When Love Comes Calling
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Syndi Powell
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CHAPTER ONE
THE LAST THING Vivian Carmack wanted to do was to celebrate the beginning of the coming year. And yet, here she was, attending a New Year’s Eve party, squeezed into a borrowed taffeta gown, hair arranged in an updo, feet pinched into high heels and waiting in a long line to order a drink from the bustling bartenders.
Revelers in a much better mood than hers filled the Thora community center, dancing to the deejay’s music blasting from the large speakers at the front of the room. Others congregated around the appetizer table or, like her, stood in line for the bar.
Vivi glanced around at the partygoers and asked herself for the hundredth time why she had agreed to accompany her best friend, Cecily, to a party when she would rather spend the evening in bed with the covers over her head. But one glimpse of the smile on her friend’s face confirmed it. If anyone needed a night out, it was Cec. Her friend had reason to be home in bed with the covers pulled over her head, but she’d chosen to be out for a night of fun. She’d even loaned Vivi the ruby-red dress and shoes since the invitation to accompany her to the party had come at such short notice.
Vivi leaned in close to Cec to be heard over the pulsating music. “This is definitely different from my original plan of sitting home and eating ice cream by myself while I watched the ball drop in Times Square. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I was hardly going to bring Tom, was I?”
Cecily’s husband had announced he wanted a divorce from the greatest woman in the world only the day after Christmas. Claimed that he had fallen out of love with Vivi’s best friend. Cec sighed. “Besides, I thought we agreed we wouldn’t talk about the jerk tonight.”
“We won’t. Last time. Promise?”
Cec nudged her elbow into Vivi’s side. “And you might try smiling more. We’re supposed to be having fun.”
“I don’t feel much like partying tonight, but I’m trying.”
“Forget the curse.”
Vivi held up one finger. “If we’re not talking about the jerk, we’re definitely not discussing the curse.”
They made it to the front of the line and Cec ordered several shots of tequila. Vivi raised her voice so her friend could hear her. “I’m driving tonight. I don’t want any tequila.”
“Who said any of them were for you?” Cec winked at the bartender as she placed a bill on the counter for the drinks. “I ordered you a glass of pop.”
Vivi accepted the drink, then led her friend to a near empty table at the edge of the room away from the dancers. Cec placed the tray of drinks down and grabbed two of the shot glasses. She drank them both and picked up another. Vivi stayed her arm. “Don’t you think you should slow down? We have a little more than an hour left until midnight.”
Cecily frowned and shook off Vivi’s hand. “I’m fine. Besides, you already said you’re the one driving. Not me.” She picked up the shot and drank it quickly, making a face before sucking on a lime wedge.
Vivi handed Cec her own drink. “Here. You should switch to something softer.”
“Spoilsport. Just because you want to avoid the coming year doesn’t mean we all do.”
“I’m not the only one avoiding something, Cec.”
Cecily took a sip of the pop before placing the sweating glass on the table. “One thing we aren’t going to avoid tonight is the music. Let’s go.”
Vivi glanced at the crowded dance floor and shook her head. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Liar. Besides teaching, dancing is your favorite thing in the whole world.” Cecily held out a hand to her. “Come on. Let’s show these people how it’s done.”
Vivi sighed but followed her friend. The deejay put on a fast song that had been popular when she and Cec were in college. Cecily raised her hands in the air and shouted into Vivi’s ear, “I love this song!”
Vivi smiled and gave herself over to the melody, closing her eyes and letting her body follow the fast rhythm of the drums. She twirled around, lifting her arms into the air only to be stopped by another body bumping into hers. She started to fall, but strong hands grasped her by the bare shoulders and kept her upright. She opened her eyes to find herself staring into a stranger’s gaze. “Sorry. It’s a bit congested out here on the dance floor.”
As if to emphasize her point, someone crashed into her and sent her body directly into the stranger’s arms once again. His hands clutched at her waist and brought her upright. She leaned in to shout over the music, “Sorry, again.”
