Bittersweet Surrender (25 page)

For some reason that just didn't set well with her Cupid side. “Whatever.”

He shook his head. “Why is it women can't stand to see a man happily single?”

“Because it's not normal,” she snapped. She knew she was carrying this way too far, but for some reason she couldn't seem to stop herself.

“Says who?”

“God.”

“Oh.”

“Remember, Adam, Eve, all that?”

“I haven't found Eve. She must be hiding behind a big bush somewhere.”

“I think the bush thing had to do with Moses. Didn't you learn anything in Sunday school?”

Carly thought it odd that he didn't mention Ivy was Eve. She started to say so but stopped herself. He was obviously trying to move on. She needed to let him. “So, any more thought as to the church coffeehouse being named after Ivy?”
No neat little segue, nothing. Just bulldoze your way right in there, Carly.

“Nope,” he said, short and to the point, leaving no question whatsoever as to his intention to stop that discussion right then and there.

“I really like Katelyn. We just totally hit it off.” She wondered why every time she made an abrupt change of subject, she flipped to Katelyn.

“That's great. I'm sure she could use a mother figure in her life. You've always been great with teenagers.”

That made Carly feel a tinge prideful. Kids did seem to gravitate toward her. She'd worked with high school teens in Sunday school, so she related fairly well with their species.

“I hope I can get her through the transition, you know? It must be hard to move from one town to another when you're a junior in high school. Not only that, but going from Chicago to Spring Creek has to be a culture shock.” She laughed.

He joined her, his chuckle warm and soothing. Some days just being around Scott made her tension melt away.

“No kidding.” He pointed toward a city bench. “Let's take a break.” They jogged over to the bench and sat down. “Jake is lucky to have you around. Not only beautiful to look at but good with his daughter too.”

The compliment—offhand and simple—surprised her. She looked up into his smiling face . . . and something seemed to shift. He looked different somehow. It was as though she had seen him in black-and-white and now he was in Technicolor. How odd. Maybe her eyesight was improving.

“Is it hard for you? Not having kids, I mean?”

He shrugged. “Wasn't meant to be. After two miscarriages, Ivy figured we'd better leave it alone.”

His hand covered hers and he looked her full in the face. “Is it hard for you?”

The way he looked at her made her give a silent gulp. A funny sensation hit her stomach and her hands trembled slightly.

“You know, I don't feel so good. I think I'd better go home.”

Alarm entered his face. “Want me to go get the car?”

“No, if you'll just walk me back to my house, I think I can make it.”

He put his arm around her. “Here, lean your head against me.”

Warmth shot through her. Maybe she was coming down with the flu. It had come on her so quickly, she couldn't figure it out.

His shoulder was strong. Though they'd been running, the scent of citrus and woods still lingered on his shirt, calming her. She didn't know if she was worn out from the run or what, but she could almost snuggle in for a nap against him. Her eyelids fluttered to a close as he held her tight.

Scott dropped his arm to her waist, helping her to her feet. “Just lean against me. I'll get you there. Have you eaten today?”

“I had a glass of orange juice.”

“You need more than that before a run, Carly. That's probably what's wrong with you. I'll get you home and at least get some toast down you.”

Scott was always a take-charge person. She liked that. Even when Gary made himself scarce during her breast cancer ordeal, Scott and Ivy were always there. Scott had taken charge many times with the medical professionals and the no-insurance problem. She didn't think she would have survived it without his help.

Her dreamy moment was not to last. Jake was waiting at her house when they arrived.

“I thought that was you,” he said when they walked to the porch. He looked from her to Scott to her again, then back to Scott. “I'll take care of her from here, thanks.” He pulled Carly against him with a jolt that almost yanked her spine out of alignment.

Carly straightened and tried to ignore the sound of cracking vertebrae. “I'll be fine.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Come on in, Scott.”

Scott and Jake locked eyes. “No, that's all right. I'd better get home. I need to let Superman out. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Superman?” Jake questioned.

“His basset hound.”

Jake grunted. That made Carly a little defensive. Scott was a great friend, and she'd have to let Jake know that right up front. That was not going to change, no matter where the relationship with Jake went. Friends were friends for life. That's just how it was. He'd have to accept that.

“Here ya go, boy,” Scott said, placing the
bowl of dog food in front of Superman. Grabbing a drink from the fridge, he walked over to his recliner and plopped down, then picked up the phone and called his brother.

“Hey, Brian, how you doing?”

“Well, it's about time you called me. Where you been? Out on a heavy date?”

“Hardly.” Scott told him about running with Carly and how she got sick.

“That's too bad,” Brian said.

“Yeah. She was pale and weak.” He had felt her trembling beneath his fingers, but for some reason he didn't want to point that out to Brian.

“That poor woman has been through a lot,” Brian said.

“Tell me about it.” His mind drifted back to her breast cancer days. It had hurt him so much to see her go through that. Being the amazing person she was, she trudged through every hard step. Most days, she took it with a smile. But on the hardest days, he and Ivy had been there for her, holding her, loving her through it all. Seeing her that way had been as hard on him as if Ivy had gone through it. Carly was family and had been for years. He couldn't bear to see her suffer.

“I never would have thought Gary would do what he did to her,” Brian said, his voice sorrowful.

“That makes two of us.” Scott's jaw clenched with the thought. “Gary was a total jerk. I couldn't imagine in a million years walking out on a good woman like that, especially in her hour of need. It was cruel and heartless.”

“You would never have done that to Carly, would you, big brother?” Brian was teasing now.

