Funny how it was usually the simplest things we remember. She might have fantasized about kissing him silly, about having her way with him until neither of them had any brain cells left. But none of that had happened and she was fine with it, thrilled even. All because he took her hand in his, made sure she was safely home and left—no kisses, no sex.
She'd spent all morning working in her photography studio, a stupid smile on her face. There was something to be said for slow and romantic. At twenty-two, Dani had needed to grab hold and live for the moment and that had meant sleeping with Alex as soon as she possibly could. She'd had no concept of tomorrow, everything had been now, now, now.
So much had changed in five years—for both of them. The things they'd seen, lived through, in theory, could have made them made them more desperate. Life was precious, don't waste a moment. But for Dani, things had slowed down. She no longer felt the need to rush through life at breakneck speed. She might get her thrills deep sea diving or swimming with the sharks, but when it came to relationships—when it came to Alex—she had decided slow and steady would win this race.
After a quick breakfast of cold cereal and juice, Dani had locked herself in her studio and gotten down to work. She had spent over two months taking pictures, going through the town's archives, and generally trying to assemble a comprehensive overview of Harper Falls and its history.
Every week, she took a day to do nothing but review what she had, and what she still needed. It was was easier to do it in stages rather than wait until the end to start the editing process. The town's historical society had made copies of most of the earliest photographs, digitally transferring them to computer files. It made Dani's job easier to sit in front of her laptop, scrolling through black and white images of the bridge being built, parties at Harper House circa 1925, and the earliest Fourth of July picnics. All of it was gold, as far as she was concerned. From the most insignificant shot of an unidentified scullery maid to the grander, posed pictures of Russell Harper, they told a silent story that had been captured for all time on thin pieces of film and paper.
Dani smiled at the image of three women, maids by the looks of their uniforms. Forever young, full of dreams, no idea where their lives would take them. This was why she had fallen in love with photography. To catch a moment, so fleeting, and have it saved forever, was nothing short of magic. It didn't matter that she knew how it worked, that modern technology had made it possible for anyone with a cell phone to do her job. That was part of the excitement. Capture it all, she thought. There was no way to anticipate who, in another hundred years, might be pouring over those spontaneous images.
But today wasn't about digital photographs, and Dani was practically bouncing with anticipation.
She carefully cleaned off the surface of the large oak table that she used when laying out a series of pictures. She was able to get a better overview of a project when they were printed out and side by side. She covered the table with a brand new white cotton sheet, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle. Taking a pair of thin, baby soft gloves, she slipped them onto her hands. Today she had been given the privilege of rummaging around in people's pasts. Their lives had literally been put into her hands and Dani planned on treating them with the greatest of respect.
She lifted one of the dozen boxes that had been delivered on Friday, pictures donated by families all over Harper Falls. No professional had cataloged them; most were loose in shoes boxes and envelopes. Dani could have skipped this part. She had more than enough photographs to do ten books. But it was no hardship for her. Hours would slip away as she got lost, making up mini-stories for every image. It was an addiction, one she had no plans to conquer.
Dani was just putting aside box number four when the alarm on her iPad started playing By The Sea. Annoyed at the interruption, she glanced at the clock, amazed that she'd been at it for three hours. Time slipped away when she was working, hence the musical reminder to put everything aside for a while, move, get something to eat.
She gave the remaining boxes a wistful glance before forcing herself to leave the studio. Dani made a quick trip to the bathroom, splashing her face with water. A glance in the mirror told her she was presentable—just. No need to scare little children, she chided herself. Instead of rushing out the door to get a bite to eat, she took the time to comb her wayward hair, put on a light covering of make-up, and changed into a summery dress. She almost tossed her Photographers Do It With The Lights On t-shirt and ragged jeans onto her bed. Remembering her resolution to keep her place tidy, or at least tidier, put them in the hamper instead.
