Not two minutes later, June burst through the door. "Hi, Your Mayorness. I just got a call and thought you’d like to know. Mr. Gladston, the lawyer down the hall, is closing his office and retiring. I guess Annie talked to him and got him to offer his small office AC unit to the mayor’s office. Nice, huh? I thought something good would come along and here it is. Two things. The AC and the hunky guy. He's not leaving us high and dry, is he? I’ll be here first thing in the morning to install. Have a good day."
Lacy sighed. She sat there, very still, trying to get a grip on all that had transpired since 'the hunky guy' and his spunky child had walked through her door.
Now she had an engineer to remodel the buildings. And a new, working AC. And somewhere, in the dark halls, a black cat roamed around doing good deeds. She shook her head and buried her face in her hands. Only then would she let her doubts creep back into her world.
Holt Henderson seemed perfect for the job, but what if he reconsidered and backed out of their deal? It was still possible.
Finding a replacement for Holt Henderson would not be easy.
Oh please, don't let us down now, she begged silently. Don't quit. We need you, Holt Henderson.
She sat up and headed down the hall with one intention. To find that damn black cat. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."
CHAPTER FOUR
Lacy talked to her flowers. She had no one else. They listened quietly, but had no answers. Sometimes it made her feel better to admit certain things. Like how very long these two agonizing weeks seemed between the hiring of Holt Henderson and his actual showing up for the job.
She was jittery, nervous, and occasionally explosive and she didn’t know why. Was it – could it possibly be – because of Holt? Ridiculous! He was just an employee with a skill they needed in Silver Creek. Just a man good with his hands. Just a father who needed a job. And he was the perfect man for the job, or so it seemed.
But what if he decided to blow them off and head somewhere else? What if he had a better offer? What if – oh damn! This speculation – and anticipation - about Holt Henderson was driving her crazy. She wanted him to return, wanted him to work his magic on their town, wanted him…
No, this was no good. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. It was, in her book, unethical. Which made him unavailable. Which made him even more desirable.
She devoted every extra minute during the next two weeks to her future business, Blooms and Leaves. Maybe Lena was right and there was a place, a niche, for such a business. But a backyard full of herbs wasn’t enough to make a business. She’d have to grow it, literally. How could she get more out of her garden? Maybe she could hire her neighbors to grow some plants in their backyards, if they had room. She could pay them and show them the best techniques for getting the maximum crops.
She picked up the water hose and began to shower her plants. Immediately that darned black cat leaped up from the basil and easily jumped the fence. What the heck was going on with that cat? Sometimes she even doubted its existence. And the idea of it bringing good things. . . hmmmm. She certainly didn’t believe that.
While she silently communed with her plants, Lacy developed a plan to make sure Holt got moved in and settled. It involved pizza and a red tee shirt. She smiled. Maybe her Blooms and Leaves had spoken after all.
Holt Henderson wasn't a quitter. His determination was too strong to be deterred by a couple of thrill- seeking kids in a boring town.
Having grown up in a houseful of boys, he understood their fascination with motor vehicles and their thrill-seeking adventures, which occasionally included flirting with the law. He counted the joyriding incident handled and closed. And he didn't plan on seeing those damned kids again anytime soon.
On a sunny Saturday, he pulled a U-Haul truck to a stop in front of the quaint, Queen Anne style house he'd rented in Silver Creek. His hands rested on the steering wheel for a moment as he gazed at their new home... a new beginning. Another new beginning. But this time, maybe they’d stay awhile. There was potential here. And Lacy Donahue.
To say that he hadn’t thought of the sexy mayor more than once during the last two weeks would be lying. He’d thought of her a lot. And not just how they might work together to rebuild Silver Creek. And possibly, what her body might feel like next to his, and how her kisses might taste.
"Daddy!"
Back to reality. He had a kid clamoring to see her new house and he had a job to do, moving them in. He opened the truck door and gave a quick assessment of the house.
