Secret Hunger (The Harper Sisters)

by Satin Russell

  Oh man, Alex Weston, she thought. Morse High’s quintessential golden boy. Football player, straight ‘A’ student, and the most popular kid in school – loved by his fellow students and teachers alike. He was the kind of guy they made high school movies about.

  In essence, the exact opposite of who Liz had been.

  The group of friends he used to hang out with liked to make Liz’s life a living hell. And while he didn’t usually participate in the bullying himself, he never stepped in to stop it, either. Of course, that hadn’t stopped her from mooning over him like every other lovesick high school girl.

  Trying not to sound too interested, Liz turned to her sister. “Huh. I haven’t seen Alex since he moved back here. How has it been working with him on the restaurant?”

  ““It’s going very well. He’s been receptive to my ideas and seems to get what I’m trying to communicate, even if I’m having a hard time describing it. Yesterday he informed me that we’ll probably be able to open in a few weeks.”

  “Oh, Olivia, that’s great news! I can’t believe it’s almost finished.” Liz took a moment to really look at her sister, and realized Olivia was looking happier than she’d ever seen her. Apparently pursuing your dreams and finding love was good for a person.

  Chapter Three

  It was late afternoon by the time Alex pulled up to the modest white ranch house. Shadows were just beginning to stretch across the street. The afternoon held the kind of contented silence filled by the sound of crickets and birds. Off in the distance a dog barked, and Alex could hear cars passing a few blocks over.

  As a contractor, his mornings typically started early, and it had already been a long day. He knew coming back to Bath to take care of his ailing father was the right move. He just hadn’t realized how hard it would be to juggle that and a full time job, let alone check in on the various properties his dad owned.

  On the other hand, this was the main reason he’d moved back to the small town. Now that his father’s health left him unable to move around a lot, it was up to Alex to look after his assets. Eventually he hoped to convince his dad to downsize his holdings. Until then, there was nothing to be done but make sure they stayed in good repair so the houses could be rented out easily.

  As if in defiance of his thoughts, the path leading to the front door was overshadowed by weeds. The yard was starting to look raggedy. The drought affecting the region was making itself known. He made a mental note to stop by that weekend and mow the grass. It was just one more thing to add to his growing list, he thought, as he let himself in.

  The stench of urine and feces confronting him was so overwhelming that Alex stepped back in revulsion. Standing in the doorway, he gaped at the room in disgust and dismay. Little plastic baggies commonly used on the street for individualized portions of drugs, syringes and their little plastic caps, fast food wrappers, beer cans, chip bags, and juice bottles littered the front room.

  He made his way down the hallway, poking his head into the various rooms as he went. There was a pile of dingy blankets and an old sleeping bag in the back room. The offending toilet in one of the bathrooms was clogged, and there was a half-melted candle with scorch marks in another one of the rooms. They were lucky the whole place hadn’t burned to the ground.

  Irate, he pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly called the police. After discussing his findings over the phone, they agreed to have an officer meet him to take a report. He watched the cruiser pull up to the curb ten minutes later. “Well, hey, Alex! How have you been?”

  “Josh? Josh Carver? I didn’t know you’d become a cop.”

  “Yup. Can you believe it? I was such a delinquent back then, it’s kind of surprising even for me.” He let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I’d heard you were back in town. Sorry I haven’t tried to get ahold of you.”

  Alex shrugged, looking at his old high school buddy. Well, maybe buddy was stretching it. Josh had played on the football team with him, and had been a damn good defensive linebacker, but Alex had never liked the way his former teammate used his status as an excuse to bully other students. On the other hand, since he’d never been the target, he hadn’t exactly intervened, either.

  Maybe he wasn’t being very fair. After all, Alex had changed quite a bit over the years, and besides, Josh was a cop now. “No problem. I’ve been so busy since getting back, I haven’t been able to hang out much, anyway.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair, then gestured towards the house. “And now it looks like I’m going to have to deal with this, too.”

