I exhale as I bring my truck to a stop at the end of the street. In my rearview mirror I can see her house.
Seeing Bradley coming out of Lacy’s place with her on his arm makes me want to punch him and knock that smug look off his stupid face.
It’ll only take one date for Lacy to see Bradley is a piece of trash. She’s way too smart to fall for his fake charm.
11
Lacy
Bradley seems like a perfect gentleman. Trent is so full of it.
I get a caffeinated soda hoping it’ll help me wake up a little. Even though today has been easier, it was still a long day. Checking people out and having so little time in between guests to clean the rooms and change all the bedding is no small task. No wonder it took both my parents and some extra paid help.
I am so glad that Bradley is doing most of the talking since I’m just too tired to make much conversation. He talks about his handyman business, and I do my best not to yawn as he talks about all the different calls he’s had this week. I should be impressed that he’s a business owner, and I tell myself I would be if I wasn’t so darn tired.
In fact, I’m so tired that I don’t even make it through the previews of the movie. One minute I’m watching a trailer for an upcoming romantic comedy—my favorite—and the next thing I know I awaken to the rolling of the end credits.
I think it’s so sweet that Bradley didn’t wake me up and let me sleep instead.
“I’m so sorry, Bradley. You have to think I’m a horrible date. I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
We’re walking to his truck, and every apology I give him, he tells me it was no big deal.
He offers to take me to dinner, but I know I’m not going to be good company. “I’ve already eaten up enough of your night. I’d better go home and get to bed.”
He shrugs good naturedly. I have to be honest. I thought that maybe there was some truth in what Trent had been warning me about Bradley, but I’ve not found any of it to be true. He’s been a perfect gentleman.
He walks me to me door, and just as we get there, a guest meets us on the porch. “Oh good, you’re home. We can’t get the wifi to work in our room.”
I could tell her I’ll be in in a minute so I can say goodnight to Bradley properly, but I don’t.
Instead, I tell him good night and follow the woman into the house. There’s no kiss goodnight, and I can’t say I’m really upset about it.
I feel bad that I was such a dud of a date for Bradley and am quite sure he’s not going to ask me out again.
Trent
I showed up this afternoon at the B&B. I was planning on getting here early, but there were some issues at the ranch that needed taken care of. I’d no sooner finished before I showered quickly and headed into town, straight for the B&B. I barely got here and made nice before asking her about her date the night before.
She was hesitant, so I urged her on. “You know I’m going to find out anyway. You might as well tell me.” This is Forest Grove, after all. Everyone will know by the end of the day.
She covers her face with her hands, and for an instant, I think something bad happened. Already I’m thinking of a hundred ways to hurt Bradley. That is until, her fingers spread, and I can see the smile on her face. “You’re not going to believe it.”
Now I’m smiling too. “What? What happened?”
She begins to tell me all about their date. She tells me about falling asleep and even admits to me that there wasn’t a goodnight kiss because of the couple’s wifi problem.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting the description of the date she just gave me.
“Stop smiling, you’re terrible. It’s not his fault I was so tired,” Lacy says, trying to shame me for my obvious joy at Bradley’s misfortune.
“He is boring.”
Lacy laughs and shakes her head at me. “He didn’t have the chance to be boring. I fell asleep right away. I have got to hire some more help around here.”
I am so happy that she slept through the date and then brushed Bradley off that I can’t stop smiling. Already I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I knew nothing would come of Bradley and Lacy, but I still didn’t have to like the fact that she was going out with another man. “There’s a few bulletin boards up at the community college. I bet you could get help there.”
“Stop acting all helpful. I can see you laughing at the fool I made of myself.”
“I’m happy that Bradley didn’t get the chance to be the total wolf he is.”
Lacy rolls her eyes at my comment, but I’m pretty sure that Bradley’s pride will keep him from asking her out again after she fell asleep on him like she did. Thank goodness. I wouldn’t be able to sit by for another date. Last night about killed me. It took everything I had not to show up at the movie theater.
“The bulletin board isn’t a bad idea though,” Lacy muses.
I go into her office with her, where she has a standing desk, and I help her design the flyer. I stand close behind her, breathing in her scent and wanting so much to slide her hair away from her shoulder so that I can plant a few kisses and nibbles at the curve of her neck.
We laugh and joke as we finish designing the flyer and both reach for the mouse at the same time. My hand covers hers, and by the way she freezes up, I can tell that she feels that same magical heat we always felt when we kissed or touched.
“Lacy.” I breathe out her name.
She clicks the printer and gets the flyers printing up. “I’d better go hang these while there’s still daylight in which to do it.”
12
Lacy
That was close. I was so close to forgetting how dangerous Trent is to me. I can’t get over him again. I just can’t.
“Thanks for helping me make these,” I say with the stack of flyers in my hands.
“The job is only half done. I’ll help you get them put up around town.”
“No!” I say, alarmed. In a softer voice, I tell him, “I can get it done while I’m in town. No big deal.” I need some space. I need to distance myself from him.
But the smirk on Trent’s face tells me that he knows he’s affecting me. He knows, and he’s happy about it.
“No. I want to help,” he says. And no matter how hard I try to talk him out of it, he won’t hear of it. “There are plenty of bulletin boards outside stores and in offices that won’t let you hang them without someone there to vouch for you that it’s a legit job offer. You’ve been gone awhile, Lacy. Having a local with you will help speed the process.”
Reluctantly, I agree. I know he’s right. The town has grown a lot in the last few years. And there are a lot of new businesses. I recall the Picture in the Park, and there were a lot of familiar faces, but so many faces that I didn’t recognize. Have I really been gone that long?
I decide not to fight him on it. Surely, since we’ll be out in public together, I’m confident I can avoid another sensually stimulating encounter with Trent.