Where She Belongs (Destiny Falls) Page 8

  Except she hadn’t wanted any part of his dreams. Or him, as it had turned out.

  Only a masochist would continue building a house that had chased away his fiancée. However, working with the logs had kept Adam sane when anguish brandished its sword. He’d loved Crysta and their unborn baby. Boy or girl?

  I’ll never know.

  His jaw stiffened. He grabbed the beer and took another swallow.

  Come this October, their child would have turned two, not much younger than Molly’s Kaitlin. Had the baby been a girl, the pair might have become playmates.

  Swearing, Adam plunked down the beer again. Logically, he realized Crysta would have left town no matter what he’d said or did. She hadn’t wanted a life here. She’d wanted to break free, let loose, party. But Destiny Falls wasn’t much of a party town, and Adam had been dumb enough to believe the surprise pregnancy would soothe her urge to roam.

  However, she might not have developed such contempt for the baby growing inside her if she hadn’t felt cornered. If he hadn’t made her feel that way.

  Now, to a lesser degree but enough to irk him, he’d committed the same crime with Jess—a woman he’d known one week!

  “Some guys never learn, huh, Sheba?” The dog’s ears pricked. He scratched her head. “Some guys need to write it a hundred times on the whiteboard, and even then we don’t learn.”

  Damn it, he should have accepted it when Jess broke off their kiss at the drive-in. Instead, he’d subtly pressured her until he’d scared her away. When he’d dropped her off at her mother’s house, she wouldn’t even let him walk her to the door. He’d considered overriding her protest, but one glance at her stiff-backed demeanor had convinced him to let the matter die. Unlike his attraction to her, which continued to burn strong and bright.

  Fed up with the blasting roar of the TV, he thumbed the remote. “I have to make it right, Sheeb.” Or face the distinct possibility that Jess would avoid him over the next five weeks—an uncomfortable situation for everyone. Him, Nora, Molly. And Jess.

  He had to make it right.

  “This is it, Jess—The Clothes Horse!” Molly twirled between the racks of jeans and tops jamming the tiny, turquoise-and-yellow shop. “What do you think?”

  “It looks great, Moll,” Jess said with false enthusiasm. She’d promised this time to Molly, and her friend deserved her full attention, but she couldn’t stop thinking about her mistakes with Adam last night.

  Whatever had possessed her to go to the drive-in with him? To agree to go anywhere they might be alone? Their slow-dance at the restaurant had advertised his intentions like a billboard. He’d wanted her, and, damn it, she’d felt the same. However, he’d been prepared to indulge their attraction, and she hadn’t. With her boss squawking about how her extended leave worsened his workload, enough complications filled her life without Adam pulling her in yet another direction.

  Pushing thoughts of him from her mind, she examined the belts and accessories near the cash register. “Nice selection.” She glanced at Molly. “I like the layout of the store, the colors and atmosphere.”

  “My boss has a good eye.”

  “So do you.” She mustered a smile. “To think this building once housed a Laundromat and arcade.”

  Molly leaned on the counter. “They changed locations a few years ago. The building owner took the opportunity to split two units into three—the hairdresser’s, the gift shop, and the boutique.” She propped her chin on a raised hand. “Not bad for Destiny Falls, eh? Remember how we used to dream about opening a place like this together? We wanted to call it MJ’s.”

  Jess nodded. “We were ahead of our time. I can’t imagine a store like this succeeding in Destiny Falls eight or nine years ago.” She sorted through the jeans rack.

  “Times change, Jess, even in this teensy ol’ burg. My boss says she wouldn’t consider selling if not for her health issues. Too bad she can’t afford a full-time manager.”

  “But that’s where you come in.” Jess checked the size on a pair of jeans and draped them over her arm to try on. “How does Tim feel about your idea to buy the place?”

  “He’s all for it. I loved staying home when the kids were babies, but Sean starts kindergarten in September and Kaitlin wants to attend preschool. It’s time to do something for myself, you know? The financing’s a little sticky. After living on one income for years, we have squat in savings.” She shrugged. “I haven’t really looked into it yet.”

