by Peggy Bird
By the time it was too dark to work any longer, all the broken fireworks were replaced, the lights had been realigned, and Leo was back on schedule. He offered to buy drinks at the Grant House to thank everyone but was turned down in favor of a rain check.
Actually, he was glad they didn’t take him up on his offer. He needed time to pack up his supplies and a chance to consider what he was about to do: spend the night with Shannon on her porch. It was close to ten o’clock, which meant eight hours until the sun came up. Eight hours of sitting in the dark with her. Come to think of it, he felt like he’d been fumbling around in the dark with her for a couple days already.
Let’s see—how many misunderstandings and missteps had there been between them? First he was sure she was about to run away to Las Vegas with Jeremy to please her father. Then, when he found out how wrong he was, she wasn’t receptive to his clumsy attempt to explain. Next, he’d been waiting for her to come home from work the day before so he could try to explain again and Cathy showed up. Leo was pretty sure Shannon had seen him with her, which might have led her to think he was seeing his old girlfriend.
But this morning, she’d seemed more upset by what happened than he was. She’d let him comfort her, hold her, even sneak a kiss on the top of her head. That was the last of the conflicting signals he could think of, none of which he understood.
He was about to spend the night with her. Not in her bed or his but on the porch. In the dark. They’d started out sitting on the porch swing the first time he’d really kissed her, and now they were back there. The circle was complete.
What did it mean that she’d invited him? Was it a good sign? A bad sign? Not a sign at all?
It was time to find out. He made a quick phone call then started toward Shannon’s house.
• • •
Shannon didn’t know what had come over her. With still no idea of what had happened between them the past week, she’d asked Leo to watch for the vandal from her porch. With her. She didn’t know whether he thought of her as anything other than a means to an end, or whether he was back with his old girlfriend, or what it had meant when he’d immediately held her and even kissed her to comfort her when she was crying. If the list of what she didn’t know was long, the list of what she wanted to know was short: what had happened to make him so cold?
She sighed. Sitting in the dark seemed like an appropriate activity for the two of them right now.
From the porch swing, she watched him amble across the parade grounds and cross the street. Even in the dusky night he looked so handsome, so sexy. Not to mention he was smart and talented and funny and could kiss her senseless … oh, crap. She had to stop that line of thinking or this would be the longest, most uncomfortable, night of her life.
He took the porch steps two at a time, said hi, and sat at the opposite end of the swing. His arrival was followed by an awkward silence for what seemed like an eternity.
Leo spoke first. “Well, here we are.”
She shifted her weight a bit to make sure there was plenty of space between them. “Yup, here we are.” Another round of silence. “Maybe I should make a pot of coffee. We might need it to stay awake.”
“Let me help.” He stood up and extended his hand to her.
“No, it’s okay. I can do it myself.” Shannon avoided him as she rose, too, and headed inside.
“I know you can. I thought I’d help. To thank you, I mean. You know, for going out of your way for me.” He followed close behind her to the kitchen.
She pulled out the container of beans and two mugs. “I want this to go off for the Fourth almost as much as you do.”
“Right. Your boss might put your job back on the chopping block if it goes bad. You need to make sure this all works out to impress him.” He took the bag of beans and poured some into the grinder.
“My job isn’t in danger anymore.” She faced him. “I want your installation to be successful because you’ve worked so hard, put so much of yourself into this. You deserve success.”
Leo put his hands on her waist. “I deserve something else, Shannon.”
“What do you mean?” She wanted to move away but couldn’t. It felt so good to have him touch her again.
“I deserve a chance to explain one or two things to you.” He pulled her close to him, close enough to kiss her.
All she could see was his mouth. Oh God, if he kissed her it would all be over. She couldn’t possibly resist him if he kissed her. She loved kissing him. Loved the feel of his mouth on hers. She stepped back. “I don’t think there’s anything you need to explain.”
“Yes, there definitely is. But standing here close enough to kiss you, I can’t think clearly enough to explain anything. Let’s make the coffee and go back on the porch. It’ll be easier for me there.” He ground the coffee beans and dumped them in the coffeemaker.
Her hand was shaking as she filled the machine with water and started it brewing. He was as disturbed by being close as she was. Did it mean what she hoped it did? Or was it his way of making sure things went off okay for the Fourth? He wouldn’t be so manipulative, would he? The Leo she loved wouldn’t be, she was sure. But was he that man?
When she was finished with the coffee, he took her hand and led her back to the now dark porch. This time he sat close enough to her to put his arm around her. She wanted to escape his touch but, once again, she couldn’t bring herself to back away. Not when having him so close meant she could smell his clean, masculine scent and feel the heat from his body. At least in the dark she couldn’t see his mouth, didn’t think so much about kissing him, about how his lips felt when he …
He broke into her fantasy. “First, I owe you an apology. A big one. Once I explain why, I’m not sure you’re ever going to want to see me again. But if I’m not honest with you, I couldn’t live with myself.” He drew her against his chest. She couldn’t see his face and wondered if maybe that’s why he did it.
