“Jo.” His voice softened. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
“My feelings?” She balked. “My feelings don’t have anything to do with this.”
“Don’t they? If Frankie had told you to stay back, would you have bristled?”
She pinched her lips shut. “I know how to stay out of the way. That was my employee out there. That crew is my responsibility. I wasn’t going to be some kind of distraction.”
“Yes. You were.”
“What?” She shook her head as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “What are you talking about?”
“You distract me.” He smoothed his hands down her tense arms as he pulled her toward him. “Entirely too much.”
He kissed her, catching her gasp of surprise with his mouth. He could feel, taste her frustration and the adrenaline that came close to rivaling his own. He didn’t overthink it, didn’t worry about what he was doing—he just surrendered to the pull she had on him and let himself feel.
Her entire body seemed to react, and when her fingers clutched the front of his shirt, a surge of triumph had him lifting her more solidly against him. This, he thought almost dazedly, this was what he’d been waiting a lifetime for. This moment, this feeling.
This woman.
“Ozzy?” she murmured when he ended the kiss.
“I can barely think when you’re around,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers as he lifted a hand to her cheek. “I had a job to do and all I could focus on was you. I needed you safe and out of sight.”
“That’s...slightly disturbing,” she said with a laugh. She hadn’t moved, seemed completely content standing here in his arms. “And very sweet.”
He groaned. Sweet. “They’re going to put that word on my tombstone.”
She lifted one of his hands with hers, pressed a kiss into his palm. A sharp knock rapped on the door. “Hey, Oz!” Frankie’s voice belted. “We’ve got reports to write and you have an appointment at the ER. Let’s go!”
Ozzy broke the connection between them. “I have to go.”
“You’re hurt?” She squeezed his hands.
“Not remotely.” The concern in her voice soothed his heart like a balm. “Just a precaution.”
“Right.” She stepped back and his mind began to clear. “I’ll see you—”
“Soon.” Ozzy nodded. “You’ll see me soon, Jo.” He smiled at her and closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER TEN
“WHAT’S GOING ON?” Jo had no sooner finished up her phone call to the local inspector’s office to request an on-site visit ASAP when she heard two trucks pulling up in front of the construction office. Grabbing her nearly empty bottle of water, she headed outside and found Jed greeting an unfamiliar crew of five grabbing equipment and tools out of their respective trucks. “Jed?”
“Security system installers,” he said as if he’d been practicing what to say for a while. “Gil put a rush on it.”
“Wow. That was fast.” She sighed, admittedly welcoming the help.
“Guy’s got power when he chooses to use it. I’ll stick around while they do the installation. Gil upped the service package and added in remote video monitoring. There will be three screens installed in the office, and you and I can download the app. We can log into the feed anytime we want.”
“Some fun after-hours viewing, then.” A security system wasn’t going to tell them who was responsible, though. Unless whoever it was made a return visit. “How much is all this going to cost?”
“I didn’t ask because I don’t care.” Jed handed her a new bottle of water, motioned toward the lunch tables. “I gave the crew the rest of the day off, told them not to come back until Monday.”
She groaned, dropped into a chair and leaned her head back. “We were finally starting to make headway.” A headache pricked behind her eyes, and she instantly tried to relax. She thought about prying off her boots, but she’d never get them back on. “I guess now I don’t have an excuse not to go to that yoga class Saturday.”
“Afraid not. Look, about Ozzy.”
She would not blush. She would not blush. Heat rose up the sides of her neck. She’d be feeling the effects of that kiss quite possibly for the rest of eternity. Who would have thought the sweetest guy on earth could kiss like that? Keeping her tone even, she cleared her throat. “What about Ozzy?”
“I heard what happened. I hope you know he was only trying to protect you.”
“Then let me tell you what I told him.” She turned her head. “I don’t need anyone’s protection. He can be a hero with someone else. I don’t need one.”
“That’s kind of my point.” Jed stood up when one of the system installers called out for him. “Ozzy doesn’t think of himself that way. In his mind, he’s just doing what he believes everyone should do—the right thing. There’s no point in trying to change him or asking him to be something he isn’t.”
