Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher

by Seana Kelly

  Because he’d never visited. Interesting. I tapped my pen on my open notebook. “I see.”

  He paused. “What?”

  I shook my head, pointlessly. “Nothing. You and your wife can do whatever you choose with the house. I’ll just be sorry to see more changes. I knew Nellie Gallagher. Quite well.”

  “Oh, then you can tell me what I need to know.”

  I made a noncommittal hum. “I’ll let your lawyer fill you in. House appraisal isn’t in my skill set.”

  “Which leads me back to the phone number.”

  “And me back to advising you to contact your wife.”

  “Ex.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “Have you at least seen the car? Is it as bad as I remember?” There was a whine in his voice I empathized with. Half the car was a beauty.

  “Probably worse. It doesn’t take long for exposed metal to rust up here.”

  I heard a strangled scream. “Fine. Screw her! She’ll see what I can do when I’m motivated.”

  “I’d also advise you not to threaten someone while talking to a cop.”

  “Not a threat, a promise.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Kate

  BEAR ARRIVED EXACTLY at seven. Chaucer barked once to alert me and then stood by the door, tail wagging. But I was busy panicking. What the hell was I thinking, agreeing to go on a date? “No men” was the first item on my to-do list. My divorce wasn’t final yet. I had already proven to have poor decision-making skills. What was I doing? It had been over ten years since I’d been out on a date, out with a man other than Justin. Granted, Bear seemed nice, was wicked hot and Chaucer loved him, but I couldn’t shake this nervous, unsettled feeling, two parts great and three parts wrong. Maybe I could call in sick. Through the door. Just shout “I’m sick!”

  After I’d left my ex, and it was just Chaucer and me alone in a car for days on end, I began looking back over my marriage without the blinders of mistakenly placed faith. All the furtive looks and smiles I caught directed at other women, the late-night business dinners and client meetings took on new meaning. He hadn’t been tirelessly working to build his new business for us. He’d never stopped dating. Once I saw it, I couldn’t believe I’d been blind for so long. I’d wanted so much to love someone who could love me back that I hadn’t looked closely enough at the man declaring his devotion.

  I’d accepted degradation and humiliation for the promise of affection. It was a hard thing to learn about myself. Consequently, I now had no faith in my ability to make good, sound, nonneedy choices.

  The knock came a moment later. I straightened my spine and reminded myself it was just dinner. I wasn’t making the same mistake again. Chaucer gave an impatient woof. A big, strong body rub was waiting for him on the other side of the door, and I was taking too damn long to open it.

  I put my hand on Chaucer’s head, reminding him to stay, and then opened the door. Bear stood, smiling at both of us. He wore dark blue jeans with a white button-down under a navy sweater. He extended a hand for Chaucer who looked up at me, waiting to be released. I gave him the hand movement, and he barreled out, actually jumping up on Bear, Chaucer’s paws at Bear’s shoulders. I ran after him, apologies flying out of my mouth, but Bear just laughed.

  “Oh, my God, I can’t believe he just did that! I’m so sorry!” I was trying to pull Chaucer down, but he wasn’t having any of it. “He knows never to jump. I can’t believe he didn’t knock you down the stairs. That’s 140 pounds of excited dog you just took to the chest.”

  Bear was in the process of giving a very happy Newfoundland a full body rub. I thought Chaucer’s tail was going to wag right off his body. “It’s fine. I’m big. I can take it.” Bear gave him one last head scratch and then pushed my dog down. “Well, that was a nice greeting. You know, if you wanted to throw yourself at me, I’d catch you, too.”

  I didn’t invite him in and felt rude for not doing so, but friends don’t let friends enter demon-possessed houses.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” he said. “I called the Chart Room—a little restaurant up the coast, right on the water—and asked if they were still serving on the deck. It’s late in the season for outdoor dining, but they said they’d do it for us if we wanted to take Chaucer, too. So, would you rather be inside, warm and toasty, but with the pooch left at home, or outside in the cold wind with the dog?”

