Love Song (3 page)

Wade asked about her day, if Dawn had gotten home, and if the antiques show had gone well. They chatted several minutes longer about nothing important, and she wondered silently if he found the conversation as pleasant as she did.

“I have a meeting at church tomorrow evening at six,” he said. “It shouldn’t last too long, so I thought maybe I could pick up some barbecue and potato salad from the deli at Greene’s and treat you gals to supper.”

“That’s nice of you, but you bought me supper last night.”

“Well, I have to eat anyway, and I’d much rather share a meal with two pretty ladies than eat by myself.” He was quiet for a moment. “Unless you’d rather I didn’t come by.”

“I’d like to see you,” Andi said softly. “I really enjoyed being with you yesterday.”

“I enjoyed it, too.” A trace of huskiness had crept into his voice. “So what do you want for dessert?”

“We’ll provide salad and dessert.”

“No, ma’am. You’re not strong enough to cook, and Dawn is too busy.”

“I’m strong enough to open some cans of fruit and slop whipped topping on it. And Dawn brought back some out-of-this-world brownies from Dallas. She’s rationing them out very carefully, so there should be some left.”

“Sounds delicious. Especially the fruit slop. If we don’t eat all of it, the hogs will love it.” He laughed. “I’ll see you around seven.”

Andi said good-bye, hung up the phone, and laid it on her stomach.

Dawn walked in, fluffing her short blond curls with a towel. Grinning, she picked up the phone and set it on the table next to the chair. “Don’t even try to tell me you’re not interested in Wade Jamison.”

“I shouldn’t be.”

“Why not?” Dawn plopped down on the couch.

“Well, for one thing, I’m on the road about two hundred days a year.”

Dawn shook her head and waved her hand, dismissing the problem. “You could work something out. He’s as good as they come. Besides, the man is gorgeous.”

Andi frowned, carefully studying her cousin’s expression. “Am I stepping into the middle of something? Are you interested in him?”

“No, but like every other female in this town, married or single, I happen to like looking at him. Wade and I are often involved on the same projects at church. We’re good friends, but nothing more. He’s a fine man, but he’s not my Mr. Right. Actually, I’ve sworn off men. I think all the good ones are taken.” She tossed her towel at Andi. “Now, ‘fess up. How did you run into him yesterday, and what did you do? I want all the juicy details.”

Andi laughed and told her about her excursion downtown and about having supper at the Lazy Day with Wade. She told how he had gone through the house when he brought her home, checking every nook and cranny to make sure she was alone, and waited on the front porch until he heard her lock the door before he left. When she had protested that no one locked their doors in Buckley, he had patiently pointed out something she knew very well but wanted to forget—she was no longer a typical citizen in a small, sleepy town; fame and fortune brought new concerns.

Some details she kept to herself—the comfort and security she had felt when she was with him, the pleasant warmth that rushed through her at the sound of his voice, and how eager she was to see him again. Those thoughts were too private, too unexpected and new to share with anyone—even Dawn.

Wade checked his watch for the third time in five minutes and turned in the direction of Dawn’s street, meeting a deputy sheriff coming from the opposite direction.

His friend, Deputy Logan Slade, stopped the car and rolled down his window. He glanced at Wade’s dark blue Chevy Blazer and scratched behind his ear, his expression puzzled. “Wade, have you been driving around the elementary school for the last ten minutes or so? We got a call that some character in a dark van was casin’ the joint.”

Wade laughed ruefully. “I’m your character. I’m early for an appointment, so I was killin’ time.” He’d been in such a hurry to finish the committee meeting at church that he’d volunteered to handle three jobs for the summer picnic. Afterward, he had rushed over to the grocery store and bought supper, then realized he was running a good fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. There was one thing he had learned about women—they were usually understanding if a man arrived a few minutes late, but they hated it if he showed up too soon.

Logan laughed. “More likely early for a date, and you don’t want to seem too anxious.”

After taking Andi home on Sunday, Wade had checked with the police chief to make certain he knew she was in town. The officer assured him that both he and the county sheriff had been notified before her arrival, and that they were patrolling the neighborhood. “Somethin’ like that, only it’s not really a date. I’m just visiting an old friend.”

