by Mia Ross
“Okay, but remember it’s still in development. Things aren’t polished yet.”
“Gotcha.”
After a few quick keystrokes, she opened up the new website she’d been designing for the center. The first thing he noticed was that she’d found a way to reproduce their logo, which arched over the center of each page to give them all a cohesive look. She clicked through various sections, explaining what was there and what she wanted to add.
When she got to the video section, an idea popped into his head. “We still have to put that webcam in the baby barn.”
“I totally forgot,” she commented, clicking over to a digital notepad to add the suggestion, along with one about uploading the video of Rosie’s school visit. “We just have to buy a webcam and mount it in there.”
“I don’t think they cost much. If we do more than one, people could pick which kind of animal they want to watch.”
“We could even put them in the puppy and kitten areas,” she suggested brightly. “Once people see how adorable they are, they’ll get adopted faster.”
“No doubt.”
While they kicked ideas around for improving certain sections of the site and adding things that weren’t there yet, Drew felt himself warming to the project. Normally, he was a hands-on kind of guy, and brainy pursuits like this didn’t hold much appeal for him. But cozied up on the couch with this unexpectedly creative woman, he was surprised to discover that he didn’t mind using his head for a change.
Just another aspect of his life that had changed since he met Bekah, he mused with a grin. Who could’ve guessed that while he was trying to improve her life, she’d end up doing the same for him?
* * *
Monday morning was unreal.
Bekah stood at the counter in their freshly scrubbed lobby, opening email after email inquiring about how to donate to the rescue center’s rebuilding fund. Many of the locals who’d come to help with the cleanup had not only given their time and effort, but left behind checks and cash whose total still blew her mind. With Animal Palooza right around the corner and people from outside Oaks Crossing interested in donating, the center just might earn a much-needed sense of financial security.
All that generosity showed Bekah what could be accomplished when a bunch of regular people came together and devoted their energies to a common cause. It was a good lesson for someone like her to learn, and she’d taken it very much to heart.
The phone rang, and the caller ID told her it was Sierra. “Morning, boss. How’s your cram session going?”
“Long and tedious. I think my eyes are starting to cross, so I decided to take a break. How’re things there?”
“Do you want the good news or the good news?”
The center’s director answered with something between a yawn and a laugh, and Bekah explained. “We got another set of donations in this morning’s mail, and more emails from folks asking what we still need. As if that wasn’t enough, our new media pages are trending online. It’s unbelievable.”
“That fire might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Erin and I were looking over the books last night, and if Animal Palooza brings in the crowd we’re expecting based on the number of RSVPs, it seems like we’ll be able to afford to keep you on after the end of the year. If you want to stay, that is.”
For once, Bekah didn’t hesitate, buying time to consider all the possible angles and how things could go wrong. Delighted by the offer, she quickly said, “I love working here, so I’d be thrilled to stay on. Thank you so much.”
“You’ve totally earned it, but you’re welcome. I’m hoping we can give you a raise, but Erin and I will have to do the year-end books to make sure.”
“What I’m making now is fine,” Bekah assured her, smiling even though no one was there to see it. “If you’ve got extra money floating around, use it to get a top-notch veterinarian in here.”
“See? That’s what I love about you.”
They were both laughing when the front door opened, and Bekah glanced up to see who’d come into the lobby.
Abruptly, she stopped laughing and stared at the man who’d been the star of her worst nightmares for months. Richie raised his hand in greeting, then folded his arms in a clear message that he was willing to stand there and wait until she talked to him.
Bekah’s heart leaped into her throat, and she swallowed hard to force it back to where it belonged. Taking a deep breath to steady her voice, she said, “Sierra, I have to go. We’ll talk more later.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Something just came up that I have to handle. I’ll call you back.”
She hung up before Sierra could say anything more and faced her unwelcome visitor with a grim expression. “Richie.”
“Bekah.” Glancing around, his dark eyes settled on her with an approving look. “It looks like I was wrong.”
She wasn’t falling for that. A few months ago, she might have taken his admiration at face value, but she was stronger now, more confident. His talent for deception was epic, and the woman she’d become no longer trusted him. “About what?”
“That you couldn’t make it without me. It doesn’t happen often, but I have to say I’m pleased to be proven wrong.”
He moved a few steps closer, and she was grateful to have the sturdy oak counter as a buffer between them. “How did you find me?”
“You can find just about anything on the internet these days.”
Of course, she moaned silently. Between the media campaign for the clinic and the article Connor had written, her name was out there for the public to see if they knew where to look. The thought that Richie would somehow locate her had once nearly paralyzed her with fear. Now that he was here, she realized this little reunion would have happened sooner or later, even without the online exposure.
Summoning the spunk that Drew had admired so many times, she faced her ex with a stern expression. “Well, here I am. What do you want?”
“What I’ve always wanted. You.”
He reached out for her hand, and she jerked it away, glaring at him for all she was worth. “I’m not interested.”