  “You should. If your boss is serious about selling, the timing’s perfect.”

  Leaving the counter, Molly riffled through the next rack. “I don’t want to pressure her. Barb knows I’m interested. When the time is right for her, we’ll talk.” She chose a pair of black jeans and handed them to Jess. “That makes four pairs. Are you ready to brave the dressing rooms?”

  “I still need tops and a spring jacket. I wouldn’t mind trying on some belts, too.”

  Molly laughed. “Boy, am I gonna make a killing off you today.”

  “It’s not like I don’t own a pair of jeans, Molly. I just forgot to pack them.”

  “They’re probably all designer labels, too. Welcome back to the real world, hon.”

  Jess tossed her friend a mock-haughty look before heading to the dressing room. Leaving three pairs of jeans on the hook outside the door, she entered the mirror-less space—the first thing she would change if she owned the store. Who wanted to check out the presence or absence of a muffin-top in view of other customers?

  She shucked off her shoes and pants, then pulled on the first pair of jeans.

  “Wasn’t last night fun?” Molly asked from the other side of the door. “I haven’t laughed that much in ages. How long did you and Adam stay at the restaurant after Tim and I left?”

  “A few minutes. The waitress didn’t approve of the dancing, so we had one waltz then went.” One waltz. It sounded so innocent. It had felt anything but.

  “He took you straight home?”

  “Not really.” Opening the door, Jess stepped out to the wall mirror. “We drove to the old drive-in and talked.” She studied the fit of the blue jeans in the mirror.

  “That make-out haven?”

  “It was empty.”

  “Except for you two!”

  “Nothing happened, Moll.”

  “Did I ask?” Molly’s reflection grinned at her. “Come on, Jess, would it really be so horrible if something had happened?”

  “Yes.” Satisfied with the fit of the jeans, Jess faced her friend. “I like your cousin, Moll. That’s the problem. I could get to like him too much.”

  “Go, Jess!”

  “No, no, no! I refuse to start something with Adam I know I’ll have to finish in a few weeks.”

  “Who says you’d have to finish?”

  “Molly! If Gareth gets his promotion, I’m a shoo-in for his job.”

  “Shoe-in. Good one.”

  “I’m serious, Moll. He’s all over me about a junior buyer quitting while I was in Europe.”

  “How is that your fault?”

  “It’s not. But he was counting on me to hire and train a replacement before I leave for Asia. Now I can’t.”

  “Because you had the audacity to visit your grieving mother? What an ass.”

  Jess’s lips twitched. “If I want to replace him, I need his recommendation. I can’t afford to alienate the dickhead.”

  Molly crossed her arms. “How would dating my cousin alienate your dickhead boss?”

  “Adam’s a distraction I don’t need.” A sexy, bullheaded distraction.

  Molly’s voice softened. “Jess, it’s been years since Danny.”

  “This isn’t about Danny.” Oh, crap, is it?

  “Uh-huh.”

  Sighing, Jess ran her hands over the crisp new denim covering her thighs. “Okay, maybe in a way it’s a bit about Danny. Think about it, Molly. You married Tim, and I would have married Danny. Two best friends raising their kids together while co-owning a store li
ke this one.”

  “You still miss him.”

  “He’s a part of me. The way he died—”

  “I know.”

  “Then support my choices, Moll.”

  “I do. But you’re not the only person to survive heartache. Adam’s had his share.”

  Don’t ask. “What do you mean?” Too late.

  “Remember Crysta Jenkins?” Molly fiddled with a display of sunglasses. “Tall, blue eyes, blonde? She was three years behind us in high school. They dated a couple of years ago. Adam fell in love with her.”

  Jess’s pulse blipped. “What happened?” God help her, she really wanted to know.

  “It’s his story to tell. However, I can say they got engaged at warp speed, and she left him ten days later.”

  “That’s awful.” Poor Adam.

  “And when I say ‘left him,’ I mean she left him and she left Destiny Falls. At first he didn’t realize she’d skipped town, and her mother wouldn’t tell him. He spent weeks looking for her.”