“Do I look like a damsel in distress who needs a knight in my life?”
“No ma’am.” He held up his hands and headed off to the security camera installers. “Just offering a little food for thought.”
Food. If she was going to be stuck not working for the next couple of days, she would have to stock up the fridge. “Might as well make the most of the rest of the day.”
A half hour later, she’d changed into her walking shoes—somehow managing to lace them up—and, reusable bags and food list stuffed into her purse, headed down the road to Duskywing Farm.
It took her a good twenty minutes to get her head clear. She’d done all she could do, made all the necessary calls, organized the appointment for the investigator, rearranged next week’s schedule to accommodate the shift changes. There was literally nothing else for her other than pushing the thoughts of what could have happened out of her mind.
The extra stress wasn’t doing anything to help her or the baby.
She came to a halt along a fence line that allowed her a stunning unobstructed view of a bounty of rich farmed goodness only a few steps away.
She didn’t know what she’d been expecting as far as Calliope Costas’s organic farm, but as she drew closer to the wooden gate and welcoming arbor, she knew this wasn’t it. She could smell lavender, thyme and lemons in the air. The faint buzzing of bees and clucking of chickens drifted from just beyond.
A gentle mew preceded a sleek gray cat leaping up and onto the fencepost. She immediately scrubbed her head against the wood, offered another mew as the bell dangling from the purple collar around her neck tinkled.
Ozzy had said the farm had an open-door policy, and she did see a small open shed filled with baskets just inside. She bit her lip, glanced at the cat. “I don’t suppose anyone’s here to ask?”
“Mew.” The cat dropped to the ground, quickly tootling off toward the stone cottage covered in thick ivy twining around a bright red door. She should come back, Jo thought, but found herself drawn to the peaceful setting. Wind chimes sounded.
“Well, the worst they can tell me is to leave.” She clicked open the latch and pushed on the gate. Almost immediately, the cottage door burst open and a red-headed girl bounded outside, her bare feet barely touching the ground as she raced toward Jo.
“Hi!” Bells and baubles were threaded through her long red curls. Freckles dusted her nose and accented the brightest pair of green eyes Jo had ever seen. She was tall, thin and looked about ready to cross into that preteenage stage. “Welcome to Duskywing Farm. I’m Stella.”
“Hello, Stella. I’m Jo.”
“Oh, you’re the new lady at the butterfly sanctuary.” Stella twisted and twirled the hem of her rainbow-bright skirt around her fingers. “My brother-in-law Xander drew up the plans.” Stella grinned. “That’s architecture talk for he thought up the building. Come on in.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were open.”
“We’re always open. Calliope’s making iced tea. Decaf. Cause she’s having a baby and she can’t have the regular kind anymore. You’re having a baby, too!”
“I am.” Jo nodded and rested a hand against her stomach. “Not until later this year, though.”
“Calliope’s due in December. We’re going to have a Christmas baby! I can’t wait. Except Alethea’ll be moving out.” She scrunched her face and beckoned her forward. “But she said I could come and stay with her some weekends when she has her own place. Come on, come on. I can help you shop if you want. I got my homework done already, but helping fill baskets is my favorite part of the job.”
Stella darted over to the shed and plucked up a thin wooden basket with a large curved handle. “Do you know what you want?”
Jo dug around for her list. “I have an idea. I wrote down a few things I definitely want.”
“Great! For how long? One week? Two? We also have a delivery service you can sign up for. Daily, weekly or however often you want. Oh, good. You like eggs. I got chickens a few months ago. We still have a bunch of fresh eggs left from this morning. I’ll go grab you at least half a dozen.”
“Um, thanks?” Jo called after her as Stella raced around the side of the house.
