Love Rising: Spring (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 4) Read online

  Jocelyn’s pretty blue eyes widened and she laughed incredulously. “Am I in love with Ryan? Where did that come from?”

  Not a denial. His chest squeezed. “It’s a theory they have. Jason, Andrea and Trevor think you put the note in the camera bag, hoping the paper would run it. You are trying to make Ryan jealous.”

  Jocelyn speared her fingers through her wet hair and shook it to dry it faster. But her posture had changed and her smile was gone. Jeremy watched her closely. “Is it true?” he asked.

  “I barely know Ryan McIntyre. He asked me to the wedding. That’s all.”

  “Is it true?” Jeremy asked again, evenly.

  She frowned. Then looked him full in the face. “No, it is not true. I didn’t put that thing in Andrea’s camera case. I don’t know who did or why they singled out you and me for a practical joke. I’m not going to lie to you—I like Ryan and I’d like to see him again. But I wouldn’t use you to try to make him jealous. Why would they even think that?”

  “Because you used me to make Hudson Grace jealous. Even though it back-fired and you basically drove Hudson into Michael’s arms they thought you might be giving it another shot to land Ryan.” Yes, he was being cruel and he didn’t care. Jeremy was hurting.

  “That’s a pretty low opinion everyone has of me. Is that what you think too?”

  Her beautiful blue eyes met his.

  The flop sweat was back. She looked cute in his robe. Jeremy tried not to think about her naked body under the flannel. Or of her breasts rubbing against the fabric. Her hair was long, much longer than it usually looked. Sitting on his couch in his robe with her long blonde hair fanned out over her shoulders, Jocelyn was exquisite. Her face was clean of makeup and he hoped, guile. He hoped she wasn’t lying to him about the ad because he still loved her. Not out of the snow pack yet, he thought ruefully. Even a crocus was tougher than he was. Worse luck, now she liked Ryan McIntyre.

  Jeremy sat beside her on the couch and rested his elbows on his knees, his hands linked. “I don’t think you’d do anything malicious or selfish. I think you throw yourself at the wrong guys, but that’s just me. I hope it works out for you with Ryan if he’s the one you want. Maybe we’ll all laugh about this one day.”

  Jocelyn examined his profile. His glasses caught the firelight, hiding his eyes. The heavy black frames cut off most of his profile. But he had nice hair that was chestnut-brown in color and really shiny and thick. It waved and bumped up in odd places. He needed a cut. Jeremy Marks looked like he rarely got his hair cut or bought new clothes. He would look better with a better wardrobe, Jocelyn mused. He had changed out of the grubby sweatshirt into jeans and a white button-down shirt, over which he’d pulled a striped knitted vest. He was wearing black Converse sneakers. High tops of all things. Hipster styling, only in Jeremy’s case there wasn’t anything hip about his style.

  The guy had no money. That was the problem, not only for Jeremy but for her. She liked him, he was sweet. But she couldn’t fall in love with a poor guy. She had a horror of poverty. Jocelyn had been raised poor and had no intention of spending the rest of her life struggling to make ends meet like her parents did. Her mother died because they were poor. Jocelyn wasn’t going to do that to any kid of hers.

  “Jeremy.” She took his hand in hers and a sweet shiver of warmth passed through her. “I’m sorry you have to go through this again because of me. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to mislead you. You’re the nicest guy I know.”

  He slouched back against the sofa but didn’t release her hand. “Don’t say it. Honestly, I don’t want to hear how doomed and pointless my feelings are. I’ll straighten this out with Ryan just in case he thinks the ad was for real. Everyone else in town will know it’s a joke.”

  “Why do you assume that? It’s not totally out of the question that we got engaged.”

  He swiveled his head to look at her. “I’ll take that as a compliment but yes, it is totally out of the question. Shit, Joce, don’t pretend that it isn’t! I hate it when people try to be kind. It always makes a guy feel worse.”

  “When have you ever known me to be kind to you? I’m horrible to you so shut up.” Jocelyn removed his glasses from his face. “Let me see your eyes for a minute.”

  Jeremy Marks had brown eyes that were surprisingly handsomer than she remembered. She’d never looked at him this closely before.

