Say You Won't Go Read online

  Wiping away the grease from her chin, the woman rose and took the offered hand. “Taryn, I know. I heard the guys over there call you by name. I’m Logan.”

  “Hmm, that’s a pretty name.” Taryn grinned. “So, you’re tempted…what about going with me to swim?”

  “Unless your break is in the next hour, I’m sorry. Maybe next time I come around this way I’ll stay longer.”

  Taryn frowned. “Oh, okay.”

  Just then, Tommy McGill entered the tavern and came to stand nervously next to her. “Hmm, about your car…hmm…it isn’t just the fan belt…. The compressor in the air conditioning unit. It needs replacing.”

  “And that’s a problem?” The woman’s reply was stern.

  “Hmm, well I have to send away for the part. Your vehicle is old, and we don’t have the part in stock. I’ll have to send for it.”

  Logan stood in front of Tommy, who was sweating profusely. “How long, a couple of hours, half a day, what?”

  “Well, it’s Friday, and the fastest we could get the part here is Tuesday.” He took a step back to stand behind Taryn.

  “Just perfect, absolutely perfect,” Logan hissed. She looked at Taryn, who gave her a small smile. “Tuesday morning by ten the latest.”

  Tommy nodded and shot out of the Tavern.

  “Is that invitation for a bike ride and a swim still available?”

  “Oh, yes, and there isn’t a motel for at least thirty miles, so you can stay with me.” She shrugged. “And Brenda. If you want?”

  “Brenda?”

  “My mother.”

  “Oh. Well that’s an invitation I’m not going to ignore, thank you. When do you get off work?”

  “After the dinner crowd thins out. Usually around six-thirty.” Taryn laughed. “They all come for the early bird special.”

  Logan winked. “Guess I’ll be back for dinner too then. Want to join me when you finish your shift?”

  Taryn could feel her insides turn to mush. Is this what falling for someone feels like? She shook her head at the absurd thought. “I’d love to.”

  “Wonderful. Now, I’d better eat this burger before it gets cold. I have to say, it’s delicious…good call.”

  With a blush, Taryn turned away when three more happy-hour men came into the tavern.

  CHAPTER TWO

  For some reason, it appeared that everyone in town had decided to come into the Tavern at the same time. She was so busy moving between tables that the only time she could pay attention to Logan was when she placed the bill on the table.

  “Sorry I can’t stay, I’m slammed. Do you mind paying at the bar?”

  Logan’s response was a wink, as she placed a twenty over the bill. “Keep the change.” She stood and smiled. “See you later.”

  All Taryn could do was stare after Logan, who was disappearing out the door. In the brief time since she’d met Logan, Taryn couldn’t keep her eyes off the woman. Every time she looked in her direction, she could feel a warm sensation coursing through her body. She couldn’t remember a real person ever flirting with her, or for that matter, paying attention to her at all. Seven o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.

  Ten minutes later, Brenda arrived and Taryn went to her immediately. “I’ve invited someone to spend the weekend with us.” She whipped off her apron and handed it to the woman. “I’m going outside for a breath of fresh air. All the tables have been served.” As she turned to leave, Brenda grabbed her arm.

  “Who?” Brenda gave her an incredulous look. “You’ve never had a guest in my home, much less someone to spend the night.”

  Taryn grinned. “Her car broke down, and it will take until Tuesday to fix. I told her she could stay with us.” She lifted one shoulder. “You know there’s no place to stay in Bourne.”

  “Oh,” her mother said, sounding disappointed.

  “Sorry, it’s not a man.” Taryn fixed Brenda with a glare. “That’s your department, isn’t it?”

  “Wow, you’ve finally got an opinion. Next time, keep it to yourself.”

  I did, didn’t I? Taryn smiled. I think it’s Logan giving me a backbone where Brenda is concerned.

  “We don’t have a guest room, so she’ll have to stay with you, and you’ll buy her food. I don’t have money to waste on strangers.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.” With that, Taryn turned and walked toward the door with a small smile playing on her lips. We’ll be sharing a room. The possibilities were endless.

