If I Only Had A...Husband (The Bridal Circle #1) Read online

  She got slowly to her feet. “Sad how you’re willing to settle for being mediocre, boy,” she said and picked up her dish. “Maybe if you were a bit better at this, Penny wouldn’t’ve gone out to the trailer this morning to call Alex.”

  “She went out to the—” He stopped and scowled at the old woman. “How’d you know she called Alex? You have the phone bugged, too?” Thank goodness, he’d used his cell phone for his own calls.

  “No. Penny found the ones I planted.” She sighed, then she rinsed out her dish, not looking his way again until she’d put the dish in the dishwasher. “I went out to the trailer while she was showering and checked the phone. We’ve got a redial feature that shows the number you called last.”

  “And it was Alex’s?”

  She nodded, closed up the dishwasher and walked slowly over to the back hallway. “Maybe Penny did just have an ‘okay’ time last night. Maybe you’re mediocre at more things than just being a PI,” she said wearily. “You gonna be able to drive us to church this morning?”

  For an old lady, she sure knew how to hit below the belt. “Aren’t you afraid my driving will be mediocre, too?”

  But she just laughed and waved over her shoulder. “Service starts at ten,” she called back to him. “We need to leave by nine-forty-five.”

  “I’ll be ready.” But she was already going into her room and gave no sign she’d heard him.

  Brad got to his feet and took care of his own dishes.

  Mediocre? That was a laugh. If he was so mediocre, how’d he get so much money in his bank account? And why were people all over the world calling him with jobs?

  But if he was so good, why had Penny rushed out to call Alex?

  Penny had never sat through a church service that was so long. The pastor must have gotten his notes mixed up and was somehow preaching the sermon over and over and over again.

  And it was all about love! You’d think he could have found a more original topic than that.

  It didn’t help that Brad was sitting right next to her in those narrow rock-hard pews. She couldn’t move without brushing his thigh with hers. This stupid cotton dress was about as much protection as a breeze. And she couldn’t take a breath without inhaling the scent of Brad’s aftershave which would remind her of the concert last night. Which would remind her of him carrying her up to her room. Which would remind her of him kissing her. Which was not something she needed to be thinking about in church!

  Thank goodness Matt Harris was coming back tomorrow and Brad would be gone by tomorrow night. Her heart didn’t quite agree, but her heart was not in charge.

  The service finally ended and she was free to breathe again—though only for a few moments since they’d soon be packing into the truck to go home. Why had she thought this sprained ankle was such a great idea?

  “Wonderful sermon, pastor,” Brad said as they walked out into the warm summer air.

  “Inspirational,” Penny added. She took a church bulletin and limped ahead to give Gran room.

  “Beautiful day for a beautiful service,” Gran told the man.

  “How would you know the sermon was inspirational?” Brad leaned close and whispered to Penny. “You weren’t paying attention.”

  “I was, too.” She fanned herself with the bulletin as she waited for Gran at the top of the church steps.

  “No, you weren’t.”

  “How would you know?”

  He smiled at her. “I could tell. I know you.”

  “Not all that well.” She smiled at her grandmother and took her arm to help her down the steps. “Shouldn’t be too much onger before you’re through with that cane.”

  Gran didn’t looked fooled by Penny’s bright tone. “You two pickering again?”

  “We weren’t bickering,” Penny said.

  “Discussing,” Brad added.

  “Sure.” Gran looked in front of her. “Hello there, Thomas. How are you these days?”

  Penny found Toto standing at the foot of the stairs. He was in uniform, and from the serious look on his face, probably on duty.

  “Morning, all,” he said, then turned to Gran. “You’re looking fine this bright sunny morning, ma’am. Would you mind if I steal Penny away for a minute?”

  “I wouldn’t, but Brad might,” Gran said with a laugh. “Best not keep her too long.”

  Penny tried not to roll her eyes. Toto gave a weak smile, then took Penny’s arm. They walked along the white clapboard building, through the iron gate and into the old churchyard. It was cool here in the shade of the massive oaks, and quiet, too. Her skirt danced lightly about her legs in the gentle breeze.

