by Tina Leonard
It would be difficult to get that through an overprotective, ex-military soldier’s head.
“Excuse me,” she said, walking into the Tempest library. She smiled at the woman working behind the desk. “Is it possible to see the person who is in charge of the story time hour?”
“That would be me.” The elderly woman with wire glasses and frizzy gray hair nodded at her. “I’m Ellen Dowdy. What can I do for you?”
Tempest pushed her hair back off her face. It was now or never; she was going to make herself get involved in the community, forge bonds with the place where her sons would grow up. They were going to have a different life than she’d had in Tempest. “My name is Zola Cupertino. I grew up here.”
“I know.” Ellen nodded. “I was your second-grade teacher.”
Tempest smiled. “I remember you. I just didn’t think you’d remember me.”
“There’s little in this town I don’t know. What can I do for you?”
Tempest wondered at the woman’s rather unwelcoming tone. “I’ve moved back here, permanently. I saw that you had story time sessions for the under three set, and I would like to volunteer my services.”
Ellen sniffed. “The position is filled.”
“Oh.” Tempest was taken aback by Ms. Dowdy’s abruptness. “Is there another time, perhaps, that needs volunteer readers?”
“I’m afraid not.” She looked at her for a long moment. “Here’s the thing. I remember when you were just a girl. Your mother wasn’t much, and God knows your father was never around, but you were a sweet little thing. We were all proud of you when you went off to the big city and made something of yourself. But then you forgot about us. When you came home a few months back, you didn’t come see any of us. You stayed in Blanche’s bungalow and you drove around in your Land Rover, and as far as you were concerned, the rest of us didn’t exist. I think you don’t care about us or this town, and when you leave to go back to the bright lights, you’ll never think of us again.”
Tempest drew in a stunned breath. “Oh, Ms. Dowdy, I’m so sorry. It never occurred to me that my actions seemed like I didn’t care about this town.”
“Do you?” Ellen challenged. “Shinny and Blanche Tuck said they barely heard from you. After they practically raised you, too. If it hadn’t been for them, you’d never have had anything.”
Tempest blinked. Everything Ms. Dowdy said was true, in a way. She’d gotten busy with her career; she hadn’t wanted to think much about the place where she’d been so unhappy. “You are right.”
“I’m rarely wrong. So you think about that before you assume you’re going to be the big star here.” The librarian turned and went back to checking in books, dismissing her.
Tears welled in Tempest’s eyes, but she blinked them back—fast. She left the library and went back to the ice cream shop.
“How’d it go?” Blanche asked when she walked in and sat in a booth. Blanche pushed the pram with the babies over to the table, and Tempest looked in at her tiny sons. They brought a smile to her face, which she needed.
“They don’t have any openings,” she said.
“Well, there’s lots of ways to get involved here. You’ll make friends, and you can— Are you crying?”
“No.” Tempest shook her head and pulled a tissue from the boys’ diaper bag. “I get allergies this time of year. Hay fever.”
“Oh.” Blanche glanced out the window. “You didn’t run across Ms. Dowdy, did you?”
“We spoke briefly,” she admitted. “Why?”
Blanche looked at her with some suspicion. “She can be a wee bit of a dragon at times. Depends on when you catch her. Could be a good mood or a really witchy mood. What mood was she in today?”
“I actually don’t know her well enough to judge. She was my second-grade teacher. I’m still a bit in student mode with her, I’m sure.” Tempest tried to smile, but she really felt low. So much of what Ms. Dowdy said was true. “Blanche, I’m so sorry if I didn’t call often enough when I was gone.”
Her friend snorted. “Long-distance phone calls used to cost an arm and a leg. Nowadays everyone’s got a cell phone and it’s not so bad, but back when you left, the only cheap rates were after eight o’clock on Sunday nights. Shinny and I never thought about it, to be honest. We didn’t expect it.” Blanche perked up. “Here comes your husband.”
