Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set (80 page)

He couldn
’t very well make her fall in love with him if he wasn’t with her. And he only had this week. Next week he’d be back in Georgia teaching.

With her working, that didn
’t give him much time.

Was this connection he felt to her about Janie
’s painting? Had he admired it so many times on his wall that when he had realized she was a flesh and blood person he’d somehow transferred his love of the picture to a woman who resembled it?

It was stupid.

It wasn’t like him to be stupid.

Or reckless. Or irrational. Spontaneous.

And the biggest surprise of all of this is he knew how crazy it was, and he didn’t care. He knew every single reason why marrying Cheris was the dumbest stunt he’d ever pull in his lifetime, and he jumped in with both feet anyway loving it every minute. Loving her every minute.

He grinned.

Stupid-in-love idiot.

****

Janie looked at the screen of her phone. “Hmm.”

“
What?”

“
Geoff just texted me and asked if I’d go by the house and pick up his suitcase.” Her fingers flew over the keys. It chimed, and she waited for the answering tone.

“
What’d you say?”

“
I asked whether he was kicked out, or did he leave voluntarily.” She laughed when she read his next message. “Escaped and now homeless, he says.”

“
Can he stay with you?”

“
He won’t. Not if he thinks Bobby is there.” She pressed a few keys on her phone and stuck it back in her purse.

“
He and Bobby don’t get along?”

Janie lowered her face and didn
’t answer immediately. “The night of the gala I asked Geoff if he’d go pick up Aunt Nancy and bring her. She’d called me and asked to come, and she wasn’t sure where it was. When he came back, he and Bobby got into it.”

“
About what?”

“
I don’t know. They didn’t fight or anything, but I got the feeling if I hadn’t walked in, they would have. You were there. You don’t remember any of it?”

Cheris sighed and shook her head.
“If I didn’t have so many blank spaces of that night, I think I’d feel better about the whole thing. You haven’t asked either of them about it?”

“
Bobby says Geoff was being overprotective, and Geoff said Bobby is a jerk, and I’m better off without him. As if I hadn’t heard that before.”

“
You could do better, don’t you think?”

Janie fiddled with her straw.
“You know, Cheris, Bobby’s never asked me to be anybody but who I am. I like that about him.”

Cheris shook her head.
“You think he’s the only guy who could love you for you? He’s not.”

“
I’ve played the field. The Arrowood name comes with a lot of expectations especially from boys on this side of the train tracks.”

Cheris looked at her friend appealingly.
“But, Janie. Bobby is…” she shivered involuntarily. “He’s not just on the other side of the train tracks. He’s the hobo who jumps the train and steals your mom’s silver.”

Janie sighed.
“Look. I’ve got to go over to the church and give your priestess an estimate for that nursery mural. Want to go with me?”

****

Janie and Cheris stood in the nursery talking to Kelly about her vision for a new wall in the room when a thirtyish man in a suit walked in the door.

“
David.” Kelly smiled as she hugged him. “How are you?” Stepping back, she introduced him as a friend of hers from seminary who had recently taken the pastorate in Clarksdale, a town about half an hour from Cullsbaeir.

“
We’ve asked Janie to give us an estimate for creating a mural on this wall, but the actual picture is up for debate.”

“
I suggested Noah’s ark, but Janie says she’ll only paint it if she can put some drowning people in the water,” Cheris informed the newcomer.

“
People do tend to overlook the judgment part of that story. They want to treat it like a children’s fairy tale with the animals entering a quaint little ark two by two,” David commented.

Janie shot Cheris a triumphant look.
“So there.”

“
Can’t you at least paint a rainbow? Rainbows are brightly colored. The babies will like that.”

“
What about a creation scene with all the animals and plants and water?” Kelly suggested.

“
Could I paint a serpent waiting on the sidelines looking for its chance to pull some shit?”

“
Janie!” Cheris exclaimed.

David rubbed his hand over his chin in thought as he studied Janie.
“You know, some people say the serpent had legs until God cursed it. Wonder what your serpent would look like before the Fall?”

Janie returned his stare but said nothing, one of the few times Cheris had known the woman not to have a witty comeback.

From down the hall the telephone rang and Kelly excused herself. Janie followed her out and brought a metal folding chair back in the room.

“
What are you doing with that?” Cheris asked.

“
I need to measure the height of the wall.” She unfolded the chair and set it against the wall.

“
I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” David commented.

“
It’s a better idea than standing on the rocking chair.” Janie climbed onto it and unhooked a metal tape measure from the waistband of her jeans. She extended the tape and stretched as she attempted to lay it upward to the ceiling.

David stepped next to the chair.
“Why don’t you let me do that? I’m taller.”

