Lindy held tight to Bianca as she carefully made her way to the back of the car, doing her best not to step in the muddy slush. All she really needed was her small Louis Vuitton, which held her toiletries and Bianca’s food and dishes. She plucked it out, closed the trunk, and started for the stone path still visible through the thin layer of snow.
A loud “Woof!” split the silence. Lindy’s head shot up just as a suspiciously familiar beast leapt off the porch and raced straight for her, big pink tongue lolling out of its mouth.
“Bo, get your ass back here right now!”
Lindy saw Matt jump off the porch in hot pursuit, then everything happened in warp speed. Bianca went wild trying to claw out of Lindy’s arms, then broke free with a loud squeal a split second before Bo went airborne straight at Lindy, hitting her square in the chest and knocking her back into the snow. The big ox sneezed in her face, then scrambled to his feet and barked his fool head off before running after Bianca.
Stupid dog! Lindy tried to take a breath, but couldn’t draw air into her lungs, and sat up in a panic.
Matt dropped to his knees beside her. “Try to relax. You just had the wind knocked out of you.”
Seconds after he said it, she was able to draw in a huge lungful of cold, crisp air. Matt started to help her to her feet when someone ran up and grasped her other arm.
“I’m really sorry about that. Are you all right?”
Drew Porter.
He wore a red flannel shirt with a white T-shirt beneath, and a well-worn pair of jeans. His slightly mussed, sinfully dark hair brushed his collar, and those ‘take me now’ blue eyes gazed at her with concern. Lindy thought him to be about the sexiest sight she’d ever seen.
Oh, boy, not a good sign.
She pulled her mental safety cloak around her and gave an angry swipe to the front of her coat, dislodging his hands. “Peachy, Lou,” she groused, calling him by the wrong name just to annoy him—as she had the last time they’d met. “Your mongrel of a dog just ruined my brand new, fifteen hundred dollar leather jacket.”
* * *
Biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing, Drew managed to drag his eyes up from the two very large muddy paw prints stamped on her chest. Her lusciously ample chest. Man, did that dog have great aim. And great taste. Melinda Spalding was even prettier than he remembered, if that was possible. Her shiny blonde hair flowed well past her shoulders and those gorgeous eyes, whiskey brown and hypnotic, had kept him lying awake at night on more than one occasion over the past six months.
He recalled their first meeting last summer when she’d skidded into town in her expensive sports car and nearly turned Bo into roadkill. Okay, to be fair Bo had darted out in front of her and caused her to swerve. Didn’t mean she’d had to scream at him like a banshee—even if she had been breathtaking in her fury.
“It’s Drew. And I’ll pay for the thing, just send me the bill. Christ, who spends fifteen hundred dollars on a jacket anyway? You could feed a family for months on fifteen hundred dollars.” Seriously, the crap rich people wasted their money on was beyond him.
Her eyes narrowed. “Keep your money. I wouldn’t want you to have to sell your truck to pay me. By the way, Spalding contributes annually to more than thirty charities, so you can keep your snide comments to yourself as well.” She swung back to glare at Matt. “What the hell is he doing here anyway?”
Matt gave Lindy a hug and grinned at Drew over her shoulder—the shit.
Wrapping an arm around her, Matt explained, “Drew’s been helping Caleb and me get the house ready for your arrival. Which, I might remind you, was supposed to be the week after next. Any particular reason you’re so early?”
She cast Drew a quick glance, which he found rather interesting. “I think it’s pretty obvious,” he teased. “She missed me. Ain’t that right, Hot Stuff?”
“Yeah, like a cold sore.” Lindy stepped around him and snatched her bag out of the snow, cleaning it off with quick, furious swipes. Instead of answering Matt’s question, she veered off in the direction Bo and her cat had headed. “Bianca! Come on, baby, it’s freezing out here. Mommy wants to get inside.”
Mommy? Drew shook his head, but kept his mouth shut.
They all stared in open-mouthed shock when the Great Dane appeared from around the side of the house carrying a very docile white fluff ball in his mouth by the scruff of its neck.
