her small kitchen.
The eat-in table was already set with two place mats, plates and flatware. A vase filled with a few carnations sat in the center. The pink petals were turning brown on the edges, he noted. Probably because Larissa had bought them at 70 percent off at the grocery store. You wouldn’t want to waste money on something like flowers at full price. What if there was a mad squirrel in need of therapy?
She picked up a bottle of merlot. “Wine or beer?”
He considered the question. “Beer.”
She carefully put the bottle back into the rack on her counter. It was one he’d brought over, along with the inventory of a few of his favorite merlots. While he trusted Larissa to buy beer, he was not willing to drink the cheap wine she favored.
She pulled two bottles of beer from the refrigerator, then nudged the door closed with a bump of her hip. He set down the bag of food and crossed to the drawer to pull out the opener. While he was there, he also grabbed a few serving spoons for their dinner.
He turned in the small kitchen and handed her the opener. She walked back to the table.
The windows were open and a nice breeze drifted through the kitchen. Dyna had settled on the back of the sofa to watch them from a safe and regal distance. Larissa opened both bottles, then unpacked the containers of food. She turned to him and smiled.
“You got the crispy shrimp,” she said happily. “Thank you.”
“You like it.”
“You don’t.”
“Yeah, whatever. Eat the rest for lunch.”
“Real men don’t eat shrimp?” she asked.
“I love shrimp. Just put it in a butter sauce and drop it over pasta. Is that too much to ask?”
She sat down and motioned for him to do the same. Jack started to move toward the table, or at least he planned to, but suddenly he found it difficult to move.
From this angle he could see Larissa’s bare shoulder. She’d replaced her usual work T-shirt with a tank top. One of those cottony, billowy ones with little ruffles around the arm and neckline. The soft fabric dipped low enough for him to be aware of feminine curves.
He shook his head. So Larissa had breasts. She was a woman—it wasn’t unexpected. Only he wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed them before. Or how long her legs were in her shorts. She had great legs. Tanned and toned.
No, he corrected himself. Lanky. She was lanky. His gaze drifted to her bare feet. She’d painted her toes a dark purple and added little pink dots. Who did that?
“What?” she asked. “You okay?”
“Ah, fine.”
He sat across from her and reached for one of the containers. It was the damned crispy shrimp and he quickly passed it over to her.
“How’d you get her?” he asked, motioning to the cat.
“Mayor Marsha mentioned she knew an older lady who had passed away. Her family couldn’t keep Dyna—everyone’s allergic. So I took her.” Larissa lowered her voice. “I think she’s starting to like me. When I pet her, she purrs.”
Jack wanted to point out that liking or not liking wasn’t the issue. Larissa was Dyna’s meal ticket and the cat was smart enough to know that. But the words sounded harsh, even in his head, so instead he said, “What’s not to like?” and then wondered why he felt weird saying that.
Something was wrong. Or different. Or both. And he didn’t like it. He was comfortable around Larissa. He understood her. They were friends. So what was off tonight?
“Speaking of Mayor Marsha, what did she want with you?”
Jack told her about the need for a new coach and a football program, and how he was going to be on the committee.
“That will be fun for you,” Larissa told him. “College kids are great. So much enthusiasm. And you have a good eye. You’ll be able to see who has real talent.”
“Don’t get carried away. I’m not mentoring anybody or paying for their mother’s goiter surgery.”
Her blue eyes twinkled with amusement. “You sure about that?”
He sighed. “I won’t tempt fate by fighting with you on that. Besides, you know what I mean. I’m helping with a committee, not getting involved.”
“You like getting involved.”
He picked up his beer. “No. You like getting involved and dragging me with you. There’s a difference.”
“You’re an excellent role model.”
Only in her eyes, he thought as he took a drink. He knew the truth. In his heart, he was about as selfish as the average Joe, only with more resources.
Larissa chattered on about her various causes and he half listened. This was what he liked, he thought. Just being with his friend. Their relationship was uncomplicated, although apparently a mystery to the outside world. Why else would Mrs. Owens have made such a bonehead statement? Larissa in love with him? Impossible.
Jack relaxed back in his chair and watched Larissa’s hands move as she talked. Her face was expressive. He supposed on a purely impersonal basis he could admit she was pretty. Her skin was smooth and soft-looking. She never wore makeup, as far as he could tell, which was a change from the other women in his life. The long hair was nice, especially when she wore it down. At work it was always back in a ponytail. He remembered a client spotting her and asking if it was bring-your-daughter-to-work day. Because she could look kind of young.
He grabbed another egg roll and bit into the crispy shell. Yeah, he was a lucky man, he thought. Good friends, good food and very few problems.
“Mary’s not doing well,” Larissa said with a sigh.
“Who’s Mary?”
Larissa’s mouth twisted down. “She’s the little girl who got the liver transplant last year. She’s been running a fever on and off for a few weeks now. Her parents are worried and the doctors are running tests.”
Jack nodded as if he knew what Larissa was talking about, but in truth, he didn’t. Mary was just one more kid his money had helped.
“I’ve been checking in with her family regularly,” she added. “I sent her an American Girl doll book. Kit Saves the Day.”
Okay, now he was lost. “Who is Kit?”
“Kit Kittredge. She’s one of the American Girl dolls. I showed you them before.”
“Was I paying attention?”
“Probably not.” Some of the sadness left her eyes. “You never were into dolls.”
He winked. “Not unless they were anatomically correct. What other causes should I prepare for?”
“There’s