  My mind went blank. “You would do that for us? Sit in the cold and wind just so Chaucer could come, too?” Thoughtful, gorgeous dog lover with dimples, the man was too good to be true. And, it meant my baby wouldn’t be locked in with vicious, nasty beasties. “Not that he deserves it after jumping on you, but I vote for cold and windy.”

  He nodded and grinned. “My kind of woman. Okay, you’re going to need a heavy coat. Has he eaten yet?”

  “He’ll lie to you, but he’s been fed.” I looked down at my pearl gray trousers and blazer, my ivory top, all remnants of a previous life. “This, however, is the best I can do on warm coats.” I grimaced. “Deal breaker?”

  “No way. I have an extra coat you can use.” Bear headed for his truck. “You’ll drown in it, but it’ll keep you warm.”

  Picking up my bag, I pulled out Chaucer’s leash. He danced around me before sitting politely. “Okay, buddy, you can come.” I leaned over and grabbed his big, bearlike head. “Best behavior. No jumping.” He wriggled, licking my fingers.

  “Was that a yes?” Bear asked.

  “It most certainly was.”

  I locked up the house—no idea why—and got a good look at Bear’s truck. There was a large open bed in back but no second row of seats in the cab. It was perfect for a contractor, but not so good for a dog, so I walked to my car. “Okay, looks like I’m driving, boys—saddle up.”

  Bear pulled two coats from the cab of his truck before heading to my car. Unfortunately, in trying to be a gentleman, helping me on with his coat and opening my door, he saw the trashed driver’s side for the first time. I’ll give it to him. He paused, assessed, glanced at my red face and made the valiant choice to ignore it. He was kind of perfect.

  He directed us down through town and onto Highway 3. “It’s just a couple of miles past Bar Harbor.” He shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable spot that didn’t have the glove box digging into his knees or his head cocked at an angle to fit under the roof.

  “I think on the return trip you should sit in the back with Chaucer.” I grimaced in sympathy. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize this would be so cramped for you.”

  Bear shifted sideways, taking the pressure off his knees but still needing to bow his head. He sighed. “Not your fault. The world was not made for big people. You guys—” he motioned to my legs “—you can just shift your seat forward, and you’re good. They don’t make cars big enough that I can just shift a seat and fit. It’s part of the reason I drive a pickup. It has the biggest cab on the market.” He looked behind him at the bench seat Chaucer was on. “I think you’re right, though. I will move back there. If I push the front seat forward, I’ll at least have more leg room.”

  Chaucer popped up when Bear showed interest in him, leaning forward to rest his head next to Bear’s. Bear let his fingers sink into Chaucer’s ruff, scratching behind his ears.

  “It’s up about a quarter of a mile on your right. See, right there. Good. Just park over to the side.”

  I pulled up to an unassuming white roadside café. In addition to the seating inside the restaurant, there were extensive decks in back. The decks were currently empty of tables and chairs, save for one, near the restaurant wall, with its own portable heater snugged up against it.

  Bear noticed and nodded. “Perfect.”

  I got out and buttoned Bear’s coat around me. He was right. It ought to keep me warm. The wool-lined garment hung to my knees. B
ear took one look at me and burst out laughing.

  “Yeah, yeah. I may look ridiculous, but I’m warm.”

  We walked to the entrance. Bear held the restaurant door open for me and Chaucer, but we didn’t walk in. “I’m pretty sure they don’t want him in their main dining area.” I moved toward the walkway along the side of the building. “We’ll go straight out to the table, if you want to let them know we’re here?”

  He nodded, absently pointing a finger at Chaucer. “Good point. Be out in a sec.”

  While Bear went to talk with the host, Chaucer and I wandered around the huge decked area. I leaned against a railing, suspended above the placid water. Chaucer sat next to me, leaning into me, warming that side of my body. The sun was setting, and it was glorious.

  I felt, rather than heard, Bear approach. Like Chaucer, he was a wall of heat, only at my back instead of against my leg and hip. Bear didn’t say anything, but I knew he was there. “It’s gorgeous. Thank you for bringing us.”