  Taking his cue, Josh pulled out a pad and pen before getting down to business. “Yeah, so, you told dispatch someone was trespassing?”

  “It’s more than just trespassing. The place has been completely trashed. Let me show you.” Alex led the way up the steps and gave him a tour of the damage he’d discovered. As the two men walked through the house, Josh noted any obvious damage and took photos with his phone.

  Alex had to admit, he was impressed and a little relieved at the professional way he seemed to be handling the situation. “So, law enforcement, huh? When did that happen?”

  Josh took another shot of the bathroom then quickly took a step back, his nose wrinkling in disgust. “I got out of the academy a few years ago.”

  “That’s great, man. How do you like it?”

  “Oh, you know…” he waved his hand towards the ruined bathroom, “it’s pretty glamorous.” He shot Alex a grin. “Actually, it’s not bad. Eventually I’d like to make detective, but it hasn’t happened yet. Maybe in the next year or so.”

  “Sounds good. My client’s husband is a detective. In fact, he just moved here from Boston. You probably know him – Mason Clark?”

  A dark shadow passed over Josh’s eyes, but it was gone so quickly that, Alex wasn’t sure whether or not it had just been a figment of his imagination. “Oh yeah, I know him.”

  He wondered if Josh resented Mason coming in and taking one of the coveted detective spots, or if there was some other bad blood between them. Either way, he wasn’t going to pursue the topic. There had been a moment when he’d seen the same cold ruthlessness that Josh had displayed back in high school, as if a mask had slipped for just a second and then been quickly put back into place.

  It took another thirty minutes for the two of them to finish walking through the house. Afterwards, Josh assured him he had everything he needed to file the report and would keep him informed of any progress.

  As the other man pulled away, Alex looked at the dark and neglected house in the twilight that had stolen across the sky. It sat like the last wallflower who hadn’t been asked to dance. It was sadly different from the homes surrounding it with their warm, glowing windows, filled with young families eating their evening meals or older couples sitting in the blue light of their televisions. Realizing he’d done everything he could for the time being, Alex decided to lock up and go home.

  As he once again made his way through the house towards the back door, he briefly debated cancelling his plan to attend Olivia’s dinner party later. If it had been anyone else, he probably would have. But the fact was, he’d really enjoyed getting to know her and Mason the past few months and was looking forward to becoming better friends with them. It would be nice to spend an evening in good company and away from all the responsibilities that seemed to have taken over his life.

  He’d just flipped the deadbolt on the backdoor when someone came through the front entrance. The soft pad of footsteps was barely audible over the carpet. Alex froze as a rustling sound came from the living room. Acting purely on instinct, he stormed across the kitchen with more speed than caution.

  Alex burst out of the hallway, just catching sight of the fleeing figure of a man dashing across the front yard. His lack of stealth must have tipped off the unwelcome visitor, giving him a head start.

  At 6’2” Alex easily had a few inches on the guy and was still physically confident from his years spent as a football player. Working in constr
uction, he had managed to retain an athletic physique. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to compensate for the other guy’s sense of survival. Rounding the corner of the house, he watched as the man drove off in a beat-up sedan.

  “Dammit!”

  He took a good look at the car, knowing Bath, Maine wasn’t that big. If the intruder was from around this area, there was a good chance he’d see it again. Sighing with frustration, he glanced at his watch and knew he had to get going if he didn’t want to be rude. Not wanting to waste any more time, he decided he’d call Josh about the car on the way home.

  Alex finished locking up the house and headed back towards his truck. As he turned the key, a terrible grinding sound filled the air before the truck reluctantly started. He clenched his fists on the steering wheel, barely restraining himself from pounding on it.

  He just couldn’t seem to catch a break lately. He’d known the starter was on its way out for the last week but couldn’t it have lasted just a little bit longer? Was that too much to ask? Now he’d have to find the time to take it in and get it looked at. By the sound of it, he wasn’t going to be able to put it off much longer. The last thing he wanted was to get stranded somewhere because his damn truck wouldn’t start.

