Looking away from Rich, she whirled around so quickly she almost collided with Keith, Treble conjured a bright smile and equally bright tone. Its been forever since I ate here. What do you recommend?
Im fond of the pulled pork sandwich. He raised an eyebrow. I would have you pegged as a woman who liked to decide her own order without advice.
Pouting prettily, she wagged a finger at him. Shame on you, judging so quickly. Wouldnt it be more fun to get to know me? I dont bite. Well, rarely.
He studied her, looking unimpressed. Are you always soflirtatious with virtual strangers?
Embarrassment warmed her cheeks, but she refused to get defensive. That was just joking around, Doc. If I decide to flirt with you, trust me, youll know. Irritating man. She hadnt been coming on to him. Shed been anxious after his responsesmake that non responsesabout her family, and seeing Rich had been the toxic icing on the cake. Would it have killed Keith to smile back at her? Surely a guy who looked like this had some experience bantering with women.
If you decide to flirt, he said blandly, give me a heads up so I can be elsewhere. I prefer genuine to calculated feminine wiles.
No wonder the man was good friends with Harrison. Two like-minded judgmental sticks-in-the-mud.
A gangly teenager with minor acne and major amounts of musky aftershave cleared his throat, making it clear Keith and Treble were blocking the entrance. The doctor mumbled an apology and steered her away with his hand on her elbow. His touch was gentle but seared her skin nonetheless.
She jerked her arm away, then sighed inwardly. Now she probably looked petulant on top of everything else. What if she approached the situation as she would a caller she had inadvertently offended? Debate and sassy comebacks were good for the show, but there was a line she didnt cross when it came to antagonizing listeners. Why not just try the direct approach?
Sorry if I was snippy there for a moment. Unwilling to discuss the family part of how difficult coming home was, particularly when she had a feeling Keith was already prejudiced on the subject, she gave him the other half of the truth. Theres an ex-boyfriend of mine in here.
She gave Keith credit for not turning to scope the ex in question, which Alana would have done immediately. Then again, Alana was a friend with a vested interest in Treble; Keith most likely didnt care.
Bad breakup? he guessed.
With aching, unwanted clarity, she remembered crying all night over the one-two punch of losing her mother, then her first love. Shed gone behind Harrisons back and against his wishes to see Rich; learning that her stepfather had been correct in his assessment had only made her angrier. How could Harrison be so perceptive when it came to a teenage boy he barely knew yet remain so blind about how much Treble needed him?
She swallowed. Bad enough. I wasnt trying to use you to make him jealous or anything. I havent even thought about him in years. It was just disorienting, walking through the door andSometimes were not prepared to come face-to-face with our past, you know?
Yeah. He glanced away, but not before she saw the sudden intensity in his eyes.
Her earlier annoyance faded into curiosity. She knew what her issues were. What lurked in Dr. Caldwells past that hed rather not face?
LUNCH WITH Treble reminded Keith of his first-year labs in med school. Part of him had enjoyed the challenge while the rest of him was edgy because hed sometimes second-guessed whether he knew what the hell he was doing.
Trebles earlier moment of vulnerability had startled him, leaving him to wonder if hed imagined it as she effortlessly dazzled the young man working the register. By the time they left the counter with their food, Keith concluded that his companion was as unpredictable as she was gorgeous, which was saying something. The more moods he watched play across that expressive face, the more the full impact of her beauty hit him. Did she know men were watching her as she sauntered across the room?
Of course she does. She paints her fingernails blue and carries bright red luggage. This is not a woman who hides from attention. And yet shed seemed sincerely nervous about running into some long-ago flame. From her reaction, Keith guessed the guy must have dumped her. Had this ex been the jealous type and didnt like others checking out Treble? Or maybe hed been intimidated by her. Or
Well, well, well. Looks like Troubles back in town. A man stopped next to Trebles chair. Times been good to you, darlin.
Certainly better than you ever were, she returned sweetly.
Or maybe the guy who dumped her was just a jerk, Keith concluded. He didnt know Rich Danner very well except that the landscaper had moved back to Joyous about two months ago, apparently licking his wounds from a divorce. Hed remarked to Keith that they were the most eligible bachelors in town. Us and Jason McDeere, but hes raising a toddler, which puts us ahead in desirability. Course theres plenty of fillies to go around for all three of us.
Now, Rich was turning green eyes full of apology toward the filly hed let get away. Dont be like that, Treb. I was a kid. Teenagers make bad romantic decisions.
She reached for her sandwich. I couldnt agree more.
Keith grinned at her implication, but the diss had obviously sailed over Richs head.
I knew youd understand. How about I join you, and we can reminisce about what good times we had before I screwed up?
Actually, Keith interjected, his impulsive words surprising him, I kind of wanted Treble all to myself for another few minutes before we have to leave. She was fascinating me with stories about her job as a DJ in Atlanta.
Trebles eyebrows shot up, but she played along. Truthfully, theyd never once discussed what she did for a living, but Charity had mentioned it. Whereas Harrison rarely spoke of his stepdaughter, Charity was effusively proud of her older sister, her naked affection almost masking her disappointment when Treble missed yet another holiday or birthday at home.
Sure, buddy. Rich held his hands in front of him and gave a quick nod of male understanding. I get it. But, Treble, well have to catch up some other time.
When they were alone again, Treble said, Thank you. I dont need a man to rescue me, but Im not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth, either.
Does everyone born in Tennessee compare people to livestock?
