Last's Temptation (7 page)

“I’m going to spank Ms. Hastings,” Last said.

“Oh, my,” Mrs. Carrol said. She hid a smile behind her hand. “Do we have another Mimi Cannady living in Union Junction?”

Last got up to leave. “Expect my résumé soon and my certification as fast as I am eligible. I am quite serious about undertaking this venture.”

“Your father was one of the smartest men I ever met,” she said. “And you were one of my very best students, by far the best of the Jeffersons. You just needed some seasoning, which it appears you have received. I’ll be waiting for you to join the staff of Union Junction High School and I’ll consider a full-fledged Latin department a feather in our cap.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Carrol,” he said, clapping his hat firmly on his head.

“Light on the spanking,” she murmured. “That is our new English lit and grammar teacher.”

He shook his head, almost too irritated with Esme to cap his temper.

She had
not
been honest. And if she couldn’t be honest about who she was, then he didn’t intend to waste another second with her.

In fact, he considered himself much better off without her. Born in Britain? Educated at Harvard?

It explained a lot about her, most particularly the Mary Poppins behavior.

“Oh,” he said out loud. “Of course. Poppy. Mary Poppins. The prim, proper British governess who loved to fly and take care of children and consorted with chimney sweeps with gymnastic ability, but who never stayed in one place very long. Just great. Dummy,” he told himself.

Mason had been right. Esme—Miss Poppy—was not to be trusted. It had been much safer to live the cliché he’d been living before he’d met her.

Emotionally scarred and distrusting was so much safer than stupidly in lust.

He felt betrayed. Valentine had deceived him, too, but in a sort of after-the-fact manner, and he hadn’t been falling for her. He hadn’t even remembered her.

Perhaps that was why Esme hurt him so much more: she was deceiving him while stealing his heart.

Esme had known from the moment she’d driven into town, with its endless land and lush vitality, that she’d come to a wonderful place where time had slowed down. The children could be children here, and she could settle down. The land spoke to her in a way she’d never experienced before, and she was ready to listen.

Then there was Last, who was determined to talk her into giving over her heart.

She was almost ready to listen to him, too.

The children were sitting in chairs at the Union Junction salon, being attended by a covey of hair-dressers, while Esme looked on. It had been a long time since either child’s hair had seen a pair of scissors, and apparently it was rare that these ladies
got to work with children. Everyone was enjoying the experience.

Esme decided small-town life was heaven for her and her small family.

“Beatrice, Daisy, Gretchen, Jessica, Mamie, Tisha, Velvet and Violet. That’s our gang,” Lily Johnston, née Bartholomew, said, sweeping her hand around the room.

“Last said there were a lot of you.” She accepted a lemonade from Lily and smiled.

Daisy came and sat next to her. “So what about Mr. Jefferson?”

“Meaning?” Esme hedged, realizing she was in for a bit of well-meaning gossip.

“Is he behaving?”

The girls giggled. Esme felt herself blush. “He’s very kind to the children and very nice to me. I can’t say that he’s been anything but a gentleman.”

The stylists nodded.

“Has he taken you to Lonely Hearts Station yet?” Gretchen asked.

“Or to Barmaid’s Creek?” Velvet asked.

“Shh,” Tisha said. “Velvet! Really!”

“Barmaid’s Creek?” Esme repeated uncomfortably.

“Don’t let them tease you,” Lily said. “It’s just a watering hole folks sometimes like to swim in.”

“Skinny dip,” Mamie said. “And romance beside.”

“No.” Esme shook her head. “He has not taken me to Barmaid’s Creek.”

“We all used to live in Lonely Hearts Station,” Lily explained. “With Delilah Honeycutt, who ran a salon there. She’s since moved out this way.”

“Two salons?” Esme asked.

“No, Delilah is doing something different now, after Valentine accidentally set Delilah’s kitchen on fire,” Lily said. “That was what made Delilah reevaluate what she wanted to do. Fortunately there are lots of places in Union Junction for her to choose from. They just need renovating and a bit of love and then they’d be quite homey.”

Esme sat up. “That is exactly what I’m looking for. I need to find a house that I can turn into a home.”

Every stylist’s ear seemed to prick up at that.

“Really?” Lily said. “Aren’t you happy at Malfunction Junction?”

Esme nodded. “It’s very nice. But I have parents I want to move down here, and my children need a place of their own. I do, too. We can’t live off the Jeffersons’ generosity forever.”

“Oh.” Lily nodded. “I guess I’d feel the same way.”

“If you and Last aren’t an item,” Beatrice said, “which we all assumed you were.”

The women turned to stare at Beatrice.

“What?” Beatrice said. “We do think that.”

“Not everything needs to be said,” Jessica told her, “especially with c-h-i-l-d-r-e-n in the room.”

Fully capable of deciphering that, Curtis and Amelia gazed in the mirror at their aunt. Esme wondered how to reply to such a sticky question. “Last is a nice man,” she said, “but the children and I are a family.”

