Love Rising: Spring (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 4) (11 page)

She gave up. Paula pushed another button and the screen went
dark. She burrowed deeper into the cushions of the couch and pulled the throw
blanket over her head. The chocolate was melting sweetly in her mouth but it
didn’t offer the old comfort it used to.

Her apartment was quiet. Paula lived in the same building as
Letitia
Murdoch. Fifteen
Rosehill
Avenue was the address of choice for the single citizens of Mandrake Falls.
Mrs. Murdoch had nodded to her on the stair. Paula kept a professional
distance, Murdoch being a client of the Beauty Box and all. She had nodded in
return and said good evening; pleasantries that made life run like a smooth
chocolate caramel.

Paula wondered how Mrs. Murdoch would take it if she knocked
on her door and asked if she could come in and talk about Ryan McIntyre.
Specifically, about Ryan touching her today and then calling to ask
her out and then standing her up.
What did it mean? She told him on the
phone she was thinking about him and he said he was thinking about her too.

The chocolate was gone. She wanted another one, but then she
didn’t. Ryan McIntyre had killed her appetite. This was usually her favorite
time of day. The dishes were washed and she had the whole evening to herself to
watch movies and eat chocolates. Paula had done up the apartment with 1950’s
furniture and curtains. Chintz fabrics, Venetian blinds, bright colors and a
sense of optimism; her apartment was homey and it suited the age of the
building. Her yellow kitchen had a built-in breakfast nook and her bathroom was
candy-colored turquoise and pink. She had ruffled sheer curtains hung over the
Venetian blinds and chintz panel drapes that matched her couch.

This is Paula Dunlop
,
thought Paula, gazing around her apartment.

Ryan McIntyre was too boring for her tastes with his
business suits and lack of imagination.

Why didn’t he show up at the Beauty Box? It didn’t make sense.
Why call her and then stand her up? Actually, she was glad he didn’t show up.
Good for him, Paula thought and reached for another chocolate. Without even
checking to see what kind it was, she stuffed it in her mouth. Good for him for
doing what he wanted and not caring about making a fool out of her.
That takes class
, she fumed while
chewing on the nougat.

There was a knock on her door. Paula sat up and stared at
it. It was ten o’clock at night. Who would be knocking on her door at ten o’clock
at night in Mandrake Falls? She was pretty sure she was the only person still
awake in the whole town at this hour.

“Paula? It’s me, Ryan. Can I come in? We need to talk.”

JEREMY HAD to work the next day and she had to open the
store but they lay in bed until the last possible moment and then ran around
showering, making coffee and getting dressed in a mad scramble that was
hilarious and sad at the same time. Sad because she wanted to see him again but
didn’t know how to go about it, so she asked him if he’d like to come to her
place for dinner.

“As a show of appreciation for fixing the
plumbing.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He grinned and pushed his
glasses up on his face. “Basil and tomato sauce, right?”

He did that when he was feeling shy, Jocelyn noticed.
Pushed on his glasses.

“I think I’ll surprise you instead,” she said joyfully. “I’m
a good cook and I never get to cook for anyone. I want to show off a little. So
you’ll come?”

And then he wasn’t shy at all. Jeremy took her in his arms.
“You know I’ll be there. I’ll bring the wine.”

“We have no money.”

“I’ll bring cheap wine. We have to celebrate the plumbing,
Joce
. Aunt Gloria would want us to celebrate the plumbing.”

Jocelyn had never laughed so much with a man before. The
others just made her cry. She kissed him first this time and knew she was in
trouble. Jocelyn was falling in love with Jeremy Marks.

♥

KENNETH MARKS called the theater that afternoon asking for
his son. Jeremy was in the middle of running a technical cue-to-cue with the
lights, distracted and yet in a good mood to the bewilderment of the crew. His
mind was on spending the evening with Jocelyn and maybe staying the night at
her place. Jeremy hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since he dropped
her off at The Country Barn this morning before heading to the theater. They
were like an old married couple she had said, and after that, he couldn’t
concentrate. He’d already missed several important lighting cues when the call
from his father came in. The break was welcome.

“Hi Dad, what’s up?”

“Michael Shannon called me. If I’m interested, the company
could become a corporate sponsor of the theater. I wanted to see how you felt
about it first.”

“Does she know I’m your son?”

“I didn’t get that impression. It was just the usual
corporate solicitation. I’m more than willing, Jeremy.”

“I know and I appreciate it but I’d rather get the theater
up and running before Marks Communication money is involved. That sounds
ungrateful. But do you know what I mean?”

“Sure, I do. But it sounds like the cultural investment we’d
support even if you weren’t my son, so keep us in mind when you’re ready. I had
another interesting call that I wanted to talk to you about. The caller
informed me there was a notice in the local paper announcing your engagement. Care
to comment?”

Jeremy tried to sound casual. “I was going to call you about
that. I talked to the managing editor at the
Gazette
and it’s cool. It was a prank to make the paper look bad
and they’re printing a retraction. No big deal.”