“Remember when I told you I was going to bring the signs over? Well, I did.”
Shannon sat up, scanned his face, tried to see his expression. “But you never came to the house. And when you called, you said you’d made other arrangements.”
Leo tried to hold her again but she resisted. Instead, she stared at him until he cleared his throat then spoke again. “I did come to your house. I was about to knock on the door when I heard voices inside. Men’s voices.”
“My father and … ” She dropped her gaze. “And Jeremy. You heard Jeremy.”
“Yeah. I heard him say something about getting a second chance with you. And going to Las Vegas and something about a wedding. Then your father was all ‘oh, I’m so happy to have you in the family’ and ‘the four of us will have so much fun in Las Vegas.’”
Shannon didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “You thought I was going to Vegas with Jeremy? Why would I do that? I told you it was all in the past with him.”
“I know, but your father seemed so happy about it and sounded like he was planning things with you. I thought … ”
“You thought I was going to Vegas with Jeremy to make my father happy? Really?”
“I know. I was an idiot. But I kept remembering how much you said you wanted to have a real father in your life and how you kept trying to make him see what a good daughter you were so he’d be the kind of father you wanted. And I thought … ”
“I’m not sure ‘thought’ was any part of this, Leo. More like really bad overreaction.” Shannon wanted to be angry. Had a right to be angry. But after what she’d thought about him … wasn’t she just as guilty of overreacting? “Why didn’t you say something when you called?”
“I did. I said you must be really busy with your plans for the wedding and Las Vegas and the Fourth and everything.”
“And that was supposed to let me know what you thought you heard?”
“I guess not. It wasn’t until Powell told me … ”
“Powell told you? Damn it to hell, I asked her not to call yo
u.” This she knew how to process. Powell was always getting herself into everyone else’s business, and it pissed Shannon off.
“Don’t be mad. She kept her promise not to call me. She tracked me down to Firehouse when I was there the next day. And she reamed me a new one.”
Shannon couldn’t hide her smile. “I’d like to have heard her. From a safe distance, of course.”
“She almost backed me into the glory hole, wagging her finger at me and yelling. I thought my mom was the expert at lecturing but Powell is much better. Anyway, Powell told me what I didn’t hear because I left after I heard your dad and your ex. About how you threatened Jeremy with a restraining order and told your dad off.”
“I wonder why she didn’t come running back to report to me? It’s not like her to keep quiet when she has such juicy information.”
“I asked her not to say anything. I wanted to tell you—and apologize. But when I came to pick up the glass and do a mea culpa, you were so mad you all but threw me off the porch. Not that I blame you. I was pretty cold on the phone.”
“I’m still defrosting my ear.” Shannon took his hand and laced her fingers through his, so happy at what she was hearing she had to suppress a giggle. “Why didn’t you try again?”
“I wanted to do it in person, so I could see your face, see if you really believed me. I hung around yesterday after I finished work hoping to see you but … ” Leo shrugged his shoulders as if he expected she knew why he hadn’t tried then.
“But your ex showed up and I saw her with you. I thought she was picking up where you two left off since you’re going to be famous and all. That’s probably why I’m not as mad about what you thought as I might have been. I did the same stupid thing.”
He brushed a piece of hair back from her face. “Cathy was honestly there for the work, not me. She’s with someone else now. I saw you walking home from work and figured you saw the two of us together. It seemed like it would be a lost cause trying to talk to you.”
“What changed your mind?”
“The way you reacted this morning. I knew it wasn’t only because the glass was broken. It had to be you still felt something for me.” He took her chin in his hand. “So, I have a question to ask … ”
Shaking off his hand, she said, “Wait. Before we get there, it’s my turn.”
“Your turn?”
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath. “I did see you with Cathy. And I did wonder about it. But I also thought you’d been using me to get your permits.”
“I know. Powell accused me of it.”
“Crap. She spills the beans on me but protects what she knew about you. Some best friend she is.”
“Don’t be mad. If she hadn’t come after me … well, I don’t know if I’d be sitting here now,” Leo said.
“Sitting here with a question to ask me, I believe. That’s what you said before I interrupted you.”
“Yes, I do have something to ask. Was I right?”
“About what?”
“Do you still have feelings for me?”
“Oh, Leo, of course I do. I love you.” She put her hand over her mouth when it was too late to keep the words from spilling out.
If a grin could spread from a forehead to a chin, Leo’s did. “Thank God. I thought it was only me in love.”
“Really? You love me?”
“Yeah. I love you.” He tugged at her hand, still interlaced with his. “Come here. You’re way too far away.”
She went eagerly, her mouth wanting his, her whole body waiting for his touch.
It started out as a soft, gentle kiss but what they immediately generated between them turned it hot, demanding. His tongue explored her mouth fully, thoroughly, and repeatedly as if to make sure nothing had changed since the last time they’d kissed. When he seemed sure it was all as he’d left it, he nibbled at her lip then kissed it to take away any hurt he’d caused. His arms were around her as he leaned back against the arm of the porch swing, bringing her with him, the length of her body now against his. It was like coming home, where she belonged. She wanted to get caught up in the moment, caught up in him.
