Looking Behind the Mask: Second Chance Series - Book 2

by Joan Davis

  When she walked in she noticed two things right away. Sam Knight was there with some tiny little woman and an older man having dinner, and just down the way from them was a table full of women in their thirties that had started giving Honor the stink-eye the moment she walked in Maybell’s door. Millie Andrews, the real-estate agent, was one of them. Sighing inwardly but letting nothing show on the outside, Honor walked over to the counter and put in her to-go order with none other than Maybell herself.

  “Whatcha’ need honey?” Maybell’s gravelly voice asked as she looked at Honor expectantly.

  Smiling politely, Honor gave Maybell her order and then asked on impulse, “Do you sell any of your ice-cream in sealed containers for takeout?”

  “We sure do, honey. Just tell me what flavor and how much you want and I’ll add it to the order,” Maybell assured Honor.

  “I just want a pint of Pistachio, thanks,” Honor said.

  Maybell wrote down the request on the order form and then looked at Honor for a moment before bending down conspiratorially close to Honor and asked, “How much does something like that cost a person?”

  Stunned, and for some reason amused, Honor knew exactly what Maybell was talking about, and she leaned in close and whispered. “You know Maybell, you are the first person to ever ask me that question. Unfortunately, I didn’t pay for it, so I couldn’t tell you.”

  Maybell leaned back and waved a hand in front of her dramatically made up face saying, “Damn, it figures. I spend two hours every day putting on my war paint, and damned if it wouldn’t be nice not having to worry about getting my eyeliner straight. Anyway, it will be just a few minutes for me to get your order ready. Just take a seat and it will be right out.”

  Shaking her head and smiling, Honor took a seat at one of the empty tables. Soon she could hear the comments coming from the women at the table she noticed when she came inside the diner. She ignored the long familiar comments.

  “Can you believe she had that done to herself?”

  “She looks like a slut is what she looks like.”

  “Well, I hear she’s slept with half the men in town.”

  “Shhh . . . she works for Sam and he’s right over there with his wife and father-in-law.”

  “Well, maybe he should know that he has a little whore working for him.”

  “Don’t you have a tattoo LuAnne?”

  “Yes, but mine is in a respectable place. No decent woman would tattoo their face.”

  It was all white noise to Honor. She looked at her watch wondering if she would be home in time to catch Rachel Maddow’s show on MSNBC.

  A sudden disturbance caught her eye and she looked over to see the tiny woman, who she now guessed was Sam’s wife, standing beside the table of women. Looks like she’s giving them hell, Honor thought, amused. Whatever she was saying was pissing them off. When she was done she spun around, her hair flying in all directions, sat back down next to her husband and began eating her meal again as if nothing had happened.

  A couple of minutes later Maybell brought out Honor’s order. Stomach growling with anticipation, Honor paid her, left the diner and headed for her truck.

  “Excuse me, Honor?”

  Honor turned around and found that she was looking down at the feisty, tiny woman from the diner, Sam’s wife. “Yes, what can I do for you?” she asked. I just want to get home with my dinner. Is that too much to ask?

  “Look, I just wanted to say I’m sorry about what went on in there. They are just a bunch of busy body church ladies. You would think they’d know better, but obviously not. Oh, by the way, I’m Risa Knight. I believe you work at my husband’s company, Knight Construction,” Risa said smiling.

  Honor stared down at Risa for a moment before saying, “Well, it’s nice to meet you Mrs. Knight, but I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Call me Risa, and I am talking about how those woman were talking smack about you for no reason. I don’t like it when people pull that kind of thing,” Risa said frowning.

  Oh great, Miss Do-Gooder to the rescue, Honor thought, but realized she’d better try and be polite. This was the boss’s wife after all. Shrugging and looking at her watch Honor said, “Look, Mrs. Knight, I appreciate the whole fairy godmother thing and all, but people are going to say shit regardless of how you or anyone else feels about it. That’s reality.” Looking down at her dinner, Honor tried to end their conversation. “I have ice-cream in here, so if you don’t mind . . .”

