The Guy Next Door

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They said their goodbyes and walked to her small SUV.

“I appreciate this. I know you’re probably still angry with me,” she said as she pulled out of the parking lot.

“Angry with you?”

“Oh, come on. It’s me here. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

So much for blowing off her comment from the night before. “Yeah, well…”

“I’m sorry. I really do believe in you. You’ve worked hard, accomplished so much.” She glanced over at him, her eyes begging him to believe her. “I know you won’t fail.”

As long as he could remember, she had believed in him and never wavered. That support was one of the reasons her friendship was so important to him. How could he stay mad at her? Besides, he’d never been able to. All she ever had to do was smile or laugh and it set his world right. “Forget about it.”

“Thanks.” She glanced over and gave him one of those smiles, soothing his bruised ego.

“So what’s the deal with your mom liking my dad?” he asked.

The car gave a lurch as she pushed the gas pedal too hard. “What?”

“I think she may have a crush on him. He’s been talking about Noreen this and Noreen that, as if she’s been helping him through his grief. From the way she was blushing just now, I think maybe she’s got feelings for him.”

Flipping on the blinker, Darcy glanced at him. “That’s crazy. They’re friends.”

“Have they been spending more time together?”

“I don’t really know. I’m not home much.”

Which meant it was entirely possible. He chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered what all Burt and Noreen might have talked about, might have shared. “You know, Dad says he’s having second thoughts about moving out of the house. Could be that she’s discouraging it.”

“I don’t see why she’d do that unless she thinks it’s too soon for him to make that type of decision. I remember her having fleeting thoughts about selling the house right after Dad died. Later, she said she was glad she hadn’t.”

Which only made asking his dad to relocate more difficult. “Maybe that’s all it is, a friend advising a friend. Still, you might want to talk to her. I’m afraid she’ll end up getting hurt.”

“You don’t need to worry. Remember, I think she may be seeing someone.” Darcy stopped at a stop sign and looked over, irritation drawing her mouth downward. “What if they did care for each other? Would that be a bad thing?”

How could she even entertain the idea? “Oh, come on, you can’t be serious. That would be strange. She was my mom’s best friend.”

“She’s been talking on the phone to someone a good bit, comes in late at night without explanation. Your dad would be a whole lot better than some stranger she’s apparently hiding from me.”

“Remember Chloe,” he said, reminding her of the mantra they’d typically used when one of them kidded about dating the other. “Applies to our parents, as well.”

She gave him an apologetic close-lipped smile. “Still, weird or not, I’d pick your dad over her dating someone I haven’t yet met.”

He shook his head. Time to get back to the business at hand. “I made some calls yesterday to confirm donations. Have a pretty good-size list for us today, so we might want to drive through and grab lunch at some point.”

She pulled into the sporting goods store lot and turned off the car. Held out her hand. “Show me the list. I can set up our route for efficiency.”

Darcy had always been one to jump in any situation and get right to work. A trait he’d admired. A trait that would serve them well for the fund-raiser. He needed to set aside any difference of opinion over their parents.

“We make a good team,” he said. “I appreciate you helping me.”

When she gave him a self-satisfied smirk, it was as if the old Darcy had fully returned. A teasing glint lit her eyes as she leaned over the console and squeezed his biceps. “I suppose you do need my help with heavy items. Office work makes you soft.”

“And microscope work is muscle-building?” Laughing, he returned the inspection, his hand easily wrapping around her slim upper arm. The delicate skin was so soft that he couldn’t resist rubbing his thumb over the underside.

She sucked in a breath, and it was as if the intake changed the electron composition of the air in the car. The space sizzled with tension as they stared into each other’s eyes. His heart began to thud, quick and strong.

“Um, yeah, lifting all those test tubes and petri dishes is a real workout.” With a strained laugh, she pulled away from his grip and clenched her hands in her lap.

Remember Chloe.

“So. A portable basketball hoop, huh?” he choked out. “That should bring in quite a few bucks for the kids.”

“Yes. Valued at one hundred seventy-nine dollars.”