Lindy let out a yelp of outrage and turned to glare at him. “Aren’t you going to do something? That beast you call a dog is slobbering all over my precious baby!”
“He won’t hurt the thing, don’t worry.”
She looked so indignant it was a wonder her eyes didn’t cross. “That ‘thing’ is a purebred Persian.”
Bo released the cat, and it immediately started rubbing against his front legs, purring as loudly as a souped up Charger.
Drew winked at Matt. “Bo’s got a way with the ladies.”
“Too bad his master doesn’t.” Lindy turned to meet his gaze, hers holding a hint of challenge.
Nothing Drew liked better than a challenge. “If I want a woman badly enough, I get her. That you can count on.” He dismissed her and looked to Matt. “Come on, I’ll help you bring her bags in.”
Muttering under her breath, Hot Stuff hooked her fancy bag over her shoulder, scooped up her cat, and marched through the snow toward the house.
Drew gave his head a shake as he eyed the amount of luggage in the trunk. The very spacious trunk. By the time he and Matt had it unloaded, Drew counted fourteen pieces—not including the one she’d carried in herself: six large suitcases, three small, two duffle bags, and three hanging suit bags. It took them two trips to get everything inside, and since the master bedroom—which she’d had remodeled with a Jacuzzi tub and a skylight above it—was on the third floor, it was two very long trips.
Matt gave him a thump on the back. “Thanks, man, I appreciate it. And I owe you dinner. Nino’s sound good? I’ve got a taste for one of their beef sandwiches.”
“Wish I could, but I have to pick Hannah up from work. Her car blew a tie rod, so I’m gonna work on it tonight. Raincheck?”
“You got it.”
The differences between brother and sister never failed to surprise Drew. Both were heirs to an extremely vast fortune—their father the sole owner of Spalding Enterprises, one of the oldest and richest family owned companies in America. Yet Matt was as down-to-earth and friendly as Lindy was spoiled and pretentious.
Lindy joined them in the massive, two-story foyer. She held her jacket in the crook of her arm and had pulled that long, shiny hair up into a ponytail, baring her creamy throat. A skin-tight pair of jeans, no doubt designer, was tucked into those sexy high-heeled boots, and a low-cut, white cashmere sweater stretched taut over her full breasts. But what held his attention was the delicate gold chain she wore, its crystal pendant nestled in her generous cleavage.
Lucky stone.
She strolled up to Matt keeping her back to Drew. “I have to run into town for groceries, and I’ll probably stop for something to eat as well. Oh, and I need to buy a couple of pillows for my bed. What time is that little department store open until today?”
Matt shot Drew an ‘oh, shit’ look. “Pretty sure they stay open `til ten on Saturday. But you’ll also need to buy a sleeping bag since you don’t have a bed.”
“Wha-at?”
Her voice had raised an octave, and Drew choked down another chuckle.
“Last time we spoke you said the painting was done and all the furniture had come in.”
“No, I said all the downstairs furniture had come in. I delayed the delivery of all the bedroom furniture since you decided you wanted the rooms re-carpeted. You should have a bed by Friday.”
Drew cleared his throat. “You know, Princess, if you can’t handle sleeping on the floor for a few nights, the Rykers Inn ain’t far from here.”
That got her dander up. Lindy spun around and cocked her head in that hau
ghty way that made him want to toss her over his knee. “The word is ‘isn’t’, genius. And I’ll be perfectly fine on the floor, thank you very much.” She turned back to face Matt, effectively dismissing him.
Drew couldn’t help but grin at her spunkiness.
Matt grinned as well.
“I should only be gone a couple of hours. Will you still be here when I get back?”
“Yeah, I’ll be here. Caleb, too. He left a little while ago to pick up Max from his guitar lessons, run him home, then stop at the hardware store. We’d planned to get the last few ceiling fans put up today and hang a couple new doors on the second floor.”
She turned slightly as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear; her pursed lips softened into a smile. “Thank you, Matty. And please thank Caleb for me as well. In fact, he deserves a huge bonus. Hard to believe this is the same house you emailed me pictures of last October.”
Drew silently agreed. The once magnificent old mansion had been transformed back to its former glory and then some after being nearly uninhabitable for years.
