Matt saw her everywhere once he’d actually noticed her the first time. That bright shock of white-blonde hair was a beacon along with the vivid, colorful clothes she always wore.
Somehow, it fit and he loved the retro vibe it lent her. Quite often, she wore dresses that made him think of the fifties. Flared skirts and tight bodices in bright red or blue. Always shoes to match. The woman could probably give Cassie a run for her money in the shoe department.
Two weeks after he’d gone into her shop that first time, he saw her sitting on a bench at city hall. It was early May and the day was clear and warm. Her hair gleamed in the sunshine.
He plopped down on the bench next to her and began to unpack his lunch. “Hey there. This seat taken?”
Her surprised jump made him glad she wasn’t eating or drinking anything after the first choking incident. “Hi. No. No, sit down. I was just having my lunch.”
Looking between his sandwich and whatever the heaven-in-a-bowl she was eating, made his stomach growl. “What is that? Looks way better than a turkey sandwich.”
She held out a forkful to him and without thinking he took it. Instantly, his taste buds lit as the flavor rushed into his mouth.
“It’s green curry with tofu.”
“That’s tofu? No way. Tofu tastes like, well, nothing.”
She laughed, that sweet, musical laugh. “Tofu will soak up the flavor of whatever you cook it with. This has garlic, basil, eggplant and tofu in it and I like to add mushrooms just because. The green curry is spicy and the coconut milk is sweet. All together it just works doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. I’ll never wrinkle my nose at tofu again.”
She curled her lip at his sandwich. “Is that pressed turkey?” Her tone made it seem like he’d been eating dog poop.
“Um, I don’t know?” He shrugged. “I get it at the market, in those baggies where the cheese is. Is it bad?”
“Tell me something, Matt Chase, does your mother ever serve turkey that tastes like that?”
He recoiled in horror. “Never!”
She handed him the curry. “Good Lord, eat this. And go to the deli to get your turkey there next time. You know what a tomato is right?”
Obediently he ate and nodded. “But it makes the sandwich soggy.”
“Keep the slices in a separate baggie until you’re ready to eat the sandwich.” She peeled the bread and looked at him accusingly. “Is this processed cheese? The kind that comes in little individual plastic sleeves?”
“Yeah. Hey, I like that stuff!”
“No you don’t.”
She sounded so sure of it, he started to doubt himself. Instead, he ate the food she’d given him. “What are you going to eat?”
She pulled out another container and two small containers. “I have marinated tomatoes and mozzarella with crostini.”
“Huh?” He leaned over and nearly drooled when she pulled the lid off the container and the scent of olive oil and basil hit him along with the sweet acid of the tomatoes. “No way.”
Grinning, she popped a tiny ball of cheese into his mouth and he groaned. “You can’t have it all but I’ll share some of it. I usually give my leftovers to Beth. If she hunts you down later, don’t blame me.” She pulled several little toasts out of a paper sack. “This is crostini. Just little pieces of toasted bread with olive oil or even plain. You put things on it, olive spread, tomatoes, cheeses, that sort of thing. My brother William works at the Honey Bear. He bakes the bread and tempts me with it even though fresh sourdough bread is the last thing I need every day.”
“I go in there all the time. I can’t believe I haven’t recognized him. Does he look like you?”
“He starts work at four in the morning and he’s off by two most days. You wouldn’t see him, he bakes in the basement. All of my brothers and sisters are redheads with green eyes except me and Nathan. Nate’s got brown hair. William looks like a younger version of Tim, my older brother.”
He’d started to chide her about the bread thing until she spoke about her coloring. He remembered back to his momma’s comments about Tate’s mother’s behavior.
Tate cocked her head and he actually saw her openness evaporate. “Yes, I’m aware of my mother’s reputation, it’s well deserved but you won’t catch poor white trash by sharing a fork with me.”
“Whoa!” The hurt in her words nearly made his eyes water. Putting the bowl down, he reached for her hand. “I would never think such a thing. Tate, I don’t think that about you.”
“I saw your face change when I described my coloring to you.” She tried to remove her hand but he wouldn’t let go.
“Yes. Yes, okay, I did think about what I’d heard about your mother. But that has nothing to do with you. I don’t even know your mother. For all I know, your dad has blond hair and blue eyes.”
“Both my parents are redheads with green eyes, Matt. Don’t think everyone in the world didn’t notice me and Nathan and that we don’t look a damned thing like my father. Don’t think my father failed to notice and make us pay.”
He stilled. “What do you mean?”
She began to pack her things up. “I need to get back to work.”
Reaching out, he touched her arm and she stopped, looking into his eyes. “Wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. If you leave I have to give your food back.” He grinned tentatively and she snorted.
