by Cindy Kirk
“The temp is over forty, Beck,” Prim teased. “Heck, it’s practically balmy today.”
Her brother-in-law jammed his hands in his pockets. The Bloom family stood clustered together close to the curb. The spot they occupied was far enough away so they could study the frontage with a critical eye yet not disrupt sidewalk traffic.
Now that she’d seen the exterior, Marigold supposed it was time to step inside. She tried to ignore the panic fluttering in her throat by reminding herself this was only temporary. Very temporary.
Suddenly eager to get the rest of the assessment out of the way, Marigold surged forward.
She never saw what hit her.
Clipped in the shoulder and spun around by the first person, Marigold ping-ponged into the second. She fought for balance and heard Ami cry out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Beck and her dad rush forward.
An instant later strong hands gripped her arms, giving her the support she needed to steady herself.
“You have quick hands.” She glanced up, expecting to see Beck. Instead she found herself face-to-face with Cade.
“How kind of you to notice.” There was a wicked gleam in those gray eyes. “Are you okay?”
When she nodded, Cade bellowed several names, then took off running.
By now, her family surrounded her.
“What happened?” Her breath came in little puffs.
“You stepped right in front of them.” Ami sounded breathless as she hugged Marigold tight. “I’m so happy you weren’t hurt.”
“Who did I step in front of?” Marigold pulled back and glanced down the street.
“The boys,” Prim told her. “They ran into you.”
“Which was unavoidable.” Their father’s lips formed a hard line. “But there was no excuse for them not to stop and make sure you weren’t hurt.”
“I think I recognized them.” Ami glanced at their father. “Wasn’t that—?”
“Yes.” Steve didn’t wait for Ami to finish. Maybe he didn’t see the need, since Beck was already nodding.
“I thought it was them,” Prim agreed.
“It appears I’m the only one in the dark here.” Marigold glanced at Beck, looking for clarification.
“Kaiden and Braxton Lohmeier, Dakota’s younger brothers.” Beck’s dark eyes turned troubled. “The boys have been on their own a lot since Cassie gave birth last spring. From what I hear the baby is sick a lot, and she has her hands full.”
“Anita has tried to help her daughter out.” Steve shook his head. “But Cassie refuses to have anything to do with her mother. I can tell you, being estranged from her daughter and grandchildren breaks Anita’s heart.”
Marigold finally made the connection. The two boys who’d nearly flattened her were Cassie’s sons, which made them Anita’s grandsons.
Ami worried her bottom lip. “They should have stopped and apologized.”
“Not too late.” Beck gestured with his head.
Marigold shifted and saw Cade coming down the street with two boys, a hand firmly on each of their shoulders.
“Good man,” her father muttered.
Cade and the brothers stopped directly in front of her.
“Marigold, these young men are Braxton and Kaiden Lohmeier. They have something they want to say to you.” Underneath Cade’s pleasant tone ran an edge of steel.
Though tall and broad-shouldered for their age, from the soft edges to their faces, Marigold pegged the two somewhere in their midteens.
The older one, with pale blue eyes and jet-black hair hanging in them, spoke first. “Sorry.”
The kid tossed the word out with the same casual disregard one might flick off a piece of lint.
“Yeah, sorry.” His brother was thinner, a couple of inches shorter, with a sulky mouth. Orange streaked his chocolate-brown hair.
Surprisingly, his apology sounded sincere.
“All of a sudden you were there,” the boy added in his defense.
“This isn’t her fault.” Irritation flashed in Cade’s eyes and his voice hardened.
The second boy reacted immediately. He pulled back, raising an arm as if anticipating a blow. “I wasn’t saying—”
“I stepped in front of them.” Marigold offered both boys an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, too.”
“The sheriff is right.” The first boy waved a hand as if shoving aside her apology. “My brother and I shouldn’t have been running. We should have stopped and made sure you were okay.”
The younger boy nodded.
Surprise flicked across Cade’s face. Clearly he hadn’t expected such sincerity.