Matt glanced out the front window. “Looks like it’s really starting to come down out there. Maybe you should wait until it dies down before heading into town.”
“It’s not supposed to die down until late tonight,” Drew said. “We’re expecting three to four inches, remember?”
“Hell, that’s right, I forgot. In that case, it’s probably best if you wait until tomorrow to do your shopping.”
“Matt, I'll be fine.” She smiled complacently. “It’s not like I’ve never driven in snow before.”
Before he had a chance to rethink the offer, Drew looked at Lindy. “Matt’s right, you shouldn't risk it. Why don’t you let me give you a lift into town? I have to pick my sister up from work, which happens to be the best diner in town. I could run her home while you eat, then come back and take you shopping.” Christ, what was he, a glutton for punishment?
“No, thank you,” she said without so much as a glance in Drew’s direction. "Like I said, I'll be fine." Lindy shrugged into her muddied coat, dug out her keys, and strolled out the door.
Drew waited until he heard her engine turn over before muttering, “Your sister’s a real charmer, Spalding.”
Matt chuckled. “It’s your own fault, man. You got under her skin.”
“Lucky me.” She’d gotten under his skin, too, though he’d die before admitting it. “I’d best get going. I‘ll see you tomorrow for the game, right?”
“You bet. Oh, and Carrie said to tell you she’s bringing a big bowl of pretzel dip and a platter of deviled eggs.”
“Tell her she’s the best. See you later.” Bo got up from the throw rug he’d been sleeping on by the fireplace and whined in the direction Bianca had taken off to before reluctantly following Drew outside.
The light snow had spiraled into a heavy downfall—virtually blizzard conditions. Lindy had just disappeared over the hill by the time he backed out of her driveway. He suspected Miss Snootypants had little experience driving in snowstorms, despite what she'd said, though that big Caddy should handle well enough in these conditions. Long as the driver knew what they were doing. Drew had some serious doubt on that score, but for Lindy’s sake he hoped he was wrong.
As soon as he crested the hill he saw her car. Bo whined beside him, and Drew reached out to scratch him behind the ears. “Don’t worry, boy, she’ll be fine. Just to be safe, we’ll follow her into town; make sure she arrives in one piece.” Maybe he’d give Matt a call later, make sure she—
A deer shot out of the swirling white abyss right in front of the gray Caddy. Drew watched helplessly as Lindy swerved to avoid it and spun into a fishtail. She slid sideways a good fifty feet before winding up in the ditch on the opposite side of the road.
Drew pulled onto the shoulder and threw his door open, racing across the street as fast as the slushy snow would allow. Bo bounded out of the truck after him, beating him to the car. When Drew reached the driver’s side of the Caddy, he tried to open her door, but it was locked. Lindy sat staring out the windshield, those big brown eyes round with shock.
He tapped on the glass, and she jumped before looking his way. He gestured for her to unlock the door. As soon as she did, Drew yanked it open and squatted down to get a good look at her. Bo stuck his head inside, but Drew pushed him back out of the way.
“You all right, Hot Stuff? You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”
She swallowed, finally took her hands off the steering wheel, and shook her head. “No, I-I’m fine. I just...I almost killed Bambi.”
Drew bit back a smile at her whispered pronouncement since she looked about ready to burst into tears. Interesting. She was more concerned about the deer than herself. His respect for her grew an inch. Maybe she wasn’t quite as self-centered as she put on.
“The deer’s fine, sweetheart, I promise. You didn’t even come close. Now, why don’t you let me drive you into town like I should’ve done in the first place?”
Surprisingly, she didn’t argue. She merely grabbed her purse and climbed out, allowing him to lock up her car. She didn’t even put up a fight when he swung her up into his arms and carried her to his truck. Bo ran ahead of them and jumped back inside.
So when Drew opened the passenger side door, she got a four-inch wide slobbering tongue across the face.
Chapter Two
“See boy, I told you she was all right. Bo was worried about you.”
As soon as Drew set her on the seat, the mangy dog tried to lick her again. Lindy threw her hands up and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I’m touched. Please tell me you have some wet naps in here...?”