  Deciding not to think about it anymore, Alex pulled away from the curb. He was going to go back to the house, take a quick shower, and set everything else aside for the night. As he drove, he realized part of the reason he was so stressed was he hadn’t felt like he could really relax since moving back to Bath.

  Sure, his childhood home was bathed in warm memories, but ever since he’d arrived, he couldn’t help feeling his life was moving backwards. If it hadn’t been for the satisfying work on Olivia’s restaurant and his father, he wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to stay so long. Even then, he knew that his dad probably wasn’t going to recover and that this living arrangement would be temporary. That realization alone made it hard for him to fully commit to living in the small town. It felt like he constantly had one foot each in and out of the place.

  His uncomfortable thoughts were interrupted as he approached the other side of the town’s limits. There, sitting in the back alley behind a mechanic’s garage, was the car he’d seen the intruder flee in. He probably wouldn’t have even noticed it if he wasn’t familiar with the business owner.

  What on earth could Eliza Harper have in common with a man who broke into vacant houses and left drug paraphernalia lying around in the living room? Alex had been planning to call about the intruder, but now he wasn’t so sure. Josh Carver may be a police officer now, but he remembered the level of animosity Josh had shown towards Liz back when they were in school together.

  Alex wondered if she was still the outcast he remembered from high school. She’d been an enigma back then, so unlike the other girls who threw themselves at him. He’d been intrigued and a little intimidated by the fact that she hadn’t simpered or giggled the way the other girls had. Maybe that’s why he’d never gotten the courage to show his interest.

  No, he’d go to the dinner party tonight and see if there was a good way to broach the subject with her. There had to be some other reason why that car was behind her shop. He really hoped she wasn’t associated with the sleazebag from earlier. As he pulled his truck into the driveway, Alex resolved to find out what the connection could be.

  ***

  Half an hour later, Alex checked to make sure he was at the correct address then pulled his car to the curb. He grabbed the bottle of wine sitting on the seat beside him. The sound of laughter drifted out into the air to greet him and he couldn’t help but smile as he pushed the doorbell.

  Mason let him in and gave him a friendly slap on the back. “Alex, glad you could join us.” It was a much different response than the one Alex had received the first time he’d met the man.

  Of course, Mason had mistakenly thought Alex was Olivia’s new love interest at the time. Funny how much can change in the span of a few months. It had been a pleasant surprise to find himself making friends with the couple since moving back to Bath.

  “I appreciate the invitation. I have to admit, I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in forever.”

  “Well, you’re in for a treat. Olivia’s made shrimp gumbo tonight with some fancy cornbread she calls johnnycakes.”

  “Johnnycakes, huh? What’s the difference?”

  Mason cast him a grin. “Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling we’re going to find out.”

  The two men walked into the kitchen, and Alex immediately fell in love with the room. It was obvious that whoever had designed it had been a cook because the floorplan was logically arranged for the greatest efficiency and flow. However, beyond the utilitarian aspects, it was readily apparent it was also created to be the heart of the home.

  His eyes traveled throughout the room and noted how all the finishes were sophisticated without being stuffy. While there were accents of chrome in the pendant lights and brushed cabinet handles, there was also the warmth of the wooden floors. Since he’d been working with Olivia the last few months on the design and feel of the restaurant, he could recognize her sense of style and approved. It made him even more excited to finish the project.

  Most everybody had arrived and were standing around the kitchen island chatting. He gave them all a smile as he set his bottle of wine down on the counter. “Wow, it smells great in here.” He gave his hostess a hug. “Hello, Olivia. Sorry I’m a bit late.”

  He nodded to Mason’s sister, Melody. “Mel. Long time, no see.”

  She gave him a smile. “Nice to see you, Alex.”

