by Stacey Wilk
“You think something is going on?”
He didn’t want to scare the guy. He wanted to see what kind of car this stranger was driving. “No. I want to make sure everything is working properly. You don’t want to find out too late a piece of equipment was faulty.”
“If you say so, but we haven’t had any trouble at the General in fifty years. Folks in Silent Water keep to themselves and watch out for their own.” Jim went back to cleaning the grill.
And he went back to watching Raine smile for the customers and shake hands. She wrote down orders and laughed at some of the jokes. She knew how to work a room.
“Better keep your eyes on the grill or you’re liable to burn yourself.” Jim laughed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. My eyes are exactly where they’re supposed to be.” He busied himself with cutting vegetables.
“She’s very pretty. If I were thirty years younger I’d ask her out.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Whatever you say, old man.”
He stole another glance at Raine. Her jeans hugged her legs showing off firm thighs and a tight, cute backside. What would she say to a date with him? Then he shook the thought away. She was hiding something, and he didn’t want any part of that. He liked his simple life. Isn’t that what he kept telling Deke?
So, why did he keep checking over his shoulder for another glimpse of her? And what was he willing to risk for a taste of those lips?
Mandy slammed the bell. “Chase, pay attention.”
He looked down. He’d cut his finger.
And Jim laughed. “I told you.”
So, he had.
Chapter Seven
Raine craned her neck and rubbed her low back. Waiting tables was hard work, and she had the aches and pains to prove it. Jim hadn’t fired her when she dropped a tray of food on the floor, or spilled, accidentally of course, coffee in the lap of man whose hands had a mind of their own. He told her to come back tomorrow, and Mandy split the tips with her. At least she had some cash in her pocket.
Now she sat in the pick-up line at the Silent Water elementary school. The school was around the corner from the General Store and down the street from the post office. All in walking distance, but she preferred the solitude and safety of being behind the wheel. Even this old clunker moved faster than she could run. She missed her Lexus 470 – the car she’d abandoned in the bus terminal parking lot back in California. The Camry smelled of old food, and old feet. She had come full circle, but leaving Matt was worth it.
Working beside Chase for those few hours had her nerve endings on high alert. His intense stare would pin her in her place which was why she’d dropped the tray. He seemed to focus on everything as if it was the most important thing in the room, and that included her. The gray in his beard made her heat up, and the idea of running her fingers across it turned her into a liquid pool of desire. It was only a beard. What would discovering the taut muscles under his black sweater do to her?
The children spilled out of the front doors of the school. Some ran. Others walked with friends. All were covered in coats and hats decorated in colors like candy. A teacher lined them up near the curb. As each car pulled forward, a child from the line stepped out and got in the car. She inched up, but Landon was nowhere to be seen.
Don’t panic. Though her heart insisted on knocking on her ribs, and her breath caught in her throat. He was probably trying to find his way around the school. Or maybe he’d made a friend and they were talking. Or his teacher might be helping him with something.
She moved the car into the first position in the line. Still no Landon. The teacher walked over to her window. “Hi. You must be Landon’s mom. I’m Mrs. Myers. I’m sorry, but you can’t stay in line if he’s not out yet. Just pull into a spot over there. I’ll help him cross when he comes out.”
“Can I go inside and look for him?”
“I’m sure he’ll be out in a minute. I saw him before last period.”
“How do you know my son?” This lady with short light brown hair and a red nose probably from the cold wasn’t Landon’s teacher. She’d made sure to walk him straight to the class herself even though he and the principal didn’t want her to. Just for today, because today was the first day since they’d left California she’d be letting her little boy out of her sight.
“It’s a very small school. Any time a new student arrives they’re like a celebrity. And my classroom is across the hall from his. Would you mind pulling over now?”
She did as she was told, but she hopped out and marched toward the school.
“Mrs. Kennedy, it’s better to wait in your car. You might miss him.” Mrs. Myers shouted after her, but she kept going.