  †

  It took Logan all of five minutes to walk down the main street. The town was in need of some TLC. A lick of paint would do wonders for most of the single-story buildings. Flowers in the empty planter boxes that lined both sides of the street would be beneficial and bring color to the place. She’d never actually stayed any length of time in a town like this, traveled through a few in the last couple of months of her trip but never stopped to take in the sights. Observing the derelict buildings, she knew now the reason. She passed what appeared to be the bank with metal guards over the windows and doors, and cream brickwork. At least that’s presentable.

  Hmm and I get to play with a local. I just wonder how worldly Taryn is…. Who cares? It will be fun. She softly chuckled.

  The clearing of a throat behind her prompted her to swing around to see who it was. A man moved out of the shadow of the hardware store to her left and nodded.

  “Sheriff, anything I can do for you?” Logan smiled slightly and watched the thin man raise bushy eyebrows in her direction. He raised a hand to his chin and pulled at it a couple of times.

  “We don’t often get visitors in town, are you just passing through?”

  Logan considered the question for a moment then shrugged. “Was. Now, circumstances, as in my car needs repair, mean I’ll be here until Tuesday.”

  “No motel in this town, are you sleeping in your car?” The sheriff narrowed his eyes, but his tanned features took on a friendlier look. At least Logan thought so.

  “No, I’ve been fortunate to meet someone here, and she offered me a room at her house.” The man shuffled forward, and Logan noticed that his shiny black shoes looked out of place in this drab town.

  “Is that so. May I ask who that might be?”

  Logan flexed her left hand several times, then pointed to the tavern. “The waitress there.”

  “Brenda?” He frowned heavily this time and looked less friendly.

  Logan shook her head. “Nope, Taryn.” A grin edged at her lips when the man’s eyes bulged. “She was very kind.”

  Scratching his cheek, the sheriff shook his head. “Yep, I’m sure that Taryn is a kind woman. I’ll let you be on your way. I guess you will have lots of things to do. If you get in any trouble, ask for me. The name is Sheriff Waltham.” He turned back toward the hardware shop and went inside.

  Logan didn’t move. That was different. She looked around and decided to head back to the garage to collect a few of her things, namely her sneakers. It was a good day for a walk, and it would kill time until she had her rendezvous with the lovely Taryn. She grinned, then began to whistle one of her favorite tunes, “Crazy,” as she headed back to the garage.

  †

  Taryn couldn’t keep her eyes off the entrance, and when she saw Logan walk in the door, she thought her face would break from her smile. Taking off her apron, she walked quickly to her new friend. “Good, you’re early.”

  Logan grinned. “When a lovely lady volunteers to show me around on her bike, with the chance of swimming with her afterwards, what do you expect? I’m ready, though I did ask you to have dinner with me.”

  Her smile widened. “Come on, you need to meet Brenda. I told her you’d be staying at the house and I…well, I think you should at least say ‘hi’ to her.”

  “Whoa, meeting Mom and we haven’t even held hands yet.”

  Taryn couldn’t help but laugh. “Didn’t I tell you I’m kinda unconventional?”

  Logan wriggled her eyebrows and winked. “Hmm unconventional and meeting Mom don’t usually share the same sentence. However, I’m broad minded, so hey, let’s go meet Mom.”

  After grabbing Logan’s hand, Taryn took her over to the bar. “Brenda, this is the girl I was telling you about.”

  Brenda gave Logan a once over and shook her head. “Kinda fancy for the likes of here.”

  “Nice to meet you, Brenda, I’m Logan Perry.” She held out her free hand.

  Brenda snorted. “Fancy name too, where you from?”

  “Chicago born and raised.” Logan dropped her hand.

  Taryn screwed up her face and held out her hand. “Gimme.”

  “Fine, but if you do anything I don’t approve, you’re out on your ear. Hear me?” She glared at both Taryn and Logan.

  Taryn grabbed the keys from her hands and dragged Logan over to where Rosie was standing in the kitchen. “Is it ready?”

  “Hold your horses, young lady. Ain’t you gonna introduce me first?”

  “Sorry, yes. Logan, this is Rosie, our cook.” Her eyes widened. “Is it ready?”

  “Rosie, pleased to meet you.” Logan held out her hand.

