Magical Weddings (115 page)

Gunther was shocked and livid at the same time. Since when did promotions hinge on marital status? He was close to telling Clive where he could stick the position. For the longest few seconds on record, neither one spoke. Clenching his fists at his side, Gunther was ready to fight for his job–or just fight. He wasn’t a Casanova or philanderer. He didn’t hit on women he worked with or with random women in the community. He was a regular guy who put more effort into his job than into personal relationships. Where had it gotten him? On hold, that’s where. Obviously he’d stay on hold until he found someone to… He leaned back in the chair. “No. I’m not married but I’m engaged. Does that count for anything?”

There was detectable doubt in Clive’s steely blue eyes. “Engaged you say?”

Oh what a tangled web we weave…
He’d dug himself a hole by shooting off his mouth, and it was about to get deeper. “It just sort of happened.” Gunther had to steer clear of dropping Anastasia’s name because Clive’s wife had a standing appointment every week at the salon where his ex worked. “I didn’t say anything because it’s not Anastasia.”

Clive leaned forward with curiosity rolling off him. “Who’s the lucky lady?”

Gunther mentally berated himself for pulling such a stupid stunt. From out of nowhere, he produced a name. “Lindy McPherson.”

Clive’s forehead creased into a frown. “Lindy McPherson?”

“I’m sure you don’t know her but she’s a great gal.” Lindy was a great gal but she wasn’t stupid. There was no way he’d be able to talk her into a temporary arrangement to level the playing field so he could become Vice President of Finndley Savings and Loan. “She’s rock-solid.”

“You’re right, she is.”

Gunther kept his expression even but behind the confident veneer he was cussing and calling himself an idiot. Saying he was engaged was born from panic. Why he added Lindy to the lie, only God knew. “You know Lindy?”

“We get Rochester groomed at the pet store where she works.”

Gunther wrapped his hands around the arms of the chairs until his knuckles turned white.

Clive stood up and came around the desk.

It was either a sign the meeting was over or he was about to be fired for lying. Gunther also stood.

Clive put a hand on his shoulder. “Congratulations, Gun’. I can’t picture you and Lindy as soul mates, but hey, opposites attract. When’s the big day?”

He was in it neck-deep. “In a few weeks. We plan to get married at the courthouse because we don’t want to wait.” To make things sound logical, he added, “We’ve discussed having a reception at a later date. For now, we’re just eager to start our life together.”

“I wish you would’ve said something sooner. You could’ve saved us a lot of time. I’ll hold off naming the VP until you get the wedding band through your nose.” Clive snorted a laugh. “I mean on your finger.”

Gunther also snorted with laughter but his insides were knotted so tight it was a wonder he could breathe.

“So, Miss Greta, what have you been up to?” Lindy planted a kiss on the cat’s furry head and gently scratched behind her ears. “Don’t say you were good because we both know it isn’t true. Lucky for you, I’m too tired to care what you might’ve knocked over or batted around.”

Greta pushed against Lindy’s chest with declawed paws. There were different theories as to why cats ‘kneaded’. Some said it was a cat’s way of showing contentment. Others said the cat was returning affection. In Greta’s case, she wanted down…now. If Lindy didn’t oblige the kneading would turn into nips with sharp teeth. “Are you hungry? Or off to hide because you did something wrong?”

As soon as the cat was on the floor she looked up at Lindy and brushed against her legs.

“No need to mark me as your territory. You know I’m exclusively yours. Sad. Right?” From the corner of her eye she caught sight of the new trash can she’d stowed on the patio. Once she got a fire going in the fire pit, she’d tiptoe through Gunther’s backyard and put the can near his garage. The debt would be satisfied without having to talk to him. Although, having someone other than the cat to talk to about her day would be a good thing. Not that she was lonely, but there were times her boss and customers at the pet store weren’t enough. Being an only child whose parents had moved to the warm, dry climate of Arizona for health reasons was difficult. It also didn’t help that she was a nerd who would rather read a book or build a fire pit, than go partying with friends. She loved animals, bugs, trees, plants, the sky, everything retro, and cooking. At work, she was outgoing and didn’t know a stranger. Then again, she was in her comfort zone. Once she left work, she turned into socially-awkward Lindy McPherson.