  The low rumble of his voice sounded at my ear. “It is beautiful.” His arms came up around me, leaning on the rail. He didn’t touch me, but his body heat enveloped me. “Not trying to pen you in. You were shivering, even in that big coat. Just trying to help warm you up a little.”

  I turned and bumped into his broad chest. “Shall we sit down?”

  “Absolutely.” He put out his arm for me to take and then escorted me to the table that had been set up for us. He adjusted the flame on the heater and then inched it even closer to one of the chairs. He looked over at me and grinned, pulling the chair out. “Your seat.”

  I plopped in and felt the heat wash over me. He sat opposite me, with Chaucer opting for lying on my feet under the table. “The heater’s practically on top of me. Are you warm enough? We should move it back to the center.”

  He gave a brief shake of his head, brushing off the topic. “I’m fine.” He pointed out at the glowing sky. Reds and oranges were bleeding into pinks and indigos. “Every season the sky takes on a different face. Autumn, moving in to winter, the blues and purples take on a green hue.” We watched the glowing sky for a few moments before he turned his attention back to me. “So, Kate, I didn’t say this earlier, but I’m really sorry about your grandmother. I thought the world of her.”

  Petting Chaucer, I nodded slowly. “Me, too.”

  “I hear you’re living in Nellie’s house now.” His warm brown eyes studied me.

  “Yep, again.”

  “Well, if you need anything, run into any problems, you let me know. I’ve done quite a bit of work for Nellie over the years. Mostly handyman stuff, but I’ll offer you the same service. If you have items on your honey-do list that are beyond your comfort level, let me know. I can always stop by and take care of them for you.”

  “That’s awfully nice of you. I don’t suppose you’re an exterminator, too?”

  “Sorry, no. Problem?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.” And by nothing I meant everything.

  The waitress came for our orders. We both started off with the clam chowder to stave off the cold. It was only a few moments later that the bowls were placed before us. I breathed in the steamy goodness, anticipating my first real meal in weeks.

  “Bear, it feels like I would have remembered you if you’d been around when I visited as a kid. Did I miss you, or are you a transplant?”

  He took a spoonful of soup and shook his head. “Rest assured, even if you hadn’t noticed me, I definitely would have made myself known to you.” He stirred his chowder. “I do have a weakness for redheaded women.”

  I looked down, busying myself with my soup, hoping the low light hid my blush.

  “No. I grew up in Washington—the state, not the district. I met a girl in college and fell in love. She was from Bar Harbor. I came out to visit her and never wanted to go home.” He tilted his head, a self-deprecating laugh at his lips. “The girl dumped me, but the town seemed to like me just fine, so I stayed.”

  “Her loss,” I said softly.

  Bear looked up at the seriousness of my tone. He reached over and rubbed my hand. “I’m fine, but thank you.”

  “How long have you lived here?”

  The waitress came back, collected our soup bowls and placed the teriyaki tenderloin tips in front of me and the salmon in front of Bear.

  We started to eat before Bear finally answered. He wiped his mouth. “I’ve been here for about ten years now.”

  The tenderloin was tangy and delicious. Chaucer lifted his head to sniff at the table. I pulled a rawhide from my bag and offered it to him. He gently took it from my fingers and slumped back down under the table to gnaw on his bone.

  Bear took a bite of his potatoes. “Can I just say that you have the greatest dog I’ve ever met? How did you two find each other?”

  I extended my hand under the table and a moment later, I felt Chaucer’s head push into my hand. I shifted back a little in my seat so he could rest his head in my lap. “There was a notice on the bulletin board at my ex-husband’s club. A family had purchased him without doing their research. The daughter wanted a toy breed, and the wife wasn’t too excited about dogs, period. I have no idea where they got him. I saw his little Newfy puppy face on that flyer and pulled it off the wall. I didn’t want anyone else to see him. I ran outside, called the number and made an appointment to meet him that afternoon. I spent the rest of the day buying dog food and bowls, toys and a bed, a collar and a leash. I knew he was supposed to be mine. Through some weird twist of fate, he’d ended up in the wrong home, but I was going to fix that.”

