Have Gown, Need Groom (11 page)

“Oh, look, there’s the Sleeping Beauty doll you got for your birthday one year.” Mimi turned her head, her brow furrowed. “Whatever happened to your doll collection?”

“It’s in the attic where it belongs,” Hannah said. “Why don’t we turn it back to the parade? Jake must be bored out of his mind.”

“Not at all,” Jake said, enjoying himself. “This is very entertaining.”

The next clip featured one of Wiley’s famous ads.

“That first ad aired on your birthday, didn’t it Hannah?”

Hannah nodded. Jake watched her face cloud over as if she was suddenly lost in memories. Judging from her expression, they weren’t all happy.

H
ANNAH REMEMBERED
the day the ad had aired in painful clarity. The Christmas-in-July ad had first been shown on Hannah’s ninth birthday—the day her mother had deserted them.

Wiley was dressed like Santa, his big belly shaking with laughter as he rang bells above all the specials for the month. Her mother had stormed out, her suitcase in hand, just as he’d shouted “Ho, ho, ho” on the screen. Hannah’s excitement over the commercial had quickly faded as she’d listened to her mother’s tirade. She’d accused Wiley of embarrassing her with his stunts, claiming that if Wiley loved her, he’d end the foolishness and get a respectable job. Maybe even work for her father.

Wiley had balked, saying he’d never be bought by her dad or stuck in a boring office from nine to five pushing papers around a desk, wearing a tie that her father picked out for him. Then Hannah had overheard the reason her mother and her father had married in the first place—the unwanted pregnancy.
Her.

When Hannah emerged from her memory, she heard Mimi relating the story about their mother leaving that day. Another clip started, taken on the next holiday. The doll collection was suspiciously missing. So was the joy in Hannah’s eyes.

A warm hand covered hers, and Hannah realized Jake had slipped her hand under his own. The warm contact sent her nerves skittering in a thousand directions. She stared at their joined hands for several seconds, then lifted her gaze to see him studying her intently.

Thank goodness, her sisters were unaware. They were laughing at Mimi, who had received a toy guitar that day and was dancing across the screen performing
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Wiley suddenly jumped up. “I think something’s burning.”

“Oh, no! It’s probably the rolls!” Mimi pushed to her feet and raced toward the kitchen. Hannah saw Alison staring at her hand intertwined with Jake’s and quickly jerked it away.

Mimi appeared in the doorway, holding a pan of charred biscuits. Hannah laughed. So much for
her
contribution to dinner—although the ones Mimi held still looked more tasty than her homemade ones.

“D
INNER’S SERVED
,” Wiley announced a few minutes later.

Alison helped Grammy Rose from the rocking chair, and Hannah automatically reached for Jake’s arm to help him. He frowned and pulled away. “I can manage.”

“Did you bring your doughnut to sit on?”

“I don’t need it,” Jake muttered through clenched teeth.

“But, Jake—”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Drop it, doc. Don’t humiliate a man any more than he already has been.”

Hannah nodded. “I’m sorry, I simply wanted you to be comfortable.”

Jake shrugged. “I didn’t mean to snap, but I’m not accustomed to people hovering over me.”

“Sorry, I’ll try not to hover. But you need to take it easy. Oh, and come in next week and I’ll remove the stitches.”

His jaw tightened again. “I’ll find another doctor if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not,” she said, stiffening. “Now come on, let’s eat.”

“Lead the way. I’m starved.”

Hannah guided him to the maple dining table. Everyone had seated themselves, conveniently leaving two empty places side by side for him and Hannah. Grammy and Alison both giggled. From Hannah’s frown, Jake sensed her displeasure over the devilish two who had conspired to play matchmakers. He’d simply have to suffer through the women’s devious meddling.

Jake settled himself in the chair a little awkwardly, but the rest of the crew continued chatting about the food and hardly noticed his stiff movements.

“Let’s say grace,” Wiley said.

The family instantly extended hands. Jake shifted, uncomfortable with the family tradition, but Hannah and her grandmother each took one of his hands to include him.

Wiley began by giving thanks for the food. “And thank you for allowing our family to be together today. We’re glad Grammy Rose can be with us. And bless our new friend, Jake Tippins, who risked his neck to protect my business.”

