Talk Nerdy to Me (Nerds, #5)(29)
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson

"Nothing major." As he gazed up at Eve, he seemed to have completely forgotten the pot he held is one hand and the beads he clutched in the other. "I’ll go over there this morning, but once everything’s under control, I’ll take off the rest of today and tomorrow. I think we need to get busy on the hovercraft."

"Great." Maybe Denise was a blessing, after all. Without Denise around Eve and Charlie would get busy, all right, but it wouldn’t have anything to do with the hovercraft. "I guess you need your shirt." To tease him, she started on the top button.

"Um…" He stared at her as if he couldn’t believe she’d do it but was halfway hoping she would.

She wouldn’t do it, but the impulse was there, not only to taunt Charlie but to shock Denise. Fifteen minutes into Denise’s visit and Eve was already reverting to the little sister who was always doing crazy things and getting into trouble. She was trying to outgrow that image, but having Denise around wasn’t helping.

"That’s the last bead," Denise announced, standing and brushing dust from her knees. "Now it’s safe to go in and out your front door." She took the pot Charlie still held and emptied her pockets into it with a clatter of beads.

"Thanks, Denise," Eve said.

"No problem." Denise held the pot out to Charlie, who snapped to attention and dumped his handful of beads into it. "I couldn’t just leave those beads all over the place."

"So I noticed," Eve said.

"And now I’ll go make some coffee. Is your phone book in the kitchen? I can call somebody to repair your washing machine."

"Fine," Eve said. "Phone book’s in the drawer closest to the back door." She was definitely reverting to her ten-year-old self. As a kid, she would have made that mess in the washer on purpose to get Denise in a tizzy. This time the mess was premade, and all she had to do was wait to enjoy Denise’s reaction.

Charlie looked alarmed as he got to his feet. "Eve, don’t let her call anyone. I’ll take care of it. After all, I’m the one who—"

"Let Denise handle it," Eve said. "I don’t want to waste your talents on a silly old washing machine."

"Yeah, but there’s all that-—"

"Stuff to do," Eve finished for Mm. "On the hovercraft. I know. Denise can supervise the repair person while we work. How about that for a plan?"

He frowned and glanced toward the kitchen where Denise was clattering around making coffee. "Look, I won’t pretend that I understand the dynamic here, but I have a feeling if I get in the middle of it, I’ll end up roadkill."

"Eve," Denise called from the kitchen. "Is this pre-ground the only coffee you have?"

"Yep," Eve called back. "Which is fortunate, because I don’t have a coffee grinder."

"I knew I should have brought my own. Oh, well, I’ll make do."

"Thanks, Denise!" Eve motioned Charlie into the living room and lowered her voice. "I think this is the best way to deal with her. As you can see, she has to march in and organize everything. I don’t want her interfering with the hovercraft project, so if she has something else to straighten out in my life, maybe she’ll leave that part alone."

"Don’t count on it," he said quietly. "She’s riddled with jealousy. I think she’s concerned about you, but that jealousy is powerful. I’m wondering how far she’d go to keep that hovercraft from, ever getting off the ground."

Eve’s tummy started to hurt, because she’d been wondering the same thing. In spite of that, she shook her head. "She wouldn’t break down my back door, not even to throw us off the track of suspecting someone who had a key. She’s too neat to do anything so crass as pry open a door with a crowbar. That’s not her style."

"Unless she’s desperate to keep you from succeeding."

Eve couldn’t bear the thought. "I know we’re not as close as sisters could be, but I refuse to believe she’d sabotage me."

"Are you kidding? I’ll bet she’s been mentally sabotaging you all your life. Why not add some physical intimidation?"

"Because she’s my sister, that’s why."

"Right, and in addition to the sibling rivalry, she’s genuinely afraid you’ll hurt yourself, so she could convince herself that her actions are necessary to protect you."

Eve looked into his eyes. "We think so much alike it’s scary."

"So you agree it could be her?"

"It could, but I can’t let myself believe it is."

Charlie held her gaze for a long time. "Okay," he said gently. "But just in case, I’ve got your back."

