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“In or out, you two!” called Janice, a waitress who’d been working at the Nugget ever since Tess could remember. “We don’t aim to air-condition the entire town of Copperville!”
Mac let the door swoosh closed again and turned back to Tess, his expression impassive. “What’ll it be?”
She didn’t really want to call the whole thing off. She needed Mac to help her, and besides, he’d shown up for dinner all shaved and showered. It would be a shame to waste that effort. “Let’s have some meat loaf,” she said.
* * *
MAC HELD THE door for Tess a second time and tried not to drool as she walked past him trailing her cologne like a billowing scarf. When he’d seen her coming down the street in that flirty, daisy-covered dress he’d almost swallowed his tongue. Then she’d gotten close enough that he could see the moisture gathering in her cleavage, right where the pearl nestled.
He fought the crazy urge to lean down and lick the drop of moisture away before it disappeared into the valley between her breasts. He must be out of his mind. Fantasies like that didn’t apply to Tess, the girl who could ride her bike no-hands down Suicide Hill, a girl who could throw a baseball so hard that it stung when it hit his glove. But the girl is a woman now. He couldn’t ignore the truth any longer. He’d had glimpses of the fact over the years, like the first time he’d seen her in a bikini and she actually filled the thing out. And the prom had been another revelation, but he’d come to his senses before he’d done something stupid like kissing her. Sure they’d kissed when they were little kids, just to see what all the fuss was about, but it hadn’t meant anything.
Funny, though, he still had a vivid memory of the spring day down by the river when they’d decided to try kissing. If he concentrated, he could still feel her soft little-girl’s mouth that had tasted like pink bubble gum. When he’d pulled back to get her reaction, she’d looked sort of dreamy and sweet. Then she’d grinned at him and blown a big bubble that popped all over her face, destroying the moment.
He followed her through the restaurant to the back booth, the one they always took at the Nugget. Along the way he managed to return greetings from the others in the café, people he’d known all his life. But his attention was claimed by the sway of Tess’s hips under the flared skirt covered with daisies. The dress zipped in the back, and he figured she had nothing but panties on under it. The combination added up to what he and his buddies used to call a good make-out dress.
Damn. He had to stop thinking like this. Late this afternoon he’d finally decided maybe he should try to fix her up with someone. He’d come up with a couple of possibilities and had told himself he’d rather have Mitch or Randy be the lucky guy than some sleaze in New York.
Now he didn’t want Mitch or Randy anywhere near her.
But if he didn’t help her, no telling what harebrained thing she’d do. He’d seen her get a bee in her bonnet enough times to know she wouldn’t give up her summer project easily. The year she’d decided to learn how to use in-line skates, she’d sprained her ankle and bloodied both knees, but she hadn’t given up. And she had learned.
He slid into the booth across from her and tried to pretend this was like all the other times they’d shared a meal or a milk shake at the Nugget.
“Hungry?” she asked.
“You bet,” he lied. He wondered if he’d be able to force anything down. He’d never look at her the same way again, he realized in despair. No matter what happened, the friendship had been changed forever. He’d made the mental leap and begun to think of her as a desirable woman—more desirable than he ever would have imagined. He could hardly believe that all these years he’d managed to screen out her sexuality.
“Have you been thinking about…what we discussed?”
“Some.” He blew out a breath. “A lot.”
“Any ideas?”
Yeah, and all of them X-rated.
Janice sauntered over to their table, notepad in hand. “Hey, you two.”
Tess smiled at her. “Hey, Janice. How’s that grandkid?”
Janice reached in the pocket of her skirt. “Take a look.” She tossed a snapshot of a baby down on the table.
“Oh, Janice, she’s gorgeous.”
“Isn’t she?”
“Cute kid,” Mac said, although he was more interested in the look on Tess’s face than the picture of Janice’s grandchild. As Tess gazed at the photo, her expression grew soft and yearning. Only a fool would misinterpret that expression, and Mac wondered if Tess knew how much she wanted a baby of her own. Hell, that was another thing he’d never connected with Tess, but she’d make a great mother. Which meant she had to find somebody who’d be a great father. The whole idea depressed him.