Everyone muttered “Amen” while Jake struggled with guilt. He’d never had anyone pray for him and thank him, especially one of his own suspects.

“When did you come to work for Wiley?” Grammy Rose asked.

“A few weeks ago.” Jake scooped mashed potatoes onto his plate and tried to make room for Wiley’s oyster dressing. “So, how long have you been in the used-car business, Wiley?”

“Let’s see, about thirty years now.”

“The business has been good to you?” Jake noticed Hannah’s wary look, and wondered if his question had hit too close to home.

“We get by,” Wiley said with a laugh.

Mimi’s gold loop earrings dangled as she turned her head toward the door for the hundredth time. “I wonder where Joey is.”

Jake wondered the same thing—was DeLito doing business on Thanksgiving?

“He’ll probably show,” Hannah said, patting Mimi’s hand. “Maybe he overslept or something.”

Jake’s gaze shot to the bright wall clock shaped like an orange. Apparently Wiley’s taste in flamboyant clothes extended to his tastes in furnishings. Was DeLito really sleeping at two o’clock?

“He had to take care of a few things for me this morning,” Wiley said, raising Jake’s suspicions. “But I imagine he’ll be along soon.” Wiley gave Mimi an affectionate look. “He wouldn’t miss one of your desserts, would he, sweetheart?”

Mimi giggled. “He’d better not, or I’m going to cut him off.”

“Mimi!” Hannah’s cheeks turned pink.

“From chocolate,” Mimi said with a devilish grin.

“How long have you two been going out now?” Grammy asked, her lips pursed.

“Just a couple of months,” Mimi said. “I met him at Dad’s place.”

Alison laughed. “How do you like working at the car lot, Jake?”

Jake’s jaw tightened, but he took a sip of tea, trying to disguise the movement. “It’s fine. Your dad certainly has a knack for advertising.”

“Those early-bird specials are really working,” Wiley agreed. “I think we’re going to make a killing this year.”

Jake thought so too, only he didn’t think the profit would be due to the early-bird specials. “Erma Jean’s such a sweetheart. Does she take care of all the books?” Jake asked.

Wiley and Hannah exchanged odd looks. Finally, Wiley cleared his throat and replied, “Yeah, I don’t know what I’d do without her. You sure do ask a lot of questions, son.”

“Sounds to me like the boy wants to get ahead in the business,” Grammy winked, as if giving her stamp of approval. “You don’t learn things if you don’t ask, do you, son?”

“No, ma’am, you don’t,” Jake said.

“Have you decided to stay here in Sugar Hill?” Alison asked.

Hannah coughed. “Alison—”

“I was just curious.” She flipped a strand of her dark hair over her shoulders, her young face full of innocence.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be here,” Jake said truthfully.

“But you’re considering staying?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t you want to settle down some day?” Grammy Rose asked.

Hannah cleared her throat. “Grammy…”

“I’m afraid I’m not the settle-down type, ma’am. I don’t even have a dog, too much to take care of.”

“Everyone needs a pet,” Mimi said. “I take in strays all the time. Maybe you should think about adopting a dog. They’re great company.”

“I’m not home enough to take care of an animal,” Jake said.

Grammy lifted a forkful of mashed potatoes to her mouth. “So you don’t want children of your own some day?”

“I don’t know the first thing about kids,” Jake said, shifting uncomfortably.

“Neither did I when we had Hannah,” Wiley said with a chuckle. “But a man learns. And these girls have been the light of my life.”

“Oh, Daddy,” Mimi gushed.

“You’re the best,” Alison said.

Hannah stared at her plate, her cheeks flushing.

“There aren’t any hard and fast rules for parenting,” Grammy said. “You learn as you go along.”

A knock interrupted the conversation and Mimi sprang from her seat. “It’s probably Joey.”

Seconds later, Mimi returned with the tall man on her arm. Joey DeLito had thick black hair, combed away from his face, a dark complexion and a jagged scar running along his jawbone. Although DeLito didn’t have a record, Jake imagined he was so slick he hadn’t yet been caught, or he could be operating under an alias. He turned on his charm with the women customers, flirting with them as if he’d do whatever it took to win their business. He doubted Mimi knew that side of him. He didn’t understand why Wiley allowed his daughter to see the man. Jake had taken an immediate disliking to DeLito, and DeLito reciprocated the feeling. Jake would love to bring him down.