“Sorry. You’ll have to wait ‘til we get to Hutch’s.” Whistling, he shut the door and walked around the front of the truck. When he got in on the driver’s side, he pulled out his cell phone and made a call. “Hey, it’s me. I need you and Tom to tow a car out of the ditch and drive it to the old Kendall place. Gray Caddy, new, a couple miles past the cemetery on Salvation, right hand side of the road. And it’s a rental, so be extra careful. Yep, thanks.”
He disconnected and put the truck in gear. Lindy buckled her seat belt and held onto the door for dear life as the truck started forward, sliding a little here and there, but managing to stay on the road. The urge to close her eyes until they arrived at the diner was tempting, but the last thing she wanted to do was show this man anymore weakness than she already had.
Bo whined as he leaned over to sniff her ear, and then sneezed in her face for a second time.
“Eww!” She swiped at her face with her coat sleeve. “Come on, dog, that’s just gross.”
Drew chuckled and reached up to pat the monster’s head. “Ease up on her, boy. The lady doesn’t like dog snot on her. Most don’t.”
Bo whined again, reached his humongous paws onto the dash to stretch, then much to Lindy’s amazement, he leaned into Drew’s side and rested his big head on Drew’s shoulder. Her heart softened just the teensiest bit toward both dog and master.
By the time Drew pulled into the parking lot of the diner, Lindy was in desperate need of some coffee. She opened the door and climbed out, grateful he’d thought to park under the overhang so she didn’t have to step in ankle-deep wet snow. Drew cracked the window and instructed Bo to stay in the truck before escorting her inside.
As soon as he opened the door, a feast of delicious aromas pummeled her senses. “Mmm, it smells amazing in here.” And much to her surprise, the place was fairly busy. The food must be phenomenal for people to wander out in such weather, she mused.
Drew led her to an open booth in the back. “I have a feeling Hutch is gonna ask Hannah to stay a little longer, so if you don’t mind, looks like I’ll be joining you for supper.”
Lindy slid into the booth and dug her cell phone out of her purse. Okay, so she’d look like the biggest witch in the world if she said no considering all he’d done for her in the last twenty minutes. And since he couldn’t possibly read h
er mind, the fact that his nearness brought on all sorts of fanciful thoughts would remain her own little secret. “That’s fine. I’m going to give Matt a quick call so he doesn’t worry when the tow truck pulls up with my car.”
“Good idea. Be right back.”
She hit the speed dial button for Matt, and then watched as Drew approached one of the two waitresses. He leaned down and exchanged a few words with her before heading into the rest room. Lindy hated that she couldn’t seem to drag her eyes away from him.
When Matt answered his cell, she briefly explained what had happened and promised to do her shopping quickly. She’d just disconnected when Drew arrived back at the table, his sister right behind him. She set a couple of glasses of ice water on the table. Lindy immediately dunked a napkin in her glass and wiped the dog slobber from her face.
Drew sat down and made the introductions. “Hannah, I’d like you to meet Matt’s sister, Lindy. Lindy, this is my baby sister, Hannah.”
The young woman’s smile was surprisingly shy. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Oh, I’ll just bet you have. “Nice to meet you, too, Hannah.” What a beauty, Lindy thought, noting Hannah shared Drew’s vivid blue eyes and near black hair. A stunning combination to be sure. The young woman looked to be maybe nineteen to twenty years old.
Drew drummed his fingers on the table as he perused the menu. “I’m in the mood for something different today. Think I’ll try the hot beef plate, extra gravy, and a large root beer.” He looked over at Lindy, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I suppose you want a salad?”
“Hutch makes a wonderful chicken caesar salad,” Hannah suggested as she finished writing down Drew’s order. She met Lindy’s gaze and added, “But his cheeseburger and fries are the best in Wisconsin.”
Lindy smiled, liking Hannah more by the minute. “Sold. I’d like my cheeseburger medium, with extra ketchup and no onions, please. Oh, and coffee.”
Hannah’s face lit up as she jotted down Lindy’s order. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Welcome To Redemption: Series Collection (Books 1-6) Page 36