by Jill Sanders
Dylan’s eyes were on her brother but jumped to him. “No, you’ve really done enough. Thank—” He gave her a look and stopped her. “Night,” she said instead.
“If you need anything…” He nodded. “See you on Monday.”
She shut the door behind him and he walked back to his truck. He could hear her brother asking her where she’d put all his shit.
Chapter 10
The days turned into weeks quickly enough, and before she realized it, two months had passed. Her brother had started his job that first Monday, and she’d been surprised at how easily he’d caught on. He seemed to be really enjoying what he did and the guys he worked with. She started to fall into a pattern. During the days, she focused on work, and at night, she studied and attended her online classes.
At first, she had been limited to working at the office, but then Trey had lent her an old laptop of his so she could attend her classes in the comfort of her own place.
It still shook her every time she walked into the house. Having so much space was like breathing for the first time in years. She’d picked her favorite spot, in the small library, and worked there each night.
Her brother had fallen into his own pattern of hitting the bar with his coworkers directly after work and wasn’t usually home until late. Most days, he didn’t drive himself but rode with someone else, since he didn’t want his truck to get messed up on the back roads.
She was thankful she was using her mind again, but a little sad when Tyler took over for Trey in the office. Sure, Trey continued to stop in every day. She’d been totally turned on when he replaced his business suit with worn jeans, steel-toed boots, and a flannel shirt with a white T-shirt underneath.
It was impossible, but the man looked better each time she saw him. Like some sort of lumberjack supermodel. She noticed that he’d stopped shaving and found his new beard totally mouthwatering. She spent every free moment daydreaming about him pulling off his shirt and swinging an ax. Then she would berate herself for being attracted to his type. But the harder she thought about it, the more she realized it wasn’t a type she was attracted to, just him.
Her brother grew more distant to her, but she was thankful that at least they had their own space. It hadn’t surprised her that he’d moved his stuff out to the room above the garage. He complained about her complaining too much when he left his things everywhere in the house and didn’t pick up after himself. Less than a week after moving in, he’d moved into the garage apartment, which gave her the entire house to herself. The first week it was wonderful, but then the house started to feel too quiet. Some afternoons, she’d go down to the diner and sit in the corner booth, working on the laptop.
Sometimes she would text Addy and have her meet her down there so they could study together since she was taking online classes as well. Addy was lucky enough to be able to take all the classes Dylan wished she could. The two of them would work until one or more of the McGowan brothers would show up.
On this particular weekend night, both Trent and Trey interrupted their studies. Trey fell into the booth next to her and then nudged her shoulder.
“That looks fun,” he said in a sarcastic tone.
“It is.” She smiled at him. “I never knew that environmental studies could be so enlightening.” She saved her current work and started to shut down the computer since she knew she wouldn’t get any more work done until she got home. She and Addy usually waited until Trent showed up before ordering dinner. She guessed that Trey had tagged along for the evening.
“Trent tells me you two have been working hard the past few weeks.” Trey turned towards her.
Trent and Addy were quietly chatting about what they wanted to eat while hiding behind their own menus.
“Yes, she’s a great study partner. She’s quiet, doesn’t talk too much, and if I have questions, she usually knows the answers.” She smiled over at Addy.
“I took all those same classes my first year in college,” Addy informed Trey.
“That’s right, you have a few years under your belt.” Trey shifted slightly towards her. She felt the heat from his leg when it brushed her own.
Tonight’s flannel shirt was blue and green, which matched his eyes almost perfectly. She found it hard to look away from him when their eyes met.
“Yup, until I became tired of hearing how I wasn’t doing well enough for my parents.” Addy sighed.
Addy had filled her in about how her mother used to be very condescending and manipulative towards her and her father. But, in the past year, her mother had changed so much, Addy had a hard time recognizing her. It made Dylan wonder if had her mother still been alive, there would have been a chance for them to grow closer.
“Right,” Trey added. “Talk about doing a complete turnaround. I heard your mother was just voted president of the Silver Sneakers Club.”
Addy chuckled. “Yeah, stupid name, but the group meets several times every week and does everything from playing cards to line dancing in the park during the summer.” She rolled her eyes.
“Line dancing.” Trey chuckled. “I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
“Why?” Trent broke in. “You have some sort of old lady fetish I don’t know about?” he teased.
Trey kicked his brother under the table, earning him a very loud groan followed by a mumbled, “Pussy,” from his brother.
They ordered food and continued chatting as townspeople came and went. At one point, an older couple walked into the diner and everyone seemed to stop talking.
“That’s the Mayor of Haven,” Trent told her quickly. “Martha and her husband, Steve. They’re sort of the most popular couple in town.” He smiled. “Nice people.”
Just then, the man and woman spotted them and headed over their way.
“Hi, everyone,” the woman said, giving a genuine smile. “Trent, I have a few last-minute changes on the new plans for the park,” the woman said before spotting Dylan. “Hi, I’m Martha Brown.”
“Dylan McCaw.” She shook the woman’s offered hand.
“Right, McGowan’s newest employee.” She nodded. “I’ve been meaning to stop in and introduce myself and have a chat sometime.”
