Prejudice Meets Pride Read online

  But it wasn’t great news. Kevin wouldn’t be surprised if he woke up to a flamboyant display of pink flamingos scattered around the land of the dandelions. Although there was no moving truck yet, so maybe not. He brightened. Maybe they were just here to clean up the house and post a for sale sign. Then maybe some people who actually cared a little about appearances would move in instead.

  “Yeah, I noticed,” Kevin said. “Kind of hard not to. That car, uh… definitely makes a statement.”

  Becky laughed and leaned her hip against his car door, probably leaving smudge marks. She folded her arms across her chest. “I can’t wait to meet them. That house has been empty way too long.”

  “You think they’re here to stay?” Please no.

  “I hope so. They looked like a cute little family, and we need more kids on this street.”

  “Kids?” Great. Kevin enjoyed children and all—they were part of his job—but visions of tricycles and sidewalk chalk and toys scattered around the brittle grass entered his head. Yes, he knew all about the trail of destruction they left behind. The Lego table in his waiting room had taught him that much.

  “Two little girls,” said Becky. “They were adorable.”

  “I thought you hadn’t met them yet.”

  “I haven’t,” said Becky. “I was in the kitchen when they showed up and couldn’t help peeping.”

  “Oh, so now who’s Sherlock?” Kevin said dryly.

  Becky playfully slapped his shoulder. “After work tomorrow, I’m going to take them dinner so I can meet them. Maybe I’ll bring Sam along. She’ll make a great babysitter if they ever need one.”

  Kevin shook his head at Becky. “There’s no moving van. My guess is they’re not here to stay.”

  Becky pushed away from the door and gave his car a tap. “Go ahead and believe the worst, if you want. I, on the other hand, will take them dinner tomorrow and hope for the best.”

  But that was just it. Kevin was hoping for the best. “You do that, Beck. I’ll see you later.”

  His foot hit the gas pedal once again, and as he pulled up his drive and waited for his garage door to open, the skies had darkened enough to make the streetlight down the road flicker to life. A small smile touched his lips as he pulled into his pristine garage.

  No moving van, no new neighbors.

  “I’m starrrving!” said Adelynn in her typical melodramatic way.

  “Me too,” added Kajsa, directing a frown at the woman ahead of them in the checkout line.

  Emma tapped her sneaker against the grocery store’s marble tile. If only she’d come last night. Then the girls wouldn’t be so whiney, and she wouldn’t be standing in one of two open checkout lines, waiting as the woman in front of her haggled over the price of a package of bologna that was supposedly on sale, but wasn’t ringing through that way. Now they were waiting for a manager.

  Casting a quick glance over her shoulder at the growing line behind them, Emma’s fingers clenched the handful of coupons she carried. She’d become an expert at coupon clipping over the years and replenished her stash with every Sunday paper.

  Now, however, the coupons seemed like a bad idea, especially considering that the attractive guy behind her was impatiently tapping his foot as well. Tall, with dark hair and startling blue eyes, he made Emma feel like a frump in her faded yoga pants and old college t-shirt. Even the girls looked dreadful, sporting ratted hair and rumpled clothes—something that had added to Adelynn’s bad mood that morning. She hated not having her hair done.

  Emma suddenly wanted to move to the back of the line and let all the others go ahead of her, but she could only imagine what the girls would say if she did that.

  “I’m soooo hungry!” Adelynn bent over and plastered her little hands to her stomach.

  “How can you be hungry again? You just had a bunch of snacks at home.”

  “But it wasn’t breakfast.”

  “Well, we’re almost through the line. Then I’m going to make you some really yummy French toast, remember?” Emma said, mentally pleading with the woman in front of them to hurry.

  “But I’m hungry now, and French toast takes forever to make!” Adelynn said.

  “Can we have some juice, too?” Kajsa said.

  Her nerves completely fried, Emma glanced at the groceries on the conveyor belt, willing a carton of juice to magically appear. But it didn’t. And since there had been no coupons for juice in her stash, Emma had stuck with only milk. “Sorry, Kajsa, but I didn’t get any juice. Maybe next time.”