  “You go back to Dorothy’s last night?” Penny asked, rolling up the church bulletin. “It wasn’t really that late.”

  Toto shook his head. The radio on his belt cackled something and he flicked a switch to stop the static. “Look, Pen, I’m not sure how to say this, but I think you need to be careful.”

  She frowned at him. “Of what?”

  “Of Brad.” He sighed, looking uncomfortable, then glanced away from her to run his fingers over the top of a weatherworn gravestone. “I’m not sure you can trust him.”

  Toto looked so serious, so worried, that Penny’s heart sank right into her stomach. “Trust him how?”

  “Oh, you know.” Toto picked at the moss growing on the stone.

  “Leave Ebeneezer alone,” Penny said and whacked his hand with the bulletin. “Did you run some kind of check on Brad?”

  He still didn’t look at her, but she could tell by the sudden redness of his cheeks that he had.

  “Toto, how could you!” She took a deep breath and her glance somehow fell on Brad and Gran up near the church. Dorothy had joined them and was talking animatedly. Too animatedly for Dorothy before noon. They always joked that she never woke up until after lunch. Penny turned back to Toto. “What did you find?”

  “Nothing,” he said. “No debts. No traffic tickets. No outtanding warrants.”

  Penny was relieved. “So, why shouldn’t I trust him?”

  Toto looked her square in the face, his mouth a tight serious ine. “Because I don’t think his intentions are honorable.”

  Penny just stared at him, trying hard not to laugh. Dear sweet Toto who lived and breathed honor and assumed everyone else lid, too. She took his hand and squeezed it.

  “It’s okay, Toto. I have no illusions about Brad Corrigan. My heart is not involved.” Oh no? Then why did it race whenever he was near? She ignored that troublesome little voice and went on. “In fact, he’s probably leaving town tomorrow. Matt Harris will be back from vacation and Brad’ll get the probate papers taken care of.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Toto looked measurably relieved. “I guess then it’s all right.”

  “And I think you’re a dear to be worried,” Penny said and look his arm. They started back toward the others. “How are things going with you and Dorothy?”

  “Real good,” he said. “I got a book from the library.”

  Penny didn’t quite make the connection. “A book about what?”

  “About the differences between men and women.”

  Toto! she wanted to cry. But they were getting too close to Brad and Dorothy and Gran. “Just don’t spend so much time studying that you forget to take the test,” she said under her breath. “Hi, Dorothy. Didn’t see you inside.”

  “I snuck in late,” she said. “You know me and mornings. Hey, Toto, want to walk me to my car? I need to ask you something.” Dorothy took his arm, then waved to the others. ‘See you later.”

  Penny watched Dorothy and Toto leave, feeling as if the sun had come out after a storm. Maybe she had accomplished something last night. Maybe Dorothy was finally seeing Toto’s worth. Until she overheard Dorothy say something about not being able to take care of Junior this afternoon. This wasn’t the kind of conversation Penny had wanted between them! Maybe Dorothy wasn’t in danger from Brad, but she sure wouldn’t be falling for Toto, either, not unless he found a
spark.

  “Ready to go?” Brad asked.

  Penny just nodded and walked along with him and Gran across the gravel parking lot toward the truck. The sun was suddenly oppressive instead of warming and nurturing. Darn it, anyway. Toto needed to do something besides get a book out of the library.

  “We’ve got tomorrow all worked out,” Gran was saying.

  Penny woke from her thoughts as they reached her truck. “Tomorrow?” What was there to work out?

  Gran nodded. “Brad’s going to drive me to physical therapy and then come back and work the office for you.”

  “Work the office?” Penny said. “But you’re—”

  “Unless you want me to drive you to your jobs,” he said and opened the passenger side door for her.

  “I don’t need you to drive,” she snapped. She wanted to whack him but the church bulletin was too flimsy. “I could have driven today just fine.”

  “Mustn’t push it, dear,” Gran said.

