by Kathy Ivan
“Uh, maybe I spoke too soon. It’s gonna take a miracle worker to get this ready.”
“Well, it’ll only get done if we do it. There’s a ladder leaning against the back wall, next to the door. Grab it, and let’s get busy.”
Dante gave her a jaunty salute. “You’re the boss.”
And didn’t that have a nice ring to it? Jill smiled, hands on her hips, and looked around her tiny kingdom.
He’s right. I am the boss, and I’m going to succeed. Nothing and nobody is going to stop me. Look out, Shiloh Springs, because I’m about to rock your world.
Friday afternoon, Lucas pulled up in front of Frank’s Garage. He’d been partway to the Big House when he’d heard the sputtering and sizzling sound, one he recognized. The water pump was going out, and he’d babied, begged, and pleaded with his car to make it to town. Parking in front of one of the open bays, he climbed out and headed toward a pair of coverall-encased legs beneath a car with the hood raised.
“Frank?”
“Be with ya in a sec,” came the gruff reply from beneath the car.
Lucas headed toward the tiny one-room office, where Frank did all his billing. There were two metal folding chairs sitting beneath the one window, currently covered with blinds. A blinking neon sign flashed over a metal desk, stacked high with papers and folders, with no rhyme or reason and most definitely no organization Lucas could fathom. Digging in his pocket, he pulled out enough money to grab a Dr Pepper from the machine, because he knew Frank’s be-with-ya-in-a-sec could mean anything from a couple of minutes to half an hour, depending on how much cursing came from the garage.
He got lucky, because it was only five minutes before Frank ambled into the office, wiping his hands on an oily cloth. A huge grin broke across his face when he spotted Lucas.
“Long time, no see. How’s the big city treating ya?”
“Can’t complain. I’m home for a visit, and it sounds like the water pump quit.”
“What are ya driving these days?”
“Same thing I’m always driving, Frank. The old Impala you gave me when I turned eighteen.”
Frank chuckled and then started to cough. Lucas rushed across the space and thumped him on the back a couple of times. He didn’t like the sound coming from his friend. Watched the older man run his hand across his mouth, and give an almost imperceptible wince.
“Can’t believe you still got her. She’s a beaut. You better be treating her good.”
“Like a princess. She’s got her own parking space in a garage, so she’s out of the elements, and I make sure she’s kept in tiptop condition. But she’s over twenty years old, so normal wear and tear happens.”
“Lemme take a look see. Water pump, huh?”
Lucas followed Frank out to the Impala and popped the hood. He bent over and took a look, and then a deep breath. “Well, looks like you’re right. I gotta check to see if I’ve got the part in stock. If not, I’ll have to get it from Austin, and it might be tomorrow before it gets here. You okay with that?”
“Not going anywhere, so it’s fine.”
Frank closed the hood, and ran a hand over it lovingly. “She’s looking good. Glad you’re taking care of her. Grand lady she is, treat her right and she’ll be on the road for another twenty, maybe thirty years.”
“And if I have my way, she’ll still be mine. You know I love the old gal.” Lucas patted the hood lovingly. “I remember the summer we worked on her together. She wasn’t much to look at, but by the end of August, she was purring like a kitten with a belly full of cream. And since that television show has an Impala in it, you should see the looks my baby gets when I turn her loose on the streets.”
Frank gave a gruff laugh. “Don’t tell anybody, but I watch that show, so I can see the cars. Especially the ones the old guy has in his junkyard.”
Lucas bit his cheek to hold back his laugh. He’d guessed Frank would know about the cult classic supernatural show. It was a little bit quirky—like Frank himself.
“Need a lift? Dante should be back any minute, and he can give ya a ride.”
“Dante? You mean Dante Monroe?”
Frank nodded and headed back for the office. “Yeah, he’s been helping out around here part-time. Kid’s a bit flighty, but he’s got a good heart. Heard he had a bit of a problem in the past, but he’s buckled down and got his head on straight.”