  “Fairy godmother thing . . .,” Risa said as her eyes grew stormy. “What’s that supposed to mean? And the name is Risa. You run equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars every day, so I wouldn’t think my name would be that hard for you to remember,” Risa said with an arched brow.

  The end of Honor’s patience was drawing near. All she wanted to do was get home and eat something. “Look Risa,” Honor said emphasizing the name, “you did your good deed for the day. That’s great for you. Now would you mind if I take my food home and eat it or are there any or tidbits of information you feel compelled to impart to me?” Honor asked with hard politeness.

  Risa’s eyes threw daggers at Honor, but she politely said, “No, that’s it.” She turned to walk back towards the diner before swinging around again. “Oh, there is one piece of advice I have for you.”

  Honor rolled her eyes but still tried to smile politely. “What’s that?”

  “I just wanted to remind you that when you’re getting into that beautiful truck of yours, remember to bend down real low so that big assed chip on your shoulder doesn’t scratch the paint,” Risa said before turning to walk back into the diner.

  Honor stared after her with a stunned smile on her face. Now that girl’s got some balls. What a bitch, Honor thought, amused, and turned to get into her truck, but as she looked across the street she froze.

  Fergus Sinclair stood leaning against a light post across the street and staring at her intently. His eyes were expressionless. He didn’t react to her catching him watching her. He just kept staring.

  A familiar shiver went up Honor’s spine. She had had this experience a couple of times now. He never approached her, but just the intense way he watched her made Honor very wary. Was he following her? It wasn’t like it happened every day, and she never noticed or felt like she was being stalked. But a couple of times she had been around town when she had noticed him nearby and silently watching her.

  Honor was trying to decide if she should confront him when a woman came out of the store behind where he stood. Without taking his eyes off of her, he looped his arm around the woman. He finally nodded at Honor before he and the woman headed down the sidewalk in the opposite direction.

  Relieved and feeling a little foolish, Honor took a deep breath. Paranoid much?, She thought in disgust. Her mind was working overtime. Maybe she needed a new hobby.

  Shaking it off, Honor remembered her food and quickly got into her truck and headed home.

  *****

  The next morning Honor was just getting out of her truck at the Knight Construction site when she saw Buck O’Leary barreling towards her. Oh crap, what now, Honor thought. It’s only 7:00 a.m. for heaven’s sake.

  “Stop right there young lady. Turn around and get right back into that truck,” Buck said waving Honor backwards.

  “What?” “Why?” Honor asked, perplexed

  “Because you are going over to Sam and Risa Knight’s house and apologize for being rude to Risa,” Buck said sternly.

  Laughing incredulously, Honor said, “What?”

  Buck scowled. “Everybody’s heard how rude you were to Risa the other night outside Maybell’s. Now you get over there and apologize. That poor girl doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment and you should know better.”

  “The hell I will,” Honor said, her whole body was stiff with affront. “That lady gave me a hell of a lot more grief than I even came close to giving her. No way. I’m not apologizing to her.”

 
; “Is it worth your job not to apologize?” Buck asked archly.

  Honor gaped at Buck. “You’d fire me over this shit? After fucking bringing me here and watching me buy a damn house, you are now threatening my job over an apology? To hell with that Buck, I’m not doing it,” Honor said fiercely.

  Forty-five minutes later Honor Weston sat in her truck, outside Sam and Risa Knight’s house, swearing under her breath. “I cannot believe this shit. I have to apologize for what? Wanting to eat? Damn it,” Honor muttered as she pushed the door of the truck open resentfully, stomped up to the front door and knocked. Taking a couple of deep breaths, Honor tried to school her features into a polite mask.

  The door opened and Sam Knight stood there looking surprised to see her. “Hey, Honor. I’m surprised to see you here. Is there a problem at the site?” Sam asked waving her inside.

  Sighing in resignation and wishing Buck were here so she could mangle his face, Honor said, “Uh, no sir, I’m here to see your wife.”