  “Alex! I’m so glad you could make it,” Olivia gave him a warm squeeze before turning to make introductions. “I don’t know if you remember Jackie from high school? She was in my class, a couple of grades ahead of you. This is her boyfriend Tom and her daughter Abby.”

  Alex shook both of their hands and winked at the little girl shyly looking up at him. Olivia continued. “Paul is the co-owner of the shop with Liz, and his nephew Jimmy just started working there this week.”

  Jimmy smiled. “Yeah, I’m doing all the paperwork and stuff that Liz and my uncle can’t stand.”

  “Better you than me,” the older man said gruffly before shaking Alex’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Olivia has been telling us how well the remodel is going.”

  “I think we’ve been making good progress. It’s a fun project to be working on.”

  Olivia gestured towards a woman setting the table, “My youngest sister, Fiona...and of course, Liz. You two were in the same class together.”

  Alex was hardly surprised when he saw that Liz had taken the dishwasher apart. There were a handful of screws and parts piled on the counter beside her. What did startle him was the way his pulse jumped when she turned to look at him. The long brown hair that she’d always worn in a practical ponytail had been chopped into a sharp, edgy pixie cut that was sexy as hell. It perfectly accented her big, pale green eyes. Even just standing there, he imagined running his fingers through it and mussing it up. Feeling like an idiot for just staring at her, Alex struggled to find his voice. “Eliza, you’re looking good.”

  He loved watching the way her eyes fired up at the use of her full name. “It’s Liz. Not even my own mother called me Eliza.”

  He’d had known using her full name would rile her, but he couldn’t resist the urge. Alex had always secretly liked how feminine her name was. Especially when compared to her badass attitude.

  An attitude he was receiving a full dose of at the moment.

  “Well, it’s nice to see you,” he said. She just stared at him for a moment, then turned back to whatever she was doing with the dishwasher. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to tease her right off the bat. He wondered why he always seemed to be awkward and tongue-tied around her. It felt like he was fifteen all over again.

  Alex could feel everybody holding their breath as they watched the exchange between him and Liz. Conversation lulled in the
room for half a beat longer than was comfortable before Jackie carefully stepped into the quiet, “So, Alex…Olivia says the restaurant is coming together. Do you really think it could be finished in a few weeks?”

  Gratefully, he turned towards Jackie. “Yeah, I think we’re on track to open the last week of August.”

  “It must be quite a challenge, converting a barn into a restaurant,” Fiona said.

  “Actually, it’s not so bad. It’s sitting on beautiful land and the structure itself has good bones still,” he nodded at Melody, since it was located on her land and next door to her bed and breakfast. “Plus, you just can’t get large beams like that anymore.”

  “I admit, that’s my favorite part,” Melody agreed.

  “Mine, too,” said Olivia. “Although I have a feeling my opinion may change once the wall of windows goes in and we get to take advantage of the view.” She began ladling gumbo into bowls and passing them off to Fiona to place on the table. “Dinner is ready. Why don’t you all grab a seat?”

  Everybody came to the table. In the jostle for chairs Alex tried to find a seat next to Liz, but was disappointed when she maneuvered her way into a spot at the other end. Although it wasn’t obvious, she seemed to be doing her best to avoid him. Was he a sucker for punishment because he secretly hoped he’d have another opportunity to talk to her?

  The start of the meal passed quietly as everybody savored their first few bites and remarked on the food. Gradually, conversation resumed. With Mason on one side and Melody on the other, Alex was content to discuss the progress of the restaurant with them. Periodically, he would look up to find Liz glancing in his direction, but she never jumped into the discussion.

  For his part, he noticed the way she interacted with her family and the people she considered friends. He was struck by how relaxed and in her element she seemed. It was a far cry from the quiet and socially awkward girl he’d known back in school.

  Alex suspected Liz would be a great person to have as a friend. She seemed like the kind of person who would do just about anything for the people she cared about. What would it be like to be a part of her inner circle?