by Susan Stoker
Even if Sandy knew what was up, it wouldn’t hurt to make sure everyone else knew it, too.
Thus, his early morning foray into Sumneyville. His plan was to pick out the perfect engagement ring, then surprise her with it on Valentine’s Day along with wine, roses, lingerie, and maybe a few of those toys he’d been eyeing online.
Yeah, it was cliché and traditional, but since their relationship was anything but cliché and traditional, it would be completely unexpected.
He cruised the main drag, the studded snow tires on the SUV crunching up chunks of packed snow, rock salt, and cinders. Street parking was at a premium with every other spot repurposed as a snow depository. Some of those that had been shoveled out by early risers had folding lawn chairs and garbage cans acting as placeholders to keep others from enjoying the benefits of another’s hard labor.
Heff chuckled. He’d never seen that before he’d come to Sumneyville. Then again, there were quite a few things he’d never seen before coming to this quirky little town.
The only open spot big enough to squeeze into was in front of a fire hydrant. Heff was tempted to take it if for no other reason than to piss off the fire chief. Jerry Petraski was a complete and total douche of the highest order and went out of his way to cause trouble for Sanctuary.
As satisfying as that would be, however, Heff didn’t have time to play that game today. He needed to get in, get out, and get back to Sanctuary before Sandy realized he wasn’t over at Smoke’s.
He drove the extra blocks to park in the downtown community lot, then doubled back on foot to Mueller’s Jeweler’s—only to find the place closed.
Heff double-checked the shop hours, mumbling under his breath when he realized he had another fifteen minutes before it opened.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and exhaled, his warm breath transforming into a visible vapor in front of his face. It was too damn cold to stand still for fifteen minutes.
He could walk to the SUV and back. Or he could grab the shovel stuck in the snow beside the decorative planter and start clearing the walk.
He’d just about finished when a woman came around the corner with a shovel of her own. Around fiftyish or so and bundled up against the cold, the top of her fluffy knit hat—which the locals called a buddelhelm—barely reached his chest.
She thanked him profusely, then unlocked the door and invited him inside where she clicked up the thermostat, flicked on the lights, then unwrapped her many layers.
“I’m Anna Mueller. How can I help you today?” she asked as she hung her coat, hat, and scarf on a standing rack behind the counter.
“Hugh Bradley. I’m interested in an engagement ring.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place. Do you know what you’re looking for?”
“An engagement ring,” he repeated, more slowly and clearer this time in case she was hard of hearing.
She chuckled. “Yes, I got that. I meant do you have an idea of what you’d like in terms of size, quality, setting, budget… that sort of thing?”
He hadn’t thought about any of those things. His grand plan hadn’t extended beyond looking at what was available and picking out the one that best suited Sandy. “Oh. No, not really. I want it to be a surprise,” he added unnecessarily.
“Well, why don’t you look around and see if anything strikes your fancy?”
She moved from one display case to another, turning on lights in each one until the shop was alight with glittering gems. There were quite a few to choose from, and all were beautiful, but none of them felt quite right. For Sandy, it had to be perfect.
“You do customs, right?”
She nodded. “We do. Quite a few, in fact.” She paused and regarded him through narrowed eyes. “You’re with Sanctuary, aren’t you?”
“I am,” he confirmed, wondering if that was going to be a problem. For some locals, it was. They didn’t like the idea of having Sanctuary in their backyard, though exactly why that was remained to be seen. “Two of my buddies got rings made here.”
“Ah, yes. For Sam and Kate. That must make you Sandy’s beau.”
He nodded.
“Well, then, you’re a bit behind in things, aren’t you? No worries, we’ll make up for it by creating a unique, one-of-a-kind ring for her. Let’s look at a few together and you can tell me what you like and don’t like about that. That’ll give us a good starting place.”
She pulled out one tray after another, asking questions about Sandy’s personal preferences in addition to his own.
“I think I’ve got enough to get started,” Anna told him a short while later. “What’s the time frame we’re working with here?”
“I was thinking Valentine’s Day.”
She laughed, then saw that he wasn’t smiling and blinked. “Seriously?”
“Is that a problem?”
She shook her head. “It can take several iterations on the design before we finalize, and only then does it go to my father. He’s a master craftsman and takes tremendous pride in his work. You can’t rush that.”
Heff understood that, but he didn’t want to wait months. Now that he’d made up his mind, he wanted to move forward as quickly as possible.
“I’d really appreciate anything you can do.”
“I’ll try, but you couldn’t have picked a worse time to come in. My father’s sick in bed with a head cold and I don’t know when he’ll feel well enough to come back to work.”
Heff thanked her and left the shop, cautiously hopeful that everything would work out according to plan.
2
Sandy
Sandy lifted the coffee mug to her lips, dismayed to find it empty. Again. Looking at the time in the corner of her computer screen, she was surprised to see how late it actually was.
She rolled her stiff shoulders, taking a moment to sit back and look at the home page she’d been working on for Andy’s. They’d hired her not only to create a customized website but also design their menus and ads as well.
