The Fairest of Them All (8 page)

Four cups of coffee injected into her veins couldn’t have had a more pronounced effect on her system. Carly jerked upright, wondering if she was having delusions.

There he stood, leaning against the dark wooden wall. He came complete with black T-shirt and tight, worn jeans that celebrated maleness in a way that Chippendales dancers could only wish for. His mouth turned up in a thigh-melting smile while his caramel eyes glinted with gentle humor.

Her heart beat an unsteady rhythm against her chest. When he pushed away from the wall and strolled toward her, Carly scrambled to her feet.

“I, uh, I didn’t know you were coming tonight.” Carly bit her clumsy tongue.

“I left a message with Sara. As a matter of fact, I left five messages with Sara.”

Carly winced. “I've been really busy this week, between hiring new waitstaff and getting ready for those travel agents.” She swallowed and stood. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Hold on.” Russ caught her arm. His eyebrows furrowed as he studied her face. “Carly, you’re trembling! What’s wrong?”

“I told you,” she insisted with a wavery voice. “I’m busy.” She hated this out-of-control feeling she had. “Then tell me what I can do to help.”

She took a deep, calming breath. “For starters, you can let go of my arm.”

She saw surprise, a flash of hurt. Then his face closed up. He dropped her arm. “Okay.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and watched her. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Carly ran a hand through her hair. She was so upset, she felt like crying, but there was no logical reason for it. “I don’t know how to act around you anymore, Russ. This stuff between us has happened so quickly. One day we’re friends; the next I’m practically making love to you on top of your pickup truck.” She lifted her hands in confusion.

Russ’s gaze was gentle and understanding. He stepped forward and reached out his hand. “I told you, you name the—”

Carly backed away, stumbling over her chair. It turned over and fell to the floor with a loud bang. Russ stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.

Carly was pretty sure that’s exactly what she’d done.

“I’m not gonna jump you,” Russ finally said.

“I know,” Carly retorted. She jerked the chair up and scooted it under the table. Feeling uncomfortable, she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not sure about all this. I think it might be better—if you didn’t ...” Her voice faltered when she saw the intent expression in his eyes.

“If I didn’t what?”

“Touch me.” Carly let out a frustrated sigh. She knew she was overreacting, and she felt like an idiot. But when Russ touched her, she could practically smell the smoke. And the fire came from inside her.

“Why?”

She should have known he would ask why. “Well, it complicates things. It could mess up our friendship. It makes me feel confused.” It makes me hot.

With a knowing light in his eyes, Russ nodded. “You’re worried about losing our friendship?”

“Yes,” she breathed, feeling a surge of relief. He understood.

“We’ll always be friends, Carly. No matter what else happens between us. I can promise you that.” He flicked his gaze over her quickly. “I can also promise you that I won’t touch you unless I ask you first and that I’ll stop when you ask me to.” He moved closer and held his hands out by his sides, signaling that he was playing by her rules. “But stopping the touching won’t stop the wanting.”

It has to, she thought desperately. She needed to get a grip on this. She needed to gain some perspective, bring this insanity under control. Carly cleared her throat. “Let’s just try it.”

“Okay.” His face was serious except for the devil’s glint in his eyes. “But this goes completely against my nature. I’m not sure you know how hard this is gonna be.”

Carly smiled in spite of her inner tension. “Yeah,” she said dryly. “Just think of it as a character-building experience, Russ.”

He chuckled. “You’re tough.”

“Between you and my brothers, I’ve got to be.” She glanced at her watch and exclaimed over the time. “I need to close up and get home.”

Russ noted the way she grouped him with her brothers. It irritated him. He’d have to fix that later. Right now, he had to make sure she didn’t slip away completely. “I wanted to remind you about Games Day for the hospital on Saturday.” She looked as though she’d forgotten. That further irritated him. “Is there a problem?”

“No,” Carly assured him quickly and gave a self- deprecating smile. “I just can’t seem to hold anything in my brain for more than a few minutes lately. I’ll make sure everything’s covered.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up around eleven o’clock.” His gaze fell to her breasts, and he shook his head. “If you want me to stick to this no-touch rule, you’d better wear a bra.”

