Lean on Me (The Mackay Sisters)

by Verdenius, Angela

  No, she had to see Tommy and clear up the problem, whatever it was. Tomorrow she’d do it. She had the day off, her ankle would be better and she could drive into town.

  ~*~

  Grinning, Matt tilted his head back and took a long drink of water. The look on Mrs Hubble’s face had been priceless, he had no doubt her curiosity was burning out of control. Mind you, the thought of Lori in a ménage a trios, those soft curves pressed between two hard bodies, two men caressing her, touching her-

  The plastic bottle in his hand split, the cold water spilling over his hand and onto his chest making him jump. Scowling, he shook his hand. Okay, the thought of other men touching Lori Mackay had him, well, shitty. Yep, definitely shitty. Lori was meant for only one man, one lucky man, and he had every intention of-

  Of what? He gazed down at the plastic bottle. Marching over there and telling her that she was never to go out with any other man? That he was going all caveman and claiming her? Somehow he knew that wouldn’t be met favourably.

  In fact, he wasn’t sure how she would react and that was the thing. He wasn’t even sure why he was acting all territorial. All he knew was that every time he felt her warmth next to him, smelled her scent, looked into her green eyes and touched that silky skin, he wanted to throw her on the floor and have his lustful way with her, mark her like a tomcat so every other man in the vicinity would know to whom she belonged.

  Shaking his head, he crossed to the wheelie bin at the corner of the house and tossed the split bottle inside before looking at the house next door. No one moved past the kitchen window, all was quiet.

  He’d never been a man to jump feet first into a relationship. He’d dated and enjoyed the women he’d kept company with, no doubt about that, but not one woman had ever meant anything special to him. Not one of them had ever invaded his dreams. Not one of them had ever stayed in the back of his mind no matter where he was or what he did, and certainly none of them had ever had him staring at their house.

  Lori Mackay, however, had him doing all those things. Why? Because the voluptuous, shy mouse with the deeper undercurrents intrigued him, pulled at him, made him want to claim her as his woman. While the thought scared him, it also …well, shit, scared him. But the thought of her going to anyone else scared him more.

  Rubbing his hair impatiently, he scowled. Damn it, he was never undecided. He’d always known what he wanted and gone for it. It wasn’t even that he was undecided, he knew he wanted to go out with Lori, knew he wanted to hold her, laugh with her, kiss her and yes, do a hell of a lot more. A lot more. Just the thought had him readjusting his shorts around the beginnings of a stiffening shaft. Whoa, not here. Shirley might see you staring at Lori’s house and sporting a stiffy. So get your hands off the front of your shorts before she rings the cops to report a pervert.

  The cordless phone on the table rang and he walked across to it. Maybe he was overthinking things. He’d been going to ask Lori out before they were interrupted and that hadn’t changed. He was still going to ask her out, in fact, he’d pop across after the phone call and see her. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. Okay, there was the chance of her saying no but he wouldn’t give up, so no loss. Mrs Winters hadn’t raised a quitter. When Matt wanted something, he went for it.

  He wanted Lori Mackay, he just had to find the right way to get her.

  Clicking the phone on, he squinted up at the sun. “Hello?”

  “Matt?”

  “Yeah. That you, Adam?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s up?”

  “Day off, loose end.” There was silence for a few seconds. “Want a beer?”

  “Bit early in the day, isn’t it?”

  “Light beer. I only drink light beer.”

  “No coffee? Ever? Isn’t that a little unusual in your job?”

  “Ha ha. I meant I need a drink.”

  “Problem?”

  The silence was heavy, then, “You want a drink or not?”

  Interesting. “Sure, why not? Where do you want me to meet you?”

  “How about I come to your place?”

  “No worries. You can help me weed.”

  “Yeah, because that’s what I want to do on my day off.”

  “Hey, if you just sit there watching me while I work, then Shirley who lives behind me is going to think you’ve got a crush on me.”

  “Give her something to think about.”

  Matt laughed. “Bring the light beers.”

  “Got two right here.”

  Matt looked around to see Adam come strolling around the side of the house, a paper bag in one hand, his mobile in the other cradled against his ear.

  Flicking off the phone, Matt placed it on the table and studied Adam. In the months he’d been in town he’d gotten to know Adam well. His job as an ambo and Adam’s as one of the local cops meant they crossed paths professionally and from there a friendship had formed.

  Adam set the bag down on the table, pocketing his mobile at the same time. Dressed in a singlet and baggy shorts, his bare feet shod in thongs, his hair mussed and dark shadows under his eyes, he didn’t look like the big, calm cop Matt knew. Well, big, yes, there was no way to deny that, not with those broad shoulders and heavy muscles, but calm, however, there was definitely an undercurrent under the calmness and it wasn’t a peaceful one.

  “Rough day?” Matt queried. “Even though it’s not even lunch time yet?”

  “You could say that.” Adam looked around at the garden. “What’re you doing?”

  “Gardening. You know, weed, trim, rake?”

  “Huh.” Adam flopped down into one of the chairs and pulled a light beer from the bag, tossing it to Matt before pulling out another beer and crumpling the bag up.

