Varmint

CHAPTER ONE

Chris Duffle slapped the alarm clock's stem and stretched. She brushed back her blonde hair and just lay there a moment feeling safe and happy and loved. The sun was shinning in through the French doors of the bedroom and her handsome new husband, Duff, was already up.

She smiled to herself, reached over and touched his still warm pillow.

Reluctantly, she hopped out of the temptingly still warm bed and hurried to the shower, dropping her pajamas in a Hansel and Gretel trail as she went. She stopped a few seconds, cocking her head, and smiled at the kitchen noises she heard from downstairs.

Duff was fixing one of his gourmet breakfasts for her. The thought of him with a dish towel stuck into his belt warmed her heart.

Laughing at her foggy reflection in the bathroom mirror Chris was thankful for Duff's sense of humor as well as all the other things she liked about him. She shivered a little remembering their love making last night.

She took a deep breath and closed the shower door. Closing her eyes under the warm water, she laughed out loud when her stomach growled. Small wonder she was hungry. She hurried drying off. She pulled on clothes and glanced at the phone as she snatched off the shower cap she'd put on so she wouldn't have to dry her hair.

She decided to call Will, her friend and boss at the office. To warn him she might be a little late. Hungry, her stomach growled again in anticipation.

She picked up the phone and stopped, frowning, lips parted as she listened. She heard voices. She only recognized one of them. Dear, sexy voice. The frown disappeared at the sound of it. Duff, handsome, sexy Duff. She smiled to herself as she listened. He always sounded so upbeat.

I love you, Duff's voice sounded happy. It actually had a lilt in it. The smile froze on her face. She frowned. She didn't know the other voice.

I love you, too. A young feminine voice answered. This one also sounded happy. Upbeat and joyful. Bye for now, it practically sang.

Chris just stood there a moment listening to the dial tone. This can't be happening. This can't be what I heard. Her better judgment insisted. Her loyal heart rejected the thoughts running through her head. She took a deep breath. This is not happening, not in my happy life. This happens to other people. This is not my Duff. Saying he loves some other woman? No. No way. p

But who was this woman? This happy voice? She put the phone down softly and left the room.

Duff's voice from downstairs broke into her thoughts. He was yelling at her, still sounding happy as a lark. Not guilty as sin. Definitely not guilty. Yes, he was happy, they were happy. Yes, she mused thoughtfully, recalling that overheard conversation. She had heard it in his voice. And in hers, she looked puzzled as she heard his throaty laugh again and smiled.

Yes. That's real. I'm his wife. He loves me-me-me. She shrugged and laughed at her suspicions as her heart settled down, her own happiness back in place. But she was too busy thinking to answer him.

"Hey, Lazybones!" Duff yelled again. Hurry up, I'm hungry!

Where had she heard that happiness gave you a good appetite? Chris frowned, walking slowly. The old suspicious nature Duff thought he'd cured and banished surfaced in her again. She thought it was gone forever, but there it was. Shame on me and my suspicious nature, this has got to stop. I'm sure I'd know if there was anything wrong in our relationship. She hugged herself, her heart so happy again it skipped a beat.

She straightened up and smiled, determined to 'hear no evil.' How could a couple of people so obviously happy and worry free as she and Duff were have any problems? Yes, her. Her new, trusting, happy self? Or Duff? Involved in something as bad as cheating? She tried to laugh at herself but didn't quite make it.

She entered the kitchen hoping she looked half as good as she felt. Make that as good as she felt coming out of the shower. Her heart gave a lurch at the sight of Duff's handsome, smiling face. Tall, dark, and handsome as all get-out. And he was smiling at HER. Married to HER. He'd pursued her, wouldn't take no for an answer from her. He was fixing breakfast for her now, she reminded herself, ashamed of her suspicions.

Something smells heavenly. She glanced at the stove and took a deep breath.

He half turned toward her. He looked as happy as she felt again after the mental pep talk. She looked at the table. She closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of the breakfast he'd taken such pains with to make everything just right. She pulled out a chair still trying not to look at him. Sometimes she thought he could read her mind. Or at least, her suspicions. Goodness knows, he'd sure been good at that when he was trying to convince her to marry him.

Duff had put a bud vase on the table with a beautiful pink rose bud in it. Looks pretty too. Chris bent to sniff at the beautiful bud.

Not as pretty as you. Duff's smile could sell toothpaste, out-doing any competition from the male professional models.

Duff put the skillet back on the stove and caught her before she could sit down. He pulled her into his arms and nestled his face in her hair as if they had all day right here in paradise before them. Work was just a four letter word that would soon part them. He wouldn't think about it.

Um, you smell good too. He kissed her long and happily. Life and time stood still. Clocks didn't exist.

I love you, his deep baritone rumbled against her cheek.

