by Pamela Clare
Chaska didn’t answer. After Winona had caught them kissing, he had locked himself inside his office, saying he had a lot of work to get done before Monday.
Naomi tried not to feel disappointed. The man was a rocket scientist, after all. He had more important things to do than watching her play with PMC paste.
When the three leaves were burnished, she took two jump rings out of a little plastic box, reached for her needle nose pliers, and attached the jump rings through the holes she’d made in the bases of the leaves. “I could add stones now or create some kind of ornamentation. I could add multiple leaves to a single earring or stick them together before I fire them to make something long and elegant.”
She attached wires to the jump rings, then on impulse held out the earrings for Winona. “They’re not fancy, but they’re yours.”
Winona stared at her wide-eyed. “Really?”
Naomi nodded. “You and your brother have done so much for me, and I know things haven’t always been easy for you. Chaska told me what happened to you and Lexi and Bear a few years ago.”
The flicker of surprise on Winona’s face made Naomi regret bringing it up like that, but in the next moment, Winona smiled again. “Pilamayaye. Thank you.”
She took the earrings and put them on, silver gleaming against her dark hair. “How do they look?”
Naomi tried to turn off the inner critic that told her she ought to have added turquoise stones or peridot beads. Besides, the earrings really did look good on Winona. “Beautiful.”
A door opened down the hallway, and Chaska appeared, long hair hanging down his back, lips that had kissed her silly curving in a grin. “What’s the noise about?”
Winona stood and brushed her hair to the side. “Naomi made these for me.”
Chaska leaned in, dark brows drawing together in apparent confusion. “She made them for you? You mean just now?”
Winona handed him one of the earrings and gave him a detailed description of how Naomi had done this, making it sound far more interesting that it was.
He listened, studying the silver leaf in his palm, then looked up at Naomi, the intensity in those dark eyes making her breath catch. “Good trade.”
Chaska logged out of his work VPN, satisfied with the progress he’d made this afternoon. He had a report to write before Monday morning’s meeting with NASA, but he could handle that tomorrow.
He found the women on the back porch.
“Shhh!” Win whispered when he stuck his head out the back door.
Naomi lay on the reclining patio chair next to Winona, sound asleep, face turned toward them, her lips parted.
Winona stood, walked back inside, the earrings Naomi had made her dangling from her earlobes. “We were talking, and the next thing I knew she was just out. It must be the concussion—or maybe the pain pills.”
“It’s probably both.”
Winona walked into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water, but Chaska stayed near the door where he could keep an eye on Naomi. He didn’t want to leave her out there, asleep and alone, not during tourist season when the crime rate shot up. More than once he’d had to chase drunken idiots out of their yard and away from Shota’s enclosure.
“Sorry I interrupted the two of you. If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.” The excited gleam in Winona’s eyes told Chaska she very much hoped he wanted to talk about it.
“There’s not much to say. I kissed her. I plan to kiss her again if she’s willing—not that it’s any of your business.”
Winona did a silent happy dance, water glass high in the air, a wide smile on her face. “Every time I mentioned you this afternoon, she blushed.”
He glared at his sister. “Don’t meddle, Win.”
“I won’t.” She blinked up at him through innocent brown eyes.
Chaska wasn’t buying it. “I’m serious. Don’t interfere.”
“Okay, fine.” She shrugged. “I should try to find reasons to be out of the house more often to give you two time alone together.”
He was about to point out that this would be interfering but stopped himself. The idea of more time alone with Naomi sounded good to him.
“You told her about John Charles Ready.”
Chaska cringed inwardly to hear the bastard’s name spoken aloud. “I didn’t mention him by name, but, yes, I told her what happened. I didn’t want you to have to tell her, but I thought it might help her to know that you understand at least some of what she’s going through. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course, it’s okay—and thanks.” She took a drink, then gave a little laugh. “When did my big brother start being wise?”
“When did my little sister turn into a smart mouth? Oh, wait. She was born that way.” He grabbed the newspaper off the kitchen table and bopped her on the head with it, then stepped quietly outside and sat in the chair across from Naomi.
Naomi sat in the backseat of Winona’s SUV while Chaska drove them through Scarlet to some pub called Knockers. “This isn’t some kind of belly-shirts-and-boobs place, is it?”
Chaska and Winona laughed.
“It’s named after the tommyknockers,” Winona said.
“Tommy … who?”
Chaska met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Tommyknockers are spirits that live in the mines. This area was settled by Cornish miners, and tommyknockers are one of their legends.”
“They might not be legends,” Winona said. “Lexi believes a tommyknocker saved her life when she was trapped in that collapsed mineshaft. She goes up there every once in a while to toss in bread or pastries for him. There are other stories from people around here who say they’ve seen one.”
“That’s kind of … creepy.” Naomi would avoid going near any mine shafts.
Chaska made a left turn, passing the little strip mall with the grocery store before turning right into a crowded parking lot. “I’ll let you two off at the door and then park.”
He shut off the engine and helped Naomi to the ground, his hand holding hers longer than was necessary. “You’re going to like it here. I promise.”
How did he know she was feeling nervous?