Janice scooped the picture up and slipped it back in her pocket. “So, are you guys having meat loaf or something else?”
“Meat loaf for me,” Tess said.
“Same here.” Mac hoped he’d feel more like eating when their order arrived.
“The usual on the salad dressing?”
“Yep,” they both said at once.
“Iced tea?”
“Yep,” they said again.
Mac thought about Tess going to New York, where the waiters wouldn’t automatically know she liked honey-mustard salad dressing, coffee in the winter and iced tea in the summer. He thought about her eating alone at a restaurant, or worse, eating with some guy. Some guy who would be having the same thoughts Mac was having right now.
“I’ll be back with your tea and salads in a jiff.” Janice headed back toward the kitchen.
Mac stared at Tess, not sure what to say for the first time in all the years he’d known her. They’d always been able to talk to each other. They’d been able to hang out without talking, too. She was the sort of girl you could take fishing, because she’d sit, her line in the water, and let the peacefulness of the day wash over her. But there was nothing peaceful in the silence between them tonight.
“It was pretty hot today,” he said. Then he rolled his eyes. They’d been reduced to talking about the weather. “Forget I said that.”
She smiled. “Okay.” She leaned forward, which made the pearl shift and dip beneath the neckline of her dress. “Remember the time we put pennies on the train tracks?”
He gazed at the spot where the pearl had disappeared. Then he glanced up again, aware that he shouldn’t be looking there. They were in a public place. Anyone could walk in and catch him at it. One of the Blakely boys, for example. “Yeah, I remember.”
“I never told anybody.”
“Me, neither.”
“That was twenty years ago, Mac. You and I have kept that silly secret for twenty years, because we both have the same sense of honor. That’s why I’m asking you for help. I know you won’t tell.”
“I swear, you two look like you’re hatching a plot,” Janice said as she set down two iced teas, then plopped a salad plate in front of each of them and a basket of rolls in the center of the table. “Aren’t you a little old to be painting water towers and such?”
“My folks’ anniversary is coming up,” Tess said. “Thirty-five years.”
“Aha! And you’re going to give them a surprise party.”
Tess looked secretive. “Could be.”
“My lips are zipped,” Janice said. “But be sure and invite me.”
“I will.”
After she left, Mac leaned closer to Tess. The scent of her cologne worked on him, giving him ideas he shouldn’t be having, but he didn’t want anyone to overhear him. “You see how complicated this can get? Now you’re going to have to give your parents a party to cover your tracks!”
She shrugged, and the straps of her dress moved. “No problem. It’s a good idea, anyway.”
His fingers tingled as he imagined slipping those straps down. Slipping the sundress down. With a soft oath he leaned back against the booth. “I’ll bet you’re freezing in here, right?” He wasn’t freezing, that was for sure.
“Not really.” She reached up with both hands and combed her damp hair back from her face with her fingers. The motion lifted her breasts under the cotton of the dress, and there was no doubt that she was braless.
Mac told himself he wasn’t getting turned on. Definitely not. “Let me get that old flannel shirt I keep in the truck.”
“I don’t need your old flannel shirt. I’m fine.”
But he needed her to cover up. “I could get it anyway, just in case.” He started to leave the booth.
“Mac, I don’t want the blasted shirt, okay? I want to get this project going. So sit down and tell me what you’ve got.”
He stared at her, his mind in turmoil. He should tell her about Mitch and Randy. He really should.
“Meat loaf’s here!” Janice announced. “Goodness, you haven’t touched your salads. Must be some party you two are cooking up.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Tess said. She moved her salad plate to one side. “Just set it down there, and I’ll eat everything together.”
“Me, too,” Mac said, following suit.
“Better clean your plates,” Janice said. “Or no dessert for you. And Sally made fresh peach pie today.”
Mac patted his stomach, which was in no mood for a meal, let alone dessert. “Sounds great. You know I love peach.”
Once Janice had disappeared, Tess leaned forward again. “That reminds me,” she said in an undertone. “I’ve been learning the most amazing things from my reading. For example, the use of flavored oils. Did you know they make peach?”
“No.” His jeans started growing tight. Mind over matter wasn’t working.