Chris loved him, adored him. Yep, every thrilling gorgeous inch of him from that husky voice and Roman nose to those big feet which could move so fast and dance well too. He loved her and she loved him and God was in his heaven and all was right with their world.

She put her arms around his neck and held him close. She was happy. She would let no silly suspicions sneak in and poison her happiness. Their happiness. She pictured that first child they were currently working on. Would he be dark like Duff or blonde like her?

She looked up at him when he held her chair for her. Thought about calling to warn Will I'll be late. But I don't think anyone panics for about an hour. She smiled and reached for salt and pepper. Yum. I'm getting spoiled to these omelets.

Good. It's nice to be appreciated. Duff dug into his own breakfast looking as happy as he'd sounded on the phone. But who was he sharing that happiness with? She ignored the thought, that lingering suspicion, and shoved a big bite into her mouth to keep from letting a frown show. She shoved more food into her mouth and killed the frown trying to get out.

Hey, not so fast. This is to be savored. He grinned.

I know. I know. Chris smiled mischievously, then sighed. Will has been hinting he'd get up early for one of these specialties of yours if we happened to ask him some weekend. Or anytime ever.

She giggled remembering Will. It would be torture for me to be late on top of his never getting asked to share one of these. She munched happily, enjoying the bell peppers and sausage in Duff's gourmet recipe.

Go on. You're not really late yet. Duff sipped his coffee as if they both had all the time in the world.

Sometimes Chris wondered if he was physically able to worry. He was usually such an upbeat optimist. One of those 'bottle's half full' guys, she thought to herself, grinning around a mouth too full of goodies. Duff had already finished.

I’ll just put these in the dishwasher, Duff said as Chris reluctantly swallowed and got up from the table. He stacked her empty plate on top of his.

Don't want you to lose your job. Duff grinned at her as he put the dishes in the dishwasher and wiped his hands on the dish towel around his waist.

He paused and glanced at her. I might want to just stay home with the kids. You know, he shrugged. Be a house-husband.

Chris laughed. I can't picture that. And besides we haven't got any kids.

"Yet. We haven't got any kids yet," he reminded her. We're working on it. You sure eat fast? Well. Go on then, if you've got to. He sounded about half aggravated at the thought but gestured toward the door. Shoo.

Suspicion surfaced again. She ignored it again.

He gave her a kiss that made her want to take the rest of the week off and let Duff play house-husband all he wanted to.

The overheard intimacy of that phone conversation kept coming back to Chris as she drove to work. She still looked a little worried as she opened the office door.

Will looked up, raised an eyebrow at the worry wrinkles.

Heavy door. Chris mumbled without stopping, not meeting Will's eyes.

She dumped her purse on her desk and headed for the break-room trying to remember how to look like she had nothing to worry about. Which she didn't, she kept telling herself.

Will and Amanda joined her. Amanda had brought apple turnovers and kept up a steady, giggly report on her children’s antics at home. Chris was glad she didn't have to contribute anything but an occasional smile. Will didn't comment. He just drank two cups of coffee to wash down a turnover, giving Chris a suspicious look as she played with her turnover, leaving a bit she'd broken off. Will picked it up and finished it off with the rest of his coffee and she laughed at him.

"Pig! You've got to learn to cook, you're going to starve to death on fast food junk.

I and my microwave do fine, thank you. Will got up and rinsed his cup.

Amanda finished what she called her allowable and counted temptations and went back into her tiny office to work.

Chris went to Chris’s desk and pulled a couple of files toward her. Then he just sat at his desk a minute, looking at her.

She was aware he was staring but she didn't look back. Chris put everything out of her mind except work, work, work.

Then suddenly, so quietly she was unaware he'd moved, Will was behind her, his big hands on the back of her chair. He pushed her over to the left front of his desk. He sat back down like a judge hearing a case, looking at the red-with-temper face before him.

Okay. Tell me about it, he commanded.

CHAPTER TWO

There's nothing to tell, you maniac. What's wrong with you?

There's nothing wrong with me. You came in looking worried and you haven't said one whole sentence since you got here. I thought Duff buried that cynical, sarcastic, suspicious side of you out there in that big-as-a-park yard you two live in. So? What's wrong?

Chris didn't answer.

Will threw out some ideas. You've mortgaged the house and a payment's due? Too many utility bills or other bills? Some kinfolks you haven't met yet coming to visit? There was no answer. Chris glared.

He stopped to look closer at her, squinting a little as if unsure. Finally he mused, It's not a bad hair day.

Chris broke up at that one . She rested her elbow on her open file and looked at him..

You are just the absolute limit, Will Tuttle. There's nothing wrong. Not one blessed thing. No trouble in paradise.

