"That stream has bass in it. I used to come fishing here. You can do a lot of great thinking while holding a fishing pole. Come on over here and sit on this log." Shane tugged her over to a fallen tree and pulled her down next to him.
The scent of the forest and water mingled, giving the air a sharp, clean smell. The sound of insects and the warmth of the summer night soothed Leah. The feel of Shane's hand about hers made the whole picture perfect. For a few minutes she breathed deeply and forgot the problems that awaited her back at the house.
"I like your not so secret place."
His fingers tightened about hers for a brief moment before he released her hand and slipped his arm about her shoulder, easing her against his side. "It is peaceful. Maybe I'll start using it again."
"Who owns this land?"
Shane tensed, straightening. "Ned Shiplock. I just remembered he bought it a few years back. Maybe I won't be using it again."
"Maybe we should leave."
"Maybe you're right" He rose, bringing her to her feet alongside of him. "Knowing the man, I'm surprised alarms didn't go off when we stepped on his land."
Shane led the way back through the woods to his car with Leah cradled in the crook of his arm. She really wasn't worried about Ned. The man rarely left his TV after seven at night. It took a "Betsy incident" to pry him away.
Inside Shane's car, Leah started to buckle her seatbelt when he stopped her. He leaned toward her, his expression unreadable in the dark.
"Now for the 'that' I promised you earlier," he murmured, his breath tickling her ear.
She shivered, the flesh on her neck hypersensitive. Turning her head to face him, she opened her mouth to protest, and his crushed hers, his tongue sliding between her teeth to explore the deep recesses within. She was lost from that moment forward.
Melting into the seat she wound her arms around his neck, pressing him against her. He satisfied a need in her that she hadn't even realized she had until his lips had touched hers the first time. He ignited a fire deep in her that burned hot and fierce for him alone.
Answering his exploration with her own, she delved into his mouth, tasting him, seeking to match him bold move for bold move. He grasped fistfuls of her hair, tilting her head back to allow him free access to the soft column of her throat while he pushed her down and covered her body with his. He nibbled a path downward until he reached the scoop of her neckline.
Releasing his hold on her hair, he slipped one thin strap down her arm and was turning his attention to the other. A glaring light flooded the car's interior, illuminating everything inside.
Shane shot up and peered out his side window. "It's the police!"
Chapter Seven
"The police!" Leah dragged the strap of her sundress up her arm with shaking fingers.
"Let me handle this," Shane whispered, then rolled down the window. "Hello, Tom. It's good to see you."
Good to see a policeman while caught necking? Leah closed her eyes and prayed she would be in her bed and this would all be just a nightmare, that it would go away once she was awake.
"Shane? I didn't realize that was you. Thought you two were some teenagers. They like to use this place."
"We were just out for a drive after dinner."
"Ned wanted us to keep an eye out for intruders. He said someone has been vandalizing his property." Tom shone the light on Leah. "Ma'am, sorry to disturb you."
"That's fine," she murmured in a choked voice. Leah wished she had the ability to disappear in a blink of the eye. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. What a great impression to make with the police force of Shady Oaks. She was getting really good at making lasting first impressions. She and her family had managed to acquaint themselves with all the emergency services—fire, ambulance, and now police.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone, then." The officer dropped the flashlight to his side and walked back toward his squad car.
"I suppose this has dampened the mood," Shane said after he put up his window.
"Your grasp of the obvious amazes me." She could still feel the slow burn on her face as the police car pulled away. "I know it's not possible to die of embarrassment, but I think I've come close to it tonight. We were caught necking! I have two sons. I'm supposed to be a role model for them."
"We didn't do anything."
"Try telling that to the Neds of this world."
"No one will hear about this. Certainly not from me."
"You're not who I'm worried about."
"Tom won't think twice about us." Shane cupped the back of her neck and tugged her toward him. "I promise you that you're making a mountain out of a molehill." His lips brushed across hers, seeking to entice her to part them.
Leah's mind began to spin as though he could wave a magic wand and make all her problems go away. She grabbed onto her last rational thought and pulled back. "He said kids use this place to park. I don't think this is a good idea."
"Can I argue that point?"
"No."
Shane sighed and turned on the ignition. "I didn't think so."
* * *
Leah plopped the newspaper down on Shane's desk. "Making a mountain out of a molehill. I have nothing to worry about. Read that article." Her index finger stabbed at a place on the front page of the paper. "I quote, 'What lessons can our teenagers learn from our good mayor and the new divorcee in town?' And that's just the opening sentence. Care to take back those observations?"
"I read it this morning."
"And you didn't bother to warn me about it?" Her anger was escalating faster than the national debt "I didn't have time to go through the newspaper until this afternoon. Before that I went to the grocery store and the laundry. I wondered why I was getting such strange looks, and why people were pointing at me. Now I know." She sucked in a deep breath, then another, but nothing seemed to relieve the tightness in her chest "I thought I was embarrassed the other night I didn't even realize what embarrassment was then."