“Again?” Tempest turned to find Shaman strolling into the ice cream store. He was so big and handsome that it made her feel better just to look at him and realize all over again that he was her husband.
Then she wanted to smack him for being so pigheaded and outrageously stubborn.
“Hi,” he said, leaning to kiss each of his babies.
“Hi,” she replied, noting that he didn’t give her a kiss, though he did buss Blanche noisily on her cheek. “I just saw you thirty minutes ago.”
“Yeah. I know. I’ve been thinking about this problem of you living in Tempest, Cupertino.” He scooted into the booth next to Blanche, which seemed to please her enormously.
Grinning, Blanche yelled, “Shinny, bring a few specials!”
Behind the counter, her husband nodded, waving at Shaman with a big smile.
“There is no problem with me living here,” Tempest said, a trifle more irritably than she meant to.
“There is to me.” Shaman drummed his fingers on the table, considering her. She felt her blood pressure spike at his commanding tone, and unfortunately, also felt her heart turn a bit mushy at the fact that he was determined to be so devoted to her well-being.
“Where are you going to be staying?” he asked.
“In Shinny and Blanche’s bungalow.”
“Excellent.” Shaman gave her a pleased smile that left no doubt in her mind as to his intentions. “So will I. We’ll be one big happy family, you, me and the babies.”
“I’m going to go check on those milkshakes,” Blanche said, hopping up from the booth and leaving them to their discussion.
“Shaman, we’re not going to live together,” Tempest said.
“We’re married. These are our children. They need to know that their parents are acting in their best interests. Us living under one roof is in their best interests.” His smile was slow and easy, and Tempest’s heart sped up like mad.
“All right,” she said sweetly. “There’s a sofa you can sleep on.”
He smiled. “I hope you’ll change your mind in due time about sleeping with me.”
She wanted Shaman in her bed, but was too proud to admit it. And she still wasn’t happy about him thinking he was going to take over her life, especially after he’d been dishonest with her. “I don’t know, Shaman. You haven’t been truthful about a lot of things with me.”
He reached to take her hand in his, gently massaging her fingers. “I couldn’t tell you about what your brother did. I never knew for certain if he was the one who attacked me. I still don’t.”
Tempest shook her head. “You could have at least mentioned that you thought it might have been him. I feel very responsible for Xav getting hurt.”
“Why? I’m the one who should have thought Xav might be in danger. It never crossed my mind.”
“None of this would have happened if...”
“If what, Cupertino? If Bud Taylor hadn’t fallen in love with your mother? If he’d felt more love from his own children?” Shaman squeezed her fingers. “The only goal you and I have is to make sure these little babies know that their parents love them. Everything else is incidental.”
She nodded. “You’re probably right. I hope you are right. It’s nice of you to try to make me feel better.”
He kissed her fingers. “So...you’ll invite me into your bed tonight?”
Smiling, she removed her hand from his. “Nice try, cowboy.”
He grinned as Blanche put a famous Shinny special in front of him. “Thanks, darlin’.”
Tempest wasn’t certain she needed one of Shinny’s high-calorie shakes, especially with all the ba
by weight she was still carrying. And most especially with the hunk across the table from her clearly stating his desire to get back in bed with her. Shaman winked.
Good thing the pram had huge rubber wheels on it, perfect for taking several laps around the town square. She needed all the exercise she could get, if her husband was going to keep that decidedly wolfish gleam in his eye.
“Well, look at you two.” Bobby Taylor peered into the pram at the sleeping babies. “Apparently I have new nephews. The birth announcement must have gotten lost in the mail.”
He slid into the booth next to his sister, grinning at her. Shaman stiffened, his face setting in hard, grim lines.
Bobby glanced at Tempest’s milkshake. “If you’re not going to drink that, I’ll be happy to,” he said, helping himself to the treat.