Dani grabbed her keys, phone, and purse and headed out the door. She put on her sunglasses and paused. Right or left? Beautiful day, not too hot but plenty of sunshine. She was within walking distance of half a dozen restaurants, all of them excellent. She just needed to decide what she was in the mood for. Turning left, she decided to make up her mind when she got there.
"Dani."
She had been walking for about five minutes and had reached Main Street when she heard someone call out her name. Looking around, Dani smiled and waved, waiting until Lila Fleming caught up with her. Now that she knew this was Alex's sister and not a long, lost lover, she could easily see the family resemblance. Smaller, her frame curvy instead of powerful, Lila none-the-less had the same bone structure, her face a feminine version of her brother. It was the eyes that stamped them in the same gene pool, the color going from warm chocolate to near black, depending on the mood. Yes, as Dani looked into the woman's smiling gaze, she had no doubt this was Alex's sister.
"I saw you passing by," Lila gestured towards Peony, her flower shop, across the street. "Are you busy? I'm just taking a break for lunch and was hoping you might join me."
Dani hid her smile. Lila was the tiniest bit manic, even nervous. Word traveled fast in a small town, especially when you had the same circle of friends. Wanting to meet her brother's…, geez, what was the word? Maybe future girlfriend? Could happen if they both agreed it was viable? Whatever the term, Dani understood. Lila loved her brother, so any woman in his life needed to be checked out.
"Sounds great. Did you have someplace in mind?"
"Take A Chance On Heat? Rose and I went there and it's kind of become my go to lunch spot."
"Lead on."
Small, with a handful of tables jammed into the space, what it lacked in ambiance the place made up for in enticing aromas. The smells coming from the kitchen perked up Dani's taste buds, reminding her how long it had been since breakfast.
"One side of the menu is for the less heat inclined. I grew up on this stuff so I go for the five alarm selections."
Dani didn't know if Lila was testing her—odd way to go about it—or if she was just rambling, making conversation. Either way, Dani knew what she wanted and had no worries about surviving the heat level. Her motto? The hotter, the better.
Orders placed, the two women settled back, sipping their iced teas. Dani had plenty to say; small talk was never a problem. Even so, she waited for Lila to start, curious as to what was on the other woman's mind.
"I love my brother."
Okay, Dani thought, we're jumping right into this.
"I'm glad to hear it."
Lila floundered a bit. Maybe she'd thought her declaration of sisterly love would open the floodgates and Dani would gush her feelings all over the tabletop. Not going to happen, honey.
"And I want him to stay in Harper Falls."
"Is there a chance he won't?"
Not stay? That sent a shot of panic down her spine. Dani had assumed Alex was settling in for the long hall. Good job, good friends, family. If he had other plans, she wanted to know—now.
"Maybe," Lila blurted, her distress evident. "I don't know, and I doubt he would tell me. I'd just wake up one morning and there would be a note taped to my front door."
"That's old school. Not a text, or an email, or notice on your Facebook page?"
Lila just looked at her, blank fac
ed. Dani had to remind herself that this woman didn’t know her. Deadpan sarcasm was hard to interpret without a goodly amount of context, or years of friendship. She and Lila had neither, which meant to Alex's sister she was coming off uncaring and flip. Dani didn't know how to reassure her that, when it came to Alex, she was just the opposite.
"I thought you cared about my brother, but if not then…"
"What do you want, Lila? If you think I can convince Alex to stay in Harper Falls, well, I can't." She couldn't even convince him to share her bed.
"I thought—ooh, I don't know what I thought." Lila looked like she was about to burst into tears. "Rose told me that you knew Alex, years ago. She didn't say much more and I guess I took what she told me and weaved this epic love, one for the ages. Silly, I know."
"Alex mentioned you were a writer. I guess it's easy to embellish, especially if you're able to take the story where you want it to go."
Dani looked at Lila, realizing for the first time how young she was. The difference in their ages was slight—only two or three years. But in terms of experience, it might as well have been a lifetime.
"Uh, oh," Lila sighed.