Janie paused in her work long enough to size up the man below her. Cheris waited for Janie to tell him to go to hell.

Instead she returned to her task. “I’m capable.” But the tape wouldn’t cooperate. Janie stood on tiptoe trying to coax the measuring device to straighten. With too much of her weight near the back of the chair, it began to fold up. Janie lost her balance and started to jump off, but the seat caught her foot and she fell instead. David caught her and lowered her to the floor.

“
Janie, are you okay?” Cheris gasped.

“
Yeah, sure.” Janie stepped away from David. “Fine.” She glanced at him. “Thanks.”

“
Never had a woman fall for me before.” He grinned. “How about I find a stepladder?” He said as he walked out of the room.

“
Wow. That was a close call. Good thing he was there to catch you.”

“
Uh-huh.” Janie folded up the chair and set it out of the way then stood and stared at the wall with her arms crossed in front of her.

Cheris waited for a quip from Janie, some clever remark and a chuckle, but none came.

“You sure you’re okay? You’re acting as if something’s wrong.”

“
Please drop it, Cheris,” Janie’s voice quivered.

“
You’re hurt. Where?” Cheris walked to her friend, but Janie shook her head.

“
Don’t. Let’s just do this and get it over with.”

“
Okay.”

David came in with a ladder and set it next to the wall.
“This where you want it?”

“
Yes.”

He straightened the prongs and gestured to the ladder.
“May I?”

Janie shrugged.
“Knock yourself out.”

He took off his suit jacket and carefully laid it on one of the baby beds. Cheris noted the breadth of shoulders and trim waist under the crisp white shirt.

Nice.

David held his hand out for the measure, and Janie dropped it on his palm. Climbing the ladder he touched the tape to the ceiling with little effort. Grinning down at Janie, he passed the metal holder to her as the tape stretched to the floor.

“I used to do this kind of thing a while back, weekends helping my dad who is a carpenter.”

“
Was that before or after you married?” Cheris asked.

Janie
’s head whipped toward her.

David shook his head.
“I’ve never been married.” He descended the ladder. Then to Janie, “What else? This wall to that one?”

She nodded, handed him the end of the tape, and they walked to opposite ends of the room.

“It’s like a dance,” Cheris declared as she watched both of them crouch to the floor in sync.

“
I wish you’d keep your trap shut,” Janie snapped. She uncapped a pen with her mouth and wrote numbers on the back of her hand. “I can live without the commentary.” They both stood and the tape rapidly disappeared back in its holder.

“
I think you missed a measurement,” David said. He plucked the pen from her hand, opened her palm and held it as he wrote on her skin before returning the pen to her. “If you will excuse me. I’ve got an appointment in Clarksdale.” He picked up his jacket and left without a backward glance.

Voices in the hall signaled Kelly
’s return as David said goodbye to her.

“
Sorry that took so long,” Kelly said once she was back in the nursery. “What do you think, Janie?”

“
I’ll come up with some renderings, figure out an estimate, and get back to you.”

“
Great.”

Janie didn
’t speak as they left the building. Still silent, she drove Cheris to her car behind Web Enterprises.

“
I’m sorry for whatever I did,” Cheris said.

“
It wasn’t you, okay? I’m in a mood, and I need to work it off.” Janie glared through the windshield and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel impatiently.

“
Probably the stress of being in a church after all these years. Too righteous, huh?”

Janie opened her hand and narrowed her eyes at the script David had written on her palm.

“What did he write?”

“
My penance.”

“
What?”

“
Out of my car. Now.”

Cheris stepped out of the car a second before Janie gunned the engine and shot out of the parking lot, the door still open on the passenger side. When she squealed onto the street, the door shut with the momentum of the car as it turned.

What was wrong with her?

Chapter Eight

“
Build a house?” exclaimed John.

“
For the wendy,” said Curly.

“
For Wendy?” John said, aghast. “Why, she is only a girl!”

“
That,” explained Curly, “is why we are her servants.”

—
Peter Pan
by J.M. Barrie

Cheris’ steps slowed as she approached her apartment and saw Monnie Arrowood on the front porch.

“
Hello, Cheris dear.” She waved.

“
Hi.” Cheris walked by her and unlocked the door. “Please come in.”

“
I’m so sorry for dropping by like this.” The older woman turned in Cheris’ living room to face her. “I went by your work, and Annie told me you have two weeks off for your honeymoon.”

Cheris grabbed her cell phone before placing her purse in its cubby near the door and walked toward the kitchen.
“Have a seat, and I’ll fix us something to drink.”

“
Oh, I couldn’t possibly impose since you and Geoff are….Is Geoff here?”

