Three Little Words (21 page)

“I don’t know her well enough to be sure, but if I had to guess, I would say if anyone can handle our leopard friend, it’s her.”

“Good. I hope he does something. I doubt Angel’s been with anyone since...”

Isabel waited. “Since what?”

“Nothing. It’s his thing. I shouldn’t talk about it.”

“You’re so annoying.”

His grin turned knowing. “Want to spank me? I remember you’re into that.”

“They were shape-wear and you know it.”

“I do.”

He grabbed her wrists, and before she knew what had happened, he pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap. She sat straddling him, her arms on his shoulders, her face close to his.

“We always seem to end up here,” she murmured, right before she kissed him.

“It’s because you’re demanding. I can barely keep up.”

She wiggled against his obvious erection. “You seem to be keeping up just fine.”

“That’s because I can’t resist you.”

As Isabel lowered her mouth to his, she wished his words were true and that this was much more than a game they played for fun.

* * *

“I
T
’
S
ME
,” I
SABEL
CALLED
as she opened her sister’s front door.

Maeve appeared in the living room, her hair mussed, her clothes stained. There were shadows under her eyes.

“Thanks for coming,” she said, sounding exhausted. “It’s been a hell of a night.”

Maeve had called a couple of hours ago and asked if Isabel could stop by the store to pick up a few things. Three of her four kids had gotten food poisoning. They’d been up all night and Maeve had been awake with them. With Leonard out of town, everything had fallen to her.

They walked into the kitchen.

“When does Leonard come back?” Isabel asked as she pulled out bottles of ginger ale and a box of crackers.

“Late tonight. I’m counting the minutes.”

Isabel glanced at her watch. It was barely after ten in the morning. “Look, Paper Moon is closed today. I can stay. Bring me up to date with the kids and I’ll take over while you get a nap.”

“I’m fine,” Maeve told her. “Really. You don’t want to be alone with my kids.”

“Only three, right?”

“Yeah. Griffin’s fine and he went to school.”

Just then four-year-old Kelly walked in. She wore pj’s and looked nearly as tired as her mom.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.”

Maeve smiled. “That’s a good sign. How about some ginger ale while I get you some crackers? If they make your tummy happy, then you can try some banana.”

Kelly nodded, then looked at Isabel. “Hi, Auntie Is.”

“Hey, munchkin.” Isabel crouched in front of her. “You had a bad night, huh?”

Kelly nodded and leaned against Isabel. “I got sick in my bed.”

Isabel picked up the girl and hugged her. “Poor you.” And Mom, she thought, knowing Maeve would have had to deal with the cleanup.

“Come on,” she told her sister. “Let’s get the other two sorted out. Then I’m taking over.”

Maeve hesitated, then nodded. “I wouldn’t say yes, but with the baby and all, I really need to get some sleep.”

They checked out the other two, both of whom were asleep. Isabel promised to wake Maeve if either stirred, then shooed her sister off to her room and returned to the kitchen with Kelly.

Once her niece had finished her ginger ale and a few crackers, Isabel checked on the laundry. Sheets were piled up, with one wet load sitting in the washer. She pulled clean sheets out of the dryer and tossed them in the basket, then put the wet stuff in the dryer and put in a new load of dirties. After starting everything, she carried the basket back to the kitchen and kept Kelly company while she folded.

Her cell rang and she pulled it out of her pocket. A quick glance at the screen had her smiling.

“Hi, Mom. Where are you?”

“Hong Kong,” her mother said. “It’s loud. I’m buying you and your sister silk blouses.”

“Which will only make us love you more,” Isabel said with a laugh. “I’m with your granddaughter. Want to say hi?”

“Absolutely.”

Isabel pushed the button for the speakerphone and Kelly told her grandmother about the three siblings getting sick. When she went off to watch cartoons, Isabel released the speakerphone.

“Maeve’s sleeping,” she told her mother. “She’s exhausted but didn’t eat whatever the kids did. I’m helping out.”

