She’d felt a nightmarish riot of feelings last time she’d seen him. First, there’d been embarrassment at the whole wandering-through-a-field-of-poisonous-weeds thing—she’d felt so stupid. But Eddie’s tender ministrations had somehow pierced the guard she usually erected whenever he was around. Sitting on the edge of the tub, hearing the genuine concern in his voice, she’d thought for a moment that maybe she’d been wrong about him. Maybe they could find common ground.
And then he’d touched her. How he’d touched her. The man worked with his hands, and wow, did he know how to use them. Her face flushed hot at the memory.
Under the touch of those hands, all broad and strong, she’d instantly forgotten her nervousness, her aggravation…as one itchy sensation was replaced by a whole other itch.
One that she hadn’t had scratched in far too long.
Her chat with the Kidd sisters had haunted her. There were sparks, sure enough. The old attraction between them was stronger than ever. His touch on her had been too hot. He’d had the upper hand—literally—and she’d almost forgotten why she’d gone to his work site in the first place.
But then he’d gotten that phone call, and overhearing his conversation had instantly pulled her back to reality. A pool? Whose bright idea was it to put an outdoor pool in the mountains? Though she was sure Fairview would figure out a way to heat the thing. More than that, they’d probably install hot tubs, a slide, diving boards…her imagination had gone wild in the days since. How could their family lodge ever compete with a diving board?
When he’d hung up, she could tell he felt guilty. She’d seen in it his eyes. It was the look of a dog who’d known he’d done something wrong.
“Dog,” she grumbled. He was a dog just like the rest of them. She had plans, and never again would she let a guy get in the way.
Unfortunately, there was no denying those sparks. Her chat with the sisters had planted a seed she hadn’t wanted to consider, though she found she wanted to poke at it, anyway. To tease and test, seeing just how far she could push these sparks. To use them to her benefit.
She studied herself in the mirror. Her rash had faded into faint pink swatches, her legs once more ready for prime time. She stepped into her lucky skirt—she was off to battle, and her hot little denim mini was her secret weapon.
The skirt had gone out of style a few years ago, but E
ddie wouldn’t know fashion if it hit him over the head. Men had always responded well to the way the jeans skirt clung to her hard-earned shape, and she donned it like armor.
She had her petition in one hand—it’d garnered dozens of signatures—and grabbed her strappiest sandals in the other. She was off to work it.
Eddie would be open to seeing her, too. She’d heard reports of how he’d come around the tavern looking for her. As if. He’d probably come around to rub her nose in his triumph. Well, after she was done with him, he wouldn’t know what hit him.
“Dirty, no-good dog,” she said with a smile, eyeing her backside one last time in the mirror.
“You okay in there?” Sorrow knocked on her bedroom door. “Laura?”
She swung open the door, a general ready for assault. “I’m good. ”
“Wow. ” Sorrow took a step back. “You are good. ” She glanced down at Laura’s freshly shaved legs. “Your legs look great. But why so dolled up? You headed out?”
“Yup, errands. ” She breezed to the stairs, and Sorrow followed her down. “I’ve got some business. ” She waved several pages of signatures triumphantly. “Jessup business. ”
“You go, girl. ” Sorrow paused on the landing. “But…”
“But?”
“Do you think you could help out in the tavern today? Helen is starting to pull some attitude about you taking time off. ”
“What is with her?” Laura had worked hard all her life—was the woman going to begrudge her a little rest? And it wasn’t even restful—there’d been times that first week she thought she could’ve clawed her skin off. “I wasn’t exactly sitting around watching soap operas. I’ve been doing a ton of stuff from my computer. Just because I’m not at the tavern pouring iced teas—”
“I know, I know. ” Sorrow put up a hand to mollify her. “I get it. But until Hope comes up to speed, having an extra employee is more work than not. ”
“Speaking of which, where is Hope?” Laura had put their new employee to work immediately, especially when she found out the woman had spent the past few years working in the state capitol. “She said she’d make some calls for me. ”
Hope was still learning the ropes, but she was smart and a quick study. Besides, she’d practically grown up under their roof, having been Sorrow’s bosom buddy through childhood. Laura had been away at college, so she’d never gotten to know her, though she did remember the two girls griping about the other kids’ teasing. But seriously, a pair of pimple-faced besties with the names Hope and Sorrow? In ninth grade, it’d just been asking for it.
“She’s at the tavern,” Sorrow said, “which is where I’d hoped you’d join us. ”
“I need to take a pass. Can’t you manage without me? Those History Network people are coming”—she slid her cell from her purse to check the time—“and between that and this ranch thing, there’s a ton that needs to get done. ”
“We need to go over menus. ”
“Cook whatever you want. ” She passed her on the way to the front door. “You rock, sis. Thanks. ”