“Ugh, another man after my food. I have to beat you all off with a stick. Really, it’s difficult to be objectified that way.”
He laughed but he saw her humor as a way to deflect the conversation away from her comment about her father.
They stayed for another twenty minutes or so before she had to get back to the salon.
“I’ll walk back with you. I need to get to work too. I can’t believe we work across the street and I’ve never really hung out with you before.” He helped her pack up. “Wow, what is this little lunchbox thing?”
“Cool isn’t it? It’s a Mr. Bento. I got it at this cookware store in Atlanta a few months back.”
They walked companionably through the early May afternoon toward their end of town.
“I take it you like to cook?”
She nodded. “It’s a great stress reducer. It’s a way I can do something for my family.”
“So you cut their hair and make them curry?” He grinned, liking that a lot.
“I do. Although Anne is really good with hair too. We’re all pretty handy in the kitchen but it sort of turned into my place to be the house everyone comes to for dinner.” And they all knew her cupboards would never be bare, ever. Once she’d moved out, that was her promise to herself and she’d kept it. No one she loved would ever be hungry if she could help it.
“Do you do men’s hair? I think I need a cut.” Absently, he ruffled a hand through his hair and a surge of giddiness rushed through her. Thirty-one years old with a crush, wasn’t that special.
“We don’t get a lot of men in the shop. Men in Petal tend toward the barber shop on First. But we get a few and I’d be happy to do you. Um, do your hair that is.” She blazed bright red.
He laughed. “You blush easily don’t you?”
“It’s a curse of very pale skin I suppose.” They stopped just outside the salon. “Give a call to check the schedule. I’ll be glad to fit you in and trim you up.” She brushed the hair away from his neck and tsked. “And I’ll get your neck too.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.” He paused before waving and crossing. On the other side of the street he called out, “Thanks for the curry. I’ll talk to you soon, Tate.”
“Hoo boy,” she mumbled, watching him as he went back into the stationhouse.
* * *
Matt found himself in Tate’s company several times a week. He liked Tate Murphy a lot. Liked her cooking, liked her sense of humor, liked the shape of her eyes and the smattering of freckles on the apple of her cheeks. Her voice was low and scratchy, totally unique, just like the rest of her.
He found himself thinking about her when he wasn’t with her and making excuses to try and bump into her around town.
About a month after that first lunch with Tate, Kyle had invited himself over to Matt’s apartment with Nicholas and the three of them spent the afternoon watching NASCAR and building block towers. Nicholas was quickly approaching a year old and Matt had babyproofed his living room and kitchen to make it safe for his nephew’s presence. Still, the boy was fast as lightning.
Kyle jumped up to grab Nicholas when the doorbell rang. He opened it with Nicholas under his arm, laughing.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this was Matt’s apartment.”
Matt perked up at the familiar voice. He looked around Kyle’s body and saw Tate standing there holding a duffel. “It’s my place. Kyle and Nicholas are hanging out today. Come on in.”
She hesitated and Kyle stepped back, allowing Matt to take her arm and pull her inside before she could bolt.
“I-I’m sorry to interrupt. I was in the neighborhood and I remembered you saying you lived here.” That pretty blush crept up her neck.
“You’re welcome to visit any time. Is this a social call or...?”
Nicholas jumped out of Kyle’s arms and before either of them could move, Tate had effortlessly dropped the duffel and grabbed Nicholas and held him to her. Face close to his, she grinned and kissed his nose. “Hey, you, the ground is lots harder than you think. Let me help.” She lowered him carefully but he didn’t take his eyes from her. Instead, he held his hand up and took her finger, tugging her over to his block tower and began to babble about it.
Kyle’s eyes widened as Tate sat down and began to babble back and forth with Nicholas and work on the tower.
“Not a social call, not purely,” she said over her shoulder.
Matt stood still for a long moment, looking at this woman who took joy from building a tower with his nephew. She wasn’t faking it to seem attractive to him, he’d seen that one and it burned him up every time. No, Tate Murphy genuinely liked Nicholas and was having fun with him. How cool was that?
“Can I get you something to drink? Oh and that’s Nicholas there and his daddy, my brother Kyle. Kyle and Nicholas, this is Tate.”
Kyle moved to the place where Tate sat with Nicholas and joined them. “Hi, Tate. Nice to meet you.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. Your mother and sister-in-law Liv come into my shop a lot. Sometimes Maggie too. And you, Mister, are a very good builder. I’m very impressed. I haven’t built block towers in a few years and I’m a bit rusty, thank you for helping me.”
Matt brought her a glass of lemonade and swallowed hard. Holy shit, yep, Tate was...well, yeah. He liked her. Liked her liked her. When did that happen?