DeLito greeted the family, nodding curtly at Jake. “Where have you been, Joey?” Mimi asked, ushering him into a seat. “You missed the home videos.”

Joey shrugged. “Sorry. Maybe next time.”

“We could show some more after lunch,” Mimi suggested.

“No,” Hannah replied quickly.

Jake watched quietly as the girls bickered good-naturedly. Grammy Rose frowned at Joey, though, and he wondered if the elderly woman detected DeLito’s devious nature.

“Let’s have dessert in the den with coffee,” Wiley suggested. “I have a surprise for everyone.”

The girls emitted a collective groan. “What now, Dad?” Hannah asked.

“I’ll show you when we’re all settled.”

Clearing the table quickly became a group effort, everyone bustling around to carry dishes into the big homey kitchen, bumping into each other and laughing. “Here, let me take your plate, Jake. You go sit down,” Hannah said as they turned sideways in the doorway to pass.

“I’m not an invalid,” Jake said tightly.

“Look, you’re under the mistletoe,” Alison squealed. “You have to kiss her, Jake.”

Jake looked down into Hannah’s face and read panic.

“Go ahead,” Grammy Rose said. “It’s tradition.”

“It’s silly—”

“Hannah!” Alison chided. “Kiss the man!”

Jake didn’t give her a chance to fight him. He swept his arms around her, lowered his head and claimed her mouth, gently pressing his lips around hers so she had to kiss him back. When they finally pulled apart, Hannah’s eyes seemed slightly glazed, stunned. His own breathing sounded erratic.

Alison clapped gleefully.

Hannah darted away from Jake. “Um, let’s get dessert.”

“Mercy me.” Grammy Rose fanned her face with a gnarled hand.

Minutes later, they all sat with coffee and chocolate pecan pie in the den. Grammy Rose perched in the rocking chair, knitting needles and yarn in her hand. Alison stretched out on the floor on her stomach, Joey and Mimi took the sofa, leaving Jake to squeeze onto the love seat by Hannah. He was still thinking about that kiss, remembering the sweet heaven in Hannah’s lips, the blazing heat in her body.

But Hannah did not look happy. Her frown grew when Wiley reached for another tape.

“No, Dad, not another one!” Hannah groaned.

Alison waved for her to be quiet.

DeLito slung an arm around Mimi, remaining suspiciously quiet. Wiley punched the remote control button and the screen flashed with images of the group decorating the car lot. Music blared in the background, the camera zoomed across the lot at the lights, recapturing the fun-filled evening. The camera focused on Jake for a moment, and Hannah squirmed. Jake prayed no one else noticed the raw look of hunger between them as they’d conversed.

“I’m thinking of using this as an ad for family specials for the holidays,” Wiley explained.

“No, Dad, you can’t,” Hannah said.

Wiley scratched his head, his eyes narrowing. “Why not, honey? I’m already working on a slogan. Would you sign a waver, Tippins? DeLito?”

Jake opened his mouth to mutter a reply, but Joey protested first. “I’m not sure I want to be featured in an ad.”

“Trust me, Dad. It’s just not a good idea,” Hannah said. “You have to come up with something else.”

Jake remained silent, hoping Hannah would save him a reply by convincing her father not to use the clip. He didn’t want his face plastered across the southeast on a car ad. It might blow his cover. And if Joey had been using an alias and was masterminding the illegal theft ring, he certainly wouldn’t want to be exposed.

But why was Hannah so against the ad?

Wiley walked over and massaged Hannah’s shoulder. “Okay, honey, we’ll talk about it later. I simply thought a family angle would be nice, and it would tie in with the holidays.”

Jake had never been at a family gathering per se, and an odd feeling stirred in the pit of his stomach. Maybe it was the indigestion, he thought, refusing to acknowledge that his sudden bout of emotion might be related to this family and their obvious love for one another.

Like Hannah, he’d stopped believing in fairy tales as a kid. That was something they had in common. It was the very reason he’d reached for her hand—because he’d felt some silent connection.

Only now, he didn’t like that connection. He didn’t want to
like
Hannah Hartwell or any of her family. Liking them would only make it harder to turn them in. And he
would
turn them in if he had to. Because that was his job, and Jake Tippins lived and breathed for his work.