He and Winona had told her after she’d woken up from her nap that no one cooked supper on Saturdays at their house. They always ate at the pub, a favorite hangout for Team members and other locals. Naomi hadn’t been excited. After years of waiting tables and serving food and drinks to men who thought they were paying her a compliment when they grabbed her ass, she much preferred to eat at home.
While Chaska parked the car, she and Winona went inside. People crowded the entryway, making it hard for Naomi to pass through with her crutches, music coming from a live band forcing her to raise her voice to be heard. “Excuse me. Pardon me.”
Winona helped, calling some people by name.
A woman with long blond dreadlocks and a nose ring saw them and headed straight for them, clearing a path. “Make room here, folks, please.”
She had a beautiful face and bright green eyes, her arms covered with tattoos of twining skulls and roses. “Hey, Win. The Team’s back at the usual table. You must be Naomi. Welcome to Knockers. I’m Rain, hostess and general manager.”
Rain led them through the pub around a corner toward the back, her easy smile and familiarity with her guests marking her as a pro. “You just missed Sasha trouncing some tough guy from California who thought he could show her the ropes. Oh, man, it was sweet!”
Naomi was about to ask what she meant by that when she saw.
A climbing wall.
It took up the entire rear wall of the pub. Nearby, Team member sat together, cheering and ribbing Jesse Moretti who was working his way upward. He reached the top, did a fist pump, and was slowly lowered to the floor.
That explained why Chaska had come wearing climbing pants and a T-shirt.
“Hey!” Sasha saw them and waved. “Move over, guys. Make room for Win and Naomi. That means you. Yes, move.”
Megs and Ahear
n were there, too. So were Creed Herrera, Isaac Rogers, Nicole Turner, Eric Hawke and…
“Ellie!”
Ellie saw Naomi and got to her feet. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.”
Ellie spoke with Rain, who helped Naomi get settled at the end of one of the tables with an extra chair so that she could elevate her leg. “Do you need ice or a cushion?”
Ellie answered before Naomi could say a word. “Yes, to both.”
“You got it.” Rain disappeared into the crowd.
Naomi turned to Winona. “Wow. This place is not what I was expecting.”
“Wait till you try Victoria’s Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.”
Eric Hawke called down the table to Naomi. “Vicki is my wife. I used to come here a lot. Now I spend my whole life here just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. She runs the pizza part of the business.”
“He’s such a whiner.” A beautiful dark-haired woman in a chef’s coat walked up to the table and kissed Eric’s cheek. “Does someone need attention?”
Eric grinned. “Always.”
“What’s your favorite part of a woman’s body?”
“Her mind.” Chaska was in a hell of his own making.
On his left sat Nicole, who’d traded places with Herrera to get closer to him. She’d had one too many margaritas and was doing her best to get him into her bed, asking suggestive questions, getting a bit too close, touching him.
On his right sat Naomi, who had grown quiet and was trying to pretend she wasn’t miserable. She was polite to everyone, even Nicole, but Chaska already knew her well enough to see the hurt in her eyes. She hadn’t eaten all of her pizza, either.
Farther down the table sat Megs, who had noticed all of this and was watching, an amused grin on her face. “What do you think, Belcourt? Can a man have too much of a good thing?”
Chaska glared at her.
What the hell was he supposed to do?
He needed to talk to Nicole. He needed to tell her that he wasn’t interested, but he didn’t want to hurt or humiliate her, not here in front of the rest of the Team. He needed to talk to Naomi, too. He needed to tell her that he and Nicole were just friends, but he couldn’t do that in front of Nicole.
He was tempted to solve the whole problem by taking Naomi in his arms and giving her a deep, hard kiss, but he wasn’t sure how she would feel about that. They had only shared one kiss, and that had been in private. Besides, he didn’t want to disrespect either woman—or take the coward’s way out.
“Hey, Nicole, would you be my belay slave?” Winona had been doing her best to run interference with Nicole, but so far it hadn’t worked. “I really want to try that new five-ten route.”
Nicole shook her head. “Sorry, Win. I’m past the two-drink limit.”
Winona looked apologetically at Chaska.
Nicole leaned closer to him. “Dance with me.”
Up on the stage, newgrass band Gold Dust Creek had just started a high-energy number that had couples streaming to the dance floor.
Okay, fine.
“Let’s go.” He met Winona’s gaze, hoping she would understand, then walked with Nicole out to the dance floor.
Rather than breaking into a two-step like everyone else, he drew her toward the far edge, where no one from the Team could see them. “We need to talk.”
Nicole swayed a little in his arms, let herself fall against him. “Why are you so serious all the time?”
He set her back on her feet. “I like you, Nicole, but you and I are never going to be together. You’re a great climber and a good person, and I have a world of respect for you, but I’m just not interested. I would never hook up with a fellow Team member.”
She stopped dancing and looked up at him, hurt on her face. “You don’t even want to sleep with me?”
“You’re pretty, Nicole, but I’m just not—”
“Are you gay? If you are, that’s fine. I just want to know. Guys usually don’t turn me down, but then you’re not like other guys, which is why I like you so much.”