Almost immediately, the weepies threatened to swamp her. She blinked, determined not to turn into some out-of-control water faucet because of such a simple statement. But the thing was, nobody had ever had her back. Mostly she’d felt all alone in the world, unsupported and misunderstood.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thanks. You’re… a good guy."

"No, I’m not. I’m just—"

"You are too, so don’t argue. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go change into something less comfortable." He nodded.

"Want to come and help?"

"You know I do. I think I’ll stay right here."

She took a long, shaky breath. "I appreciate mat you’re taking time off from work to help me. We really are going to get that hovercraft working."

"You’d better believe we are."

"And nobody is going to stop us."

He held her gaze. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

She smiled at him, "Then it’s as good as done." Turning quickly, she headed down the hall toward her bedroom. She didn’t wait him to pick up on the sudden grief that had come over her as she thought about the hovercraft project

He would make sure he helped her finish it. That much she knew for sure. After that, he’d be on his way out of town. As his friend, the person who owed him the best she could give, It would be her duty to help him leave.

Charlie wasn’t wild about abandoning Eve with Denise was there, but he couldn’t see arty way around it. He needed a shower and a change of clothes, plus he needed to pick up his prescription safety goggles so he could help Eve with the hovercraft. In his initial excitement the night before, he’d forgotten them.

Then he had to stop by the power plant and tidy things up in preparation, for leaving for a couple of days. Last of all he wanted to find Rick and tell him what was going on. Eunice was still very much on Charlie’s list of suspects, and Rick needed to know that before night fell and Eunice drew him back into her alien web.

So once Charlie had his shirt back, he declined Eve’s offer of coffee, put on his chaps and leather jacket and hopped on his motorcycle. As he buckled on the chaps tie avoided looking at Eve. He wondered if he’d ever wear them again without thinking of her. Probably not. ‘

Minutes later he was back in his apartment. Before hitting the shower he decided to call his cousin. Fortunately Rick answered his cell phone right away, and Charlie quickly arranged to meet him at the Rack and Balls for lunch, adding that he’d like Rick to come alone. Then he finally headed for the shower.

As he started to throw his flannel shirt into the hamper, he paused and held it to his nose. His shirt smelled like Eve. The scent made his groin stir, but the reaction went deeper than that. Memories of loving her went beyond sex, beyond the incredible time they’d had in bed. He heard her laughter, saw the sparkle in her eyes, felt her vulnerability when she’d told him she’d flunked out of high school.

She was fast becoming an essential part of his life, and he didn’t know how to stop that process. He didn’t even know if he wanted to stop it. That kind of human connection didn’t come along very often, and he was smart enough to realize that. He knew they also had a problem with no solutions. It wasn’t enough to keep him away from her.

He tossed the shirt in the hamper. Keeping it unwashed for sentimental reasons was-goofy, even for him. He’d wash the shirt and wear it again, just as he’d keep wearing his chaps whenever he rode his bike. They’d remind him of her, but so what? He wasn’t ever going to forget her, anyway.

An hour and a half later he’d squared away everything at the power plant. Good thing he’d asked Rick to meet him for lunch because he was starving. A few pieces of cold pizza were all he’d had since lunch the day before, and he’d burned a lot of energy recently. Good energy, though. Despite the lack of sleep he felt great. Fantastic sex could do that for a guy.

The Rack and Balls was deserted this time of day, which was exactly the way Charlie wanted it. Archie used the daylight hours to do routine maintenance around the place. Today he was on a stepladder dusting the large set of elk antlers that hung above the bar.

Charlie walked over to the bar. "Hey, Archie, how’re they hanging?"

"Nice and loose, Charlie. And yours?" Archie’s grin peeked out from his bushy gray beard.

"Couldn’t be better." Charlie had never meant that more than today. Funny how a woman like Eve could put a spring in your step.

"Hey, that’s good to hear." Archie climbed down from the ladder and stuck the feather duster into his back pocket. "Anybody I know?"

Charlie laughed. "Nice try."

"That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. I admire a man who can keep his mouth shut." Archie washed his hands at the bar sink. "What’ll you have?"

"Coffee." Charlie felt terrific, but sitting on a stool in the dim bar, relaxing for the first time in many hours, he could feel his energy level dipping.