“Very nice, indeed.” He had to get out of the car before he said something stupid. He threw open his door, allowing all the awkwardness to escape the vehicle. “Come on. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

* * *

If Darcy didn’t get a grip, this working with Luke was going to be torture. Pure torture.

She strengthened her resolve and somehow managed to get through the day. But it seemed as if every five minutes her mind would wander, and she’d recall his touch.

At dinnertime, she pulled her SUV, full of the items they’d picked up that afternoon, into her driveway. You’re ridiculous, Darcy O’Malley. Ri-dic-u-lous. If not so embarrassing, she’d yell the word out loud.

Their awkward moment earlier was totally her fault. She’d jokingly reached for his arm muscle, and then spazzed at the bizarre connection. She absolutely could not let her old crush come roaring back, or it would be impossible to work with him. Impossible to act normal around him.

“Are you sure your mom won’t mind us storing the auction items here?” Luke asked as he opened the back of her vehicle.

“There’s less storage space at the church. The items will be safe here until we can set up right before the auction.”

Darcy propped the front door of the house open and began to carry small items into the wood paneled study. The room still reminded her of her dad, though her mom had pretty much taken over his desk. His books still filled the shelves, and his framed photos remained on the desk.

“Is that you, Darcy?” Noreen called from the kitchen.

“Yes. We’re going to unload the car.”

“Dinner will be ready soon. Burt is already here.”

Someone in her mom’s life had put a bounce back in her step and a chronic smile on her face. Could that person actually be Burt?

As Darcy trudged back outside, Luke’s cell phone rang.

He signaled for her to hold up. “Yes, I appreciate you calling me back.”

He listened to the caller for another moment. “I see.” Nodded. Frowned. “Yes, I understand. Please don’t worry about it. We’ll talk soon.”

Rubbing his forehead as if trying to smooth away a headache, he tucked the phone in his pocket. “That was Mr. Haley. They aren’t going to be able to donate the trip to their ski chalet after all.”

“You mean they can’t pay the travel expenses?”

“I mean they can’t donate any of it—travel, use of the chalet or the lift tickets. We’ve lost the whole vacation package.”

He had to be kidding. She waited for him to break into laughter and say so, but his serious expression squashed her hope.

She groaned. “That skiing package was supposed to raise the majority of our money. We’ve been advertising it on the church website for weeks. What happened?”

“He said unexpected financial obligations. Looks like we’re going to have to knock on doors to come up with more donations, and hopefully a big one.”

Which would take more of Darcy’s nonexistent time. That, coupled with the strain from being around Luke, was simply too much. “I can’t do this,” she said under her breath as she lifted a large painting out of the car.

He grabbed hold of the frame. “I’ll get that. It’s too heavy.”

He didn’t get it. She couldn’t handle the fund-raiser commitment—or him. “If Chloe comes to dinner this evening, I’m going to ask her to help round up donations.”

“Sure, do what you need to do.” He didn’t look thrilled by the prospect as he picked up a framed mirror and headed inside.

Having another committee member still wouldn’t solve the problem of Darcy handling her feelings for Luke. She’d had enough disappointment where he was concerned. She didn’t need to bring more on herself.

After two more loads of items, they carried the carton holding the basketball hoop to the garage, then headed to the kitchen.

Steam rose from a boiling pot on the stove. A freshly baked pound cake sat on the granite countertop, the smell of vanilla and sweetness filling the air.

Was it Darcy’s imagination, or were Burt and her mom standing awfully close? Could he be the mystery man? They looked kind of cute together and acted comfortable around each other. How could that be a bad thing? After watching her mother suffer through a year of sadness and withdrawal, followed by another year of merely getting by, Darcy liked seeing her happy.

And the affection didn’t appear one-sided like Luke had suggested.

“Oh, hi, you two.” Noreen’s eyes were bright, her smile perky. “Now I can put the garlic bread under the broiler. It’ll be ready in two minutes.”

“Is Chloe coming for dinner?” Darcy asked.

Burt opened the drawer and pulled out a serving spoon. “She called to say she was running late. We’re to go ahead and eat.”