  For the first time ever, Taryn saw Rosie blush, as she took Logan’s hand. “Pleased to meet you.” She dropped the hand, lifted a basket, and set it on the counter. “Here you go, Taryn. Fried chicken and the works.”

  “Likewise.” Logan smiled, shaking her head.

  Taryn grabbed the basket in one hand and Logan’s hand in the other. “Come on, our chariot awaits.”

  “Do you need me to carry that basket? It looks heavy.”

  Taryn grinned and shook her head, as she pulled them closer to the door.

  Logan disengaged her hand and opened the door.

  Taryn followed. “Thanks.”

&
nbsp; “My pleasure, especially as I get to have a picnic too. How did you guess it was one of my favorite things to do?”

  “I…I guessed.” Taryn was shaking inside. What an idiot going to all this trouble for a stranger. What was I thinking? More to the point, what will she think? “Come on.” She led them down the street to the side of the wooden building. “Close your eyes.” She watched as Logan complied, then led her by the hand toward the parking lot at the back of the Tavern. “Okay, open them.” The look on Logan’s face as she took in the cherry-red ’67 GTO was worth it all.

  “Oh my god, you have a classic car?” She turned to Taryn.

  “Hmm, it was my dad’s and his dad’s before him…now it’s Brenda’s.” She shrugged. “He’s dead, and Brenda is the town slut.” She refused to look at Logan, as she unlocked the door. “Still want to have a picnic and a swim?” Probably not.

  Logan saw the embarrassment, or maybe shame, on Taryn’s face, as she spoke the words damning her mother. Life was never easy; it had its ups and downs, that was for sure. This was a little bit more noticeable in the Tavern. The question was, did she want to enter into the mix. She looked at the downcast face of her new friend, who had made such a wonderful effort for a virtual stranger. Sure, I do.

  “Hey, are you old enough to drive this beauty? I’d be quite happy to volunteer. I love older cars. You can be assured that I will take great care. Does she have a name?” Her hand traced over the smooth paint work. Logan smiled, as Taryn slowly looked up with a tentative expression on her face. “Is that a maybe?”

  “I’m old enough. It’s Brenda’s pride and joy. I think she loves this car more than me.” Taryn shrugged.

  “I doubt it. Let me tell you, from someone who cherishes their vehicle more than another person, no way would she have given you the keys. She must love you.” Logan opened the passenger door and slid in. The leather seats felt wonderful. It was a truly cherished vehicle.

  Sliding into the driver’s seat and closing the door, Taryn smiled. “I remember her baking cookies and smiling all the time before my dad died. Then she changed. So you know, I had to take one of her shifts so I could use it.” Taryn chewed on her lip and frowned. “Enough of that. Let’s go have some fun.”

  Logan reached across and placed her hand on Taryn’s as she was about to insert the key. “Fun sounds great to me. Can we have the fried chicken as well?”

  Taryn winked, started the car, and pulled out of the parking lot. “If you insist, but I think we need to swim first and eat later. Don’t you? The sun will only be out for another hour and a half or so.” She maneuvered the car a little way out of town.

  “Yeah, sure, I forgot about the swim…well not really forgot, exactly. You said skinny dipping right, because I didn’t come prepared.” She wriggled her eyebrows.

  “Well, not exactly skinny dipping, I usually wear my underwear.” She shrugged. “Is that okay?”

  “Of course, it is.”

  “I’ve never taken anyone to my swimming hole ’cause…well let’s just say I don’t have anyone other than Rosie as a friend.” She shrugged. “I pretty much keep to myself and have never been particularly popular.”

  “Why? You are lovely to look at and have a kind heart. Who wouldn’t want to know you?” Logan frowned. “Well, I like you and the others can go to hell… It’s hot, even at six forty-five, so I say let’s get our skin wet. Are you with me?” Logan smiled. This woman was a contradiction but interesting. “Are we there yet?’

  “Couple more minutes, I promise.” Taryn desperately wanted to have eye contact with Logan. Those emerald, sparkling eyes drew her, but she had to concentrate or they would end up in a ditch and Brenda would kill her. She giggled. She turned onto a dirt road and followed it for a hundred yards, before trees engulfed the car, making it seem to disappear. Taryn put her foot to the brake pedal, making the tires skid along the weeds and leaving a plume of dust behind them. “We’re here.”

