Catching Fireflies (13 page)

“Believe me, you don’t have a lock on that,” she said. “We will fix this, though, J.C. Anything else is unacceptable.”

He nodded at her strong declaration and knew with certainty that Misty couldn’t have a better ally in her corner. He was just frustrated that for the moment, he didn’t have that hard evidence she was talking about that meant he could be right there with her.

8

I
t was after six when Laura finally got home after meeting J.C. in the park. The phone was ringing as she walked in the door. As she reached for it, she noticed she had three messages, a rarity this soon after school. Usually her phone never rang until much later in the evening, if at all.

“Well, well, well,” Nancy said when Laura picked up. “Sitting in the park with Doc Fullerton, sharing some little tidbit of food and coffee, right there where all the world could see. Are you still claiming that there’s nothing going on between the two of you?”

“That I am,” Laura confirmed. “Because it’s the truth.”

“Then explain why I had four calls on my cell before I could even leave the school building?” Nancy teased. “Every teacher who passed that way going home spotted the two of you, sitting side by side and looking quite cozy, according to every carefully documented and eager report.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t drive by yourself to check it out,” Laura grumbled, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Oh, believe me, I did. I have to commend the accuracy of the reporting.
Cozy
would definitely be the adjective I’d choose.
Intimate
might be another.”

“Two people sitting on a bench in a public park, drinking coffee, constitutes
cozy
or
intimate
in your book? It’s pretty obvious we were hardly alone out there.”

“Hey, I haven’t had a date to speak of in three years,” Nancy responded. “Just shaking hands with an available man qualifies as cozy in my book.”

Despite her general annoyance at all this sudden fascination with her nonexistent social life, Laura chuckled. “Nancy, you’re the one who put out the word that you were declaring a moratorium on all men after your very bitter breakup with Steve. If you want to date, rescind the moratorium.”

“I might do that if J.C. had taken a look in my direction, but it’s clear he only has eyes for you. It must be that unavailable sign you wear on your forehead. Men can’t resist a challenge.”

“If that were the case, he’d be chasing you,” Laura told her. “I’ve gone out from time to time. I’m not unavailable.”

“Never more than twice with the same man,” Nancy countered. “You keep saying there’s no point in getting their hopes up when you know the relationships aren’t right. It’s a mystery to me how you can tell that after two dates.”

“I can usually tell after the first one,” Laura retorted. “The second date is so I won’t offend them by making a snap decision. I really try to be fair.”

“And how do you explain all these dates with J.C.? Aren’t you worried about his ego?”

“I’m sure J.C.’s ego is very healthy, and I’m not worried about it because we’re not actually dating,” she responded with frustration. “Look, I just walked in the door. I’m hungry. I have to figure out if there’s anything in the refrigerator to fix for dinner. Pie isn’t going to cut it as a meal.”

“So that
was
dessert you were having first,” Nancy retorted. “My money’s on Sullivan’s key lime pie.”

“Do you have binoculars in your car, for goodness’ sake?”

“Nope, just very good vision and strong motivation,” Nancy said. “Don’t squander this chance, Laura. I mean it. J.C. is a catch by anyone’s standards.”

Laura thought of his kindness and compassion, his wit and his intelligence. That he happened to be gorgeous was just an added perk. All in all, she could hardly deny what her friend was saying. Nor could she deny those sparks Nancy had claimed to see between them, but she’d learned years ago to distrust sparks. Sparks made people do crazy, irresponsible things. Hadn’t she learned that the hard way?

“I suppose if I were interested in casting a line into the dating pool, he would be a great catch,” she admitted. “But that’s just not how it is between us. He doesn’t want to be caught.”

“Bet you could change his mind,” Nancy said.

“I’m not sure I’m up for the humiliation of being rejected after being so plainly told that he’s not interested in getting involved with anyone. Sorry. I’m going to have to pass.”

Nancy sighed dramatically. “Foolish, foolish woman. Oh, well, gotta run. See you tomorrow. I’ll be the one trying to make you see the error of your ways.”