What? Lines of confusion furrowed her brow.
Never mind. And youre welcome, he added. That guy can get on my nerves.
She nodded, taking a big bite of her sandwich and letting out a moan of pleasure. God, I forgot how great Tennessee barbecue is. I mean, I knew I loved it, but thisThis is better than sex.
He squeezed his own sandwich and barbecue sauce ran down his fingers.
If shed noticed, he would have been embarrassed, but she seemed oblivious, lost in enjoyment of her food. Some of the women in town would have faintedblushed, at the very leastat having the word sex tossed casually into meal conversation, but Treble clearly thought nothing of it.
She washed down her food with a swallow of soda. Earlier, you said people born in Tennessee. So youre not a native?
Nope. Charity first mentioned you when she heard Id moved here from Atlanta. I went to med school and interned there. Grew up in Savannah.
Nope. Charity first mentioned you when she heard Id moved here from Atlanta. I went to med school and interned there. Grew up in Savannah.
A city steeped in rich tradition and history, Savannah seemed like a good place for ghosts. He preferred to leave his there. In the E.R. of a major Atlanta hospital, hed found himself dealing with too many reminders, too much trauma. Hed become a doctor because he wanted to save people, but if hed stayed where he was, he was the one whod wind up needing saving. So hed found salvation in the relatively peaceful town of Joyous. He had the practice, real friends. Of course, Charity tutted that hed be even happier once he found a girlfriend.
Its not as if there arent willing women, shed teased, threatening to count the number of foil-covered casseroles in his freezer.
Hed considered deflecting her interest in setting him up by suggesting she encourage her dad to date insteadHarrison needed something in his life besides control of the dairy business and grueling workweeks. But even though it had been a long time since Charitys mother died, Keith didnt push the idea of a replacement romance. Losing family was hard, and Charity had mentioned how much shed been missing her mom lately.
I suppose you think its pitiful that I called my sister and begged her to come be with me? Charity had asked.
Of course not. The only thing Keith hadnt understood was why Bill and Harrison had been so shocked Treble agreed. If Keiths older sister were still alive, there wasnt anything he wouldnt do for her.
Keith. Trebles voice was soft, but persistently inquisitive. Are you okay?
He met her eyes, not sure what to make of the woman. Her gaze was filled with what seemed like empathy, hardly the selfish person shed been painted as in unflattering gossip. He understood better than most the value of a fresh start. Maybe Treble had changed, maybe shed returned not only to help her sister but to earn her stepfathers forgiveness for whatever youthful transgressions were in her past.
Im fine, he assured her, but a lousy lunch date, huh?
Well, you wont be winning any awards for witty conversation, but youre easy on the eyes, so it balances out. Leaning forward, she lowered her voice conspiratorially. You do know theres a blonde in the corner whos been checking you out, dont you?
His gaze darted in the direction shed subtly indicated, and he spotted elementary school receptionist Dinah Perkins having lunch with two other women. When Dinah caught him noticing, she smiled and offered a small finger wave. Moments later, she and her girlfriends huddled into hushed conversation. Either they wanted to know who the stranger was sitting with Dr. Caldwell, or they already knew and, like Rich Danner, were intrigued by Troubleer, Treblesreturn to Tennessee.
Friend of yours? Treble asked Keith.
Just a friend, he stressed.
How long had it been since hed had a girlfriend? Med school and his stint at the hospital had been hectic, and since moving here hed beencautious. Thered been a few dates and a nice weekend when a female friend had come to visit, but if his love life hadnt completely flatlined, its prognosis wasnt rosy, either. Eventually, he wanted to find the right woman to make his fresh start complete, but now that he was fitting in, he didnt want to jeopardize that with social missteps. Citizens gathered round their own, and if Keith broke up with a local girl, he risked becoming an outsider again. Maybe he was overanalyzing, but he hadnt felt at home anywhere in a long time.
It wasnt something he was willing to lose.
About done? he asked Treble.
She nodded. Ive taken up enough of your day. If you can swing me by the garage so I can give the mechanic my keys, youll be rid of me soon.
Standing, she leaned over to grab a couple of napkins and clean off the table. He found himself looking straight into a tempting view of her cleavage. Stop ogling Harrisons daughter! But forcing himself to turn away was damn difficult.
In one short afternoon, Treble had had more of an effect on him physically than any of the women hed met in town. Maybe it helped that she had a body that was sinfully perfect, making him think of fallen angels, but he was a doctor. Hed seen lots of bodies, many of them undressed.
The sooner he delivered her to Charitys, the better.
With the downtown area covering only a half-dozen blocks, it didnt take them long to reach Carter and Sons. Keith had just pulled up to the garage when a mechanic in dusty blue coveralls emerged from one of the open bay doors.
Thats Ronnie, he told Treble. Shell have your car working better than when you drove it away from the dealership.
She?
There was no need for him to answer since Ronnie was removing her cap. Sleek red-gold hair fell to her shoulders.
Huh, Treble grunted. You know, before you came to get me, I was expecting Doc Caldwell to be a good bit older. And Ronnies definitely not what I anticipated. Lots of surprises for such a sleepy little town.
Sleepy? A twinge of foreboding rippled through him as he regarded the woman seated in his truck. Hed watched her varied reactions to Joyousapprehension over arriving, sassy rebuffs to an ex-boyfriend, nearly sensual enjoyment of good barbecuebut now he wondered how the town would react to her. Treble James looked like a wake-up call waiting to happen.