“
No. No, he’s not.” She ducked into the kitchen, her eyes scanning Geoff’s number on the front of her refrigerator while she texted him.

Ur mom at my apt. Lookn 4 u

She sent it then set the phone on the counter while she pulled glasses out of the cabinet. She remembered from Sunday lunch that Monnie drank tea so she put some water on to boil and pulled bags out of her tea canister. Her phone dinged.

Still there?

Yes

U n
eed me

Now there was an interesting question. Did she need Geoff? Was this just a friendly get to know you visit from Monnie? She texted back.

DK

His text came back within a minute.

Keep me posted. On my way.

Cheris sighed in relief. Yes. She did need him here. Janie had said their mother was overbearing, and Cheris had seen a hint of that on the stairs the night of the party. She had arranged them in the family pose and made the announcements while Chip had stood beside her and interjected a comment every now and then.

Cheris poured water in a pot and placed it on the stove. Monnie appeared at the door.

“
Can I help you, dear?” As she spoke Monnie’s gaze traveled around the kitchen. Was she looking to see how clean it was? Deciding if Cheris kept a neat enough house to be married to her son?

“
I thought I’d make some iced tea.”

“
Oh?”

“
Yours was delicious the other day.”

Monnie smiled.
“I use mint leaves.”

“
Would you like something to eat?”

“
It is nearly lunch, isn’t it? Have you talked to Geoff today? Were you two planning to eat lunch together?”

“
Umm. We hadn’t made definite plans.” She filled the glasses with ice and placed them on a tray thankful to have something to do.

“
How long have you two been dating? We had no idea whatsoever Geoff was even seeing anyone.”

“
It was definitely what you call a whirlwind courtship.”

“
I suppose he came to Culsbaeir to see you without letting his father or me know.”

“
No. He didn’t.” Cheris turned to the stove. Boil, dammit! She commanded the water.

“
So, you would go and see him then?”

Crouching down, she opened a cabinet door, hid behind it and sent a quick text to Geoff.

HELP

“
We met at one of Janie’s exhibits. He swept me off my feet.” Cheris opened the refrigerator and pulled out a block of cheese. The woman was getting cheese and crackers, and that was it. No way was Cheris going to sit down with her for a full meal.

“
Chip and I were so worried he’d never meet anyone and fall in love.” Taking the box which Cheris had set on the counter top, Monnie opened it and began arranging the crackers on a plate. “I’m so pleased he’s found you right here in Culsbaeir.”

“
Thank you.”

“
I’m sorry about the comment at the party about you and Geoff having a baby. I hope it wasn’t too awkward for you.”

Cheris busied herself with the cheese.
“It’s okay.”

“
Have you two talked about children?”

“
No.”

“
But you do want children, don’t you?”

“
Eventually. Yes, I think so.”

“
You have plenty of time. Are you two getting along?”

Her phone dinged, and she glanced at the screen.

Ten minutes.

“
It’s Geoff. He’s on his way over.” Cheris’ fingers hit the tiny keys on her phone.

Hurry.

“So, is he staying here with you tonight? It seems odd that he wouldn’t. Don’t you think?”

“
We’re still…you know…trying to figure some things out.”

“
I was heartbroken when I saw that he’d spent the night with us last night. I can’t imagine spending the night apart after only two nights of marriage.”

“
I wondered where he went.” That much was true. After he walked her to her apartment, he’d said ‘Goodnight’ and left.

“
Was it a fight?”

“
Not exactly.”

“
What then?”

“
I’m not really sure how to answer that, Monnie.”

“
If you two are having problems, you can talk to me. Maybe I can help.”

Cheris didn
’t answer. She set the slices of cheese aside, and grabbed tea bags. Boiling or not, the bags were going in the water.

“
I think I do know what this is about.”

“
Really?”

“
Yes. You know Geoff went off to college at fifteen. He never dated girls in high school. He was too busy studying. As far as I know, he didn’t date at college either. I mean, how could he being three years younger than everyone else? Then he went on to get his Masters and Doctorate. And in all that time, he never talked about a girl.”

“
Are you telling me you think Geoff’s—”

“
Not had much experience with women so if he seems to…fumble a bit, I’m sure if you are patient with him and show him what to do, he’ll learn. He’s always been a very eager student.”

Cheris bumped the glass with the pot nearly knocking it over. Oh, dear Lord, when was Geoff getting here? If he didn
’t hurry, she was going to lock herself in the bathroom.

Truth or dare?

“Geoff again. I think he misses me.”

“
You go ahead and text him back. I’ll finish the tea.”

