Imagine That (8 page)

Emily swiped a hand across her chest and then held it up for inspection. “No blood drawn. I should make it.”

“I knew I liked you,” Addison said with a chuckle. “Can I give you one more bit of advice?”

“Could I stop you?”

“Nope. As my aunt once said to me, sometimes we have to be torn down completely in order to start building ourselves back up. At the time I hated her for it, but trust me, she was right. I know what it is to feel as if you've lost everything, including yourself. But it's time to get over whatever happened and build yourself back up.” Addison nodded once and then smiled at the shop owner. “Karen, my dress fits perfectly. I'm going to change.”

So saying, the golden goddess spun around and disappeared back into her dressing room.

Emily darted a startled glance at Julia. “What just happened?”

“I think Addison gave you her version of tough love. She's right, though. I probably would have given you my own dose if I wasn't so gooey over Seth.”

“Remind me to never go shopping with you two again,” Emily said.

It was Julia's turn to laugh. “Yes, I like you much better when you get spitty, too. Like an angry cat.” Julia addressed Karen. “Do you need to do anything else to my dress?”

“Only a couple adjustments,” Karen said.

“Okay, let's get to it. Then we can go grab lunch. Emily, you'll come, right?”

Julia didn't wait for an answer but sailed off with the shop owner.

Emily took a shaky breath. “I'm not sure I'll survive a meal with them.”

Sarah giggled. “They do run sort of therapy session-cum-wrestling match. My dress is fine, too. Time to change back into my boring old mommy clothes,” she said, before disappearing into the back as well.

“You have to understand, they've both gone through similar rebuilding scenarios themselves,” Meredith said after Sarah had gone.

Great. So the third bridesmaid had decided to join the interrogation. “What?”

“Julia and Addison. They've had everything pulled out from beneath them and had to start over again. So have I.”

Emily backed away, and the brunette laughed and made a time-out sign. “Don't worry. No tongue-lashing from me,” Meredith said. “Except to say we all go through times in our lives when the world caves in. It's okay to wallow for a while, but eventually you do need to start moving again. Look to God, and you'll find the answers. So, there's my humble advice. I'll go transform myself now, too.”

“If I'd known I'd be subjected to an intervention, I would have stayed on the other side of the street.” Emily shifted toward Grace. “Do you have any words of wisdom for me?”

Grace sent a sympathetic grin. “No, I think you've had enough wisdom for one day.”

Emily sighed and sank into a cushioned chair by the door. “Why do I feel like I've gone ten rounds with a prize fighter?”

“It's difficult facing our fears.”

Emily's head came up. “I thought you said no advice.”

Her smile widened. “Right. Sorry. Except—” She paused, as if seeking permission to say anything more.

What did one more piece of advice matter? “Go on, get it out.”

“You seem like a young woman who is on her own in the world, and if you ever want someone to talk to, I've been told I'm a good listener.”

Warmth spread through her entire body. Much of the tension she'd felt since entering the store eased. “Thank you, but I don't need a counselor,” she said. “What I could use is some advice on a place to live. Right now I'm staying at a bed and breakfast in town, but I'm afraid my budget will start protesting soon. A real job with an actual salary might be nice, too. I love driving the library van, but it's strictly a volunteer position.”

Grace's eyes widened in surprise, but then she nodded. “Let me think about it.”

Emily couldn't help smiling at the kindness. She also couldn't face an entire lunch with the dueling therapists right now. “Thank you again.” She stood up. “Will you tell Julia I'll catch up with her later?”

Grace gave her a knowing wink. “She'll only track you down.”

She laughed before slipping out the door. “Tell her I've been hit by inspiration and can't be disturbed.”

Emily made her escape. She leaned back against the door for a moment, wondering if her legs were steady enough to make it back to her room. Her pulse was still racing and goose bumps covered her skin. Ten minutes. Ten minutes and a roomful of strangers had dissected her life.

Fix it, they'd said. If only she knew how.