After she hung up, Laura sat down at the kitchen table and thought about the times she’d seen J.C. in recent days. Those blasted sparks had been undeniable. He’d even admitted she’d been on his mind. In some ways that was even more terrifying. What if he decided he was no longer quite so averse to getting involved with someone?

But he’d made such a point of making sure she was aware that he didn’t date. She wondered why. His declaration had been pretty unequivocal. There had to be a story behind it. Maybe if she could find out the answer to that mystery, she’d know if he was half as determined to ignore those wickedly inviting sparks as she was.

* * *

“You’re playing a dangerous game, my friend,” Cal Maddox taunted when J.C. showed up at the gym.

J.C. gave him a puzzled look. “Game?”

“With Laura Reed.”

J.C. bristled. “What game am I supposedly playing with Laura?”

“The way I hear it from very informed sources, you’ve been with her quite a lot recently.”

“So?”

“There’s talk,” Cal said, as if that were explanation enough.

“It’s Serenity,” J.C. said with a shrug. “There’s always talk about something.”

Cal chuckled. “True enough, but this talk is about you and Laura being an item. Since I’ve had the impression for a long time now, based on your refusal to accept any of the blind dates being tossed your way, that you don’t want to get seriously involved with anyone, talk is not good.”

J.C. finally saw where this was going. And they said women were terrible gossips!

“Are you trying to protect Laura? Is that it?” he asked Cal.

“Well, sure. She’s well-liked around town, especially after she pulled off a coup the way she did with Saturday’s festival. They’ll be talking about this one for years to come.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with me?”

“Not a one of those boosters of hers are going to be happy if she’s hurt.”

“Ah,” J.C. said. “Then let me assure you that I’m not planning on hurting her.”

Cal clearly wasn’t satisfied. “Because your intentions are serious and honorable, because you have no designs on her or because you think this is just a casual game?” he pressed. “I’m telling you again, if it’s just a game, it’s a dangerous one. There will be a frenzy. And having been at the center of one myself a few years back, I can assure you, you won’t enjoy it.”

J.C. regarded him with disbelief. “A frenzy? You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, yeah,” Cal confirmed. “I’ve already heard some muttering from my wife, who got stirred up by some of the other Sweet Magnolias who were on Laura’s committee.”

“Muttering?” J.C. repeated, bewildered. This was probably one of the reasons he was a terrible candidate for another marriage. The workings of the female mind eluded him.

“‘Hurt her and die’ comes to mind,” Cal told him. “Maddie was pretty emphatic about that one.”

Since Cal had only the tiniest glint of amusement in his eyes, apparently he was mostly serious.

J.C. shook his head, walked away, then came back. “I met Laura a couple of weeks ago. I’ve seen her maybe a handful of times, and those weren’t even dates. How did this get so crazy?”

“Because you’ve seen her a bunch of times in less than a month,” Cal explained patiently. “The way I understand the logic, an engagement should be imminent. That’s the generally desirable Serenity timetable.”

“The women in this town are crazy,” J.C. muttered.

Cal laughed. “You definitely don’t want to say that in public and especially not in front of my wife or the other Sweet Magnolias. You know you’re already suspect in that circle because you work with Maddie’s ex, right? They have a very low opinion of Bill Townsend.”

“So I’ve gathered, but he’s a good doctor,” J.C. said, feeling compelled to defend his business partner. “And he’s straightened up his life.”

Cal nodded. “I can see that, too. The women, however, have very long memories.”

“So I’m never likely to get their stamp of approval because of Bill?” he asked, mystified.

“Never’s a long time,” Cal told him. “But it’ll be a process.”

J.C. shook his head. This sounded a whole lot more complicated than his quiet bachelor existence. “Not dating in this town is sounding better and better.”

Cal gave him a disappointed look. “If you’d walk away from a great woman like Laura because of a few little hurdles, then you’re not the man I think you are.”

“Then you’re encouraging me to date her?”

“Sure, but only if you’re serious,” Cal said. “At least I think that’s the message I was supposed to convey. I’m a mere man. I could have gotten it wrong.”

“Heaven help me!” J.C. declared.

“Yep, that’s pretty much what it’s going to take,” Cal agreed.

