Climbing out of the car, he shook his head. “It was her choice, not mine,” he said, moving around the vehicle. Neither woman appeared to believe him because their expressions didn’t change until Tempest exited.
“Oh, my God,” Tabby breathed.
Dr. Dani’s feet chewed up the ground. As she approached, she reached into her white coat and extracted a pair of latex gloves. “What happened?” She crammed her hands in one glove and then the other.
“Ladder. It fell on me.”
“Let me see.” Tempest removed the handkerchief from her forehead. From Leo’s position it looked like the wound had stopped bleeding. Immediately the doctor began to probe, causing her to grimace. “Did you fall off the ladder? Does anywhere else hurt? Exactly what happened?”
“No.” Thankfully Tempest provided the doctor with the short version of the story, leaving out the part where he had frightened her.
Tabby glared at Leo. “So did you arrest her again?” She took one look at the discoloring that had appeared beneath both eyes later yesterday from his run-in with Tempest. “Is that why she rode in the back?”
“No.” His reply came out way too defensive. He inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly. Of course, Tabby would read into his actions however she wished. Worse, she’d tell Reece. He’d tell Devon and then his friends would have another laugh at his expense.
Dr. Dani began to remove her gloves with a snap. “It doesn’t look too bad. Let’s go inside. Get out of this cold.” As she led the way, Leo followed behind her. It was difficult, but he managed to keep his eyes off her ass and his head in the game.
While Dr. Dani and Tempest disappeared behind a closed door, he took a seat and Tabby joined him. As he expected, she didn’t remain quiet for long.
“What’s up with you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “It’s like you have it out for her.”
Is that the way Tabby saw it? Tempest? “It’s my job to protect this town.”
A huff burst from her mouth. “From her?” She shook her head.
“Well, no. But strangers in general.” Especially those taking up with one of their elderly residents.
“Yeah. Right. Just ease up. She’s okay, Leo.” Tabby thought everyone was okay. It was who she was. A moment of silence passed between them before she spoke again. “So what are you still doing here?”
“Someone has to take her back to Harold’s place.”
“So she is your good deed for today, Dudley Do-Right? Or are you keeping an eye on her?”
Dudley Do-Right? This woman had no respect for the law. But she had hit the nail on the head, because his interest was a little of both. “So you’ll see she gets back to Harold’s?”
“Of course.”
He pushed to his feet and took his wallet from his pocket. He handed Tabby three twenties. “If this isn’t enough, have Dr. Dani bill me. She’ll need to eat if the doctor prescribes an antibiotic.” Then he pulled another twenty out and then another. “Here’s more for the medicine.”
Tabby raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
Leo didn’t wait for the smart comment he knew lingered on her clever tongue. Instead, he made his escape. He’d check in with Harold later to see how Tempest was doing, or maybe he’d swing by the store.
Chapter Five
The people of Whispering Cove were amazing. Sky stood back with a big grin on her face and marveled at the shelves taking shape. The scent of pine reminded her of Canada, of Stella, and a moment of melancholy swept over her. After she and Tabby left Dr. Dani’s they had gone to the pharmacy and then to the Seafarers where they met up with Tabby’s husband and Devon.
Sky had shared with them her plans for the storefront and they had offered to help. Never had she expected their help would include shelves and a counter at no cost. And, to her surprise, the electricity was on as Harold had promised.
As hammers pounded, Tabby walked through the door chatting with a woman Sky had yet to meet. “Hey, look who I ran into.” Tabby and her guest strolled farther into the room.
Reece and Devon stopped briefly to exchange greetings with the very attractive dark-haired woman, who batted long eyelashes over honey-brown eyes. She wet her plump lips and Devon looked as if he’d melt, that is until Reece elbowed him.
“Let’s get back to work, Romeo.”
“You never let me have any fun.” He tightened the red bandanna around his forehead. “Beer?”
“Sure.”
Sky heard the hiss of a bottle cap and then another as the women approached her.
“Tempest, this is Lila Sheppard. She owns Sleepy Cove, the bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town, and she makes the best gingerbread cookies in town.”
“Tempest? That’s French isn’t it?” Lila asked.
A little surprised, Sky nodded. Her name meant storm, like her life had been that night she crawled out of her bedroom window and disappeared into the dark. The moment came back as clearly as it had that evening she overheard her father speaking with the Attorney General about an alliance between his son and her. It took a moment for her to realize they were actually discussing an arranged marriage—in the twenty-first century. Her father’s expression of elation had scared her to the point that running had been her only choice. But freedom wasn’t as easily attained as she had hoped. Several times her father’s henchmen had almost found her, but she had slipped through their fingers and that’s the way she wanted to keep it.
“Ohhh…” Lila cringed as she stared at the line of sutures high on Sky’s forehead. “That looks like it hurts.”
The cut had required four stitches, but it didn’t hurt half as bad as that damn officer paying her bill. The thought had barely entered her mind as Lila continued.
“Leo said you might be looking for a place to stay.”
Of course he did. Anger crawled across Sky’s skin, heating her neck and cheeks. The man was as irritating as an uninvited fly at a picnic.