Her eyes rounded, and she gave a choky laugh. “Anything else?”

Russ grinned slowly. “Nah. I’d suggest a paper bag, but it wouldn’t slow me down.” He blew her a kiss. “See you Saturday.”

Carly watched him swagger from the room. She withheld her groan for all of three seconds.

It looked as though nearly everyone in town showed up for Games Day, Carly thought. She ought to be able to keep her senses in this innocuous situation. Russ wouldn’t be able to weave his enticing spell over her in George Killion’s fallow pasture full of men, women, and children. Beulah County wanted their emergency room better equipped, and the residents believed people shelled out money more readily when fun and food were offered.

Carly heard a yelp and looked at the dunking booth. “Looks like Mayor Goodman got it,” she said to Russ.

He grinned. “Yeah. It’s hot so he probably doesn’t mind too much.”

She saw a couple of kids with blue cotton candy and smelled catfish frying. “Did you donate the fish again?”

He nodded, then looked down at a piece of paper in his hand. “We’re supposed to lead the wheelbarrow race for the first hour, then the three-legged relay. We have to demonstrate correct racing positions and award the ribbons. Then we finish up with the tug-of-war over the creek.” He clicked his tongue.

“Let’s get going. Wheelbarrow’s on the other side of the field.”

They walked over and within minutes were surrounded by a group of eager participants.

“Six pairs at a time,” Russ directed loudly. “Everybody behind the starting line while Carly and I show the correct wheelbarrow racing position.”

Suspicion flared within Carly when she watched Russ advance toward her with amusement on his face. His metal whistle bounced against the University of Tennessee tank shirt that did nothing to conceal well-developed pecs and broad shoulders. Denim cutoffs stretched over fascinating masculine bumps and ridges ending in the middle of muscular thighs dusted with curly auburn hair.

“You’ll have to be the wheelbarrow since I’m bigger,” Russ said. “You want to go ahead and get in push-up position?”

Carly was suddenly reluctant to have Russ Bradford staring down her spread legs. “That would be breaking the no-touch rules.”

He frowned. “But we’re responsible for showing these people the correct racing position.”

She just bet they were. Carly wondered if he’d finagled these events for his purpose. Determined to cling to her sanity-saving rule, she said, “Perhaps you should get a volunteer.”

Russ shook his head. “No. I’ll be the wheelbarrow, and you carry my feet. You can do it. You’re strong.” Carly put her hands on her biker shorts. “What about the no-touch rule?”

“That was about me touching you,” Russ pointed out with a sly grin. “You can touch me anytime and any way you want, darlin’.”

He looked at her with pure sensual invitation in his eyes. Carly didn’t know whether to slap him or kiss him. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, Bradford, hit the dirt.”

Russ gave a long-suffering sigh, but got into push-up position.

Carly watched the way his wide shoulders tapered down to his waist and hard, taut derriere, and fought the scandalous urge to pinch him. She clenched her hands together.

“Do I have to wait all day?”

“No,” she replied crossly. Then she picked up those tree trunks he called legs and strained and wobbled her way down the field.

An hour later, she found herself in the awkward position of trying to demonstrate a three-legged race while her partner kept his hands to himself. Every step forward seemed destined to throw them to the ground.

“This would be a hell of a lot easier if you’d let me put just one arm around you, Carly.” Everything would be easier, Russ thought, if she’d let him keep his arms around her. She spent too much time alone thinking. If he could keep her in his house for one week with no interruptions, Russ felt sure he could persuade her to marry him. And it wouldn’t be all sex, he thought. They would talk and eat and laugh and swim. He enjoyed her company. He enjoyed everything about her.

He cursed, tilting perilously toward the ground.

Carly grabbed his waist with both her hands. “Did anybody ever tell you that you weigh more than a bull?” She rubbed her forearm against the perspiration on her forehead. “You’re entirely too large.”

“Haven’t you heard bigger is better?”

“Only from big people,” she said, laughing.

