by Deanna Chase
“I’ll wait in the car. You can tell them you have a dead battery or something and I took pity on you.” He climbed out then opened the door for her, determined to not take no for an answer. Because ever since she’d let him hold her, let him soothe her, something had shifted inside of him. An intense need to keep her safe had seized him. And leaving her to drive across town to her family home after she’d been so shaken was out of the question.
“Dead battery?” She glanced at her aging Honda and nodded. “That will work.”
The ache in Drew’s chest eased as he followed her into the inn.
She led him through the door behind the front desk and into the ground-floor residence she shared with her daughter. The two-bedroom suite was warm and cozy with dark hardwood floors, overstuffed furniture, and pictures everywhere. There were fresh cut lilies on the coffee table along with a pile of books and pillar candles. Noel strode to one of the bedrooms and said, “I’ll be right out.”
“Take your time. I’m fine here,” he said, meaning it. But then he sat down and leaned back into her couch, and her faint citrus scent rose up around him. Long-buried emotions came rushing to the surface. And suddenly all he wanted was to feel her in his arms again.
Chapter 5
Normally the twinkle lights that lit up the tree-lined drive of her family home gave Noel a sense of peace. But not tonight. Tonight, she just felt anxious. She didn’t know what to make of the revelation that Xavier had likely been in the area. Or the fact that he hadn’t gotten in touch with her.
Now she couldn’t get the image of him lying dead in an alleyway out of her head. The John Doe had gotten Xavier’s wallet somehow. Half of her wanted to jump in her car and start a man hunt until she found him. But the other half, the part that wanted nothing more than to protect her daughter, wanted to block the day from her mind and forget it ever happened.
Besides, if Reilly was serious, the county sheriff’s department would be conducting a full-on manhunt for him anyway. She’d already done her part by digging up some photos of him back at the inn. Drew had them now and would hand them over to the investigators.
“Looks like Wanda’s here,” Drew said, bringing his SUV to a stop.
“Huh?” Noel jerked her head up, scanning the small parking area in front of her dad’s lavish log cabin.
“The party golf cart. Seems a little cold for golf cart races.”
Noel turned her attention to the six-person party cart her sister had purchased a few weeks ago and snorted. “Oh, no. That’s Abby’s. She got a cart of her own after Wanda benched her.”
“What do you mean ‘benched her?’” Drew asked, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.
Noel had a sudden urge to smooth his wrinkles and started to reach up before she stopped herself and clenched her fist. What was she doing? She didn’t have a right to touch him. Not like that. They weren’t dating, for goddess’s sake. He was just being kind to her. “Abby was driving and almost tipped it into the river. Naturally, Wanda took her privileges away. The next day, Abby showed up with this.” Noel felt a smile tug at her lips. “I have to admit, it’s pretty fun tooling around in that thing.”
“Right,” Drew said, his expression sour as he glared at the poor golf cart.
“Something wrong? Is there a law on the books about golf cart racing we aren’t aware of, Deputy Baker?”
“No.” Drew shook his head, still eyeing the cart. His eyes flashed with anger, but when he blinked, all emotion vanished as if he’d just closed the window she’d been peeking in.
“Then what’s the problem, Drew?”
“Nothing. I just hope she and Wanda don’t cause any trouble on those things.”
Noel gave him a puzzled look. What was wrong with him? Half the people in town had their own golf cart. There was even a special road along the river specifically for the things. “Okay. Well, I’m going to get Daisy. I’ll be right back.”
She left Drew in his vehicle and hurried into her father’s house. She recognized the sound of her daughter’s laughter coming from the living room, and the heavy weight of the afternoon suddenly vanished. Daisy was the joy in her life, and no matter what was troubling her, when she was with her daughter everything was just better.
“Come here, girl!” Daisy called and clapped her hands. “You can do it. Good puppy.”
Noel let out a groan. She’d forgotten all about the puppy phone call earlier in the day. Steeling herself for the fight to come, Noel strolled into the living room.