“What I need is my rig.” Then the interfering policeman wouldn’t have to worry about her sleeping arrangements and all of Whispering Cove would be saved from the likes of her. “Without my ovens I won’t be able to replenish my stock.”
Tabby frowned for a second before a large smile slid across her face. “Then why don’t I chat with Larry? I bet he could tow your RV over here. There’s plenty of space in the back to park. If the weather calms down he might even be able to work on your vehicle here.”
“Do you think that’s a possibility?” That would solve a lot of Sky’s problems.
Lila chuckled. “You don’t know Tabby. If she wants something, it’s in the bag. Will you be joining us for the bazaar tomorrow night?”
“Probably not. I have a lot to do.”
Tabby harrumphed. “She’ll be there. Now I better get going if I’m going to smooth-talk Larry.”
From where Reece stood on a ladder, he glanced over at her. “Make sure that’s the only thing you do, wife.”
“Why, husband, don’t you trust me?” She spoke so innocently. Then she sashayed across the room, climbed several rungs on the opposite side of the ladder from Reece. When she was eye to eye with him, she laid a kiss on him that any woman or man would envy.
Sky’s chest tightened.
Would she ever find a love like theirs? Have a man who cared about her? Looked at her the way Reece did Tabby?
“No more,” Devon groaned, lowering his head. “The two of you are fogging the windows.” His words caused everyone to laugh, including Sky.
The foreign sound made her sigh, releasing the heaviness inside. It felt good to laugh. It felt good to be around people and, for the briefest of moments, not to worry about her father finding her.
Tabby quickly kissed Reece once more. “I’ll be back.” As she climbed down the ladder, she asked, “Does anyone want anything?”
“Nope. I think we’re good.” Reece picked up his hammer and swung it, driving a
nail into the wood.
“What can I do?” Lila asked.
“You want to help?” Sky asked.
She smiled softly. “In Whispering Cove we help our friends.”
Emotion welled in Sky’s eyes, but she held on to the tears. Instead she released a strangled, “Thank you.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“Well, the windows need washed,” Sky suggested.
“Then windows it is.”
“There’s window cleaner and some old newspapers in the storeroom.” Sky frowned at a patch of brown that appeared as if it had been glued at one time. “As soon as I scrape up whatever this is on the floor, I’ll come help.” Retrieving a tool that looked like a flat spade, she got on her hands and knees and began to chisel away at the spot. After thirty minutes she was still chipping away at it when the sound of a diesel engine caught her attention.
Lila glanced over a shoulder from where she stood before a crystal clean window. “I told you, whatever Tabby wants, Tabby gets.”
“You can say that again,” Devon said. “She was like that as girl. Never grew out of it.”
And Sky was certainly glad for that.
Everyone stopped working to follow her outside where Larry’s big red tow-truck backed up, positioning the Black Angel behind the store. When he stopped Tabby jumped out of the cab.
“Mission accomplished.” She grinned from ear to ear.
“What do I owe him?” Sky whispered to her.
“Not a thing. It’s on the house. But I’m dying to see inside.”
After Larry disconnected his rig from the RV they all piled inside. A sense of home embodied Sky. She’d grown into an adult in this cramped space. Lost her virginity and had some of the most memorable times in her life here with Stella.
“Home away from home.” Lila glanced over at Sky. “Where is home, Tempest?”
“Canada,” Tabby answered before she could.
“No family?” Lila pried, but thankfully Devon released a long whistle.
“We have to get us one of these to take on jobsites.” He stuck his head into the bathroom. “It even has a shower.” Tabby had informed Sky earlier that Reece owned his own construction company and Devon worked for him. Their jobs took them from state to state at times.
Reece slipped his arms around Tabby, before he asked, “Did you want us to move your ovens inside?”
“They’re heavy. The gas tanks alone weigh a ton and you’ve already done so much. Thank you.”
“No worries. I’ll call some of the crew over. We should have your ovens up and running by dinner.”
Reece’s generosity left Sky speechless. By sunset she would have a place to work and sleep. “I need to let Harold know I’ve got the Black Angel. He has been so good to me.”
“Harold’s a gem. If it wasn’t for him we might not be together. Heck, you could say that about half the couples in Whispering Cove, including Brody and Andie.” Tabby must have noticed Sky’s confusion, because she went on to say, “Harold, Errol and Byron are the local matchmakers, so you better beware.” She laughed. “They’ll have you married and pregnant within a year.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?” Reece asked as he turned his wife around to face him.
From where Sky stood she saw moisture brighten Tabby’s eyes.
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked softly.
She shook her head. “I’m pregnant.”
His cupped her face between his palms before his mouth descended upon hers. He kissed her so tenderly, so poignantly, that no one made a sound. It was as if they had forgotten anyone existed except the two of them.
When he whispered, “I love you,” and she reciprocated with the same, Devon whooped a hearty sound of exultation.
“I’m going to be an uncle. We need some cigars. A drink.” Then he ripped his sister out of Reece’s arms, picked her up and whirled her around the small space of the RV.