“I’m Marigold Bloom.” She extended an ungloved hand to the older boy. “I know your mom and sister.”
She could have mentioned she also knew their grandmother, but that might make it sound as if she and Anita were friendly.
When the older boy gave her fingers a perfunctory shake, she noticed his jacket edges were dirty and frayed.
“I’m Braxton.” He jerked his head toward the younger boy. “That’s Kaiden. He goes by K.T.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” On impulse Marigold reached up and rubbed one of the stringy strands of black between her fingers. “I love your hair. With a little shaping, you’ll have the girls flocking. Stop by sometime. I’ll make a chick magnet out of you in no time.”
Braxton’s suspicious gaze lingered on the salon’s eyelet curtains before shifting to Marigold. “You want to cut my hair?”
“Shape. Trim.” She lifted her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “Up to you.”
The two boys exchanged glances.
“Thanks.” Braxton shifted his gaze to Cade. “Can we go now?”
“Yes, you may go.” The words had barely left Cade’s mouth when the boys shot off down the sidewalk. He expelled a breath and called after them, “Don’t run.”
“Well.” Ami smiled at Cade and then at Marigold. “You two, together again. The benefits of small-town living.”
Chapter Five
“It’s not as crowded as I thought it would be.” Cade held the door open to the Flying Crane and stepped back to let Katie Ruth enter. He glanced around the bar.
“It’s a Thursday night and still early.” Though the faintest hint of worry threaded through Katie Ruth Crewes’s upbeat tone, the smile she flashed was filled with confidence.
Cade had run into the YMCA’s youth activities coordinator on his walk to the bar for tonight’s event. Since it benefited a good cause, Cade hoped the evening would be a success. Apparently all money raised from the ten-dollar cover charge to hear the band out of Milwaukee would go toward the Giving Tree.
When Cade had first moved to Good Hope, he’d assumed the Giving Tree was just another charity that helped residents with financial difficulties during the holidays. But he’d since learned this was not a charity, but rather a fund that met the needs of Good Hope residents year-round.
“I’m sure the event will be a hit and raise lots of money.” Cade gave Katie Ruth’s arm a reassuring squeeze.
The smile she flashed reminded him of the one Marigold had given him on New Year’s Eve, bright but edged with worry.
Marigold.
Cade wished the hairstylist was beside him now, enjoying the music.
He’d been in this particular waterfront bar plenty of times. Not only when patrons got rowdy and he was called to break up a scuffle, but socially. Some of his favorite memories from last summer were of sitting on the deck, watching the sun set over the water while enjoying conversation and a cold one with a few of the locals.
“The Bloom family has arrived.” Katie Ruth settled a hand on his arm, her voice filled with relief. “We can always count on their support.”
Cade’s gaze locked with Marigold’s. Her slow smile had him taking a step forward.
He knew the second she noticed Katie Ruth’s hand on his arm. Marigold gave her hair a toss and turned to Max, her comment making her brother-in-law laugh.
Cade stiffened and fought a surge of jealousy before reminding himself Max was her sister’s husband. She’d come with family, not a date.
If Katie Ruth noticed anything amiss, it didn’t show. With easy familiarity, she looped her arm through his. “Let’s go say hello.”
Cade wasn’t convinced walking over arm in arm with Katie Ruth was a good idea. Still, he didn’t want to keep his distance. He wanted to dance with Marigold like they’d done at the party and catch up on what was new in her life. And, if they could find a private moment, kiss those scorching red lips.
“I’m so happy you could all make it,” Katie Ruth gushed, giving Ami a hug and beaming smiles all around.
They were all there. Not only Marigold’s two sisters and their spouses, but Steve and Anita, as well.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Ami assured Katie Ruth.
“The Giving Tree means a lot to this community.” Beck exchanged a glance with his wife. “We’ll always support it.”
“Look.” Prim’s gaze shifted, her smile widening. “Cory and Jackie White are here. Those two are the best example of what the Giving Tree is all about.”
“I don’t get the connection.” Cade knew Cory as a thirtysomething high school teacher. He’d heard Jackie had MS, but other than using a cane, she appeared to be doing fine.