Daisy was lying on her stomach, her chin propped up on a pillow as she grinned at the little ball of fluff dancing in front of her. The brindle-coated puppy inched closer then darted her tongue out and licked Daisy on the nose. Daisy’s eyes twinkled as she giggled, a sound Noel rarely heard these days. Her heart melted into a gooey puddle of love.
Abby glanced up from her spot on the couch and met Noel’s gaze. A grin spread across her sister’s face as she mouthed, You’re doomed.
Noel stifled a sigh and nodded her defeat. Of course, she was. How could she deny her daughter the obvious joy of the most adorable puppy that ever lived? “Does this puppy have food? Toys? A crate? Anything to take home with us, or do I need to beg Randy at the pet store to stay open a few minutes longer tonight?”
“Mommy!” Daisy scooped up the puppy with both hands and ran over to her mother, holding the creature out in front of her like an offering. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
“She’s gorgeous, sweetheart. Have you named her yet?”
Tears filled Daisy’s big brown eyes. “I get to keep her?”
“That depends,” Noel said, rocking back on her heels.
Daisy clutched the puppy to her chest, cradling her protectively. “What do you mean?”
Noel kneeled down in front of her daughter. Giving Daisy a gentle smile, she swept a lock of her fine dark hair out of her eyes and said, “You have to promise to take care of her. Feed her every day, take her for walks, and clean up after her.”
“I will,” Daisy said, clutching the puppy tighter, a fat tear rolling down her cheek.
Noel’s chest ached as she gently wiped the tear away. “And you have to promise to love her with all your heart.”
“I already do.” Daisy spun around and ran over to Abby. “Did you hear Mommy? She said I could keep Buffy.”
Abby laughed. “I heard her, sweetie pie. Now go tell grandpa the good news and gather her supplies. It’s a school night, isn’t it?”
Daisy’s expression clouded over. “Yeah. School.” She glanced down at Buffy. “Think Miss Quinn will let me bring her?”
“She’ll have to stay at the inn with me, Daisy,” Noel said and tapped her wrist watch. “Get her stuff, we have to get going.”
Daisy nodded, still clutching the puppy as she ran toward the kitchen.
“Be careful!” Noel called after her. Daisy slowed to a fast walk then disappeared out the back door.
Noel flopped down on the couch beside her younger sister Abby and pressed her hand to her heart. “Talk about an ambush.”
“Yeah, but she’s so happy,” Abby said, patting her sister’s knee. Then she studied her for a moment. “Hey, you dyed your hair blond and added extensions. It looks amazing. What happened to the red?”
“I was tired of getting it touched up every four or five weeks. And I really needed the change.” Noel said, shrugging. She’d been restless lately, and one night she’d looked in the mirror and decided she hated her asymmetrical haircut and the color. So, she did what she always did; she went back to her natural look, the one that made her feel the most like her previous self. The person she’d been before everyone in her life had left her.
“I like it,” Abby said with a nod of approval.
“Thanks. I thought I’d try my natural look for a while.” Noel leaned back into the cushions and eyed her sister with suspicion. “How did you manage to avoid becoming a new puppy momma?”
“Whoa there,” Abby said. “Aren’t you forgetting about Endora,
Olive’s very rambunctious golden retriever?” She raised a hand so it was level with her forehead. “I’m up to here in dog hair and chewed power cables. One more might mean the end of me.”
Noel groaned. “Right. I forgot.” Then she glanced at her sister’s radiant smile and relaxed posture. There was obvious joy written all over her, and suddenly Noel felt sad and empty. She’d been happy like that once. She’d thought she had a lifetime of love ahead of her, a future with a house full of kids and so much love they’d nearly burst from it. Now she was a single mother with a daughter who rarely went a night without waking from a nightmare.
“Hey, where’d you just go?” Abby asked her, concern coloring her tone.
“Nowhere. It’s just been a long day is all.”
“I have a new energy potion that—”
“I’m okay,” Noel said, standing up as Lin Townsend walked in through the backdoor with a brown bag in one hand and a dog crate in the other. Daisy followed behind him, chattering on about how she and Buffy were going to be best friends.