  “I’m not pushing anything,” Penny assured her. “But tomorrow’s Monday.”

  “Yes?” Both Brad and Gran were staring at her.

  “Matt Harris is back in town,” she stated.

  Brad just shrugged. “No rush with that,” he said. “When I get to it, I get to it.”

  “Speaking of getting,” Gran said, poking Penny with her cane. “Would you get in the truck?”

  Penny was too stunned to do otherwise.

  Chapter Eight

  Penny just leaned back in the chair and stared at the computer screen. Sundays were about the only time she had to work on her own things, but today was certainly turning out to be a bust. This paper was going nowhere fast. Alex’s suggestions had been good, and his pep talk on the phone this morning before church had been even better, but she just couldn’t seem to get it together.

  She leaned forward and deleted the chunk she’d just written. This computer was fast all of a sudden. Since Brad had gotten his hands on it, to be exact.

  Brad. Couldn’t she do anything without her thoughts turning to him? Well, she could if he would leave like he was supposed so. Everywhere she turned, she ran into him either literally or iguratively. He was supposed to see Matt Harris tomorrow and then be on his way. She would drive Gran to physical therapy round her work schedule like she had for the past month. And the answering machine would pick up the calls while Gran was out of the office like always. They didn’t need him here. She didn’t need him here.

  And she certainly didn’t need his kisses. Which was why she was going to be very careful around him until he finally did decide to leave. Protecting Dorothy was one thing, but getting burned herself was another.

  On that note, she flipped through her folder and pulled out the notes Alex had made on her last draft of the paper. This time they would make sense, because this time she was not going to let her heart go off on some dumb tangent about Brad.

  The trailer door swung open. “Thought this had to be where you were hiding,” Brad said as he stepped inside.

  Damn. What was he doing here? Had her crazy heart conjured him up because her brain had banished all thought or him? No, he was real, not some figment of her imagination Her heart had come alive, suddenly beating double time, and her cheeks had turned hot. He was definitely real.

  “I’m not hiding.” She sounded all too breathless, as if she’d been running a marathon or something and that annoyed her She shoved her folder under some papers, while bringing up a different document—a safe one—onto the screen. “I’m just catching up on some paperwork.”

  “Just show me what needs to be done and I’ll do it tomorrow.” Brad pulled a chair up next to her and sat down. “Might as well keep me busy. Or are you going to want me to drive you around after all?”

  Heavens, no. She needed to stay clear of him, not have him at her side all day. “No, the ankle’s good as new.” She swung her leg out from under the desk and rotated her foot. “See” Nothing wrong with it.”

  He bent over so that she couldn’t see his face. “I’m not so sure. I think I need a closer look, just to be certain.” His voice was teasing, but she pulled her foot away just to be on the safe side.

  “I don’t think so.”

  He straightened up. “You always were a spoilsport.”

  “How would you know?” she said. “You never even knew existed when we were kids.”

  “Oh, you are very wrong there,” he said, his voice suddenly whisper and his gaze intense. “I most certainly knew you xisted.”

  Her cheeks flamed under his regard and she quickly turned way before her dumb heart tried to read something in his vords or her silly brain decided it saw a flame in his eyes.

  “You’re right. You had to know I existed,” she agreed with laugh and turned back to the computer screen. What was this ile she had hidden her paper behind? Oh, last month’s billing. ‘After all, doing my homework kept you coming to my house lay after day.”

  “Interesting way to put it.”

  He had pulled back in some indefinable way and she felt herself relax slightly.

  “I’m going over to my uncle’s house to sort through some family papers and stuff,” he said. “I thought you might like to come with.”

  And be alone in that big old house with him? She wasn’t that dumb. “I think I’d better get this finished up,” she told him. “That storm last week really put us behind.”

  “Okay.”

  He got to his feet. She couldn’t tell from his voice or his manner if he was disappointed. But then, why would he be? He’d probably asked her along to be polite. Or to have an extra pair of hands.