“What were you doing ’round these parts?” Jealousy stabbed through Matt as Nicholas reached up and petted Tate’s hair. “Not that I’m complaining, it’s nice to see you.”
“I was just at the assisted living house a few blocks away. I go on the first Sunday of the month with Anne and we do the ladies’ hair. It’s hard for them to get out like they want to, so we go to them. And the last several times we had lunch together you kept telling me you needed a haircut and as I was in the area and had my stuff with me, I thought I’d make a house call.”
“You’re good with kids and the elderly too? You’re running an animal shelter at your house aren’t you?” He grinned.
“I’m horrible with animals! We didn’t have pets when I was growing up and I have to admit dogs scare me and cats don’t seem to like me. I’m also a terrible housekeeper and I’m late all the time. I have many flaws.” She laughed. “I can come by another time for the cut since you’re busy.”
“No. Please. Today is the first Sunday in over a month I’ve not been working or at someone else’s house. The wives are all out baby shopping, that’s why Kyle and Nicholas are here with me.” Did he even breathe through any of that?
“Would you do my hair too?” Kyle asked and Matt wanted to pop him one.
She stood. “Of course. When Nicholas is ready, you let me know. I do children’s cuts too.”
“You can do it today if you like. I mean, he needs it.” Kyle picked Nicholas up.
“Oh no. There’s no way I’d cut a baby’s hair without his momma there. You’d be in big trouble with your wife, I’d wager, Kyle. But oftentimes, if it’s a first cut, kids feel better in familiar places so I’d be happy to cut his hair at your house or wherever.”
Abashed, Kyle smiled. “Yeah, you’re probably right about Maggie. She’s touchy about that sort of thing.”
Tate pushed Matt toward a kitchen chair she’d placed by his window. “That’s not touchy, silly. She’s his mom, a first haircut is a milestone, she’d want to be there. I do love his hair though. My nieces and nephew have red hair too.”
Matt allowed her to direct him into the chair and she put a fabric drape over him and one on the floor to catch the hair. He zoned out as she touched him.
“First thing, let me shave your neck.” Gently, the clippers trimmed and shaved his neck. Her hands were easy as she worked and the soft scent he’d come to recognize as uniquely hers wafted through the air.
She’d nearly finished with his cut when a group of women showed up at his door.
“I’ve come to gather my men,” Maggie said, waltzing into the apartment, stopping when she caught sight of Tate. “Tate, how are you?”
His gregarious Tate suddenly got shy. “Hello, Maggie. I’m fine, just cutting Matt’s hair. I should be going though.”
She started to move away but Matt grabbed her arm. “No, not yet.”
Kyle grinned at them both. “You said you’d cut my hair too.”
Blushing, Tate cleared her throat, her eyes widening and looking to Maggie. “Well, I’m sure you’ll want to be with your family now.”
Maggie laughed. “Oh, hell no. I’ve been after him to get a trim for weeks. He goes to the barber shop and they always cut it too short and then he waits until it gets shaggy.”
Liv came into the room with Marc and seeing Tate, she smiled. “Hey, Tate. You do house calls?”
“Hello, Liv. I hear congratulations are in order.” Matt noticed her shyness got even worse with Liv’s presence. He wondered if it was that they used to date or if there was another story.
“Thank you.” Liv touched her belly and then her hair. “I’m in dire need of a cut but I’m a total worrywart about the chemicals and smell in salons.”
“It’s okay, I understand. I can come by your place if you’d like. That way you wouldn’t have to worry.”
“Really? Oh that would be fabulous. Do you have time today?”
Tate blushed and nodded.
Matt just watched the interplay and let it settle in. He’d been startled by the revelation but now, he realized, it’d been happening since that first visit at her salon. Damn, she was a good woman, a genuinely nice person.
She ended up cutting Kyle’s, Marc’s and Liv’s hair as well as giving Nicholas a trim. Maggie sat and watched the whole thing and Matt knew he’d hear from his sisters-in-law after Tate left.
“I should go. I’m having dinner with my family tonight.” Tate cleaned up, aided by Matt.
“Ah. I was going to see if you wanted to have dinner with me.”
She froze, blushing again. The best thing about her was that he could tell what she was feeling by her skin tone.
“I’ll be at our bench tomorrow. You can have lunch with me then.”
He pulled his wallet out and her eyes widened again. “How much do I owe you?”
“Do you think I go door to door hustling haircuts on the weekend for extra cash?” Her hands fell to her hips.
“I...uh, no. But you’re a hairdresser, you performed a professional service. I certainly don’t think you’d do five haircuts for free.” Matt looked to Maggie, who shrugged, also uncertain how to proceed.
