Free The Talk of the Town by Fran Baker Page A

decisiveness that had made him such a successful businessman. “Luke Bauer strikes me as a man who’s perfectly capable of taking care of himself.”
    Roxie didn’t know if she believed him. Luke seemed so lost somehow, like a soul without a home. She ached inside just thinking about it. But she also recognized the sense behind Mr. Stewart’s words. She could see that her own interference wasn’t any better than Fesol’s. Silently vowing not to stick her nose into it anymore, she smiled at her employer and started to rise.
    “Hold your horses a minute,” he told her. “I’ve given you my opinion. Now I’d like to have yours.” He picked up the one-page advertising circular that he’d been looking at when she slammed into his office and handed it to her. “I got this in the mail the other day, but I just now got around to looking it over today.”
    Roxie studied the front and saw it was from a Kansas City dress manufacturer.
    “What do you think of those calico cloth housedresses on the back?”
    She turned the circular over to look at them. “The rickrack around the neck and on the pockets is a nice touch.”
    “Do you think they’d sell in the dry goods stores we supply?”
    And thoughts of Luke fled as Roxie returned her attention to business.
    * * * *
    She wasn’t even thinking about him when she saw him. Carrying the cloth lunch bag her mother had made her, she was headed toward the picnic table on the east side of the warehouse where she planned to eat her sandwich when she happened to glance out over the field beyond the parking lot. A lone figure was stretched out in a small clearing in the grass. She paused in mid-stride, feeling uncertain about disturbing his solitude. Then she impulsively struck out across the field and strode toward him.
    As she neared, her gait slowed to a hesitant walk. His dark hair shone like a raven’s wings in the sunlight as he lay with his hands stacked beneath his head. Disappointment nipped at her heels. He was sleeping. She shouldn’t bother him. About to turn back, she halted when he opened his eyes, caught sight of her and sat up.
    “I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she hurriedly explained.
    “You’re not.” That wasn’t quite truthful, Luke thought. She always disturbed him, though it was as pleasurable as it was painful.
    “It’s such a pretty day that I decided to eat my lunch outside,” she explained, holding up the bag she carried from home. “Would you like to join me?”
    “Thanks, but I already ate.” He’d made himself a bacon sandwich from the leftovers of his boardinghouse breakfast and had brought it with him to work. “Besides,” he added on a mellow chuckle, “I still owe you a lunch.”
    “That’s right, you do.” Her voice took on a teasing lilt.
    “All I can offer you now, though, is water.” He picked up a capped glass jar that looked to be about half-full and shook it.
    “How about a seat?”
    “A what?”
    “If you won’t join me, may I join you?” She didn’t wait for his answer but handed him the bag containing her sandwich and an apple and then sank to the ground beside him.
    Watching her tuck her blue striped cotton skirt around her legs, Luke could barely control the flood of sensations that threatened to drown him whenever she was near. For once he was grateful for the long years of practice at hiding his true feelings. At least he could keep her from seeing how affected he was.
    “Here you go,” he said when she was settled.
    “Thanks.” Smiling, she reached for her bag.
    Their fingertips grazed as she took it back. Their eyes met, each mirroring shock as an unlabelled emotion arced between them. She lowered her gaze. He dragged his away just as quickly.
    Roxie’s lunch lay forgotten in her lap as she waited for her heart to steady and her breathing to return to normal. When it had, she said, “Do you come out here often?”
    “Every day. I like to be out in the open.” His mouth crooked in a rueful