Which meant staying here in Hartley could do more harm than good to her emotional well-being. If she had any sense, she’d cut her losses and leave. But she knew she wouldn’t, and it wasn’t just because she was reckless and stubborn and the prospect of slinking back to her old life—a life she had to return to in three weeks’ time—left a bad taste in her mouth. Quitting now wasn’t an option. But neither was giving in to her pesky weakness for Joe.
…
The thrift shop smelled of musty books and old clothes, but Nina didn’t mind. She had Saturday afternoon off, and it was a relief to take a break and browse through the store. She’d already visited the general store and bought underwear and toiletries. Now she needed some fresh clothing and comfortable shoes.
After riffling through the racks, she had an armful of secondhand gear to try on. The friendly middle-aged lady in charge of the store directed her to a tiny cubicle screened off by a flimsy curtain. She had just struggled into black denim jeans and a snug-fitting, lemon-colored sweater when she heard the distinctive timbre of Joe’s voice greeting the store clerk.
“Morning, Mrs. Stewart. Just dropping off some extra linen from the inn.” There was the sound of a heavy bag landing on the counter.
“Oh, isn’t that sweet of you,” Mrs. Stewart said. “And how are you, Joe? How’s your grandmother and business at the inn?”
For a while the two chatted warmly. Nina had frozen the instant she recognized Joe’s voice. She’d hoped to remain in the changing cubicle until he left, but the way he and the shop clerk were chatting, she’d be stuck in here till Christmas. Oh, well, then, she’d just have to go out and face him, because there was no mirror in the cubicle. Drawing in her stomach muscles, she pushed the curtain aside and stepped out.
Both Joe and Mrs. Stewart turned to look at her, but it was Joe’s reaction that Nina sought out. He eyeballed the black denim that hugged her thighs and the lemon sweater that clung to her breasts. She wasn’t exactly well endowed in the bosom department, but the stretchy fabric and Joe’s keen inspection made her feel several cup sizes bigger. And more self-conscious, too. Which was weird. And weirdly exciting.
“Found some bargains?” Joe nodded at Mrs. Stewart. “Nina is my new maid at the inn. She was looking for some clothing, so I directed her here.”
Mrs. Stewart studied Nina with fresh interest. “You’re not a Hartley girl, are you, dear?”
Nina smiled. “No. I’m from San Francisco.”
“I see. It’s a permanent move, then?” Mrs. Stewart asked.
“I don’t think Nina’s made that decision yet,” Joe said. “Besides, she’s still on probation at the inn.”
“You’re lucky to have a job there,” the store clerk said to Nina. “Joe’s a good boss, and he’s an important fella in this town.”
Intrigued, Nina moved forward and rested her hip against the counter. “So Joe’s the big cheese around Hartley, is he?”
“That he is. We’re very lucky to have him.”
Nina sneaked a peek at Joe. Mrs. Stewart’s lavish praise made him look a little sheepish. Sheepish and cute. Aw, how adorable… She blinked in surprise at her thoughts. Adorable? Joe? How could that be?
“I suppose he’ll be running for mayor one of these days.” Nina decided to tease him.
Mrs. Stewart nodded, all solemn. “He’ll get my vote, that’s for sure.”
“I have no ambitions to run for mayor,” Joe cut in. “I don’t have the time, for one thing. Not when I have snarky new maids to supervise.”
Mrs. Stewart nudged him with her elbow. “Don’t tease the poor girl, she’s just started.”
“That’s okay, Mrs. Stewart.” Nina waved a nonchalant hand at Joe. “I know I’ve been giving him some attitude.”
His lips curved upward. “I can handle your attitude, sweet pea, as long as you get the job done.”
The “sweet pea” coupled with the grin he flashed her made her gulp. That lazy, sensuous smile of his was lethal. With Joe only a few feet away from her, there didn’t seem to be enough oxygen in the overcrowded little store.
Determined not to let him see how much he affected her, she flicked her fingers through her hair. “That’s good to know, because I’ve got plenty of attitude to spare.”
He laughed, a warm, indulgent chuckle. “Never a dull moment with you, is there, Nina?” Turning back to the shop clerk, he patted the counter. “Thanks, Mrs. Stewart, I’ll see you around.” As he made for the door, he nodded to Nina. “I like that yellow sweater. Highlights the snark in you.”