“Let’s get this over with, sweet cat.” It was routine for her to go room to room looking for knocked over pictures, broken knick knacks, or throw pillows that had been batted off the sofa. Last Friday she came home to a shattered crystal vase. Fresh-cut lilacs lay wilted in a pool of water on the kitchen floor.

Looking around the TV room, she was surprised to find everything intact.

At the entrance to the bedroom Lindy hesitated, distracted by the same thoughts she’d had on the drive home. Instead of always rushing home to a cat, maybe she should eat dinner out or take in a movie once in a while. If she didn’t expand her reach and put herself out there she’d never meet Prince Charming. At thirty-three, there was a good chance that ship had already sailed…and the prince was on it with someone else. Of course, the little voice inside she turned to in times of crisis and doubt told her to get real; that there was no specific timetable to find the one you were meant to be with. It could happen as early as sixteen or as late as eighty. “What do think, Greta? Is he still out there?”

She received a soft purr in reply.

“With my luck, I’d need a magic lamp and a genie to find the man of my dreams. Since neither exists, I’m doomed.”

Lindy scanned the bedroom and grinned down at Greta. “You must’ve had a down day.” The only thing out of place was the charging cord for her iPad.

Returning the cord to its place beside the lava lamp, she flicked on the lamp and watched the pink lava form odd shapes as the oil warmed. “My magic lamp?” She snorted a laugh. “Not.” Before heading back to the kitchen, she rubbed a hand across the lamp, just in case.

“Trash can bought. Check.” She made a face at the memory of running the darn thing over. “House inspected. Check.” Lindy rubbed her hands together. “It’s time to try out the fire pit.”

In the kitchen she pumped white lily and lime soap she’d gotten from Bath and Body Works into her hands and brought them to her nose for a whiff. At the same time she glanced out the window. Something wasn’t right. She rinsed her hands and leaned against the sink for a better look. “Bankston,” she said straight away.

Lindy shoved her phone in the pocket of her Capri’s in case Cerise called, and charged outside to the garden. Sure enough, it had been torn up. “Grr. Greta wreaks havoc inside. Bankston takes care of everything else.” She heaved a sigh. “At least he left my flowers alone this time.” She’d replaced the geraniums in front of the house once this summer thanks to Sir Digs-A lot. Thankfully he’d left the Calla lilies alone. Of all the flowers on the planet they were her favorite. She scowled in the direction of Gunther’s house but caught her reaction. It would be pointless to bring it to his attention that his ill-behaved dog had struck again. The man seemed to know very little about dogs or how to make them behave. On the flip side, she knew everything there was to know about cats and still couldn’t get hers to behave.

Sighing again, she picked the lone tomato that had survived the carnage.

Gingerly placing it on the picnic table she slanted another look at the house next door. She wished just once Gunther would see her in the back yard, wave and ask “How’s it going?” instead of “What did he do now?” She wanted them to be friendly but chances were slim.

At the fire pit, Lindy tented some kindling.

Heading to the house for newspaper and the igniter, she paused with another look at Gunther’s place. She snickered. Did she think her constant staring would make him walk outside? Lindy questioned why she wasted time thinking about someone who didn’t know she was alive until she made him pay attention by biting his head off for Bankston’s misdeeds. She hung on that thought. She
made
him pay attention. Again, she asked why. He wasn’t her type. She was outdoorsy. He seldom came outside. He wore suit and ties. She dressed in khakis or jeans. Even if he was her type, he still wouldn’t give her a second look. And he already had someone in his life.

From the refrigerator, Lindy grabbed a package of ground turkey, the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, pre-diced onion and fresh parsley. She mixed the ingredients and formed three patties.

What did Gunther think of her? Not that it mattered, but she was curious.

She washed and trimmed asparagus spears, coated them with olive oil, seasoning salt and red pepper flakes.

Yawning, she decided it would take forever for the fire to become embers. She’d use the gas grill for the food but she’d wind down with a raspberry wine cooler by the campfire.

While she cooked, she hummed
This Magic Moment
by Jay and the Americans.

“Lindy?”

Lindy startled. The burger she was flipping fell off the spatula and did a spectacular splat onto the patio.

Gunther stretched his mouth wide with a wince. “Sorry about that.” He held out two full size potted tomato plants. “Bankston’s really sorry.”

Lindy tried not to smile but she couldn’t help herself. Right on cue, she felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. His blue eyes messed with her every time.