It was a historian's delight, featured a front-facing gabled window surrounded by fish-scale shingles. Some of those decorative shingles on the front facade were missing, and one of the windows was cracked. The front porch was supported by turned columns and outlined with a wobbly railing. Like everything else in this town, the house needed repair and paint.
"Come on, Daddy! Let's go inside! I want to see my room." Sofia pulled on Holt's arm. Then she stopped, dead still. "Listen, Daddy. . . it's. . . it's. . ."
Holt paused with his daughter to listen.
The unmistaken sound of an ice cream truck's jingle came down the street. Slowly, slowly growing louder by the second. Going slowly enough for all the kids in the neighborhood to hear the jangly tune and come running. Sofia joined them, running and jumping all the way.
Holt smiled to himself. This had to be the work of the mayor. Smart cookie, that one. He joined his daughter and ended up paying for popsicles for all the children.
Sophia was about as excited as any kid could be. "Daddy, I really like this place. They even have ice cream that comes to my house!" She burst through the house with all her six-year-old energy, talking and squealing at each new room or turn.
Holt stood in the entrance hall, trying to absorb the place. Twelve-foot ceilings, wood-paneled doors with ornate hardware and wide plank floors meant that, in its day, the small home had been quite attractive. It had potential.
The two bedrooms, living room and kitchen were built around a central structure containing the bath, bedroom closets and the kitchen pantry. Holt sighed. At least it wasn't an apartment. They'd have privacy and a feeling of being in a real home. And a back yard. He checked to see if the swing set he'd ordered had been delivered. He hoped that would take her attention away from wanting a pup.
He'd been enthusiastic about the move until today. So why was he feeling so reluctant and pensive? Doubt? Facing the unknown? No, he wouldn't let those feelings dominate. He was probably just tired and needed to finish this last step. The unloading and unpacking. He tried to shake off the mood without much success.
"I know which one is my room. Oh Daddy! Look! There are swings in my backyard!" Sofia bubbled with the eagerness he lacked. She was more than enthusiastic about the place. My house. My room. My backyard. Clearly his young daughter needed this settled kind of lifestyle. So he should just suck it up.
Holt moved through the old-fashioned kitchen, ignoring its inadequacies. Right now all he cared about was that the refrigerator and stove worked and the sink had hot running water. The backyard was fenced, barren of all but a few clumps of grass, and so small that the child's A-frame swing set practically filled it.
"My swings!" Sofia squealed with delight as she pumped her short legs. "Look how high I can go. Daddy, look at me!"
He stared bleakly at the space with its bare, naked spots in the grass. It wasn't beautiful, but maybe with a little work and water, he could make it look like a real yard. As he watched her, Holt couldn't resist giving Sofia a fatherly warning. "Be careful, honey. Not too high..."
"Daddy, please! I know how to do this. I won’t get myself hurt." She admonished him, then quickly hopped down and grabbed his hand. "Let's get our stuff out of the truck. Come on, I'll show you which room is mine!"
He followed her back inside. "I think both bedrooms are about the same size."
"But I want this one so I can look out my window and see my puppy in my backyard."
"Puppy?"
"D
addy! The puppy you promised!"
"I think we should clean this place up before we start hauling stuff inside. We'll discuss the puppy later." He turned in the hall and came face-to-face with Lacy Donahue, the va-voom sexy mayor, wearing jeans and a red tee shirt with a big A on the front.
She smiled at him, and he felt a little turn in his gut. It was all he could do to keep from swinging her up in his arms.
"Your door was open, and I, uh..." She stammered around, then began again. "Welcome to Silver Creek, Holt. Did I hear you mention cleaning?" She pulled a mop into view. "I just happen to have some high tech equipment with me."
"Well, hi." He tried to sound casual. With her flaming hair pulled into a ponytail and a few wispy curls teasing her ears, she looked like a teenager instead of the town mayor. But with more curves than any teen. "The A on your shirt is for. . . ?"
