by Vella, Wendy
Examining them, Lani thought they would fit in nicely with some of the Howling men. Tall, easy on the eyes.
“Ryker Falls puts this place to shame.”
Jake made a scoffing sound, and Rose patted his shoulder. “Pay these idiots no mind, sweetheart, it’s fair to say they’re clueless.”
“Not true, Rose. In fact, your daddy is addled.”
“Lani!” The little girl saw her behind the shelf, which meant she had to show herself.
“Hi, Rose, Jake.”
“Oooh!” Rose urged Jake to put her down and she came to inspect the items in Lani’s basket.
“I was just about to pick Buddy a toy, Rose, you want to do it for me?”
Happy with the idea, she went to the shelf Lani had just left.
“These two idiots are Joe Trainer and his friend Fin Hudson. They’re friends from Colorado.”
“Hi.” They both smiled, upping their hotness factor.
Lani nodded.
“Joe’s here to look over the Howler, as he runs a bar in his hometown, and we’ve managed to convince Fin to be part of the date night auction.”
Lani looked at Jake with a raised brow. “I almost don’t want to ask what a date night auction is.”
“Our one in Ryker Falls is far superior. We call it the bachelor auction. In short, you bid for the bachelor of your choice, and if you win you go on a date. I’m here as a ringer, because they don’t have enough available hot men in Lake Howling.”
Jake hooted with laughter. “That’s not the case at all, it’s because no one in your town will have you so you’re hoping to get a date here.”
“Maggie would have him if she wasn’t in London,” Joe drawled, which earned him an elbow in the gut.
“I did wonder about you and Maggie when I was in Ryker,” Joe said.
“There is no me and Maggie,” Fin gritted out.
“You people have an event every month, from what I gather. What’s the deal with that?” Lani said before the argument escalated.
“We like to celebrate stuff.” Jake shrugged. “And this is for a worthy cause, the church restoration.”
“I should be able to add a good chunk to the funds,” Fin said.
They continued to bicker, and Lani found herself enjoying the banter.
“What the hell are these two doing in town?”
And just like that, she was tense. Strange how she was standing here with three seriously good-looking guys and it was this one that made her melt. Attraction was a fickle thing.
“Noah Harris, how are you, bud?” Fin Hudson took the hand Noah held out and did a weird move, then a chest bump. Joe Trainer was next.
“Just telling Lani here that I’ll raise the most money come auction night.”
Noah scoffed like Jake had.
“How about you, Lani, you want to sign up? You just have to let someone put you in a dress and we’re good to go,” Jake said.
Lani shuddered at the thought of people looking at her.
“I’ll take that reaction as a no then.”
“You can bid for me.” Noah whispered the words in her ear.
“Why would I do that?”
“To save me from having to date someone else.”
“And I should care about this why?”
“Because you think I’m hot.”
She actually spluttered.
“So Faith is doing it, and Noah, plus other locals. There are a few ringers coming in from Brook.”
“Don’t tell me, let me guess who is running this,” Lani said.
“The book club,” Jake and Noah said together.
“I haven’t seen any advertising. I mean, that potato festival was splashed everywhere.”
“You had a potato festival?” Joe Trainer asked. “Seriously, man, there is no way a town that has one of those is cooler than Ryker Falls.”
Lani left the men as they started to argue again and went to find Rose, who was studying the dog toys. “Which one are you picking for Buddy?”
“This one.” She took off a large yellow chicken. It squeaked as she gripped it.
“That could be annoying.”
“It could, but Buddy likes to play with squeaky things. He came to my house and ran outside with my squeaky ball.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay, I let him have it.”
Rose skipped back to her daddy. Lani inspected the hand-painted mugs next.
“You can’t just get one.” Noah now stood beside her, close enough that she could feel and smell him.
“There is only me.”
“But what if someone comes to your place and wants coffee?”
“I’ll let them use my cup.”
“That makes things awkward if you’re the only person drinking. It’s not exactly conducive to a cozy atmosphere.”
“Why would I want a cozy atmosphere?”
“For instance, after we’ve made love, you could make coffee and we could drink it in bed. But then maybe I’d let you share my mug.”
Her body did not just turn to liquid. She looked up at him.
“Why are you talking like this?”
“Like what?”
She waved a hand about, because she had no idea how to put what she meant into words.
“I need to be more open about what I’m thinking. Talking to you made me feel better, made me realize that I have been holding a whole ton of stuff inside me and it’s been making me mean. Shutting me off. I need to let it go, and the first part of that is the baby.”
He did seem different today, lighter somehow. Could she had helped him change? The thought was a good one.
“I can’t live my life the way I always believed I should if I allow what happened to hold me back. Personally, I mean. The business is going well, but for so long it’s just been that.”
Lani had a prickly feeling inside her. Did he want something from her that she would never be able to give?
“Noah—” He pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her words.
“I didn’t say I wanted anything from you, Lani; it’s me that needs to change. But I’m not going to lie, I like being around you and like that you are here in Howling. For now, how about we leave it at that. Plus, you promised you wouldn’t leave without telling me, so I’ll settle for that… for now.”