“He got loose. I tried to catch him but he’s faster and wilier.” Gunther raised a sexy eyebrow. “You wouldn’t want an Airedale, would you?”

Lindy broke into a full laugh. “No thanks. I have my hands full with the cat from hell.”

Gunter peeked around her. “I didn’t know you had a cat.”

“She terrorizes the inside of the house.” Lindy put the spatula down and used the tongs to turn the asparagus. “I have a new trash can for you.” She nodded beside her.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

Lindy bobbed her head up and down. “Yes I did. I wiped yours out this morning.”

“It was no big deal. Really.” Gunther’s expression changed from cordial to something indefinable. “Lindy,” he said a little too softly for her comfort level.

Lindy drew back. “Yes?”

He uncharacteristically faltered. “I-I…”

A warm but awkward feeling rushed through Lindy. She tried to quell it with the knowledge this was her next door neighbor; the guy who exasperated her on a daily basis. He was also the guy who occupied her thoughts more than he should. “What is it?”

Gunther straightened and Lindy had a feeling if his confidence had hit a snag he’d ripped it loose. “I have a business proposition for you. Is there any way we could sit and talk for a few minutes?”

Lindy swallowed hard and tried to cover her nervousness with humor. She grinned and put up a hand. “I’m not taking your dog. Greta would make mince meat out of him.”

“Greta?”

“The cat. She owns me.” Argh! She sounded like a moron.

“Yeah? Well, Bankston thinks he has pedigree papers for me instead of the other way around.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not asking you to take my dog. I have something else in mind.”

Gunther’s eyes held her immobile and the twinge in her belly turned into a detonation of excitement. The heat rushing through her bloodstream raised her 98.6 body temperature to dangerously feverish. She focused on the food to give herself a few moments to recover. Although, it was hard to cool off with him right there. “Sure. We can talk.” She hoped he didn’t hear the quiver in her voice. “I’m more than a little curious as to the business proposition but first things first. Care for a turkey burger?” Slowly, she lifted her eyes.

Gunther flashed his pearly whites. “They smell great. Are you sure it’s no trouble?”

“It’s no trouble. I made more than I can eat.” She looked at the burger still on the ground. They bent to pick it up at the same time and almost hit heads. They met eyes and grinned at the near-collision. “I’ll get some plates.”

Lindy turned to go inside and came a mere inch from smashing her nose against the glass of the sliding door. “Nothing says nervous wreck quite like almost conking heads and running into a closed door.” She groaned at having said it out loud.

“There’s no need to be nervous, Lindy.”

Lindy’s knees buckled slightly at the gentle way he said her name. Weird how she’d wished for him to be friendly and now it was happening.

Greta tried to dart outside when the door opened but Lindy shooed her back.

“What’s happening, Greta?” she mumbled quietly in case Gunther could hear her through the glass.

Greta’s odd sounding meow was as good as a flick to Lindy’s forehead.

“I know I’m acting like a love-struck loon. Don’t judge.”

Grabbing paper plates, a bag of whole wheat buns and a knife to slice the tomato, Lindy braced for more heat–not from the grill or the campfire.

Gunther rubbed the tense muscles in his neck and tried to stop the critical dialogue going on in his head. His subconscious disapproved of involving a perfect stranger in the mess he’d made at work. Technically, Lindy wasn’t a stranger. But she was perfect. The part of him clinging to a small scrap of sanity rushed to make clear–Lindy was perfect for the plan, not for him in particular.

The chaos he’d started with an ill-thought-out comment was growing more complex by the second. If he could have a do-over he would’ve shrugged at the slight and walked away from Finndley Savings and Loan with his dignity intact. They obviously didn’t value his worth, so why stay? He knew the answer. He didn’t like it, but he was well aware of it. Dammit. The demons of one’s past never really leave. They just lay low for a while. They’d reared their ugly heads when Clive indicated he didn’t meet all the criteria for the VP job. All those years of being the skinny runt who got knocked out of the way by the guys at school came rushing back. In that moment Clive became one of those guys, knocking him out of the way. Deep in his soul Gunther knew he wasn’t that runt anymore and he had the wherewithal to do some knocking around of his own. But again, the past sometimes jaded the future. He tried to keep it from happening but his mouth got ahead of brain and he involved Lindy.