Lily looked at her with sympathy. “Honey, I apologize. It’s really none of our business.”

“It’s all right,” Esme said, wanting to settle what appeared to be on everyone’s mind. “Actually the children and I still have issues that need to be resolved back in California before we can settle here. I’m certainly planning to return here, but we won’t know for sure for a couple more weeks.”

“Heard you’re going to be the new schoolteacher up at the high school,” Gretchen said. “The principal was fairly singing over having you on her staff.”

“I’m glad.” Esme smiled. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out. The children are anxious to start school here in the fall.”

“No more prying, girls,” Lily said. “Can I do your hair for you, Esme? A little treat by way of welcome to Union Junction?”

“I don’t know,” Esme murmured, tempted and yet uncertain.

“You’ll be happy you let her,” Violet said. “Lily’s pretty good with a wig.”

“This is my hair,” Esme said.

The ladies laughed.

“They know.” Lily got up. “Come with me.”

It had been a long time since she’d had time to do her hair or nails. Esme looked with longing at the stylist’s chair in the warm and friendly salon, and her heart gave in to temptation. “Thank you. I’d like that.”

Once in Lily’s chair, Esme was surprised by how her cares seemed to wash away in the bowl as Lily sudsed her. It was such a luxurious feeling!

“Be careful of Last,” Lily said with a smile. “The gals have their eyes on the final Jefferson.”

“I guessed,” Esme said.

“Of course, if he’d been interested, he would have been in here a long time ago,” Lily pointed
out. “No Jefferson has been shy about going after what he wanted once he saw it.”

Esme was too relaxed to worry about jealousy. “I think Last has adventure on his mind more than women.” She couldn’t even explain how he felt about her. Sometimes she was certain he liked her; other times she felt herself aching as she wondered what was really between them.

The uncertainty wasn’t healthy for her or for the children. “I figure it’s best if I go my way and plan my family’s lives,” Esme said. “Truthfully I think Last still has a lot of adventuring left in him.”

Lily sat her up, putting a fluffy towel on Esme’s head. “It’s best not to wait on any man.”

“That’s what I believe, too. I had several offers for marriage before I came out here, but Last only offered me a home for my children.” The truth was a bit painful, but it hadn’t failed to escape Esme that since they’d made love in the field Last hadn’t come around to see her.

“I heard he applied at the high school, too,” Lily said.

“What?” Esme stared at Lily in the mirror.

Lily nodded. “Yes. Mrs. Carrol was in here yesterday crowing about landing Last for a Latin department.”

Esme’s eyes widened. “That’s wonderful!”

“Between the two of you, the high school is really going to be top-notch. We’re all very grateful.”

Esme didn’t want to reveal that everything hinged on whether the judge agreed that Union Junction was the best place for the children. Day and night, she worried about the problem, and her gut always seemed tight with anxiety.

It really wasn’t time for her to bring a man into the picture, she thought guiltily, unless she married him.

She and Last had only joked about marriage. It had never been a serious topic.

“So when a Jefferson male decides he wants a woman, does he romance her for a long time?” Esme asked curiously.

Lily laughed. “Not usually. Their courtship tends to be fast and furious and right to the point. Except Mason,” she said with a sigh. “He’s the type to wear a woman’s patience to the bone.”

Esme smiled. “I’ve met Mimi. She’s very sweet.”

“And likely never going to land her man.” Lily shook her head. “Mason is the definition of
elusive.
”

“I would have thought that of Last.”

“No. Last is just waiting to find the right
woman. He’s gotten slower with his romancing ever since he became a single father,” Lily said, snipping away at Esme’s tresses. “That little baby gets all his time these days.”

Esme’s heart warmed. “He’s been very kind to my kids, too.”

Lily nodded. “Last has wanted a big family since he was a child.”

“He has a big family!”

“Yes, but…” Lily hesitated. “I think he’d like to do things very differently from how he grew up.”

“Oh.” Esme nodded. She completely understood. People always longed for the magic of their definition of family.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lily said suddenly. “Last wouldn’t have brought you here if he didn’t like you.”

Actually that wasn’t true. Esme lowered her gaze. Last had “rescued” her, bringing her and the children there because he had a kind heart.

She was determined to show him that she wasn’t the kind of woman he had to take care of. Helpless was not her way. “Tell me about these available houses that just need love and affection,” she said. “I need to find one as soon as possible.”

“I
NEED TO GO AWAY
as soon as possible,” Last told Valentine as he took Annette from her. “I didn’t mean to return as soon as I did.”

Valentine looked at him with surprise as she put some frosting eyes on bunny-shaped cookies. “Seems you have a reason to stay for a while.”

“No,” Last said. “I have a reason to leave.” He kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Would it be helpful to you if I took Annette? If you’re in the mood for an extended honeymoon, that is.”