  Bear had stopped eating, his focus on me. “And you did.”

  “Evening.” We both looked up in the direction of the deep voice coming out of the dark. Aiden took a step forward, into the circle of light surrounding our table.

  Bear placed his napkin on the table and pushed back in his chair, so he could better see Aiden. “Fancy meeting you here, Chief.” There was a tone I couldn’t quite place, but Bear didn’t appear to be happy about the interruption.

  Aiden looked back and forth between the two of us, finally glancing down at the back end of a dark brown blob under the table. “At least I understand now why you’re threatening this poor woman with pneumonia, Bear.”

  “Listen—” Bear began.

  “This was my choice, and it’s been lovely.” I shifted my gaze to Bear. “Truly lovely. Thank you for bringing us here.”

  Bear gave a reluctant smile, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “So, Chief, is dining al fresco illegal now?”

  Aiden ignored Bear’s little dig, reaching down to scratch the top of Chaucer’s head, speaking directly to me. “Just driving by and saw your car. I wanted to apologize about before.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, as an uncomfortable silence surrounded us.

  Bear’s eyes narrowed, as he studied Aiden. He slowly shook his head, picking up his napkin and fork again. “Well, it sure was nice of you to visit, Chief, but our food’s getting cold.”

  Bear’s comment barely earned a glance from Aiden, who then gestured to me. “Go ahead and eat.” He left, walking back around the side of the building. That was odd.

  A moment later he came back, a knit hat in his hand. “I’m glad Bear loaned you a warm coat, but you need a hat, too.”

  I glanced at Bear who was staring openmouthedly at Aiden, his cooling dinner forgotten.

  “California girl.” I shrugged. “I forget about hats.”

  “Bear should have remembered.” He leaned down and drew the hat on me, flipping up the extra knitted weave so it framed my face and covered my ears.

  Bear threw his napkin down on the table, annoyance clear.

  I hated to admit it, and I wouldn’t aloud, but the hat helped. I gave Aiden a smile of thanks, and he nodded.

  24) Buy
warm hats.

  Preferably the ones with the silly pom-pom balls on top.

  “You lose heat out of the top of your head. Got to keep it covered if you’re going to be taken out into frigid winds.” He gave Bear a dark look and then shifted back to me. “Go ahead. Eat. I don’t want you to have to be out in this cold for longer than necessary.”

  Bear smacked Aiden on the shoulder. Judging by Aiden’s wince, I wouldn’t term it friendly. “Well, it’s been a nice visit but we don’t want to hold you up. I’m sure you have important things to do, being on duty right now and all.”

  Aiden ignored Bear, his eyes on me. “Please. Eat.”

  The waitress came out with a bowl of chowder, the host trailing with a chair. “Evening, Chief. We thought you might like to sit with your friends. Maybe have something to eat, too?”

  Once the pair returned to the restaurant, Aiden continued to stand, looking uncomfortable.

  “Have you eaten?” The big, embarrassed lug was killing me.

  “Sit if you’re going to sit,” Bear said as he kicked the chair to the side in a half-hearted invitation.

  “Go ahead, Aiden. Join us. Have some chowder. It’s delicious,” I said.

  He looked between the two of us, sitting reluctantly. Bear, grumbling under his breath, returned to his meal.

  The rest of dinner was strained, Aiden staying, even walking me to my car and opening my door for me. Once Chaucer and I were inside, Aiden and Bear had what looked to be a strained conversation. I’m a pretty good lip-reader, and I’m almost positive Bear called Aiden a cock-blocking asshole, but I couldn’t be sure. Afterward, both men turned to me and smiled. Aiden walked back to his cruiser, and Bear circled around to the passenger door of my car.

  He climbed in, buckled up and then we were off.

  “I honestly have no idea what that just was. I’m sorry dinner got weird.” He shook his head as though trying to clear it. “I don’t think he’s been on a real date since his fiancée ran out on him a year ago. Maybe he’s forgotten how they work.” He mumbled what sounded like asshole.