Will gave that some thought. Then his face suddenly fell into sad lines that replaced the smile lines around his mouth. He actually hesitated. Chris wondered now what was wrong with him. She hesitated, watching his expression.

Hey, this is me. Will said positively. I'm family. We're family here. He suddenly looked concerned as if he'd already heard some kind of bad news.

You didn't find out you and Duff can't have children, did you?

"Oh, no, what a thought! You know what, Will? You're even worse than I used to be. Always suspicious, thinking the worst. For your information, and I wouldn't be telling you this if you and Amanda weren't like family as we've pointed out. Duff and I can have all the children we want as far as we know. Or, let me rephrase that, as many as we can afford." She gave him a little satisfied smile.

They sat silent a couple of seconds till Chris let a little laugh escape. Duff rushed me out of the house this morning so I wouldn't lose my job.

Will let out a deep breath. That's better.. So there's nothing wrong? He lightened up.

Chris shook her head. We can still afford for Duff to fix his gourmet meals when he wants to and has time. So we're okay at the moment. In fact I thought about calling to tell you I might be a little late today. He fixed those heavenly omelets again.

The ones with everything? Bell peppers, sausage and all? Will's expression was like a little boy looking at a train set in a toy shop window. Don't guess you might want to invite me over for breakfast anytime soon?

No, not at the moment. Since he does the cooking, he gets to do the inviting. She turned back to her desk and started pushing her files closer and reached for another one before she looked up again. But I'll keep those omelets in mind in case I want to butter you up for some reason. Now how about we just get to work?

Okay. I may have some things I need help with on a couple of these claims I'm working on. He picked up a file.

Okay. I'm here. And not too stacked up.

* * *

Duff took his time. He drove to work whistling as he went. He went around the back of the tire store to park his car and the overhead door raised like magic for him.

They had put the parking garage in when they'd had a fire at the place and did some other remodeling while they were at it.

A man about Duff's size stepped out and gave him a smile and a jaunty wave. He was somewhere between sixty-five and seventy-five but in good shape and had snow white hair that framed his friendly face. He looked like the kind of uncle or grandfather Sears would offer if they could get a permit to supply the public with those as well as household goods.

Good morning, Mr. Hubbard.

Duff got out and bowed formally noticing how spotless the garage looked. I got lucky when I found you. He gave the man's shoulder a pat. The place hasn't looked this good since dad was here to see that it did.

Elroy Hubbard shook his head. I'm the one who had the luck. Not that I deserved it. And my daddy was Mr. Hubbard. I'm Elroy. Just plain old Elroy. His grin was ear to ear as always. Elroy was one of those people who always see the bottle half full too, even if it was hard to spot a bottle anywhere.

Anything going on except routine today?

Not according to Grace. Unless you count that she's made us a big pot of that good stew of hers.

Glad to hear it. I think I'll make some phone calls and see what else I can catch up on, unless business gets so good we run out of tires.

You ever run out of tires? Elroy was never sure how serious Duff was and his knowledge about tires was limited to how much they cost or if something was on sale when he waited on customers in the store. And of course being as conscientious as he was optimistic he always looked that up.

No. We've never yet run out of tires. Duff laughed. But I keep hoping.

He stuck his head into Ben Rollins and Grace Martin's accounting office and both looked up.

Hear we've got some of your good stew to look forward to. He addressed Grace and waved to Ben.

Grace's fingers hovered over her word processor. Yes. The store had a sale and I couldn't resist. It's in the crock-pot. Just let us know when there's lull enough to stop and eat.

That probably won't be long. I dispatched Elroy just now to the grocery store. I'm getting a tub of butter and Elroy sprung for a loaf of Italian Bread."

Ben nodded his approval. Heck, I'm ready to eat now just smelling it when she brought that stew in.

It's good to be appreciated. Grace got on with her typing.

Duff looked around the shop as he went to his office. There was a couple in the store looking around and one man in some sort of work uniform. Elroy was staying close in case he was needed.

Duff rummaged in a desk drawer and found the number of a nearby restaurant. He ordered a family size pan of their apple crisp.

It'll be ready about eleven o'clock. The owner himself told Duff. I'll put your name on it. Or I could have one of the girls run it over there?

That's okay. I'll send for it or come get it myself. Thanks.

Before he placed the next call Duff got up and shut his office door.

Elroy noticed. His curiosity was about as active as Will Tuttle’s.

Hi, Duff grinned into the phone when the feminine voice answered. I'm calling from the office so Chris won't know what I'm up to.

Elroy stuck his head in the door, knocking on the facing at the same time.

Yes? What is it? Duff's voice was a little impatient. Elroy made note of his discomfort at being interrupted in the call that needed privacy and quickly explained.

We have a customer who wants to know if he opens an account will he have to pay interest if he pays for his tires in six months? He wants to replace all of them. Elroy