Valentine nodded. “Actually Crockett and I still have some combining of our two town houses to do. You know he’s knocking down the wall. I’d feel better if I knew Annette wasn’t around during construction. I’d planned on asking Delilah and Mimi for help, but if you’re available—”

“I am.” Last hugged his daughter. “We will go to Lonely Hearts Station for a rodeo and maybe some fishing. Maybe we should drive up to see Uncle Tex and Aunt Cissy and let you float on a raft in the center of a fishpond.”

Valentine laughed. “They don’t live on a raft or a fishpond.”

“Or perhaps we should go sip wine at the Turnberry Estate with Frisco Joe and Annabelle,” Last
said, letting his daughter play with his hat. “The possibilities are endless.”

Valentine looked at him. “What about the possibilities with Esme?”

Last shrugged. “Nonexistent.”

Valentine sighed. “Spoken like a true Jefferson bachelor. Down at the church bingo parlor, they’re taking bets on you.”

“For what?”

“Whether you become a father to three children in less than thirty days,” she said slyly.

“Thirty days! Isn’t that a bit fast?”

“You always have been. Wasn’t Fast Last one of your nicknames?” Valentine lifted her brows.

“I’d have to get married and get a woman pregnant with twins,” he said, frowning. “But you’re broadly hinting that people think I’m going to marry Esme. Soon.”

“Yes.”

“No,” Last said, “I’m not.”

“You sound very certain.”

“Of course.” He kissed the dandelion softness of his daughter’s hair. “Esme understands that I’m cynical and jaded and not the marrying kind. Neither is she. She had plenty of offers right before she came here and turned them all down. What
makes the betting boys think I’d have any better luck with her?” he asked. “Nope. Single I’m staying. And I like it that way,” he told Annette, who grinned at her daddy.

Valentine frowned. “You don’t want to end up like Mason.”

Last stopped grinning at his daughter. “What do you mean?”

“Missing the greatest opportunity of your life.”

“Why would that be Esme?” he asked. “She is hardwired for independence. Besides, think of the complications of combining two families.”

“Jeffersons make all kinds of strange combinations all the time,” Valentine pointed out. “It always works out. It’s almost like they get better the more combining there is.”

Last grinned. “I will not be swayed by your impassioned argument, my lady. The last time someone tried to talk me into marrying, they wanted me to marry you. Think of what a disaster that would have been! You’re far better off with my brother Crockett, who, by the way, seems happier than I’ve ever seen him.”

“No, you and I would not have been good marital partners,” Valentine agreed, putting the cookies into a refrigerated case. “But then again,
I like a man who appreciates a woman’s failings
and
her attributes.”

He frowned. “I’m leaving now, as I sense an embedded lecture in that statement.”

Valentine stood to look at him. “Could you be leaving behind a woman you’re just too stubborn to let yourself care about?”

“No,” he said, kissing his daughter’s head. “I’m taking Annette with me. Goodbye.”

He walked out of the bakery, delighted to get away from Valentine’s advice and to have his chubby little girl in his arms. She really was too sweet—he loved doting on her.

Of course, he very much enjoyed Curtis and Amelia, too. Part of his fear about Esme was that he might get real attached to her kids and then she’d pull the rug out from under him. He wouldn’t be able to stand that. The reason the town menfolk were betting on his brood enlarging was because everyone knew he loved children and wanted a big family. Wasn’t he the one who’d pushed his brothers to increase the number of Jeffersons, starting with Frisco Joe’s courtship of Annabelle Turnberry and her sweet little baby?

Once upon a time, Last had heard one of the town busybodies jokingly say that he was the next
Maverick. Eventually, she’d said, Last will be the brother who has his own twelve.

His toes had curled into his boots. Twelve? He didn’t have Mason’s grit, nor Maverick’s joy of life. It was too much, keeping eleven brothers in line. He’d always been the hub in the family’s completely bent wheel and he’d felt great responsibility for maintaining their shape. However, now he only had one child and he had no plans for more. He could relax and enjoy the daughter God had given him.

Although Curtis and Amelia would be great kids for any father. Esme was just too tricky for Last. Frankly she scared him.

Valentine tapped on his truck window, so he rolled it down. “You forgot Annette’s changing bag,” she said, passing it through the window. “And I figured it out. Esme scares you, like Mimi scares Mason. You think you want a sweet Annabelle or Katy, but Last,” she said with a grin, “your soul needs more adventure than that.”

“Thank you for your wisdom,” he said, closing the window as she laughed at him. Disgruntled, he backed up his truck, just in time to see Esme, Curtis and Amelia emerge from the Union Junction salon.

He nearly dropped his teeth. Esme was hotter than a pistol! What had they done to her hair? It was all flowing and shiny, and he could see her face better now. Curtis looked handsome with a little-boy cut, and Amelia swung newly straightened locks with bangs that skimmed her brows. They saw him and waved, and Last cursed the magic that the stylists’ scissors had wrought.