His hazel eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled. “I’m not sorry.” His hands linked around her waist, and he danced with her for a moment. “You’ve got some good moves.”
“But you don’t like to follow my lead, do you?” she asked as she danced to the right when he twisted in the opposite direction.
“I’m not known for following directions very well. Probably why I always lost playing Simon Says or Red Light, Green Light.”
Vivi felt herself grin at his words. “So, you’re not into playing any childish games?”
“Not if winning means following any direction but my own.” He smiled back at her, and she could feel her lips mirror his expression. He stepped closer. “My name is Brian. What’s yours?”
“Vivian.”
“That’s an unusual name.”
“I’m an unusual woman.” She pointed behind her and turned her head to find Cec watching them with interest. “I should get back to my friend.”
His face fell. “Don’t tell me that you have a boyfriend.”
Vivi chuckled at the sound of disappointment in his voice but didn’t answer his question. Better to leave things on a mysterious note. “Maybe I’ll bump into you later.”
She gave a quick wave and moved through the crush of bodies to where Cecily had drifted. Her friend looked over Vivi’s shoulder into the crowd. “Who’s that guy you were dancing with?”
“His name is Brian. He knocked into me.”
“He’s cute.”
Vivi turned to find him still standing and watching her while other dancers moved around him. She turned back to Cecily who seemed to be waiting for her reaction. She shrugged in response. He was cute in a guy-next-door kind of way, but he wasn’t her type. Not even close. “Maybe he is.”
The song ended, and a slower one began. She and Cec left the dance floor and returned to the table where they’d left their drinks. Cecily toyed with one of the empty shot glasses, then glanced around the crowd as she took a seat. “There seems to be more people here than last year, don’t you think?”
“They didn’t have the party last year because of everything going on, remember? But maybe that’s why there’s more people here this year. Everyone missed it and wanted to be a part of it coming back.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I usually am.”
Cec didn’t return her grin but narrowed her eyes at her. “However, you’re not right about this curse thing. When are you going to face it?”
“I thought we agreed. No talking about the jerk or the curse tonight.” Vivi looked around the room. “We’re here to have fun. Not talk about things that are better left unsaid.”
“You can’t let this thing keep you from living the next year of your life, Vivi.”
Vivi huffed and rested her chin on her hand. “You don’t get it, Cec. I have always had a really bad year every seven years. That’s this year. So, my plan is to keep my head down and survive whatever it is that life is about to throw at me. No risks. No changes. I’m all about keeping the status quo. And maybe, I’ll get through it unscathed.”
“Doesn’t sound like a very good year to me.”
“You were there for the last two times I had a cursed year, so you know I’m right.” She shook her head and tried to shrug off the worries about what the coming twelve months could bring. “I can’t go through that again. I won’t.”
“All I’m saying is that you might miss out on some of the good stuff because you’re so worried about the bad that might happen.” Cec looked around the room. “Like that cute guy who can’t seem to take his eyes off of you.”
Vivian turned to find Brian watching them from the other side of the room. He grinned and gave a small wave. She couldn’t help but smile and wave back. Then she turned to Cecily and gave a shrug. “I’m not willing to risk it, not for him or anything else.”
BRIAN REDMOND STUDIED the room, noting the number of attendees as well as the steady flow of beverages served from the bar and trays of hors d’oeuvres carted from the kitchen to the buffet table by an army of servers. A successful party, he’d say. And one that had been long overdue after last year’s cancellation.
His younger sister, Jamie, walked toward him, snagging an antipasto skewer from a tray and nibbling on it as she approached. “You have to get me the recipe for that shrimp dip they’re serving.”
“What makes you think I have access to that?”
Jamie gave him a look that he knew well, one that meant he had better comply with her request or she’d nag him until he did. “You’re the one who set up this party, so get me the recipe.”
“Maybe the caterer doesn’t share her recipes.”