“I hesitate to recall how much energy she had before I eliminated excess sugar from the house.” The gentle, almost melodical voice that drifted from the cottage door seemed to make the wind chimes ring. “It’s nice to meet you, Jo. I’m Calliope.” An ethereal vision of red hair and colorful swirls of fabric strode out of the house. The woman’s bare feet were adorned with silver toe rings and a thin bejeweled chain around her right ankle. “Welcome to our farm. Your list is in good hands with Stella, I can assure you. Come sit down.” She gestured to an outdoor table holding a tea tray and cups. “Have some tea and cookies. We’re just waiting for Xander to get home.”
“Thank you.” Jo was grateful for the offer of a chair and went with the flow. She sat at the checked-cloth-covered table.
“It’s a dandelion and agave tea. It seems to be good for circulation and getting rid of toxins.” Calliope sat across from her.
“Stella says you’re having a baby,” Jo said. “Congratulations.”
“And to you.” Calliope’s smile lightened Jo’s heart. “I heard about the accident up at the site. I’m glad everyone’s all right.”
“So am I.” Jo shouldn’t have been surprised that word had already gotten out. “It’s a good thing I don’t believe in curses.” Great. Now Gil had her thinking that way.
“Curses? No.” Calliope offered a plate filled with a variety of golden baked treats. “The white chocolate and cashew are my new favorites,” she urged as if Jo needed enticement. “They’re also low in sugar and sodium. Cheyenne’s usual pregnancy regime recommendation.”
“I got my walking orders earlier today.” Was that just a few hours ago? “I’m a passable cook so hopefully I won’t starve.” She bit into the cookie and reveled. “These are delicious.”
“Calliope, look!” Stella ran over to the table and held out her hand. “We got pink eggs!”
“Really?” Jo had never heard of such a thing. “Eggs come in colors other than white or brown?”
“Chickens lay rainbows,” Stella laughed. “I’ll leave these here, so they don’t break.” She lifted ten eggs in varying colors onto the table before dashing off again.
“You were saying about curses?” Calliope asked Jo.
“Oh, nothing.” Jo shrugged and resisted the urge to snag another cookie. Hmm, what the heck. She’d taken a walk. “I’m not a big believer in coincidences, I suppose. I was brought to town because of one accident, then another happens soon after I arrive? I can’t imagine what someone would have against a butterfly sanctuary.”
“There was some disagreement about the project at the beginning.” Calliope sipped her tea. “Fortunately, enough of my fellow town members agreed that my farm shouldn’t be sacrificed for the sanctuary.”
Jo nibbled on a stray crumb, then reached for her cup. “You’re kidding. That’s...” She looked around the paradise Calliope had created for herself and her town. “Just the suggestion is downright criminal.”
Calliope toasted her. “Gil’s made his share of enemies over the years. It runs in the family, I suppose you could say. He’s continued that unfortunate family tradition. How did you find him?”
“Gil?” Jo sat back in her chair and snapped her cookie in two. “Not what I expected. Younger certainly and not quite so...” She struggled for the right word. “Ruthless.”
“He’s had some recent awakenings in that department,” Calliope confirmed. “He was almost killed in a fire at his office last year.”
“I heard about that. What caused it?”
“The building was old and hadn’t been well maintained.” Calliope tilted her head. “I don’t know that an official cause was ever reported.”
“Hey, Jo?” Stella called from where she stood ankle deep in kale. “What kind of kale do you like?”
“A question I don’t think I’ve ever been asked,” Jo said to Calliope.
“Come.” Calliope got to her feet, picked up her cup and motioned for Jo to follow. “Let’s help you find out.”
* * *
“KNOCK, KNOCK.” Ozzy stepped inside the hospital room. From his bed, Kenny Vogelman turned his head and offered Ozzy a dazed, definitely drugged smile. Visiting the people he helped on the job had become part of his routine.
“Hey, it’s the Oz-man.” Oh, yeah. Kenny had definitely had some serious painkillers.
“Seeing as I was in the neighborhood, I thought I’d check in on you.” Ozzy’s own exam in the ER had gone about how he’d expected. Bumps, scrapes, bruises and a more serious contusion on the back of his shoulder. Nothing that wouldn’t heal. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m floating on a cloud. Broke three ribs and punched, pucted, punc-tur-ed,” he enunciated deliberately, “my lung. Doc says I’m lucky I didn’t bleed out. And I didn’t even thank you.” He punched out a hand as if making for a fistbump. “You saved my life, Oz.”