  Kajsa’s lips began to tremble, and her mouth turned down. “But Daddy always buys us juice.” Tears formed in her eyes and quickly began to fall.

  Emma cast a frantic glance to the woman in front of her, who had just accepted her receipt and was finally on her way.

  “I want my daddy!” Adelynn added her two cents.

  Not knowing what else to do, Emma grabbed a bag of Dum Dums and ripped it open, sending the contents flying all over the belt. “Here, have a sucker,” she said, grabbing two and praying the treat would pacify the girls until she could purchase the groceries.

  Kajsa quieted first and wiped at her eyes, taking the sucker with a frown. Adelynn followed suit, and Emma breathed a sigh of relief that she’d thought to get the suckers as an incentive for the girls.

  “I’m so sorry,” Emma said to the cashier as she handed her the open sucker bag.

  “No problem.” The woman waved off her apology. “Been there, done that. I have three of my own.”

  “Thank you.”

  As the last of the groceries were being scanned, Emma pulled out her wallet, but her credit card wasn’t in its usual place. Heart racing, Emma frantically dug through the contents of her purse as the cashier began to scan the coupons. But it was no use. The card, with its ever increasing balance, was gone.

  “Girls, did you play with my purse last night?” Emma had found it on the floor next to the couch—not on the table, where she’d placed it the night before.

  Kajsa guiltily shook her head while Adelynn pointed a finger at her sister. “We had a store, and Kajsa went shopping.”

  A sickening pit formed in Emma’s stomach. What now? Her fingers tentatively closed around her debit card, the only card that remained in her wallet.

  When the cashier announced the total, Emma swiped it through the machine, praying there would be enough to cover the bill.

  “I’m sorry, but it’s not taking the card,” said the cashier with a sympathetic look.

  Emma looked from the bags of groceries to the cashier, not sure what to do. Her face burned from embarrassment, especially when she caught the guy behind her glancing impatiently at his watch. If only a hole would appear in the floor and swallow her up.

  “I’m so sorry,” Emma finally said to the cashier. “I must have left my credit card at home. Is there any way I can put everything aside and come back in ten minutes to pay for it?”

  The cashier glanced nervously at her computer. “I’m kind of new, so I’m not sure how, but let me call my manager and see what they do for this type of situation.”

  This type of situation. Awesome. Not only was Emma the incompetent, penny-pinching frump, but now she was that customer—the kind the manager had to take care of.

  “What about just cancelling everything and rescanning it all when I get back?” It would mean rescanning all the coupons as well, but if it meant Emma could get away from this “situation,” she didn’t care.

  The woman looked nervously at the computer and shook her head. “I don’t know how to do that either. I’m so sorry.” She lifted the phone to her ear. “Just let me call my manager really quick.”

  “Why don’t you let me get this for you,” said a deep, masculine voice from beside her. The attractive man behind her held out his credit card, gesturing for her to move so he could swipe it through the machine.

  Emma stiffened and shook her head, staying put. If there was anything worse than holding up a long line, it was a
ccepting a handout from a total stranger. Or from anyone for that matter. Ever since Emma had turned eighteen, she’d supported herself one hundred percent. She’d worked two jobs, clipped coupons, shopped at second-hand stores, and managed to pay for college. She wasn’t about to let this guy—or anyone—cover her groceries just so she could save face or keep a few people from waiting.

  “You’re very kind to offer, but I don’t need the help,” Emma said.

  His dark eyebrow raised. “Uh, I really think you do. C’mon, do your kids—and us—a favor and let me take care of this. It’s not a problem.”

  “Actually, it is.” Emma felt her nerves start to crack and bleed.

  “Listen, lady,” said another woman in line. “We’ve all got places we need to be. Just let this nice man cover it. You can think of him as your knight in shining armor.”

  “Oh, but I don’t need a knight in—”

  Adelynn began to scream, clutching her arm. Tears squeezed from her eyes as red, cherry-colored drool dripped down her chin. “Kajsa hurt me!” With the sucker still in her mouth, her voice came out garbled.

