Ann Major - A Scandal So Sweet

She couldn’t see much of his skinny face for the thick golden hair hanging over his eyes.

“You doing okay…since the hospital?” she asked.

“Ever since Zach told me he’s not going to press charges, or even fire me, I’ve been fine. Can you believe he gave me a second chance?”

“Big of him.”

“Course, he locked his liquor up and set some pretty strict ground rules,” he muttered more resentfully. “Oh, he said I’m supposed to tell you that you can have the bedroom down the hall on the first floor. He made me stock the fridge and get the room ready for you. And he told me to carry your suitcase inside for you.”

Tuck came to an abrupt stop in front of her. When she reached for him, he allowed a quick hug.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she whispered, ruffling his hair. “Next time, think.”

He leaned down and grabbed her suitcase. “Zach told me to tell you about the security system.” He told her the code and asked her if she wanted him to write it down or show her how to set it.

She shook her head.

When he showed her the room, she was pleasantly surprised to find antique furniture, curtains and rugs that went together. A silver mirror and comb and brush set lay on a low, polished bureau.

“It’s pretty,” she said.

“Because Zach sent a dumb decorator and lots of other people over to boss me around and make sure it was.”

“Where is Zach?”

“On the road. His meetings ran a lot later than he expected.”

“Oh.”

“So, why are you here tonight if you hate him so much?”

“I-I don’t hate him. It’s…it’s complicated.”

“You’re not here because of what I did, are you?”

“Oh, no. It has nothing to do with you.” She felt her cheeks heat. “We just…er…reconnected. That’s what happens sometimes…with old flames.”

He stared at her as if he didn’t quite buy it. “So…okay…everything’s cool, then. Can I go? I was gonna play some pool tonight before I found out about you and Zach.”

She gritted her teeth, not liking that he’d accepted them as a couple so easily. He’d talk, and everybody would believe him.

He stared at her through the greasy strings of his blond hair. “You sure you’re okay about this?”

“I’m great! Never better!” She gave him a bright smile.

“You’ve sure got the whole town talking.”

She winced. “You know how people in Bonne Terre talk.”

“Yeah. When I shopped for stuff, people kept asking me questions about you.”

“So, who are you playing pool with?” she asked, anxious to change the subject.

“Some guys. Good guys.”

“Hope so. Hey, did Zach say when he’ll get here?”

“Maybe. I don’t remember. So-can I go now?”

“Give me another minute.”

She had work. Lots of it. Since she was a trained stage actress, movie roles did not come naturally to her. Scenes would be shot out of order, and she wouldn’t be able to fall back on the rhythm of the play to carry her character into her scene.

Since she needed to study the before moments that preceded every scene, she should be happy Zach was running late, but, for some reason, the thought of being alone here in his house with her script depressed her.

Making her way into the kitchen, she opened the fridge and found it full of her favorite cheeses, eggs, fresh vegetables and sparkling water. Zach must have talked to Gram to find out things she liked before sending Tuck to get them.

Closing the fridge door, she realized she wasn’t going to work tonight when she felt so empty and strange being in Zach’s house without him.

“Can I go now?” her brother repeated.

“If you’ll give me a ride to Gram’s first.”

“If I were you I wouldn’t go over there. The local gossips really have her and her friends all stirred up about you. She’s been hounding me for details. Says you won’t return her calls.”

She knew Tuck was right, but she’d rather be at Gram’s facing hard questions than stay in this house alone, waiting for Zach. On the drive to Gram’s, she switched the conversation back to Tuck. “So, how come you agreed to work for Zach again after you got in trouble? Is it the job you like? Or him?”

“The work’s boring, but he’s okay. Funny, he’s almost like a friend.”

Her stomach tightened with alarm. Zach was far from a friend. Tuck should have better sense than to trust that man. But there was no way she could tell Tuck that without giving herself away.

“I wish you’d go back to school and find something that interests you. Then you wouldn’t have to do boring work. Or work for Zach.”

“School’s even more boring. And like I said, I sort of like working for Zach.”

“Maybe if you tried to be interested, you’d become interested.”

“That’s what Zach said the other day when he drove me over to the junior college.”

“He what?”

“Drove me to the tech campus. In his Lamborghini. Boy, was everybody impressed.”

“I can’t believe he took the time… He’s a very busy man.” She couldn’t hold back now. “You know, Tuck, he’s not really your friend.”

“Hey, where do you get off criticizing him? You’re never here. He is.” His tone was low as his sad eyes whipped around to regard her. “You’re this big famous actress. Until Zach came back to Bonne Terre, Gram and me didn’t interest you much. With your glam job, how could you understand what it’s like for someone like me, somebody who’s ordinary and stuck here? I can’t help if it’s hard for me to get excited about my life. It’s not much to get excited about.”

“Then you’ve got to do something with your life, Tuck.”

“I’ve heard it before.”

“If you don’t do something, nobody else is going to do it for you. Life is what you make it.”

“Easy for a big shot like you to say. Why don’t you stay out of my business, and I’ll stay out of yours? Deal?”

“No, it’s not a deal!”

Damn. Because of Zach, she was losing precious ground with her brother.

Refusing to come in, Tuck dropped her off at Gram’s. As Summer got out of the car, he sped away in an angry whirl of dust and gravel.

Dreading being grilled by Gram, especially after not taking her calls all week, Summer squared her shoulders before marching up to the house.

Summer was barely inside before Gram switched off the television and plopped Silas down on the floor.

“Why didn’t you return any of my phone calls?”

Because I was too ashamed of what I was doing.

“That was…unforgiveable of me,” Summer whispered. “I did listen to every single message though…if that counts.”

“So, when were you going to tell me you’ve started seeing Zach Torr?” Gram asked excitedly.

“It’s not what you think,” Summer hedged, feeling acutely uncomfortable that her grandmother was hoping for a true romance.

“What is it, then?”

“Look, it was a long flight. I’m thirsty. Do you have some tea?”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did I have to hear this from all the gossips?” Gram asked rather gloomily as she and Silas followed Summer into the kitchen.

Summer didn’t say anything as Gram splashed tea from a pitcher in the fridge into a tall glass.

“Well, if you won’t talk, I’ll say my peace. I think it’s great that you’re reconnecting with Zach.”

“We’re not…”

“It’s high time you two sorted out the past.”

“Gram-”

“It will do you both a world of good…to talk it out.”

“There’s nothing to talk out.”

“Oh, no?” After stirring in lemon and mint Gram handed Summer the tall glass of iced tea. “You could talk about New Orleans. And the baby.”