“Easy, buddy. That’s my wife and child you’re manhandling.” Reece laughed. “Wait till Mom hears about this. She’ll be in seventh heaven—” He paused. “It’s not twins? Tell me it’s not twins.”
“You can start breathing again. Dr. Dani said she hears only one heartbeat.”
So that was why Tabby was with the doctor earlier today. Sky stood back and watched the happy couple and their friends. Was her life so different from theirs that she had never thought of children?
“Congratulations,” Sky said.
Tabby flung her arms around her and hugged. “Thank you,” she whispered in Sky’s ear. “A baby. Can you believe that?” Sky was sure her new friend wasn’t expecting an answer so she remained quiet.
“Darlin’?”
Tabby released her hold on Sky and turned to Reece.
“What do you say we wrap things up here and go home.”
Desire burning in the man’s eyes made Sky blush. “The ovens can wait.”
“No, ma’am. A promise is a promise. Let me make a couple of calls and we’ll be out of here before you know it. Devon. Grab a couple of boxes and let’s get these inside. Tempest can start arranging things later.” When Tabby started to pick up a large box, Reece was right at her side. He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Not you, baby. These are too heavy.”
“They’re not too heavy,” she argued.
Reece folded his arms across his wide chest and glared at her.
“Fine! I’ll go inside and help Tempest.” As she turned to leave, he slapped her on the ass. She shook her head, but a smile glowed in her eyes.
Within two hours everything had been unloaded, shelves stocked and her ovens ready to go. Standing alone, she gazed around the room. The only thing left to do was clean up the packing strewn around and unpack her glass-blowing materials. Earlier in the day Harold had promised to pick up the business license. She let out a heavy sigh. Tomorrow she could open the doors.
Things were looking up, until she glanced out the window and saw one of Whispering Cove’s finest at her door.
Leo had never been so undecided and then she turned around and stared right at him. With the decision made for him, he rapped lightly on the glass door. For a moment he thought she might ignore him, but then she walked over and unlocked the door, inching it open so that it separated them like a shield.
“Yes?” There was a bite in her tone.
“I saw your light on.”
“That’s very observant of you, officer. Can I help you?”
Leo raised his sight to the line of stitches on her forehead and once again guilt needled its way in. “I stopped by to see how you are.”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
She started to close the door, but he reached out and grabbed it. His reaction surprised him.
A frown pulled at her sculpted lips, drawing his attention. What would she taste like? The thought incinerated when she spoke again.
“Something else, officer?”
“Leo.”
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Leo.”
“Good night, Officer Caan.” As she attempted to close the door again, he held on to it and the opportunity to speak further with her. But she wasn’t making it easy on him.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” he said.
A brow shot up with a “you think?” expression on her face.
Giving the door a little push, he drove her back so that he could enter. Slowly, he scanned the room. She had turned the place into a real shop. He was impressed. “It looks nice. You do good work.”
“Thank you.” She kept a close eye on him as he strolled between the wrought iron racks where ornaments and other trinkets dangled from hooks.
Leo had no doubt the woodwork had been done by Reece and his crew. Everything was perfect, from the shelves to the smooth workbench lined with paints and a magnifying light.
“You’re an artist?” he asked the obvious, receiving another “you think?” look. “Do you do portraits too?”
&n
bsp; “Officer Caan, what do you want?”
Standing there with her palms on her slender hips, all he could think of was replacing her hands with his, pulling her close. He blinked, wondering where the hell that thought came from.
“Well?” she asked.
“To clear the air between us.”
“Consider it clear. Now I really need to get back to work.” She pivoted, dismissing him, but he wasn’t that easy to brush off.
“Is Harold coming to pick you up?”
“No.” She started to pick up a box and he intercepted her.
“Let me get that for you.” He raised the box in unison with her. A little tug-of-war ensued.
“I can do this,” she snarled.
“I’m sure you can, but please allow me.”
“Fine.” She released the box.
He gazed around. “Where do you want it?”
“On the workbench.”
After he placed the box down, he reached for the tape securing it. A ripping sound followed. “So how are you getting home—I mean to Harold’s?”
“You’ll be happy to hear that I’m not staying with him any longer.”
He placed a jar of something blue upon the table before he turned, locking gazes with her. “Sleepy Cove?”
She rolled her eyes, releasing a frustrated breath. “If you must know, Tabby arranged for my RV to be towed behind the store. So you don’t have to worry about Harold anymore. As soon as I can I’ll be gone.”
Silence lingered between them until he broke eye contact, returning his attention to the task at hand, unloading the box. He reached into the box and started to unwrap another item.
“Why are you here?”
To see you, but he left the words unspoken. Instead he reached for another object and offered another excuse. “I thought I’d give you hand.”
“Stop!” Her voice cracked. “I know exactly what you’re up to.”
Lord, he hoped not. He wasn’t even sure why he was here or what he was up to. But she had been on his mind all day. Memories of her sexy silhouette teased him unmercifully. There was something uniquely wild, yet oddly timid about her. Yeah, he heard that opposites attract, but this was ridiculous. He swallowed hard and turned around.
Stockings (Whispering Cove) Page 6