Lucas thought about Jill’s little brother. He hadn’t seen much of him since he’d been back this time, except once at her place only in passing. Dante had encouraged his sister to go out with him.
“I’m good. I’ll call and have one of my brothers pick me up.”
“Alrighty. I need to get back under that one.” He gestured toward the foreign sedan he’d been working on when Lucas pulled up. “It’s a righteous mess. I wish people took care of their cars, but most of ’em today think of cars as disposable. Mess one up, get another.” He shook his head, laid on the mechanic’s creeper, and slid under the sedan.
Lucas headed to Frank’s office, pulling his cell out of his pocket. Which brother should he call? Before he could decide, a white Toyota pulled up and parked beside the garage. Dante jumped from the driver’s seat, a paper sack in one hand. Tall and slender, he’d matured a bit since Lucas left Shiloh Springs. He hadn’t kept tabs on the younger man; it hurt too much to think about anything connected with Jill.
“Hey, Lucas! That your Impala out front? She’s really something!”
“Thanks. Got her from Frank when I turned eighteen. Have had her ever since.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Water pump went out.”
Dante nodded. “Frank will get her fixed right up. Gimme a second, I’ve got to let Frank know his food’s here.”
“No problem. I need to call one of my brothers to give me a ride.”
Dante stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. “I can take you wherever you need. Besides, I’d like the chance to catch up a bit. It’s been a while since we talked.”
Zap.
“Sure. Thanks, I’d appreciate it.”
Lucas wasn’t sure why his instinct was screaming for him to take the ride from Dante; all he knew was it hadn’t steered him wrong yet. Now all he had to do was figure out what triggered his investigator’s radar, and the only way to do that was to talk.
With Dante.
CHAPTER NINE
Jill looked up at the sound of the front door opening, and watched as a stream of Boudreau men walked through, arms loaded with cleaning supplies, buckets, mops, brooms, and about every other cleaning supply she could imagine. She didn’t even try to hide her grin, and directed them to where they could unburden themselves of all the goodies. Trust Ms. Patti to be true to her word, because she’d sent enough help that the bakery could be cleaned from top to bottom with ease.
“I can’t thank you enough. There’s a ton of work still, and I honestly can’t imagine how I’d get it done without y’all pitching in.”
Douglas strode over and placed his hand on her shoulder. “We’re more than happy to help out, Jill. My wife said she’d be along in a bit. She had a client meeting, and this morning was the only time available. Happens that way more often than not. Folks working Monday through Friday end up having to do all their outside meetings on the weekend. We’ll manage fine. Point out what needs doing or fixing, and we’ll get started.”
“The kitchen area needs the most work. Follow me.” She led the way through the doors separating the front of the bakery from the kitchen, and Douglas, Liam, Shiloh, Brody and Chance followed.
“There’s a ladder by the back door. Dante got the cobwebs down the other night, and brushed off the walls for paint. Over there,” she pointed to a stack of boxes piled against the far wall, “are new light fixtures I need to get installed. Is that something you can handle? Otherwise, I’m going to call in an electrician to put them in.”
“No problem, Liam and I can handle the light fixtures. All I need to kn
ow is where you want them, and where your breaker box is.”
Jill pointed to the electrical panel on the back wall, and Douglas nodded once. Taking the small notepad out of her pocket, she jotted down the light fixtures by name and where she wanted them installed. Handing the list to Douglas, he gave her a smile and walked over to Liam. Heads bent together, they talked for a few minutes, then Liam grabbed the ladder and lined it up beneath the first fixture.
Jill spun around to find the rest of the Boudreau men standing in the open doorway or leaning against a wall, watching her. Waiting for instructions. Chance was busy unloading the boxes of cleaning supplies. Every time he bent over a box, more stuff was added to the growing stack on the table, until it held a mountain of rags, sponges, soaps, bleach, degreaser, and even steel wool.
“Sorry I’m late.” Lucas shouldered past Brody, and walked over to stand in front of Jill. Her heartbeat sped up until it felt like her heart would burst from her chest. Lucas’ absence had been the first thing she’d noticed when the others came into the bakery, and for a fleeting second, she’d wondered if he would show up.