“But I came all the way from Cleveland to see you,” he wheedled, some of the obstinance she remembered slithering into his fond expression. “The least you can do is hear me out.”
“I don’t think so.”
In the time it took her to blink, he grabbed her arm and yanked her partway over the counter. “You have something that belongs to me, and I want it back.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she stalled, groping around the shelf hidden behind the facade, praying to find something she could defend herself with.
And then, out of nowhere, Drew appeared behind Richie and tossed him halfway across the lobby as if he was a rag doll. Standing between him and Bekah, Drew planted his hands on his hips and scowled at their unwelcome guest. “You heard the lady. Time to go.”
“I don’t know who you think you are,” Richie protested, shaking off the manhandling with a violent look. “But this is strictly between Bekah and me.”
Drew didn’t say a word, but he took a single menacing step forward. Even though they were about the same size, Richie backpedaled toward the door. She’d never seen him look frightened before, and it occurred to her that very few people had ever challenged him the way Drew was doing now.
“All right, I’m going, but I’ll be back later when your Doberman isn’t around.” Tossing a business card on the counter, he added, “You know why I’m here, and I’m not leaving until I have what I came for. Call me when you’re ready to talk.”
“You’re wasting your time and your breath,” she shot back, pleased to see him shrink away from her for a change. “Go home, Richie. I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
Leveling a
furious look at Drew, Richie carefully maneuvered around him and out the door. When his car was out of sight, Drew turned to her with a grim expression. “You okay?”
“Yes.” Giving him a wry grin, she lifted the heavy industrial stapler she held in her shaking hand. “He should thank you. You saved him from a beaning.”
Her rescuer laughed, eyes twinkling proudly as he came around the counter. “Good for you. When I saw him grab you, it was all I could do not to put him through the wall.”
“Then we’d just have more to fix,” she teased, able to joke now that her pulse was dropping back into its normal range. “But it’s nice to know you would’ve done something like that for me.”
The grin he was wearing mellowed into something else, and his gaze warmed considerably. “Haven’t you figured it out yet, sweetheart? I’d do anything for you.”
“I—what?” she stammered, mesmerized by the emotion simmering in those hazel eyes.
“You’ve been under my skin since the first day I met you,” he murmured, drawing her into his arms with a lazy smile. “Stuff like that never happens to me.”
She’d have given just about anything for a witty comeback, but the best she could scrape up was a meek, “Really?”
“Uh-huh. Why do you think that is?” She mutely shook her head, and he rested his forehead on hers with a heavy sigh. “I’m hoping you can help me figure it out before it drives me crazy.”
“Umm...okay.”
Pulling his head back, he gave her another one of those heart-skipping grins he seemed to pull out at the best possible times. Brushing a kiss over her lips, he murmured, “I’d appreciate that.”
What she’d appreciate was another kiss, although she couldn’t summon the nerve to ask him for one. Somehow he picked up on what she was thinking, and as usual he didn’t disappoint her.
Cuddled against him, she let out a deep, contented sigh. “This is nice.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Her brain finally shifted back into gear, and she tipped her head back to give him a curious look. “How did you know I was in trouble?”
“Sierra,” he explained with a grimace. “She didn’t like the way you sounded when you hung up with her, so she called me to come and check on you.”
“I’m glad she did, but I’m sorry to drag you away from the farm in the middle of the morning this way.”
Clearly unconcerned, he shrugged. “No big deal. That endless pile of logs isn’t going anywhere.”
“Cutting or stacking?”
“Both. I lost the rock-paper-scissors deal, so I got stuck with restocking the firewood for the house.” He gave her a sheepish grin that was very unlike him. “Not that I’m complaining or anything. I could be strapped to a chair behind a desk or something.”
Bekah tried to picture him dressed in a suit and tie, working in an office, but even her vivid imagination couldn’t make the jump. “I can’t see you doing the executive thing.”
“Yeah, me neither.” Understanding glimmered in his eyes, and he added, “Is that what Richie does?”
“Believe it or not, he’s the general manager of a high-end department store.”
“With his people skills?” Drew scoffed.
“I know—weird, right?”
“Very.” He looked out the front window and frowned. “I think I just saw him drive by. He slowed down, then sped up when he saw my truck was still here.”
Now that she’d faced him down and survived, Bekah felt more annoyed than threatened by the fact that he hadn’t truly left. “What a pain. It’s not like I can go somewhere to get away from him. It’s almost critter lunchtime, and I’m the only one here.”
“Hang on a sec.” Pulling out his phone, Drew hit a button and began talking. “Hey, Harley. I need a favor. No, this time it’s legit. There’s a guy lurking around the center who’s not exactly friendly, and Bekah’s out here by herself. I’m not sure if he’s staying in the area or not, but could you and the other deputies keep an eye out for him? Here’s his license plate number.”