  “Only two?” Matt queried. “One each?”

  “One a day, that’s my limit.” Stretching out his legs, Adam kicked off his thongs. “Nice quiet place you got here, Matt.”

  Even better because it was beside Lori’s house. “True.”

  Taking the other chair, Matt toed off his sneakers and sunk his feet into the grass. Popping the tab, he took a sip. Ice cold, it certainly hit the spot.

  “Yep,” Adam said. “Nice and quiet, no worries. You’re a lucky man, Winters.”

  Matt slanted him a look. Always the epitome of calmness, Adam had a definite cloud of something hanging over him. “Problem?”

  “What makes you say that?” Adam took a swallow of beer.

  “You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

  Adam stared at the wheelbarrow without saying a word. The silence stretched out.

  Leaning back in the chair, Matt rested his head against the backrest and closed his eyes. If Adam wanted to talk, he would, and if not then it was rather nice sitting out under the sun sharing a cold beer with a friend.

  “Women,” Adam finally said.

  Ah. Matt cracked open one eyelid.

  “Women are the scourge of men everywhere.”

  “Harsh.”

  “Trust me, if you…” Adam sighed, his voice trailing away.

  When he didn’t speak any further, Matt probed, “If I what?”

  “Nothing.” Taking a mouthful of beer, Adam swilled it around his mouth and swallowed.

  When silence fell again, Matt decided that he might as well do some other fishing if Adam wasn’t going to share his issues. “So, this Tommy bloke. The café owner. What’s he like?”

  “Why?” Adam asked.

  “Just curious.”

  Taking a thoughtful swig of beer, Adam studied Matt. “Had a run in with him?”

  “Nope, just wondering.”

  “He’s okay. Gives me no problems.”

  “You’ve known him a long time?”

  “All my life. We grew up together, though we were never close friends.”

  “So he’s not violent or anything?”

  Adam’s expression didn’t change, though his gaze grew sharper. “Giving you any pr
oblems?”

  “No. Just wondering.”

  “Then no, he normally isn’t a violent man.” Adam studied him intently. “Care to fill me in?”

  Matt swirled the beer around in the can. “He came and saw Lori this morning, seemed angry about something.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. She denies any knowledge of why, but I was just wondering.”

  “Wondering what?”

  “What do you think?” Matt asked a little impatiently.

  Adam eyed him for several seconds in silence before glancing over at the Mackay house. “I think you’re sweet on Lori, is what I think.”

  Not about to deny it, Matt just met his gaze silently.

  “And I’m thinking that you’re wondering if Lori has some kind of relationship with Tommy.”

  “She denied it.”

  “And she’s correct. So why are you doubting it?” Adam inclined his head towards her house. “Lori doesn’t lie.”

  “I never thought she did,” Matt replied. “But when a man comes around breathing fire, then something is going on.”

  “Nothing romantic, that’s for sure. I know her.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you have any idea of Tommy’s problem?”

  “Not a clue.” Matt looked at Adam. “You haven’t heard of anything between them? Anything bad?”

  Adam gave a bark of laughter. “Lori do anything bad? Trust me, Matt, that girl hasn’t got a bad bone in her body. She’s just a sweet girl.”

  “Whose waters run deep,” Matt muttered before he could stop himself.

  “Ah, so you figured that out.” Adam’s eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement.

  Matt looked at him.

  Adam slanted his beer can in Matt’s direction. “I’m not stupid. Lori’s sweet but there’s more to her than meets the eye. She can get fiery when the time calls for it, don’t worry. I know her.” At Matt’s scowl, he burst out laughing. “And no, there’s been no romance between me and Lori. We just got on really well from the time we were kids. She’s like a little sister to me.”

  There was no denying the relief that Matt felt even as he shrugged and leaned laconically back in the chair. “No worries.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Still grinning, Adam took another drink of beer before placing it on the table. “So, you’re sweet on Lori and suspicious of Tommy. Good instincts.”

  Matt shot him a look.

  “Tommy isn’t himself lately.” Lips pursed, Adam gazed out into the garden. “A few people have commented on it. Man hasn’t come to me, though, so I guess he’s dealing with whatever it is.”

  “Whatever it is, he seems to think that Lori knows about it.”

  “Has she said anything to you?”

  “She denied it, remember?”

  “Hmmm. Maybe I should have a word to her.”

  “Yeah, because that will make her happy with me. I thought you were my friend, arsehole.”

  Unperturbed, Adam tracked a butterfly that meandered past him. “I’ll just do a little quiet digging around, see if there’s anything going on that I should be aware of.” He slanted Matt an amused look. “And don’t worry, I won’t drop you in the shit with your sweetheart.”

  “Good.” Deciding it was time to change the subject, Matt studied him. “So why are women not on your list of top favourites this morning?”

  Almost immediately Adam’s face went expressionless. “No reason.”

  “Yeah, right.” Matt arched one eyebrow. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain new blonde in town, would it?”

  “What blonde?” Going by the narrowing of his eyes, it was more than obvious that Adam knew exactly what blonde to whom Matt was referring.