  “You know what? You’re a good-looking guy. Under different circumstances, I could see myself being interested. You’re sexy and I like being with you; it’s not so crazy to think we could be a couple.” She gave him his glasses back. “But we’re not so we have to set the record straight. Not because it’s so freaking outrageous but because it’s totally possible.”

  “Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

  “You don’t believe me.”

  He grinned. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around you being here wearing my bathrobe and telling me I’m sexy. That’s the level of outrageousness I’m at with you. An engagement is a whole other planet. Another guy’s life.”

  Jocelyn smiled and looked away. He was so plain about his feelings for her. She had to admire his guts. No matter how many times he got shot down, Jeremy Marks was willing to keep on loving her. But she didn’t believe it wasn’t love any more than what she felt for Hudson or Ryan McIntyre was love. She wanted something unattainable and so did Jeremy Marks.

  “We’re the same, you and me. We’re ambitious and we want what we can’t have,” she said. “Maybe that’s why you like me.”

  “I don’t just like you, Jocelyn.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  They sat quietly for a minute, looking at the fire and listening to the noises in the cavernous building. The furnace had come on and the heat was rising to the loft apartment.

  “What do you have planned for today?’ Jocelyn asked suddenly. “It’s your day off, right?”

  “Yes, it is.” Jeremy nodded and stretched, glad to break the tension. “My day is packed with excitement. There’s a trip to the library to get some books for the week and if it’s not too cold, a hike to Fillmore Ridge. After that, I’ll have the Monday Night Blue Plate Special at the diner because a guy can never get enough meatloaf. How about you? Are you meeting Ryan today?”

  She nodded, although she had no thought of meeting Ryan unless he called. She had a policy of not calling a man the day after a date. It was important not to look needy or eager. Let him come to her was the Jocelyn Tate philosophy. She’d probably go home and wait by the phone. “He’ll want to talk about the engagement notice. If the Gazette thinks I’m the culprit, I’ll bet Ryan does too.”

  “I’ll talk to him and explain the situation.”

  “No, don’t worry about it. But there is one thing you can do for me—I rode my bike here and I’ve only just warmed up again. I can’t face riding back. Could you give me a lift home?”

  Jeremy had a bike rack attached to the rear of his beat up Toyota. He left her alone to dress and went outside to attach her bike to the rack. Jocelyn watched him from the large window overlooking the grounds. The crocuses were up, she noticed. The apartment was nice and warm now. For a fleeting second she wished she was spending the day with Jeremy Marks instead of waiting for Ryan’s call.

  And then she realized in a blast of self-illumination why she had come to his apartment in the first place. Riding her bike through town like a mad woman—it wasn’t because she suspected him. Deep down, Jocelyn knew from the first that Jeremy had nothing to do with the engagement notice. Someone was trying to make her look stupid and it had worked because she felt stupid—right up until she talked to Jeremy. Though she didn’t want to acknowledge it, hanging around Jeremy Marks always made her feel better.

  Jocelyn could not be developing feelings for the guy.

  She turned away from the window, biting her lip. No way. Not happening, Tate. Not when she still had a chance with Ryan McIntyre. Marry rich. That was the plan and she wasn’t going to get dis
tracted by a pair of sympathetic brown eyes.

  ♥

  RYAN MCINTYRE sat in his office at the Millennium Mall shopping complex, pondering the enigma of Paula Dunlop. He had returned to work after lunch and tried to focus but failed. Several tasks were pinging in his electronic calendar reminding him they were overdue. First, Paula Dunlop’s wide startled eyes filled his thoughts, and then her lips. The blob of mayonnaise at the corner of her mouth ... he never thought he’d be grateful for mayonnaise.

  The problem was they didn’t know what to say after that. Paula went red in the face and bolted down her sandwich. Ryan did the same, gulping his scalding hot coffee before tossing some bills on the counter. He thought once they were out on the sidewalk he’d know what to do, but after a brief awkward exchange of pleasantries, Paula shouted a cheery good-bye and marched away like she was in a parade. The spring sunshine fell over her red hair.

  Ryan had been fighting down the urge to call her at the salon ever since. A major over-reaction, he thought wryly, and swung back to pick up his ball point pen. Several contracts needed his signature. He tried to read them but his mind drifted to wondering why Paula ran off so fast. Talking to her would clear everything up and then he could get back to work.

