More Than Friends (14 page)

“Just fine. And who is balancing the books if you’re wasting your time here?”

His father wasn’t making a joke, Chase knew, but Jenny brushed his comments aside and moved closer to the bed. “I came to work early today just so I could stop by and see you. Everything is going well at the mill. I don’t want you to worry about anything but getting better.”

As they talked, Chase studied her. Carefully applied makeup hid most of the dark circles. A green sweater, the exact shade of her eyes, hugged her curves, reminding him of what he’d come so close to possessing the previous night. The wanting had never left him and even seeing her was enough to fan it into fire.

Oh, Jenny, he thought. What kind of a mess are we in now? He’d always known her father’s dedication to the mill workers. Somehow his fight had been passed down to his daughter. Jenny was tied to this town with the unbreakable tentacles of obligation. He didn’t understand the whys of what had happened in the years that he’d been gone, but the result was plain to see.

And somehow, amidst his father’s illness and the problems of the mill, he had to find a way to make up for the past. If only he could convince her to leave, he could—

His gaze slipped past Jenny toward the heart monitor. The wavy line that represented his father’s heartbeat seemed to be moving faster. In the outer room, a machine beeped softly, then hummed as it spit out paper.

He glanced at his father. The old man’s coloring was good, but his breathing had grown more shallow.

“Jenny, I think we’d better let—”

“All right, Mr. Jackson.” The pregnant nurse entered the room. “You’ve had about all the excitement you need for one day.” She looked at Chase. “His heartbeat is elevated. I’m going to give him some medication to bring it down and something to help him relax. There’s nothing to worry about, just too much activity on the first day awake.” She gave William the pills and a cup of water. “No more visitors for you today, Mr. Jackson.”

“I have to see my employees.”

“Tomorrow,” she said firmly. “You need to rest. All this moving and talking isn’t good for your heart.”

Chase watched his father swallow the medication. He wanted to say something meaningful, find the words that would bring them closer together.

He took his father’s hand. “Get better, Dad. And then we’ll talk.”

The old man shook his head. “They won’t get rid of me this easily. Think about what I said, boy. You need to recognize your mistakes. Time’s a’ wasting. We’ve got a mill to run. Thanks for the flowers, Jenny. Now get back to work so I don’t have to dock your pay.”

The nurse ushered them out of the room.

“Is he going to be okay?” Chase asked.

“You’ll have to ask the doctor,” she said. “The rapid heartbeat isn’t that unusual. Right now he needs rest. Call me in a few hours and I’ll give you an update, but don’t plan on stopping by until tomorrow morning.”

He smiled his thanks, then turned to Jenny. “Why did you come by?”

“To see if the two of you had come to blows yet.”

He grimaced. “He sure hasn’t softened any.”

“He loves you, Chase.”

“You said that before. It’s obvious he doesn’t care about anyone. Why do you defend him?”

“I keep thinking about my own family, how they stood by me. I can’t help looking for the same with him.” She linked her arm through his. “He has trouble admitting his feelings. It seems to be a Jackson failing.”

Her perfume enveloped him, the sophisticated scent making him think of tangled sheets and whispered passion. “I’m sorry about last night.” He pushed open the double doors leading to the main corridor.

“I understand. It’s been a tough couple of days.”

“Have dinner with me.”

She stopped outside the Cardiac Care unit and stood in front of him. “I have a better idea. There’s a carnival at the high school tonight. It’s the yearly fund-raiser.”

“Carnival?” He frowned. “But that’s what—”

“It’s okay. This is the little one the high school puts on every year. I’ll admit, the first time I went, it was a little spooky, but now I look forward to going. It’ll be fun. What do you say?”

Refusing her became a pipe dream the minute she placed her hands on his arms and smiled up at him. Despite all that had happened to her, she looked as trusting as a child. A strand of blond hair fell into her eyes. He brushed it back, lingering as he touched the softness of her face, felt the warmth of her skin.

“Yes,” he said. “What time should I pick you up?”

“Six. I gotta run back to the mill.” Raising herself onto her toes, she kissed him on the mouth, then grinned and ran down the hall.