  “The one who tipped water into your lap? No one missed the way you practically dragged her out of the restaurant, Adam. Then she disappeared from town for a short time before turning back up again a couple of days ago, and you look like someone who found the end of the rainbow and ended up with a pot of crap rather than one of gold. What’s the problem?”

  Scowling, Adam drained the tin and crushed it in his big hand, dropping it onto the table and leaning his head back against the chair. “Let’s just say she’s a thorn in my side.”

  Intrigued, Matt rolled his beer can between his palms. “How?”

  “She just is.”

  “Old school friend?”

  “Barbie’s a couple of years younger than me. I used to go out with her sister.”

  “Barbie’s the blonde?”

  Adam grunted.

  “So how is she a thorn in your side now?”

  “Old story. Nothing I want to talk about.”

  “I thought that’s what you came here for?”

  “No, I came to relax with a friend, not cry into my hankie about a sheila who drives me insane.”

  “Drives you insane, huh?”

  When Adam gave him a stare, Matt took the hint. “No more Barbie.”

  Adam just grunted again.

  When he left an hour later, Matt went inside to wash his hands before following through with his intentions of heading over to Lori’s house to ask her out on that date.

  The phone rang and he answered, “Hello?” only to groan seconds later.

  The ambulance officer working had fallen foul of some gastro bug and been taken home. The only other paramedic available to man the ambulance was Matt. There went his day off and he knew, glancing at the clock, there went his chance to ask Lori out. There was no time to go over and chat her up, and he certainly wasn’t going to rush it.

  Looked like it was another job for tomorrow.

  Damn it. Right then it felt as though the universe was conspiring to keep him away from Lori. However, tomorrow was another day.

  Hopping in the shower, he nodded. Tomorrow, come hell or high water, he was asking her out. Nothing and no one was going to stop him this time.

  ~*~

  The next morning, her ankle feeling almost back to normal, Lori hopped into her car and headed into town. The café was quiet when she pulled into the parking space in front of it and she was about to hop out when she saw a woman walking out the front door. Tears sparkled in her eyes and she hurriedly wiped them away when she saw Lori.

  Getting out of the car, Lori asked, “Are you all right?”

  “Fine. Thank you, I’m just fine.” Taking a deep breath, the woman looked at her, blinked and looked again before taking a step closer.

  Now Lori recognised her as the woman who had watched her as she passed her house the day before, there was no mistaking the short, curly hair and the shape of the face. Only now she could see that the woman’s hair was tinged with grey at the temples and her face had a few lines on it.

  Before the woman could say anything, Tommy appeared in the doorway, a scowl on his face which just grew darker when he saw Lori. His gaze flicked between her and the woman.

  The woman glanced back at him, opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it again and swung around to walk away rapidly.

  Watching her, Lori wondered who she was, she certainly wasn’t a local. Dimly she remembered her arriving a while ago, she’d fuelled up several times at the service station. A quiet woman, she didn’t say much and kept to herself, but there was something wrong.

  “Lori,” Tommy said.

  Switching her gaze to him, Lori noticed he was still scowling, only his scowl this time was aimed right at her. Closing the door of the car, she nodded at him.

  He glanced around before pushing the door open behind him. “Come inside. We have something to discuss.”

  Entering the café, she saw that it was empty. Turning, she was surprised to see Tommy lock the door and flip the ‘closed’ sign in the window. A little uneasy, she looked up at him. “Is everything all right?”

  “No,” he said, “it’s not. Now sit down.”

  Not liking his tone and not so certain that she’d done the right thing, Lori straightened her shoulders. “I beg your
pardon?”

  “Sit down.” He moved across to one of the tables at the far end of the café, only to look around when he realised she wasn’t following. Still scowling, he wiped his hands across the front of his apron. “All right. Please, Lori, sit down.”

  Crossing the room, she stopped before the table to look up at him. “I want to know why you’re so mad at me. I haven’t done anything to you.”

  “It’s not you.” He hesitated, “Well, not totally you.”

  “It’s not me at all,” she retorted.

  He glared at her for several seconds before sighing suddenly and rubbing his brow. “Lori, please sit down. I need to discuss something with you.”

  Relieved as some of the anger ebbed out of his voice, she slid into the booth, watching as he lowered himself down opposite her.

  Resting his forearms on the table, he regarded her. “You saw me leave that house the other morning.”

  Not denying it, she nodded.

  “It’s not my house.”

  “I know.”

  Taking a deep breath, he rubbed one thumb across a scratch on the table top. “It belongs to a woman I’m seeing, Harriet Keller.”

  “Okay.” Now Lori suspected she knew what this was about.

  “She doesn’t want anyone to know that we’re seeing each other.”

  “Why not?”

  “She just doesn’t.” Pain was reflected in Tommy’s eyes.

  “I still don’t see what this has to do with me.”

  “You saw us. Don’t tell anyone.”

  Lori couldn’t believe it. “This is why you came to my house yesterday practically baying for blood? Just to tell me to mind my own business and not gossip?”

  A muscle in his jaw clenched. “Yes.”

  Anger flickered through her. “A simple request would have done.”

  “I know. I’m making that request.”

  “In fact, you don’t even have to request it. You know me, I don’t talk about things that aren’t my business.”