Tessa wanted to applaud Brigid for standing up to Warren, as very few women ever did. As Warren stared with mouth agape, Tessa went to Jo, who stood uncomfortably in the doorway to the stairwell. She lowered her voice so Warren couldn’t hear. “I’m sorry things worked out the way they did, Jo. I don’t know what your schedule is, but you’re welcome to begin work anytime if you’re still interested in the job. I’d apologize for my brother, but what you witnessed is how he is regularly.”
Jo glanced at Warren before she looked Tessa in her eyes. “I, too, wish the day finished better. I’ll be back first thing in the morning.” Jo gave her a bright smile and a quick wink before she turned and rushed after her family.
When Tessa heard the downstairs door close, she spun toward Warren. “What the hell was all that about? I finally get friends, not to mention assistance in getting the store put together for a price far lower than anticipated, and you have to be horrible toward them.”
Warren gave a one-shoulder shrug. “They aren’t the type of people you should be friends with, little sis. You’re new and don’t know the talk. I’m looking after your welfare.” She doubted that the case. Warren didn’t want her associations to rub off on him.
“Well, you can stop. The gossip doesn’t matter. I like the Cavanaughs, who have been nice to me ever since I arrived.” Tessa started toward the sink to clean up from the visit. She smiled, remembered how adamant Margaret and Brigid were about cleaning up. She’d put her foot down about their washing of dishes, and now she was glad for her decision. It gave her a chance to turn her back and avoid looking at Warren. She feared, if she did, she’d give him a proper dressing down, and might say something she’d regret later. Like admitting how much she wanted to get to know the adorable Jo Cavanaugh better.
Since the very moment Jo introduced herself, Tessa felt a connection she hadn’t had with anyone else. “I know you promised to watch out for me, but I don’t believe Mother and Father planned on you going so far as to choose my friends.”
The sound of chair legs as they scraped on the hardwood floor made her cringe. Warren could be such a Neanderthal. The apartment wasn’t his, but he’d insisted on having a key. In case of emergency, he’d professed. Tessa knew the real reason. Warren wanted to come and go as he pleased while helping himself to her cupboards and her privacy. “Not trying to pick your friends, just letting you know the people you should avoid.”
“You spoke your piece, and I listened, but I won’t avoid them. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about all of those women.” She turned and gave him a pointed glare. “You seemed mighty interested in Brigid. Guess you won’t be pursuing that particular skirt.”
“Why not?”
“You openly insulted her cousins, Warren. Would insults put someone in your good graces if I’d been the recipient of the gossip?”
“Brigid just needs to get to know me.” Warren furrowed his brow. “I didn’t say anything that hasn’t been tossed about town long before me.”
Tessa shook her head. “Aren’t you afraid to be seen with Brigid then? What about guilt by association?”
Warren gave a smug grin. “Dating me can only bolster her position, keep her above the taint.”
Where did men get the lofty images of themselves? Warren wasn’t a catch. He was husky and boringly plain, with dull brown eyes and even duller brown hair. Heck, he was the heavier male version of her. The internal reminder of their sameness caused her to reconsider Jo’s kindness. Tessa wasn’t the type to attract attention. Had she misread the subtle hints she thought Jo gave? Maybe Jo was interested only in friendship. Tessa could use a friend as well as the carpentry work on the dress shop.
No, there was something in the glances she and Jo shared, which caused Tessa’s rapid pulse, and a twinge in her private lady-place. She shook her head to clear the self-doubts. “Sometimes, I’m happy you’re my brother. But honestly, most the time, you’re a complete ass.”
“Yeah, I get that, little sis.” He slammed a hand down on her table. “Since I’m here, how ‘bout lunch? I found another dead woman this morning, and I’ve been busy investigating. Police work’s got me hungry.”
Tessa felt a shiver run through her with the news and the callous way he presented it. “That’s three so far?”
“Nothing to cause you to fear. No one’s gonna hurt the sergeant’s sister.” Warren sat back in the chair roughly. The wood groaned in protest. “Besides, you needn’t worry, overmuch.”
“Maybe not, but what happens when this person believes you’ll never catch them, and killing me would be a fun incentive for you to try harder.”