Shane rose. "Leah," he began in a coaxing voice.
"Don't you Leah me. Sam is the one who pointed the article out to me. My ten-year-old son! How am I going to face my family, the whole town?"
"Look on the bright side. We aren't the lead story."
Leah sent him a look that told him he'd better quit while he was ahead. "I guess I should be grateful I'm not as important as the two foot long zucchini."
"We take our vegetables seriously around here."
"How did they find out? Did Tom tell everyone?"
"Not likely."
"How do you know?"
"Well, for starters, I've known Tom all my life. He isn't the type. And second of all, it was more likely Ned who was sitting in the squad car."
"Ned! You knew he was and didn't say anything to me?"
"I didn't know until I talked with Tom this morning, after I read the article. It's just part of the gossip column. Most people don't pay much attention to it."
A knock sounded at his office door right before it swung open. "Sorry to disturb you, Shane, but Eddie is hysterical. He's in for his booster, and you know how he gets when he sees a needle." The nurse looked from Shane to Leah. "Hi, you must be Leah. It's about time Shane started dating again."
He walked from behind his desk and past Leah. "I bet before the sun goes down everyone will have read that column," she muttered for his ears only.
Grinning, he winked. "And you'd probably win that bet, too. Stay put while I see about Eddie. I think we need to talk."
When he left his office, the nurse remained in the doorway. "After his wife died, we were all worried. It's good to see him relaxing, smiling again."
"Is that her picture on his desk?"
"Yes. Better run. I have to be ready the second Shane has lulled Eddie into a sense that no one is going to hurt him."
Leah stepped sideways until she could see the picture of Shane's wife. The young woman was smiling, her eyes sparkling with humor. Somehow Leah knew that she would have liked hi
s wife if she had known her. The warmth radiating from the woman was evident.
But seeing the picture on his desk confirmed what Leah already knew. No commitment. No strings attached. Those were his words, and she realized he wasn't ready to move on to another relationship. They had both suffered, and neither one wanted to again. She just had to keep in mind that this was casual. She couldn't afford to invest herself emotionally.
"The things I have to do to get some children to take a shot," Shane said as he reappeared at her side.
Startled by his sudden presence, she backed away, her hand splayed over her heart. "I didn't hear you come in."
"Care to share your thoughts?"
"No," she said so quickly that his eyebrow rose. "It was nothing important"
"Everything you think is important to me."
"Are you trying to smooth things over because you neglected to warn me about the column?"
"Yep. Is it working?"
She smiled at his innocent look. "Yes. It's hard to stay mad at you, and I think you know it."
He moved closer. "Why don't we give them something to really gossip about?"
She stepped back. "I don't think that's wise."
He reached out and grasped her hand to pull her toward him, causing her to come up flat against him. "I think we should do our best to make the article factual. They think we are an item—a hot item."
"Yes," she squeaked. His arms had caged her, and she could feel the beating of his heart.
"I have a few minutes before my next patient. Let's see what we can do," he whispered against her lips right before taking them in a deep kiss that brought her to her tiptoes.
Leah wound her arms around his neck as she tried to get even closer to him. She should be thankful that Tom had interrupted them. It didn't take much to lose rational thought where Shane was concerned. She felt herself being swept along as though a raging river had captured her.
Someone coughed behind them, and Leah jumped back. Margaret stood in the doorway, trying to appear serious.
"Son, I'd save that for Miller Woods. Right now your next patient is here."
"Some places are just too crowded."
"Which, the woods or the office?" Margaret asked, trying desperately to keep the amusement from her expression.
"Both, actually," he quipped as he squeezed Leah's hand. "I'll see you tonight, and we'll talk."
Still dazed, she nodded while he walked out of his office, leaving her and his mother alone together. At a loss for words, Leah just stared at Margaret.
"Thank you, Leah."
"For what?"
"For moving here. Both your grandfather and you have brought laughter to my family."
"You're not concerned about some people wondering about the kind of role model the mayor of Shady Oaks is for the teenagers of this town?"
"Did Shane tell you that Ned owns a controlling interest in the regional newspaper?"
"Oh, great," Leah muttered, realizing that the situation with her next-door neighbor was getting worse.
"Everyone knows that Ned exaggerates. And they know that he uses the newspaper to get people he doesn't like."
"But Shane is the mayor and he was caught—" Leah couldn't finish the sentence as a flush flared in her cheeks.
"Caught necking," his mother said with a laugh.
"Shane is an adult, and there is nothing wrong with two people kissing." Margaret lowered her voice and added, "As far as the mayor part goes, he didn't want to be in the first place. The job was thrust on him."
"He loves this town. I doubt anything was really thrust on him."
"Yes, you're right. Shady Oaks is important to him."
Again Leah felt as if she were a chocolate lover standing at a window looking into a candy store full of chocolate, unable to go inside. "Well, I'd better get to the school to change my son's teacher before everyone leaves."