  “Did not!” yelled Kajsa.

  “Did too!” Adelynn lunged for her sister, hitting her hard on the arm.

  “Ow!” Kajsa cried, hitting back.

  “Girls!” Emma cried. “Stop that!” Grabbing hold of their hands, she turned to the cashier, feeling tears of humiliation begin to wet her own eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’ll be back, I promise.”

  The cashier’s expression filled with pity, the man gaped at her, and Emma turned and fled. She couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

  Kevin blinked at the retreating woman as she practically ran from the store, holding two little girls captive.

  He shoved his credit card at the clerk. “Here. Pay for hers then ring up mine. I’ll be right back.” He grabbed the cart that had been loaded with all of her groceries and strode toward the door, hoping he could catch up to her before she left the parking lot.

  “Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath. Why couldn’t she have just accepted his help and be done with it? Kevin would have gladly paid fifty bucks if it meant he could get to work on time. But now, thanks to the obstinate woman, he would be late and still be out the fifty bucks.

  Why Kevin felt the need to follow her, he wasn’t sure. After the way she’d turned him down flat, it wasn’t like she’d be grateful. But the kids had acted hungry, and if there was one thing Kevin couldn’t stand to see, it was a child suffering. What kind of mother would leave the house without feeding her children? Or running a comb through their hair, for that matter?

  When he emerged outside, Kevin scanned the parking lot, searching for her. What caught his eye was the same sickly yellow Datsun that had graced his street the night before. He stared in disbelief as the woman from the store shut her little girls in the back then climbed inside, her long, dark ponytail swishing from side to side. Unbelievable was right.

  The car backed out of the parking space with a screech, followed by gears grinding. The woman glanced his way, her expression both anxious and surprised, before she cranked her wheel and zoomed toward the nearest exit.

  Kevin rolled his eyes, then turned the cart around and headed back inside. He pulled out his cell and quickly called his office manager.

  “Janice, something’s come up. I’m sorry, but I’m going to be about twenty minutes late.”

  “It’s kismet,” came her answer. “Your first appointment just cancelled.”

  “Really?” Could Kevin be so lucky?

  “Yep. Chase woke up with a fever and a sore throat, so we rescheduled him for next week.”

  “Perfect.” Kevin added the muffins and OJ he’d just purchased for his staff to the cart. “See you soon.” He ended the call, thanked the cashier, and accepted his credit card back. Once again, he left the store, loaded the bags in his car, and headed home, wondering what Becky would say when she found out that he’d met the new neighbors first.

  He parked in front of her house, behind the beast of a car, and collected her groceries from his trunk. Once on her porch, he knocked on a door with cracked and peeling white paint. When it opened, two striking gray eyes blinked at him once, then widened. The woman glanced over her shoulder and said, “Girls, I’ll be right back,” before stepping onto the porch and pulling the door mostly closed behind her, as though afraid Kevin would try to barge inside. “You followed me home?” She didn’t sound happy.

  He held up the bags. “Just dropping off your groceries.”

  “You can’t go around buying someone’s groceries and following them home.”

  “It was on my way, and I don’t make a habit of doing this. Trust me.”

  She eyed the bags, making no move to take them from him. “You’re really freaking me out.” Despite her disheveled appearance and lack of makeup, she was an attractive woman. Not much taller than Becky, she stood her ground and lifted her chin, as though challenging him to try and get her to accept the groceries.

  The handles of the bags were beginning to dig into his hands, so Kevin set them down on her steps. “You left the store five minutes before I did, so how is it possible that I followed you home?”

  Her brows drew together in confusion. “I don’t know. Maybe you followed the oil trail from Sunshine over there.” She gestured toward her car.

  Kevin couldn’t help but snicker. “You actually named that piece of junk Sunshine?”

  She shrugged, folding her arms. “I believe in looking beyond outward appearances and into the soul of things.”