So far, the good days had outnumbered the bad. Today could not be counted a good day. As Nate helped his mother shuffle from the bathroom back to bed, a sickening lurch in his heart told him the pendulum had begun to swing the other way. Soon bad days would be the norm. He'd known the tide was inevitable, but knowing and watching the downturn were two different things.

His mother sank back against pillows with a short sigh, as if even the brief exhalation of air was too much for her now. He picked up the glass of ice chips on the nightstand and slipped a couple pieces into her mouth.

“I think I'm all right now,” she said, repeating the phrase she'd uttered after every trip.

“I still have the antinausea medicine the doctor gave you.”

She shook her head. “Too soon to take it again.”

Nate grunted. “I doubt anything you take could be worse than cancer.”

His mother's eyes flew open and a dry chuckle escaped.

A reluctant grin tugged the corners of Nate's mouth. “That wasn't meant to be funny.”

“Don't stop,” she said, grabbing his hand. “I want you to remember, even after I'm gone. You are allowed to laugh. To be happy. To live your life.”

He tried to shake off her grip. “Ma, stop it.”

She held on with surprising strength. “Promise me. Let yourself be happy, or I'll find some way to come back and haunt you forever.”

“You don't believe in ghosts.”

“Then I'll send an angel from heaven to do it.”

“Why not God himself?”

“He might be too busy.”

Down the hall, the back door off the kitchen opened with a jangle of keys.

“Anna is here,” she said. “Your brother is staying at a friend's house tonight. Why don't you go do something fun?”

Fun. Nate remembered the word, but somewhere along the line he'd forgotten the concept. “Fun,” he drawled. “Right.”

Despite the sarcastic tone, he stood up. His mother was right. The way he felt right now, he'd start climbing the walls if he didn't get out.

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I won't be long.”

After a quick shower and change of clothes, Nate headed into town. He didn't even know where he was going. Maybe a walk up and down Main Street might clear his head. He pulled into an empty spot and climbed out of his truck.

“Mr. Cooper!”

He glanced over his shoulder and saw Mitch and Kara Baker walking toward him. “Hey, you two. Dinner out?”

Kara shook her head. “We're going to
The Bookworm
. E.J. Sinclair is signing books and talking about how to write one. It's gonna be so cool!”

“Kara's been going on about it for two days,” Mitch said. “It's supposed to start in a few minutes.”

Curious, Nate followed. He'd never seen a real book signing and thought it might be interesting.

Yeah, good story. He couldn't possibly be trailing after the Bakers so he could see a certain wacky author again.

Nope. Not a chance.

Ignoring his own inner warning to turn back while he still had a chance, Nate stepped inside the bookstore. The place was packed. There were several rows of chairs set up in front of a long table, and they were all filled. Another two dozen children were sitting on the floor, and more adults stood against the wall. He noticed Seth and his fiancée Julia in the crowd.

A hand landed on his shoulder. “Hey, I didn't know book signings were your thing.”

Nate started at seeing his brother's grinning face. “Zach. Aren't you supposed to be at a friend's house?”

“Chris has never met E.J. so we decided to come. What are you doing here?”

“Mom told me to take a break, and I ran into the Bakers outside. I decided to check it out.”

Zach arched a brow. “Or check her out.”

He should have gone ahead with his plan to sell Zach to the pet shop when the kid had been five. “Stop. I was curious.”

His brother laughed, but Nate didn't have a chance to respond because Lauren Nelson emerged from a back room.

“Hello, everyone, and thank you for coming tonight,” she said. “When I learned E.J. Sinclair was in town, I couldn't resist asking her to speak. She graciously agreed, and I know you are all going to love her as much as I already do. E.J. Sinclair.”

The door opened again, and Emily walked out. She wore a forest green dress with narrow straps and a body-hugging top, and Nate's hormones fully appreciated the effect. The bottom of the dress seemed to be stitched together with multicolored silk scarves, which fluttered around her calves in jagged edges. Her copper-colored hair was styled in loose waves down her back.

