Small Town Girl Read Online Free Page B

iPhones and stuff like that?”
    “Yeah, something like that. To tell you the truth, I’m not exactly sure. It’s a lot of different things. Very complicated.”
    “And very lucrative,” Caleb replied with a snort.
    Lauren’s ire was aroused again. She had been babbling with too much information. “And what’s wrong with that? Jealous?”
    “Hell, no. I don’t begrudge anybody the right to do the best they can for themselves. I do just fine. I’ve got my own company. I provide jobs for eleven people. I got my own home. You couldn’t pay me enough to live in New York City. I’m where I want to be. Hope he is, too.” Caleb paused and looked at her. His eyes wandered over her face, as if searching for something. “And you?”
    “I am most definitely where I want to be,” she said, indignant at the question. “And anyway, it’s none of your business.” She forgot her fear of being sued. This man was annoying, with his muscles and white teeth and palpable virility.
    “No need to get so prickly. What do you do? Or are you one of those kept women?” he said. Instantly, his regret showed in his face. It was obvious to Lauren that he hadn’t meant it to come out the way it did, but her temper flared anyway.
    “That was rude! That was very, very rude!”
    He put the compress down on the old enamel-topped table and held up both hands in a placating gesture. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean it.” His voice softened. “Please. I didn’t mean it. I misspoke. Really, what do you do?”
    Lauren paused before she answered, looking into his eyes, but he seemed sincere. She regained her composure and answered him. “I’m a curator at the Thompson Museum for the Arts in New York City,” she said. “I majored in Antiquities in college.”
    Caleb Cochran didn’t seem impressed. “It’s weird you don’t know what your fiancé does.”
    “I know what he does.”
    “Apparently not really.”
    “It’s complicated business.”
    “And when you get married, you’ll be part of it. Don’t married couples share everything? I know when I — ” and then he stopped, his lips closed in a thin line. Lauren thought she saw his eyes grow dark. He stood up abruptly. “You need a new valve,” he continued. “It’s an old system so I’m going to have to order the part. How long you here for?”
    “Well, I wanted to leave day after tomorrow. After I get things set up with a Realtor.”
    “It’ll cost you extra, but I can probably get it overnighted and put it in tomorrow.”
    “I don’t care how much it costs. Just get it done!” Lauren couldn’t hide her impatience. She didn’t need to deal with a stranger’s bizarre criticisms.
    He blinked at her, his face expressionless. Then he walked across the room and stood by the old screen door. “You’re used to being in charge, and you’re kind of rude yourself. How about ‘Thanks, Caleb. That would be nice.’ Something for the effort.”
    She stared at him, his hips set forward in a self-confident way, his arms folded across his chest. His body language was blocking her out. He had put up defenses.
    “Whether or not I like being in charge is insignificant. I am in charge,” she said defiantly. “And I like where I am.”
    “And where are you?”
    “Not stuck in some East Podunk town smelling of fuel oil and soot!”
    She knew it was a vicious thing to say, but right now she didn’t care. How dare he come in here, flexing his muscles, preying on her sympathies with his burn and his sparkling eyes, drawing her into personal conversation! Lauren waited for his comeback, but Caleb cocked his eyebrows at her, and gave the slightest wry smile. Then he turned on his heel and left. The screen door slammed behind him.
    “And don’t let it hit you in the ass on the way out!” she muttered. Although, she had to admit, it was a pretty nice-looking ass.
    Lauren watched his white pick-up truck as it disappeared down the dirt road toward town. She was alone in