“Cory and his wife were helped by the Giving Tree when he was going through treatment for leukemia,” Max explained.
“Let’s go say hello.” Ami took her husband’s hand, wiggled her fingers good-bye.
“We’ll come with you.” Max glanced at Prim and got a nod of agreement.
“I’m so glad you’re back.” Katie Ruth pulled Marigold in for a quick hug. “How long will you be around?”
“Not long.” Marigold’s shoulder rose, then dropped in a careless shrug. “No more than a couple of months.”
“Some time is better than none,” Katie Ruth said cryptically, then leveled those blue eyes on Marigold. “I’ve been searching for the perfect person to help out with my Seedling project, and here you are, Marigold Bloom.”
Marigold held up her hands. “Only here temporarily, remember?”
“Don’t you remember how much fun we had when we were Seedlings?” Katie Ruth’s face practically glowed. “We had a blast earning badges, having pizza parties, and then, when we were Saplings, going on the big yearly trip to the Dells. We were so proud when we made it all the way to MCTs.”
Cade noted Katie Ruth’s voice had turned persuasive, the way it did whenever she approached him about volunteering. He admired the woman’s passion, and Cade definitely believed in giving back. But, like Marigold, this simply wasn’t a good time for him to commit.
“We did have a lot of good times.” Marigold’s lips curved, and her eyes turned dreamy with memories. “I loved being a Seedling.”
“I don’t know if you heard, but the organization may have to shut down.” Anita expelled a heavy sigh.
A look of horror skittered across Marigold’s face. “Why?”
“It’s very sad.” Anita shook her head. “And frankly, quite puzzling. As a business owner, I have to keep my eye on the bottom line. It’s difficult to understand how things could have gotten so out of hand. I’m just sorry it’s happening.”
Steve’s hand rose to rest on Anita’s shoulder. “You’ve got a kind heart, Cookie.”
Beside him, Marigold covered her snort of disbelief with a cough.
Though Anita’s expression remained one of sympathy and concern, Cade wasn’t buying the act.
“The organization has switched financial oversight to Max’s accounting firm.” Katie Ruth’s shoulders were now soldier straight. “I can assure everyone in the community that we won’t have these kinds of issues in the future.”
“I’ll help you, Katie Ruth.” Marigold placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Just let me know what you need.”
“Thank you, Marigold.”
The grateful look on Katie Ruth’s face had Cade rethinking his earlier refusal to volunteer. Perhaps he could squeeze out some time to help the Seedlings. After all, back in the day, scouting had been a big part of his life. Like his father, he’d made it all the way to Eagle Scout.
“Steven, isn’t that Etta Hawley?” Anita pointed to an older woman chatting it up with the bartender.
“What a pleasant surprise.” Steve’s smile brightened at the sight of his fellow teacher. “When I saw her in the lounge today, she wasn’t sure she’d make it tonight.”
Katie Ruth’s expression softened as her gaze lingered on the woman. “Etta does a lot of volunteer work for me at the Y. If you don’t mind, I’m going to wander over and thank her for coming tonight. I know bar noise bothers her, so she probably won’t stay long.”
“I’ll—we’ll—go with you.” Steve took Anita’s arm.
“It’ll be wonderful to see her.” Anita’s comment had Steve squeezing her hand before they headed for the bar.
“She doesn’t like Etta,” Cade observed.
“Not one bit.” Marigold’s eyes narrowed as Anita greeted the woman as if they were best friends.
“Appears you’re stuck with me, Goldilocks.” Cade gave Marigold a wink, knowing he couldn’t have orchestrated a better scenario if he’d tried.
“Shouldn’t you stick with your date?” Marigold asked in a cool tone.
He angled his head. “I didn’t come here with a date.”
“What about Katie Ruth?”
“I ran into her on my walk to the bar. We’re not together.”
Lifting a brow, Marigold cocked her head. “So you expect me to believe you and Katie Ruth aren’t dating?”