“No, I’m not gay.” Not that it ought to matter.
He’d been raised to respect those who were winkte.
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Okay. I get it. Thanks.”
She turned and walked away.
Shit.
Chaska walked back to the table wishing there’d been an easier way.
Chapter 10
Naomi fought not to look toward the dance floor, a sick feeling in her chest. Then again, why should a man as good-looking, smart, and successful as Chaska be interested in her? Yes, he’d kissed her—an amazing, mind-blowing kiss—but she knew from experience that physical passion meant nothing to most men. She had no claim on Chaska, no right to the disappointment and jealousy she was feeling.
Winona leaned closer so as not to be overheard. “My brother isn’t interested in Nicole. She’s had a thing for him for a while, but he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings. I’m sure that’s why he’s dancing with her. He wants to let her know the truth without embarrassing her in front of everyone.”
Why was Winona telling her this? “What Chaska does is his business.”
Win seemed to hesitate. “You are the only woman my brother has been attracted to in a very long time.”
Naomi stared at her. “You’re not serious.”
“Oh, yes, I am. If Chaska knew I’d told you … ”
At that moment, Nicole reappeared—alone and visibly upset. She grabbed her jacket and drawstring backpack off her chair and walked away.
Winona jumped up and followed her. “Are you going to be safe getting home?”
“I’m good,” Nicole called back, not bothering to stop or turn around.
Chaska intercepted her, said something to her, then looked over at Winona and Naomi. “I’m going to drive Nicole home. I’ll be back in a few.”
His gaze caught Naomi’s, and what she saw in his eyes made her pulse skip.
Winona nudged her. “See?”
What had been a terrible, awkward evening suddenly seemed brighter.
“Your brother is a good man,” Megs said from the other end of the table.
Naomi could think of a dozen ways that Chaska could have handled this tonight, all of them less thoughtful, less caring, than what he’d chosen to do.
And to think you were feeling jealous.
Rain appeared at Naomi’s side. “You didn’t like your pizza, sweetie?”
“I guess I just wasn’t hungry.” She’d lost her appetite when Nicole had slid her hand up Chaska’s thigh.
“I’ll box it up for you. Joe, the owner, would like to meet you.” Rain disappeared with Naomi’s pizza.
Naomi had been watching her throughout the evening and was impressed. Rain was a true professional, someone capable of rising above the chaos of a restaurant to meet the needs of her customers.
A moment later, a tall man with a thick beard and a man bun walked over to the table, people waving to him as he approached.
“Hey, Joe.”
“Howdy, Moffat.”
“What’s up, Joe?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Naomi.” Joe shook Naomi’s hand and sat in Chaska’s chair. He was a handsome man, perhaps in his mid-forties. His face was tanned from a life lived outdoors, and there was just a touch of gray at his temples. “I’m Joe Moffat, the owner of this place. Are you enjoying yourself?”
She was now. “Yes. Thanks.”
“You are an incredibly brave woman. I know I speak for most of Scarlet when I say how sorry we are about what happened to you.”
Was that really how these people saw her—brave?
“That’s very kind of you.”
“I came to tell you a couple of things. The first is that your meal tonight is on the house—yours, too, Winona, and your brother’s.”
Winona looked delighted. “Thanks, Joe.”
Naomi opened her mouth to object, but Joe held up a hand to stop her.
“This is my place, and I get to treat people to dinner when I want to,” he said. “Also, has anyone talked to you about the fundraiser?”
Winona shook her head. “We mentioned it, but that was it.”
Joe told Naomi how he and some of the locals wanted to raise money to cover whatever expenses weren’t paid by the victim’s compensation fund. “This was a major disruption of your life, and we’d like to help you get back on your feet.”
His kindness was making it very difficult not to cry.
Keep it together!
“I really appreciate the offer, but there are lots of people in this world who are worse off than I am. None of you owe me anything.”
He gave a nod. “True enough. It’s your decision, of course, but it would mean a lot to us to help set this right.”
Chaska walked back to the table, drew out the chair Nicole had vacated and sat next to Joe. “What’s up, Joe?”
“Naomi and I were just talking about the idea of a fundraiser.” Joe turned back to Naomi. “I’m betting you’re a pretty self-reliant person. You had to be to escape those guys the way you did. But sometimes it’s okay to accept help from people, especially when it comes with only the best wishes and no strings attached.”
Chaska chimed in. “I think the fundraiser is a great idea.”
Naomi would have the money she needed to get safely home again—and she would see that people could be kind without expecting something in return.
Naomi considered what they’d said, then nodded. “Okay—though I feel guilty asking anyone to help me.”
Chaska reached over, took her hand. “You’re not asking. We are.”
They spent the next ten minutes working out the details—how staff would put up posters around town to get out the word, how Joe would contact the paper, how he’d try to book the Timberline Mudbugs that night. Naomi’s eyes went wide when Joe estimated her portion of the receipts to be at least fifteen thousand dollars.
“If there’s money left over after your bills are paid, you can always donate it to the Team,” Joe said. “I’m sure they’d be grateful.”
“I love that idea.”
“That’s a great idea!” Megs shouted.