"University of Arizona in Tucson. My alma mater. I'm still a big basketball fan."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard of them. Pretty good team. Think they'll make the Final Four this year?"
She shrugged. "Hope so. I'll be watching."
Suddenly, for absolutely no reason he could pinpoint, Holt's sagging spirits melted away. He was really glad to be here today, grateful that Sofia was so happy, but especially pleased to see Her Honor. Well, 'pleased' was probably mild for his feelings. "Lacy, I'm surprised. Does the mayor offer her cleaning services to everyone who moves into town?"
"We have so few folks moving in, it's really a big deal."
"So you hired an ice cream truck?"
Lacy propped both forearms on the mop handle and grinned. "Whatever it takes. When you gave me your address, I knew we lived close."
"You live near here?"
"Up the street. The house on the corner."
"Oh. Small world, huh?"
"Small town. No one lives far from anyone else." She nodded past him. "What do you think about the house? Will everything fit?"
"Oh yes. We don't have much. A few basics." He motioned her inside. "Take a look around. It needs a good scrubbing and maybe a coat of paint."
"I'm surprised you'd notice. Most men wouldn't."
Holt gave Lacy a quick tour and they ended up in the back bedroom that Sofia had claimed. "Hey Sofia, Ms. Lacy is here."
Lacy walked toward the little girl. "Hi Sofia. I understand you liked the ice cream truck."
Sofia reached her hand out. "Hi, Ms. Lacy. I loooved the ice cream truck. It came right down our street. I got a fudge bar and my dad paid for all the kids in the neighborhood. Do you like my room? And just wait 'til you see my swings!"
Holt heard a knock and went to the front door.
"Hi. I'm Lena Corona. Here's a little something to welcome you to town." She handed him a huge cake, big enough for a family of eight.
"Thanks."
She stood back and looked him over. "Lacy's told me about you. If you work as good as you look, we're in business."
He placed the cake in the kitchen in time to hear Sophia saying, "Come outside and watch me swing."
"Well, actually I'm here to help you and your dad move in. Then we can play."
"We're going to need lots of help," Sofia said with childish honesty. "This place is pretty dusty. And we have lots of boxes to unload." Sofia motioned out the window. "My new puppy will have a nice backyard to play in."
"Oh, do you have a puppy?"
"Not yet." Sofia ran out of the room and down the hall. "I’m going outside to play."
"Stay right in the back yard," Holt called as she whizzed by.
"I know, I know. Be careful. Don’t worry about me, Daddy."
He shook his head. "She’s crazy-excited. Really likes it here."
"Good. But, do you?" Lacy asked. "I was a little concerned that you might not show up, after the joyride incident."
"I’m jobless, remember? We’re going to be fine here. Besides, Lena Corona brought a huge cake that should feed us for a week." Holt realized he'd been just standing there, watching Lacy interact with his daughter and loving it. He could hardly take his eyes off her.
"Lena brought you cake? My, she must want to make you feel very welcome. She's a semi-retired juvenile judge, one of our biggest supporters. Owns half the town. She provided my house as part of my meager pay as Mayor."
"Ah." He nodded, then acknowledged someone else at the door. "Be right back." He returned with Annie, who presented him with a fragrant apple pie. She and Lacy hugged and explained they were best of friends from college days at the U of A in Tucson.
"I was just about to get some cleaning materials together. Want to stay and help?" Lacy offered.
Annie grinned and pushed her blond hair behind one ear. "Thanks for the opportunity, but I was just leaving. Welcome Holt. See you later, I'm sure."
Lacy motioned to Holt. "I'll get started in here while you and the boys start bringing in your stuff."
"Such a friendly bunch." Holt headed outside to the truck—his original destination before the well-meaning friends in town had spun into his day. He didn't even notice that he was whistling now. Boys? Did she say you and the boys?