  “Risa . .? Oh, okay let me get her for you. I’ll be right back. Just make yourself comfortable,” Sam said waving her into the enormous living room before heading towards another part of the house.

  Honor walked into the large room and looked around noting the large French doors that looked out over a big lake. There was a set of leather furniture and dark wood floors. What the hell am I doing here? Just fire my ass, Buck. It would be easier than this shit, Honor thought resentfully, knowing she didn’t want to leave her job or her new home.

  “What are you doing here?” Risa Knight asked sourly from behind her.

  Swinging around, Honor sighed inwardly and clenched her teeth. Well, she doesn’t look happy to see me. Just get it over with and you can go, Honor thought. “Uh, I just came over to say I was . . . um . . . that I was really sorry about how things went between us last night,” Honor said. Her voice was stiff and not quite as sincere as she knew it should be, but it was the best she could do.

  Surprise coated Risa’s face. “What?” she asked in confusion and then suddenly she looked furious and yelled, “Samson Knight, you get out here right now.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stood staring at Honor and tapping her foot impatiently. “Samson!”

  “Woman, you do not have to yell. I heard you the first time. What’s wrong?” Samson asked frowning and looking at his wife a caution.

  “Did you force Honor to come over here and apologize to me today?” Risa demanded.

  “Apologize for what?” Samson asked surprised and then held up his hands when Risa’s face got darker. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Samson said defensively, and then he looked at Honor. “What’s this all about, Honor?” Samson asked arching an eyebrow.

  Honor looked between them biting her lip in indecision. Not feeling particularly charitable towards Buck, she said, “Buck O’Leary told me I had to come over here and apologize to your wife and when I refused he asked me if not apologizing was worth my job.” Shrugging Honor said, “It wasn’t, so here I am.”

  Samson Knight’s face grew furious. However, Risa took one look at him and bent over in hysterical laughter. Samson crossed his massive arms over his equally massive chest. “This is not funny, woman,” He growled.

  Risa looked at him and shook her head, then put her hands over her mouth to stop herself from laughing, but failed and started laughing all over again until she was gasping and had to sit down on the floor. “Oh . . . Samson . . . you have got to admit . . . it IS a little funny,” Risa said, smiling charmingly up to her husband.

  Samson stood glaring down at his petite wife for a moment more before he shook his head and grinned. He bent down and lifted his petite wife into his arms and kissed her soundly. Risa wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss without pause. She pulled back briefly and rubbed her thumb on Samson’s chin and then giggled. Sam gave her a mock growl before kissing her again.

  Honor stared at them like they were from outer space. What the hell just happened? Honor thought, wondering if she should just leave them alone.

  Samson reluctantly broke the kiss and set his wife gently on her feet and turned to Honor. “Look Honor, your job is not in jeopardy no matter what Buck said. He’s just a little protective . . .” Samson frowned as he looked down at his wife who had started to giggle again. “Risa, I swear to all that’s holy . . .” Samson started, but then stopped, took a deep breath and turned back to Honor. “He is really protective of Risa after what happened to her. He doesn’t realize that she is perfectly capable of defending herself.” Samson smiled ruefully. “A lot of people make that mistake to their peril,” Samson grunted and smiled wickedly when Risa elbowed him for that last comment.

  Honor nodded, feeling better, but she was confused. “Thanks but I don’t get it. Buck’s reaction seemed a little over the top. Why is he so protective, because I agree with you, Risa didn’t seem to have any trouble defending herself last night?” Honor asked, raising a challenging brow at Risa.

  It was Risa and Samson’s turn to look shocked. “You really don’t know do you?” Risa asked amazed.

  “Know what?” Honor asked looking confused.

  Samson looked down at Risa and she shrugged. “It’s not like it’s a secret,” Risa said a little weary. She turned to Honor and said in a matter of fact voice. “When I was fifteen years old I was kidnapped. My mom was killed and my dad almost died. The people who took me tortured and beat me regularly and kept me in a dog cage in a scary basement until I was rescued five years later by the police. Then the man that killed my mom came after me again, killed a lot of people and nearly killed Samson and Conner, but Samson ended up killing him instead.”