“I’m glad you’re there,” her mother told her. “I miss you both. How’s the store?”

“Excellent. Those new designer clothes have already sold. They’re bringing in a lot of money.”

Her mother sighed. “And that’s not enough to convince you to stay? You could buy us out over time and...” There was another sigh. “Your father is telling me to stop pushing.”

“I appreciate your faith in me, but you know my plans.”

“I do. And I’ll be quiet now.”

They chatted a few more minutes, then hung up.

Three hours later, Maeve staggered into the family room. She blinked as she looked around. “You shouldn’t have let me sleep so long.”

“Why not?” Isabel asked. “You needed it.”

The three kids were stretched out together under a blanket, watching a DVD. They smiled sleepily at their mom but didn’t get up.

“Everyone has had ginger ale, crackers and soup. They’re all tired and are going to watch the movie. Come on. I’ll make you some lunch. You must be starving.”

Maeve followed her into the kitchen. Isabel opened the refrigerator and collected the fixings for a sandwich, but before she could start making it, her sister started to cry.

Isabel rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?” she asked, crouching next to her. “Is it the baby?”

Maeve shook her head, her blond hair swaying with the movement. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

“You cleaned the kitchen and did laundry,” she said, the words slightly muffled.

“Okay,” Isabel said slowly and patted her shoulder. “I’ll get you some water.”

“Thanks.” Maeve wiped her face. “I’m sorry. It’s just I’m so tired, and when Leonard’s gone, I fall apart. He doesn’t travel much, but he had to take a continuing-education class and the one he wanted was only available in person in San Francisco.”

Isabel got a glass and filled it with water, then returned to her sister’s side.

Maeve took it. “Last night was so awful and then you showed up and took care of everything. I really appreciate it.”

“I’m happy to help.” Isabel told herself she needed to spend more time with her sister, to be there when she could.

Maeve wiped her face and took a drink of the water. “I love my life. Really I do. Leonard is the best man in the world and my kids are great, but sometimes I get so envious of you.”

“Of me? Why? I’m a disaster.”

“You’re not. You’re single and don’t have many responsibilities.”

“Or ties. I’m divorced and I don’t even have a cat to keep me company.”

“But you have a career.”

“I work in our parents’ business. That’s not going to put me on the cover of
Fortune
magazine.”

“No, but your new business will. You have it all.”

“No, you do.”

They stared at each other and started to laugh.

“Better?” Isabel asked gently.

Her sister nodded.

“Good.” Isabel walked over to the counter and put two slices of bread on a plate.

“I talked to Mom earlier,” Maeve told her. “They’re having a great time. She says they should have done this years ago.”

“She’s probably right.”

Maeve sighed. “I hope Leonard and I are like them. Always in love.”

“You’ve survived four kids so far. I’m pretty sure you’re going to make it.”

Her sister winced. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”

It took Isabel a second to realize what she meant. “My relationship with Eric was doomed from the start. The mistake was not recognizing the problem to begin with.” She paused, then turned so she was facing Maeve. “I’m going to tell you something, but first you have to promise not to tell Mom and Dad. I don’t want them to have to deal with this until they’re home.”

Maeve’s blue eyes widened as she nodded. “Sure.”

Isabel turned back to the sandwich. “Eric was gay.”

After her sister was done sputtering and calling him names, Isabel explained what had happened.

“I don’t believe he didn’t know,” Maeve fumed. “He had to have had an inkling. That doesn’t just happen. It’s not a lightning strike. I can’t believe he betrayed you like that.”

“I’m getting over it.”

“With Ford?”

Isabel finished with the sandwich and carefully sliced it in two, then carried the plate over to the table. “I guess it’s too late to ask if you’re okay with that,” she said quietly.

Maeve reached for the food. With her other hand, she waved the comment away. “Oh, please. We were done over a decade ago. Have at him.”