It was proving to be a challenge. Andy’s was a favorite among locals, a hole in the wall restaurant that looked like a dive from the outside but had phenomenal food. Inside, the vibe was dark and edgy yet surprisingly welcoming and intimate. Capturing and conveying that wasn’t easy, but Sandy would keep at it until it was perfect—because that’s what she did.
After giving up a prestigious internship at the Manhattan-based Kensington Graphic Creative, she’d opened up her own studio and now catered specifically to local businesses in and around Sumneyville. Luckily, word had spread fast and business was booming.
Even better, she set her own hours, worked out of an idyllic cabin in the mountains, and lived with her soul mate.
Speaking of Heff, where was the sexy devil? She hadn’t seen him since…
She smiled, warmth flooding through her as she thought back to that morning and the special wake-up Heff had given her. She’d still been half asleep, but that was one of the wonderful things about living with Heff. Dreams and reality often merged.
Yeah. He was that good.
She vaguely remembered him saying something about helping Smoke with a special project. He didn’t say what it was, exactly, but she imagined it was a surprise for Sam. Smoke wasn’t the type to do anything for his own benefit, and Sam was his entire world.
Just like Heff was hers.
Sandy stood and stretched out her lower back. When Heff returned, she was going to suggest giving each other back massages. Which reminded her… she needed to head over to the main building and see if the package she’d ordered had arrived. She’d been planning on saving the special warming lotion for Valentine’s Day, but maybe they could break that open early and save the rest for the holiday.
After donning appropriate winter attire, she threw a few more logs on the fire and made the trek through the snow to the resort. Once inside, she peeled off her outer layers and followed the mouthwatering smells to the kitchen where she found Sam and Kate huddled together over
a tablet.
Sam looked up with a guilty look on her face, then relaxed when she saw who it was.
“What are you two up to?” Sandy asked, intrigued. The two women had become her best friends over the last year.
“We’re trying to come up with ideas for Valentine’s Day.”
“Not really my wheelhouse, but surf and turf is always a good choice.”
“Not for dinner,” Kate explained. “We’ve already worked that out. We’re talking about after dinner.”
“Ah, gotcha. You’re talking sexy edibles.”
Sam nudged Kate. “See? I told you she’d know.”
Sandy smirked. She and Heff tended to be rather adventurous when it came to expressing intimacy.
“Look at that smile,” Kate said, her lips quirking. “You already have some ideas, don’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Spill, sister,” grinned Sam.
“In this case, it might be better if I show you. Do you have that package that came for me?”
“Yeah, I stashed it in the pantry before any of the guys saw it.”
“Perfect. Let’s go in there.”
Once the door closed behind them, Sandy opened up the box and rummaged through the contents.
“What’s that?”
“A miniature chocolate fountain.”
“For dipping strawberries?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s go with that,” Sandy said with a wicked grin. The truth was, she’d had something else in mind she’d been hoping to drizzle with the warm, melted chocolate. “I should probably pick some up.” Maybe some bananas, too. Whipped cream would definitely be involved.
“Moving on. What’s this?” Sam held up a flat, rectangular box and shook it.
“Probably the crotchless panties I ordered.”
Sam’s cheeks burned a bright red as she quickly put down the package.
Sandy laughed. “Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Wear a nice skirt or something, then whisper in your guy’s ear, and guaranteed, he’s going to want to validate ASAP.”
“Good tip,” Kate said, nodding.
Sandy told them about some of the other surprises she had planned for Heff. Candles. Silk sheets. An erotic board game based on the Kama Sutra.
“Wow,” Sam said, shaking her head. “I really need to up my game. All I got was some new lingerie.”
“I’m getting a tattoo,” Kate confessed.
Both women turned to her, eyes wide. “You are?”
“Chris drove down to Birch Falls and got one shortly after we got married. It’s beautiful. A heart with my name in script. I want to get a matching one and surprise him.”
“Where are you going to put it?”
“Somewhere where only Chris will see it.”
“Oh, he’ll be surprised, all right.”
Sandy was putting her surprises back in the box when the pantry door opened suddenly. Smoke’s big body filled the doorway, his expression one of concern as he scanned the interior and its guilty-looking occupants.
“Everything okay in here?”
“Yeah, of course? Why wouldn’t it be?” Sam asked. Kate shifted in front of the box to block his view as Sandy hurriedly scooped up the rest and stuffed it inside the box.
Smoke took a step forward. “What have you got there?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
His eyes narrowed. Sam held his gaze, defiantly lifting her chin until Smoke exhaled and said, “Fine. Sandy, when you see Heff, tell him I’m looking for him, okay?”
Sandy closed up the box and faced him. “I thought he was with you this morning.”
Smoke’s expression went blank as he backed out of the doorway. “Church is waiting on me.”
“What was that all about?” Kate asked.
Sam tilted her head. “Just a guess, but I think Heff used Steve as a cover.”
“A cover for what?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the hot tub Steve is putting in that I’m not supposed to know about.” Sam grinned. “Steve’s been disappearing in the middle of the night and coming back smelling like cedar, so of course, I snuck out and followed him to see what he was up to. He’s turning his work shed into a mini-paradise.” Her eyes filled with moisture. “It’s going to be so gorgeous. Cedar planks, a hot tub sized hole, recessed lighting... He really is the sweetest man ever.”