She didn’t know what to say, but the surge of longing his words created inside her was real. Lani had always wanted to be part of a couple. Part of someone’s life. She thought she’d found that once, but that dream imploded. Could she reach for it again?
“So let’s just play this out, no restrictions, and see where things take us.”
She managed to nod and tried to squash the surge of joy.
“Good girl.” He leaned in and kissed her. So sweet, it had her arching up.
“Okay, so this is not the place for that.” His laugh was shaky. “I’ll see you around, Lani.”
“Sure, see you round.”
She stood there looking at those mugs until she heard the murmur of male voices leave the store. Then she selected one blue mug with Redwoods on the front and one red one with the lake on it. Hurrying to the counter, she paid for all her items before she could chicken out.
“How are you feeling now, Mr. Drubber?”
She’d liked Mac Drubber from the start. He was gruff but had a soft heart.
“I’m good now, Lani. Millie dropped me off some chicken and vegetable soup, and I think that fixed me up.”
Lani scrambled to come up with who Millie was, and could only find Millicent Lawrence.
“There’s soft under that hard exterior,” Mac said as if reading her mind; the people in this town were way too good at that. “She’s got a good heart. Circumstances have just created a hard exterior shell.”
“I’m sure she has, and I’ve no problem with her.”
“Well, you’d be the only one.” Mac gave her one of his rare smiles as he bagged up her things.
Leaving t
he store, Lani found she was smiling. The lightness was growing inside her, and Noah’s words had contributed to that. Could she really make a life here? Something was stopping her from leaving, and maybe it was because she believed this was the place for her to stop running and make a home.
“Put that down, Buddy!” The dog was sitting outside waiting for her with a roll of what looked to be pastry in his mouth. It was wrapped in plastic.
“I don’t want that back,” Buster said, arriving. “He snuck in the back door and stole it off the counter.”
“I’m sorry, Buster. I don’t think he meant it, and I fed him this morning—”
“It’s okay, Lani. Relax. I left the door open knowing he was there, and he is a dog. They love sneaking stuff.”
His apron had black and white stripes with the words Boss Dog on the front.
“I’ll pay for it.” She couldn’t believe Buster was taking it so well.
“Don’t be insulting. Stuff happens, and I have more.” Buster bent down to eyeball Buddy. The dog dropped his head, still with the roll of pastry in his mouth. “If you eat all that it will make you sick, bud. Take the plastic off first too; it’s not good for your insides.”
He then wrestled the roll out of the dog’s mouth, unwrapped the plastic, and gave him a piece.
“I’ll put the rest in the trash, it’s not good for him.”
“You two get over here and give us a hand, will you!” Newman was standing on a step ladder.
“‘Please’ is the universal word you add on the end of that shit.” Buster patted Buddy’s head and nudged Lani ahead of him. “Besides, Jake and those losers from Ryker are around here somewhere, get them to help.”
“We missed them, and now they’re likely in the Howler eating and drinking.”
“Want me to get them?” Lani asked.
“Why would I need them when I have three strong women and Baker Boy to help me. Just grab that end and climb the ladder over there. Mrs. Roberts Haigh, you and Hope hold up the banner. Buster, you tie off the ends.”
Lani did as she was told after putting down her purchases.
“Tie it to that tree, Lani.”
When it was done, they all stood in the street looking up.
“Only in Lake Howling,” Lani said, reading the words. “‘Date the person you’ve always dreamed about but never had the courage to ask. #datenightauction. All proceeds go to the renovation of the church.’”
“Catchy, right?” Buster stood beside her. “I love this night even more now that I’m not participating.”
“So only singles then?”
“Yup. We used married or partnered-up people once, but it got nasty when Lizzie Heath threw her handbag at Mrs. Brack because she blew a kiss at Walt.”
“This town is crazy, you know that, right?”
“Surely not.” He slung an arm around her shoulders, and the strange thing was that she felt comfortable with him doing that. “We’re special, Lani. There is a difference.”
“Right, special.”
“And I think you should rethink not participating. You’d raise money for a good cause.”
“Do I really look like the type of person who would do something like this, Buster?”
“There’s a type?”
“How’s Willow?” Lani deflected.
“Between you and me, I think it’s going to be soon, today or tomorrow. Her back is aching, and she seems extra cranky.”
“But you didn’t tell her that, right?”
“Do I look like I want to die?”
“Well if you need me for anything, just call,” Lani said before she could stop herself. “I mean, I can make coffee and stuff. I’ve worked in a cafe.”
He hugged her close before releasing her.
“There you go, getting all community spirited. You’ll be collecting friends all over Lake Howling before you know it. And thanks, I may take you up on that.”
Clutching her bag of purchases from the general store, Lani and Buddy headed back to the Howlery with thoughts whirling around inside her head. The main one being:
Could I make a home here… with Noah?
Chapter Thirty
Noah was sitting at a table in the dining area waiting for the card boys to turn up. Tonight was his night for hosting, and Sunday they shut the Howler early. He was running through things he needed to do next week. Orders, what stock to buy, and any events they had planned besides the auction, which was being held here. He would put on platters of food, a few bottles of wine, and tea and coffee.