She was unsure why the woman would want to talk to her. Maybe she’d heard about her brother? Worry flooded her mind and she bit her bottom lip.
Underneath the table, Trey took her hand gently in his. “Martha is Haven’s busybody and the town’s know-it-all. She likes being well informed on everything Haven.” He gave Dylan a reassuring smile.
“Speaking of which, Trey.” Martha’s eyes narrowed playfully at him. “Didn’t I see you run the stop light on Main and First this morning?”
Trey chuckled. “No, ma’am, I didn’t drive today, Trent did. I have an inner ear infection and can’t drive for at least a week while I’m on the meds the doc gave me.”
Dylan turned towards him. “Are you okay?”
He smiled at her. “Yeah, just can’t drive until the end of the week. It’s one of the reasons my brother brought me along tonight.”
Just then, their food was delivered, and the older couple stepped aside, but not before Martha added, “Trent, I’ll expect you to start making a full stop at the stop signs in town.”
Trent chuckled and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Martha nodded her approval before walking off to find a table with her husband.
“See, she’s harmless,” Trey mumbled to her between bites. “I will, however, be stuck back in the office until the end of the week.” Trey snagged one of her French fries. She snapped his fingers away since he had a plateful himself. “I like the crispy ones and I see you avoiding them.” He chuckled and tossed a few of the larger ones on her plate. He was right about her avoiding the crispy ones, so she allowed it.
“I hope the rest of your workweek won’t suffer,” she said.
“No, Tyler is filling in for me. We’re swapping places.”
For a split second, she thought about spending he
r week with Trey instead of Tyler and excitement rushed through her quickly. She tucked her hands close together and tried to control her breathing.
“Are you okay?” Trey asked suddenly.
“Yes.” She reached for her water. “Just a little tired.” She rubbed her eyes and realized she still hadn’t made an eye appointment.
“Are you still wearing those contacts?” Trey asked, frowning at her.
“I was just yelling at myself for not making the appointment.” She sighed. “I’ll call first thing tomorrow.”
“Do you own a pair of glasses?” he asked. She nodded quickly. “Wear them tomorrow.” When she opened her mouth to argue, his eyes narrowed, and she could tell he was challenging her to argue with him.
“Okay.” She wanted to warn him, but instead, bit her tongue. He’d find out sooner or later just how nerdy she looked in them.
“You’re going to love babysitting this guy,” Trent jumped in jokingly.
“I don’t need babysitting,” Trey said in a low tone.
“You couldn’t even walk in here by yourself.” Trent chuckled.
Trey made a warning sound in his throat, but his brother ignored it and continued.
“Inner ear infection.” He laughed. “Makes my brother walk like a drunk teenager.”
“Is it that bad?” Dylan asked.
“No.” Trey rolled his eyes.
“He’s lying,” Trent continued.
Addy jumped to Trey’s rescue. “Honey, I’m finished here and have about another hours’ worth of work. Maybe we should go.”
Trent jumped up immediately. “Sure thing.”
“I’m not done, I’ll get a ride home with…” Trey glanced around the diner.
“I can drive you home,” Dylan jumped in.
“Good, because you’ll have to pick him up in the morning,” Trent added. “Tyler and I have to be at the new site first thing tomorrow.”
Trey groaned. “I’d forgotten. I really wanted to—”
“Too bad, baby brother,” Trent interrupted. “You snooze…” Addy pushed him towards the front of the diner.
“I’ll see you later,” Addy said over her shoulder. “Night.”
Dylan waved and tried not to chuckle.
“Brothers.” Trey slumped in his seat and shoved another fry into his mouth.
“Tell me about it.” She rolled her eyes.
Trey straightened a little. “What’s yours done now?”
“Guess who I caught walking out of the garage apartment this morning?” She leaned back in the booth, much like Trey had just done. “I actually think she waited until she saw me leave the house, so she could time it just right.”
His eyes narrowed. “Darla.” It came out as a statement and not a question.
“How did you…” She sighed. “I suppose it’s all over town by now.” She groaned a little and glanced around the diner.
“Yup, the rumor was going around.” He took her hand in his. “Sorry, it must suck. What did she say to you?”
“Oh, not much.” She remembered trying to mask her shock at seeing the woman slink her way down the outside stairs over the garage. “She acted like she was caught red-handed, faked being embarrassed.” She rolled her eyes. “I could tell she wasn’t.”
“No, she wanted you to know about it. I’m sure of it. That’s her M.O.” He reached over and finished the last of his fries, then waved the waitress over. “Want to share a slice of cake?”
She looked at her half full plate and sighed. “Sure, I can take this home for later.”
He ordered a large slice of chocolate cake with two scoops of ice cream on the side. She wondered how he stayed thin, eating the way he did. He’d ordered the same thing she had, a large burger and fries, but his plate was completely empty while hers still had half the burger and fries on it.
“Do you get ear infections often?” She decided to change the subject from her brother’s sex life.
“I had them a lot as a kid. We all did. Especially when it would get cold and we didn’t want to come inside.”