“Have you read any books on the subject?”
“No.” He stabbed his salad, determined to get through some of this food if it killed him.
“There are some wonderful ideas in there. You might want to take a look.”
He lost control of his fork and it clattered to the plate. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Men and their egos. I’ll bet even you could learn something.”
He picked up his fork and returned to his meal with a vengeance. “Thanks, but I think I’ll just blunder along on my own.”
“Okay, but this is a perfect opportunity to check the books out without anybody knowing you’re doing it. When I leave, I’ll be taking those books with me and you’ll be SOL.”
“I won’t be likely to forget you’re leaving.”
The light of amusement faded in her eyes. “Oh, Mac. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that. I know you’d love to do the same.”
He clamped down on his emotions. There was no point in wanting what you couldn’t have. “I wouldn’t say that. And somebody has to take over the ranch. I noticed this past winter that my dad’s already slowing down.”
“Have you ever given them the slightest hint that you don’t want to take over?”
“I do want to take over. They’ve struggled so hard to build that place and keep it going. It would kill them to have to sell it to strangers when they can’t work it anymore.” He looked into her eyes. “If you were an only child, would you be heading for New York?”
She seemed about to say yes, when she hesitated. Then she sighed. “Probably not. It really helps that my brothers look like they’re going to stay in Copperville forever.” She sent Mac a look of deep sympathy. “You can come and visit me anytime you want. I’ll show you New York in style.”
“Thanks. Maybe I’ll take you up on that.”
“We could have a great time. The top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square. Promise me that you’ll come to visit me, Mac. It would be so wonderful to have that to look forward to.”
“Okay, I promise.” His heart wrenched at the thought of how much they probably would enjoy themselves. And then he’d have to come home again and leave her there. Well, he’d just have to get over it. His life was here, and hers would be there, and that’s the way it was meant to be.
“I feel so much better, knowing that you’ll come to visit me.” Her eyes glowed. “I guess I always pictured seeing some of those things with you. Maybe I’ll wait until you get there before I do some of that tourist stuff, so we can both experience it at the same time. I’ve heard Ellis Island is very moving. And the Metropolitan Museum of Art will be beautiful, and we could save our money and eat at one of those pricey restaurants, at least once, and—”
“I’m not taking you to a pricey restaurant unless you can do better on the food than you’re doing here.”
She glanced at her plate and picked up her fork. “I guess I’m distracted. I can’t seem to think of anything except this move, and getting ready for it.” She pushed her food around and glanced up at him. “Mac, I know you think I’m crazy for wanting this one thing before I go.”
“Not crazy.” He laid down his fork and gave up all pretense of eating. God, she was beautiful. Not cute, not attractive, not passable. Beautiful. He’d never admitted that to himself before, but he’d probably always known it on some unconscious level. He’d been entranced watching her talk about their future adventures in New York.
“Then you understand?”
“Yes.”
She sagged against the table, and her sigh was heavy with relief. “Thank goodness. I wondered if I’d ever convince you.”
“I’m convinced.”
“Then you’ll help me? You’ll find someone and introduce us?”
Maybe he’d known all along what he had to do. Maybe he’d just needed time for the inescapable truth to settle upon him. But now he could see no other way. It was dangerous, extremely dangerous. A great deal was at stake. Still, it was the only answer, and he was man enough to accept that, along with the consequences.
He took a deep breath. “I don’t have to look for someone. I already know who will do it.”
“You do?” Her eyes grew bright, her cheeks pink. “Who?”
“Me.”
CHAPTER FOUR
TESS GASPED AND put her hand over her mouth. She felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of warm water over her. Oh, God. Mac. Could she do it? Her imagination quivered and danced around the idea, unable to focus on the possibility. Her heart beat so loudly she thought he might be able to hear it. Mac. Oh, dear. How delicious. How impossible. How frightening. How lovely.
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
She was having trouble breathing, let alone talking. “I—I—”
“It’s okay if you don’t. I might not be…what you want.”
“I…have to think.”
“Sure.”
Although she was caught up in her own turmoil, she sensed his vulnerability. “I’m honored,” she choked out.
“Honored?”