  A little shadow fell across her soul. He’d been so great about helping them out and when he asked her to do one little thing, she was scared to do it. She felt awful. Petty. Wimpy. Ungrateful.

  “Toto might be able to help you,” she said quickly. “He should be off duty by now. Give him a call.”

  “He’s probably got plans.”

  She shook her head. “I doubt it. Dorothy’s got an open house at one of her listings all afternoon so he’s probably looking for something to do.”

  But Brad just shrugged as he moved the chair back to where it had been. “I’ll think about it. See you later.”

  It was quiet in the trailer after he’d gone. No pounding of her heart. No raspy breathing. Good. Maybe she could get some work done now.

  She brought her file back to the front of the screen, then closed her eyes. She could still smell Brad’s aftershave in the air. But then come to think of it, she could still feel his lips on hers from last night.

  Damn. She was never going to be able to concentrate.

  “Now, don’t let Alex make you this time,” Aunty Em said. “You’re never going to find out anything if he makes you.”

  “I’m not doing surveillance.” Brad climbed into the Jeep. “I’m going to Uncle Hal’s house. I’ve got stacks of personal papers to go through.”

  “Sure.” The old woman waved his words aside, then turned thoughtful. “I wish we had time to tap his phone. Then we’d really get the goods on him.”

  Afraid that Aunty Em was about to suggest Brad take along the truth serum she kept hidden with her knitting, he started the engine. “See you later,” he called out from the departing Jeep.

  He drove off quickly, but once he got out to the main road, he slowed down. It was a beautiful day. Sunny. Warm. A day made for the beach.

  If Penny had been free, they could have gone to the dunes and lain in the sun all afternoon. She could have brought the blanket and he would have sprung for the suntan lotion to spread all over her—

  He jammed on the brakes as he almost missed the turn into town. No, no suntan lotion. No days at the beach. No Penny in a swimsuit.

  From suntan lotion they’d move to kisses and then to caresses and then making love. Then she’d be spilling her heart out to him and expecting him to do the same.

  Definitely no suntan lotion.

  He drove past the
library and turned down Second Street, but went right by his uncle’s house. The papers could be shipped to Los Angeles and he could sort through them there; they weren’t holding him in Chesterton. Penny was, her and her situation. Once that was resolved, he could go.

  But it wasn’t going to get resolved with him sitting in his uncle’s study sorting through old receipts. Neither would it get resolved by following Alex. No, it needed action and that’s just what Brad was best at

  He pulled the Jeep up in front of Alex’s small frame house. White aluminum siding, neatly trimmed evergreens around the foundation and a finely manicured lawn. Everything neat and precise and ordinary. Not one blasted thing that reflected Alex’s personality. Or maybe the whole thing did—maybe he had no personality.

  Penny could do better.

  Brad marched up onto the small porch. The inside door was closed, but that just could mean Alex had the air-conditioning on. Brad rang the bell and, sure enough, a moment later Alex opened the door. The inside door, that was.

  “Hello.” Cool air spilled out through the screen door, but Alex made no move to ask Brad in. “What can I do for you?”

  “I want to talk to you,” Brad said.

  “Now?” He didn’t seem impatient or annoyed. He didn’t seem anything, in fact. How could Penny be attracted to someone who never showed emotion?

  “You got something to hide?” Brad asked. Wouldn’t that be perfect? He’d come over for a talk and stumbled onto Alex in the midst of an assignation. That would stop whatever nefarious plans he had.

  “Not at all,” Alex said and opened the screen door. “Come in.”

  The front room was depressingly tame. It held no lingering trace of cheap perfume or stashes of X-rated videos. No empty beer cans tossed under the end tables, no overflowing ashtrays. Okay, so there were no visible sins. That didn’t mean that Alex didn’t have any.

  “Want to sit down?” Alex asked. “Can I get you anything?”

  Ha, this was where he’d get caught. “Wouldn’t mind a beer,” Brad said slyly.

  Alex shook his head. “Sorry, I should have been more specific. I’ve got some soda and iced tea.”