Suck it up, lady. I’m going for my kid.
The office was to her left, and the gymnasium was to her right. The long hallway stretched out in front of her. Panic fogged her brain. She couldn’t remember which way she’d gone to drop him off once they went down that hall. Kids still meandered around, laughing, talking, and bouncing off each other like balls in a pinball machine. Someone shouted they needed to hurry. The bus was about to leave.
Her heart fought its way up her throat cutting off her breath. What if Matt found him? She wouldn’t be able to go to the police to report Landon missing, and she wouldn’t be able to go back to her little house next to Chase’s for their things. She’d have to make a run for it alone until she could come up with a plan. Matt might take Landon back to their house in California, but he’d never let her within a thousand feet of the property. By the time she made it back across the country he’d have half the state believing she was mentally ill and needed to be hospitalized. She’d never see her son or the outside of an institution again.
She forced her legs forward and commanded her lungs to breathe. She couldn’t break down. A plump woman with short, gray hair turned the corner. Raine stopped. She had seen her before. Landon’s teacher – Mrs. Dunn.
“Come now.” Mrs. Dunn said to someone behind her.
A group of three children turned into the main hallway. Two in front of the third. A girl with long, brown hair and glasses smiled at another girl wearing a flower on her head. She nearly choked when the two girls sped ahead revealing the child behind them.
Landon shuffled forward in his bright blue jacket , his head hung low. She let out a long breath, and her knees buckled. “Landon.”
His head popped up. He started to smile, but a scowl bumped it off his face. He didn’t say anything, but gripped her arm and tugged her toward the doors. “I want to say hello to your teacher.”
“Come on, Mom.” He tugged her harder.
She waved to Mrs. Dunn but waited to ask Landon what was bothering him until they were inside the car.
“Did you enjoy your first day of school?”
“I hate it here. I miss all my friends back home. Everyone thinks I sound funny, and my head hurt trying to remember to use my new last name. I don’t want that name. When can we go home?”
She pulled into traffic but continued to glance at him in the mirror. He was okay. Matt hadn’t found them. “Were you talking with those girls at the end of the day? They looked like nice girls.”
“I’m not going to make any new friends. I hate this place. I want to call Dad to come and get me.”
“We’ve talked about this. When Dad is safe, he’ll come find us. I left him clues.” Would her sweet boy ever forgive her for the lies she told?
“I don’t understand. Doesn’t Dad miss us?”
“He misses you very much. He wants you to be safe, and the best way to do that was to leave home for a while. We’ll go back as soon as we can.”
She turned into the long drive leading to their house. The trees surrounding the property gave a false sense of security. The houses couldn’t be seen from the road, but anyone on foot would only have to walk into the tree line to see the two houses sitting almost side by side. The lake came into view as the driveway forked and she parked und
er the car port. The sun would be down soon. The sky was already striped in grays. The air smelled of snow, and the chill seeped through her coat to her bones.
Chase’s truck was parked near his garage. What was he doing all alone in that big house? “How about if we invited Chase over for dinner?” Maybe having some male company would cheer Landon up. He seemed to have taken a liking to the stoic man.
“Can I go knock on his door?” Landon’s face lit up.
She eased a breath of relief out. “Okay, but go now, and hurry back. I don’t want you out after dark. Do you have homework?”
“Some.”
“Okay, hurry and ask, then come home and do your homework.”
He threw himself against her for a hug almost knocking her off balance. She laughed and ruffled his hair. He took off running up Chase’s porch and pounded on the door.
****
Chase hit the send button on his email. The dial-up might take forever to get the message to Deke. The notes he’d saved on the Sin Piedad cartel were on their way. “Good riddance.” He doubted Deke would make much headway. No one had ever been able to make a dent with those scumbags. The cartels weren’t like the old Italian mob families. The Feds could always make the mobsters roll on each other at some point, but those connected with the cartels kept their mouths shut because they knew no one they loved was safe if they squealed. He wanted to make all drugs legal, and let the government control them. If a heroine junky could get clean drugs from the government for free, he wouldn’t have to deal on the street to get high. Kill the demand and the supply would dry up. Never happen in his lifetime.