What had Emily said her book was about? A warrior fairy princess? She might have stepped right from the pages.

Emily came to a halt when she saw the crowd gathered in the store. She blinked, as if to convince herself she hadn't imagined such a big turnout. Their eyes met, and she froze. Then she flashed him a sassy grin and winked. The impact slammed into his gut like a well-aimed punch. Such a smile, like pure sunshine.

She went to sit at the table, leaving him reeling.

Zach leaned closer and whispered in Nate's ear. “I don't blame you for being curious.”

Nate's mind couldn't function enough to muster a rebuke.

Lauren took a seat at the table. “Before we get to the signing, E.J. will answer some of your questions. I had people fill out index cards when they came in, so we'll go off those. First question…
W
here did you get the idea for Grisela?
”

The questions went on for some time. Emily didn't miss a beat answering them, and before long she had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. Her wit, her energy, and the way she used her entire body when she spoke drew everyone in.

Toward the end, Nate realized his cheeks were sore from laughing. He couldn't remember the last time he'd smiled so much, but then Emily always did make him feel better.

Nate's brain sputtered, and for a second the room froze as his thoughts centered on one undeniable truth. Emily made him smile. Something eased inside his soul whenever he saw her, like a spring uncoiling. Nothing could take away the lingering sorrow over his mother completely, but the clawing, desperate urge to tear something apart somehow eased.

So, his reaction was more than a physical attraction. More than curiosity. And more trouble than he knew what to do with right now.

****

Emily signed her name with a flourish. “Lori, right?”

The teenaged girl smiled. “Yes. I think you're amazing. The way you can create a whole other world.”

Praise never failed to fill Emily's heart, no matter how many times she'd heard the words. These days, admiration could be counted as a miraculous balm to her bruised ego. “Thank you.”

The younger girl, obviously a sister, handed over her book next. “I'm Katie, and I love you.”

“Thank you, Katie.”

Lori handed over a third book. “Can you sign one for my boyfriend? His name is Aaron.”

“He couldn't come tonight?”

Lori rolled her eyes and jerked her head to the right. “He's here, but he's — well, I think he's embarrassed to ask you himself.”

Emily scanned the rows of shelves and spotted a dark-haired teenager loitering around the sci-fi section. She waited until he saw
her
watching and then waggled her fingers in a salute. Caught, the boy hunched his shoulders and ducked back out of sight.

Chuckling, Emily signed the other copy. “Tell him hello for me.”

“Don't mind the kid,” a feminine voice drawled. “Reputation is all in the Kingdom of Teenagery. He probably thinks getting a book signed would damage his carefully cultivated image.”

Emily looked up to find Addison Covington by the table. The jolt on seeing the famous television star five feet away diminished due to the real fear she might try her own special brand of rehabilitation again.

“Hello,” Emily said, pinning a bright smile on her face.

A knowing grin appeared and Addison held up her hands. “I promise, you'll get no lectures from me tonight. Julia spent the entire lunch berating me for pouncing on you. I'm sorry. I'd forgotten I didn't always take kindly to unwanted advice when I was wallowing in my own misfortunes.”

Tension seeped from her shoulders, and Emily smiled for real. “It's all right.” She directed her attention to the gorgeous man standing at Addison's side. He had wheat-colored hair, startling green eyes, and a smile that made women sit up straighter and bat their eyelashes.

“Ethan Thomas, the man who currently puts up with me,” Addison said, looping her arm through his. “The kid playing hide and seek in the bookshelves is my stepson, and these lovely young ladies are Ethan's nieces.”

Emily took his hand. “Nice to meet you, Ethan.”

“My nieces have been raving about your book signing for days,” he said.

“They're sweet.”

Addison glanced over her shoulder. “We're holding up the line. I'll talk to you later.”

“Okay.”