Chase stood staring after her. It didn’t matter that they had no future together. He’d traveled eleven years and several thousand miles only to find out he’d never gotten over Jenny Davidson.

*

Jenny glanced in the mirror for the hundredth time. She’d already changed twice. The cream-colored sweater she’d chosen dipped low enough to make her blush, but she was on a mission. She had to convince Chase to let go of the past and make the most of the time they had together. One way or the other, he was leaving and when he did, he’d never come back. She’d accepted that. This visit was a gift and she intended to make use of it. When he was gone, she’d pick up the pieces of her life and move forward, but for now, all that mattered was Chase.

She heard footsteps on the porch, then a knock. Her heart bounced against her ribs and her palms grew moist. Geez, it was like being a teenager again.

She pulled open the door. “I’m ready if you—” She swallowed. Hard. “Oh, my.”

He was still dressed in jeans, but the old, worn denim had been replaced by a newer pair. The deep blue fabric clung to slim hips and powerful thighs, and continued down the long length of his legs to shiny black leather boots. A cotton shirt, white, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, emphasized his chest’s breadth and strength. Hair, still damp from the shower, had been brushed away from his face. He’d shaved and it was all she could do not to touch the smooth line of his jaw.

The heels of her cream-colored cowboy boots gave her a couple of inches of height, but she still had to look up to meet his eyes. Fire flickered in the brown depths. Fire and appreciation.

“You look great,” she said, stuffing her keys and a few dollars into her pants pocket.

He stood there, staring at her. “You, too.”

Butterflies soft-shoed their way across her stomach. “I’m, ah, ready. If you are.”

“Sure.”

He stepped back and allowed her to precede him. After pulling the door shut and making sure it was locked, he placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her down the path.

The sun had already set. The Bronco sat under a streetlight, the freshly washed paint gleamed.

“What ever happened to that Camaro?” she asked as she settled onto the seat.

“I got rid of it about five years ago.” He closed the car door and walked around to the driver’s side and slid inside. “I miss it, though.”

“Me, too.” He glanced at her and she shrugged. “I spent a lot of hours in that car with you. Even today, if I see some teenage boy driving one, it makes me remember.” She smiled. “You always had the coolest car, Chase. That hasn’t changed.”

He started the engine and winked. “And you’re still the prettiest girl in town.”

“You haven’t seen my nieces.”

He chuckled and she felt the butterflies begin to fade. It was going to be all right, she thought. If they could just keep remembering the good times.

As they turned the corner, a glint from his wrist caught her eye. The watch. Again the question formed itself. This time, she took the chance.

“You still wear that old watch.”

He glanced down for a second as if in surprise. “It keeps great time. I wear it at the construction site. All that dust and grit doesn’t hurt it at all. I was working when I got the telegram.”

“Oh.” Not exactly the answer she was looking for. She chided herself for being disappointed. It was foolish of her to hope Chase had kept the gift she’d bought him for purely sentimental reasons.

The high school playing field was brightly lit. Tinny music from the rides competed with screams from the riders. Barkers called out to invite revelers to play their games, while children shrieked as they darted between people in a complicated game of tag. The odors of oil and gasoline from the rides mingled with the smells of popcorn and barbecue beef.

Jenny smiled as Chase helped her down from the seat. His hand felt warm and strong as it held hers. Their fingers linked together. His thumb brushed against the back of her hand; the familiar sensation threatened to drag her back to another time. Undiluted joy, as liquid as the tears that burned unshed, filled her body, bringing with it hope and promise. The second part of their story would end as unhappily as the first, but she had today and as many tomorrows as were allowed.

“Cotton candy,” she said, when she’d cleared her throat.

He groaned. “Already? You always were a bottomless pit at the carnival. Cotton candy it is.” He steered them toward the food stands. “Then what? A hot dog?”

“Uh-huh. And a frozen banana and licorice and ice cream and popcorn.”

He rubbed his stomach. “How do you keep from getting sick?”

“I live a pure life.”

“Yeah. Pure junk food.”