Chase shoved out of the chair and padded into the extra bedroom. “Hey, buddy.” He opened the cage and scooped out Elmer the black and white bunny, careful to keep his hand under the bunny’s back legs. “How was your day?” He scratched the top of Elmer’s head.
He’d saved some of the romaine lettuce from the General as food for Elmer. Jim always threw out what was left each day. He started taking the lettuce home right after he rescued Elmer from the bunny shelter.
“Do you want to get some exercise?” He placed the rabbit down on the floor and let him investigate. “That’s right, pal. Sniff it all out first. Tell me if anything looks suspicious. I’ll be your backup.”
The doorbell interrupted Elmer’s play time. Chase scooped him again and headed for the front door. He peered through the keyhole and didn’t see anyone. The bell rang again. He pulled the door open. “I had a feeling that was you ringing my bell.”
Landon’s eyes grew wide. “Wow, you have a rabbit. Can I pet it?”
“Sure. This is Elmer. He likes it when you scratch his head and behind his neck.” He bent down so Landon could reach.
“Elmer is a funny name.” He scrunched up his little nose which had the same smattering of freckles as his mother. He searched the yard for a sign of her, but there was none.
“Haven’t you ever seen Bugs Bunny?”
“Nope. Is that on Animal Planet or something?”
“I’ll show you some day. Do you want to hold him?”
“Can I?”
“Put your left hand on his chest and your right hand under his back legs. Rabbits don’t normally like to be held, but I trained Elmer to expect it. But if you don’t hold a rabbit the right way they’ll kick their back legs and maybe break their spine.”
“Ouch.”
“Exactly. You’re doing great. So, did your mom send you over here?”
“She wanted me to ask you to come over for dinner. He’s licking my chin.” Landon giggled.
That giggle sucker punched him. The wind went out of his sails, and he leaned against the door jam. “How about you come inside for a second?” He needed to sit. What he really needed was to be alone, but he couldn’t send the kid away without an answer or an explanation. Neither of which he was prepared to give.
“My mom said I had to ask and come right back. She’ll get mad if I come inside.” He handed Elmer over.
“Tell her thanks, but I have to say no.” Who was he kidding thinking he could sit through a meal with Raine and Landon?
“Please. Don’t tell Mom, but I kind of had a bad day, and you coming to dinner would cheer me up.”
“Why don’t you want to tell your mother?” The cold air calmed his nerves and soothed the heat on his cheeks. Standing on the porch was a better idea.
“She worries, and I’ve been complaining about wanting to go home.” He smacked his hand over his mouth.
“Where’s home?” If he acted as if he didn’t notice the slip, Landon might be willing to keep talking. If he made a big deal out of it, or called the kid on his mistake the boy would go running.
“This is our home now. I like the lake and all the trees. And having you as a neighbor is fun. I wish you had a kid I could play with.”
“So do I. Okay, I tell you what. Let me spend some time with Elmer, and I’ll come over for dinner.”
“You will?” He bounced on his toes.
How could he say no to this kid? Landon didn’t know anything about his past and probably didn’t care – not that he should. He wouldn’t understand why an adult could not sit at a table with him without the weight of the past planted in the seat right next to him. This child could not fathom the pain being near any child caused him. “Tell your mom thanks for me.”
“Great. See ya. Bye, Elmer.” Landon waved and ran off.
Chase closed the door and leaned against it. “How could one beautiful woman and her cute kid turn my life upside down so quickly?” He looked to Elmer for an answer, but all he got was a twitch of his nose in response.
“A lot of help you are.”
