Lakeside Sweetheart (10 page)

She followed him to the side gate. “And what's your next order of business after that, Preacher?”

Okay, she was flirting with him.

Now
he
was hopeful. He turned and lifted a finger to her wispy bangs. “That you'll have dinner with me one night soon.”

She looked surprised, and then she looked confused. “Are you going to Marla's cookout this weekend?”

“Yes,” he said, the one word hinging on so much. “Are you?”

“Yes.” She didn't move. “We can let that be a test date.”

“A test date? Is there such a thing?”

She turned and tossed a grin over her shoulder. “There is if you're asking
me
.”

“Okay,” he said, calling after her. “The cookout it is. I love cookouts.” And he'd pass the test. He hoped.

“So do I,” she shouted back. “I'll see you across the way, Preacher.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Rory grinned all the way back to the church.

When he got to the office, he found Barbara standing there, staring up at him with a soft smile. “I think you got lost over there.”

“You could say that,” he replied. Then he went into his office and closed the door.

Or maybe he got
found
.

Chapter Ten

W
ell, she'd been in this spot before. Caught between a rock and a hard place, as her mother used to say.

Rory was coming by to walk Vanessa to the cookout. Which was a surprise since he'd been all business at the rummage sale meeting the other night. Nice, polite, full of charm and wit, but he'd also been focused and full of suggestions. He'd glanced at her a couple of times, but always with a shy smile.

He stated their business at the meeting. “So the plan is to open our gathering hall up for the public to come and shop at the Annual Millbrook Lake Church Rummage Sale.”

He said this in a booming, official voice, a bit of mirth in his vivid eyes.

“And we'll send our shoppers over to Vanessa's estate sale and encourage them to find some good bargains there, too. Right, Vanessa?”

“Yes. I'll have it all organized and tagged so they can move from room to room. I'm willing to negotiate, too. I have to empty my house and put it up for sale.”

Rory had nodded and moved on to other business, but she'd noticed that bit of regret in his gaze when he'd smiled at her.

Maybe he was being careful since several church members had attended the meeting, too. Not that it mattered. Nothing was going on between them.

But he'd called her early this morning. “Hey, want me to pick you up for the cookout?”

“Uh...it's a block down the street. I thought I'd walk.”

“Yes, and I'm coming by to walk with you. I mean, if that's okay.”

She almost giggled at the trepidation in his words. Was
that
okay? She'd see him there anyway. “I'd like that. Thanks.”

So here she stood, staring in the mirror, wondering if she looked all right. She'd gone way casual, maybe to make a point. A white T-shirt, long jean shorts with rolled cuffs and a colorful scarf draped around her neck. Flip-flops and her hair down around her face. She didn't shout
needy
, but she didn't say
don't
look at me
either.

The scarf was her mother's. One she'd found trailing on a closet hook like a clinging vine.

A knock at the door startled Vanessa away from the memories in the mirror. Grabbing the avocado dip she'd made and her phone, she tucked the phone in her pocket and started for the door.

“Hello,” she said after opening the door.

The scent of fresh rain greeted her, but it hadn't rained today. Rory had obviously taken a shower since his hair was still damp and curling around his face, and he smelled so clean and outdoorsy she wanted to touch his forehead and play with that sun-streaked hair.

But she'd drop the bowl of dip if she did that.

“Hi,” he replied with a smile. “You look great.”

Pleased, and annoyed at herself for feeling pleased, she followed him out the door and made sure it was locked. “Thanks. I worked all day, loaded some pictures on to my site and made calls to some of my vendors, checked on my boutique in New Orleans—”

“Stop! You're making me tired.”

She laughed at his mock look of fright. “So what did you do today?”

He glanced out at the lake. A sailboat drifted by like a white bird. “I got up early and went fishing with my friends, and then I came back and went over my sermon for tomorrow and did a little praying and then I took a nap and...now I'm here walking along a beautiful street with a pretty woman. Life is good.”

His positive attitude amazed her. She wanted to know more about his life. He must have gone through hard times as a foster child, but now he was so full of life and hope. Contagious, but it was scary. Her heart bumped little beats of warnings coupled with little leaps of joy.

“What's in the bowl?” he asked, taking it from her.

“Hey!”

“I'm trying to be a gentleman. I'll carry it for you.”

“It's guacamole dip. I don't cook a lot, but I do make a mean guacamole.”

“Sounds good. I'm starving.”