  “Then it must be time to get wet.” Logan winked at her.

  “Sure, let’s get it on.” She grinned and pulled off her shirt. “I can feel the cool water already.”

  “You are one crazy girl, but I love that. Have you heard the song “Crazy” by Aerosmith? It reminds me of you right this minute.” Logan chuckled and threw off her tank top. She glanced down at the expanse of tanned skin she showed to the world, nude-colored sports bra the only thing protecting her from true mother nature.

  “God, I love that song. Have you seen the video?”

  “One of my all-time favs. If we need to dress up at any time, I want to wear the tie.” Logan chuckled.

  “That’s okay, I always fancied being a pole dancer. No chance of that in this town, not unless I want to get arrested.”

  “Hmm-um I don’t know…the Sheriff didn’t seem too intimidating.”

  Taryn took her eyes off the path for a few seconds, as she stared at her new friend. “You’ve met Sheriff Waltham? Why? Did you do something wrong?”

  Logan burst out laughing. “Well, if staying in town for a few days is wrong, then I guess.”

  “I don’t think so. He was a friend of my dad’s…they worked together.”

  “He was a cop?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t know him very well…he died when I was five.”

  “I’m sorry. My parents are alive and kicking in Vermont…they love to ski.”

  “Oh, are you rich then?” Taryn’s heart did a double flip at that piece of information, she was hardly friend material for a rich girl.

  “Nah, Dad is a security guard, and Mom is a sales clerk.”

  Taryn pointed at the water. “What do you think?”

  “Wow, look at the shimmer in the water. It’s like a mirror image pool. The trees look real in the water.” Logan climbed out of the car and strode to the edge of the swimming hole.

  Taryn began chewing on her fingers and shaking her head. “Whose great idea was this? I can’t believe I’m here with her,” she muttered.

  “Hey, you mumbling to yourself over there, or are you going to take in this fabulous view with me?” Logan turned and smiled.

  “Sorry. Like I said, I’ve never brought anyone here before…I almost forgot you.” Taryn smiled. “Almost”—Taryn grinned, pointing to a rope— “see that rope over there?”

  Logan removed her gaze from Taryn, looking in the direction indicated, and nodded.

  “It took me most of a day, but I got it hanging there. Then it took me a week to get up the nerve to swing on it.”

  “I’m impressed, since you’re such a small thing…. I guess small in stature but tall in courage.”

  “Yeah, right. Anyway, one day when I thought I was taking a shortcut, I got lost and found this place. I fell in love with it instantly. Something about the stillness called to me, and it’s been my special place ever since.”

  “Mine too, now. I’m a city girl and live in Chicago. The nearest I’d get to this kind of experience is in my dreams.” Logan reached out and clutched Taryn’s hand. “Thank you for allowing me to share this special place with you.”

  Taryn could feel the heat on her cheeks, and that made her blush even more. “Wow, it’s gotten hot. Are you ready to swim?” She slipped off her pants. “Last one in is a rotten egg,” she said with a laugh before running toward the water. Wading in, she stood watching and waiting.

  “Hey, no one beats me,” Logan shouted after taking off her jeans and splashing into the water.

  Taryn couldn’t take her eyes off the partially clad woman taking long strides toward her through the water. Logan’s body was unbelievably toned, with an all-over tan. “Oh, my god, she is stunning.” The nearer Logan got to her, the more heat Taryn could feel spreading through her body. Never in her life had she experienced such a feeling. Finally, Logan was standing in front of her, and Taryn shook her head and splashed water toward her.

  “Ah, a playful puppy. Well, see what you think about this.” Logan’s hand skimmed the surface of the water, and then with a curve of her hand, flicked water into Taryn’s face.

  “Oh, you.” Taryn swam away. “Try and catch me,” she taunted when she reached the deeper water. Her eyes fixated on the body that swam toward her, but as Logan came within a foot of her, she swam away in the opposite direction. It was going to take an accomplished swimmer to catch her…unless of course she wanted to be caught. She grinned as Logan came at her again, and she diverted toward the rope.