But the bed itself? It was mounded with cosmetics, bikinis, shoes, shorts, tops, capris. Lingerie that left him hungry. A hungry that had nothing to do with food.
“All of this came out of one suitcase?”
She nodded. “I’m not quite sure what to do with it all. I seriously doubt I’ll be needing this.” She held up two tiny scraps of orange that no doubt passed as a bathing suit. “Or this.” Another bikini, this time lime green.
Jake fought to banish the image of Lucy in the green. He failed. Maybe he should buy himself some new jeans. In a larger size.
He had to get out of here.
“Leave it, Lucy. You can deal with it later.”
“Let’s grab a burger first.” He slid into a parking space in front of the diner. He’d been concerned about taking the bike, but after the wedding dress fiasco, the sundress proved a piece of cake. “I’m too hungry to walk into a grocery store. Everything in the place will end up in my basket.”
“Shouldn’t we go to your parents’ first?”
“No. I’ve had all the reunion s I can stand for a while.”
His hand on the small of Lucy’s back, they walked into the small fifties-style diner. Heat smacked him in the face.
“Annie, didn’t you pay your electric bill? It’s hot enough in here to suffocate a billy goat.”
Annie sent him a sly smile. “Sure it isn’t that little girl with you that’s got you running hot?”
Jake forced a smile, biting his tongue. He reminded himself that he and Lucy were supposed to be engaged. He saw Annie’s eyes catch on the diamond on Lucy’s finger. The one Donald had put there. But the jig was up. No going back now. The entire town would know within three seconds of him and Lucy walking out the door.
“Yeah, she’s a real sweetheart. Lucy Darling, this is Annie Poteet.” The two women smiled at each other as he pulled Lucy closer, bussed the top of her head.
“That’s the best you can do, Jake Parker?” Annie’s lip curled. “From all the chatter that’s gone on in here over the years, sure figured you for more fire than that.”
Jake lifted a brow. Giving Lucy no warning, he bent her back over one arm and touched his lips to hers. Just before they met, he saw the near-panic in those golden-brown eyes. But hey, why not make the most of the moment? He gave himself to the kiss, enjoyed her softness. Her unexpected response.
He could have enjoyed the taste of her all day, but he righted her and set her back on her feet, feeling just a little smug at the dazed look on her face. Score one for his team.
Thank you, Annie, for that opportunity.
“Don’t know that there’s anything on the menu that’ll satisfy you after that, but we’ll try.” Annie grinned. “Your mama was in yesterday. Picked up one of my cherry pies for her quilting group. She know you’re home?”
“Yeah. Birdie and Sammy stopped by this morning. My guess is by now the whole town of Pride knows.”
“Been to see her yet?”
“No, and shame on us,” Lucy said. “We got caught up in cleaning and settling in.”
“Well, sure. You’d want to do that.” A gleam flashed in Annie’s eyes. “So, you’re both staying at your grandma’s?”
“It’s mine now, Annie. Has been for a couple years.” He wanted to derail Annie before she started talking about sleeping arrangements. “Why don’t you bring us a couple coffees and a menu for Lucy here?”
“Blue-plate special today is meat loaf, mashed potatoes and greens.”
Jake managed to keep the grin off his face. Blue-plate specials had to be as foreign to Ms. Lucinda Darling as caviar was to him.
But she surprised him by ordering exactly that. Here in Annie’s seen-better-days diner, with the TV blaring the news and the clunky white dishes and cups, Lucy looked amazingly at home. While he scarfed down his burger and fries, she ate her meal with impeccable finishing-school manners.
He tossed money on the table to cover their meals and stood, holding out his hand to her. “Let’s go pick up a few supplies.”
As they headed out the door, Lucinda called over her shoulder, “Annie, it was so nice to meet you. And that meatloaf? To die for.”
She shot a bemused Annie a two-thumbs-up.
Lucinda hadn’t taken five steps into the little ma-and-pa store when the pictures assaulted her. There she was. Lucinda Darling, Runaway Bride, staring back at herself from the magazine rack. The press had gone nuts with the story. A quick scan of the covers told her she’d been sighted in fifteen states and three foreign countries.
Horrified, she started to tear up. This was her life. Not a news story. Not some TV or movie script. Her life.