As he dug into the back of the U-Haul for assorted cleaning equipment, a compact car pulled to the curb across the street. A young woman and tall teenager hopped out and approached him. Holt recognized the kid as one of the boys who'd taken the joyride in his Jeep.
"Hi. I'm Sandy Amado from across the street. You must be Holt Henderson. We've been looking forward to your arrival."
"Well. . . thanks, Sandy. Nice to meet you."
"And this is my brother-in-law, Steve."
Holt's gaze met Steve's as they shook hands, and he realized instantly that Sandy didn't know about the joyriding incident. Her friendliness was too naive. "Steve, Sandy... a pleasure."
"Steve says Lacy asked him to help you move in," Sandy said.
"Oh, really?" Holt gave Steve a puzzled look.
"Mayor Donahue asked me and Roman to come over today," Steve said quickly. His expression practically begged Holt not to question why. "Roman should be here soon."
"Well, we have plenty of work for everyone. I’m grateful for any help you can give." Holt motioned toward the house. "The mayor is already here. We're going to start by cleaning a few things."
"I'll leave you fellows at that." Sandy backed away. "I have my own housecleaning to do today. Nice to meet you, Mr. Henderson. I've heard a lot about you from Lacy. She thinks you're the best man for the job. Good luck with that. We don't have many men left around here."
"Holt. Call me Holt."
"Okay, Holt." Sandy nodded and gave him an appreciative smile. "Steve, don’t be late. Jay will be here in a few hours, you know."
"I'll be there." Steve waved as Sandy headed for the little pink adobe house across the street.
"Well," Holt began. "Good of you guys to give up your Saturday for me. You take this, and I’ll get the rest." He shoved a bag of sponges and the gift box into Steve's hands, then rummaged in the truck for more.
Within a couple of minutes, Roman arrived on an orange scooter, accompanied by a blare of rock music. "Yo, man. Need some muscles?" Roman headed toward Holt, a large 'boom box' balanced on his shoulder.
"Hey, man." Holt extended his hand for a firm handshake. "Good to see you again, Roman. Before the muscles, I need some elbow grease."
"Say what?"
Holt chuckled. "Cleaning power. Elbow grease. Then muscles to move the furniture."
"Oh. Sure, man." Roman shifted from one foot to the other. "Is this what I’m here for?"
"Come on. Steve's already here, waiting for you. And the mayor, too." Holt strode inside and approached Lacy, a curious expression on his face. "Looks like the gang's arrived. Real friendly town, turning out to help me move. I expect a band to march in any moment. Would you like to let me know what's going on here?"
Lacy motioned him into the kitchen. "I should have discussed this with you earlier, but there wasn't time." Her blue eyes widened as she hurried to ex
plain. "I hope this is okay with you. Holt. It seemed the best way to discipline them. You see, neither of the boys wanted their little excursion revealed to their families, so I decided they should work directly for you as their payment."
"I see." Holt pursed his lips. "This is your plan, I take it?"
She nodded.
"And that's why you're here?" He'd thought she was there just for him. But, no. She was there to supervise those kids.
"To make sure everything went okay," she confirmed. "And to help you and Sofia, of course."
He assessed her for a moment, his brown eyes narrowing. "Well then, we may as well get busy."
She caught his arm and he felt a jolt between them. A little spark of energy, of power, of. . . adrenalin.
"You aren't angry with me, are you, Holt? I thought they would help."
"Help who? Me or the boys?"
She put both hands on his arm. "Both. They work. They're being disciplined. You benefit."
He paused, his renewed spirit suddenly deflated. "I just like to know what's going on, Lacy, especially when I'm involved. And now I do."
"Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner." Her fingers continued to clutch his sinewy forearm. "Maybe it's a big mistake. We could all just leave. Or... I could go," she said softly.
"No." His gaze met hers, electric and burning. He brought his other hand over hers. "Don’t go. I want you here."
Under The Desert Sky (Desert Sky Series) Page 4