Chapter Eight
Raine’s hands shook. She spilled some of the boiling water onto the counter. Why she was nervous was beyond her. Her neighbor was coming for dinner. No big deal. She’d had dinner with her neighbors countless times. Just not any neighbor that was as sexy as Chase Shepherd.
Still, she wanted to jump in the shower and blow out her hair again. No time for that. He’d be there any minute and she still had to put the salad together and make the garlic bread. The food would be simple so he wouldn’t read anything into her invitation. Maybe she’d throw on a little lip gloss, though.
The knock at the door stopped her.
“He’s here.” Landon skid around the corner in his socks.
She dumped the pasta back into the pot, poured the oil and garlic, maybe the meal had too much garlic. Well, good. If she stunk like a vampire repellant then he wouldn’t be tempted to kiss her. Not that she wanted him to kiss her. Much. She turned to follow Landon to the door.
Chase commanded the empty space in her living room just by standing there. His broad shoulders filled out the gray sweater he had on over a flannel shirt. The flannel’s shirt tails stuck out from under the sweater. His jeans were faded and hugged his strong thighs. He smelled like soap, and his gaze locked on hers. That intense stare had her knees wobbling.
“These are for you.” He held out a bouquet of flowers she hadn’t noticed he had until he spoke. “I also brought these.” In his other hand was a white box tied with a red and white string.
“Thank you. That was very thoughtful. You didn’t have to.”
Landon grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the kitchen. “Come on, Chase. Dinner’s ready.”
“Not so pushy, buddy. Sorry, he’s excited.”
“There’s no problem. Can I help you with anything?”
“Just sit. I’m sure you get sick of cooking after a day at the General.” She didn’t have a vase for the flowers. She found as tall a glass as she could and trimmed the stems to make the flowers fit better. The bouquet was mainly carnations in different colors, but they brought a cheerfulness into the room that wasn’t there before.
“I like cooking. Is that garlic bread?”
She had a loaf of French bread sliced down the middle. “I planned on slapping some butter and garlic on it and thr
owing it in the oven. The pasta is also covered in garlic. I hope you like it.” Heat climbed up her neck and face.
“Let me. I love garlic.” He took the knife from her hand. Their fingers touched sending a hot current up her arm. She dropped her gaze to cool the heat. Or maybe the oven was up too high?
He moved around the kitchen with ease, placing the bread in the oven then helping her chop veggies for the salad she should have made earlier. His large hands moved with speed as he diced the carrots and celery into tiny pieces.
“That bread should be ready.” He leaned around her to grab the oven mitts, and they collided.
His nearness stole her breath. His chest was solid, and he smelled so damn good. “I’ll get it.”
He stepped out of her way and retreated to the table. She regretted saying anything that would send him away, but she busied herself with grabbing the bread and cutting it into pieces.
Landon chose the chair next to Chase’s. “Mom, I met Chase’s bunny.”
“You did?”
Landon prattled on about the rabbit and its big ears. She pushed the food around on her plate.
“How was your first day of school?” Chase scooped some salad onto his plate.
“It was okay.” Landon’s smiled slipped, but he caught it right away. “I met some kids.” He continued to share some of the events during the day. She tried to stay focused on her son’s words in case he asked her any questions, but her mind continued to drift toward the man sitting at her table.
What was his story? And who had let him get away? Any man who could sit through a meal and seem to genuinely want to know about an eight-year-old’s day was a good man in her book. Chase had fixed his gaze on Landon as if he was the only person in the room, and Landon spilled to him far more than he’d said to her since she picked him up at school.
“We went outside for recess. It was cold and they weren’t going to let us, but the principal made an announcement that a few minutes wouldn’t hurt and would clear the cobwebs from everyone’s brain. I don’t have cobwebs in my brain, but I did want to try out the swings. They looked fun. I had to wait my turn because two other boys had gotten to the swings first. I leaned against the fence and watched them. That’s when the man spoke to me.”