  “Great, then I’m sure you can tell I’m not a creep. Just a former Boy Scout trying to do a good turn for his new neighbor.”

  A perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. “Neighbor?”

  “Next door, to be exact.” He held out his hand. “Kevin Grantham. That’s my house over there.” He jerked his head to the left.

  She eyed his hand in confusion, as though not sure if she believed him or not.

  Ready to be done with this and get to work, Kevin dropped his hand to his side. “I recognized… uh, Sunshine in the parking lot and figured I’d bring you a welcome to the neighborhood gift.” He nudged one of the bags with his foot. “You’re welcome.”

  “Those aren’t mine.”

  Here we go again. At this rate, Kevin would never get to work. “Of course they’re yours. Why would I buy diapers and fruit snacks?”

  “I have no idea, but apparently you did. So feel free to do whatever you want with them. Distribute them among the poor if you’d like—which doesn’t include me.” With that, she stepped inside and started to shut the door, then paused. “It’s nice to meet you, Kevin.” The door closed without another word.

  Kevin’s eyes widened. Who had raised that woman? A pack of wolves in a jungle? Didn’t she understand common courtesy? Not only had he just paid for her groceries, but he’d driven all the way back to deliver them personally. And how had she repaid him? By shutting the door in his face. She hadn’t bothered to say thank you or even introduce herself.

  Shaking his head at the closed door, he shoved his hands in his pockets, then turned and walked away, leaving the bags sitting on her porch. She did say he could do whatever he wanted with them, and he wasn’t about to cart them back to his car. As far as he was concerned, he’d done his duty and could officially wash his hands of her. Kevin could only hope that she was here to get the house ready to sell and post that sign.

  The warm, evening air whipped at Kevin’s face as he drove past the gym, where he usually worked out, and headed home instead. It had been a long day, filled with unexpected grocery purchases, annoying new neighbors, a kid with a trigger-happy jaw who’d nearly taken his finger off, and one-year-old triplets—none of whom wanted to sit in the big, scary chairs. Normally, Kevin could handle the chaos kids brought to his office, but today, his patience had been tried to its limits. It was as if his run-in with his neighbor-without-a-name had derailed the rest of his day, and
he couldn’t wait to put an end to it.

  Kevin let the warm, evening air massage his nerves. What he needed was a decent meal, a long, hot shower, and a good game on the TV. He’d unwind, shake the day off, and be back to his normal, controlled life by tomorrow.

  He pulled into his drive, where something strange appeared in his peripheral vision. He slammed on the brakes and glared at his front porch. Tucked up against his door rested the five grocery sacks he’d left on his neighbor’s front porch earlier. His jaw clenched as the blood in his veins began to simmer. She was driving him crazy.

  Kevin left his car in the garage, grabbed the grocery sacks yet again, and hauled them back to her house. So much for winding down. So much for a quiet, peaceful night. And so much for washing his hands of her.

  The door opened after the second knock, revealing the same woman from this morning, only this time the mascara she’d applied to her eyes made them look larger and lighter than before. Her hair was still in a ponytail, but neater, and she’d traded her workout pants for well-fitting jeans. Kevin couldn’t help but notice how pretty she was.

  Married with two kids. Names cars based on their inner beauty. Obstinate, annoying, and possibly even crazy.

  Why in the world was he checking her out? What kind of guy had hooked up with her anyway? Obviously someone who was into her looks, because that was the only thing she had going for her.

  She didn’t look surprised to see him. “I take it you’re here for the milk and cheese?”

  What? Kevin’s confusion must have shown in his expression because she added, “Didn’t you get my note?”

  “What note?”

  She looked down and pulled a neon-green note from one of the bags, holding it up. “This note.” She cleared her throat and read, “‘Didn’t want the milk and cheese to spoil, so they’re in my fridge. Come get them anytime, or I’ll drop them by later.’”

  Kevin set down two of the bags and snatched the note from her. Sure enough, no signature. “Do you have a name?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  Kevin waited for her to say something more, but she didn’t. It was like she enjoyed getting on his nerves. “Mind telling me what it is?”