Stormy Surrender - By Nicole Andrews Moore Page 0,54

for him as soon as he had added that third charm. And then he hooked it back in place. He left his hands on her slender wrist for an extra moment. Was he checking out her pulse? Did he just want to get a sense for how it looked? She was distracted by the warmth radiating from his fingers as they touched her skin.

“Lovely,” he said quietly. “Just perfect.” And then, just as quickly as he had held her wrist, he let go.

She stumbled some as she tried to get down from the truck. He had her a bit unhinged. She never knew how to take him. One minute he was a complete jerk, the next he would do something so completely endearing that she was questioning her previous assessment. She was lost in thought as she shut the truck door and started toward the street.

“Hey,” Joe yelled.

Marti wasn’t paying attention. She stopped on the curb and looked both ways when he suddenly grabbed her arm. She frowned and looked at him. “What?”

“When are you going to Vermont?” He wore a serious expression.

“Oh,” and the reason she had ended up getting a makeover rushed back to her. “Well, I guess I better head up there in the next couple of days. I don’t want to be stuck there over the weekend. Of course, I still have to move everything…” her voice trailed off while she continued the rest of the thoughts internally. “I’ll make phone calls and get everything set up.” She shrugged. “Why?”

“Give it a week. Don’t leave right away. He’ll think he still has some hold on you, that he can dictate your actions. Why don’t you wait a week or so, until you are good and ready? Then you can go.” Joe stared at her while he waited for a response.

She could feel him watching her for a reaction and she considered it. For never having met Blaine, Joe certainly seemed to have a strong sense for the kind of man he is. Or maybe that was just how all men behaved in general. “Okay,” she agreed. It wasn’t as though she was interested in rushing right up there anyway. She much preferred the weather here, and the people, especially Joe, who seemed to really understand her, maybe better even than she understood herself.

“Why don’t you meet me here as soon as you get your phone calls done tomorrow?” He was intentionally vague.

Normally that would have bothered her had Blaine done that, but it was different with Joe. She didn’t have to wonder who he was with or what he was doing when he was being secretive. He wasn’t hers to wonder or worry about. She wasn’t the least bit concerned. “Okay,” she said as she tried to smile. Why was it that she found herself constantly giving in to his requests? Heading back to Vermont was something she was dreading on so many levels.

“Good, I’ll see you then.” And with that they went their separate ways.

By 11am, she had a mover ready to meet her in the following week at the colonial house she had once shared with Blaine, who had seemed incredibly agreeable when it came to furniture and knick knacks. And since he had assured her that she could take whatever she wanted, she knew she would need a moving van. There was no way she could afford to buy all new furniture to decorate a house the size of her new home. It would drain her life savings just a little too quickly.

Once the movers were scheduled, she made the appointment with her new lawyers. That should be fun. Her stomach soured just picturing how the next few days were going to go. And the last decision she had to make was how to get there. Would she fly, or would she drive? It was a tough choice to make since she was traveling alone. Sighing, she called the airlines and purchased a round trip ticket out of Charlotte.

The mystery get-together with Joe was starting to look like the highlight of her day. Though she was already in a foul mood, she fixed her hair, applied some make up, and dressed in one of the new outfits she had chosen. The results, when she consulted the mirror, were surprising. And while she never would have guessed it would happen, she found herself smiling. There was a new air of confidence about her as she walked down the staircase on the way out of