"What?"
"I recognize that look. It's the same one Alex gets just before he pats me on my head and hands me a lollypop."
"Excuse me?"
Lila laughed, though it was more resigned than joyous.
"You think I'm a kid, twenty-five in calendar years but emotionally? In terms of my worldly experience? Barely legal."
Dani opened her mouth, ready to protest. But suddenly she remembered a conversation she'd had with Alex, one where he pretty much said the same thing to her. She'd made a joke, moved the conversation along, but his words had stung. No adult, making a living, making their own choices, wanted to be thought of as immature or inexperienced. She had pigeon-holed Lila without getting to know her.
"You're right, and I'm sorry. You run a business, manage employees. I can't begin to imagine what it takes to do that."
"Half an ounce of sense and years of watching my parents do it."
"Nope," Dani chided. "You can't go from fierce to self-deprecating in the blink of an eye. You sold me, you're a mature young woman, no candy on a stick for you."
This time when Lila laughed it was with genuine humor.
"Thanks, but I'm going to apologize. I really did build you and Alex into star-crossed lovers, reunited and all that crap."
Dani just managed to keep from spitting her iced tea across the table. Lila was funny, another trait she shared with her brother.
The arrival of their lunch put the conversation temporarily on hold. She thanked the waitress and took a big, unthinking bite of her enchilada, finding out quickly that the restaurant wasn't kidding about the heat.
"Too hot?" Lila asked sympathetically.
"Nope, but I admit it’s a near thing."
"Impressive, most people would be turning an interesting shade of red right about now."
"So you were testing me."
Caught out, Lila had the grace to look embarrassed.
"Got me."
"I'm only good enough for your brother if I can withstand massive amounts of spicy, hot food?"
"I'm not that crazy, though when you say it out loud I can see why you might have doubts. I wanted to see if you cared about looking cool or were cool."
Dani got it. In other words, was she a bluffer or the real deal. Looking out for big brother, points for Lila.
"Now that we've sized each other up," Dani started, then momentarily detoured. "Oh and by the way? I like you."
"I like you, too."
"Good, then as girls just shooting the breeze, I'll tell you this. I want Alex to stay, but I can't make him."
"But—," Lila started to protest.
"Have you ever been I love?"
"No."
"What does love have to do with anything, right?" Dani could almost hear the words screaming to get out of Lila's head.
"It isn't a magic get what you want free pass. Alex will do what he wants, no matter what I say. But we can try to make Harper Falls so appealing that he forgets about leaving."
"And how do we do that?"
"You just be his sister. He loves you and wants to be near, so your job is pretty much a no-brainer."
"What about you?"
"Me?" Dani took another bite of her lunch. "I turn up the heat."
NEVER GET IN the ring with an over anxious, three hundred pound teddy bear. Or something like that. Over the years, Alex had acquired little pearls of wisdom from men much smarter than he. If they could see him now, every last one of them would be shaking his head in amazement at his greenhorn mistake, and probably be laughing their asses off for good measure.
"I really am sorry, Mister," seeing Alex's frown, he backtracked. "I mean, Alex."
"My fault, Harry. First rule, never turn your back on your opponent." Even when you've called time and are speaking to the rest of the crew.
"Should I get my gear and clear out?"
Alex sighed. How many times had he heard that defeated tone? Some new recruit certain he couldn't cut it in the Army, asking him, in so many words, if he were a fuck up in this, just like every other thing he'd ever tried. Now, like then, Alex refused to give up. It didn't always work out, but he would try his best to pull this kid up, not push him out.
"How long have you been here, Harry?"
The twenty-two-year-old looked at Alex as though it was a trick question then slowly answered, "Six hours, sir—I mean, Alex."
"Give it the full week, then we'll talk." Seeing that the younger man was still distressed, Alex slung an arm over the kids shoulder. He managed not to wince when he felt a pull around his rib area, but it was a close thing.