Tempest thought Shaman was going to reach across the table and throttle Bobby. His face was dark under his hat, his mouth flat, his eyes hard. Suddenly he looked like a soldier and not so much the man she’d fallen for.
“Taylor,” Shaman said, “you have exactly two seconds to get out of this booth and leave the store before I throw you through the window.”
Shinny hurried over, his round face sweating. “Can I help you with anything?”
“You might take the babies over to Blanche,” Tempest said quickly. She was blocked from getting out of the booth by Bobby’s big body.
Shinny promptly rolled the pram behind the counter. Bobby got up ever so slowly, his gaze on Shaman. “I know you were in my house today,” he told him.
“It’s not your house,” Shaman said, his voice a growl.
“She doesn’t want it,” Bobby said. “Do you, sister? Lot of bad memories there for you.”
“Tempest—”
“It’s okay, Shaman.” She glanced at Bobby, disgusted. “You’re dancing on the thin edge of a knife, baiting him.”
Bobby eyed Shaman. “He’s not so much.”
Tempest held up a hand to keep Shaman seated. “Just go, Bobby.”
“He had the cops and fire department search your house today,” her brother told her. “He came inside, nosed around, then called Sheriff Nance.”
She looked at Shaman. “You went to my house today?”
Shaman nodded.
“Can I ask why?”
“I was hunting for him,” Shaman said.
Tempest turned to Bobby. “Why did you attack my husband and my brother-in-law?”
Bobby looked at her. “I was protecting you.”
Tempest blinked. “I don’t need protection.”
“You do. From him.” Bobby glared at Shaman. “I don’t think you realize what kind of people they are. Your husband was a military operative—”
“That has nothing to do with me,” Tempest said. “He’s not going to hurt me.”
“You need to think twice about being married to him. You can’t trust him.” Bobby sent a sly glance Shaman’s way. “Once a killer, always a killer.”
She gasped. “That’s a terrible thing to say!”
“It’s terrible that he’s the father of those two precious little babies,” Bobby said woefully. “Anyway, I had to do it. They had no business being in my father’s house.”
“Shaman and Xav are employed by Jonas Callahan, who owns the property,” Tempest stated, barely hanging on to her temper.
“I’m going,” Shaman said. “Because if I don’t, he’s going to be eating a plate glass window.”
“Nah, don’t go.” Bobby finished off the milkshake. “I just came to see my nephews and my dear sister. I’ve had my say.”
“Bobby,” Tempest said quietly. “I am not your sister. You are not my brother. My brother wouldn’t have tried to kill my husband, nor my brother-in-law. Those are not your nephews. If I ever catch you near my children, you and I will find ourselves at cross-purposes.”
“Zola, listen,” Bobby said. “I know our father left you his estate. I know you gave my inheritance away. You didn’t have to do that—you could have split it with all of us. You don’t think there’ll be a reckoning eventually?”
Her skin chilled. Thank goodness Shaman remained still, his muscles and jaw tight, his body crouched—but unmoving. Not entirely murderous. “Go. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Bobby got up, smirking, and left, jutting his chin at Shaman as he ambled to the door.
Tempest realized she was shaking. With fear and with rage.
“You all right?” Shaman asked.
“I’m fine.” She thought she was going to be ill.
“You see why you couldn’t stay at Dark Diablo. He’s crazy.” Shaman came around and scooted into the booth beside her.
“You went into my house today. You were looking for him. You were going to hurt him,” Tempest said.
“Hurt him?” Shaman frowned at her. “I was simply checking up on him.”
She shook her head. “You cannot kill him, Shaman.”
He didn’t say anything.
“This isn’t your fight. It’s mine. You’ve just gotten caught up in it,” she said, feeling desperate.
“I like a good fight. Haven’t run from one yet.” He put his hand over hers. “Don’t worry about me.”
She was. She was worried about her husband, her brother-in-law and her children. The danger had come here because of her.