But she couldn’t. They had to stop. Her hands on his chest, she pushed back at him. “We can’t do this. Not here. Not tonight.”
His frustrated sigh said he knew exactly what she meant. “We can’t even have make-up sex, can we? Not now.” With another sigh he sat up. “Perfect ending to the rest of the week, huh?”
Kissing him lightly on the forehead she said, “But we can go get the coffee and then sit here and hold each other for a few hours. Maybe the bad guy will show up early.”
Chapter Twenty
Two hours later, Shannon was asleep and so was the arm Leo had cradled around her. She looked so sweet lying against his arm he didn’t want to disturb her. There had been nothing to see across the street on the parade grounds, so he’d spent his time looking at her through sleepy eyes and enjoying the view.
After they’d gotten the talking and a bit of kissing out of the way, they’d gone inside for coffee and the flashlights he’d asked for. In her pantry, she’d proudly showed off the most complete emergency kit he’d ever seen, which happened to include three huge flashlights. He teased her all the way from her pantry back to the front porch, threatening to move in with her at the first sign of an impending disaster.
They’d settled on the porch swing and split a pot of coffee. But it hadn’t been enough. She’d drifted off to sleep, and he’d had a hard time keeping his eyes open. He figured it must be after midnight. Maybe he could close his eyes for a minute or two.
He didn’t know how long he dozed, but something woke him with a start. A loud noise. A dim light. Gently he shook Shannon.
“Baby, wake up,” he whispered. He had his hand close to her mouth to quiet her if she made a noise, but she sat up yawning.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“There’s something—someone—across the street.”
Another sharp sound echoed across the parade grounds. “That’s the same noise I heard last night. Like a backfire,” Shannon said.
“Do you have your phone?”
She held it up. “Right here.”
“I’ll see what’s happening. You stay on this side of the fence. Call 911 and tell them there’s an intruder.”
“You’re not going over there alone. I’m going with you.”
“I need you to be safe,” he said.
“And I need to be with you to make sure you don’t get in trouble.”
“Shannon, please. I’m not going to get in trouble. Whoever is over there is more intent on destroying the glass than on dealing with me. I’ll be fine.”
“He’s got a gun.” She hugged him. “You could get hurt.”
“I won’t get hurt. Come on, we’re wasting time.”
A third shot sounded.
“If we don’t stop him, he’ll destroy everything we did this afternoon.” Without waiting for her to agree, he bounded down the steps, flashlight in hand, and ran across the street.
• • •
Shannon watched Leo disappear into the darkness. Afraid for his safety, her hand was shaking hard enough when she tried to call 911 that she could barely punch the numbers. The operator told her to stay where she was; the police were on the way without lights or sirens.
But when she heard another shot, she disobeyed both the operator and Leo and ran as hard and fast as she could to the parade grounds.
• • •
Staying in the shadow of the trees near the visitor center, Leo walked carefully through the inky darkness, hoping he didn’t step on anything noisy and alert whoever was shooting at his glass. His eyes already accustomed to the lack of light, he could see the shape of a person not too far ahead. Then he heard someone muttering. He stopped to hear what the man was saying—and it was a man, he was sure now—but it was unintelligible.
He moved again, following the sound of the muttering, knowing the next part would be
the trickiest. He had to break from the cover of the trees and confront a man with a gun. Maybe Shannon was right. Maybe he should wait for the police to arrive.
Then he heard a sound he recognized—the lever on a bolt-action rifle being pulled. The guy was about to shoot again.
Leo charged from the shadows and hit the shooter in the midsection. The sound of a rifle going off close to his ear stunned him.
• • •
Shannon saw the dark shapes of two cars approaching from either end of Officers’ Row—the police, thank God. Then from near the tree line to the east, she heard first a man grunt loudly, then a gunshot.
The police could find their way by themselves. Leo was in trouble.
• • •
When he was a kid, Leo had been in plenty of wrestling contests with his older brothers. Those matches had been nothing like this. The man with the rifle seemed to be shorter than he was but the guy was fit and fighting dirty. Knees, hands, elbows, fingers, fists—everything he could throw at Leo, he did. However, Leo had three things on his side: his size advantage, his determination to protect his work, and luck. The guy slipped and fell. Leo pounced. Jumped on top of him, grabbed the guy’s wrists, and held them in an unbreakable hold.
“Who the hell are you and why the hell are you wrecking my work?” he demanded when he had the man subdued.
“Who wants to know?” the shooter snarled.
From behind them, Shannon’s voice said, “Leo, are you okay? I heard a shot.”
“I’m fine but I dropped the flashlight. Who is this asshat?”
When she shone her flashlight onto the face of the vandal, Leo was so startled he almost loosened his hold on the man. Almost. When the surprise passed, he tightened his grip so he didn’t give in to the next reaction, which was to punch the living daylights out of him.