourself during karaoke. It’s just for fun.”

I really wanted to sing. I always had but I’d never had the courage to get myself to the stage, and I didn’t have it tonight. “Are you going to sing with me?” I asked, thinking he’d back off at the suggestion.

Instead, he shrugged. “Sure.”

“Really?” I stared at him wide-eyed because karaoke didn’t seem like something Captain Hunter McAllister would do.

He pulled me up and led me to the sign up table, where we chose a country duet song, and I plotted an escape before I remembered that I was going to have to get Hunter to take me home.

“If you’re thinking of hiding in the bathroom, I’ll come get you.”

“You underestimate me. The bathroom is for amateurs. I promise my hiding place will be far more clever,” I told him, trying to sound serious.

His mouth curved upward and his eyes locked with mine. “If you run, I’ll come after you.”

Stepping to the side, I skillfully bumped into him, stepped back and grinned. “Fine, I won’t
run
.”

Hunter caught my wrist in his hand and gently tugged me forward, his eyes glittering in warning. “Isabelle, give me back my keys.” He spoke softly and the command seemed all the more ominous because of his control.

Somehow I managed not to reveal my surprise. “Did you lose your keys?” I asked innocently.

“You little pickpocket.”

“Excuse me?” I faked an offended look and tried to sidestep away from him but he pulled me against his hard body.

He leaned down and whispered against my ear, sending shiver down my spine. “Where the hell did you learn to do that?”

Since there was no point in pretending anymore, I opened my palm and handed him back his keys. “Darryl. He taught Reed and I. Guess this means I’m stuck singing karaoke,” I replied with a smile.

“He made his own kids steal for him.”  He shook his head and I could tell he was disgusted.

“Don’t worry it’s not like I still do it,” I told him with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “I was never very good anyway. The first time I tried to pickpocket I ended up getting smacked silly by this older man that looked as if he couldn’t hurt a fly. My face was swollen for a week.”

“Jesus, Isabelle.”

“Stop feeling sorry for me dammit. I shouldn’t have told you that. It wasn’t really that big of a deal.”

 “I wish I’d have known you then.”

“Would you have rescued me?” I asked jokingly.

“Yes.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry. I turned out okay.”

“Someone should worry about you.”

“No, McAllister someone should worry about you. If I end up freezing on stage, you’re stuck with a solo.” I smiled.