It was Liv who broke the stalemate by shoving money into Tate’s hand. “Shaddup. Take the money. I need you to come and do my hair in six weeks at my house and Marc’s too while you’re at it. I feel loads better already. You’re a whiz with the scissors. If Kyle did your lawn or Marc designed a workout, they’d expect to be paid too.”
Tate nodded shortly and put the money in her pocket. “Right then. Listen, I was just in Atlanta to see my brother and sister last weekend. Have you been to Lullaby Rose?”
Liv shook her head.
“I went in to get some stuff for my niece, she’s turning three. Anyway, they’re having a huge sale right now. I know you were out today but they have a lot of great stuff. It’s near the convention center. I’m sure they have a website too.”
Liv’s eyes lit up and Maggie leaned in. “They have boy stuff too?”
“Oh yeah. Newborn to age six. All sorts of stuff.”
Matt hefted her duffel when she readied to leave. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Okay then.” Getting to her knees she accepted a hug from Nicholas. “I’ll see you later, Nicholas.” And said goodbye to everyone else.
At her car, Matt tossed the duffel into the passenger seat. “Thanks for today.” He touched his hair and she shrugged.
“No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He’d wanted to try and smooch up on her but she got into the car before he could make a move. All he could do was wave as she pulled away from the curb.
Back inside, he moved to the couch. “Before anyone asks, yes, I’m into Tate. She seems utterly clueless though.”
“Into? Yeah, that’s a mild word for a man who stared at her like he wanted to devour her.” Liv chuckled.
“She’s not your usual type, Matt.” Maggie bounced Nicholas on her knee.
“What do you mean?”
“Stop being so damned defensive about her already,” Marc grumbled. “She’s not your usual type. She’s a very nice woman, no doubt. But,” he shrugged, “she’s not the perky cheerleader beauty queen you normally date.”
“What was that thing about the money?” Kyle asked.
Liv snorted. “You guys all grew up so sheltered. Tate Murphy is a hardscrabble girl. She came up the hard way. Struggled, worked for everything she has. She’s defensive because of what she comes from.”
“And how do you know? You grew up pretty well.”
“I did, yes. And I’m lucky. Tate’s sister-in-law Susan was tight with my sister. When they ran wild together anyway. Susan mellowed long before my sister did. Anyway, I know Susan pretty well and through her, I know a bit about the Murphys. It’s going to be hard for you to get her to let you in, Matt. She’s been hurt, a lot. And, I’m going to say it because it’s my place to say things everyone is thinking but no one says—the looks thing is going to be a problem.”
“What looks thing?” Matt thundered.
Liv waved it away. “I’ve known you a long time, Matthew. Don’t play games. You go out with women who are drop-dead beautiful. Even I was intimidated when we dated. She’s a beautiful person, that goes without saying, but she’s not like the others.”
“Are you saying she’s ugly? Because that’s fucked up, Liv, in addition to being untrue.”
Liv snorted and put her hand on Marc’s arm to keep him from speaking. “I’m not saying she’s ugly. I know her. Not as well as I’d like to, she seems much more reserved around me than with other people. But enough to know I think she’s beautiful. But here’s what they’re going to say, Matt—she’s short and fat and from the wrong side of town. She’s after your money and your name. You’re tall, handsome and you come from money and an influential family.” Liv shrugged.
“You have to be prepared for it, Matt. You have to protect her and yourself by accepting it up front and understanding how to deal with it. If you mean to make something with her, you’re going to have a lot of hurdles. Other people may pretend that’s not a problem but I’m not other people and I love you too much not to say what everyone is thinking.”
Marc chuckled. “My fragile flower. So shy.”
“I never thought of it that way. Well, I don’t care what people think. I only care what I know. All my life people have just assumed I’m shallow. Kyle, he’s the sensitive one, Shane is the gruff one, Marc’s the happy-go-lucky one and I’m the pretty one no one thinks much of. I’ve gone out with dozens of women. I’ve been able to have a decent conversation with maybe three and only one has ever had the same feeling about family I have. I’ve gotten to know Tate. This isn’t sudden. She’s the one. She doesn’t judge me, she doesn’t look at me and think about how much money I might inherit or how much my family name can do for her. She doesn’t look at me and think that grabbing the last Chase bachelor would be a feather in her cap. She just sees Matt. No one else does. Do you know how special that is?”
Marc looked at Liv and then back to his brother, nodding. “I do. If you want her, you know you have our help and support.”
“You know Momma will be in your corner. If anyone says a word about it in her presence they’ll rue the day.” Kyle and Maggie looked to him. “I’m looking forward to getting to know Tate and making her part of our family. You’ve got our support.”
Matt looked at them, the people he loved, and smiled. “Thank you. Looks like I might just have a job and a half ahead of me. Good thing I’ve never shied away from a challenge.”