Isabel put the supplies back in the refrigerator, then joined her sister at the table. “He’s a pretty great guy.”

“I remember.” Maeve grinned. “Don’t tell him but the sex wasn’t all that. I wasn’t his first time, but he was mine and all I remember thinking is ‘I thought it would take longer than this.’”

Isabel grinned. “We’re not really dating.”

Maeve finished chewing and swallowed. “What? Sure you are. I’ve seen you two together. You are definitely dating.”

“We’re fake-dating.” She explained about Denise and how Ford had begged.

“Not that I don’t approve of a man begging,” her sister began, “but, Isabel, be careful. I’ve seen the way you look at him, and you’re not in a fake relationship.”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking, too. I didn’t want to fall for him, but he’s so funny and easy to be with. He’s thoughtful in little ways that are so unexpected.”

“All perfect if this was a regular relationship, but trouble when it’s not. Are you sure you’re leaving? Maybe Ford is worth sticking around for.”

“I’m not changing my plans for him,” Isabel said firmly. In part because she really did want to open a business with Sonia, but also because she had a feeling Ford meant what he said. That he wasn’t interested in love. Which meant sticking around would only lead to heartache.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Y
OU
CAN
’
T
AVOID
my mother forever,” Kent said.

Consuelo studied the display in the window of Morgan’s Books. “I can and I will.”

Kent grabbed her hand and gently twisted it behind her back, bringing her up against him. She had to tilt her head to continue to stare into his eyes.

She could have broken the hold a dozen different ways, could have had him in any number of holds that would cut off air or blood flow. She wondered if the knowledge of how to do that would ever fade. If she would ever be like the other women who walked through town on this perfect fall day. Or if she would always feel different.

“She’s interested in the woman I’m seeing,” he said.

“Then I can send her regular email updates.”

He smiled.

People smiled all the time, she thought, unable to brace herself for the kick in the gut she always felt when he did that. Kent’s smile was special. It made her feel as if she were the center of a very amazing universe. One where only good things happened.

She knew the folly of believing that, but she couldn’t protect herself. Not where he was concerned. If only her heart were at stake, she would probably be fine. But when she was around him, she felt as if he held her entire being in the palm of his hand. How could she trust him not to crush her into dust?

“Oh, look,” she said brightly, pointing. “Your sister-in-law has a new book out. Let’s go buy it.”

“If you’d like.” He bent down and lightly kissed her mouth, then guided her into the store.

Five minutes later, she had a bag with Liz Sutton’s latest murder mystery. Kent had insisted on paying, which was just like him.

“You should consider an eReader,” he said when they were back on the sidewalk.

“I like books.” Someone passing by said hello, and she paused to return the greeting. “This town is so strange. People I’ve never met before talk to me like they know me. But the weirdest part is I’m starting to like it.”

“But do you like me?”

He was joking. At least, she thought he was. She glanced at him and saw questions in his eyes. They came to a stop again, this time by a bench. Kent pulled her onto the wooden seat.

“Of course,” she said. “Why would you ask?”

“You’re elusive.”

“I’m completely open.” She pressed her lips together, realizing that was far from the truth. “I mean to be.”

“Well, then,” he teased. “That must be enough.”

She looked at her hand in his. His fingers were longer, broader. He was tall and strong, which was nice. If she broke her leg, he could carry her for a long time.

The ridiculous thought made her think of Felicia. She would think Kent was good to have around. That his combination of intelligence and strength would add to the social unit. That even if he wasn’t a traditional warrior, he would be a formidable opponent.

She laced her fingers with his. “Your family scares me. I know Ford and he’s fine, but the rest of them... They’ve lived here their whole lives. They’re close. Traditional.”

“Are you worried you won’t fit in?”

“Some.” All, she thought. “I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”

“Not possible. I’ve seen you eat and you know how to use a napkin.”

She laughed. “Thank you for your faith in my table manners.” She kept his hand in hers but angled toward him. “I don’t want your mom to tell you to stop seeing me.”