“Then use your supposed charm on her and get it anyway.” Jamie nibbled some more, then narrowed her eyes at him. “Who do you keep looking at?”
Brian glanced away from Vivian’s table. “What? Who? Where?”
“Maybe the better question is why do you keep looking at her?” Jamie followed the direction of his gaze. “She’s pretty. Who is she?”
Vivian was more than pretty. From her glowing amber skin to the high cheekbones to the sweet mouth that seemed to smile back at him whenever he smiled at her, she was the entire package. “I don’t really know. We literally bumped into each other on the dance floor.” He found his eyes once again looking for Vivian. Meeting her had been an unexpected bonus tonight. Perhaps this was his reward for reviving the town’s New Year’s Eve party. “All I know is that her name is Vivian, and she looks smashing in red.”
Jamie gave a short nod. “Give me a half hour, and I can find out the scoop about her.”
She started to walk away, but Brian reached out to stop her. “I don’t want you snooping around. You might scare her off. Make me out to be a stalker or something.”
“It’ll be fine. I can be discreet.” He looked at her until she winced. “It won’t be like the last time. She won’t even realize I’m grilling her. Promise.”
“Leave her alone, and keep the cop stuff for your job. I’ll do my own investigating.”
“Which means you won’t take a risk and ask her out.”
He waved off her objection. “That’s the old me. We’re on the edge of a new year. This is my chance to be brave. Bold. To go after what I want and take some chances.”
“You have until the end of the night to get her number.”
“And if I don’t?”
She gave him a smile that made his insides tremble. “Then it’s my turn.”
THE MORE ALCOHOL Cecily drank, the more quiet and sullen she became. Trying to head off a dip into misery, Vivi went to the appetizers to get her friend a plate of nibbles. Maybe eating something would absorb the excess alcohol and revive her friend’s earlier good mood. She placed a spoonful of shrimp dip on her plate when a voice said, “My sister claims that dip will solve all your worries.”
She raised her eyes to meet hazel ones. “You, again.”
“It’s Brian. Remember?” He took one of the plates from her. “Looks like you could use a little help.”
“Thanks.”
They moved down the buffet, and she placed various foods on both plates. He murmured his assent when she added a few meatballs to the plates, then asked, “So what is it that you do, Unusual Vivian?”
She frowned at his words but then recalled her earlier comment from the dance floor. “I’m just an ordinary teacher.”
“What do you teach?”
“American history at the high school.”
Brian grimaced as she placed a couple puff pastries on the plate he held. “I can’t say that was my best subject. Or favorite one, for that matter.” He pointed to the antipasto skewers. “Try a couple of those.”
She placed a few on each plate. “You never had me as a teacher, then. I try to make history come alive for my students.”
“And how do you do that?”
“Role playing. Reading diaries and letters from the time period. Putting them into the mindset of the historical figure.” Now she sounded like a braggart. And for what purpose? She’d told Cecily she wasn’t going to do anything new this year, and that included getting to know this guy. Or trying to impress him. “Maybe I’m exaggerating my prowess as a teacher.”
He looked at her. “Somehow, I don’t think you are. I can tell that you’re passionate about what you do, and that already makes you a great teacher.”
She stared at him for a moment, then cleared her throat. It would be so easy to indulge her curiosity. Which is probably why she asked him, “What is it that you do, Brian? What are you passionate about?”
“I’m the community resource manager for the town. I have a passion for bringing together citizens and businesses for mutual benefit. Whether it’s finding jobs or getting help to those who need it or holding events like this one.” He glanced around the ballroom. “Bringing back a much beloved party for Thora. Hiring the right people and putting them together to help others.”
“We have a resource manager? I didn’t think our community was big enough.”
“Our mayor created the position this past year and hired me to fill it.” He dropped a few veggies on each plate. “Don’t tell anyone, but I haven’t been in town that long, so I’m still trying to figure out my role in it.”
“I had a feeling that you weren’t from around here. Where did you grow up?”
He gave a shrug. “Here and there. I was a military brat, so we moved a lot. Even around the world.”