“It’s a big deal to me. I don’t like you being made the butt
of some prank, son. Who is the girl you’re supposed to be marrying?”

“Her name is Jocelyn Tate. She’s been in some of the amateur
productions I’ve stage managed. I think I mentioned her once.”

“Oh yes, I remember. I’ve heard quite a lot about her and
now you’re engaged.
Interesting.”
Kenneth Marks gave a
short disbelieving laugh on the other end of the line.

“Dad, what is it?” Jeremy prodded. “What have you heard? I
told you the announcement wasn’t real. Someone made it up to get at the paper.
Jocelyn and I are just friends.”

“I don’t doubt it. But my source was pretty well-informed
about Jocelyn Tate’s motives for putting the ad in the paper.”

“She said she didn’t. Dad, listen, before you say anything
else, I trust Jocelyn and she was just as upset by the announcement as I was.
Whoever your source is, they have it wrong but I’m not surprised. Some people
around here have it in for her.”

Kenneth sighed into the receiver. “Listen, son. She’s a gold
digger. You don’t have a lot of experience with girls like that but they’re out
there. Jocelyn Tate is only interested in your money.”

“Dad, I don’t have any money.
You
have money. I have a stage manager’s salary. Jocelyn has
already told me she wants to marry a rich man. She’s been straight about that
from the beginning. We’ve been hanging out together lately and as far as she
knows, I’m just another broke twenty-three-year-old. The kind of guy she doesn’t
get involved with. She likes me for
me,
Dad.”

“Jeremy, this girl sounds fine for now but don’t get serious
about her. She’s not the kind of girl who will fit in. Do you understand what I’m
saying?”

“You mean she’s not good enough for me. You think I can do
better than a poor girl from Mandrake Falls, Vermont.”

“You know better than that. I don’t care where she comes
from. It’s you I’m concerned about and your future. Your life and your
happiness is my only agenda here, and I don’t think this girl could make you happy.
You have different priorities. She cares about money and you don’t, son.”

“I don’t care about money because I’ve never had to. Some
weeks are tougher than others but I’m never worried the way those who live
paycheck to paycheck worry. I have a wealthy father to back me up if anything
goes wrong. Even if I don’t take your help, subconsciously I know it’s there, so
no—I don’t think about money. People with money don’t think about money. But I
think about Jocelyn. I think about her all the time. She’s been honest; I’m the
one who’s been deceptive. I’ve never told her who my family is.”

“That proves my point. Your instincts are warning you off
being too open with her. Take my advice. Do not tell this girl about your trust
fund. If she likes you as much as she says she does, not telling her won’t
change anything. She owns a small business, doesn’t she? My source says she makes
soap
?”

Jeremy was uncomfortable discussing Jocelyn’s livelihood
with his dad. It was one thing to debate her merits as a girlfriend; he didn’t
want Kenneth Marks anywhere near her business. “She makes organic body care products
and sells them at her store. She also grows her own vegetables and herbs.
Jocelyn is very industrious and creative.”

“It sounds like it. I applaud her entrepreneurial spirit,
son. I could help her without her knowing. I could invest in her business
through channels; help her out with start-up capital. If you think she’d
welcome the investment. You’re her friend. Is it a rich husband she’s after or
would she be just as happy with a thriving business?”

Jeremy knew Jocelyn would be thrilled with a thriving
business. But Jeremy had been around Kenneth Marks long enough to know he didn’t
invest without expecting a return on his investment. “I’m having dinner at her
place tonight. I can sound her out about it. How big of a percentage would you
want?”

“Zero percent. The terms will be very fair and generous.”
There was a brief silence while Jeremy waited for the other shoe to drop. “But I
want you to stop seeing her, son,” Kenneth added like there was nothing to it.
“Stop spending time with Jocelyn and I’ll make sure she’s okay. She’ll have a
good business. She’ll find her own way. I’m not opposed to her as a person but
as a daughter-in-law—I’m sorry but I can’t give my blessing. I know that comes
as a disappointment.”

Jeremy drew in a ragged breath. He couldn’t believe his
father was saying these things. The liberal, generous Kenneth Marks was circling
the wagons around the family name. It was crazy seeing his dad in this light.
Kenneth Marks, the pragmatic businessman was not above using his power and
money to control his son’s personal life.

“Jocelyn wouldn’t marry me if I begged her. You don’t have
to offer me bribes to warn me off her—she’s done that herself. I love you dad,
you know that, but you have to back off. Leave her alone. She’s doing just fine
without the Marks money.”

“So you’re going to continue seeing her. Is that what you’re
saying?”

“She’s a friend. If I stopped seeing her now, it’ll look
suspicious. People already think she’s responsible for the notice in the paper.
I’m not going to abandon her.” Jeremy added wryly: “I know that comes as a
disappointment.”