  “Why wouldn’t her mother tell him?”

  The shop door tinkled, and two teenage girls entered. They arrowed for the jeans rack.

  Molly glanced back. “Oh, those girls said they’d return today. They might need my help.”

  “Way to evade my question, Moll.”

  Molly passed her a pair of black jeans. “His story, remember? Those low-riders look great on you. Now try these.”

  Jess held up the skinny jeans. “I don’t know. They sure look tight.”

  “You’ve got the figure for them. Try them on.” Molly grinned. “Spoilsport.”

  “All right, all right!”

  As Molly headed for the teenagers, Jess re-entered the dressing room. Fingers clumsy, she unzipped the blue jeans. Damn it, why should Molly’s story about Adam bother her? So he’d been engaged once. The man was thirty-one years old. She couldn’t expect him not to have a romantic history.

  She peeled off the jeans and hung them on her “to buy” hook. Then she wriggled into the stretchy black pair. Molly’s footsteps approached on the wood floor outside the door. Jess flexed her knees, the give of Lycra easing her movements. “I don’t know about these skinny jeans, Molly. They feel great, but, wow, they’re tight.” The footsteps stopped. “Molly?”

  A husky male voice said, “Not last I checked. But I’ll offer my opinion on those jeans. That is, if you’re brave enough to come out.”

  Jess’s stomach back-flipped. “Adam?” Wasn’t it enough that he’d invaded her peace of mind—must he also disrupt her shopping?

  She whipped open the door. “Do you always show up where you’re not expected?”

  His gaze roamed over her from head to toe, and the corner of his mouth tipped up. Images of the amazing kisses they’d shared flooded her mind.

  “Only when it’s to my advantage. Nice jeans.”

  Liquid heat rushed through her. With her blouse haphazardly tucked in and her feet devoid of shoes, she felt half-dressed, somehow exposed, as if he’d interrupted her in her bedroom instead of in a public store where he had every right to be.

  He looked so good in jeans, a black T-shirt, and that battered denim jacket. Big. Strong. Sexy. And, as usual, too damn close.

  “I didn’t realize The Clothes Horse carried jeans for men,” she said tightly.

  “I dropped off an old ball glove I’d promised Sean. Now that I’m here, though...” He glanced at his watch. “It’s nearly noon. Do you have plans for lunch?”

  “You know I do. With Mom and Molly, once the owner of the shop arrives.”

  “Great. I’ll join you.”

  Oh no, he wouldn’t. Her emotions had run the gamut this week. She shouldn’t be anywhere near Adam Wright and his clear blue, mesmerizing gaze.

  “It’s women only, Adam.”

  “How about after lunch?”

  “I’m spending the day with my mom.”

  “Just an hour, Jess. We need to talk.”

  “We talked last night.”

  “So that’s it?”

  “Looks like.”

  “Man, you’re stubborn. We talked about your mother then, Jess. Now I’d like to talk about us.”

  “Well, I’m afraid that’s impossible.” She poked her chin in the air—and immediately felt about ten years old.

  He chuckled. “Oh yeah? Why?”

  “Because there isn’t an ‘us.’” She peered around him. Molly and the teenagers were enjoying an animated conversation about belly-button rings and hadn’t heard them. A faded baseball glove rested on the cash counter, corroborating Adam’s story.

  “But there could be.” His low whisper urged her to look at him again. “After last night, you can’t deny it.” He clapped a hand to his chest. “I swear, those jeans should be outlawed.”

  She huffed out a breath. “You don’t get it, do you?” she whispered. “I won’t become involved with you, at least not like last night. Do I need to hit you over the head with a brick to make you realize that?”

  “Probably.”

  She blinked. Do. Not. Smile. “You’ve been a friend to me this last week, and I appreciate everything you’ve done. But I’m not prepared to take our relationship any further.”

  “At least you can use the R word to describe what’s happening between us.”

  “I’d rather use the F word.”

  “You’re telling me to take off?” A pained expression pinched his face.

  Now she did smile. “No. I mean friendship, with a capital F. I’m sorry, but that’s all I can offer right now.”