“Stop smiling, I liked the surly you better.” Faith plonked herself down beside him. She wore a red dress, fitted and short, and her face and hair told him she likely had a date.
“I smiled before.”
“Sure, but this one is more relaxed and more the old you.” Faith stole his coffee and took a large mouthful.
“We have a coffee pot brewing. Must you drink mine?”
She tilted her head slightly, studying him. “Sure, but this pisses you off, so job achieved on my part.”
“You’re all dressed up. You going out with that loser whose name I don’t know again?”
“All you need to know is that I have a hot date.”
“With?” Faith dated, he knew that, but was she still seeing the same guy?
“That’s none of your business.”
“I am your older brother, it is my business.”
“By ten minutes,” she scoffed.
“Still the elder, and therefore more responsible twin.”
“You don’t know him. He’s someone I know from Brook. We’re just friends, but we thought we’d see if there was more.”
“That sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
“You have to put yourself out there, Noah, because only then will you know when the right one comes along.”
“Sure, I understand that, but friends are important. Be a shame to ruin that.”
Faith thought about that.
“We’re not that tight, more acquaintances, actually. Anyway, I need to go, he’ll be outside in five.” She kissed his cheek. “Have fun losing all your money.”
“I usually win more than I lose, as you very well know.”
“Whatever.” She flicked her fingers at him, and he let her go. Two minutes later, he got to his feet and followed. Faith was just getting into a Jeep. The man wasn’t familiar to Noah, but he took down the plates and model of the Jeep, making a note in his cellphone.
Buddy streaked past the door. Noah stepped outside and saw Lani.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey, you.” Besides the pumpkin dress, he’d never seen her in anything but jeans and shorts. Tonight she wore a skirt that came to her knees, worn sneakers, and a thick hand-knitted sweater in lavender.
“Is that from the Roar?”
“Yes. Mac said it suited my eyes. He’s a con man,” she muttered.
“It does, and looks really good on you, as does that skirt. Who knew you actually had legs?”
“Ha ha. I was walking past Macy’s boutique and she dragged me in and gave it to me, as the zip was jammed. Said she couldn’t sell it. I think that was a con too.”
“She’s a nice person, Macy.” Noah ran a finger down her forehead and smoothed out the wrinkle her frown had put there. “What’s the problem, Lani?”
She blew out a breath, her eyes following Buddy up the street. Her hair had grown and was a mass of short, soft curls now. Cute, he thought, sexy, and so much more that he didn’t want to attempt to explain just yet.
“Nothing.”
“I’m sure there is something.”
“It’s just this place, and I’ve been thinking a lot about it.”
“In a good way?”
“I’ve never been to anywhere like Lake Howling, and I really don’t want to love it as much as I do.”
“That makes a weird kind of sense.”
“I mean, everyone is really nice, even when they’re being offhand.”
“Like Buster.”
Her smile was small. “Yes, just like him.”
“Here’s a thought, maybe you should just relax and enjoy being here with all these nice offhand people. Maybe you should stop running and feel safe here because you are.”
The flare of hope in the eyes that turned to him made his gut clench.
“I don’t know if I can let myself believe that, Noah.”
“Lani, please talk to me.” He stepped closer. Sliding an arm around her waist, he pulled her in for a hug. “Let me help you.”
The desperation inside him to have her safe, to have her tell him why she was running and who was threatening her was a gnawing pain in his chest.
“No. This is not something that can be solved without a lot of pain and conflict, Noah.”
“Then stay here and hide.” With me.
Her arms wrapped round his waist and held him back. Noah felt like his heart sighed in that moment. The simple act of holding Lani was pure bliss, but knowing she was holding him right back, and in public, was a step more than that.
“Get a room.” Buster said the words as he passed them carrying a large box. He then disappeared into the Howler. Noah laughed, and Lani joined him.
“I need to go.” She eased out of his arms, and he missed her immediately.
“Me too. It’s card night.”
“That sounds fun.”
“It can be, but also messy, as we drink too much and argue like demons. The only saving grace is that Patrick McBride comes, and Declan, so they kinda play referee to the rest of us.”
“You really love this town and your people, don’t you, Noah?”
He nodded.
“Never let that go,” she said softly. Then to his surprise, she climbed to her toes and kissed him softly on the lips. “Have fun tonight.”
He watched her walk up the street and realized in that moment that he was in serious trouble… and more surprising was he wanted to be.
“Stop loitering on the street perving at woman,” Tex said, arriving with Newman and Brad. The McBrides and Declan came up behind them, with Joe Trainer and Fin Hudson.
He followed everyone inside and managed to wrestle the smile from his face before they noticed.
He poured drinks and made the drivers coffee. Patrick pulled out his faded lucky pink hat that had the words Number One Dad on the front. It had once been red, and his kids had given it to him one birthday. Buster wore his visor low, because he couldn’t hide his excitement when he got a good hand.