Their feet crunched on the peanut shells littering the ground. The crowd jostled around them. She saw the glances sent their way, heard the whispered comments. A couple of people said “Hello.” Chase answered casually, but she could feel his tension. It had always been like this, she remembered. The disapproving stares from those who refused to understand or tolerate.

A tall man with a beard brushed hard against her, causing her to stumble slightly. Chase stopped and turned toward the intruder.

“Let it go,” she said, refusing to drop his hand. “It’s not worth it.”

“He could have hurt you.”

“But he didn’t. Don’t start anything.”

He looked down at her. All the happiness had faded leaving behind that haunted look she’d always tried to forget. Tremors of rage rippled through him. “I’m not afraid of them. And I don’t care about that damn mill. Why can’t they understand that?” His fingers tightened around hers.

“They’re the ones who are afraid,” she said. “They worry about the future, about what will happen when—I mean—if your father dies.”

“I should never have come back.”

“Chase!” She tugged her hand free. “Stop squeezing. I’m not as tough as I used to be.”

“Sorry.”

He rubbed her bruised fingers, then kissed each soft pad. The erotic touch sent shivers down to her toes.

“Better?” he asked.

She felt like the wicked witch in
The Wizard of Oz
, and fought the urge to scream that she was melting. “No. I need sugar to start the healing.”

“When we were in high school you told me my kisses could fix anything.” He took her hand again, careful to hold it lightly.

“I lied.”

He gave her a mock glare. “You have not grown up into an especially kind young woman.”

“Who says I grew up at all? Last one to the cotton candy stand has to buy.”

“What? Why you—”

Jenny darted away, following her nose and the crowd. One quick glance told her Chase was gaining. She saw her father, offered a quick wave, then ducked behind a man walking on stilts. She heard her mother call out Chase’s name and giggled. She’d won! His good manners would never let him ignore the woman’s greeting.

The stand appeared up ahead. She slowed and walked toward the red-and-gold kiosk designed to look like a miniature train car. She was almost to the counter when powerful arms swept her off her feet and deposited her on the other side of a three-foot-high fence protecting a patch of grass beside a tree. Then a tall figure in jeans and white shirt sauntered to the stand and ordered a single cotton candy, pink, “And the lady will be paying.”

“You cheated,” she said as she climbed over the railing.

“Me? You started it. I only sank to the level of my competition. Thanks.” He took the confection from the vendor and reached into his pocket.

“No, I’ll get it,” she said, sliding a dollar onto the counter. “A deal’s a deal.”

They strolled off together. Jenny pulled off wads of the fluffy candy and licked it from her fingers. She offered some to Chase.

“No thanks,” he said. “But you’ve got some stuck on your face, right here.” He leaned over and kissed the corner of her mouth.

The caress, sizzling despite its brevity, made her smile. “Is it all gone?”

He studied her thoughtfully. “No, I see another bit on the other side.” He kissed her again, this time fully on the lips.

She leaned into the embrace, letting his body support her. The crowd surged around them until a familiar voice said, “Excuse me, you two. I see that some things haven’t changed at all.”

Jenny turned and saw Terry standing behind them. Tom, her husband, had one boy on his shoulders, the other by the hand.

“Fancy seeing you guys here,” Jenny said, hoping she wasn’t blushing as much as she thought.

“What a surprise.” Terry grinned, then glanced at Chase. “How’s your father doing?”

“Better. He was awake this morning. His heartbeat got going a little too fast, but they gave him some medication to slow it down and it seems to be working. I called about five-thirty and the nurse said he was resting comfortably.”

“Good.” She picked up her youngest son and held him in her arms. “We have an appointment with the carousel horses. Have fun. We’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

Jenny dropped the cotton candy wrapper in the trash and wiped her fingers on a napkin. “Now what?”

“Can you go fifteen minutes without food?”

“Maybe. But not more than twenty.”

“Great. I need to work off a little frustration. How about if we try some of the games?” He looped his arm over her shoulder.

“Is this some kind of manly thing, shooting the woolly mammoth and all that?”

“Sort of. I like the idea of throwing something hard.”

“I’d hoped we’d have fun. Maybe I was wrong to suggest coming here.” She looked up at him. “We can leave if you want.”