“Not gonna happen. You worry too much.”
As she prepared a sandwich for him, Tessa wondered if Warren worried too little.
Chapter Four
Ethel was upset, forced into postponing their outing. Nicholas and Richard looked forward to a day together and didn’t care how they spent it, more into the bonding than the excursion itself. Not so with Ethel. In his attempt to make up for the canceled plans, Nicholas offered to treat Ethel and Richard to lunch at the Vail Hotel’s restaurant, just up the road from Tessa’s shop, on Grand and Union. They sat at an intimate table for two; a third chair pulled up to fit Richard between them. A white lace tablecloth covered the top with a small hurricane lamp in the center, and floral bone china and silver tableware properly arranged on top. The light meal was pleasant enough, with Nicholas entertaining Richard with tales of his life as a photographer.
“When I get bigger, can I be ‘togaffer too?” Richard asked.
“Don’t see why not,” Nicholas said. He reached over and ruffled Richard’s hair. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s if you try hard enough, want it bad enough, you can accomplish anything. I know college will be wondrous for you. You can have any career you want.”
“Don’t encourage the child, Nicholas,” Ethel said. Her tone implied any vocation unattainable to her son. “There’s no way Richard will see the inside of some fancy school. He’ll have to make do just like his daddy.”
Richard nodded solemnly. “If I could, I’d start with pictures of Mr. Teddy.” Nicholas internally applauded Richard’s small show to dream bigger than his mother and promptly avoid joining in her negativity.
If a five-year-old could move beyond his mother’s negativity, so could he. “Mr. Teddy would make a fine model.” Nicholas enjoyed his time with Richard, especially lately, but not so much with Ethel. Ethel was never a demonstrative woman, but recently she seemed to pull further away from the growth of a serious relationship. The situation became commonplace to Nicholas. The unfortunate part was that this was his first relationship, which involved the addition of a child. The very idea of losing the friendship between him and Richard was heartbreaking, and why he hadn’t disengaged from Ethel already. It had long since been apparent Ethel was not one to look beyond anything, focused on her own needs and wants, and would never accept his past.
As a waiter came by to pick up their empty plates, Ethel rose from her chair. “I need to powder my nose.” Then, she walked away.
“Why does Mommy need to have powder on her nose?” Richard asked, innocently.
Nicholas didn’t see a reason not to be honest with the child. “That’s a woman’s way of saying she needs some private time,” he leaned close to Richard’s ear, “in the ladies’ room.”
“Why didn’t she just say that?”
“That would be an indelicate conversation for a woman.” Nicholas caught sight of the dessert trolley in the corner of the room. He waved a server in his direction and announced the desire to purchase a few delicacies. He turned toward Richard. “What do you say to some sweets? We’ll get something light for your mother and us now, and a little something special for you later.” Nicholas put in his request for half-dozen petit fours, cannoli, and two oatmeal cookies. Nicholas asked them to wrap the cookies in wax paper. With the desserts placed on the table, Nicholas prom
ptly picked up the wrapped cookies. Since he gave Richard the teddy bear, Nicholas knew of the hidden pocket in the toy’s back seam. “Hand over Mr. Teddy, my man.” Richard complied, and Nicholas stuffed the two cookies into hiding. “Now you have a little something for later. But you can’t tell your mother about it cause she might not like it.”
Richard’s smile fairly beamed at Nicholas. “I like you better than Mommy’s other man.”
The comment from a guileless source startled Nicholas. Not wanting Richard to think he had done something wrong, he attempted to be as nonchalant as possible in his next question. “Mommy has another suitor?”
Richard nodded as he bit into one of the petit fours Nicholas placed atop the small plate in front of him. “Ah-huh, that Sergeant, leastways that’s what Mommy calls him, and he makes me play outside when he comes.”
“Is he grumpy?” Nicholas asked, wrinkling his nose. “Probably only does boring stuff anyway.”
“He’s not grumpy, he’s mean. He don’t likes me.” Nicholas didn’t believe Warren Langford liked anyone, except maybe himself. Would also explain Ethel’s behavior lately. Was Ethel weighing the merits of one man against another? Good thing he hadn’t invested more than time in this alleged romance. Maybe he was learning his lesson.