* * *
"Sam isn't too happy. There's only one fifth grade class, so he and Joey will have to be in the same room," Leah said as Shane found the last space in the parking lot next to the local diner.
"This is a small town, Leah."
She didn't have to be reminded of that fact. After her visit to the elementary school that realization had been brought home to her yet again. She had thought the looks at the grocery store and laundry had been bad, but they hadn't compared to the stares she had received at the school. Something else besides the article in the newspaper was going on here, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it before her sons were affected. It probably had to do with her neighbor.
When they entered the restaurant everyone stopped talking and looked at them as they walked back to the only available booth. Then suddenly everyone started talking all at the same time. Leah got the distinct impression she and Shane were the center of the diners' conversations. It took a supreme effort on her part to appear as if nothing were wrong.
Leah quickly sat with her back to the room near the end of the booth, making it obvious to Shane she wanted him across from her.
"Chicken," he whispered as he took a menu from the waitress.
"I don't think I want any tonight. Maybe a thick piece of humble pie."
He chuckled. "I might have to have some of that, too." His expression grew serious. "For the life of me I don't understand what's going on. These people generally aren't narrow-minded. Something tells me that Ned has done more than pass a petition around."
"Do you think that's what it is?"
"He could be spreading false rumors. I wouldn't put it past the man to do just that. I'll get to the bottom of this tomorrow." He grinned, taking her hand in his. "Tonight I plan to enjoy myself."
"It isn't gonna be easy. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck tingling."
Shane's grasp tightened while he glanced about. "Probably because a few dozen pairs of eyes are looking our way—most none too discreet about it."
"And I could swear the volume level in here has risen since you took—" Leah didn't finish and allowed her gaze to drop to their clasped hands.
"We can leave if you want. I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to stay. I fix a mean tuna casserole."
"As much as I love tuna casserole, I won't let Ned control my life any more than he already does. We're staying, and we are going to enjoy ourselves if it's the last thing we do."
"I like your fighting spirit."
"I've had to do a lot of it throughout my life."
"What battles have you fought, Leah Taylor?" He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand repeatedly.
"Well, I tried to salvage a marriage that didn't last, anyway. I had to fight to keep my relatives from putting my grandfather in a nursing home. And last but not least, I've struggled to make a living so I could support my family." And I've tried my best to find a place to settle down and raise my children that was safe and they would be welcome in, she added silently, part of her amazed she had even spoken up in the first place. She didn't usually tell someone her woes, especially someone as appealing as Shane, who was slowly driving her mad with the delicious feel of his roughened thumb grazing her flesh.
"That's one of the things I like about you. You don't back down from a fight."
"I do know how to cut my losses," Leah said, thinking about the towns she had left because they couldn't accept Joey and her grandfather the way they were.
When the waitress appeared to take their order, Shane released his hold on her. Leah fought the intense feeling of deprivation simply because Shane was no longer clasping her hand. She had it bad, and if she were smart she would jump up and flee the diner before it was too late and she became completely lost in this man. Remember your ex-husband Roger. Remember the other men you dated, she chanted to herself as the waitress left with their order.
A man approached the table, a scowl etched into his aged face. "Evening Shane, Mrs. Taylor." The older man, who lived on their street, nodded.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Calvert?"
"I have some concerns." The man's gaze slid to Leah then back to Shane. "We need to discuss them right away."
"Can't it wait until tomorrow morning? I'm entertaining a friend at the moment."
Mr. Calvert shifted from one foot to the other. "I guess so. But I'll be down to see you first thing in the morning."
"I'll be expecting you," Shane said to the man's back because he had pivoted so fast that he nearly ran into the waitress, who was bringing their drinks and salads. "This has Ned written all over it."
Leah waited until the waitress had served their food before replying, "If that man is spreading rumors that will hurt my sons, he will rue the day I moved to Shady Oaks."
"I think he already does, but I don't." Shane winked at her. The grin on his face was so sexy it could melt butter.
Leah heard the volume of whispers about them rise yet again and wondered if she could eat as fast as her sons did. This date wasn't turning out quite as she had hoped. That thought caused her to pause for a few seconds. What had she hoped for? Long ago she had given up planning the future. She lived for each moment, because the next one could throw a person for a loop—as she had discovered many times in the past few years.
Somehow they made it through the rest of their dinner without causing any more raised whispers.
When they left the cafe, Leah actually stopped and took several deep breaths of the warm summer air.
"I feel as if I've been put into a blender and turned on high." She felt Shane's hands settle on her shoulders; she felt his length along her back.
"Don't worry. I'll find out what's going on and put a stop to it."
The protective ring in his words sent a quiver down her. She liked it. She liked the idea that a man would fight for her. She hadn't realized how much until now.
"Come on. Let's blow this joint." He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward his car.
She dug her heels into the gravel and forced him to stop and turn back toward her. "Only on one condition. No more Miller Woods."
His sexy grin returned. "I know a much more private place, where policemen don't shine lights in your window."
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