“Hi.”
“Looks like Momma rounded up everybody who could make it. Course she promised to feed us, so that’s a pretty big incentive.”
“Feed you—of course. I brought stuff. For you. I mean for everybody.”
Okay, stop talking. You’re babbling.
Spinning around, she rushed through the door, with Brody and Shiloh moving out of her way, and darted into the front of the bakery. She’d left a big box of goodies there, knowing she’d be feeding a bunch of hungry men. Reaching for the box, a pair of masculine hands grabbed it first.
“Let me help you.” Lucas’ amused tone told her he knew he made her nervous. Of course, she hadn’t seen him since she’d admitted to Tessa she was in love with him.
“Thanks. You can put it on the other table, beside the one where Chance unloaded the supplies.”
Lucas carried the box, and as soon as he put it down, she started unloading it. The last two nights after she’d gotten home, she’d been baking like mad. It was the least she could do to show her appreciation. There were dozens of cookies, lemon bars, which she knew were Douglas’s favorites, brownies and even those almond shortbread cookies with the cherries. The ones Lucas mentioned were his favorites. She’d also made a batch of peanut butter fudge, cupcakes, and blueberry and banana nut muffins. Enough to feed an army—it might be enough for a few hungry cowboys.
Paper plates, napkins, and plastic forks joined the food, and she put the empty box on the floor beneath the table.
“Everybody dig in. I’m gonna run across the street to Gracie’s and grab some drinks for everybody. Back in a second.”
“Thanks, Jill.” Brody barely got the words out around a muffin, and she didn’t even attempt fighting her grin. A chorus of happy thanks filled the air, and warmth grew inside her. This was what she was meant to do, provide a little sweetness, a little happiness through her concoctions.
“Hang on a sec, Jill. I’ll go with you, help you carry stuff.” Lucas matched her stride for stride. They crossed the street and walked past a couple of shops until they reached Gracie’s Grounds Coffee Shop. Gracie Medeiros had moved to Shiloh Springs a couple of years back from San Antonio and opened the place. Jill knew she’d have business crossover between the two shops, since Gracie’s provided hot drinks and she’d be providing sweets for those with a hankering for something to munch. It was an ideal match, and she needed to meet up with Gracie, and see if they could work out something beneficial to both their businesses.
“Hey, Gracie.”
“Lucas! What a nice surprise. I heard you were back in town.” Gracie came from around the counter and gave him a hug. Jill resisted the urge to reach out and grab the petite brunette by the hair and yank her out of Lucas’ arms.
What is wrong with me? I don’t act like this, not about any man and especially not about Lucas. He’s not mine, no matter how much I wish I could change that.
“I’m taking a quick break. Turned in my last assignment, and thought I’d come home and visit with my family.” He looked around at the crowded bistro tables, and chuckled. “Guess I don’t have to ask how you’re doing. The place gets busier every time I come by.”
“Things are going well.” She finally seemed to notice Jill standing quietly by Lucas’ side. “Oh, hi. Good to see you, too, Jill. Didn’t mean to monopolize Lucas, I was surprised to see him. What can I get you folks?”
“We’ve got a pretty good size order. Go ahead and handle the customers at the counter first.”
“Okay. Come on up to the register when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Gracie.”
After she walked away, Jill studied Lucas’ face, wondering if there was something between the two. Before she could think of a polite way to ask, without seeming all stalker-like, Lucas nodded toward Gracie’s back.
“She helped me out on a story. About a year ago, she put me in touch with her ex. He’s a cop in San Antonio. Gave me some surprisingly good intel.”
“I wondered how you knew her so well. She opened the business after you moved to Fort Worth.”
“Actually, Rafe introduced us on one of my visits home.”
“Oh.”
“I think he was trying to play matchmaker. Didn’t work, since Gracie’s got her eye on somebody else. Never would tell me who it was, though.”
As long as it’s not you, it’s all good.