  Hooking his thumbs in his belt loops, he nodded. “I saw the car out front. Have you talked to your mom about the transmission?”

  Jess peered at him. “You’re accepting my offer of friendship?”

  “Yes.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Don’t tell me now you’re disappointed?”

  Oh God, was she?

  Don’t go there.

  “Um, I booked an appointment with your mechanic friend for Monday. He said the transmission will take a week, maybe more, depending on the availability of parts and if any other work is required.”

  “What will you use for transportation?”

  “The taxi. The garage doesn’t have a courtesy car, and Tim and Molly both need their cars for work.”

  “Take my SUV. I don’t need it.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “I’ll use my bush pickup. In fact, to make it easier, I’ll meet you at the garage. You can keep the SUV as long as you need. What time is your appointment?”

  “Quarter to four. You’re sure?”

  “Of course, friend.”

  Another smile tugged her lips, and she rolled her eyes. Before she could toss out a comeback, Molly approached them, lugging a stack of jeans.

  “You’re freaking out my customers, big guy,” she admonished her cousin. “They won’t use the dressing rooms while you’re here.”

  “Why not?”

  “You intimidate them. You’re older, but not that old, if you get my drift. They might start drooling.”

  He snorted. “I’m leaving in a minute.”

  “Thanks.” Molly piled the jeans on the corner bench in the second dressing room. Turning, she said, “Those skinny jeans look fantastic, Jess. Are you buying them?”

  “I haven’t decided.”

  “Well, get the lead out. I’m lining up some tops for you to look at.”

  Adam remained silent until Molly strolled out of earshot. They concluded the arrangements for his SUV, and Jess spun around to enter the dressing room. He smacked her butt, and she jumped, skin burning.

  “I agree with Molly, buddy. You should buy these.”

  Chapter Seven

  ADAM WAITED BY his SUV for Jess to return from the garage restroom. He’d never encountered a jumpier woman. While they’d discussed the car’s issues with Ty, she’d either fiddled with her purse strap or developed a fascination with unsnapping and re-clasping her watch, but only when he’d glanced
at or addressed her, never when Ty had. Maybe she wasn’t as committed to their new “friendship” as she claimed.

  He could only hope.

  Seconds later, she appeared around the building, unzipping the short jacket she’d mentioned buying from Molly. Blue jeans hugged her hips, and a light purple top peeked from the dark gray jacket.

  “Thank you for talking to the mechanic with me,” she said as she reached him. “I know zilch about old cars. I might have steered Ty in the wrong direction without your help, pun not intended.”

  “You’d have done great on your own. But thanks for the thank you, anyway.” He dangled the SUV keys at her. “The bush pickup’s still at my place, and I need to feed Sheba before I go out again. Would you like to drive us back, or should I?”

  Wariness entered her gaze. “Um, I should tell you—”

  “Your license has been suspended?”

  “No. It’s your truck.”

  “Ah.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Sounds like a case of BTP—Big Truck Paranoia.” She chuckled, and he grinned. He loved to tease her. “Don’t sweat it, Jess, the truck’s not a semi. She sits higher off the ground than your mother’s car, but she handles like a dream.” He passed her the keys, and she flipped them over in her hand.

  “It’s not the size. I know you’ll laugh when I say this, but I can’t drive a standard. I should have told you Saturday, but it slipped my mind.”

  “You mean to say you grew up in Destiny Falls, damn near the birthplace of the four-by-four, without learning to drive a stick?”

  “I drove my dad’s truck a few times. But that was over nine years ago.”

  “What about in Toronto?”

  “I lease an automatic sedan. It’s easier to maneuver in downtown traffic.”

  “Don’t worry, the standard will come back to you. It’s like riding a bike... or making love.” He winked. “However, in the interests of preserving your sanity and mine, you could circle around the garage a few times. The property’s big enough. Once you’re comfortable with the clutch, I’ll navigate you to my place. You just turn right at Destiny Falls Crossroad, then take another right onto Red Rock Road. It’s a few roads before the waterfall.”