“Of course, you are, sweetheart,” Lin said to his granddaughter. Then he gave Noel a sheepish smile.
“I had Clair run out and get you all the supplies you’ll need,” he said, referring to his longtime girlfriend. He held the bag up, the same twinkle she’d just seen in her daughter’s eyes winking back at her. “Puppy food, treats, chew toys, dog brush. There’s even a blanket in the crate.”
Noel narrowed her eyes and glared at her father. “You didn’t think you should ask me first before promising a certain someone a puppy?”
He glanced at Daisy, his expression tender as he said. “Grandpa’s privilege.”
Abby let out a huff and shook her head. “Dad, you’re the worst. What would you have done if Grandma had dumped a puppy off on you when we were kids?”
“What makes you think she didn’t?” he asked with one eyebrow raised. “Do you really think I would’ve willingly chosen Barky for the family pet?”
The image of the mangy mutt who’d been so hyper and out of control that he’d destroyed three fences in six months flashed in Noel’s mind. The dog had come to them with tufts of hair missing, a lame paw, and zero manners. They’d managed to fix up his paw and skin issues, but his manners? Not so much. The dog had misbehaved every day of his life, including his last one when he’d dug up most of the winter garden crop just hours before he went to sleep and never woke up.
In the end, old age had taken him—but he’d sure led a full life. That dog had gotten into so much trouble and barely escaped intact so many times, he’d been like a cat with nine lives.
“Grandma’s to blame for Barky?” Noel asked incredulously. “Was she insane?”
“I’m saying yes,” Lin said, smiling down at his daughter. “That dog showed up on her front porch, and when no one would take him but a kill shelter over in Eureka, she freaked out, drove him over here, and gave him to Yvette. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree, and that was the end of that. No more peace in the Townsend household.”
“If Buffy is anything like Barky, you’re going to owe me restitution.”
“Don’t worry, Noel,” Lin said. “No puppy will ever be as bad as Barky. He took that prize and buried it deep in the orchard.”
Lin shuffled over to the kitchen, and Noel couldn’t help but notice his movements were slower than they’d been just a few months ago. He appeared to be thinner, more fragile, too. It’s the chemo, she told herself.
Lin had been diagnosed with cancer three months ago. Leukemia. And the fact that the Townsends were a family of witches didn’t mean a damned thing. Abby could make him energy potions, but that was about it. All Noel could do for him was manipulate the air temperature. She was nothing more than a cheaper version of an HVAC system. On any other day, she’d be amused by her self-reflection, but after the day she’d had, everything was just too much.
Emotion crawled up her throat and threatened to choke her. She didn’t want to see her father weakened or think about the possibility that Xavier was nearby and actively avoiding her… or worse, dead in a ditch. As much as she resented him for not only leaving, but leaving her the way he did, she still didn’t want to see him hurt. And not just for Daisy’s sake, but for hers as well. She had loved the man.
“Noel?” Abby said, touching her arm. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”
“I’m fine,” she said, her tone a little too clipped. Abby’s concerned expression morphed into a pained one, and Noel cursed herself. Her relationship with Abby was already a little strained. When Abby had packed up and left just after high school graduation, Noel had taken it the hardest. Abby had been her best friend, and when she left, she hadn’t just left town. She’d left the entire family, rarely staying in touch or coming home to visit. Noel had often felt as if she’d lost a limb, and the fact that Abby hadn’t seemed to feel the same had been like rubbing salt in the wound. Since Abby had moved home two months ago, Noel had been working on letting the past go, but she wasn’t always successful.
Tonight was one of those times. The day had overwhelmed her, and all she wanted to do was take her daughter home. “Daisy, let’s go, baby.”
“Come on, Buffy,” Daisy said to the puppy, still clutching her to her chest. Her daughter led the way to the front door while Lin handed Noel the bag of puppy supplies and the crate.
“You’ll thank me later.” Lin gave his daughter a hug, his embrace stronger than she’d expected. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back. Noel didn’t cry. Not in front of other people anyway, and especially not in front of her father. She didn’t want him worrying about her while he had so much of his own stuff to deal with.