“Just doing my job.”
“I know, right?” Kenny’s voice had that high-pitched quality of disassociation. “Man, who’s ever going to believe fat old Ozzy Lakeman came rappelling down a rope to rescue me off a cliff. That’s stellar story fodder for sure.”
In the blink of an eye, Ozzy was back in high school, his back pressed up against his locker as Kenny and his friends found new ways to harass him. “Glad you’re okay.” He turned to leave. The sooner he made himself scarce, the better. “Oh, hi, Lisa.”
“Yes?” The slight blonde with large teeth and even larger...eyes, who’d come into the room, blinked up at him. “Oh, Ozzy! I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you.”
Kenny snickered.
Maybe it was time to rethink his recovery visits. First, he’d hauled his childhood bully off the cliffs, and now he was face-to-face with one of his massive teenage crushes. He was glad he’d moved on from those times, even if others hadn’t. “Just seeing how he was doing.”
“So it was you who saved Kenny?” Lisa blinked disbelieving lashes. “I thought that was just the medication talking. You know I haven’t been home much these last few years. I had no idea about...” She stepped back and motioned at him. “Well, about this. You look great.” The shift in her expression, from disbelief to sudden interest, was one he’d imagined thousands of times over the years. To be seen as something other than the fat kid who had never fought back, the one with a big target—sometimes literally—on his back. “I should take you out for a celebratory drink. You know, thank you for saving Kenny’s life.”
“Hey, yeah.” Kenny raised his fist again. “The three of us for sure.”
“Uh-huh.” Lisa flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and did that head-tilt thing as
she looked up at Ozzy. “What do you say, Oz? I’m free now.”
“Sorry, Lisa. I have someplace I need to be.” The odd satisfaction he felt at watching her face fall probably didn’t do him much credit, but he didn’t ignore it. “Kenny, hope you’re back to work soon. Have a good evening, you two.”
He got out his cell and texted Jasper that he was on his way down. There had been days he’d have sold his soul to have Lisa Faraday bat those lashes in his direction and ask him out. Now that it had happened, there was only one thought in his head. To close out his shift and head up to the construction site.
To see Jo.
* * *
“HEY, OZZY?” Jasper poked his head into the office where Ozzy was finishing up his report. “Someone here to see you.”
“Oh?” Ozzy frowned. “Who is it?”
“Some guy. Said you called in a favor about a dog?”
“Right. On my way.” Ozzy hit Print, waited for the papers to pop out, then scribbled his name and left them stapled on Frankie’s desk. He was already two hours beyond his extra twelve, and he was about as close to crashing as was humanly possible. He’d showered, changed and gotten something to eat so he could hit the mattress the second he got home.
But some things were more important than sleep. “Sawyer Tuckman.” Ozzy held out his hand to greet his longtime cyber friend. “I told you I’d come to you. You didn’t have to drive this far.”
Sawyer pushed his thick glasses higher up on his nose and adjusted his stance. “Saw your hero bit on the news and thought I’d give you a break.” He lifted his chin and looked around. “Can’t believe you work here now. Showing us math fans what’s what, am I right?”
“Doing what I can do.” Ozzy slapped him on the shoulder and turned him to the door. “Just like you. Who do you have for me?”
“It took some wheeling and dealing, and you definitely owe me.” Sawyer strode to the van parked in front of the firehouse and clicked open the door.
Perched on the back seat, sitting at full attention, was a gorgeous glistening dark dog with bright, attentive eyes. A mix, Ozzy saw. Definite German shepherd in there, maybe some rottweiler. “He’s only three,” Sawyer said, “but his partner was killed in the line of duty and he was injured. He hasn’t bonded with anyone else on the force, so they retired him. He’s been fostered ever since.”
Building a Surprise Family Page 15