Hannah Hartwell seemed to be open and trusting and caring and he…well, he plain out wasn’t and never would be.

Chapter Twelve

Hannah bristled as she pulled into her driveway, anxious over the fact that Jake had followed her home. Being in close quarters with him all day had been difficult enough—she certainly didn’t want him making himself comfortable in her home, imprinting images of his big sexy body in various parts of her house, leaving his husky male scent in the air to torture her.

But when Wiley had shown concern, so atypical of him, Jake had insisted he’d follow her home, just to make sure she made it safely. Jake had done his own share of insisting also—right before they’d left, Wiley had asked her and her sisters to get a tree the next day. Mimi had begged Joey to go, then Jake had insisted on accompanying them. She had no idea why—he’d certainly made his feelings on families clear. He didn’t intend to marry or have kids. She wanted both some day.

And why had Jake asked so many questions about her dad’s business? She’d sensed tension between him and Joey, too. Maybe Jake was more ambitious than she’d first thought. Maybe he wanted to move up the ladder of success at the car lot and saw Joey as the competition. Could she manage a relationship with Jake if he became a permanent fixture at Wiley’s? If he did decide to settle down?

Hannah locked her car and walked up the sidewalk, well aware Jake had parked and was climbing out of the El Camino. Glancing at her neatly manicured lawn, she tried to ignore the fact that, even injured, Jake exuded an air of masculinity that put all the other men in her life to shame. Apparently seeing the shrink hadn’t helped her one darn bit. She was still wildly attracted to the man.

“Let me go check out the house,” Jake said.

“That’s not necessary.” She quickly inserted the key, unlocked the door and slipped inside the doorway. “But thanks for making sure I arrived home safely. I don’t know what’s gotten into my father. I’ve been on my own forever and he’s never worried about me before.”

“I told Wiley I’d make sure you were safe and I intend to follow through on my word.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “All right. Check the house and I’ll make some coffee.”

Jake nodded, quickly checking the downstairs, then hurried upstairs while she worked in the kitchen.

A few minutes later, he appeared in the doorway. “Everything looks okay.”

“I told you I’d be fine. My dad’s being overprotective.”

Jake leaned an elbow on the kitchen counter, his body only inches from hers. “He obviously cares a great deal for you, doc.”

Hannah bit down on her lip, knowing she should say something to prove she reciprocated the feelings. She did love her father—only she had trouble showing her affection.

“You were a good sport through all those silly videos,” Hannah said instead.

Jake shrugged, his dark eyes hooded. “It looks like you have some pretty good memories of being a kid.”

“Better than some children, I’m sure.”

Jake shrugged again, a pained look in his eyes. Then she remembered he had no family, and she could have kicked herself. “I’m sorry, I do appreciate my father. It’s just he can be overzealous about things.”

“Wiley means well,” Jake said. “He cares about you and your sisters, you can’t fault a father for being concerned about his daughters.”

“I guess not.” Although he’d claimed he didn’t ever want a family, Jake had certainly seemed to enjoy hers today. And he obviously had a handle on how a father should behave—he’d certainly taken care of her tonight. Maybe he really did want a family and was too afraid to admit his feelings. “What happened to your parents, Jake?”

“You don’t want to know.”

Hannah lifted her hand and brushed a dark lock of hair away from his forehead. “Yes, I do. Tell me.”

He jammed his hands in his pockets and stared at her, as if he could frighten her with his story. He’d obviously forgotten she worked in the ER. “My old man skipped out when I was a kid. My mom, well…let’s just say she liked men.”

Compassion swelled in Hannah’s chest. “I’m sorry, Jake. Do you still see her?”

“No, she…she wouldn’t have gotten any awards for Mother of the Year. I wound up in foster homes. Learned to pick up and move at the drop of a hat.”

“That must have been so hard.”

He shrugged as if the past meant nothing, but Hannah suspected he’d learned his drifter ways from his own childhood. Longing swept through her—she wanted to reach out and touch him, to comfort him. Maybe he secretly wanted that family but was too proud to admit it. “Jake, I—”

He touched his finger to her lips to silence her, his gaze locking with hers. A frisson of awareness rippled through her at Jake’s husky voice. “Ancient history. Why didn’t you want your dad to use that video for his commercial?”