Emily watched the couple retreat and then turned back to greet her next customer. Her gaze landed on a faded brown T-shirt, molded over sigh worthy male pecs. She dragged her eyes up, past the sharp chin and angular nose to the gray pools of mist. She couldn't stop the quick indrawn breath of feminine appreciation.

“Nate…”

She'd known he was here. Shoot, Emily had almost tripped over her feet when she'd seen him standing at the back of the room. She'd been hyper aware of him all night, but once the book signing started, she'd lost track of him. Now here he stood in front of her.

He cleared his throat and then held out a copy of
Kingdom of Dreams
.

“You're actually buying my book?” she asked in surprise.

“I wanted to know what my brother is talking about. Besides, I'm curious to find out why everyone thinks this warrior fairy princess of yours is so great.”

Emily took the book.

Here
'
s hoping you fall under the spell of Grisela. E.J.

She handed the copy back. He glanced down, and his brows pulled together as he sorted out the words. She knew the moment he did because his chest expanded as if he'd gotten a shock. His gaze flew up then drifted along her bare shoulders and — briefly — down. Her stomach clenched, and she wondered for a startled moment if she might combust right here in the bookstore.

“I think I'm more interested in Grisela's creator—” He stopped himself, puffed out his cheeks, and then let out a gust of air. He shook his head, as if to clear all romantic urges, and coughed into his hand. “You must be proud. Having so many people come out.”

So, they were going to play like nothing had happened. Like they weren't both singed. Fine. “Yes, it's an ego boost, but lots of pressure, especially now that this—” She pointed a finger to her head, put-em-up style. “Refuses to cooperate.”

“I'm sorry.”

So was she, but short of getting a new brain like Scarecrow, she didn't see a way out of her predicament. “Yeah.”

Someone jostled Nate from behind, and he stepped aside. “Your public waits. See you around.”

A little bit of color left with him, and Emily fought back irrational disappointment. Stupid really, the urge to chase after him. Very stupid.

Finally, the long line diminished, and Emily signed the last book. She flexed her wrist, trying to ease the cramping.

“Occupational hazard?” Julia Richardson asked, regarding her with an expression of sympathy and amusement.

Emily grimaced as she stretched each finger one by one. “One of them anyway.”

Julia leaned her hip against the table. “You must be ecstatic over the turnout.”

“I'm grateful. It's so easy to feel sorry for myself, but my fans remind me why I keep trying. Why I want to keep writing.”

“Speaking of your writing, I'm sorry about the gang-up the other day in the boutique,” Julia said. “We shouldn't have been so harsh. Especially since we don't know you well. Seth is always telling me I stick my nose in where it doesn't belong.”

Emily waved in dismissal. “Addison already delivered her
mea
culpa
. Don't worry, I'll live.”

“But will you write—” Julia let out an exasperated yelp. “There I go again. Sorry. Can't help it. You haven't met my fiancé yet, have you?” she asked, pointing across the room.

The fiancé in question had broad shoulders and midnight-dark hair. Emily's eyes widened in feminine appreciation.
He
was a preacher? In all the many different religious services Emily had attended, she'd never seen a man of the cloth who could have posed on the cover a men's magazine.

There must be something in the water in Covington Falls. It was the only possible explanation for such an excess of male good looks. Unless it was God's way of ensuring a steady population growth.

Julia waved and he ambled over. “Seth, this is Emily, the writer I was telling you about. We met in the library.”

Seth dipped his head. “Welcome to Covington Falls.”

A preacher with dimples and sapphire-blue eyes? Emily contemplated giving church another try. “Thank you. I've never felt so welcome anywhere in my life.”

“We like new things here,” he said.

Julia tossed her hair. “Mm-hmm. Gives people something to talk about.”

Seth chuckled. “Other than a small kitchen fire, you haven't given much cause for talk, Emily.”

“Oh, it's been years since I've done anything noteworthy,” she said, hoping her statement didn't sound
too
bitter.

“You must have faith you'll find your voice again,” Seth said, all sympathy and understanding.

Oh, yeah, bitterness detected loud and clear.