Richard finished both small cakes and clasped his hands in his lap. Nicholas noticed Ethel’s return approach to the table.
“Don’t worry, Richard. We’ll keep this between us men.”
Richard’s smile grew so wide with inclusion in the adult world, the obvious flakes of cake stuck to his teeth. “I like it when you and Brigid visit. You don’t ignore me.”
“We don’t have to mention this talk to your mother, or the cookies,” Nicholas said.
Richard took a sip of water and stared down at his plate as his mother sat. Nicholas suspected Richard enjoyed having a secret from his mother. What child wouldn’t?
Ethel returned to her chair and stared at her plate. She picked up one of the small cakes, and said, “You needn’t have ordered dessert,” as she shoved the entire treat into her mouth.
“Anything I can do to make up the unexpected changes to your day, sweetheart, is of no consequence.” Nicholas flashed her a sugar-sweet smile. “Can I get you anything else?”
Ethel shook her head. “No, nothing else. Wouldn’t want to ruin my figure.”
“As if anything could make you unattractive, my dear.”
She flashed a false smile. “But, you are sweet to think about how the situation today has affected me.”
Nicholas hoped his confusion wasn’t written on his expression when he asked, “And how has the situation affected you?”
“Being dismissed by that child, Jo, the way we were. Didn’t we have as much right to be there? It is rather disconcerting.” Ethel gave him a strange look as if he suddenly grew another head on his shoulders. “We’ve known the Cavanaugh family far longer than the shopkeeper, which means we had just as much, if not more, of a right to be there during Fiona’s time of need.”
“Oh,” Nicholas said. “Quite right.” Narcissistic, much? Nicholas wasn’t a stupid man. He knew the proper time to correct a woman, and when, specifically, correcting Ethel was appropriate. This moment was not that instance. Doing so in public would only bring on such histrionics as to embarrass the other patrons and Richard. And, to bring any discomfort to Richard was entirely out of the question, in Nicholas’s book.
Finished with her cakes, and Nicholas his cannoli, Ethel wiped her hands clean on the cloth napkin beside her plate. “Shall we go? I’m distraught and think I need a lie-down.” And then there was this. Lie-down? When had Ethel gone from the simple farm girl to attempts at posh? He’d been there before. Haughty women were too much trouble. He needed to heed his lessons.
He assisted Richard from his chair and pulled out Ethel’s. Nicholas tossed some extra bills on the table, having already charged the meal to his room, and escorted Richard and Ethel from the hotel. Maybe it was beyond the time he moved on.
Chapter Five
Tessa sat in the back room and finished the dress for Mrs. Sabre. She needed to stretch her legs, and if honest with herself, needed an excuse to interact with Jo. She went up the back stairs to her apartment to get coffee, and, after much internal deliberation, placed a few of the oatmeal cookies she’d baked last night on a small plate.
Downstairs again, she stood in the curtained doorway and looked out at the shop’s front as she watched Jo sand one of the bookcase-style cabinets she built shelves for this morning. Tessa felt her heartbeat pick up. Jo wore a one-piece overall made of heavy black cotton denim, which Tessa knew to be a less common color in denim, though she didn’t understand why the color hadn’t more popularity. Black hid dirt much better. The front bib held many pockets with Jo’s smaller tools and supplies. The overalls had additional large pockets on the back as well as side pockets and large fold-up cuffs.
The vest extended the denim full up the back with V cutout straps continuing over the shoulders. Jo had removed the blue cotton long sleeve work shirt earlier, apparently preferring to work in her T-shirt. The overall was baggy, but on Jo Cavanaugh, Tessa could only see it as a venue to make the woman sexier and inspiring. Jo’s muscles strained against the T-shirt. Tessa was also captivated by the fluid motion with which Jo worked. The female form enamored Tessa, and Jo had a beautiful form. Not only was she long and lean, her face expressive and beautiful, but her physique continually drew Tessa’s gaze and filled her fantasies. Tessa's attraction to women created much of Warren’s chagrin. Finding beauty in the more boyish women kept Tessa happy and less depressed with her solitary love life.