  Decisively, Ryan picked up the receiver.

  Jeremy Marks walked into the office. Ryan slammed the phone down, flustered and annoyed by the interruption. Jeremy Marks was the last person he wanted to see.

  “Who the hell let you in?” he barked.

  “Mr. McIntyre, we need to talk.”

  Ryan stood up. “No, I don’t think we do. If you’re here to tell me how sorry you both are—stow it because I don’t care. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

  Jeremy reddened and pushed his glasses up on his nose. “You, of all people, should know that engagement notice wasn’t real. You took Jocelyn to the wedding. It’s obvious she’s interested in you. Someone is playing a joke on all of us. The Gazette doesn’t know who but they’re trying to figure it out. I came here to confirm that Jocelyn is not engaged to me and she wasn’t interested in me when you took her to the wedding. So, don’t be angry with her because she’s innocent. She likes you. A lot. And she deserves to be happy.”

  Ryan came around the desk, eyeing Jeremy thoughtfully. “You took Paula Dunlop to the wedding, didn’t you? How come you didn’t you ask Jocelyn? You like her; everyone knows that. Were you too embarrassed by her reputation to be seen with her?”

  “No! God no. I didn’t ask her because she would’ve said no and I couldn’t take the rejection. And I like Paula. She’s fun to hang out with.”

  “Is that all it is between you?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” Jeremy stammered.

  What did he mean? What the hell was he asking? He wanted to find out if Jeremy Marks had designs on Paula Dunlop. And if he did, Ryan was going to tell him to back off.

  “What are your intentions toward Paula?” (What are your intentions? God, McIntyre, you sound like a fossil.)

  “Uh, well, I like her. We had a good time at the wedding. I don’t know. I didn’t really think about it. Why, did she say something about me?” Jeremy’s face was scarlet. “I would’ve called her today but this notice in the Gazette threw everything off. Paula is a great conversationalist. She’s funny and she’s a good dancer. I would ask her out again if that’s what you mean but I don’t have a clear plan or anything,” he added lamely.

  Ryan’s pulse was thumping. He felt like punching Jeremy Marks in the face and he didn’t know why. “You’re not in love with Paula. You’re in love with Jocelyn. So why would you ask Paula out?”

  Jeremy swallowed. “This is kind of a weird conversation, sir, if you don’t mind my saying. I like Paula. I don’t know—maybe it’d turn to love one day if I gave it a chance.” He tried to laugh. “I’ve more or less given up on Jocelyn. She came over this morning to show me the notice in the paper but she’s interested in you if that’s what you’re wondering. If that’s what Jocelyn wants then I want it for her too.”

  Ryan frowned. “Very noble. You’ll have trouble keeping a girl with that attitude.”

  Jeremy pushed his glasses up on his nose and slouched toward the door. “I can’t keep what I don’t have. Jocelyn Tate is not interested in me and I have to respect her feelings, right? I’ll give Paula Dunlop a call. Who knows, maybe she’s the one and I’ve been too blind to see it. My dad always said the first love isn’t the one that lasts.”

  “Your father is probably right. Someone at lunch today said love is chemistry between two people. We can’t ignore the chemistry. It was an interesting conversation.”

  Ryan thought about Paula and her gray eyes widening as he cleaned mayonnaise off the front of her dress. Paula Dunlop was too young and too unlike him in every way. She was not a woman he could see spending the rest of his life with. The woman he had in mind was sophisticated and ambitious. Paula worked in a beauty parlor for God’s sake. He touched her breasts and now he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

  “Sounds like hormones to me,” Jeremy was saying and for a second, Ryan thought the boy had read his mind. “Chemistry, I mean,” he continued. “Isn’t that just another name for sexual attraction? You know—hormones.” Jeremy’s glasses concealed the expression in his eyes. “I think it was just hormones with Jocelyn. She’s hot and I thought I was love. Paula is pretty hot ... and she’s everything else too, you know what I mean?” Jeremy looked up with a wide smile of relief. “I owe you one, Mr. McIntyre. You really helped to clear things up in my head about Jocelyn. I hope it works out for you two. It’d be cool if one day we were all friends and could hang together.”

  “Not if you keep calling me Mr. McIntyre. I’m not that old. Call me Ryan.”