Gasping for breath, they stopped. Russ noted the way her breasts nestled his side. Her soft, smooth thigh rubbed his rough, hard one. Her hand lay on his belly, torturing his imagination and libido. Her womanly scent filled his nostrils. Russ looked down at his empty, itchy, wanting hands and nearly wept with frustration. “Untie the ropes, Carly,” he said through gritted teeth.

After the three-legged race, they took a break for lunch. Carly took one last bite of her barbecue sandwich and leaned back on her elbows. She lounged beneath a huge shady oak. A shadow passed over her, and she looked up. Carly gave a mock scowl. “You look nice and cool while I’m a sweaty mess. Go get a hot dog and spill some catsup on that fresh-looking blouse.”

Sara sat down. “You don’t look messy. You look like you’ve been having fun.”

Carly offered her a piece of ice. “You always say the right thing. I don’t understand why you’re not married with a ton of kids.”

Sara’s face grew shuttered. “I lost my husband two years ago.”

Immediately contrite, Carly sat up. “I’m sorry. That’s horrible.”

“Yes, it was.” Sara looked into the distance. “We used to live in Chattanooga, but after Ron died, I guess I lost the desire to stay in the city. I need a slower pace where I don’t have to fight the memories. To tell you the truth, this is the first time I’ve talked about it in a long time.”

Carly studied her friend with the soft brown hair and winsome eyes. Though Sara was poised and efficient, Carly sensed a vulnerability about her. “Was it an accident?”

“Yes. The other car went out of control. Ron never knew what hit him. I’m thankful for that much.” Carly sighed and shook her head. “My mother died when I was four, then we lost Dad several years after that. It was tough, but my brothers practically smothered me trying to make up for the loss. You don’t have any brothers or sisters. What about cousins?”

“None close to me. My parents’ families were from Minnesota.”

“How do you get over it, then?” Carly asked, wondering out loud. Her brothers had completely encompassed her with their love. She couldn’t imagine facing that kind of grief alone.

“I’ll never get over it,” Sara said quietly. She looked at Carly. “I just take it one day at a time.”

“Well, do you ever date or anything?”

A slow smile tugged at Sara’s mouth. “No. Not even when my boss tries to push me and her brother together.”

Carly grabbed Sara’s hand. “Do you like him at all? Daniel’s stubborn, but he’s got a heart of gold. He’s not bad looking. You’d be perfect for him. And maybe you wouldn’t be so lonely.”

Sara laughed out loud. Carly was happy to hear the rare sound after seeing such sadness on her friend’s face.

“Daniel’s handsome,” Sara conceded. “He’s also not interested in me.”

Carly noticed Sara neglected to comment on whether or not she was interested in Daniel. “What makes you say that?”

Color tinged Sara’s cheeks. “I overheard him tell one of your brothers what a shame it was that Carly’s assistant had such a . . . great body and such a stuffy personality.”

Carly stared at Sara. “You’re kidding.” Then the situation struck her as funny and she began to laugh. Sara frowned at her, but Carly only laughed more. “I wonder what Daniel would do if he knew about those lingerie catalogs you have.”

Sara smiled, but her eyes held a warning light. “He’ll never know.”

“Oh, I don’t know. That kind of information has a way of leaking out.”

“Carly.”

“It would be for your own good. You’re the kind of person who needs a family. I just want to help.”

“You’re one to talk about men. You’ve got Russ Bradford dangling on a long line.”

Carly grimaced. “Russ Bradford doesn’t dangle on anyone’s line. He’s got his own line, and he’ll never settle down.” The reality of that statement depressed her.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Sara said in a gentle mocking tone. “For a guy who’ll never settle down, he sure seems to like children.” She nodded at the group of children surrounding Russ.

Carly looked at him, his red hair glinting in the sun, his laughter inviting everyone within earshot to join in. He tossed a small boy in the air, then held the youngster like an airplane. They made buzzing sounds together until a little girl tugged on his leg. Russ gave the boy a hug, then set him down. He picked up the little girl and spun her around, sending her halo of blond hair flying.

If he ever found a woman he could love, Russ would make a wonderful father. Carly felt a tight squeezing in the region of her heart. An indescribable yearning swept over her. For a second, Carly wished she could be that woman, the one he’d love and never leave. The feeling shook her to the marrow of her bones.