Nothing In Common Read online

  Lila’s fingers curled against her palms. Her stomach, which had been impatiently growling a few minutes before, now began an uneasy flip-flopping. She forced a look of blank composure on her face; she didn’t want Jennifer and Wendi to think she was listening to them.

  "I guess that’s why she’s head waitress." Wendi made a great show of studying her long, polished nails. "She sure gets a lot of on-the-job training."

  Wendi and Jennifer shared a smirk then and both glanced sideways at Lila. She continued studying the menu, her coat, her fingernails, and anything that would give them the impression she was patiently waiting and nothing more. "Maybe someone should go knock on his door." Jennifer’s last word sounded suspiciously like a giggle.

  Wendi rolled her eyes. "Not me, thanks."

  Again, Lila struggled not to let her face show she was listening. Lila told herself she had no reason to be suspicious. After all, she trusted him. Didn’t she?

  "Someone’s waiting for him." This time Jennifer said it loudly enough Lila couldn’t mistake the words were meant for her ears. The blonde hostess’ voice dropped, but not far enough. "Looks like a real charity case."

  Lila’s stomach lurched to her throat. The room became suddenly, stiflingly hot. Charity case! The words hammered her eardrums hard enough to block out the rest of what the two women were saying. Charity case! The comment rang over and over, causing her head to spin.

  Lila staggered to her feet. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her gaze from the red ooze that seemed to be swimming in her vision. She needed air, and she needed it fast. She needed to get away from The Foxfire.

  "Can I help you?" Jennifer’s giggles seemed under control for the moment. She tapped her long nails against one of the plastic-coated menus.

  "I’m afraid I can’t wait for Tom any longer." Lila’s voice trembled, and she clenched her nails into her palms. The sting gave her some strength. "Please tell him Lila couldn’t wait for him any more."

  "Sure," Jennifer cooed. "You don’t look good, sweetie. You look like you need some air."

  Lila bit her tongue to stifle a nasty retort. She hated being called "sweetie" by someone she didn’t even know. That Jennifer was obviously laughing at her distress only made matters worse.

  "Just a little too warm," Lila bit out tersely.

  As she pushed her way out the front doors, she thought she heard a cackle of nasty laughter behind her. The cold air hit her like a slap and rocked her head back. It felt wonderful.

  She fought the hot tears slipping over her cheeks. If there had been a breeze, they might have dried quickly, but the air was frigid and still. The tears froze to her face as solidly as they froze in her heart.

  * * *

  It was five o’clock before Tom had a moment to sit down and breathe. The blizzard had messed up deliveries all over central Pennsylvania, and he’d had to make a lot of last-minute changes in the Saturday specials. Plus, the crowds had been overwhelming. The Foxfire had run out of onion soup, garlic bread, and salmon steaks by one-thirty p.m., and various other things over the rest of the afternoon. Fortunately, most people were just so glad to be out of their houses they willingly accepted substitutions.

  He propped his feet up on his desk with a sigh that came from his toes. Stretching out the kinks in his back, Tom looked at the clock. Blinking, he took another look.

  He had promised Lila lunch today. True, he’d been so busy he hadn’t even had time to notice the lunch hour come and go, but surely she would have asked someone to find him. Frowning, he dialed Lila’s phone number.

  The answering machine beeped, but no message played in his ear. He knew the power outages had done some damage to it, and he guessed she hadn’t had time to fix it yet. He would take the chance that the machine would record his voice.

  "Lila, it’s me." He didn’t bother to identify himself further because he knew he didn’t have to. It was a good feeling. No, a great feeling. "Sorry I missed you today. What happened? Call me when you get in. I’m heading home."

  The fact she hadn’t shown up or called still disturbed him, but he shrugged off the feeling. Maybe something had come up with her sister. Maybe she’d stopped by, seen how busy he was and didn’t want to bother him. Whatever had happened, he was sure he’d see her tonight. They’d talked about renting a really good scary movie, popping some corn, and hanging out at his place for a change. Lila had never been to his house, and he wanted her to meet Emma.

  "Boss, can I talk to you?" Emma stood in the doorway. Chocolate sauce, flour, and a dozen other substances Tom couldn’t identify dotted her white smock.

  "Sure, Em. What’s up?"

  She closed the door behind her and plopped down in the soft chair across from him. "It’s about this morning."

  Tom held up his hands. "Say no more. You’re both adults."

  Emma sighed. "Tell my mom that, will ya?"

  Tom grinned. His older sister Marietta was not known for her open mind or lenient attitude. "I’m not telling your mom anything, Emma. When you came to live with me, she made me promise I’d look out for you. I’m not going to risk my hide by telling her I found a half-naked man coming out of your bedroom."

  "Uncle Tom, you’re so cool." Emma leaned over the table to kiss his cheek with a loud smack. "I wish Mom were more like you."

  "Uncles can be cool. Parents have to play the heavy." The philosophical tone made his niece roll her eyes.

  "That coming from the man who swore he’d never ‘sow his seed,’ to quote you from about a year ago."

  Tom remembered saying that. It had been to Marietta, in fact, at the annual Caine family get-together. She’d cornered him and wanted to know why he’d come dateless, when was he going to settle down, and why didn’t he think about giving Mom some more grandkids? He’d replied with the comment Emma had just quoted. Marietta hadn’t seen the humor in his reply.

  "Things change." Her eyes sparkling and her grin wrinkling her freckled nose, Emma pounced toward him. "Boss, you’re in love!"

  Tom shrugged but couldn’t hide his own grin. "Maybe."

  Emma shrieked. "With the one you spent the blizzard with?"

  He raised his eyebrow at her. "Her name is Lila, and yes. And don’t go telling your mother about where I spent the blizzard."

  Emma quickly drew an X on her chest with one finger. "She won’t hear it from my lips. God forbid I stay home alone at the ripe old age of twenty-four. So, tell me about her!"

  What could he say about Lila? There was too much, all mixed up inside with the feelings he’d never thought to experience. He couldn’t describe her because words could simply not do her justice.

  "She’s great." That would not be enough for Emma. "I can talk to her."

  "Wow." Emma sounded as solemn as if he’d recited a sonnet in Lila’s honor. "I’ve never heard you say that about anyone before. She must be great. And crazy."

  "Why crazy?"

  "To fall for you." Emma danced out of his grasp.

  "No crazier than Michel." Tom cowered under Emma’s flurry of tiny punches. "Hey, stop that, Squirt!"

  His use of the dreaded nickname from the past stopped Emma in her tracks. "Don’t call me that!"

  Tom, who knew just how to tease his niece into a frenzy, replied calmly, "Squirt."

  Emma shrieked again, launching herself over the desk at him to pummel him soundly. Tom responded by twisting her arm up behind her back and tickling her mercilessly. Both ended by laughing hysterically.

  "So when can I meet Lila the Great?"

  "How about tonight? She’s supposed to come over and watch a movie."

  Emma nodded. "Cool. Maybe I’ll ask Mike to come over, too. It can be a double date."

  A discreet knock came at the door. Jennifer stuck her head inside, her brilliant smile fading a bit when she saw Emma. The spunky redhead took that as her cue to leave and pressed another kiss to Tom’s cheek.

  "Tom." Jennifer’s voice was smooth. "Wendi and I are going to Wanda’s Beach Club after wo