The singular time Tessa allowed her attraction to flourish outside her normal venue cost her dearly in a broken heart and embarrassment. In Kansas City, when she went against her desires and fallen for a beautiful and feminine woman two years her senior. Her name was Catherine Dubois. Catherine stealthily pursued her, although Tessa suspected it because Tessa was unable to hide her interest, which she now blamed on her youthfulness. For all intent and purpose to Catherine, Tessa was just another notch on her busy bedpost. The situation precipitated Tessa’s move to Colorado when her parents, loving as they were, wiped their hands of Tessa when the tittering of rumors began—rumors Catherine probably initiated.
From what she could gauge, although she admittedly knew little on the subject, Tessa believed Jo’s interest in her to be sincere. She should be extremely cautious, she knew, intent on avoiding prior mistakes, but the pull toward the adorable blonde was too strong, silenced any internal dialogue before it could roar inside her head. Tessa cleared her throat loudly and stepped into the room.
“Brought you something to drink,” Tessa said, raised the plate, “and a light snack.” When Jo looked up, Tessa’s heart stopped in her chest. The look of appreciation beamed from Jo’s beautiful, light blue eyes. Tessa’s fate then sealed. She knew she would give herself body and soul to have Jo look upon her with the same gaze for the rest of her life.
“Thank you, Tessa,” Jo said. She stood and wiped her hands on a handkerchief pulled from a back pocket of her overalls. The muscles in Jo’s biceps seemed to pulse with the action, and Tessa inhaled a slow breath to keep herself from openly gawking. Jo stepped closer, took a cookie off the plate, and then took a hearty-sized bite. “Thank you. I was getting a bit famished.” Jo glanced with astonishment at the cookie in her hand. “Gosh, Tessa, this is delicious.” The heat of embarrassment at the compliment flushed Tessa’s features. “You can bake for me anytime.” Jo raised her head and stared at Tessa with a mischievous grin.
“If you cook as great as you bake, I’m up for playing guinea pig. To help you, of course.” Her face flamed hotter, and she stepped back, when Jo advanced toward her, needed distance before she did something she might regret. Jo must have noticed because she stopped abruptly with a pained expression on her face. “Gosh, I’ve upset you. I’m sorry,” Jo said.
Tessa shook her head adamantly. “I’m not upset, Jo, just surprised.” Jo frowned in her confusion. “No one, not even Warren, compliments my time in the kitchen.” Tessa shrugged. “I expect I’m adequate, but not great.”
“Adequate?” Jo said as she stuffed the last bite in her mouth. “Better than. The cookie is fantastic. Don’t tell Brigid, she’s proud of her baking. Rightfully so, but not great like you.”
Tessa decided to change the topic away from herself. She glanced around the room and nodded at the work she saw. “You know you do wonderful work yourself. Carpentry is a task I could never do.”
Jo shrugged. “Nah, anyone could do it given the proper training.”
“And did you have the proper training?” Tessa asked.
“I learned from the best. Fiona taught me all I know.”
“And who did she learn from?”
Jo sat down on one of the crates and began a careful study of her boots. Just when Tessa thought she wouldn’t answer the question, Jo raised her head and met her gaze. “Mostly, she learned on her own. Fiona is good at watching, studying, and then applying what she’s seen.” Jo glanced out the window. “She had to learn self-reliance, and she passes the importance of it on to the rest of us. We rely on her, for support and knowledge, to be independent ourselves. I don’t know where we would be without her. Well, I do know, and I wouldn’t change our now for anything.”
“You sound worried when you speak of her. Is there something wrong with Fiona? Other than the incident with Thomas?”
Jo’s bottom lip slightly trembled. From the furrowed brow, Tessa knew Jo needed to share with somebody, but had taken on a large dose of Fiona’s self-reliance. Tessa wondered what happened in Jo’s life to make her so distrustful of others. Of sharing feelings. She wished she could walk up to Jo and say, “trust me,” but knew she must earn Jo’s trust. Tessa didn’t know if she could, or to what degree she may already have done so. It would be best if she just dropped her cards on the table and hoped Jo realized the honesty with which her comment was given. “I’d never betray your confidences, Jo. If you ever want to talk to someone, I’m here for you.”
Speak Easy Speak Danger Page 3