"The point is to learn. No one is asking you to get it all the first day. I'll be evaluating everyone, not just you. Now relax, I've had worse beat downs. Go join the other guys and get something to eat. The chow here is top notch."
Alex waited until he was alone to raise a hand to his jaw, moving it from side to side. Nothing was broken, but like his ribs, it was sore—really, really sore.
"You were good with him."
Alex shook his head. Not alone after all. He was losing his edge.
"Sometimes the only thing someone like that needs is a little encouragement. He's strong as an ox, but awkward with it. No one's ever taken the time to show him how to handle all that raw energy."
Jack nimbly jumped into the boxing ring, careful to skirt around the splatters of blood on the canvas.
"And you think you're the man for the job?"
"I'll tell you on Saturday. How do you pick these guys, the new recruits?"
"Oh, it's very scientific," Jack laughed. "We get applications by the boat load, Pam gives them an initial go over, weeding out the obvious absolutely nots. Then, when we find the time, either Drew or I throw them in the air and pick the ten that land on top of the pile."
Alex stared at Jack for a moment, pretty sure he was kidding.
"Right, well, if you don't mind, I think I'll find a new method. Nothing wrong with this group, per se, but I doubt that more than one or two will move on to next phase of training."
"That's why you're here, my friend." Jack slapped Alex on the back, giving a sympathetic grimace at the other man's pained expression.
"Sorry, maybe you should stop by the hospital and get some x-rays. Overeager boy may have cracked a few of your ribs."
"In which case they would wrap me like a mummy and tell me to take it easy. I can do that for myself." He grabbed a rag and a spray bottle filled with bleach and water. "But Harry didn’t break anything, just gave me a few bruises. Big, painful bruises."
"Been there, and I know you won't have a problem cutting him lose if he's not the right fit. But remember, your job description doesn't include having to hand hold a three hundred pound man-child, or," Jack gestured to where Alex was kneeling, "cleaning up. We pay a company very well to take care of any
and all bodily fluids that might get thrown around H&W."
Alex made a final swipe before standing.
"My blood, my responsibility. And do I want to know what other fluids you're taking about?"
"Mostly big men, bad aims, nasty urinals. Unless you're asking about the monthly orgies we hold down in the swimming pool?"
"In the pool?" Alex joined Jack and they headed out of the gym. "I hope that cleaning includes draining and replacing the water because I like to swim and chlorine only kills so much."
"Not to worry, my friend." Jack held the door to the cafeteria open, the spicy smell of tomato sauce making Alex's mouth water. "My orgy days are over. Rose is strictly a one-on-one kind of woman."
"And Drew?"
"Lately, he's one-on-one, too. But since he won't take Tyler up on her offer, one is his dick and the other one is his hand."
Alex thought of that last exchange with Jack as he pulled his motorcycle to a stop in Dani's driveway. He took off his helmet, wryly laughing at Drew's situation—and his own. Two women, best friends, strong, independent and confident enough to ask for what they wanted. Two men, basically idiots, turning them down for reasons that seemed logical, but that any sane man would ignore in a heartbeat. The solution? Drew was on his own, but Alex knew what he wanted.
"Good timing."
And there she was. Dani Wilde was the complete package, top to bottom gorgeous and smart—damn smart. Keeping up with her nimble mind would be a challenge, one Alex knew would be a daily joy. No, he was the problem. Did he have the right to weigh such a light soul down with his baggage?
"I don't know what's put that cloud of doom over your head, but let me help."
Dani reached over his head and flapped her arms.
"There, I chased the shadows away, only good thoughts for tonight."
Alex knew she was kidding, but the truth was, having her near did light the dark corners. He swung his leg off his bike and stood, taking her into his arms. No words. He just held her near, breathing in—lemons and vanilla and Dani.
Happy where she was, Dani sunk in, but carefully.
"I want to squeeze, but Jack called and told me you haven't been taking proper care of yourself."
If Tomorrow Never Comes (Harper Falls Book 2) Page 11