“Didn't you eat lunch?”

“Hours ago.”

“Poor baby.”

He rubbed his flat stomach. “Are we ever gonna get there?”

Vanessa breathed in the scent of jasmine and watched a flock of pelicans flying in a symmetrical line above them. “This is a nice town. I'd forgotten how idyllic it is here.”

He let out a contented sigh. “Today is one of those good days where the humidity got zipped up in a big cloud somewhere on the other side of the world and the sun is clear and the air is crisp.” He gave her a sideways glance. “And I'm escorting the prettiest girl on the lake to a picnic. Perfection.”

“Do you flirt with all the single ladies in your flock?”

“My flock? What am I, a shepherd?”

“You're with a black sheep.”

He looked surprised, his mouth opening to respond. But they had arrived at the open side gate to Alec and Marla's house. “I don't think of you that way,” he blurted.

She couldn't help but tease. “You mean, in a flirting way? Or in a black sheep way?”

“Hello!”

Marla's greeting stopped him from replying, but he shot Vanessa a helpless look and gave her a shrug. When she smiled at him, he relaxed a little and followed her into the big backyard.

Marla had gone all out with checked tablecloths and Mason jars full of fresh flowers on each table. An old barrel held iced soft drinks and bottles of water. Up on the deep porch, a long table covered with the same checkered cloths held the side dishes and desserts.

Alec was holding court by a large grill full of burgers, chicken and ribs. He waved. “Hi. Glad you came.”

Marla grabbed Vanessa by the arm while Rory went off to talk to Alec. Vanessa noticed a dark-haired man with shaggy hair sitting off to the side, a canned soft drink in front of him on the table. And Gabby's poodle Roxie in his lap. “Who's that?”

“Hunter Lawson,” Marla replied. “He's one of the four who own the camp house. But he comes and goes. He got back a few days ago. He's a private investigator now.”

“And why is he holding Roxie when he doesn't look like the poodle-dog type?”

“Roxie used to be his—or she belonged to someone he cared about and he inherited her. For a long time, Roxie rode around with him on his motorcycle, but last year he gave her to Gabby. To help Gabby get over her anxieties around strangers. If we go anywhere in a crowd of people, Roxie wears her official service-dog vest.”

Vanessa glanced back at the rugged-looking man staring off into space. “He gave Gabby the dog?”

Marla looked over at Vanessa, tears in her eyes. “It was one of the kindest gestures I've ever seen in my life, and I'll be forever thankful to him.”

Vanessa didn't know what to say. You never knew about people. What had it cost Hunter to give up the little dog he so obviously loved? What had it cost Rory to serve his country, trying to give people peace in a war-torn world?

Marla checked the food table and turned back toward the kitchen. “I'm going to see about Gabby. She should be waking from her nap soon. Oh, and Blain and Rikki are on their way. Will you watch for them?”

“Sure.” Vanessa gained a new respect for the brooding man sitting in the corner. Which only reminded her that she should let go of some of her preconceived notions about people in general. Mainly, preachers in general.

She glanced at Rory and he winked at her.

“He's so cute.”

“Yes, he is.”

She whirled to find Aunt Hattie standing there with her. “Oh, did I say that out loud?”

Aunt Hattie's smile was serene and sure. “You were mumbling, but I have excellent hearing aids.”

“I see.” Vanessa busied herself with straightening the perfectly straight napkins. “I should go and see if Marla needs anything.”

“She's fine,” Aunt Hattie said. “I tend to leave her to it whenever she's getting together her presentation. After all, she knows what she's doing.”

“But you're an amazing cook, too,” Vanessa pointed out. “I ate here at Easter, remember?”

“Yes, and Marla and I share the kitchen without any animosity whatsoever,” Aunt Hattie replied, a twinkle in her eyes. “But in case you haven't noticed, I'm old and I've done my turn. I don't mind pitching in when needed, but I'm so glad Alec found someone he loves. I couldn't have picked a better person myself. Plus, I love Gabby to pieces. She and I have grand adventures. So I get to kick back and enjoy the happiness around here and help where I'm needed.”

“That's not a bad gig.” Vanessa loved Aunt Hattie. She was like everyone's fairy godmother.

“And she's needed a lot around here, especially for hugs,” Marla said from behind them, pulling Aunt Hattie close.

Gabby giggled and ran past them, her long brown hair flowing around her purple-flowered dress. “Look, Mommy. Uncle Hunter's holding Roxie.”

