Shoe Strings

looked out the window just as a deer walked out of the
woods like magic.   “It’s beautiful
here and I kind of like the fact that no one knows where I am.”
    Sophie sighed heavily.   “I’m worried about you.   Promise me you’ll keep your cell phone with you.”
    “Sophie, I’m fine.   I’m not in danger.   It’s just
a change of plans, that’s all.”
    “I know, but if I’m in a crisis and can’t reach you, you
know I’ll freak out.”
    “No, you won’t.   You know the business better than I do.   Just because my name’s on the door
doesn’t mean I’m a one-woman shop.   But I promise to keep my phone with me.”
    After another silence, Sophie cleared her throat.   “Does this mean you’ll be gone longer
than planned?”
    Lita smiled.   How
would she ever get through her life without Sophie?   “I might be gone a little longer than
planned.   I’m exhausted from the
magazine thing and now that Davi’s poking around, I’ve got some thinking to
do.   It’s hard to relax when he’s in
the picture.   When I’m ready to come
home, you’ll be the first to know.   Until then, I know you can handle the shop.”
    “Yeah, yeah.   Take your time, just please stay in touch.”
    “I will, I promise.”   She hung up the phone and felt a twinge of guilt at leaving Sophie to
handle all the details of the business for longer than she’d intended.   But if she hadn’t gotten away for a
break and from her father, there wouldn’t be a business for them to worry
about.
    ***
    Jesse couldn’t believe his luck.   He’d spent the better part of the last
two days thinking about the beautiful Angelita and there she was, walking down
the main street of Sequoyah Falls in the most ridiculous pair of high heels
he’d ever seen.   The woman had
seriously bizarre taste in shoes.  
    He considered it fate, their meeting again, and in such a
happenstance way that it wouldn’t appear she’d gotten to him the way she
had.   His interest had reached new
levels when he’d badgered Cal into admitting she didn’t have a husband.  
    “Angelita,” he called and got the pleasure of watching a
small, irritated crease form between her brows before she placed him.  
    “Jesse,” she said as he came to stand in front of her.   “Sorry, for a moment I didn’t recognize
you with your clothes on.”  
    She was wearing big brown sunglasses with cheetah print on
the rims, or was it leopard… he never could keep the two straight.   Either way, they were fancy.   Between the shoes, the glasses, the
designer jeans, and the brightly colored loose-fitting tank that lay over her
curves like a veil, she was quite an anomaly in his sleepy hometown.
    “I’d be happy to strip if you’d like.”   When she scowled, he realized he’d taken
her flirtatious intro one step too far.   “I’m only kidding.”   He
pulled his eyes away from her face and swept his arm down Main Street.   “So what do you think of Sequoyah
Falls?   A little smaller than
Atlanta?”
    Her eyes narrowed and her scowl deepened.   She sure was pretty when she was
irritated.   “How did you know I’m
from Atlanta?”
    “Big silver-haired fox spilled the beans.   I’m afraid Cal’s got a crush.” She rewarded
him with a giggle.
    “It’s mutual.   He
brought me homemade muffins this morning.   I haven’t been pampered like that in a very long time.”
    “Well, if you consider morning muffin delivery pampering,
you’re easier to please than I thought.”
    “And why would you have given any thought to pleasing
me?”   She turned and continued
walking down the street.  
    Jesse took it as an invitation to follow and moved into step
with her.   “Because I plan to, at
some point, during your stay.   That
is, if you don’t mind,” he added when she stopped and stared at him
blankly.  
    “I’m not interested in starting something up with you,
Jesse.   No matter how tempting you
make it sound.”   She began walking
again.
    So she was tempted.   “I just want to be friends, Angelita, that’s all.   But if you can’t get your mind out of
the gutter, then by all means, cast me in a starring role.   I’ll sacrifice my usually strict moral
code for your greater good.”
    “You’re funny.   I’ll give you that much.   But
I didn’t come here to indulge in a cheap affair.   I’m here to clear my head.”
    “I’ll try not to be offended at you insinuating our affair
would be cheap.   But