Nina couldn’t help staring after him as he exited the store. She continued to peer out the window as he got into his pickup truck and drove off.
Behind her, Mrs. Stewart made a little humming noise. “He’s a nice boy, that Joe Farina. And so hardworking. I don’t know how he manages.”
Nina played with a bowl of bracelets sitting on the counter. “Yes, he works long hours at the inn.”
“It’s not just the Comet Inn. He has his grandmother to look after. Oh, his uncle and aunt visit, but they have the farm to run, so poor Joe has the lion’s share of responsibility.”
“I knew about his sister, Carla, but not about his grandmother.” She shouldn’t be so interested in Joe’s personal life, but everything about him fascinated her, and clearly Mrs. Stewart had no qualms talking about her favorite Hartley citizen.
“She helped Joe raise his sister after their parents died. But about four years ago, just after Joe bought the Comet Inn, his grandmother had a bad car accident. Left her with long-term disabilities. Oh, she’s mobile enough, but she needs twenty-four-hour care, which is why she’s in a nursing home now. I volunteer there, too. Joe visits his grandma like clockwork.”
“Sounds like he has plenty of responsibilities.”
“He’s also on the business council, and this year he’s helping to organize the Food and Wine Festival, as if he doesn’t have enough to do.”
Nina nodded. Busy, busy, busy. That seemed to be Joe’s modus operandi.
“How old is he?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
“He turned thirty in July. His sister threw him a birthday party before she left.”
“That’s Carla, right? The one who’s interning at the UN?”
“That’s her.” Mrs. Stewart gave Nina a mischievous smile. “You seem mighty interested in Joe.”
Nina affected a nonchalant shrug. “Yeah, well. He sounds like a regular hero around here.”
She had to admit she was impressed. Joe was only five years her senior, and yet he already owned a thriving business. On top of that he had an ailing grandmother in what must be an expensive facility and had raised his younger sister after losing their parents. He’d achieved all this off his own sweat. Joe was a self-motivated, self-made success—the complete opposite of her—and that made her feel inadequate, if she were honest.
She bit her lip. Feeling inadequate didn’t lessen her attraction to him, though.
Mrs. Stewart clucked as she tidied a stack of flyers for the Hartley Food and Wine Festival on her counter. “One day that Joe Farina is going to make some lucky girl very happy, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon, I’m afraid.”
Nina pressed her lips together. She was not going to ask. She wasn’t…but it was too tempting. “Why’s that?” she blurted.
“Girls are always throwing themselves at him, but he rarely goes out with one for very long.” Shaking her head, Mrs. Stewart added darkly, “I blame it on his last steady girlfriend. They broke up not long after his grandmother’s car accident… That Deanne has a lot to answer for.”
Nina chewed on her lip as curiosity burned inside her. What had this Deanne woman done to make Joe gun-shy of relationships? Had he been head over heels in love with her? Had she broken his heart?
Nina put a clamp on her shameful inquisitiveness. She shouldn’t speculate about Joe’s love life. It was none of her business, and she was already too enthralled by him. He was just her boss, and that was the way it would stay.
“I’d better try on the rest of those clothes,” she said, heading for the changing cubicle.
She picked out a few more items and decided to wear the black jeans and lemon sweater instead of changing back into her dirty clothes. Next, she moved onto the rack of secondhand shoes but was appalled to find that the only comfortable shoes in her size were a pair of hideous turquoise Crocs. She winced at her dorky reflection in the mirror while Mrs. Stewart hid a smile.
“So practical for working at the inn,” Mrs. Stewart said. “Will you be taking them?”
Her ego said no, but her toes said yes, and for now her toes won. Nina sighed and nodded. “I’ll wear them. My boots are killing me.”
While Mrs. Stewart rang up her purchases, a couple of well-dressed, middle-aged ladies entered the shop. Judging by their country club outfits they were clearly donors, not customers. They placed their bulging shopping bags on the counter and peered at Nina with expectant curiosity.
Mrs. Stewart lost no time in providing them with details. “This is Nina. She’s Joe’s new maid at the Comet Inn.”