“I’m not going to war with you over this. You’re a grown
man. But I have to do what I think is right to protect you and our family from
predators. I’m not the bad guy here, son. I’m glad this girl has been honest
about her marital ambitions but that doesn’t make them any less reprehensible.
The girl admits she will marry for money. No love, no soul, no heart. Where are
her morals? What are her values? Is the girl you want to mother your children
one day? I thought I did a better job bringing you up than that. If your mother
were still alive she could explain why this relationship has to be broken off
and as soon as possible.”

Whenever his father dragged his mother into the argument, it
meant he wasn’t going to back down until he’d won. For whatever reason, Kenneth
Marks was seriously opposed to Jocelyn dating his son and that made Jeremy
nervous for Jocelyn’s sake. There was only one thing to do.

“Look, I’m not seeing her anymore after this week,” he said.
“We’ve already talked about it. The paper will print a retraction on Monday and
then everyone in town will know it was a prank. It’s complicated. Mandrake
Falls won’t believe it was a hoax until it goes in the paper. Dad, trust me, this
will all be over by Monday. Don’t let your source freak you out. I know what I’m
doing. Sorry, dad, but I’ve got to get back to work. Bye.”

He hung up. He hung up quickly before Kenneth could extract
a promise that he’d never see Jocelyn again. His father was not above emotional
blackmail when he really wanted something.

♥

JEREMY SHOWED up at her door at six o’clock determined not
to love her anymore. It had been him and his dad for so long that Jeremy didn’t
know how to go against his wishes. If his father didn’t approve of Jocelyn, the
relationship was doomed.

Jocelyn opened the door wearing a pale blue dress, no shoes,
and an apron. She had a smear of flour on her nose.

“Bit of a cliché,” he said pointing to her feet. “Are you
pregnant too?”

“What?” Jocelyn looked startled. “Oh—very witty, Jeremy
Marks.
In the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant.
Is that
how you like your women? Was Ashley the barefoot, baby-making type?”

“Ashley was the ‘shopping and spa day’ type.”

“Get in here.” Jocelyn caught him by the lapels and pulled
him into the house. “I’ve missed you.” She flung her arms around his neck and
kissed him on the mouth.

Jeremy instantly responded, completely taken aback, totally
turned on and desperately in love all over again. He cursed his hormones
mightily. “I missed you too,” he sighed.

“I’m baking an apple torte for dessert,” she murmured. “We’re
having chicken stew. I made it from an old family recipe and there are
dumplings to go with it.”

“I bought a bottle of the cheapest wine in the store, so be
careful. Don’t get it on your skin.”

She laughed and took it from him. She led the way through the
jungle in the living room. Music was playing on her iPod; a selection of New
Age, Alternative and Celtic music. Jeremy thought she would be into Katy Perry
for some reason.

Jocelyn made a face. “Not me. The plants like this mix. I don’t
listen to the radio so I don’t know much about music. I like opera.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m a theater junkie. I like Broadway show tunes. What
about you? What kind of music do you like?”

“Jazz.
Cuban
latino
fusion—anything hot with a beat.”

“I got you covered.” She picked up the iPod and scrolled
until she found what she was looking for and selected play.

The sweet, mad sound of horn and bongos filled the room.
“Oh yeah.”
Jeremy grinned at her. “That’s more like it. Your
plants are going love this.”

“I hope you’re hungry,” Jocelyn said, leading the way into
the kitchen. “I made too much. I can never get my portions right. I’ll freeze
whatever we don’t eat for dinner next week.”

“Next week we’ll be broken up.” He twisted the cap on the
wine bottle and looked through her cupboard for wine glasses. No cork at this
price. “The retraction will come out on Monday.”

He turned to see Jocelyn blushing and she shot him a quick
smile. “I forgot. I guess I’ll eat the leftovers then.”

Jeremy’s heart flipped. He could tell from her expression
that Jocelyn believed he was already getting over her. As if that could happen
in a million years, never mind a week. But if he cared about her, he’d let her
think it was true. Between Jocelyn saying she missed him and his dad’s sudden
blue-blood snobbery, Jeremy didn’t know how to handle this night. He knew what
he
wanted
to do. He wanted to love her.

“You’re assuming you’re going to win our bet, Tate.” He
reddened but concentrated on pouring the wine so he wouldn’t have to see her
reaction. “We slept together and nothing’s changed so far at my end. I still feel
the same way I did before so those leftovers are mine. I’m going to need
sustenance while I fix this place up.”

She rolled her eyes but he could tell she was pleased.
Jocelyn set out placemats and heavy kiln-fired bowls on the table. Jeremy
picked one up and looked at the bottom.

“Where did you get these? They look handmade.”

“I have a barter arrangement with a potter selling at The
Country Barn. I supply her with soap in exchange for dinnerware. I’m working my
way up to a four person set. That’s a lot of soap. Her stuff isn’t cheap.” She
sighed. “I’m a poor girl who likes pretty things.”