“Yes. No. It’s the truth.” Cade stopped and took a breath. Which only made things worse. How could he think with the delectable scent of her teasing his nose? Forming a coherent thought was proving impossible. “We’re not dating.”
Marigold’s brows knit together. She was obviously having difficulty following what he was saying. Heck, he was having difficulty himself.
It was all her fault. How could he think when she stood there looking so incredibly sexy in that red dress with black thigh-high boots? And the sultry scent of her perfume had scrambled what brains cells he had left.
“I know we’re not dating, Cade.” Marigold waved a hand, the fingernails a fire-engine red that matched her dress. “But what about you and Katie Ruth?”
“There is no me and Katie Ruth.” Frustration bubbled over into his voice. He raked a hand through his hair. “She and I are not dating. You and I aren’t dating. I’m not dating anyone.”
Marigold opened her mouth, then shut it. Those luscious red lips twitched. “Got you.”
“What?”
She smiled, a full-bodied smile that reached those pretty blue eyes and had them twinkling. “I thought it might be amusing to get you stirred up. It was fun. I enjoyed it.”
Cade narrowed his gaze. “You punk’d me.”
“Guilty.” She flashed a smile, arched a brow. “Are you going to arrest me?”
He snorted out a laugh. He couldn’t help it. She looked so doggone pleased with herself.
Marigold ran the tip of her tongue along her top lip in a sensual gesture too practiced not to be deliberate. “I thought maybe you had a thing for blondes.”
He reached out and fingered a silky strand of hair. “Only a certain blonde.”
“I have a thing for men with dark hair.” An impish gleam filled her eyes. “That’s all I’m saying.”
Cade felt flustered and off balanced, as if he were sixteen again. The cocky self-assurance, which he’d thought was part of his DNA, appeared to have taken the evening off.
Thankfully his brain had resumed normal function. It warned him he needed to make a move. Men had begun to flood the bar, and the way Marigold looked, she wouldn’t be alone for long.
“Tomorrow. Seven o’clock. Dinner at Bayside Pizza.”
Marigold tilted her head back and offered a coy s
mile. “Why, Cade Rallis, are you asking me on a date?”
He didn’t like the hint of amusement in her tone. Didn’t like it one bit.
For a second he was tempted to make a joke of it and walk away. The impulse made him realize the breakup with Alice had affected his confidence more than he thought.
Cade shoved his hands into his pockets. “I thought we could grab some pizza and catch up on what has been going on in our lives since Shannon’s wedding. I understand if you’re not interested.”
Instead of bumbling the words, he sounded as if someone had shoved a red-hot poker up his backside.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Her eyes twinkled. If she’d been put off by his stiff delivery, it didn’t show. “If you hadn’t asked me, I’d have asked you.”
Relief, as strong as the gale-force winds that brought whitecaps on Green Bay, surged through Cade.
“Good.” He nodded, repeated, “Good. I’ll stop by Beck and Ami’s at seven and pick you up.”
“It’ll be nice to reconnect while I’m here.”
As Cade gazed at Marigold, with her hair shining like spun gold in the bar’s fluorescent lighting, he realized he was looking forward to reconnecting with this saucy pixie. Looking forward to it very much.
Cade’s thoughts were still focused on a unique display of graffiti when his phone rang Friday morning. Which meant he wasn’t thinking clearly. That had to be the reason he was giving Katie Ruth the impression he was actually considering leading a troop of seven-year-olds.
Every other time the Y youth coordinator had called and begged him to be the leader of a group of Seedlings, he’d turned her down without a second thought. But this time he couldn’t force the no past his lips.
As Katie Ruth continued to talk, Cade’s gaze returned to the graffiti. The first thing that had struck him was the “artist” had too much time on his or her hands. The second was the vandal had talent. He found the art surprisingly compelling. Nestled amid bright, flashy swaths of color was a tangle of faces painted starkly in black and white, mouths agape.
The graffiti had him wondering if that boy—or girl—artist might have benefited from early intervention in the form of involvement in a local scouting organization.