“Let's not go there.” Besides, who was he to talk? He hadn't exactly been there for Ivy—which she'd so graciously pointed out, night after night.

Brian told him he needed a new computer and wondered if Scott would like to come along on Friday night to look for one.

“I'd like to, but Carly has invited me to dinner.”

“Oh?”

Scott heard the hope in Brian's voice. “It's not like that. She's having a little dinner party, and if I know Carly Westlake—and I do—she's going to have some woman there for me to meet.”

Brian laughed. “So we're both working on you, huh?”

“No kidding.”

“I thought you were seeing someone already?”

Uh-oh, Scott was busted. “I am, but not exclusively.”

That seemed to satisfy Brian. For now.

Superman's tags clanged against his dog bowl as he chomped his way through the last of his food. A couple of laps of water and he trotted over to Scott and plunked down near his chair.

“Carly still seeing that Marine guy?”

“Yeah.”

“You don't sound very happy about it.”

“I don't know. Something about the guy just strikes me wrong. Can't put my finger on it. He just doesn't seem right for Carly.”

“Oh?”

Brian's voice had an irritating, know-it-all quality to it. “Look, it's not like that, Brian. There is nothing I wouldn't do for Carly, but I'm not romantically drawn to her, so get that out of your head right now. This Jake guy seems too self-centered, and Carly needs someone to take care of her, that's all.”

“Okay, if you say so. But shouldn't you warn her?”

“I haven't seen Carly this happy in a long time. I don't want to burst her bubble.”

On the other hand, he didn't want her hurt again either. He rubbed his temples. He'd figure out something.

They talked a little more about Brian's job and then hung up. No sooner had Scott put down the phone than it rang again.

“Hello?”

“You the one with the motorcycle for sale?”

“Yeah.” Scott proceeded to tell the man about his bike. He hated like everything to give this up, but he needed some cash fast. He'd do what he had to do to help Carly get her money back.

He had to.

sixteen

“Belinda, come on in. So great to see you.”
Carly gave her old friend a hug. Belinda looked great. Not drop-dead Ms. Z-Cup gorgeous, but with her cropped red hair and shiny blue eyes, she was captivating.

“Thanks for having me. This is my first social event since I've moved back.”

“How are your parents?” Carly asked.

Before Belinda could finish filling her in, the doorbell rang again. Carly hoped it wasn't Scott yet. If he saw Belinda and no one else, he would know right off this was a setup.

Opening the door, Carly knew she was busted.

“Hey,” Scott said with a big grin. He shoved some flowers into her hands.

“You didn't need to do that, Scott.”

Looking down, he brushed a couple of leaves off his shirt. “It was a small price to pay for a free dinner.” He looked up and saw Belinda. “Oh, sorry. Hi.”

“Scott, you remember Belinda Beason from high school?”

He extended his hand. “Sure. How are you, Belinda?” Because she knew him so well, Carly could tell by the look on his face he didn't remember her at all.

“Scott, why don't you show Belinda out to the patio, and I'll join you as soon as the others get here.” She smiled sweetly and could have sworn she saw a wisp of smoke blow from his ears.

“Sure, I'd be happy to,” he said between clenched teeth, his eyes boring into her own.

She stepped back slightly and batted her lashes a couple of times—she'd learned a few tricks from Melissa.

The door shoved open, averting her attention to Rita and C. J. as they stepped inside with Jake right behind them. Jake and C. J., in a serious discussion of the Indianapolis Colts, walked right past her.

“Well, hello to you too,” Carly called out.

Jake turned around, dazed. “Oh, sorry, Squirt.” He walked back over and gave her a peck on her cheek before rejoining C. J., who looked none too pleased.

“You'll need to go to the patio,” Carly called out to the others while Rita hung back to walk with her. “Everything all right, Rita?” Her sister-in-law's eyes were red and swollen.

Rita swallowed hard and shook her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “I'm sorry, Carly. I wanted to get through the evening, but I just don't see how I can.” She dabbed at her nose with a tissue, then looked up. “I'm leaving C. J.”

Carly gasped. “What? Did you have an argument on the way here?”

“Yes, but it's more than that. I can't take it anymore.” More tears.

Carly watched the others make their way out back. Rita needed to talk, but this wasn't exactly a great time.

“I'm sorry to spring this on you right now. You go on. I'll be there in a minute, after I have time to calm down.” Another patting of her eyes with the tissue.

“Rita, I'm sorry.” Carly wanted to throttle that brother of hers for putting Rita through whatever it was he was putting her through. No doubt the financial stress was getting to be too much.

“It's all right. We'll talk later.”

Everyone gathered around the patio table. The serving cart was laden with bowls of creamy potato salad, corn on the cob slathered with butter, steamed broccoli, chilled watermelon balls, and seasoned grilled chicken. Carly passed the dishes.

“Where's Magnolia?” C. J. asked as he plopped a spoonful of potato salad onto his plate.

“She's meeting with the mission team that's going to Russia next year.”

C. J. dropped his fork. “You mean to tell me she's planning to go to Russia?”

Carly smiled. “She's checking into it. Amazing, isn't it? A woman her age.”

“I thought she didn't have any money.”

Carly kicked him under the table. They locked eyes and he frowned at her. She didn't care. He had no right to bring this up in front of everyone. Besides, what did he know about Magnolia's financial situation? Everyone just assumed that because she had lived in an apartment and then moved in with Carly, she was broke. But Carly had an idea it might have something more to do with not wanting to live alone.