“The hospital isn’t very happy with me right now,” Hannah admitted. “The chief of staff warned me to maintain a professional image. I hardly think being in one of Wiley’s ads will impress him.”

Jake nodded. “Probably wouldn’t impress your old boyfriend either.”

“Or his parents,” Hannah agreed, remembering the sizable contributions the Broadhursts made to the hospital and their displeasure toward her. “They can’t have me fired, but they can persuade the chief of staff and some of the other doctors to give me an unfavorable recommendation. And once I finish my surgical rotation, I plan to start focusing on a specialty.”

“So you aren’t going to stay in emergency medicine?”

“No.” Hannah handed him a cup of coffee and poured herself one. “Eventually I’d like to find a family practice here in Sugar Hill.”

S
HE OBVIOUSLY
wanted to settle down here near her family. Perhaps near Broadhurst himself. Jake had no idea why thoughts of Hannah reconciling with the man bothered him, but the realization stung. He envisioned the yuppie doctor waltzing back into her life and giving her everything she ever wanted.

Everything he couldn’t give her.

Touching her, loving her, holding her in the night….

Her lips parted slightly, the dawning of desire flickering in the moonlit shadows of the porch, and hunger warmed his body, tightening his chest, shooting all the way to his sex.

Forgetting all the reasons why he shouldn’t want this woman, all the reasons he could never have her, he reached out and curved his hand at the nape of her neck. The sweet erotic scent of her longing poured over him as her breath hitched slightly in her throat. Her hair felt like softly spun silk draped across his fingers, her skin the smooth texture of perfection. With his heart pounding in his chest, he lowered his mouth and pressed his lips firmly to hers, inhaling the whisper of her surrender as he claimed her mouth with his.

The kiss should have been soft and gentle, testing the waters, but the hunger in Jake rose so quickly that he felt like a starved man who’d suddenly been tossed a crumb of gourmet food. Her breasts pressed against his chest, her soft curves molded against his hardness in a way Jake had never imagined. She threaded her fingers through his hair and he clutched her body greedily, moaning when she parted her lips and allowed him to taste the coveted recesses of her mouth. His tongue plunged deeper as his hands swept down her back, then lower to cup her bottom. Inhibitions faded to the background as his need grew. His sex swelled, surging against the tight restraint of his pants, his thigh wedging itself between her legs.

Hannah reciprocated by scraping his back with her fingernails, by teasing his lips with her tongue, by planting wild hot kisses along his neck. He felt the urgency in both of them, sensed the chemistry that might explode, knew the ultimate act of loving would be mind-numbing. His hands slid to her blouse buttons, slowly releasing the tiny ovals from their fastenings one by one. Her breath fanned his cheek, hot and raspy as he nibbled at her neck, then dipped his head lower to taste the curve of her breasts. She dug her hands into his hair, and he kissed the fine tips of her breasts through her lacy bra. With a flick of his thumb, he released the front clasp, his heart pounding as her breasts spilled into his hands.

“Oh, Jake.”

“You’re perfect,” he whispered.

Her sweet voice nearly drove him to his knees but he forced himself to love her slowly, to tease the soft rosebuds with his tongue before he drew a taut nipple into his mouth and began to suckle. She arched against him, her legs weakening, so he caught her in his arms. She murmured his name on a sigh of pleasure, and he looked up to see passion heating her face.

The whisper of his name on her lips sent his heart racing again, but his conscience invaded, taunting him with guilt.

Only moments earlier, he’d heard compassion in her voice. Maybe pity. He would not take this woman because she felt sorry for him.

Feeling the heat of his arousal diminish slightly, he gentled his kiss, dropped small butterfly kisses along her cheek, then into her hair. He wanted her so badly he couldn’t move.

But he had to walk away.

If she was as innocent as he was starting to believe, he couldn’t make love to her without telling her the truth about himself and his reasons for being here. And even if she were innocent, what if Mimi were involved? She and DeLito were pretty close. Mimi didn’t have a professional career like Hannah. Maybe the pressure of following along in her older sister’s footsteps had gotten to her. If so, Hannah would be crushed.

He gently eased her from his arms and looked into her face. “I’d better go.”