“Oh, yeah?” Logan didn’t appear the least bit convinced. “Seeing Andi again?”

“Having dinner with her and Dawn.”

“She feeling any better?”

“She said she was when I talked to her last night.”

“Good. I haven’t stopped by; didn’t want to bother her. We’ve been keepin’ a pretty close eye on the house. Her manager said she refused to let her bodyguard come with her.”

Wade frowned. “Bodyguard?”

The deputy nodded. “Guess she can’t go out in public without being mobbed, and he was concerned about her. I told him not to worry. The local folks will treat her kindly, and we don’t get many people from out of town. We’ve been watchin’ for strangers, especially ones with cameras. We’re not about to let any of those tabloid people get close to her—or anybody else for that matter, unless she wants them to. Since you’ve got an
appointment
, I’d say she wants to see you.” He winked. “Reckon it’s up to you how close you get. Tell her I sure enjoy her singin’. Yes, sir. Mighty proud of her.”

Wade watched the other man drive away and took a deep breath to calm down. He knew Andi’s fame made people want to see her and talk to her, but it hadn’t occurred to him that she might need a bodyguard every time she went out. He drove down the street, pulling up in front of Dawn’s house a few minutes later. Sitting in the darkness, he studied the house. Although the living room was well lighted, the heavy lace curtains and bright porch light made it impossible to distinguish who was inside. He gathered up the bag of food and a bouquet of carnations and climbed out of the Blazer, noting how well the street light illuminated the front and side yards. His concern for her safety eased somewhat.

He glanced at the teddy bear lying on the seat. Although he had bought it for Andi, he had decided she might think he was silly to get her something so childish. He had gone back into Greene’s and bought the flowers instead. He left the bear in the Blazer and strolled sedately up the walk, resisting the urge to bolt up the porch steps by reminding himself this was only a friendly visit.

When Andi answered the door and smiled up at him, he almost lost his voice. Those cute dimples and the warm, happy sparkle in her dark brown eyes sent his intentions of only being a friend into the stratosphere. He let his gaze skim over her, noting how the soft pink cotton sweater and denim jeans complimented her slim figure and brought delicate color to her face. Her hair was parted on the side and swept across her forehead in a gentle wave that ended in a soft swirl above her ear. The tips of the dark, silky strands brushed her jaw line, exposing her slender neck. Suddenly, he longed to bury his hands in her hair and kiss her.

Clamping down on his wayward thoughts, he returned her smile. “You’re lookin’ mighty fine tonight, ma’am,” he said in an exaggerated Texas drawl.

“Why, thank you, kind sir.” Andi stepped back, opening the door wider, and said in her best sugary, Southern-bell voice, “Please do come in. We’ve been anxiously awaiting your arrival.”

Wade laughed. “Starving, huh?”

“Yep.” She laughed and shut the door. As he handed her a bouquet of variegated pink and rose carnations, Andi noted a hint of shyness in his smile and a touch of color on his face.

“I thought these might cheer you up,” he said. “Since nobody knows where you are, I didn’t figure you were getting too many get-well wishes. I debated between these and a box of chicken livers, but decided the flowers smelled better.”

“Much better. And they’re a lot prettier.” She grinned, meeting his laughing gaze.

He followed her into the kitchen, greeted Dawn, and set the grocery sack down on the counter.

Once again Andi was struck by his rugged good looks and confidence as he leaned casually against the kitchen cabinet. He wore cowboy garb—blue striped Western shirt, faded blue Wrangler jeans, a hand tooled leather belt with a silver buckle, and black boots—but she suspected he would be as self-assured dressed in an expensive suit.

She wondered if she was putting more into his kindness than he intended. Was she so lonely that she only imagined his interest? She stepped beside him and reached up in the cabinet for a vase. When her shoulder brushed against his arm, she felt a jolt clear through her—and it had nothing to do with static electricity. The laughter faded from his eyes, and she knew he felt it, too. “Thanks for being so thoughtful.”

“Anytime. I just hope these don’t make you sneeze.”

“I don’t have a problem with carnations.”

He gazed at her so intently that Andi’s legs grew weak. “Are you a makeup artist, or are you really feeling better?”