Once the crowd cleared, Jill placed an order for enough coffee for the entire group over at her bakery, and made an appointment to talk with Gracie in a couple days.
Grabbing their order, along with all the little extra cream and sugar packets, they headed back across the street and into the back. Jill’s mouth dropped open when she spotted the table and what was left on it—which was basically a couple of oatmeal raisin cookies, one brownie, half a banana nut muffin, and crumbs. It looked like a swarm of locusts descended while she’d been gone.
“What happened?”
Shiloh shrugged, though the twinkle in his eyes belied his solemn expression. “We were hungry.”
“Dude, couldn’t you have saved me something? I mean, I brought you coffee.”
“There’s still stuff—oh, guess the vultures already picked the bones dry.”
“Can we help it if Jill’s the best baker in town?” Chance reached into the box and plucked out one of the cups. “I’ll probably be in here every morning once you’re open, Jill. I’ll have to add an hour to my daily workout, but it’ll be worth it.”
“Um…thanks?” Placing the box with the coffee on the table, she started handing out cups, placing creamer and sugar on an empty place by the box. “Glad you enjoyed the food.”
The sound of a throat clearing behind her caused Jill to spin around, and she spotted Ms. Patti standing inside the doorway with an amused expression. “Thought you boys were supposed to be cleaning.”
“They certainly cleaned me out,” Jill quipped, pointing to the table, with its wadded-up napkins, paper plates, and remnants of the Boudreau’s feast.
“I can see that.”
“Okay, guys, coffee break’s over. Back to work.” Chance passed coffee to Shiloh and Brody.
“Right, like they’ve even started yet,” Lucas whispered, making Jill smile.
“Now they’ve been fueled up and ready to work, I know we’re going to get a lot accomplished today.”
“But I didn’t get anything. I knew I should have snagged some of those cookies.”
“You snooze, you lose, bro.” Shiloh saluted Lucas with his cup.
Jill patted Lucas’ arm, and whispered, “Don’t worry, I saved some especially for you.”
“You’re the best.” Leaning in, he kissed her on the cheek, and then grabbed a cup of coffee for himself. “Put me to work, boss lady.”
“I’m thinking all of your brothers better get busy, too.” Ms. Patti hefted her ever-present bag higher on he
r shoulder, and the boys scattered, grabbing the buckets and rags. Satisfaction lit her eyes, and Jill snickered behind her hand, watching grown men cower in the face of a five-foot nothing woman.
“Can you teach me that?”
“Hang around my boys long enough, you’ll pick it up naturally.”
Ms. Patti pushed back her sleeves, and put her hands on her hips, eyes surveying the room. “Douglas and Liam already started on the lights. Shiloh and Chance can deal with scrubbing the floor in the front. Lucas and Brody, I need you to run an errand.”
“Of course, Momma. Whatever you need.” Brody walked over and placed a kiss on his mother’s cheek. Jill loved how all the Boudreaus freely expressed their affection and love for each other with little gestures and felt a bit envious. That wasn’t something they’d done in her home when she’d been growing up. Oh, she never doubted her family loved her and each other, but spontaneous displays just didn’t happen. An occasional hug was about the extent of any physical outpouring.
“Jill, did you make the order at the hardware store?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Brody, you and Lucas head over to McAnaly’s and pick up Jill’s order. Do you have your truck? Otherwise, borrow your daddy’s.”
“I have mine. We’ll be back in a bit.”
They left, coffee cups in hand, and Ms. Patti turned to Jill. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but I like what you’ve done with the place so far. Have you come up with a name yet?”
“I’ve been toying with a couple of things, but haven’t really settled on any one yet. I kinda like Sweet Temptations or How Sweet It Is.”
“Oh, I like that. How Sweet It Is. Reminds me of an old Marvin Gaye song. Douglas and I danced to that song forever. I think we wore out the album.” She began humming the tune, swaying a little with the melody. Almost immediately, Douglas crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Ms. Patti from behind. It was an incongruous sight, to see this mountain of a man holding his petite wife in his arms, swaying to an old classic.