After he’d rattled it off, he listened for a minute. “I don’t think she wants to make a formal complaint at this point, but if he comes around again, she might change her mind. Thanks, man.”
Once he’d hung up, Bekah looked at him in amazement. “You got his license plate number?”
“Sure. I watch those detective shows, too, y’know.”
He was just full of surprises, this easygoing country boy who’d stepped between her and trouble so many times, she’d lost count. “You probably solve the crimes before the characters do.”
“Sometimes.”
“Which means most of the time,” she corrected him, wrapping her arms around his waist with a playful grin. “Most people would crow about being that smart. How come you’re so modest?”
“No need to rub it in, I guess,” he replied, ticking the tip of her nose with his finger. “As long as you know the truth, that’s good enough for me.”
His playful tone gave way to a more serious look, and she held her breath, waiting to see what this remarkable man wanted to tell her.
“Most folks don’t bother looking beyond the obvious to what’s underneath,” he said quietly. “But you do. Why is that?”
“Maybe because I know how it feels to be judged on appearances instead of what really counts.” Resting her hand on his chest, she smiled. “What’s in here is what makes a person who they are. The rest is just window dressing.”
“Does that mean Richie’s like a mannequin in a display?”
She considered that for a moment before nodding. “I didn’t realize it before, but he’s definitely all flash and no substance. That’s probably why he can be so mean. He knows he’s missing something inside, but he doesn’t know what it is so he drags people down to his level to make himself feel better.”
“Are you trying to make me feel sorry for the jerk who used to beat you?” Drew demanded with narrowed eyes. “’Cause I can promise you it ain’t gonna happen.”
Unlike the vows her troublesome ex had made to her over and over, Bekah knew that Drew meant those terse words with every ounce of energy he had. Tears of gratitude sprang into her eyes, and she cuddled into the haven of those strong, sheltering arms that had not only kept her from harm, but had lifted her from her dark past and into a brighter future.
“In the meantime,” he continued in a determined voice, “till we’re sure he’s gone, I’ll leave my truck here and hike back to the farm. That way, if he does another drive-by, he’ll assume I’m still here and hopefully keep his distance. Do me a favor, though.”
“What’s that?”
He pointed to the door. “Make sure that stays locked. If you’re doing something out back or in the office, I don’t want him sneaking up on you.”
“But what if a customer comes by?”
“They can ring the bell, like the plaque tells them to. Trust me. No one wants you putting yourself in danger just because the sign on the door says Open.”
His borderline paranoia about her safety probably wasn’t necessary, but she couldn’t fault him for being overly cautious. Knowing she didn’t have to cope with this new challenge on her own gave her the same warm, cherished feeling she’d had the night of the fire when he’d held her this way. Whether she was at her worst or her best, he’d been a constant source of strength and comfort for her since the day she blundered into his hometown, lost and alone.
Even though it didn’t seem like nearly enough to repay him for all he’d done, she gave him her biggest, brightest smile. “Thank you, Drew.”
“For what?”
“For always being there for me, no matter what. You’re my everyday hero.”
“Everyday hero,” he echoed with that crooked grin she’d come to treasure. “I like the sound of that
.”
“I thought you might.”
Chapter Ten
“I love Monday night football,” Drew announced as he sprawled out on the living room floor at the farmhouse. “What a great way to start the week.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Cincinnati being favored by two touchdowns over Oakland, does it?” Erin teased, tossing a fluffy piece of popcorn at the back of his head.
“’Course not. I just love the game.”
Josh was sitting next to him and slid a little farther away. When Drew gave him a questioning look, he explained, “For when the lightning bolt comes to strike you down.”
“I’m totally serious.”
Mike barked out something that could have been laughter. “Since when?”
“I’m always serious about football.”
Glancing over his shoulder, he winked at Bekah. That made her laugh, and he was relieved to hear it. Richie’s stunt had clearly unnerved her, and about ten minutes after Drew had left the clinic earlier, he’d put off his long list of neglected barn chores to spend the rest of his day there to make sure she wasn’t alone.
Not only was he concerned about her personally, he didn’t believe for a second that a controlling, domineering guy like Richie had come all this way to bring her back with him and would now meekly turn tail and go home without her. Men like him simply weren’t wired to be cooperative. Even when it was in their own best interests.
Beyond that, he couldn’t forget Richie’s parting shot.
You know why I’m here, and I’m not leaving until I have what I came for.
Drew had patiently waited all day for Bekah to offer some kind of explanation, but he still had no clue what her ex was talking about. Apparently, she was content to ignore it and go on as if nothing unusual had happened.
But he wasn’t.
While they all debated the pluses and minuses of Cincy’s new quarterback, Drew subtly kept an eye on Bekah. She seemed to be following their conversation, but her troubled eyes kept flicking to the open screen door with a view up the driveway to the road that led past the farm. Drew would’ve given anything to be able to tell her that Richie was gone for good and she was safe now.