Chapter Twelve

Tara stood in the middle of a giant furniture warehouse that was located off the highway between Sylvan Hills and Asheville and waved off the attention of the overeager sales girl—again. Tara wasn’t sure if it was the potential sale or the way Justin filled his jeans that kept the girl coming back. She really couldn’t blame her either way. As expected, Justin said yes to everything Marley wanted, racking up a sizeable bill in the process. The way he doted on his little sister only added to the large amount of sex appeal he already possessed in those jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt that showed the definition of his broad shoulders and arms. Nope, she didn’t blame the girl at all.

Marley had long since picked out a lovely set of bedroom furniture and a funky side chair for her room along with rugs and wall prints and was now sitting with her phone in the customer lounge while Justin took his time looking at things for the rest of the house. He came well prepared with measurements and was methodical in his selections. They had been there all morning, and he had picked out one lamp.

Now he was hovering around a dining table that looked like a prop from Game of Thrones. It had wolves’ heads carved on the legs and was obviously meant to go home with a vacation house owner who thought they knew what Native American art looked like.

Tara shook her head. “Your sister is right. You have the absolute worst taste in furniture.”

“What’s wrong with it?” He honestly looked surprised, as if it weren’t the ugliest thing ever carved out of a piece of wood.

“It’s huge and far too ornate for a simple farmhouse dining room.” She smiled, feeling mischievous. “But, I get it. I grew up with plenty of boys who drove oversized trucks. I know what this is about. There’s only one reason a man would buy such a large piece of furniture for two people to use.”

He raised his eyebrows in question. “You going to enlighten me, Tara?”

Her smile grew. “Mmm-hmm. It’s typical over compensation.”

He laughed. “I don’t think a guy would ever compensate for anything by buying furniture.” He leaned the palms of his hands on the table and smiled, causing a series of thuds to sound in Tara’s ears. “But why don’t you come closer so we can test that theory.”

Tara felt the heat rise in her cheeks. This man always managed to discombobulate her, even when she thought she was getting the upper hand in the conversation. Justin was a nice guy, clean cut and masculine in a non-threatening way. Every now and then, though, something deliciously wicked came through that all-American goodness, making Tara’s insides squirm and fueling her desire to do something equally wicked in return.

Justin laughed at her discomfort and walked around the table to her, placed an arm around her waist, and pulled her into a brief hug. He had been openly affectionate with her that morning, and though he never pushed things far, Tara was becoming used to the feel of him.

“Come on, then. Point me in the right direction. Marley is insisting on us making Thanksgiving dinner this year, and we need a bigger table than the one we have in the kitchen.”

“Will this be your first time?”

“Yes, for both of us.” He paused a moment and then looked at her. “You should join us. Maybe you can help keep us from making a mess of things. And Marley talks more when you’re around. It’s nice.”

Tara looked away. “You don’t need a buffer, Justin. You and Marley are doing great. Probably even better than you realize.”

He traced his fingers down her arm. “Then come just because we want you there.”

Swallowing hard, she forced her eyes to meet his. It was a genuine offer. The least she could do was look at him when she rejected it. His eyes were so earnest and full of anticipation that she almost felt guilty over her relief of having a legitimate excuse.

“I’m on the planning committee for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner. I’ll be working there for most of the day.”

He nodded and kept lightly stroking her arm. “You should still come some other time. I think it would help to see that we’re not destroying the place, that we’re taking great care to leave most things alone, only fixing what’s absolutely broken or no longer useful. I’d love to hear your opinion on things.”

“You’re getting my opinion on your furniture choices. Isn’t that enough?”

Tara walked toward a simple country-style set with an oak-topped table and muted colored chairs in various hues. It should be quirky enough for Marley and functional enough for Justin. It would replace the vintage set that had been there before, the one her grandparents bought second hand when they got married. Her Thanksgivings had been spent at that table. The set was in someone else’s home now, or perhaps Fran just threw it away. Tara would never know.

Tara wrapped her arms around her stomach. She was too quick to agree to this shopping trip and to everything else. Her interest in him wasn’t waning with familiarity. The physical attraction she could handle. But he was firmly settled in a place she couldn’t go, where she no longer belonged, and no amount of carnal longing was going to change that.

She felt Justin come up behind her. “It is enough, but I can’t promise that I’ll stop asking. Brandon’s the only friend we’ve had there so far, and his conversation often only comes in grunts and single syllables.”

Tara laughed and relaxed a little, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. She gestured to the table. “What do you think of this one?”

He nodded. “It’s good. Let’s take the tag to the counter.”

Tara cocked her head to the side. “That easy? You took an hour to decide on a lamp shade.”

He looked down on her with narrowed eyes. “You probably think that’s ugly too, don’t you?”

“If I say yes will we have to skip lunch while you pick out another one?”

“It’s entirely possible.”

“It’s a beautiful shade. The most perfect lamp shade in the history of electrical lighting.”

He smiled and took her hand. “We’d better feed you before our next stop, or there’s no telling what we’ll go home with.”

Tara smiled. They were now back in a safe zone where they could flirt and have fun without the pressure of her disappointments weighing on them. Tara was relieved. Justin, though, was disappointed. She could tell the slight difference in his tone and demeanor, and she suspected he was creating a distance for her benefit alone. His patience and thoughtfulness made it all so much harder.