“Were you stuck outside recently?” She shifted slightly when he rested his arm behind her shoulders on the back of the bench.
“I’ve been working on the weekends, clearing a spot on my land for my new house.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “I thought you had a house?”
He chuckled. “I have a trailer. I’m planning on building a log cabin.”
She frowned, remembering the first time she’d seen his current place. She’d assumed it was a home, not a trailer. It was nice, nicer than the last few homes she’d lived in, except for the one she was currently in.
“Trent has a tractor and all weekend I was clearing a section where I’m thinking of building.” He finished and sighed. “It’s nestled in the woods, just behind where the trailer is.”
“It snowed all weekend.”
“Yeah, and I’m paying for not being smart enough to wait for warmer weather.”
Just then, the cake arrived, and her eyes grew huge. “Wow,” she said as he handed her a fork. “You expect us to eat that? That’s a quarter of the cake and a gallon of ice cream.”
He laughed. “I usually eat it all by myself.”
She shook her head and dug in.
* * *
Trey sat silent as Dylan drove him home. The winding roads that headed towards McGowan land were usually a comfort to him, but with the inner ear infection, he found the twists and turns a little nauseating. He tried shutting his eyes, which only made it worse, so he tried focusing on Dylan’s driving.
He realized she had only dropped him off at his house once before. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t had her up to the house before. Then again, he couldn’t believe that it had been almost three months since he’d first seen her in the bar. It was easier to notice the time when he saw his nephew. The kid was scooting and rolling around like he couldn’t wait to start running. His brother was already asking Kristen when she wanted to try for another one. Trey held in a chuckle. Growing up, he’d never pegged his brother as someone who would be an amazing father.
“You’re quiet.” Dylan broke into his thoughts.
He took a deep breath to settle his stomach before speaking. “Just thinking about Timmy.” He sighed.
“He’s grown so much.” By the tone of her voice, he could tell she was smiling. “Are you doing okay?” she asked when he didn’t respond.
“Yeah, just trying not to act like the pussy my brother thinks I am.”
“Are you going to be sick?”
“No,” he said mostly to reassure himself.
“I can slow down,” she offered.
He opened his eyes again and noticed they were less than a mile from the turnoff to his place.
“I can make it.” He took several deep breaths.
“Here.” She held out her hand. “Give me your hand.” She shifted and drove with her left hand.
He set his hand in hers, and she dropped it on her lap and started tapping lightly on the inside of his wrist, keeping her eyes on the road. Then she pinched lightly on his wrist. Instantly, his stomach settled.
“How did you…?” He stopped and shook his head slightly.
“Better?” she asked when he didn’t continue.
“Yes.” He took another deep breath. “Much. How did you do that?”
“Acupressure.” She smiled over at him and gripped the wheel with both hands again as she pulled into his long driveway. “I read a book about it once and it always works for me.”
“Needles?” He visibly shivered, causing her to chuckle.
“No, that’s acupuncture.” She chuckled. “Don’t you have a tattoo?” She nodded to the massive owl on his forearm. He glanced down at the owl and a mixture of sorrow and pride filled him. The creature reminded him of his father. He’d gotten it the month after his dad had passed. Rea had taken him to an artist on the reservation, a man Trey had known since birth. His name was Peta, or as everyone else calle
d him, Blackfoot. He had been old when Trey was a child and was ancient now. But his hands had been steady, and his art spoke for itself. The owl was a perfect representation of his father’s spirit animal.
Blackfoot had been a little confused when he asked for an owl, seeing as Trey was a coyote himself. Tyler was a wolf, Trent a bear. But after explaining that it was in memory of his father, the old man had quickly and quietly gotten to work.
He ran his fingers over the skin and smiled at the memory of his father.
“That’s different,” he said, looking down at his arm. “Do you have any tricks to help with an inner ear infection?” he asked after a moment as he rolled his shoulders.
“A few,” she said, pulling up behind his truck.
“Would you… like to come in?” He tried hard not to sound too eager. “You know, to help me out?” He winced at the desperation in his words, but at this point, he’d try anything to help him with the dizziness.
She was silent for a while. “Sure.” She shut off the car.
He wanted to jump out and run over to open her door, but just climbing out of the car made him break a sweat.
By the time he was upright, she was by his side, holding his arm.
“You okay?” she asked again.
“Remind me to come in out of the cold next time.” He groaned as they walked together towards his front door.
“You should be in bed all week,” she suggested as he tried to unlock his front door. On the third try, she took his keys from him and did it herself.
He could hear Dopey scratching and barking inside the door. “That’s Dopey,” he said, stopping her. “You like dogs, right?”
“Love them.” She smiled as he swung the door open. “You brought him into the office once before, remember?”
“Right.” Dopey jumped on him, almost knocking him over. “Down,” he ordered. The dog obeyed and turned to give his attention to Dylan.
“You really are like a drunk teenager.” She giggled as she bent down to give the mutt a scratch.
Instead of answering, he groaned as he walked past her, kicked off his shoes, and dropped his coat inside the door. “Come on in.” He made his way towards the sofa in his living room. He wobbled across the room, knowing the room wasn’t really swaying.