“I see that,” Marla called. Then she shook her head and glanced at Vanessa. “She's wide-awake now!” Laughing, she said, “Let's go check on the men.”

Vanessa felt a tug of envy and regret as she followed the other women out into the yard. Each time she came here to this old Victorian home, she felt transported to a place she'd never known. A place that shouted home and family. And love. This house looked like a wedding cake and the garden smelled like a perfumery. She thought she could stay in this yard forever.

She glanced at Hunter Lawson. He nodded and went back to staring at nothing, but he did smile when Gabby ran to greet him. Then she remembered that not everyone had such happy endings as this one.

The rest of the afternoon went by quickly. Good food, a lot of small talk, good conversation and a sense of belonging.

Vanessa had enjoyed herself, but her heart ached for something she couldn't seem to see or feel.

“You're deep in thought,” Rory said as he slipped up beside her. “Everything okay? We're about to have dessert.”

Vanessa couldn't speak. She shouldn't have come here. Now that she'd had a glimpse of this type of happiness, she wanted things she could never have. “I don't know,” she said. “I...I think I'm ready to go home.”

If she stayed, she'd blurt out her feelings and humiliate herself. Was she being petty and selfish? No. She needed to remember that she had decided long ago to keep her guard up. She couldn't have this kind of life. She was afraid of this. So why was she subjecting herself to this, getting to know a man she couldn't possibly have a relationship with and becoming more and more involved in a world to which she didn't belong?

Rory's concern etched his face in shadows. “Vanessa?”

“I'm tired. I've had a long day, and I guess it finally caught up with me. Would you tell everyone thanks for me?”

She turned and hurried out of the garden.

And she didn't look back.

* * *

Rory almost kept walking, but he had to check on Vanessa. After she'd left the cookout, he wanted to go after her, but Marla and Aunt Hattie had cautioned against that.

“She's still dealing with a lot of things,” Marla reminded him. “I think seeing all of us here, happy and together, only magnified her pain. I know how she feels. I was like that myself for a long time.”

Aunt Hattie had encouraged him to stay for a while. “We'll send a dessert plate with you when you leave. You can check on her then.”

So Rory had stayed, and even though the dessert had been as delicious as always, he didn't remember what he'd eaten. He'd counseled a lot of people, but he'd never before gotten so all tied up in wanting to help someone so badly.

Maybe that was part of the problem. He could be too emotionally tied up with Vanessa. He needed to keep a clear head and remember his duty as a minister.

Therefore, he should...walk on by.

But here he was, knocking at the front door.

After several knocks, he decided she didn't want company. Especially not his company. But just as he turned to leave, she opened the door.

“I almost kept going,” he said, the foil-wrapped plate in front of him like a shield.

“I almost didn't open the door,” she retorted. She had on the same outfit, but her eyes were red and her hair was everywhere.

“Do you want me to go?”

She stared at him, her expression edged with confusion and regret. “Yes. No. I don't know.”

“That's not very reassuring, any way you look at it.”

“Come in,” she said. “I might need that dessert.”

“Oh, so I'm just the delivery man?”

“Yes.”

He smiled, thinking she was such a paradox. “I hope I get a tip.”

She motioned him into the kitchen and pointed toward one of the old chairs tucked underneath a long, plank table. “The best tip I have for you, Preacher,
is
to keep walking.”

“Too late for that,” he replied. He removed the foil from the plate. “We have some Give Me S'mores Brownies and a couple of cookies. White Chocoholic and Snickerdoodle Oodles, as Marla pointed out...”

She took the plate from him and started nibbling on the brownie, crumbs and marshmallow merging in giant chunks. Rory got up and found her a napkin.

She nodded between chews. “Thanks.”

Soon, she was fully engaged with the sweet treats in front of her. “I tend to eat when I'm stressed.”

“Don't we all?”

“Food was my comfort growing up,” she explained. “When things would go bad, I'd find something to eat. Even though I got my weight under control, kinda, that habit hasn't stopped.”

Rory enjoyed watching her, but he wanted to hear about more than her eating habits. “So...why did you bolt?”

She finished the brownie and wiped her hands and face. “Too much beauty,” she said in a small voice.

“Excuse me?”

“It was all too much. Everyone so happy and healthy and the house is like the prettiest thing I've ever seen and the yard is this perfect secret garden and I looked at you and it suddenly became too much.”