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Phae grinned. “I’m feeling better now, thank you. So about the tall question …”
Kent lowered his arms and leaned forward. “I like curious women. I asked about your height because my aunt is playing matchmaker and once she has her mind set on something, you might as well go along with it. Since I’m a tall man, the first requirement you must meet is height.”
“I see. And do I pass?”
His brow furrowed. “We’ve got about a seven inch difference. Not insurmountable. You’ll do on that count.”
“Are you implying that I have deficiencies elsewhere?”
“You’re worse for the wear from all that crying, and your eyes are more red than brown right now. And that hair. Did you even brush it before you pulled it back?”
“Your aunt has told me a lot about you, but she didn’t mention that you’re a rude jerk.”
“Ah! Impertinent. I like that. But those delicate female sensibilities will never do. You’ll have to learn to be less sensitive about your shortcomings if you’re going to improve yourself. Still, for all that, you have a nice shape. Why don’t you stand up so I can get a better look?”
“I don’t need that kind of scrutiny from a puny, sickly invalid like you. Perhaps you’d like to judge my feet instead?” She waved a foot in the air. “Too big? Too wide? Too small? Too narrow?”
“They’re okay, but what I really like is the way your muscles flex when you move your foot like that. And those white shorts. They show off your long, golden-brown legs to perfection.”
Phae dropped her leg. “My golden-brown legs?”
“That’s right. Your skin glows, in case you haven’t noticed. I’ve noticed. And however much they emphasize your lovely skin, I have to question the practicality of wearing white shorts while gardening. You’re not very sensible, are you?”
“I’ll have you know that—”
“Yoo-hoo!” Miss Eugenia called.
Phae and Kent turned toward the house.
“I’ve got to run a quick errand. Mrs. Tate has had a setback.”
“I’ll drive you,” Kent said, making to stand up.
“Good heavens, no! Stay right there, silly boy. Keep an eye on him while I’m gone, Phae. He refuses to heed the danger of his injuries. And Kent, don’t move from that chair until I return.”
They called their goodbyes and the back door closed behind the elderly do-gooder.
“Miss Eugenia to the rescue,” Phae said, returning to her planting.
“It seems that Mrs. Tate’s distress takes precedence over your grief-induced heat stroke.”
“Damn. I was going to get lemonade. Still, she has her priorities in the right order.” Phae pushed a marigold into the hole she’d dug.
“So,” Kent continued, kicked back and relaxed into his chair again, “when you dress up for a night on the town, do you wear sequined dresses? I can’t stand those things. I like what you women call little black dresses. You know, the super short kind. With thin straps that remind me of lingerie.”
“I don’t own any fancy dresses. In case you haven’t noticed, Zeke’s Bend doesn’t have any overpriced restaurants or nightclubs or anything else like that. And you can quit with the quiz. Miss Eugenia isn’t trying to get us together.”
“She’s not? Then why are you here?”
Phae held up her gloved hands. “The garden? This thing where I’m sticking plants in the ground.”
“That? It’s a ruse.” He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “My aunt planned it all out. Last night I had to listen to her describe you for hours and hours. You certainly have a lengthy list of accomplishments.”
“And probably not one of them is true,” Phae said, pushing an escaped tendril of long, curly hair away from her face. “Anyway, it’s only fair. We’ve had to listen to stories about you for oh, I don’t know, forever.”
Kent groaned, a low seductive rumble that made Phae’s stomach flutter. “Tell me the bad news. I can only imagine what she’s been saying.”
“Nothing awful. She’s proud of your successes. You own a software company, right?”
“Personal security apps. So, about you again. I’ve been told you have a degree from an Ivy League college out east, something to do with business. You used your fine education to become a hairdresser here where you grew up. Is hairdressing an artistic calling or are you not interested in competing in the big world?”
“What?” Phae stared at his gloating, though handsome face, his teasing truly annoying her for the first time. “You’d better back off, buddy. I like this town and I’m not going to listen to an uptight computer geek insult it, or me, for that matter. You’ve been riding a fine line during this whole conversation and now you’ve veered off course—”
“I’m not trying to insult you or your town, though I can’t say the same for you. Computer geek’s a little harsh. Besides, I like this town. When I was a kid, I used to spend my summers here with Aunt Eugenia. She didn’t let me out of her sight, or this yard much, either, but I’ve always liked it.”