“It is gorgeous,” Kate agreed. “I saw the designs.” Her husband was an incredibly talented architectural engineer and was responsible for a lot of the renovations and new construction on the Sanctuary property. “It’s been so hard not telling you.”
Sam turned to Sandy. “Did you know, too?”
“I knew Heff was helping Smoke with a special project, but I didn’t know what,” Sandy confessed. “Though apparently, not this morning.” She eyed her friends. “Do either of you know what he’s up to?”
Both women looked at each other and shook their heads. It was Kate who spoke. “No. Whatever it is, he’s playing it pretty close to the vest.”
“Knowing Heff, we might be better off not knowing,” Sam commented, her lips twisting into a smirk. “You might go back and find a sex swing or a St. Anthony’s cross in your cabin or something.”
“It’s a St. Andrew’s cross,” Sandy corrected, her eyes glittering, “and the swing attaches easily to special hardware in an overheard beam.”
“Oh, my God. You are kidding, aren’t you?”
Sandy laughed, but neither confirmed nor denied Sam’s guess. She picked up her box of goodies. “Well, it’s been fun ladies, but I need to get this back to the cabin and hide it before Heff comes back from whatever it is he’s up to.”
“Maybe he’s down at Mueller’s, picking out a ring,” Kate speculated, a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Maybe,” Sandy said lightly, but she highly doubted it. Heff hadn’t given any indication that he was interested in marriage. She’d thought about raising the subject several times but hadn’t wanted to rock the boat. Things were so good between them. Why complicate things?
It didn’t matter. Not really. She didn’t need a ring on her finger to know Heff loved her.
Although… she sure wouldn’t mind seeing her ring on his finger.
She quickened her steps. The minute she had the goodies stashed out of sight, she was going to give Anna Mueller a call.
3
Heff
Smoke emerged from the main building and waved him over before Heff was completely out of the vehicle.
“I fucked up,” Smoke said without preamble. “Sandy was in the kitchen with Sam and Kate and I told her to tell you I was looking for you.”
Heff didn’t know what was more surprising—that Smoke had inadvertently blown his cover or that he’d spoken so many words at one time. The guy was an economist when it came to verbal expression. Funny how the man could work with explosives while under fire and be cool as a cucumber, yet pulling together a Valentine’s surprise for his woman had him rattled.
Heff could empathize.
“No worries.” If Sandy asked, he could simply say he’d had to run into town for something. He didn’t have to specify what. He did have to put some time into Smoke’s project asap though because he’d be damned if he’d lie to Sandy. “It’s cool if I head over now though, right?”
Smoke gave a curt nod. “Mad Dog, Church, and Doc are there. Kate’ll keep Sam occupied until Mad Dog returns and gives her the all-clear.”
As they were walking back to Smoke’s cabin, he asked, “So, how’d it go at Mueller’s?”
Heff side-eyed him. “Who says I went to Mueller’s?”
Smoke offered a rare grin. “No other reason to sneak off when Sandy thinks you were helping me.”
Valid point. “Not as well as I’d hoped. The old man’s out sick and his daughter laughed when I said I wanted something by Valentine’s Day. You got Sam a custom piece, right? How long did that take?”
“Three mon
ths.” When Heff groaned, Smoke added, “But I had him do matching bands at the same time.”
Shit. Heff hadn’t thought of that. “When she learned the ring was for Sandy, she said she’d see what she could do.”
“I hope it works out for you, man.”
Heff hoped so too. Either way, he was going to make sure this Valentine’s Day was a memorable one, but asking Sandy to marry him was supposed to be the crowning jewel, so to speak.
When they reached the shed behind Smoke’s cabin, Mad Dog and Church were putting up new framing for the floor-to-ceiling insulated window panels that would replace the solid walls and provide a stunning view of the forest. Doc was there, too, stringing wires and installing electrical outlet boxes on wall studs.
The two massive propane heaters kept the space at a comfortable working temperature until the new gas fireplace got hooked up.
Looking at the state of things, it was hard to believe they’d actually finish in time, but Mad Dog was confident they’d pull it off.
“About time you showed up,” Doc groused good-naturedly. “Sandy finally let you out of the cabin, huh?”
“What can I say?” Heff asked, raising his arms out to the side. “The woman can’t get enough of me.”
Doc snorted. “Whatever you say, Casanova.” He pointed a screwdriver toward the opposite corner where sheets of insulation board waited to be sized and cut. “How about getting started on those so we can get these walls finished today?”
Several hours later, Heff returned to his own cabin. Sandy looked up and smiled at him as he entered. As always, he felt it in his chest.
She rose to her feet and padded over to him, pressing her body against his before he’d even fully removed his coat.
“Careful. I’m dirty.”
“I like you dirty.” She grinned and nipped his chin. “It’s one of the things I like most about you.”
He patted her backside and gave her a searing kiss but didn’t release her. She felt too damn good. This was exactly why getting that ring was so important.