* * *

As soon as J.C. walked in the door at home, he dialed Laura’s number.

Once she’d picked up, he asked, “Have you noticed that people in this town are freaking nuts?”

She chuckled. “I think they’d prefer to be called ‘eccentric’ or ‘quirky.’ You’ve lived here for years. Is there any particular reason you’ve come to this conclusion now?”

“Cal Maddox lectured me tonight,” he reported, indignation creeping into his voice.

“About?”

“You.”

He heard her indrawn breath on the other end of the line.

“Me?” she repeated eventually. “Why would Cal be lecturing you about me?”

“Apparently there’s some sort of frenzy about the possibility that I’ll break your heart.”

“I see,” she said slowly, then chuckled again. “Sorry, but that is so typical. Nobody can spend five seconds with someone of the opposite sex in this community without everybody weighing in. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re not taking bets at Wharton’s.”

“Bets? What sort of bets?”

“How soon we’ll get married, of course. And, just so you know, it’s no quieter over here this evening. My phone line has been buzzing. Apparently sitting in the park was no smarter than going to Wharton’s for coffee. There are spies everywhere.”

“Well, that’s just crazy.”

“Of course it is,” she said. “But it’s one of the things that gives this town its warmth and charm.”

She sounded more amused than threatened by all the talk.

“This really doesn’t bother you?” he asked, wishing he could get to whatever level of serenity she’d attained over such utter craziness.

“It’s embarrassing,” she admitted. “But why get worked up over it? You and I know the truth. Isn’t that what counts?”

J.C. felt the tension in his shoulders finally start to ease. If she could take the talk in stride, he should certainly be able to weather it.

“Exactly how many calls have you had?” he asked curiously.

“Four from friends at school. Three left messages I haven’t returned. One caught me as I walked in the door. She actually knew about the pie. I have to admit, even I was a little taken aback by that.”

“Doesn’t that rise to the level of stalking or something? It’s a little weird.”

“She says she’s just observant. I don’t think we have to worry about stalking till we spot people hiding out in the bushes outside of our homes to see if we’re together.”

Just thinking about that possibility made J.C. shudder. “Maybe we should get together and talk about this some more, figure out our strategy.”

“Strategy for what?” she asked.

“Nipping this gossip in the bud.”

“And you think getting together again for any reason is going to help?” she asked, laughing. “Hello! It’ll be another sighting. It’ll only add more fuel to the fire.”

“Then we avoid each other entirely,” he concluded, not especially happy with the alternative. Why was that? he wondered.

“That would be the smart way to go, if your goal is to put an end to all the talk,” she agreed, though she didn’t sound any more enthused about the plan than he was.

“That’s not going to work for me,” he surprised himself by saying.

“Oh?”

“We have this Misty situation,” he said, scrambling for an excuse to cover the fact that he simply didn’t want to cut this witty, intelligent, attractive woman right back out of his life. At least not until he figured out why she’d gotten under his skin so quickly.

“That’s true, but since it’s really a school matter, you don’t have to be involved,” she said.

“Misty came to me for help. I’m involved,” he said, correcting her.

“I could just call you, keep you in the loop,” she suggested.

Her willingness to let him off the hook annoyed him. “Until I’m sure this bullying has ended, I intend to stay on top of this. You’re not going to shake me loose that easily, Laura. I’m Misty’s physician. I have a responsibility here, one I take seriously.”

“Hey, you’re the one who was all worked up about a little gossip. I was just trying to figure out a way to put an end to it,” she said defensively.

And now she was clearly annoyed with him, he concluded. That’s what came from trying to have a simple, platonic relationship with a female. Things always got complicated.

Such as the fact that right this second he couldn’t imagine anything he wanted more than to finish this whole ridiculous conversation in bed, kissing her until her indignation gave way to murmurs of pleasure. The image was so clear in his head, he had to swallow hard and try to catch his breath before saying anything.

“J.C., are you still there?”

“I’m here,” he said tightly.

“So, what are we going to do?”

“We’re going to dinner at Sullivan’s tomorrow night,” he said decisively. “And this time it
is
a date.”