Phae gave him an indifferent nod then resumed her digging. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him leisurely cross his legs.
“No apology for the geek crack?” He sighed dramatically. “So you hold a grudge, too. Unfortunate. We’ll have to work on that if we don’t want to disappoint my aunt and her matchmaking efforts. First, you have to learn to forgive. It’s not easy, I know, but I can give you lessons. Second, you need to learn how to live up to your potential. I can help there, too. But you’re going to—”
“Hold it right there. Before you get carried away solving my problems, listen up. I’m here to plant this garden. I repeat … the garden. Miss Eugenia is not playing matchmaker for us.”
Phae had a wicked thought. “Actually, Mr. Kent Big Shot Holmes, Miss Eugenia informed me that I am far too independent for someone like you. She said you need a more motherly kind of woman who will take care of you because you’re so sickly. She was right. Look at you. Pale and puny. You need a nurse, not a girlfriend.” She smiled to herself as she stabbed the small spade into the ground.
“I see,” he said, his eyes twinkling more than ever. “That’s that, I guess. I don’t gainsay my aunt. You know, I’d rather grown to like you, in spite of your shortcomings. It’s a pity, but I guess it can’t be helped.” He stood. “I suppose I might as well help you with the garden.”
“Don’t over-stress yourself. I’d hate for you to have a setback. Miss Eugenia would skin me alive and she’d have to haul you back inside. Doubt I’d survive another scene like that.” She grinned at the memory.
Kent knelt beside her and began digging. “I’ll be fine. Keep a lookout for Aunt Eugenia. If she catches me doing this I’ll probably have to go to the hospital for another x-ray.”
“I take it that bump on your forehead has already been x-rayed once?”
“Yeah. She wanted an MRI, too, but the doctor managed to get her to see reason eventually. I love my aunt, but sometimes …”
“No need to explain. By the way, I’m sorry about what happened to you the other night. With Captain Nice Guy, I mean.”
Kent nodded. “Thanks. But it’s not your fault. And I’ll live.”
They worked together in silence for a few minutes. Phae surreptitiously watched Kent’s large, capable hands gently cover a plant’s roots. Why was it so sexy when a big strong man was tender with something small and delicate? Too bad he had to ruin it when he began talking again.
“So tell me about this Captain Nice Guy,” Kent said. “Something other than the obvious part about him being a lousy gardener.”
“I don’t know much about him. Nobody does.”
“How long has he been running around helping people?”
“Nobody knows.”
“What sort of things has he done?”
Phae picked at the roots of the daisy she held. “Lots of little things. Nothing important.”
“One of the deputies told me that the captain stopp
ed a robbery at a convenience store last year.”
“I think he simply called the police. I’m not sure.”
“When did everyone start calling him Captain Nice Guy?”
Phae nearly groaned. She hated the name. “Local newspaper. Somebody used it in a letter to the editor I think. Don’t know.”
Kent had a bemused expression. “You’re awfully uncertain on this subject. I feel like we’re playing twenty questions. Are the goings-on of this guy a secret or something?”
“No, I don’t pay much attention to him, that’s all. I think it’s kind of silly, the way people gossip about him. I say leave him alone and let him do his thing.”
“I think it’s fascinating, myself. Although I’ve got to admit that since my run-in with him, I’ve worried about what might happen if he got too carried away. What happened to me was likely an accident, and he didn’t actually harm me, but still, this guy sneaks around town in the middle of the night. Anything could happen.”
Phae found herself affronted by the suggestion that she might be incompetent. “I don’t think so. He doesn’t get involved with rough stuff.”
“You mean he hasn’t so far, which isn’t to say that he won’t at some point in the future.”
“I don’t think he would.”
“We’ll see eventually. By the way, I understand no one has ever gotten a good look at him?”
“Nope. Never.”
“Then how does everyone know Captain Nice Guy isn’t actually Captain Nice Girl?”
Phae stiffened, then quickly shoved another plant into the loose soil.