  Ryan burned with a mixture of anger, frustration and jealousy for Jeremy Marks who could blithely embrace a future with Paula Dunlop when he couldn’t.

  Jeremy ducked his head and grinned. “Got it. See you, Ryan.

  Ryan couldn’t leave it like that. Jeremy was going to call Paula. And then Paula would fall in love with Jeremy because that made sense, whereas Ryan was better matched with the stunning, ambitious Jocelyn Tate. Nature had clearly designed them to be together.

  Except that Ryan couldn’t stop thinking about Paula Dunlop since that moment in the diner. The little shampooist with the red hair, wide gray eyes, blue raincoat and sudden questions. Paula Dunlop of all people.

  “Jeremy—wait. Maybe you should figure out what’s going on with this ad before you make any decisions. Something happened to me today that I didn’t expect because of this engagement notice. Maybe it was meant to be.”

  Jeremy’s hand was on the doorknob. “Maybe what was meant to be?”

  Ryan moistened his lips. “I had a good time with Jocelyn but I’m not sure I’m the guy she wants.” He was taking a big risk here. Jeremy might really be over Jocelyn and call Paula anyway. “It wasn’t me she came to when she saw this ad—it was you. Think about that.”

  Jeremy’s jaw clenched. “She came to accuse me of putting it in the paper.”

  “That’s the excuse she gave you but I don’t think that’s the reason. Like I said, I had a good time with her at the wedding but she was ... distracted. If I were you, I’d hold off on calling Paula Dunlop for a few days. You said it yourself—you thought you were finished with Jocelyn until this happened. A word of friendly advice: don’t start something with another woman until you are sure it’s over with the last one.”

  “Thanks, but it’s not up to me. Jocelyn isn’t interested.”

  Ryan shrugged and moved behind his desk, trying to appear casual. “Maybe she is and maybe she isn’t. Jocelyn and I had one date. There would have been more if this ad wasn’t in the paper but it was and I have to take that into consideration. I like Jocelyn. She’s been through a rough time with Hudson and now this bullshit engagement notice.” Ryan sighed. “It makes her look like a fool. If people see you out with Paula they’ll
think ‘there goes Jocelyn, making an ass of herself again.’ She needs you now, Jeremy. Be a friend to her. Back her up in public; defend her if necessary. When the retraction comes out in next week’s edition, then you can call Paula.”

  “I’ll stand behind Jocelyn, of course, I will. I don’t want her to get hurt, but I don’t want to get in her way either. What about you—won’t you want to see her?”

  “It’s only a week. I can wait a week until the dust settles and we’re all clear about ... everything,” he added vaguely. At this point, Ryan wasn’t clear about anything except his need to see Paula again. How could that thought be crystal clear when there was no logic to it?

  Jeremy nodded and moved to shake his hand. “Thanks Ryan. Thanks. I never thought about her needing me to back her up. She’s not as tough as people think she is. I’m glad she’s got you in her corner.”

  The young man left the office and Ryan was left alone with his conscience.

  There followed a mammoth struggle in which Ryan McIntyre tried to do as his conscience instructed and wait the week out as he promised Jeremy. But even the terror of where this could all lead wasn’t enough to drive the desire to see Paula Dunlop out of his mind.

  The Beauty Box wasn’t listed online. He had to look the number up in the local telephone book. Darlene had enough customers to keep her in business for the next five years. She wasn’t looking for more. Ryan picked up the phone and pressed the numbers.

  “Hi, it’s Ryan McIntyre,” he told the female who answered. “Would Paula Dunlop be available to come to the phone?”

  His heart was pounding. His palms were sweating. He tugged on his necktie and took a slow deep breath to calm down.

  “Hello?”

  “I need to see you. I think I’m—”

  “Yes. Me too.”

  Chapter 6: In This Together

  JEREMY KNOCKED on the front door of the little house. Jocelyn rented a small, rundown house on the edge of town. It was one of those forgotten houses in the poorer neighborhoods, usually occupied by students. Tenants rotated in and out of the neighborhood on a bi-monthly basis. Jocelyn’s landlord had obviously stopped trying to keep up with repairs. The front porch was sagging and the clapboard needed painting. There was a garden in the front yard behind a white picket fence. Crocuses had pushed up through the melting, granular snow.