“She wouldn’t. You’re adorable. Besides, I’m thirty-four. She stopped getting involved in my love life a couple of decades ago.”

Consuelo raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure? Because just a couple of months ago, the woman had a booth with applications to be your girlfriend.”

He grinned. “Oh, yeah. I forgot. But she’s learned her lesson.”

“Has she?”

“Even if she hasn’t, I’ll protect you. Besides, I’m the one putting it on the line if we hang out with my family. They’re going to tell you stories about me.”

“That sounds fun. What kinds of stories?”

She figured he would admit to a childish prank or say he hadn’t started dating until college. She didn’t expect him to clear his throat and admit, “When I was younger, I was kind of a dog when it came to women.”

Consuelo had a feeling her shock showed. “What does that mean?”

He shrugged. “I figured out girls were pretty cool in tenth grade. I had something of a reputation. In college, I, um, took advantage of the target-rich environment. I’m not proud of what I did,” he added hastily. “I’m different now. More mature. When I was in a relationship, I was always faithful. I never cheated on my ex-wife.” He looked both embarrassed and proud as he admitted to his past.

“An unexpected side of you.”

He nodded. “It’s being a math teacher. People assume I’m shy around women. I get a little nervous at the beginning, but once things get going...” He paused.

“Go on,” she urged, intrigued.

“I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.”

“Afraid your mouth is going to write checks your, um, other parts can’t cash?”

“Something like that. It has occurred to me that you’re completely out of my league.”

He was joking, but she knew he was right. Being a sex god in high school didn’t compare to her past.

“Any tattoos?” he asked.

The unexpected question jerked her out of her worries and brought her back to the man in front of her. She smiled. “Two.”

His eyebrows rose. “What and where?”

“I’m not telling.”

“Building anticipation. I like that.”

She laughed.

Kent put his arm around her and drew her close, then leaned in and kissed her. She let herself relax as her eyes slowly closed. His mouth was warm and sure as it settled on hers.

They were out in public—nothing was going to happen, which was both good and bad. Good because for some reason the thought of having sex with Kent terrified her and bad because being close to him made her want him.

Even as his lips lightly teased her own, she felt heat growing in all the usual places. She hadn’t been with a man in a long time. She hadn’t been with a man she liked in a couple of years. She wanted to lose herself in the act of connecting with a man and not have to worry about extracting information or making her escape. She wanted to make love in a house in the suburbs and wake up to the sound of birds chirping or kids laughing rather than make her way back to a dark and empty safe house.

She drew back and stared into his face. His eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.

“Have I mentioned you’re totally hot?” he asked.

She grinned. “Not lately and I was wondering if you’d changed your mind.”

“No. You’re still amazing.” The smile faded. “Not just because of how you look. I want to make sure you know I like who you are.”

She hoped that was true.

She took his hands in hers. With the right training, he could become a killing machine. Funny how that thought would never occur to him. He wouldn’t hit a woman, wouldn’t shame her. Based on how Reese grumbled about the rules at home, she knew Kent was fair and reasonable, even when angry.

“Maybe I should meet your mother,” she admitted. “She did a really good job with you.”

He laughed. “Interesting logic. I’ll give you a couple of days to be sure before I set something up.”

Of course he would.

* * *

“T
ELL
ME
IT
’
S
going to be beautiful,” Madeline requested, sounding doubtful.

Isabel pulled the white dress from what seemed like an impossibly small box. “It is. Four hours of ironing from now, it will be perfect.”

It was Wednesday morning and they’d just gotten in a big shipment of dresses. While it would be nice if they were sent in hanging boxes, stuffed with tissue and arrived in perfect condition, that wasn’t true. Most came folded, which meant wrinkles and creases and plenty of fluffing.

“I see I’m going to be busy for the next few days,” Madeline said with a grin. “That’s good. Shipping day secures my employment.”

Isabel laughed. “Absolutely.”