  Honor stared at Risa, unable to grasp what she’d just been told. She looked at Sam and then turned back to Risa. “Holy shit, this gives me a whole new perspective on the ‘chip on your shoulder’ comment you lobbed at me last night. I think I need to sit down,” Honor said looking stunned.

  Risa quickly moved over and patted one of the leather chairs, and Honor walked over and sort of fell into it still staring at Risa in a daze. Damn, and I thought I got the shitty end of the life stick, Honor thought.

  “Look, don’t get all weird on me, please. I have a great husband, and my dad is okay. My life is really great now. You’re not gonna freak out on me are you?” Risa asked as she sat on the couch.

  “Well, give me five seconds to digest this, will you?” Honor asked, a little annoyed. “It’s not like you said you got a bad hangnail. Give me a break here.”

  Risa frowned, annoyed herself. “Well, try having every freaking person you meet know you as ‘The Girl in the Dog Cage’ and see if you have any patience left,” she said, slouching on the couch.

  Honor gave an involuntary bark of hysterical laughter, then immediately put her fist to her mouth and looked from Risa to Sam and back again. “I’m so sorry. I realize it is not funny. That was totally inappropriate.”

  Risa’s lips twitched a little. “Yeah, it’s not funny, but thanks for not totally freaking out on me. I just get tired of that being all people see when they look at me,” Risa said with a sigh.

  Samson walked over and leaned over the couch. Risa tilted her head back and met his sweet kiss. “Are you good here? I need to get back on the phone,” Samson said quietly. At Risa’s smile and nod, Samson stood up and looked at Honor. “You tell Buck . . . on second thought, I’ll tell Buck . . .”

  “No you won’t, you big bully,” Risa said warningly, still slouched on the couch. “He was being nice. You’d better not be mean to him, Samson Knight.”

  Sam scowled with mock ferocity at his wife for a few seconds before silently walking out of the room.

  Honor watched the interaction between Samson and Risa with interest. There seem to be total understanding and trust between them. Risa didn’t hide who she was. She was open and honest. Despite her best effort, Honor felt her icy calm melt a little. It just seemed unnecessary. Honor didn’t feel
any type of threat or malice around Risa. It was like she could take a deep breath after a long time without one.

  Risa looked over at Honor as said, “Anyway, that is my story. Buck and a lot of my friends tend to be over-protective, and to be honest, I really needed it for a long while. I had, or I guess I still have, a lot of issues with trusting people I don’t know or being in unfamiliar places. The worst is hearing the names that people call me when they don’t think I can hear them.”

  “You mean like ‘The Girl in the Dog Cage’ comment,” Honor said understanding, and then she snorted and said, “I get Cat Lady, Jungle Girl, Tattoo Woman, Freak, Whore, and Slut. I’ve heard just about every variation of those you can think of, believe me. At this point, it doesn’t even affect me. It has become just another part of my daily life.”

  Risa frowned at Honor. “That ridiculous. You don’t deserve that kind of treatment. Nobody does.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I deserve or don’t deserve. People will always say and feel what they want. I have no control over that. I can only control my reaction to it. So I’ve chosen to ignore it and move on about my life,” Honor said shrugging.

  “Well, I wish I were as enlightened as you. Last night I told LuAnne Franklin and her gang of biddies that they were all bitches in sheep’s clothing,” Risa said menacingly and then grinned at Honor. “It felt so good.”

  Honor laughed and said, “You are a little fighter. I take it that LuAnne is the ring leader?”

  “Yeah, she has tried several times to get under my skin since I met her. She isn’t my biggest fan. I guess it’s because she used to be engaged to Samson. Anyway, I’ve had to go toe-to-toe with her a couple of times. Of course, I kicked her ass, verbally speaking, that is,” Risa said with satisfaction.

  “I’ll have to buy tickets to the next event,” Honor said with a grin. She was really starting to like this woman. They had more in common than she would have ever thought.