"I just put on a new pot. It’ll be done in a few minutes." Archie leaned his forearms on the bar. "I never see you in here during the day. What’s up?"

"I’m meeting my cousin Rick. We have a few things to discuss. You got anything cooking back there?"

"I got some homemade beans and Polish sausage."

"That’ll work." Charlie’s mouth began to water. He wondered If Eve had anything at home to eat besides leftover pizza. She’d been out of town for two days. He should have asked if … oh, hell, she was a big girl. He couldn’t start worrying about whether she had food in the refrigerator. Next he’d be wondering whether she’d had her car’s oil changed recently.

He could imagine her forgetting stuff like that. She needed someone around who could help her with those little details. He was outstanding at those kinds of details. But he wouldn’t be around. How many times would he have to remind himself of that so that he would quit daydreaming about a life he never intended to lead?

"Here’s your coffee." Archie put a steaming mug in front of him. "And excuse my saying so, but you look a little spacey today."

"I have a lot on my mind." Charlie took a reviving sip of the coffee. "Ah, that’s better. Say, Archie, just between us, do you think Ed and Darrell are in financial trouble with that Christmas tree farm?"

"Yeah, I think they’re sinking deeper into debt every year. So many people are using fake trees these days, and neither of them are all that cagey when it comes to the business, either. I’m amazed they’re still afloat, to be honest. Why? You want to buy that property?"

"No, God, BO."

"It would be a great place to raise a family."

"That’s a long way off for me, Archie." Charlie couldn’t help thinking how Eve would love the idea of living In the middle of a Christmas tree farm. But if Ed and Darrell really were struggling that bad, he also had to wonder if they would think stealing & hovercraft concept was the way to bail themselves out. Damn it—there were way too many people with a good reason to break into Eve’s house.

Chapter Twenty-one

Eve had thrown on a bathrobe so that she could return Charlie’s shirt to him. Although she’d hated to see him leave after that, she didn’t have anything to offer him for breakfast except cold pizza, so maybe it was just as well that he’d left so he could get some decent food.

The reject of the three pizzas, the plain cheese, still sat on the kitchen table. Denise opened the lid and made a face. "Gross. This could attract all kinds of pests. And didn’t you say something about mice?"

"Umm, yeah, but—"

Denise reached for the phone book and started flipping through it. "Exterminators. Here we go." She grabbed the cordless phone from the kitchen counter.

"The thing is, I don’t really have—"

Denise was already talking to someone. "Mice. Yes, that’s right. No, I have a washing machine repairman coming then. Three? That should work." She hung up and gave Eve a smug smile. "Handled."

"I don’t really have mice." Eve had decided the relationship with her sister was shot, anyway. She had nothing to lose by being honest.

"That you know of. But with food sitting around, I’ll bet you do. It won’t hurt to get the place checked out. I’ll bet you haven’t done that."

"No," Eve said. "If I saw any, I’d buy one of those little cage traps."

"Then what?"

"I’m not sure. Turn them loose… somewhere."

Denise rolled her eyes. "I’m sure your neighbors would love that." She clapped her hands together. "So! Where’s this hovercraft? The washing machine repairman will be here in an hour, and I should probably do some grocery shopping before then."

"I thought we could go to the Pastry Parlor and get something." Eve didn’t usually treat herself, but having Denise around made a girl deserve a cinnamon roll. She was curious about whether they were all made with one raisin in the middle, now.

Denise shuddered. "The Pastry Parlor? Sounds like a hangout for carb addicts."

"Pretty much." Eve couldn’t help herself. Denise really begged to be taunted. "But not completely. There’s some fruit involved. The Booby Buns have a raisin on top."

"The what?

"Or maybe you’d rather try the Bawdy Breadsticks. They’re the size of your average penis." Charlie’s, she was proud to report, was above average.

Denise’s jaw dropped. "You have an X-rated bakery in this town?"

"I’m not sure you could go that far, but the bakery has recently started offering a few interesting items. Charlie’s mother and his aunt Myrtle own it, and they discovered that a touch of sex sells baked goods. Last night I went over there and helped frost some cookies for a bachelorette party. The pose reminded me of something out of the Kama Sutra. The guy was coming at her sort of sideways."