“Shaman, I don’t need a bodyguard. Or a hired gun. Whatever you think you are.” She fixed him with a mutinous glare. “I also don’t appreciate you stalking my half brother. He’s an oily snake, but I can handle this.”
The words rose to her lips, words she didn’t want to speak, but which had to be said if all the bad things were finally going to come to an end. “Shaman, we agreed to be married until after the babies were born.” She took a deep breath. “I think it’s best if we call an end to this pretend marriage.”
Chapter Thirteen
Shaman’s heart seemed to shatter. He stared at his wife, wondering why she didn’t love him as much as he loved her. They had children together.
Divorce?
He hoped she was just upset because of Bobby.
“Cupertino, you’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted,” he said quietly. “Give us some time.”
“All we’ve had is time.” She looked at him, her eyes sad. “We’re too far apart, too different, Shaman.”
Blanche wheeled over the pram. “I think these handsome fellows are getting hungry. They’re too young to eat a Shinny special just yet.” She smiled at them, but her eyes flicked nervously to Shaman. “Everybody all right?”
“We’re fine. Thanks, Blanche,” he answered.
Shaman took a baby out of the stroller and handed him to Tempest. He picked up the other one and took the bottle Blanche held out. “Thanks.”
“What are you doing?” Tempest asked, her blue eyes wide as he propped the baby in the angle of his arm.
“Feeding my son. Which one do I have, anyway?”
She sighed. “Gage.”
“Figures. I always did have to look out for my older brother.” He glanced over at the baby she was feeding. “Do you call him Shaman or Jonas?”
“I combined the two names and call him Josh. It would be too confusing to call both of you Shaman, and same goes for Jonas, since we run into him so much. So it’s Gage and Josh.”
“I like it,” Shaman said, running the names through his mind. “After I get little man here calmed down, I’m going to call and check on Xav. Then I think you and I should finish our discussion.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.”
There was plenty to discuss. If she thought she was going to kick him to the curb just because she was scared, he needed to do some convincing that everything was going to be fine.
If she didn’t love him and couldn’t ever see herself loving him, well, that would be a whole other spiny cactus to walk into. But he had to find out. “Cupertino, I know you don’t know this because I haven’t told you, but I’m really happy about these lit
tle bundles of joy.”
“I am, too.” She gazed down fondly at the baby in her arms, and Shaman thought he’d never seen a more beautiful woman. “I remember when I started thinking about having a baby. You were hinting around about wanting one—”
He laughed. “Not me, doll. That idea was all yours. And Cat’s. I was just happy to be invited to try out for the part of devoted dad.”
“And then you mentioned you wanted to marry me first,” Tempest said, glaring at him for interrupting her story. “I just have this funny feeling that if we’d done everything the traditional way—”
“It was very traditional, Cupertino. You haven’t given me a chance to really romance you.”
She looked at him, her lips parted for just a moment, then shook her head. “I mean, that if we’d gotten married first and then tried to get pregnant, I don’t know that I’d be any happier. We might not even have these little guys. And to be honest, I’m happier now than I ever was in my career. When I was in show biz, I wanted to be a hermit when I wasn’t on stage. Now I want to stroll around town with the babies, meet people, talk to folks I haven’t seen in years.”
She let Josh circle her finger with his tiny fist as he fed, and a smile dawned on her face. Shaman’s heart contracted. He could almost see the bond developing between mother and son, and it was more amazing than anything he could ever have imagined.
If I’d known I’d have this in my life when I got out of the military, I would have been a whole hell of a lot more sane when I was over there.
“I even applied for story time at the library today.”
“You have to apply for story time?” Shaman asked.
“Of course.” She sighed. “They turned me down, but I’ll find some other way to start reintroducing myself to Tempest.”
“How can they turn you down? You donated a ton of money to the library.”
“Several hundred thousand dollars.” She shrugged. “Ms. Dowdy doesn’t know that. Only the lawyer knows, remember?”
Shaman frowned. “They just didn’t have any openings?”