She sighed. “Except for the few years I went away to school, I’ve lived here my whole life. I grew up about ten miles away.”
“You never wanted to leave?”
This time she was the one to lift her shoulders up and down. “I never considered it. You planning on staying around here for a while?”
He inched closer. “It’s looking more attractive to me by the minute.”
He was standing so close she could smell his cologne. A clean scent that made her tingle. She moved away. Distance would be better between them because then she couldn’t do what she was considering. Wouldn’t even entertain the possibility of what her heart proposed. She needed to maintain her status quo, which meant not getting interested in this guy. She needed to construct a wall around her heart to prevent any chance of him wiggling his way inside. Because she knew what would happen if he did. The trouble. The heartbreak. The tears and pain.
“I’d love to get to know you more. Maybe over dinner next week?”
Her heart did a little dance at the invitation, but her brain must have short-circuited because she couldn’t find the right words to refuse him. Couldn’t form the word “no” with her lips. Instead, she kept staring at him. Gave all of thirty seconds to contemplate what it would be like to accept his request. How easy would it be to see if this chemistry that sizzled between them could lead to something?
Then reason returned and she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Right. You’ll probably be busy getting back into a routine with school starting up. Maybe the week after?”
“No.” She took the other plate of food from his hands. “But thank you for your assistance at the buffet.”
She started to walk away, but he pursued her. “How about your phone number, then? For when you change your mind?”
She stopped and turned. It would be so easy to give in. To take a chance. He was only asking her out for dinner, after all. One night couldn’t hurt, could it? But she shook her head again. “You’re tempting, but trust me. I won’t.”
Then she left him and didn’t look back but continued to the table where Cecily sat. Her friend looked up at her as she approached. “Do you mind if we go home now?”
“Why don’t you eat a little something first?”
Cec rose to her feet and pushed the plate of appetizers away from her. “I’m not hungry.”
“But it’s almost midnight. Don’t you want to stay for the countdown to the new year?”
“I don’t care what time it is. I just want to go home.” She paused for a moment before her shoulders slumped forward. “Well, to your place since I can’t go home, can I?”
Cec’s previous ebullient mood had obviously fled, so Vivi nodded and rubbed her arm. “I’ll get our coats.”
It started to snow as they left the community center and walked toward Vivi’s Jeep. The muffled sounds of the party crowd counting down to midnight drifted in the air as Vivi helped her friend get into the passenger seat before coming around the car and opening her own door. She slid into the driver’s seat and glanced over at Cec. “Are you going to be okay?”
Cec shook her head through the tears that coursed down her cheeks. “None of this is okay.”
“It will get better eventually. Things can only go up from here, right?” Vivi started the car before putting the gear in Reverse. She checked behind her before backing out of the parking spot. The accelerator pedal seemed to stick, and the reverse was faster than she intended. She stomped on the brake to stop their progress and winced as the crunch of backing into the car behind her echoed.
Happy New Year, indeed.
She got out of the Jeep and went to the dark SUV. Didn’t seem to be major damage to the other car, but a glance at the rear end of hers made her grimace. Her brake light had been smashed, and the left side of the bumper crumpled. This was going to be an expensive mistake.
She checked the passenger side of the car to make sure Cecily was okay, then returned to the hall to find out whose SUV she had backed into. Of course, the first person she ran into once she entered the community center had to be Brian.
“Trouble?”
“I don’t suppose you know the owner of a dark SUV with the license plate HWK122, do you?”
He frowned and headed to the door. Great. Of all the cars she could have backed into, it had to be Brian’s. Proof that the curse was already at work in the new year. She followed him outside to find him checking out the damage where the two cars had made contact. “Lucky for me there is minimal damage to my car.” He gave a low whistle. “Sorry about yours though.”
“Of all the cars in this parking lot, why did I have to hit your SUV?”
“Maybe it was fate. Looks like you’ll be giving me your phone number after all.”