She nodded, her eyes widening as if she suddenly realized what had happened and still wanted him; as if she trusted him, making his guilt double. It took every ounce of his self-restraint to leave her standing there alone.

H
ANNAH’S FINGERS
slowly roamed across her lips, the imprint of Jake’s hot, sensual kisses still burning through her. Why had she never felt such erotic, wild abandon when she and Seth had kissed? And why had he pulled away?

The question she should be asking herself was—why hadn’t
she
pulled away? Why had she let herself get to the point of almost making love to Jake in her kitchen when she hadn’t been able to give herself to Seth? She’d guarded her virginity like a treasure all through college and med school, vowing to save herself for her wedding night, yet she barely knew Jake, and she’d let him sweep her into his arms and almost take her on the floor.

Feeling dizzy and slightly disoriented, she stumbled through her den, pausing to pet Oreo. “I am losing my mind, kitty. I have to go back and see that shrink. Maybe he can give me something to alter these weird mood swings.” Weird as in hot-in-lust one minute, determined-to-avoid-the-man the next.

She tossed her purse on the counter, poured herself a glass of cold lemonade to cool her body temperature, and lumbered into her bedroom, thinking she should look over that paperwork her father had asked her to check. Moonlight spilled through the sheer curtains, illuminating the hope chest, drawing her into its magical spell. She hovered beside it, momentarily admiring the intricate carvings, the bridal gown, the bride doll her grandmother had given her.

The empty curio cabinet where she’d once stored her dolls loomed silent and lonely in the corner. With a knot of apprehension she slowly lifted the bride doll, spread the lacy white beaded gown down over the doll’s porcelain legs, and set it on top of the hope chest. She smiled as the soft lamplight glowed against the bride’s creamy porcelain face. White-blond eyelashes, stark blue eyes, lips painted a pale pink. Suddenly wistful from the family trip down memory lane, and still dizzy from the frenzied kisses with Jake, she climbed into the attic and brought down her old collection of dolls.

One by one, she removed the treasured dolls, gently wiping each one with a soft cloth so the porcelain gleamed like new, straightening the delicate clothing as she arranged them inside the curio cabinet, except for the bridal doll which she left sitting on top of the hope chest. Most of the others were storybook dolls, although a few odd rag dolls and soft-sculpted ones had found their way into the assortment. Cinderella, Snow White, Goldilocks, Dorothy from the
Wizard of Oz
with her ruby-red slippers, Little Orphan Annie, Madeline, Pippi Longstocking—all her favorites.

Sweet wonderful childhood memories swept through her, resurrecting silly visions of love and princes and happily-ever-after. The last doll, carefully wrapped in tissue paper, was Sleeping Beauty, the gift she’d received on her ninth birthday. Tears burned the backs of her eyelids as she stroked the long shiny black hair. The old childhood fairy tale flitted through her mind and her fingers went to her lips, a shiver rippling up her spine.

Sleeping Beauty had been awakened by a prince’s kiss—just as long-dormant feelings and desires she’d never even known she’d possessed had been awakened in her by Jake’s kiss.

J
AKE DROVE BACK
to the duplex, his mind reeling from unwanted emotions over Hannah Hartwell. He didn’t want her sympathy, or her compassion, or her…what exactly did he want?

Her body?

Hell, yes.

But the sultry hot kiss had been so full of yearning, so steeped with a deeper, unbridled yet almost innocent passion, that he found himself wanting more.

Wanting what—her love?

Impossible.

Irritated with himself for letting emotions and guilt even enter his conscience, he hurried inside to call Muldoon and see if there were any new developments in the case. The rose Hannah had given him still sat beside his bed on the battered nightstand, its fragile petals blooming with a fragrant sweetness that reminded him of her soft silky hair and her sweetness—the essence of Hannah.

Knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep, he decided to check out Wiley’s. Maybe DeLito had been late because he’d been cooking up another deal. Maybe he would even go back there tonight. The sooner Jake could solve the case and leave Sugar Hill, the better.

He climbed in the SUV and dialed Muldoon while he drove away. His partner answered on the third ring.

“Happy Thanksgiving, bud,” Muldoon said in a jovial tone.

“Yeah, yeah, I guess you’re celebrating with the rug-rats.”

“Damn right,” Muldoon said. “You know I spend the holidays with my family. I wish you’d joined us.”