Ur mom
’s giving me the truth. Thinks ur a virgin

Dare then

We got in trouble w/ that already

Double dog

Quit txting n get here b4 she suggests positions I teach u

Cheris smiled as she lay the phone on the counter.

“Did you all work things out then?” Monnie said as she handed Cheris her glass of tea.

“
We’ll see.”

“
Chip said he heard you say you two will never live together. Why is that?”

Sweat trickled down Cheris
’ face. Why was it so hot in here? She glanced at the stove to make sure she had turned off the eye.
Think. Think
. Cheris raised her glass and sipped. Her stomach roiled in protest. She chose her words carefully. “Geoff and I didn’t really plan on getting married so quickly.”

“
But of course, you’ll want to set up house now. I’d like to have a party for you two. Sort of an after-the-fact wedding shower. We’re leaving on our trip tomorrow, but I think I can pull something together rather quickly. Say in two weeks?”

Cheris stared at the woman who waited for her answer. Nausea slammed Cheris, and she clutched her stomach.

“I have to go to the bathroom.” She skirted past the woman. “Will you excuse me?”

“
Of course, dear.”

****

Someone knocked on the door. Cheris, who sat on the side of the tub with a cloth pressed to her forehead, debated answering. She hadn’t thrown up, but she sure had felt like she was going to.

What was wrong with her?

“Cheris?” Geoff spoke through the door. “Sweetheart, it’s me.”

She jumped up, disengaged the lock, and pulled the door open. Geoff stood there, an amused expression on his face. He leaned into her.

“Is this avoiding Monnie, or are you sick?”

Cheris shrugged.

“Would you like for us to tell her the truth?”

Cheris shook her head.
“I don’t think it would help. She’d be more determined to fix it. Maybe we should go for the dare.”

“
Got anything in mind?”

“
You could kiss me and act like you know what you’re doing.”

Geoff grinned.
“I like it.”

“
Where is she?”

“
Hovering.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Back there somewhere.”

Cheris inhaled a steadying breath.

Bold. Be bold.
She adopted a Bette Davis swagger. “Fasten your seatbelts. It is going to be a bumpy ride.” Pulling back the door, Cheris launched herself in Geoff’s arms aiming for his mouth.

Bull
’s Eye.

Geoff stumbled back against the wall with the force of her embrace, his hands steadying her hard against his body, his lips meeting hers with confidence.

He hummed appreciatively, and Cheris decided he must be really enjoying
this
dare. He’d probably enjoyed the others, too. Not that Cheris could
remember
. But
this
was nice.

She clutched his head to her and arched her neck as he nibbled on her skin there causing tremors to shoot all the way down to her toes. When she couldn
’t stand it anymore, she dipped her face and knocked his glasses askew.

“
Sorry,” she whispered as he whipped them off his face, then his arms were around her again. Cheris melded her mouth to his, savoring his taste, learning the raspy texture of his unshaven face as it scraped across hers, the feel of his hair beneath her fingertips.

He pressed another kiss on her lips then drew back as if waiting.

“What are you…” doing not kissing me? Cheris finished the sentence in her mind when he shook his head at her, his eyes blinked. Once. Twice.

“
She’s gone.”

“
Who?”

“
Monnie. Your front door just opened and shut.”

“
Oh.” Right. The reason they were kissing in the first place. To get rid of her and her plans to have an after-the-fact wedding shower, her helpful advice.

Clearing his throat, Geoff stepped away from her.

Cheris wrapped her arms around herself. She missed the heat of his body. “I’m sorry if I took your virginity.”

He grinned and stooped to pick up his glasses. Placing them on his nose and adjusting them, he replied,
“You didn’t.”

“
Yeah. I didn’t think you kissed like a virgin. Not like I’m an expert or anything, but it seems if you’ve never done it before—kissing, I mean—you wouldn’t be that good at it.”

Turning, he walked into her living room.
“Was that a compliment?”

Cheris followed as she considered his question and how she wanted to answer it.

He was only the best kisser she’d ever locked lips with.

“
Yes.”

Standing in the middle of the room, Geoff
’s expression warmed at her answer. “Want to go get something to eat? You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?”

Cheris snapped her fingers as she remembered the cheese and crackers she had set out for her and Monnie.
“I’m not that hungry. I just came from eating doughnuts with Janie, and I fixed a snack tray for your mom.” Cheris walked into the kitchen and picked it up. “Do you want some?”

“
No. Come out with me. We’ll go to Lilly Belle’s, and you can sip on raspberry tea while I eat. Then I’ll take you back to work.”

Cheris poured the crackers back in the box and wrapped up the cheese.
“I can’t go to work. They’ve given me a mandatory vacation for two weeks.”