“I doubt it,” she said as she hugged him back, holding on for a few extra moments.
He pulled back and stared down at her. “What’s wrong, Noel?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Just a long day. Now, I’ve gotta get Daisy and the puppy home.”
He studied her for a few seconds more.
Noel kissed him on the cheek and gave him a smile. She let him go and as she walked away, she called over her shoulder, “Night, Dad. Thanks for entertaining Daisy today.”
“Any time. You know I love having her over,” he said.
Warmth blossomed in Noel’s chest at his words, and she waved one last time before she slipped out the front door. Daisy was standing on the porch waiting when Noel finally made it outside. She juggled the bag and puppy crate in one hand and grabbed her daughter’s hand with the other. “This way, baby.”
Chapter 6
Drew glanced back at Daisy and smiled when he saw the puppy. He’d figured Noel would cave. “Who do we have here?” he asked Daisy.
The little girl let out a yawn as she petted the dog’s head. “This is Buffy.”
“Buffy?” He laughed. “Who came up with that name?”
“Aunt Abby. She said Buffy was Mommy’s favorite.”
Drew glanced at Noel with an amused expression. “Buffy… the Vampire Slayer?”
“That’s right,” someone said just as Noel was about to close her door. Drew peered through the darkness and spotted Abby, the moonlight turning her long blond hair almost silver.
“Holy hell,” Noel muttered, clutching her chest with one hand. Clearly Abby had startled her.
Abby leaned down and rested one arm on the open door. “She used to watch that show over and over and over again. I thought the name Buffy might help her take to the puppy sooner.”
Drew squinted at Abby in the darkness and felt his insides go cold. It had been over ten years, and he still found it difficult to be around her. It wasn’t something he was proud of; he just couldn’t seem to get past the old trauma. Every time he saw her, all he could see was Charlotte’s lifeless body in that shed on the Townsend property.
“Hey, Drew. What’re you doing out here?” she asked, either unaware of his unease or determined to push through it. He wasn’t quite sure which.
Drew clear
ed his throat. “Noel’s battery died. I’m just helping out a friend.”
She tilted her head to the side and glanced between him and Noel. “Right, friends.”
“Abby,” Noel said with a warning in her tone. “Did you need something? I’m exhausted, and it’s past Daisy’s bedtime.”
Abby raised her hands and backed up a step. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hold you up. I just came out to check on you and make sure you’re okay. You seem… a little off.”
Noel stiffened at her sister’s words, and Drew’s fingers twitched to take hers in his, to offer his silent support. Instead, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, keeping his hands to himself.
“I’ve been ‘off’ for over a decade, Abby. Or haven’t you noticed?” Noel snapped at her sister.
Whoa, Drew thought. What was going on there? Was it possible Noel was still upset that Abby had left town all those years ago? He’d thought they’d made up, but maybe not.
Abby sucked in a sharp breath, her expression shifting from concern to a mixture of hurt and irritation. “Never mind. Forget I asked.” She nodded to Drew. “Have a good night, Deputy Baker.”
“Goodnight, Abby,” Drew called after her.
“Damn,” Noel said softly as she watched her younger sister stomp back into the house.
Drew put the SUV into gear and eased down the driveway. He glanced in the rearview mirror and a wave of tenderness washed over him at the sight of Daisy and her puppy, both fast asleep.
“Want to talk about it?” Drew asked her.
“No.” Noel crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window.
“Yeah, I get that. But it’s not really healthy to hold on to all that anger. You’re probably going to have to forgive her eventually.”
Noel snorted. “Have you?”
“Yes,” he said simply.
“That’s a bunch of bull and you know it,” she shot back. “You can’t even look her in the eye.”
“There might be some truth to that.” He turned right at the end of the lane and headed back toward town. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t forgiven her. You and I both know what happened with Charlotte wasn’t Abby’s fault. She doesn’t deserve to pay for what happened back then forever, Noel. Hasn’t she been through enough? Haven’t we all?”