Later in the week they were due to get veils, silk wreaths and a few tiaras, but nothing compared to the work of getting a gown ready for her bride.

“The secret is never to let the client see her gown straight out of the box. She’ll never recover from the shock.” Isabel carefully unwrapped a beautiful silk gown with plenty of lace and layers. Yup, she and Madeline would be working late this week.

Thanks to her grandmother’s planning, the back room was big enough to hold a long garment rack. As each dress was unpacked, it was hung up. A few of the wrinkles would fall out on their own, but the rest required gentle ironing and steaming.

“It’s fun to see what’s new,” Madeline said, pulling out another dress. “The changes in the styles. Some are subtle, but there are still differences from year to year.”

“As long as we have variety,” Isabel murmured. “I hate it when stores focus on a single style, like strapless ball gowns. Even though I love them, they’re not going to look good on everyone. Every bride deserves to be beautiful.”

“You’re good at that,” Madeline told her. “Finding the right dress for the right client.”

“Years of watching my grandmother. She would take hours with a bride, talking to her about what she wanted, looking at pictures of different dresses, then having her try on dozens. It was an event.” She remembered being here then. “A bride would book the store for a whole morning or the entire afternoon. Sometimes they had food brought in.”

“You could still do that,” Madeline said. “A few clients would enjoy that.”

“It would be fun.” Isabel hung another dress on the rack. “There are a lot of changes I’d make here. Not that I’m staying.”

“Are you sure you can’t be tempted?”

“Yes. I’m still going back to New York.”

Isabel said the words with more firmness than she felt. In truth, she hadn’t thought about leaving in weeks. She still hadn’t connected with Sonia, but didn’t feel as frantic about that. She knew Ford was the reason and told herself to be careful. That he wasn’t the least bit interested in her staying. Still, it was appealing to think about.

The phone rang. Isabel carefully lowered the dress she was holding back into the box and reached for the receiver.

“Paper Moon,” she said. “This is Isabel.”

“You
have
to get over here right away.”

“Patience? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” her friend said. “But I’m serious. Shut the store and get here now! Bring Madeline.”

Patience hung up.

Isabel replaced the receiver. “That was strange,” she said. “Patience wants us to come over right away. It sounded urgent.”

Madeline rose. “Okay. I’ll put out the sign.”

Isabel checked the back door to make sure it was locked, then followed the other woman to the front of the store. After grabbing her purse and keys, she made sure the We’ll Be Back in Ten Minutes sign was up. After closing and locking the front door, they hurried toward Brew-haha.

Two short blocks later, Isabel raced into the store only to find several women, including Charlie, Dellina and Noelle, standing at the big window, looking out toward the park.

Patience practically danced over. “Look,” she said, pointing.

Isabel ignored the instruction. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” She grabbed Isabel’s arm and dragged her to the window. “Look!”

Isabel turned her attention to the street with no cars currently in view. There were the usual pedestrians, a man on a bike and three men in the park.

“So?”

Charlie glared at her. “So? Seriously? Don’t you know who they are?”

Isabel looked again, then shook her head. “No. Should I?”

Charlie sighed. “Why do I even try?”

“I want the blond one,” Noelle said, pointing. “He’s dreamy.”

“Dreamy?” Charlie scoffed. “What is this? Nineteen fifty? Kenny Scott is known for his speed and catching ability. They say he has magic hands.”

Noelle leaned against the window frame. “I could use some magic hands in my life. I wonder if he rents out.”

Dellina pointed. “I like that one.” She turned to Charlie. “What’s his name?”

“Sam Ridge. Kicker. He’s scored more points than...” She shook her head. “You don’t care about his football career. Stop talking to me.”

Isabel turned back to Patience. “That’s it? You dragged me over here to look at football players?”

“Of course. They’re finally here.”

The front door opened and two old ladies walked in. Isabel recognized Eddie and Gladys. They pushed their way through the crowd and pressed their faces against the window.