“Both. I still get tired too quickly and sleep a lot, but I haven’t had a dizzy spell or headache since Sunday. I feel a little bit stronger every day.” She eased away, moving to the sink and filling the vase with water. “Of course, I’m taking a ton of vitamins and iron supplements, so I should have the fastest recovery on record.” She unwrapped the carnations and put them in the vase, inhaling their spicy-sweet fragrance with a smile. Looking up, she met his tender gaze. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He straightened and quickly began removing waxed cardboard containers from the grocery bag. “Dawn, do you want me to put this in something?”

“That shallow casserole dish on the counter is for the barbecue. There’s a bowl up in the cabinet to your right for the potato salad.” Dawn came out of the walk-in pantry with a handful of paper napkins. “Do you want iced tea?”

“Sure, that would be fine.”

After placing the flowers in the living room, Andi took the fruit salad from the refrigerator and put it on the table as Wade carefully poured the long, thin slices of barbecue brisket and sauce into the casserole dish. He dumped the potato salad in a bowl while Andi set the rolls he had brought on a plate. Dawn poured them each a glass of tea. When they sat down at the table, Dawn asked Wade to say the blessing. Andi had expected it, since her cousin said grace before each meal, but she hadn’t expected Wade to take her hand in his.

“An old family tradition,” he said, reaching across the table to hold hands with Dawn, too. “Aunt Della says it’s a way of showing everyone at the table that they are welcome, both in the circle of fellowship and in lifting their hearts to God.” He smiled as Andi reached for Dawn’s free hand. “When I visited them as a kid, I thought they only did it to keep me from fidgeting.”

Andi almost laughed out loud. She’d never felt more like fidgeting in her life. She bowed her head and closed her eyes, trying to have a prayerful attitude, but it was difficult when she was so aware of Wade’s firm hand enclosing hers. Seconds later, she felt as if she were hovering at the threshold of heaven, carried there by the love and respect resonating in Wade’s deep voice as he talked to God.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this food, and thank you for bringing Andi home to us for a while. Please be with her, Lord, help her to recover and meet her every need. In Jesus’ name, amen.” He released Andi’s hand slowly, as if he didn’t want to let go.

She wanted to cling to him forever.

“So how are the plans coming along for the church picnic?” Dawn took several pieces of brisket and a spoonful of sauce, then passed the dish to Wade.

He shook his head. “I’m in charge of cooking the burgers and clean up, which is no big deal, but somehow I wound up saying I’d buy all the food, too.” He filled half his plate with barbecue and handed the still heaping casserole dish to Andi. He looked at Dawn, his expression hopeful. “Could I talk you into helping me? I don’t know the first thing about buying for a crowd.”

“Sure, I’ll help. I’ve done it plenty of times. It’s not so hard when hamburgers are the main course. Gets a little more complicated when we’re putting on something fancy.”

They finished filling their plates and began to eat. Before long, the discussion turned to Dawn’s idea of establishing a city museum.

“I thought we already had a museum. Isn’t it in that old building on Fourth Street?” With a slight movement of her wrist, Andi waved her fork in the general direction of downtown. She laughed when Wade playfully ducked.

“There’s a pile of stuff there, but it quit functioning as a museum about four years ago. We have plenty of old things to put on display, but we need a bigger and better place to do it.”

Wade took the last of the fruit salad and looked at Andi. “This is too good to throw out to the hogs.” He met her smile with one of his own, then turned his attention back to Dawn. “You got a place in mind?”

“Knox’s Department Store would be perfect. It’s big, in pretty good shape, and has a long history in itself. I’m not sure, but I think it may have been one of the first buildings in town. Mr. Knox took good care of it.”

“You think his heirs might donate it to the city?”

“Maybe. I’m going to try and round up some other interested people and see if we can get something started. We’ll probably need some kind of committee or museum board set up before we approach the city council and county commissioners.”

“It’ll be a lot of work.”

Dawn grinned. “So isn’t everything? Want to be my first board volunteer?”

Wade held up his hands and shook his head. “No thanks. I’m on more than enough committees right now. But when you get down to hammering and painting, let me know. I’ll be glad to lend a hand.”