He gave her a smile filled with such gentleness, it was no wonder he'd found a calling as a preacher.

“Sure. I'll say a prayer about that tonight,” she said then winced as she replayed the words in her head and heard the sarcastic bite.

Seth didn't take offense. His gaze never wavered. “Not a bad idea.” He kissed Julia. “I told Nate Cooper we'd grab a cup of coffee. I'll see you tomorrow?”

Julia batted her eyelashes. “If I'm available.”

He rolled his eyes and then planted another quick, but potent kiss on her lips before striding over to meet Nate. Emily watched the two men walk to the door. At the last moment, Nate turned his head. He smiled and held the book aloft in a brief salute, and then they were gone.

“What are you smiling about?” Julia asked.

Emily jerked back to reality. “I am?”

“Yeah.” Julia made a little curvy gesture against her lips.

She'd been smiling? Because of Nate? Emily hadn't even realized. She cleared her throat and tried to look innocent. “I'm not sure what you're talking about.”

Boy, for a writer who makes up fan
tasies,
I
sure do make a
bad liar.

Julia ignored the faint denial. She was too busy gazing out the door. “Nate Cooper,” she murmured, as if turning over a thought in her mind. “You know him?”

Do.
Not.
Give.
Anything.
Away.
“Sort of. He rescued me when my car broke down out by the lake.”

One brow lifted. “Rescued you? How gallant.”

Emily had a feeling the not giving anything away plan had failed. “I mean, he stopped and gave me a lift into town.”

“I wouldn't have put you two together—”

“Why not?” Emily asked, before she could stop herself.

Julia's eyes widened at the outburst. Then she shook her head and let out a wicked laugh. “Why do you care?”

“I don't.”

“Mm. I only meant Nate is so quiet and serious. A bit of a recluse. While you…”

Emily nodded. “Tend to run off at the mouth, I know.”

“It's one of your most interesting qualities,” Julia said with a teasing grin. “Actually, I have to say the idea of you two isn't so strange. You could be exactly the person he needs.”

“No.”

“Hey, I understand. You think I'm one of those people who fall in love and then sets out to pair up the whole world. I know I would have balked if anyone had dared suggest a romance between me and Seth.”

“There is no romance here,” Emily said, emphasizing every word. “Besides, Nate and I have nothing in common. We might as well be from different planets. I know we speak different languages. Half the time he looks at me like I'm crazy. I was raised by two college professors. I'm not even sure Nate went to college.”

Julia tilted her head. “So what? There's no shame in making a living working with your hands.”

“I know,” Emily said, wishing she could dive under the table. If she checked a mirror right now she wouldn't be surprised to find a big
Snob
branded into her forehead.

“You have a problem because Nate doesn't have a degree in philosophy or literature?” Julia asked. “Because he paints houses for a living instead of sitting in a corner office crunching numbers? He's good at what he does. He repainted Seth's house and did a great job. He met every deadline, didn't disappear for days on end, and never ran over budget.”

She groaned and covered her face. “I must sound like the world's biggest jerk.”

“You sound like you don't know him well, and you've made a judgment based on his job.”

Emily didn't say anything. Her shame ran too deep to argue.

Julia's expression softened. “Do you think he has no ambition? Maybe it would make you feel better to know he owns the house painting business.”

Her head shot up. “He's the owner?”

“Yes.”

“He never said anything.”

“Nate is a pretty humble guy.”

Emily felt the weight of her misconceptions crushing in on her. “Next, I suppose you'll tell me there's a wonderfully noble reason why he still lives with his mother.”

Julia didn't answer right away and Emily froze. “What?”

“Maybe you should ask Nate about that, too.”

The weight pressed harder. “Julia…”

“I can't talk about his private business. I shouldn't be saying anything at all, except I can tell you he came back for a good reason.”

“I am such a horrible person.”

Julia smiled. “Not horrible. Just misinformed. Now you're starting to get the bigger picture where Nate's concerned. The question is what will you do now?”