Met Her Match Read online

  And now that Nate Taggert had made it clear he wanted pretty little Stacy and not workhorse Terri, she was again on her own. If she’d learned nothing else in the last weeks, it was that she wanted a boyfriend, wanted a life outside of taking care of the people at the lake. When someone rang at 3:00 a.m. saying a bear was in the garbage, Terri wanted someone who’d help her with the job.

  So now what? Did she return to her old life? Hey! Maybe she’d get an invitation to Nate and Stacy’s wedding. That would be fun. She shook her head.

  Stacy had invited her to a picnic tomorrow. Because Nate would be there, Terri hadn’t really considered going. Her fear had been that she’d say or do something that might let Stacy know that Terri and Nate had been—were—What? Had been roommates? Were friends?

  Or used to be, she thought.

  She remembered what Nate had said. He’d known she was “attracted” to him so he’d stripped off whenever possible.

  In that aspect, Terri was innocent. Yes, she’d worn shorts and high-cut swimsuits, but she always did. She’d done nothing different that was meant to turn Nate on.

  She looked at the plate of fish and sliced potato. It was the last meal Nate would cook for her. She grabbed the plate, a glass and a bottle of wine, and sat down at the dining table. As she ate, she planned—and thought that a little revenge wouldn’t be out of order.

  She picked up her phone and called Elaine. “Do you have any really tiny bikinis?”

  “None of those Brazilian string things, but some are just a few triangles. Who wants one?”

  “Me.”

  “Oh,” Elaine said. “Any reason why?”

  “Stacy Hartman invited me to a picnic tomorrow.”

  “Ooooh.” There was a smile in Elaine’s voice. “How about a transparent cover-up and some sexy sandals to go with it?”

  “That sounds great. I’ll—”

  Elaine cut her off. “I’ll just bet the Turner Twins would love to go with you as your date.” She sounded quite excited.

  “They’re next on my list to call.”

  “This is wonderful, honey. I’ll pack up everything and you can get it tomorrow. I’ll put in some sunscreen that the boys can rub on you. That should make Nate...” Elaine didn’t finish the sentence.

  “Insane with jealousy?” Terri asked.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Elaine said. “I’m going to the shop right now and get this ready. Please don’t ever forget that your dad and I love you, sweetheart.”

  “Thanks, and it’s mutual,” Terri said, and hung up.

  The next person she called was Mr. Parnelli. She asked if she could hire him to make a fabulous picnic for her.

  He said, “For you, Terri, it’s free and I’ll make you a meal to remember.”

  She thanked him profusely, then called the Turner Twins. She didn’t bother with a preliminary explanation. “Is it possible that you could pretend I like you and go on a picnic with me tomorrow?”

  “Which one of us?” asked the one speaking.

  “Both of you.”

  There was a pause, then a bit of a laugh. “You wouldn’t be trying to make Nate Taggert jealous, would you? We saw him with cute little Stacy.”

  “Maybe,” Terri said.

  “We’re in! Just tell us when and where.”

  She did, then hung up, smiling.

  By the time she’d cleaned up the kitchen and showered, it was time for bed. The house was quiet and the moonlight came through the glass doors into her bedroom. She remembered how she and Nate had grabbed food and run away in her boat to the Island. For a moment the memory of that sweet time flooded her so thoroughly that her knees nearly gave way.

  But then she remembered how angry she’d been when he spoke of “poor Bob.” Poor because he’d lost darling little Stacy. “He knew,” she whispered. It hadn’t been innocent on his part, but he knew how she was feeling that day. Through every word, every look, he knew what she was thinking and feeling.

  As she climbed into bed, she hoped that the bikini Elaine gave her would be microscopic.

  Chapter 13

  Stacy frowned as she packed the big picnic basket. All in all, she was beginning to wish she’d stayed in Italy. Dealing with fabrics and decisions about furniture and flirty Italians who seemed to have a hundred hands now seemed glorious. And so very simple!

  She’d spent a lot of time planning her booth at Widiwick. She was really hoping to get some commissions in Richmond or Charlottesville. She’d spent so much on fabrics that she’d had to ask her dad for money to buy the beautiful tent. Before she asked, she’d planned what she’d say to him to persuade him that the tent was an investment.

  But her father hadn’t balked. In fact, he’d asked what else she needed.

  “An Italian sports car?” she’d joked.

  “Whatever you need, pumpkin,” he’d said.

  Her mother was on the extension. “Did you meet anyone?”

  “Lots of people,” Stacy said. “I got two contacts for silks, and one for hard-carved—”

  “No, I mean a man,” her mother said.

  Stacy had to count to ten before she could reply. “No, but then I am engaged,” she said. “How is everything there?”

  “Good,” her father said, “but we really miss you. We think you should come home soon.”

  It had taken Stacy a while to reassure them that she was fine, but when she got off the phone she was worried that something specific was bothering them. Then she’d had to run to class and forgotten about it. Whatever was happening in Summer Hill seemed far away.

  Everything started falling apart when her teacher had to leave early. Stacy had been disappointed, but she was missing Nate and her family and her little hometown, so she was all right. She called Nate to tell him she was returning early. It went to voice mail. She packed, then called again. Voice mail. She made plane reservations, called. No answer. She began calling Nate every half hour. In the car to the airport. At the airport. Nothing.

  She didn’t want to call her parents because that would mean she’d have to tell them Nate wasn’t picking up his phone. She’d already been told about the disastrous brunch at their house.

  Her parents’ dislike of Nate was becoming a serious problem. When she couldn’t contact him, she’d had to swallow her pride and ask them to pick her up at the airport.

  As she’d feared, they went into a mini tirade about Nate not being reachable.

  Stacy defended him. “He works for the government. Maybe he had something important to do for them.”

  “I thought he quit that job,” her mother said.

  Stacy had no answer for that. She just gave them the flight information and told them it was time for her to board. The truth was that she was very annoyed with Nate. Couldn’t he at least pick up his phone?!

  But by the time she got back to dear little Summer Hill, she was willing to forgive him for everything. Surely he had a good excuse.

  He’d been waiting for her and she was so glad to see him! Her father had prepared a lovely little ceremony with champagne and hors d’oeuvres to present her and Nate with the fabulous Stanton house.

  But Nate had just stood there staring. Not frowning, not smiling. Just nothing. But then he’d abruptly grabbed her and kissed her in an intimate way in front of the townspeople who’d gathered. Stacy had been quite embarrassed.

  Once they were alone inside the house, Nate had been so cool that it was as though they were strangers. She’d practically thrown herself at him in invitation for a tryst on the floor, but he’d refused. When he’d nearly run from the house, leaving her standing there alone, her pride had been hurt.

  Since then, there had been nothing. Absolutely and totally nothing. They hadn’t spent even ten minutes alone. Stacy had tried to talk to Nate, to snuggle with him. She’d suggested they rent a hotel room.